Objective:Osteoarthritis(OA)and sarcopenia are significant health concerns in the elderly,substantially impacting their daily activities and quality of life.However,the relationship between them remains poorly underst...Objective:Osteoarthritis(OA)and sarcopenia are significant health concerns in the elderly,substantially impacting their daily activities and quality of life.However,the relationship between them remains poorly understood.This study aims to uncover common biomarkers and pathways associated with both OA and sarcopenia.Methods:Gene expression profiles related to OA and sarcopenia were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between disease and control groups were identified using R software.Common DEGs were extracted via Venn diagram analysis.Gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were conducted to identify biological processes and pathways associated with shared DEGs.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed,and candidate hub genes were ranked using the maximal clique centrality(MCC)algorithm.Further validation of hub gene expression was performed using 2 independent datasets.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of key genes for OA and sarcopenia.Mouse models of OA and sarcopenia were established.Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green staining were used to validate the OA model.The sarcopenia model was validated via rotarod testing and quadriceps muscle mass measurement.Real-time reverse transcription PCR(real-time RT-PCR)was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of candidate key genes in both models.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was conducted to identify pathways associated with the selected shared key genes in both diseases.Results:A total of 89 common DEGs were identified in the gene expression profiles of OA and sarcopenia,including 76 upregulated and 13 downregulated genes.These 89 DEGs were significantly enriched in protein digestion and absorption,the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction.PPI network analysis and MCC algorithm analysis of the 89 common DEGs identified the top 17 candidate hub genes.Based on the differential expression analysis of these 17 candidate hub genes in the validation datasets,AEBP1 and COL8A2 were ultimately selected as the common key genes for both diseases,both of which showed a significant upregulation trend in the disease groups(all P<0.05).The value of area under the curve(AUC)for AEBP1 and COL8A2 in the OA and sarcopenia datasets were all greater than 0.7,indicating that both genes have potential value in predicting OA and sarcopenia.Real-time RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of AEBP1 and COL8A2 were significantly upregulated in the disease groups(all P<0.05),consistent with the results observed in the bioinformatics analysis.GSEA revealed that AEBP1 and COL8A2 were closely related to extracellular matrix-receptor interaction,ribosome,and oxidative phosphorylation in OA and sarcopenia.Conclusion:AEBP1 and COL8A2 have the potential to serve as common biomarkers for OA and sarcopenia.The extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway may represent a potential target for the prevention and treatment of both OA and sarcopenia.展开更多
Background Verticillium dahliae,a soil-borne fungi,can cause Verticillium wilt,and seriously diminish the yield and quality of cotton.However,the pathogenic mechanism of V.dahliae is complex and not clearly understood...Background Verticillium dahliae,a soil-borne fungi,can cause Verticillium wilt,and seriously diminish the yield and quality of cotton.However,the pathogenic mechanism of V.dahliae is complex and not clearly understood at the moment.This study aimed to identify the high-affinity nicotinic acid transporter genes in V.dahliae.The gene expression profiles in V.dahliae following sensing of root exudates from susceptible and resistant cotton varieties were analyzed.The function of VdNAT1 in the pathogenic process of V.dahliae was studied using the tobacco rattle virus(TRV)-based host-induced gene silencing(HIGS)technique.Results Eight high-affinity nicotinic acid transporter genes were identified from V.dahliae through the bioinformatics method.Each protein contains a conserved major facilitator superfamily(MFS)domain,which belongs to the MFS superfamily.Evolutionary relationship analysis revealed that all 8 genes belong to the anion:cation symporter(ACS)subfamily.All proteins have transmembrane domains,ranging from 7 to 12.The expression levels of most VdNAT genes were significantly increased after induction by root exudates from susceptible cotton varieties.Silencing VdNAT1 gene by HIGS significantly inhibited the accumulation of fungal biomass in cotton plants,and alleviated the disease symptoms of cotton.Conclusions Eight VdNAT genes were identified from V.dahliae,and most VdNAT genes was up-regulated after induced by root exudates from susceptible cotton variety.In addition,VdNAT1 is required for the pathogenicity of V.dahliae.Overall,these findings will facilitate the pathogenic molecular mechanism of V.dahliae and provide candidate genes.展开更多
