OsPOP5, a prolyl oligopeptidase family gene from rice confers abiotic stress tolerance in Escherichia coli.

The prolyl oligopeptidase family, which is a group of serine peptidases, can hydrolyze peptides smaller than 30 residues. The prolyl oligopeptidase family in plants includes four members, which are prolyl oligopeptidase (POP, EC3.4.21.26), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV, EC3.4.14.5), oligopeptidase B (OPB, EC3.4.21.83), and acylaminoacyl peptidase (ACPH, EC3.4.19.1). POP is found in human and rat, and plays important roles in multiple biological processes, such as protein secretion, maturation and degradation of peptide hormones, and neuropathies, signal transduction and memory and learning. However, the function of POP is unclear in plants. In order to study POP function in plants, we cloned the cDNA of the OsPOP5 gene from rice by nested-PCR. Sequence analysis showed that the cDNA encodes a protein of 596 amino acid residues with Mw ≈ 67.29 kD. In order to analyze the protein function under different abiotic stresses, OsPOP5 was expressed in Escherichia coli. OsPOP5 protein enhanced the tolerance of E. coli to high salinity, high temperature and simulated drought. The results indicate that OsPOP5 is a stress-related gene in rice and it may play an important role in plant tolerance to abiotic stress.

An innovative EEG-based emotion recognition using a single channel-specific feature from the brain rhythm code method.

Introduction: Efficiently recognizing emotions is a critical pursuit in brain-computer interface (BCI), as it has many applications for intelligent healthcare services. In this work, an innovative approach inspired by the genetic code in bioinformatics, which utilizes brain rhythm code features consisting of δ, θ, α, ß, or γ, is proposed for electroencephalography (EEG)-based emotion recognition. Methods: These features are first extracted from the sequencing technique. After evaluating them using four conventional machine learning classifiers, an optimal channel-specific feature that produces the highest accuracy in each emotional case is identified, so emotion recognition through minimal data is realized. By doing so, the complexity of emotion recognition can be significantly reduced, making it more achievable for practical hardware setups. Results: The best classification accuracies achieved for the DEAP and MAHNOB datasets range from 83-92%, and for the SEED dataset, it is 78%. The experimental results are impressive, considering the minimal data employed. Further investigation of the optimal features shows that their representative channels are primarily on the frontal region, and associated rhythmic characteristics are typical of multiple kinds. Additionally, individual differences are found, as the optimal feature varies with subjects. Discussion: Compared to previous studies, this work provides insights into designing portable devices, as only one electrode is appropriate to generate satisfactory performances. Consequently, it would advance the understanding of brain rhythms, which offers an innovative solution for classifying EEG signals in diverse BCI applications, including emotion recognition.

An Approach to Emotion Recognition Using Brain Rhythm Sequencing and Asymmetric Features.

Emotion can be influenced during self-isolation, and to avoid severe mood swings, emotional regulation is meaningful. To achieve this, efficiently recognizing emotion is a vital step, which can be realized by electroencephalography signals. Previously, inspired by the knowledge of sequencing in bioinformatics, a method termed brain rhythm sequencing that analyzes electroencephalography as the sequence consisting of the dominant rhythm has been proposed for seizure detection. In this work, with the help of similarity measure methods, the asymmetric features are extracted from the sequences generated by different channel data. After evaluating all asymmetric features for emotion recognition, the optimal feature that yields remarkable accuracy is identified. Therefore, the classification task can be accomplished through a small amount of channel data. From a music emotion recognition experiment and a public DEAP dataset, the classification accuracies of various test sets are approximately 80-85% when employing an optimal feature extracted from one pair of symmetrical channels. Such performances are impressive when using fewer resources is a concern. Further investigation revealed that emotion recognition shows strongly individual characteristics, so an appropriate solution is to include the subject-dependent properties. Compared to the existing works, this method benefits from the design of a portable emotion-aware device used during self-isolation, as fewer scalp sensors are needed. Hence, it would provide a novel way to realize emotional applications in the future.

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of the energy homeostasis-associated gene in piglet.

The energy homeostasis-associated (Enho) gene encodes a secreted protein, adropin, which regulates the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes and adipose tissue peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, a major regulator of lipogenesis. In the present study, the porcine (Sus scrofa) homologue of the Enho gene, which was named pEnho, was amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using oligonucleotide primers derived from in silico sequences. The gene sequence was submitted into the GenBank of NCBI, and the access number is GQ414763. The pEnho encodes a protein of 76 amino acids which shows 75% similarity to Homo sapiens adropin. The expression profile of pEnho in tissues (liver, muscle, anterior jejunum, posterior jejunum, and ileum) was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. pEnho was localized on porcine chromosome 10 and no introns were found. In conclusion, pEnho was cloned and analysed with the aim of increasing knowledge about glucose and lipid metabolism in piglets and helping to promote the health and growth of piglets through adropin regulation.

[Maize starch biosynthesis and its genetic manipulation].

Starch is the most important source of calories and a vital storage component in plants. The characterization and production of starch variants from mutation and with transgenic technology has improved our understanding of the synthesis of starch granule. In starch biosynthesis in plants, four enzymes, including ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase, starch branching enzyme and starch debranching enzyme, are widely accepted from an enormous amount of research aimed primarily at enzyme characterization. As many genes encoding the enzymes and their multiple isoforms in starch biosynthesis pathway have been isolated, genetic manipulation of the starch biosynthesis pathway shows to be a practical way by which starch quantity is increased and starch with novel properties can be created.

Protective effect of indomethacin in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the renoprotection effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1/2 blockade association by indomethacin (IMT) in the mice model. METHODS: After the left renal pedicle of mice was clamped, IMT was administrated by intraperitoneal injection with four doses: 1, 3, 5, and 7 mg/kg. Blood and kidney samples were collected 24 h after IRI. The renal functions were assayed by the cytokines and serum creatinine (SCr) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Kidney samples were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry stainings. RESULTS: The mice administered with 5 mg/kg IMT had a marked reduction in SCr and significantly less tubular damage. The tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) activity in renal homogenates and interleukin 6 (IL-6) activity in serum had a marked reduction at doses of 5 and 7 mg/kg IMT. The administration of 3 and 5 mg/kg IMT had a marked reduction in the ratio of thromboxane B2 to 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α. COX-1 and COX-2 stainings were weaker in 5 mg/kg IMT groups than that in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was a dose response in the IMT function of renal IRI in mice, and IMT had a protective effect in a certain dose range. The effect of IMT on mice IRI was related to COX-1/2 blockades.