Copper Peroxide Nanodots Encapsulated in a Metal-Organic Framework for Self-Supplying Hydrogen Peroxide and Signal Amplification of the Dual-Mode Immunoassay.

The necessary step of directly adding hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into the detection system in traditional immunoassays hampers their applications as a portable device for point-of-care analysis due to the unstable liquid form of H2O2. Herein, a strategy of self-supplying H2O2 and signal amplification triggering by copper peroxide nanodots encapsulated (CPNs) in metal-organic frameworks (ZIF-8) was proposed in an immunoassay for dual-signal detection of bisphenol A (a typical emerging organic pollutant), which was further fabricated as a lab-in-a-tube device integrated with a smartphone sensing platform. Herein, CPNs@ZIF-8 was modified on the antibody against bisphenol A; after the competitive binding of analytes, coating antigens, and antibodies, the released H2O2 and Cu2+ from encapsulated CPNs under the acidic condition will trigger a Fenton-like reaction to generate ·OH for oxidization of TMB; meanwhile, Cu2+ could quench the fluorescence of GSH-Au NCs, resulting in dual-mode signals for measurements. Most importantly, self-supplying H2O2 with high stability was undertaken by CPNs, and the remarkably increased signal molecule (CPN) loading was ascribed to the excellent capacity of metal-organic frameworks (ZIF-8). In addition, good recoveries were obtained from a colorimetric/fluorescent dual-mode strategy. The constructed device demonstrated great potential as a universal platform for rapid detection of various environmental contaminants using corresponding antibodies relying on its performance of satisfactory stability, sensitivity, and accuracy.

The Interplay between Hydrogen Sulfide and Phytohormone Signaling Pathways under Challenging Environments.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) serves as an important gaseous signaling molecule that is involved in intra- and intercellular signal transduction in plant-environment interactions. In plants, H2S is formed in sulfate/cysteine reduction pathways. The activation of endogenous H2S and its exogenous application has been found to be highly effective in ameliorating a wide variety of stress conditions in plants. The H2S interferes with the cellular redox regulatory network and prevents the degradation of proteins from oxidative stress via post-translational modifications (PTMs). H2S-mediated persulfidation allows the rapid response of proteins in signaling networks to environmental stimuli. In addition, regulatory crosstalk of H2S with other gaseous signals and plant growth regulators enable the activation of multiple signaling cascades that drive cellular adaptation. In this review, we summarize and discuss the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of H2S-induced cellular adjustments and the interactions between H2S and various signaling pathways in plants, emphasizing the recent progress in our understanding of the effects of H2S on the PTMs of proteins. We also discuss future directions that would advance our understanding of H2S interactions to ultimately mitigate the impacts of environmental stresses in the plants.

The important roles of protein SUMOylation in the occurrence and development of leukemia and clinical implications.

Leukemia is a severe malignancy of the hematopoietic system, which is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and dedifferentiation of immature hematopoietic precursor cells in the lymphatic system and bone marrow. Leukemia is caused by alterations of the genetic and epigenetic regulation of processes underlying hematologic malignancies, including SUMO modification (SUMOylation). Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins covalently or noncovalently conjugate and modify a large number of target proteins via lysine residues. SUMOylation is a small ubiquitin-like modification that is catalyzed by the SUMO-specific activating enzyme E1, the binding enzyme E2, and the ligating enzyme E3. SUMO is covalently linked to substrate proteins to regulate the cellular localization of target proteins and the interaction of target proteins with other biological macromolecules. SUMOylation has emerged as a critical regulatory mechanism for subcellular localization, protein stability, protein-protein interactions, and biological function and thus regulates normal life activities. If the SUMOylation process of proteins is affected, it will cause a cellular reaction and ultimately lead to various diseases, including leukemia. There is growing evidence showing that a large number of proteins are SUMOylated and that SUMOylated proteins play an important role in the occurrence and development of various types of leukemia. Targeting the SUMOylation of proteins alone or in combination with current treatments might provide powerful targeted therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of leukemia.

Interactions between bacteria and fungi in macrophyte leaf litter decomposition.