Objective:Keratoconus(KC)is a progressive corneal ectasia disorder,arising from a myriad of causes including genetic predispositions,environmental factors,biomechanical influences,and inflammatory reactions.This study...Objective:Keratoconus(KC)is a progressive corneal ectasia disorder,arising from a myriad of causes including genetic predispositions,environmental factors,biomechanical influences,and inflammatory reactions.This study aims to identify potential pathogenetic gene mutations in patients with sporadic KC in the Han Chinese population.Methods:Twenty-five patients with primary KC as well as 50 unrelated population matched healthy controls,were included in this study to identify potential pathogenic gene mutations among sporadic KC patients in the Han Chinese population.Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing(WES)were used to analyze mutations in the zinc finger protein 469(ZNF469)gene.Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to explore the potential role of ZNF469 in KC pathogenesis.Results:Five novel heterozygous missense variants were identified in KC patients.Among them,2 compound heterozygous variants,c.8986G>C(p.E2996Q)with c.11765A>C(p.D3922A),and c.4423C>G(p.L1475V)with c.10633G>A(p.G3545R),were determined to be possible pathogenic factors for KC.Conclusion:Mutations in the ZNF469 gene may contribute to the development of KC in the Han Chinese population.These mutation sites may provide valuable information for future genetic screening of KC patients and their families.展开更多
Objective To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress.Methods Twenty male SD rats were ra...Objective To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress.Methods Twenty male SD rats were randomized equally into control group and heat stress group.After exposure to 32℃for 2 weeks in the latter group,the rats were examined for histopathological changes and Bmal1 expression in the thoracic aorta using HE staining and immunohistochemistry.In the cell experiments,cultured rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells(RTAECs)were incubated at 40℃for 12 h with or without prior transfection with a Bmal1-specific small interfering RNA(si-Bmal1)or a negative sequence.In both rat thoracic aorta and RTAECs,the expressions of Bmal1,the cell cycle proteins CDK1,CDK4,CDK6,and cyclin B1,and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting.TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis in rat thoracic aorta,and the changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in RTAECs were analyzed with flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control rats,the rats exposed to heat stress showed significantly increased blood pressures and lowered heart rate with elastic fiber disruption and increased expressions of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 in the thoracic aorta(P<0.05).In cultured RTAECs,heat stress caused significant increase of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 protein expression levels,which were obviously lowered in cells with prior si-Bmal1 transfection.Bmal1 knockdown also inhibited heat stress-induced increase of apoptosis in RTAECs as evidenced by decreased expression of Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2.Conclusion Heat stress upregulates Bmal1 expression and causes alterations in expressions of cyclins to trigger apoptosis of rat thoracic aorta endothelial cells,which can be partly alleviated by suppressing Bmal1 expression.展开更多
Background: Cytoplasmic male sterility in flowering plants is a convenient way to use heterosis via hybrid breeding and may be restored by nuclear restorer-of-fertility(Rf) genes. In most cases, Rf genes encoded penta...Background: Cytoplasmic male sterility in flowering plants is a convenient way to use heterosis via hybrid breeding and may be restored by nuclear restorer-of-fertility(Rf) genes. In most cases, Rf genes encoded pentatricopeptide repeat(PPR) proteins and several Rf genes are present in clusters of similar Rf-PPR-like(RFL) genes. However, the Rf genes in cotton were not fully characterized until now.Results: In total, 35 RFL genes were identified in G. hirsutum, 16 in G. arboreum, and 24 in G. raimondii. Additionally,four RFL-rich regions were identified; the RFL-rich region in Gh05 is the probable location of Rf-PPR genes in cotton and will be studied further in the future. Furthermore, an insertion sequence was identified in the promoter sequence of Gh05 G3392 gene in the restorer line, as compared with the CMS-D2 line and maintainer lines. An InDel-R marker was then developed and could be used to distinguish the restorer line carrying Rfl from other genotypes without the Rf1 allele.Conclusion: In this study, genome-wide identification and analysis of RFL genes have identified the candidate Rf-PPR genes for CMS in Gossypium. The identification and analysis of RFL genes and sequence variation analysis will be useful for cloning Rf genes in the future and also for three-line hybrid breeding in cotton.展开更多
Gene expression profiling at early stages(0～2 DPA) of fiber development in Gossypium hirsutum identified a number of transcription factors which were down regulated in fiberless mutants relative to wild type controls...Gene expression profiling at early stages(0～2 DPA) of fiber development in Gossypium hirsutum identified a number of transcription factors which were down regulated in fiberless mutants relative to wild type controls and which could play a role in controlling early fiber development.Chief among these was GhMYB25,a Mixta-like MYB gene.Transgenic GhMYB25-silenced cotton展开更多
