Quality and Agronomic Trait Analyses of Pyramids Composed of Wheat Genes NGli-D2, Sec-1s and 1Dx5+1Dy10.

Due to rising living standards, it is important to improve wheat's quality traits by adjusting its storage protein genes. The introduction or locus deletion of high molecular weight subunits could provide new options for improving wheat quality and food safety. In this study, digenic and trigenic wheat lines were identified, in which the 1Dx5+1Dy10 subunit, and NGli-D2 and Sec-1s genes were successfully polymerized to determine the role of gene pyramiding in wheat quality. In addition, the effects of ω-rye alkaloids during 1BL/1RS translocation on quality were eliminated by introducing and utilizing 1Dx5+1Dy10 subunits through gene pyramiding. Additionally, the content of alcohol-soluble proteins was reduced, the Glu/Gli ratio was increased and high-quality wheat lines were obtained. The sedimentation values and mixograph parameters of the gene pyramids under different genetic backgrounds were significantly increased. Among all the pyramids, the trigenic lines in Zhengmai 7698, which was the genetic background, had the highest sedimentation value. The mixograph parameters of the midline peak time (MPT), midline peak value (MPV), midline peak width (MPW), curve tail value (CTV), curve tail width (CTW), midline value at 8 min (MTxV), midline width at 8 min (MTxW) and midline integral at 8 min (MTxI) of the gene pyramids were markedly enhanced, especially in the trigenic lines. Therefore, the pyramiding processes of the 1Dx5+1Dy10, Sec-1S and NGli-D2 genes improved dough elasticity. The overall protein composition of the modified gene pyramids was better than that of the wild type. The Glu/Gli ratios of the type I digenic line and trigenic lines containing the NGli-D2 locus were higher than that of the type II digenic line without the NGli-D2 locus. The trigenic lines with Hengguan 35 as the genetic background had the highest Glu/Gli ratio among the specimens. The unextractable polymeric protein (UPP%) and Glu/Gli ratios of the type II digenic line and trigenic lines were significantly higher than those of the wild type. The UPP% of the type II digenic line was higher than that of the trigenic lines, while the Glu/Gli ratio was slightly lower than that of the trigenic lines. In addition, the celiac disease (CD) epitopes' level of the gene pyramids significantly decreased. The strategy and information reported in this study could be very useful for improving wheat processing quality and reducing wheat CD epitopes.

Dihydroartemisinin alleviates AngII-induced vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and inflammatory response by blocking the FTO/NR4A3 axis.

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), induced by angiotensin II (AngII) and other growth factors, play important roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension, restenosis, and atherosclerosis. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits broad protective effects. However, the effects of DHA on AngII-induced inflammation and proliferation of VSMCs remain unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AngII was used to construct VSMCs and vascular inflammation model in vitro and in vivo. The protective roles of DHA in inflammatory response and proliferation were evaluated through CCK-8, BrdU assay and immunofluorescence staining. The level of mRNA N6-methyladenosine was measured by m6A-RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) assay. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to investigate the relationship between FTO and its potential downstream signaling molecules. RESULTS: In the present study, we found that DHA significantly suppressed AngII-induced proliferation of VSMCs and the expression of IL-6 and Ccl2 in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, we confirmed that fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) plays a critical role in AngII-induced VSMC proliferation and inflammation. FTO knockdown increased the methylation level of NR4A3 mRNA, whereas FTO, but not mutated FTO overexpression, reduced the methylation level of NR4A3 mRNA. These results suggest that DHA plays a protective role in AngII-induced VSMC proliferation and the associated inflammation by inhibiting the FTO/NR4A3 axis. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of DHA and its critical role in the pathogenesis of hypertension-related vascular complications.