Microbes play an important role in decomposition of macrophytes in shallow lakes, and the process can be greatly affected by bacteria-fungi interactions in response to material composition and environmental conditions. In this study, microbes involved in the decomposition of leaf litter from three macrophyte species, Zizania latifolia, Hydrilla verticillata and Nymphoides peltata, were analysed at temperatures of 5, 15 and 25 °C. Results indicate that the decomposition rate was affected by temperature. Bacterial alpha diversity increased significantly along the time, while both temperature and plant species had a significant impact on the bacterial community, and plant type was shown to be the most important driving factor for the fungal community. The cosmopolitan bacterial taxa affiliated with Gammaproteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Deltaproteobacteria, Firmicutes and Spirochaetes were key species in the investigated ecological networks, demonstrating significant co-occurrence or co-exclusion relationships with Basidiomycota and Ascomycota, according to different macrophyte species. This study indicates that bacteria involved in the decomposition of macrophyte leaf litter are more sensitive to temperature variance, and that fungi have a higher specificity to the composition of plant materials. The nutrient content of Hydrilla verticillata promoted a positive bacteria-fungi interaction, thereby accelerating the decomposition and re-circulation of leaf litter.

Association between enterovirus infection and clinical type 1 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Numerous animal models and epidemiological and observational studies have demonstrated that enterovirus (EV) infection could be involved in the development of clinical type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but its aetiology is not fully understood. Therefore, we reviewed the association between EV infection and clinical T1DM. We searched PubMed and Embase from inception to April 2021 and reference lists of included studies without any language restrictions in only human studies. The correlation between EV infection and clinical T1DM was calculated as the pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), analysed using random-effects models. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the associations. A total of 25 articles (22 case-control studies and three nested case-control studies) met the inclusion criterion including 4854 participants (2948 cases and 1906 controls) with a high level of statistical heterogeneity (I2 = 80%, P < 0.001) mainly attributable to methods of EV detection, study type, age distribution, source of EV sample and control subjects. Meta-analysis showed a significant association between EV infection and clinical T1DM (OR 5.75, 95% CI 3.61-9.61). There is a clinically significant association between clinical T1DM and EV infection.

Transcriptome analysis reveals the regulation of metabolic processes during the post-harvest cold storage of pear.

Pear is a traditional and economically fruit tree worldwide. With the development of the pear industry, pear fruit post-harvest preservation techniques have become very important. Among them, low temperature preservation technology is most widely used, but the molecular mechanism underlying this process is still unclear. To better understand this, RNA-seq was performed on samples collected at different time points with increasing storage time. Here, 19,610 differentially expressed genes were obtained and annotated into 51 GO terms and 26 KEGG-defined significantly overrepresented pathways. 2475 transcription factors belonging to 50 different families were identified with increasing storage time. Ethylene content increased with storage time and was the highest at 105 days of fruit storage. Accordingly, integrative analysis of gene expression revealed that 14 unigenes were related to the ethylene metabolic pathway. This study provides valuable resources to investigate the genetics of the ethylene metabolic pathways and improve pear storage and preservation technology.

A constructed wetland system with aquatic macrophytes for cleaning contaminated runoff/storm water from urban area in Florida.

A community of aquatic macrophytes has an important role in reducing nutrient load and organic and inorganic contaminants in storm/runoff water. However, minimal information is available regarding the efficiency of constructed wetlands for cleaning runoff water from urban areas, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. This study investigated the effectiveness of constructed wetland integrated with aquatic macrophytes for removal of chemical and microbial contaminants in the storm/runoff water from the urban areas. Water samples were monthly collected in the constructed wetland from the inlet of storm/runoff water, middle and outlet of discharge, and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, concentrations of nutrients, metals, and fecal coliform (FC) during the period of November, 2016 to April, 2018 in St. Lucie county, Florida, USA. The dominant plant species in the constructed wetland included cattail (Typha latifolia), waterthyme (Hydrilla verticillata) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), and periphyton filamentous algae (Spirogyra). The improvement of pH and electrical conductivity (EC) was not obvious, but the concentration of total suspended solids was significantly reduced. This system was effective in the removal of fecal coliform (by 68%) and particulate phosphorus (P, 72%), followed by total P (42%) and N (35%). Concentrations of metallic pollutants including cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu) were mostly below the detection limit (<1 ppb) except for zinc (Zn), of which concentration was reduced by 23%. The removal of FC was consistently effective all the year round, whereas the removal of total N, P and particulate-P was effective in spring and summer, and less in autumn and winter. These results indicate that constructed wetland with a natural aquatic plant community can effectively reduce the loads of nutrients, metals, and fecal coliforms in water column. Regular harvest of aquatic macrophytes communities and collecting litters may further improve the system efficiency for cleaning storm water from urban areas.