Background:INDETERMINATE DOMAIN(IDD)transcription factors form one of the largest and most conserved gene families in plant kingdom and play important roles in various processes of plant growth and development,such as...Background:INDETERMINATE DOMAIN(IDD)transcription factors form one of the largest and most conserved gene families in plant kingdom and play important roles in various processes of plant growth and development,such as flower induction in term of flowering control.Till date,systematic and functional analysis of IDD genes remained infancy in cotton.Results:In this study,we identified total of 162 IDD genes from eight different plant species including 65 IDD genes in Gossypium hirsutum.Phylogenetic analysis divided IDDs genes into seven well distinct groups.The gene structures and conserved motifs of GhIDD genes depicted highly conserved exon-intron and protein motif distribution patterns.Gene duplication analysis revealed that among 142 orthologous gene pairs,54 pairs have been derived by segmental duplication events and four pairs by tandem duplication events.Further,Ka/Ks values of most of orthologous/paralogous gene pairs were less than one suggested the purifying selection pressure during evolution.Spatiotemporal expression pattern by qRT-PCR revealed that most of the investigated GhIDD genes showed higher transcript levels in ovule of seven days post anthesis,and upregulated response under the treatments of multiple abiotic stresses.Conclusions:Evolutionary analysis revealed that IDD gene family was highly conserved in plant during the rapid phase of evolution.Whole genome duplication,segmental as well as tandem duplication significantly contributed to the expansion of IDD gene family in upland cotton.Some distinct genes evolved into special subfamily and indicated potential role in the allotetraploidy Gossypium hisutum evolution and development High transcript levels of GhIDD genes in ovules illustrated their potential roles in seed and fiber development Further,upregulated responses of GhIDD genes under the treatments of various abiotic stresses suggested them as important genetic regulators to improve stress resistance in cotton breeding.展开更多
Background： RING H2 finger E3 ligase （RH2FE3） genes encode cysteine rich proteins that mediate E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and degrade target substrates. The roles of these genes in plant responses to phytohormone...Background： RING H2 finger E3 ligase （RH2FE3） genes encode cysteine rich proteins that mediate E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and degrade target substrates. The roles of these genes in plant responses to phytohormones and abiotic stresses are well documented in various species, but their roles in cotton fiber development are poorly understood. To date, genome wide identification and expression analyses of Gossypium hirsutum RH2FE3 genes have not been reported. Methods： We performed computational identification, structural and phylogenetic analyses, chromosomal distribution analysis and estimated KJKs values of G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes. Orthologous and paralogous gene pairs were identified by all versus all BLASTP searches. We predicted cis regulatory elements and analyzed microarray data sets to generate heatmaps at different development stages. Tissue specific expression in cotton fiber, and hormonal and abiotic stress responses were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction （qRT PCR） analysis. Results： We investigated 140 G hirsutum, 80 G. orboreum, and evolutionary mechanisms and compared them with orthologs 89 G. roimondii putative RH2FB genes and their in Arobidopsis and rice. A domain based analysis of the G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes predicted conserved signature motifs and gene structures. Chromosomal localization showed the genes were distributed across all G hirsutum chromosomes, and 60 duplication events （4 tandem and 56 segmental duplications） and 98 orthologs were detected, cis elements were detected in the promoter regions of G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes. Microarray data and qRT PCR analyses showed that G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes were strongly correlated with cotton fiber development. Additionally, almost all the （brassinolide, gibberellic acid （GA）, indole 3-acetic acid drought, and salt）. dentified genes were up regulated in response to phytohormones （IAA）, and salicylic acid （SA）） and abiotic stresses （cold, heat, Conclusions： The genome wide identification, comprehensive analysis, and characterization of conserved domains and gene structures, as well as phylogenetic analysis, cis element prediction, and expression profile analysis of G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes and their roles in cotton fiber development and responses to plant hormones and abiotic stresses are reported here for the first time. Our findings will contribute to the genome wide analysis of putative RH2FE3 genes in other species and lay a foundation for future physiological and functional research on G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes.展开更多
