Overexpression of Soybean GmWRI1a Stably Increases the Seed Oil Content in Soybean.

WRINKLED1 (WRI1), an APETALA2/ethylene-responsive-element-binding protein (AP2/EREBP) subfamily transcription factor, plays a crucial role in the transcriptional regulation of plant fatty acid biosynthesis. In this study, GmWRI1a was overexpressed in the soybean cultivar 'Dongnong 50' using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation to generate three transgenic lines with high seed oil contents. PCR and Southern blotting analysis showed that the T-DNA was inserted into the genome at precise insertion sites and was stably inherited by the progeny. Expression analysis using qRT-PCR and Western blotting indicated that GmWRI1a and bar driven by the CaMV 35S promoter were significantly upregulated in the transgenic plants at different developmental stages. Transcriptome sequencing results showed there were obvious differences in gene expression between transgenic line and transgenic receptor during seed developmental stages. KEGG analysis found that the differentially expressed genes mainly annotated to metabolic pathways, such as carbohydrated metabolism and lipid metabolism. A 2-year single-location field trial revealed that three transgenic lines overexpressing GmWRI1a (GmWRI1a-OE) showed a stable increase in seed oil content of 4.97-10.35%. Importantly, no significant effect on protein content and yield was observed. Overexpression of GmWRI1a changed the fatty acid composition by increasing the linoleic acid (C18:2) content and decreasing the palmitic acid (C16:0) content in the seed. The three GmWRI1a-OE lines showed no significant changes in agronomic traits. The results demonstrated that the three GmWRI1a overexpression lines exhibited consistent increases in seed oil content compared with that of the wild type and did not significantly affect the seed yield and agronomic traits. The genetic engineering of GmWRI1a will be an effective strategy for the improvement of seed oil content and value in soybean.

Investigation of photodynamic therapy optimization for port wine stain using modulation of photosensitizer administration methods.

To raise photosensitizer concentration level during the photodynamic therapy process, two new methods of photosensitizer administration were investigated. The first method involves the slow intravenous injection of photosensitizer throughout the first 15 min of irradiation, and the second method involves 30 min fomentation before photosensitizer injection and irradiation. The fluorescence spectra of port wine stain skin were monitored and the therapeutic effect correlated index was calculated with a previously published spectral algorithm. Thirty cases were divided into group A (slow injection of photosensitizer during the first 15 min), group B (fomentation), and group C (control group, traditional injection method), with 10 cases in each group. To analyze the effect of these two new methods, the change of therapeutic effect correlated index values of two photodynamic therapy sessions for each patient were calculated, and the photodynamic therapy outcome was compared. The results showed that the change of therapeutic effect correlated index in group A was slightly more remarkable than that in the control group. The change of therapeutic effect correlated index in group B was similar to that in the control group. Slow injection of photosensitizer during photodynamic therapy has a potential to increase photosensitizer concentration level during photodynamic therapy. However, fomentation before photodynamic therapy has no such potential. There is a need for new methods to be attempted.

New optional photodynamic therapy laser wavelength for infantile port wine stains: 457 nm.

To expand the optional laser wavelengths of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for port wine stain (PWS), the feasibility of applying a 457 nm laser to the PDT for infantile PWS was analyzed by mathematical simulation and was validated by clinical experiment. Singlet oxygen yield of 457 nm PDT or 532 nm PDT in an infantile PWS model and an adult PWS model was theoretically simulated. Fifteen PWS patients (14 infants and 1 adult) with 40 spots were treated with 457 nm (20 spots) and 532 nm (20 spots), respectively, in two PDT courses. Simulation results showed that under the same power density and irradiation time, singlet oxygen yield of 457 nm PDT and 532 nm PDT are similar in infantile PWS vessels. Yet, in adult PWS vessels, singlet oxygen yield of 457 nm PDT is lower than 532 nm PDT. Clinical outcomes showed that no statistic difference existed between 457 nm PDT and 532 nm PDT for infantile PWS. The result of this study suggested that 457 nm wavelength laser has the potential to be applied in PDT for infantile PWS.

Choosing optimal wavelength for photodynamic therapy of port wine stains by mathematic simulation.

Many laser wavelengths have been used in photodynamic therapy (PDT) for port wine stains (PWS). However, how these wavelengths result in different PDT outcomes has not been clearly illuminated. This study is designed to analyze which wavelengths would be the most advantageous for use in PDT for PWS. The singlet oxygen yield in PDT-treated PWS skin under different wavelengths at the same photosensitizer dosage was simulated and the following three situations were simulated and compared: 1. PDT efficiency of 488, 532, 510, 578, and 630 nm laser irradiation at clinical dosage (100 mW∕cm(2), 40 min); 2. PDT efficiency of different wavelength for PWS with hyperpigmentation after previous PDT; 3. PDT efficiency of different wavelengths for PWS, in which only deeply located ectatic vessels remained. The results showed that singlet oxygen yield is the highest at 510 nm, it is similar at 532 nm and 488 nm, and very low at 578 nm and 630 nm. This result is identical to the state in clinic. According to this theoretical study, the optimal wavelength for PDT in the treatment of PWS should near the absorption peaks of photosensitizer and where absorption from native chromophores (haemoglobin and melanin) is diminished.