Ameliorating Effect of Pentadecapeptide Derived from Cyclina sinensis on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Nephrotoxicity.

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a widely used anticancer drug with severe nephrotoxicity. The pentadecapeptide (RVAPEEHPVEGRYLV) from Cyclina sinensis (SCSP) has been shown to affect immunity and to protect the liver. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the ameliorating effect of SCSP on CTX-induced nephrotoxicity in mice. We injected male ICR mice with CTX (80 mg/kg·day) and measured the nephrotoxicity indices, levels of antioxidant enzymes, malondialdehyde (MDA), inflammatory factors, as well as the major proteins of the NF-κB and apoptotic pathways. Cyclophosphamide induced kidney injury; the levels of kidney-injury indicators and cytokines recovered remarkably in mice after receiving SCSP. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) increased, while there was a significant decrease in MDA levels. The kidney tissue damage induced by CTX was also repaired to a certain extent. In addition, SCSP significantly inhibited inflammatory factors and apoptosis by regulating the NF-κB and apoptotic pathways. Our study shows that SCSP has the potential to ameliorate CTX-induced nephrotoxicity and may be used as a therapeutic adjuvant to ameliorate CTX-induced nephrotoxicity.

Optimizing biomagnetic sensor performance through in silico diagnostics: A novel approach with BEST (Biomagnetism Evaluation via Simulated Testing).

Advancing biomagnetic measurement capabilities requires a nuanced understanding of sensor performance beyond traditional metrics. This study introduces Biomagnetism Evaluation via Simulated Testing (BEST), a novel methodology combining a current dipole model simulating cardiac biomagnetic fields with a convolutional neural network. Our investigation reveals that optimal sensor array performance is achieved when sensors are in close proximity to the magnetic source, with a shorter effective domain. Contrary to common assumptions, the bottom edge length of the sensor has a negligible impact on array performance. BEST provides a versatile framework for exploring the influence of diverse technical indicators on biomagnetic sensor performance, offering valuable insights for sensor development and selection.

Encapsulating gold nanoclusters into metal-organic frameworks to boost luminescence for sensitive detection of copper ions and organophosphorus pesticides.

Gold nanoclusters (Au NCs) with luminescence property are emerging as promising candidates in fluorescent methods for monitoring contaminants, but low luminescence efficiency hampers their extensive applications. Herein, GSH-Au NCs@ZIF-8 was designed by encapsulating GSH-Au NCs with AIE effect into metal-organic frameworks, achieving high luminescence efficiency and good stability through the confinement effect of ZIF-8. Accordingly, a fluorescent sensing platform was constructed for the sensitive detection of copper ions (Cu2+) and organophosphorus pesticides (OPs). Firstly, the as-prepared GSH-Au NCs@ZIF-8 could strongly accumulate Cu2+ due to the adsorption property of MOFs, accompanied by a significant fluorescence quenching effect with a low detection limit of 0.016 µM for Cu2+. Besides, thiocholine (Tch), the hydrolysis product of acetylthiocholine (ATch) by acetylcholinesterase (AchE), could coordinate with Cu2+ by sulfhydryl groups (-SH), leading to a significant fluorescence recovery, which was further used for the quantification of OPs owing to its inhibition to AChE activity. Furthermore, a hydrogel sensor was explored to accomplish equipment-free, visual, and quantitative monitoring of Cu2+ and OPs by a smartphone sensing platform. Overall, this work provides an effective and universal strategy for enhancing the luminescence efficiency and stability of Au NCs, which would greatly promote their applications in contaminants monitoring.

The selection of copiotrophs may complicate biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationships in microbial dilution-to-extinction experiments.