Background: Cotton is an important commercial crop for being a valuable source of natural fiber.Its production has undergone a sharp decline because of abiotic stresses,etc.Drought is one of the major abiotic stress c...Background: Cotton is an important commercial crop for being a valuable source of natural fiber.Its production has undergone a sharp decline because of abiotic stresses,etc.Drought is one of the major abiotic stress causing significant yield losses in cotton.However,plants have evolved self-defense mechanisms to cope abiotic factors like drought,salt,cold,etc.The evolution of stress responsive transcription factors such as the trihelix,a nodule-inception-like protein(NLP),and the late embryogenesis abundant proteins have shown positive response in the resistance improvement to several abiotic stresses.Results: Genome wide identification and characterization of the effects of Light-Harvesting Chloro a/b binding(LHC)genes were carried out in cotton under drought stress conditions.A hundred and nine proteins encoded by the LHC genes were found in the cotton genome,with 55,27,and 27 genes found to be distributed in Gossypium hirsutum,G.arboreum,and G.raimondii,respectively.The proteins encoded by the genes were unevenly distributed on various chromosomes.The Ka/Ks(Non-synonymous substitution rate/Synonymous substitution rate)values were less than one,an indication of negative selection of the gene family.Differential expressions of genes showed that majority of the genes are being highly upregulated in the roots as compared with leaves and stem tissues.Most genes were found to be highly expressed in MR-85,a relative drought tolerant germplasm.Conclusion: The results provide proofs of the possible role of the LHC genes in improving drought stress tolerance,and can be explored by cotton breeders in releasing a more drought tolerant cotton varieties.展开更多
Taking Ta–W alloy system as an example, the concentration formulae of alloy genes of DO3-type alloys in BCC structures were derived on the basis of the theory of alloy genes and the number of coordination atoms. The ...Taking Ta–W alloy system as an example, the concentration formulae of alloy genes of DO3-type alloys in BCC structures were derived on the basis of the theory of alloy genes and the number of coordination atoms. The concentrations of alloy genes of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W ordered alloys were calculated as functions of composition xW and ordering degree （s）. When s=smax, the concentrations of alloy genes of stoichiometric DO3-TaW3 compound are equal to those of alloys, that is, x8^Ta=0.25（at）,x4^W=0.5（at）,x8^W=0.25（at）The concentrations of alloy genes of stoichiometric DO3-Ta3W compound are also equal to those of alloys, that is,x0^Ta=0.25（at）,x4^Ta=0.5（at）,x0^W=0.25（at）. As ordering degree decreases, alloy genes of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W ordered alloys will split. And the degree of splitting of alloy genes increases with the ordering degree decreasing. The atomic states and properties of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W ordered alloys were calculated as a function of composition xW. The reason was pointed out that preparation of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W intermetallic compounds is difficult due to small differences in their cohesive energies. It will provide theoretical guidance for the scientific designation to new candidate for ultra- high-temperature materials in areo-engine applications.展开更多
Background:The cotton crop is universally considered as protein and edible oil source besides the major contributor of natural fiber and is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world Unpredicted enviro...Background:The cotton crop is universally considered as protein and edible oil source besides the major contributor of natural fiber and is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world Unpredicted environmental stresses are becoming significant threats to sustainable cotton production,ultimately leading to a substantial irreversible economic loss.Mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)is generally considered essential for recognizing environmental stresses through phosphorylating downstream signal pathways and plays a vital role in numerous biological processes.Results:We have identified 74 MAPK genes across cotton,41 from G.hirsutum,19 from G.raimondii,whereas 14 have been identified from G.arboreum.The MAPK gene-proteins have been further studied to determine their physicochemical characteristics and other essential features.In this perspective,characterization,phylogenetic relationship,chromosomal mapping,gene motif,cis-regulatory element,and subcellular localization were carried out.Based on phylogenetic analysis,the MAPK family in cotton is usually categorized as A,B,C,D,and E clade.According to the results of the phylogenic relationship,cotton has more MAPKS genes in Clade A than Clade B.The cis-elements identified were classified into five groups(hormone responsiveness,light responsiveness,stress responsiveness,cellular development,and binding site).The prevalence of such elements across the promoter region of these genes signifies their role in the growth and development of plants.Seven GHMAPK genes(GH_A07G1527,GH_D02G1138,GH_D03G0121,GH_D03G1517,GH_D05G1003,GH_D11G0040,and GH_D12G2528)were selected,and specific tissue expression and profiling were performed across drought and salt stresses.Results expressed that six genes were upregulated under drought treatment except for GH_D11G0040 which is downregulated.Whereas all the seven genes have been upregulated at various hours of salt stress treatment.Conclusions:RNA sequence and qPCR results showed that genes as differentially expressed across both vegetative and reproductive plant parts.Similarly,the qPCR analysis showed that six genes had been upregulated substantially through drought treatment while all the seven genes were upregulated across salt treatments.The results of this study showed that cotton GHMPK3 genes play an important role in improving cotton resistance to drought and salt stresses.MAPKs are thought to play a significant regulatory function in plants’responses to abiotic stresses according to various studies.MAPKs’involvement in abiotic stress signaling and innovation is a key goal for crop species research,especially in crop breeding.展开更多
Background:Cotton is mainly grown for its natural fiber and edible oil.The fiber obtained from cotton is the indispensable raw material for the textile industries.The ever changing climatic condition,threatens cotton ...Background:Cotton is mainly grown for its natural fiber and edible oil.The fiber obtained from cotton is the indispensable raw material for the textile industries.The ever changing climatic condition,threatens cotton production due to a lack of sufficient water for its cultivation.Effects of drought stress are estimated to affect more than 50%of the cotton growing regions.To elucidate the drought tolerance phenomenon in cotton,a backcross population was developed from G.tomentosum,a drought tolerant donor parent and G.hirsutum which is highly susceptible to drought stress.Results:A genetic map of 10888 SNP markers was developed from 200 BC_2F_2 populations.The map spanned 4191.3 centi-Morgan(c M),with an average distance of 0.1047 c M,covering 51%and 49%of At and Dt sub genomes,respectively.Thirty stable Quantitative trait loci(QTLs)were detected,in which more than a half were detected in the At subgenome.Eighty-nine candidate genes were mined within the QTL regions for three traits:cell membrane stability(CMS),saturated leaf weight(SLW)and chlorophyll content.The genes had varied physiochemical properties.A majority of the genes were interrupted by introns,and only 15 genes were intronless,accounting for 17%of the mined genes.The genes were found to be involved molecular function(MF),cellular component(CC)and biological process(BP),which are the main gene ontological(GO)functions.A number of mi RNAs were detected,such as mi R164,which is associated with NAC and MYB genes,with a profound role in enhancing drought tolerance in plants.Through RT-q PCR analysis,5 genes were found to be the key genes involved in enhancing drought tolerance in cotton.Wild cotton harbors a number of favorable alleles,which can be exploited to aid in improving the narrow genetic base of the elite cotton cultivars.The detection of 30 stable QTLs and 89 candidate genes found to be contributed by the donor parent,G.tomentosum,showed the significant genes harbored by the wild progenitors which can be exploited in developing more robust cotton genotypes with diverse tolerance levels to various environmental stresses.Conclusion:This was the first study involving genome wide association mapping for drought tolerance traits in semi wild cotton genotypes.It offers an opportunity for future exploration of these genes in developing highly tolerant cotton cultivars to boost cotton production.展开更多
Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.)is a thermophilic vegetable crop,but sensitive to high temperature stress,especially under the greenhouse conditions.Due to global climate changes,heat stress has now become a great thre...Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.)is a thermophilic vegetable crop,but sensitive to high temperature stress,especially under the greenhouse conditions.Due to global climate changes,heat stress has now become a great threat to tomato production and fruit quality.Many studies have been conducted to determine the functions of genes in tomato responsive to abiotic and biotic stresses,but transcriptomic information on heat stress responses of tomato fruit is still limited.To investigate heat stress associated genes in tomato fruit,a cDNA library was constructed using fruit harvested from tomato cv.P19-9 plants grown under 42℃for 0,1,2 and4 h and the expression profiles of heat stress responsive genes in tomato fruit were analyzed through RNA-seq.A total of 632224558 clean high quality paired-end reads were obtained and then mapped to reference genome for RNA-seq analysis.After quality control analysis,alignment analysis and transcript assembly,a total of 55457 RNA transcripts were obtained with functional annotations.Overall,6869 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified with a significant response to one or more of the three heat stress treatment times.Based on GO enrichment analysis,22 genes potentially involved in tomato thermo-tolerance were selected and validated for their expressions through qPCR.The expression profile of tomato fruit genes obtained in this study could shed light on the mechanism and gene editing breeding projects for tomato thermo-tolerance.These findings could also benefit improvement of harvest and storage of tomato in greenhouse.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82060418).