The relationships between biodiversity-ecosystem functioning (BEF) for microbial communities are poorly understood despite the important roles of microbes acting in natural ecosystems. Dilution-to-extinction (DTE), a method to manipulate microbial diversity, helps to fill the knowledge gap of microbial BEF relationships and has recently become more popular with the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques. However, the pattern of community assembly processes in DTE experiments is less explored and blocks our further understanding of BEF relationships in DTE studies. Here, a microcosm study and a meta-analysis of DTE studies were carried out to explore the dominant community assembly processes and their potential effect on exploring BEF relationships. While stochastic processes were dominant at low dilution levels due to the high number of rare species, the deterministic processes became stronger at a higher dilution level because the microbial copiotrophs were selected during the regrowth phase and rare species were lost. From the view of microbial functional performances, specialized functions, commonly carried by rare species, are more likely to be impaired in DTE experiments while the broad functions seem to be less impacted due to the good performance of copiotrophs. Our study indicated that shifts in the prokaryotic community and its assembly processes induced by dilutions result in more complex BEF relationships in DTE experiments. Specialized microbial functions could be better used for defining BEF. Our findings may be helpful for future studies to design, explore, and interpret microbial BEF relationships using DTE.

Co-occurrence pattern of bacteria and fungi on the leaves of the invasive aquatic plant Alternanthera philoxeroides.

The microbes that are attached to aquatic plants play critical roles in nutrient cycles and the maintenance of water quality. However, their community compositions, biodiversity and functions have not been well explored for the invasive plants in inland waters. Here, the co-occurrence patterns between bacteria and fungi on the leaves of Alternanthera philoxeroides and their potential ecological interactions were studied during the growing seasons. Along with significant variations in the alpha diversity of attached microbes over time, shifts in their community composition were significantly associated with the dynamics of plant stoichiometry, substrate composition and extracellular enzyme activity. Deterministic processes (heterogenous selection) play a predominant role in community assembly of the attached bacteria, while stochasticity (undominated process) was the major driver for the attached fungal assembly. Compared with the free-living microbial network, the attached microbial network was structurally simple but highly modular. The attached microbes had more intra-phylum links (primarily within the phyla Actinomycetota, Alphaproteobacteria, Bacillota and Basidiomycota) and distinct co-exclusion patterns between bacteria and fungi in the modules. In summary, the study will be helpful in understanding the microbes and their interactions in the phyllosphere of A. philoxeroides, an key invasive species under national management and control.

Phytomelatonin: A key regulator of redox and phytohormones signaling against biotic/abiotic stresses.

Plants being sessile in nature, are exposed to unwarranted threats as a result of constantly changing environmental conditions. These adverse factors can have negative impacts on their growth, development, and yield. Hormones are key signaling molecules enabling cells to respond rapidly to different external and internal stimuli. In plants, melatonin (MT) plays a critical role in the integration of various environmental signals and activation of stress-response networks to develop defense mechanisms and plant resilience. Additionally, melatonin can tackle the stress-induced alteration of cellular redox equilibrium by regulating the expression of redox hemostasis-related genes and proteins. The purpose of this article is to compile and summarize the scientific research pertaining to MT's effects on plants' resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we have summarized that MT exerts a synergistic effect with other phytohormones, for instance, ethylene, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid, and activates plant defense-related genes against phytopathogens. Furthermore, MT interacts with secondary messengers like Ca2+, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species to regulate the redox network. This interaction triggers different transcription factors to alleviate stress-related responses in plants. Hence, the critical synergic role of MT with diverse plant hormones and secondary messengers demonstrates phytomelatonin's importance in influencing multiple mechanisms to contribute to plant resilience against harsh environmental factors.

Optimization of China's provincial carbon emission transfer structure under the dual constraints of economic development and emission reduction goals.

The contradiction between China's economic development and the reduction of carbon emission is increasingly deepening along with the complex carbon emission transfer. Optimizing provincial-level carbon emission transfer in China is important for facilitating economic development and carbon emission reduction. Under these dual constraints, this study uses the slacks-based measure, marginal abatement cost, and geographically and temporally weighted regression models to measure the economic and carbon emission reduction effects and the carbon emission reduction baseline. Then, the optimization strategy and path of provincial carbon emission transfer network structure are proposed to provide policy support for achieving the dual goals of economic development and carbon emission reduction in China. This article draws the following important research conclusions. First, under the three economic development scenarios, provinces in the eastern coastal developed regions are capable of completing the expected carbon emission reduction, whereas the underdeveloped provinces in the central and northern regions are not. Second, from the perspective of the economic effect of carbon emission transfer, carbon emission transfer from most provinces promotes economic development, whereas carbon emission transfer from a few economically underdeveloped provinces hinders economic development. Third, from the perspective of the carbon emission reduction impact of carbon emission transfer, carbon emission transfer in the northeast region has a negative impact on carbon emission reduction, and carbon emission transfer in developed regions also has a negative impact on carbon emission reduction. Fourth, the optimization of the carbon emission transfer can be divided into four categories.