文摘Objective:Osteoarthritis(OA)and sarcopenia are significant health concerns in the elderly,substantially impacting their daily activities and quality of life.However,the relationship between them remains poorly understood.This study aims to uncover common biomarkers and pathways associated with both OA and sarcopenia.Methods:Gene expression profiles related to OA and sarcopenia were retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between disease and control groups were identified using R software.Common DEGs were extracted via Venn diagram analysis.Gene ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analyses were conducted to identify biological processes and pathways associated with shared DEGs.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were constructed,and candidate hub genes were ranked using the maximal clique centrality(MCC)algorithm.Further validation of hub gene expression was performed using 2 independent datasets.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis was used to evaluate the predictive value of key genes for OA and sarcopenia.Mouse models of OA and sarcopenia were established.Hematoxylin-eosin and Safranin O/Fast Green staining were used to validate the OA model.The sarcopenia model was validated via rotarod testing and quadriceps muscle mass measurement.Real-time reverse transcription PCR(real-time RT-PCR)was employed to assess the mRNA expression levels of candidate key genes in both models.Gene set enrichment analysis(GSEA)was conducted to identify pathways associated with the selected shared key genes in both diseases.Results:A total of 89 common DEGs were identified in the gene expression profiles of OA and sarcopenia,including 76 upregulated and 13 downregulated genes.These 89 DEGs were significantly enriched in protein digestion and absorption,the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway,and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction.PPI network analysis and MCC algorithm analysis of the 89 common DEGs identified the top 17 candidate hub genes.Based on the differential expression analysis of these 17 candidate hub genes in the validation datasets,AEBP1 and COL8A2 were ultimately selected as the common key genes for both diseases,both of which showed a significant upregulation trend in the disease groups(all P<0.05).The value of area under the curve(AUC)for AEBP1 and COL8A2 in the OA and sarcopenia datasets were all greater than 0.7,indicating that both genes have potential value in predicting OA and sarcopenia.Real-time RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of AEBP1 and COL8A2 were significantly upregulated in the disease groups(all P<0.05),consistent with the results observed in the bioinformatics analysis.GSEA revealed that AEBP1 and COL8A2 were closely related to extracellular matrix-receptor interaction,ribosome,and oxidative phosphorylation in OA and sarcopenia.Conclusion:AEBP1 and COL8A2 have the potential to serve as common biomarkers for OA and sarcopenia.The extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway may represent a potential target for the prevention and treatment of both OA and sarcopenia.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32160615).
文摘Background Verticillium dahliae,a soil-borne fungi,can cause Verticillium wilt,and seriously diminish the yield and quality of cotton.However,the pathogenic mechanism of V.dahliae is complex and not clearly understood at the moment.This study aimed to identify the high-affinity nicotinic acid transporter genes in V.dahliae.The gene expression profiles in V.dahliae following sensing of root exudates from susceptible and resistant cotton varieties were analyzed.The function of VdNAT1 in the pathogenic process of V.dahliae was studied using the tobacco rattle virus(TRV)-based host-induced gene silencing(HIGS)technique.Results Eight high-affinity nicotinic acid transporter genes were identified from V.dahliae through the bioinformatics method.Each protein contains a conserved major facilitator superfamily(MFS)domain,which belongs to the MFS superfamily.Evolutionary relationship analysis revealed that all 8 genes belong to the anion:cation symporter(ACS)subfamily.All proteins have transmembrane domains,ranging from 7 to 12.The expression levels of most VdNAT genes were significantly increased after induction by root exudates from susceptible cotton varieties.Silencing VdNAT1 gene by HIGS significantly inhibited the accumulation of fungal biomass in cotton plants,and alleviated the disease symptoms of cotton.Conclusions Eight VdNAT genes were identified from V.dahliae,and most VdNAT genes was up-regulated after induced by root exudates from susceptible cotton variety.In addition,VdNAT1 is required for the pathogenicity of V.dahliae.Overall,these findings will facilitate the pathogenic molecular mechanism of V.dahliae and provide candidate genes.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(82271057)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(2023JJ30818),China。
文摘Objective:Keratoconus(KC)is a progressive corneal ectasia disorder,arising from a myriad of causes including genetic predispositions,environmental factors,biomechanical influences,and inflammatory reactions.This study aims to identify potential pathogenetic gene mutations in patients with sporadic KC in the Han Chinese population.Methods:Twenty-five patients with primary KC as well as 50 unrelated population matched healthy controls,were included in this study to identify potential pathogenic gene mutations among sporadic KC patients in the Han Chinese population.Sanger sequencing and whole-exome sequencing(WES)were used to analyze mutations in the zinc finger protein 469(ZNF469)gene.Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to explore the potential role of ZNF469 in KC pathogenesis.Results:Five novel heterozygous missense variants were identified in KC patients.Among them,2 compound heterozygous variants,c.8986G>C(p.E2996Q)with c.11765A>C(p.D3922A),and c.4423C>G(p.L1475V)with c.10633G>A(p.G3545R),were determined to be possible pathogenic factors for KC.Conclusion:Mutations in the ZNF469 gene may contribute to the development of KC in the Han Chinese population.These mutation sites may provide valuable information for future genetic screening of KC patients and their families.