A Novel Enzyme-Free Ratiometric Fluorescence Immunoassay Based on Silver Nanoparticles for the Detection of Dibutyl Phthalate from Environmental Waters.

A novel ratiometric fluorescent immunoassay was developed based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the sensitive determination of dibutyl phthalate (DBP). In the detection system, AgNPs were labeled on the secondary antibody (AgNPs@Ab2) for signal amplification, which aimed to regulate the H2O2 concentrations. When AgNPs-Ab2 and antigen-primary antibody (Ab1) were linked by specific recognition, the blue fluorescence of Scopoletin (SC) could be effectively quenched by the H2O2 added while the red fluorescence of Amplex Red (AR) was generated. Under the optimized conditions, the calculated detection of limit (LOD, 90% inhibition) reached 0.86 ng/mL with a wide linear range of 2.31-66.84 ng/mL, which was approximately eleven times lower than that by HRP-based traditional ELISA with the same antibody. Meanwhile, it could improve the inherent built-in rectification to the environment by the combination of the dual-output ratiometric fluorescence assays with ELISA, which also enhanced the accuracy and precision (recoveries, 87.20-106.62%; CV, 2.57-6.54%), indicating it can be applied to investigate the concentration of DBP in water samples.

Genome­wide characterization of the Gα subunit gene family in Rosaceae and expression analysis of PbrGPAs under heat stress.

The Gα subunit is an important component of the heterotrimeric G-protein complex and an integral component of several signal transduction pathways. It plays crucial roles in the diverse processes of plant growth and development, including the response to abiotic stress, regulation of root development, involvement in stomatal movement, and participation in hormone responses, which have been well investigated in many species. However, no comprehensive analysis has identified and explored the evolution, expression pattern characteristics and heat stress response of the Gα subunit genes in Rosaceae. In this study, 52 Gα subunit genes were identified in eight Rosaceae species; these genes were divided into three subfamilies (I, II, and III) based on their phylogenetic, conserved motif, and structural characteristics. Whole genome and dispersed duplication events were found to have contributed significantly to the expansion of the Gα subunit gene family, and purifying selection to have played a key role in the evolution of Gα subunit genes. An expression analysis identified some PbrGPA genes that were highly expressed in leaf, root, and fruit, and exhibited diverse spatiotemporal expression models in pear. Under abiotic stress conditions, the mRNA transcript levels of PbrGPA genes were up-regulated in response to high temperature treatment in leaves. Furthermore, three Gα subunit genes were shown to be located in the plasma membrane and nucleus in pear. In conclusion, the study of the Gα subunit gene family will help us to better understand its evolutionary history and expression patterns, while facilitating further investigations into the function of the Gα subunit gene in response to heat stress.

Seed Priming with Spermine Mitigates Chromium Stress in Rice by Modifying the Ion Homeostasis, Cellular Ultrastructure and Phytohormones Balance.

Chromium (Cr) is an important environmental constraint effecting crop productivity. Spermine (SPM) is a polyamine compound regulating plant responses to abiotic stresses. However, SPM-mediated tolerance mechanisms against Cr stress are less commonly explored in plants. Thus, current research was conducted to explore the protective mechanisms of SPM (0.01 mM) against Cr (100 µM) toxicity in two rice cultivars, CY927 (sensitive) and YLY689 (tolerant) at the seedling stage. Our results revealed that, alone, Cr exposure significantly reduced seed germination, biomass and photosynthetic related parameters, caused nutrient and hormonal imbalance, desynchronized antioxidant enzymes, and triggered oxidative damage by over-accretion of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and electrolyte leakage in both rice varieties, with greater impairments in CY927 than YLY689. However, seed priming with SPM notably improved or reversed the above-mentioned parameters, especially in YLY689. Besides, SPM stimulated the stress-responsive genes of endogenous phytohormones, especially salicylic acid (SA), as confirmed by the pronounced transcript levels of SA-related genes (OsPR1, OsPR2 and OsNPR1). Our findings specified that SPM enhanced rice tolerance against Cr toxicity via decreasing accumulation of Cr and markers of oxidative damage (H2O2, O2•- and MDA), improving antioxidant defense enzymes, photosynthetic apparatus, nutrients and phytohormone balance.

Genetic diversity of picoeukaryotes in eight lakes differing in trophic status.

The genetic diversity of picoeukaryotes (0.2-5.0 µm) was investigated in 8 lakes differing in trophic status in Nanjing, China. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and cloning and sequencing of 18S rRNA genes were applied to analyze the picoeukaryotic communities. DGGE analysis showed that among the 8 lakes, the diversity of picoeukaryotes was greatest in the mesotrophic Lake Nan (24 bands) and least in the oligotrophic Lake Qian (12 bands). Cluster analysis of DGGE profiles revealed that the 8 lakes were grouped into 2 distinct clusters. Cluster 1 contained lakes Mochou, Zixia, Huashen, Nan, Pipa, and Qian, while cluster 2 contained lakes Xuanwu and Baijia. Clone libraries were constructed from the mesotrophic Lake Xuanwu and the oligotrophic Lake Zixia, and the 2 libraries were compared using the program LIBSHUFF. This analysis indicated that the picoeukaryotic community composition differed significantly between the 2 lakes (p = 0.001). A total of 25 operational taxonomic units were detected; 18 (62 clones) were related to known eukaryotic groups, while 7 (30 clones) were not affiliated with any known eukaryotic group. Alveolates and stramenopiles were the dominant groups in Lake Xuanwu, while alveolates and chlorophyta predominated in Lake Zixia. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the differences in the picoeukaryotic community composition of the 8 lakes might be related to trophic status and top-down regulation by metazooplankton.

A reusable neurotransmitter aptasensor for the sensitive detection of serotonin.

Serotonin is one of the important neurotransmitters in human nervous system and associated with central nervous system diseases. Herein, we have prepared a novel electrochemical aptasensor for rapid and sensitive detection of serotonin by using the pre-designed and prepared DNA aptamers. In the absence of serotonin, the electron transfer rate on the aptasensor was faster than that in the presence of serotonin due to the hairpin structure of the aptamer was loose and MB could be closer to the electrode surface. While in the presence of serotonin, the hairpin structure of the aptamer was extended and MB was far away from the electrode surface. The effect of MB labeled sites on analytical performances of the proposed aptasensors was discussed by comparing sensitivity of the aptasensors that MB labeled in the intermediate of the aptamer with that MB labeled at the 3' end of the aptamer. It was found that sensitivity of the intermediate-labeled aptasensor was much higher than the terminal-labeled aptasensor due to the specific conformational changes before and after aptamer binding to serotonin. The developed aptasensors exhibits a rapid electrochemical response and high sensitivity for the determination of serotonin. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the linear range for serotonin concentrations by the intermediate-labeled aptasensor was 1 pM-10 nM with a detection limit of 0.017 fM (S/N = 3). Moreover, the proposed aptasensor is reusable and shows good reproducibility and selectivity for the detection of serotonin in 100-fold diluted rat cerebrospinal fluid, suggesting a good application prospect in the detection of serotonin in real samples.

Genome-Wide Identification and Comparative Analysis of the ASR Gene Family in the Rosaceae and Expression Analysis of PbrASRs During Fruit Development.

The members of the Abscisic Acid (ABA) Stress and Ripening gene family (ASR) encode a class of plant-specific proteins with ABA/WDS domains that play important roles in fruit ripening, abiotic stress tolerance and biotic stress resistance in plants. The ASR gene family has been widely investigated in the monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Although the genome sequence is already available for eight fruit species of the Rosaceae, there is far less information about the evolutionary characteristics and the function of the ASR genes in the Rosaceae than in other plant families. Twenty-seven ASR genes were identified from species in the Rosaceae and divided into four subfamilies (I, II, III, and IV) on the basis of structural characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. Purifying selection was the primary force for ASR family gene evolution in eight Rosaceae species. qPCR experiments showed that the expression pattern of PbrASR genes from Pyrus bretschneideri was organ-specific, being mainly expressed in flower, fruit, leaf, and root. During fruit development, the mRNA abundance levels of different PbrASR genes were either down- or up-regulated, and were also induced by exogenous ABA. Furthermore, subcellular localization results showed that PbrASR proteins were mainly located in the nucleus and cytoplasm. These results provide a theoretical foundation for investigation of the evolution, expression, and functions of the ASR gene family in commercial fruit species of the Rosaceae family.