文摘Objective To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress.Methods Twenty male SD rats were randomized equally into control group and heat stress group.After exposure to 32℃for 2 weeks in the latter group,the rats were examined for histopathological changes and Bmal1 expression in the thoracic aorta using HE staining and immunohistochemistry.In the cell experiments,cultured rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells(RTAECs)were incubated at 40℃for 12 h with or without prior transfection with a Bmal1-specific small interfering RNA(si-Bmal1)or a negative sequence.In both rat thoracic aorta and RTAECs,the expressions of Bmal1,the cell cycle proteins CDK1,CDK4,CDK6,and cyclin B1,and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting.TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis in rat thoracic aorta,and the changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in RTAECs were analyzed with flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control rats,the rats exposed to heat stress showed significantly increased blood pressures and lowered heart rate with elastic fiber disruption and increased expressions of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 in the thoracic aorta(P<0.05).In cultured RTAECs,heat stress caused significant increase of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 protein expression levels,which were obviously lowered in cells with prior si-Bmal1 transfection.Bmal1 knockdown also inhibited heat stress-induced increase of apoptosis in RTAECs as evidenced by decreased expression of Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2.Conclusion Heat stress upregulates Bmal1 expression and causes alterations in expressions of cyclins to trigger apoptosis of rat thoracic aorta endothelial cells,which can be partly alleviated by suppressing Bmal1 expression.
基金financed by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0101400)Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology(CB2018C06)
文摘Background: Cytoplasmic male sterility in flowering plants is a convenient way to use heterosis via hybrid breeding and may be restored by nuclear restorer-of-fertility(Rf) genes. In most cases, Rf genes encoded pentatricopeptide repeat(PPR) proteins and several Rf genes are present in clusters of similar Rf-PPR-like(RFL) genes. However, the Rf genes in cotton were not fully characterized until now.Results: In total, 35 RFL genes were identified in G. hirsutum, 16 in G. arboreum, and 24 in G. raimondii. Additionally,four RFL-rich regions were identified; the RFL-rich region in Gh05 is the probable location of Rf-PPR genes in cotton and will be studied further in the future. Furthermore, an insertion sequence was identified in the promoter sequence of Gh05 G3392 gene in the restorer line, as compared with the CMS-D2 line and maintainer lines. An InDel-R marker was then developed and could be used to distinguish the restorer line carrying Rfl from other genotypes without the Rf1 allele.Conclusion: In this study, genome-wide identification and analysis of RFL genes have identified the candidate Rf-PPR genes for CMS in Gossypium. The identification and analysis of RFL genes and sequence variation analysis will be useful for cloning Rf genes in the future and also for three-line hybrid breeding in cotton.
文摘Gene expression profiling at early stages(0～2 DPA) of fiber development in Gossypium hirsutum identified a number of transcription factors which were down regulated in fiberless mutants relative to wild type controls and which could play a role in controlling early fiber development.Chief among these was GhMYB25,a Mixta-like MYB gene.Transgenic GhMYB25-silenced cotton
基金supported by the Major Research Plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China(NO.31690093)Creative Research Groups of China(31621005)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program Cooperation and Innovation Mission(CAAS-XTCX2016)
文摘Background:INDETERMINATE DOMAIN(IDD)transcription factors form one of the largest and most conserved gene families in plant kingdom and play important roles in various processes of plant growth and development,such as flower induction in term of flowering control.Till date,systematic and functional analysis of IDD genes remained infancy in cotton.Results:In this study,we identified total of 162 IDD genes from eight different plant species including 65 IDD genes in Gossypium hirsutum.Phylogenetic analysis divided IDDs genes into seven well distinct groups.The gene structures and conserved motifs of GhIDD genes depicted highly conserved exon-intron and protein motif distribution patterns.Gene duplication analysis revealed that among 142 orthologous gene pairs,54 pairs have been derived by segmental duplication events and four pairs by tandem duplication events.Further,Ka/Ks values of most of orthologous/paralogous gene pairs were less than one suggested the purifying selection pressure during evolution.Spatiotemporal expression pattern by qRT-PCR revealed that most of the investigated GhIDD genes showed higher transcript levels in ovule of seven days post anthesis,and upregulated response under the treatments of multiple abiotic stresses.Conclusions:Evolutionary analysis revealed that IDD gene family was highly conserved in plant during the rapid phase of evolution.Whole genome duplication,segmental as well as tandem duplication significantly contributed to the expansion of IDD gene family in upland cotton.Some distinct genes evolved into special subfamily and indicated potential role in the allotetraploidy Gossypium hisutum evolution and development High transcript levels of GhIDD genes in ovules illustrated their potential roles in seed and fiber development Further,upregulated responses of GhIDD genes under the treatments of various abiotic stresses suggested them as important genetic regulators to improve stress resistance in cotton breeding.
基金supported by the Major Research Plan of National Natural Science Foundation of China(NO.31690093)Young Elite Scientist Sponsorship Program by CAST(China Association for Science and Technology)
文摘Background： RING H2 finger E3 ligase （RH2FE3） genes encode cysteine rich proteins that mediate E3 ubiquitin ligase activity and degrade target substrates. The roles of these genes in plant responses to phytohormones and abiotic stresses are well documented in various species, but their roles in cotton fiber development are poorly understood. To date, genome wide identification and expression analyses of Gossypium hirsutum RH2FE3 genes have not been reported. Methods： We performed computational identification, structural and phylogenetic analyses, chromosomal distribution analysis and estimated KJKs values of G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes. Orthologous and paralogous gene pairs were identified by all versus all BLASTP searches. We predicted cis regulatory elements and analyzed microarray data sets to generate heatmaps at different development stages. Tissue specific expression in cotton fiber, and hormonal and abiotic stress responses were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction （qRT PCR） analysis. Results： We investigated 140 G hirsutum, 80 G. orboreum, and evolutionary mechanisms and compared them with orthologs 89 G. roimondii putative RH2FB genes and their in Arobidopsis and rice. A domain based analysis of the G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes predicted conserved signature motifs and gene structures. Chromosomal localization showed the genes were distributed across all G hirsutum chromosomes, and 60 duplication events （4 tandem and 56 segmental duplications） and 98 orthologs were detected, cis elements were detected in the promoter regions of G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes. Microarray data and qRT PCR analyses showed that G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes were strongly correlated with cotton fiber development. Additionally, almost all the （brassinolide, gibberellic acid （GA）, indole 3-acetic acid drought, and salt）. dentified genes were up regulated in response to phytohormones （IAA）, and salicylic acid （SA）） and abiotic stresses （cold, heat, Conclusions： The genome wide identification, comprehensive analysis, and characterization of conserved domains and gene structures, as well as phylogenetic analysis, cis element prediction, and expression profile analysis of G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes and their roles in cotton fiber development and responses to plant hormones and abiotic stresses are reported here for the first time. Our findings will contribute to the genome wide analysis of putative RH2FE3 genes in other species and lay a foundation for future physiological and functional research on G hirsutum RH2FE3 genes.
基金This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,grant number 31621005,31530053,31671745The National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFE0101200),PSF/CRP/18thProtocol(07).
文摘Background: Cotton is an important commercial crop for being a valuable source of natural fiber.Its production has undergone a sharp decline because of abiotic stresses,etc.Drought is one of the major abiotic stress causing significant yield losses in cotton.However,plants have evolved self-defense mechanisms to cope abiotic factors like drought,salt,cold,etc.The evolution of stress responsive transcription factors such as the trihelix,a nodule-inception-like protein(NLP),and the late embryogenesis abundant proteins have shown positive response in the resistance improvement to several abiotic stresses.Results: Genome wide identification and characterization of the effects of Light-Harvesting Chloro a/b binding(LHC)genes were carried out in cotton under drought stress conditions.A hundred and nine proteins encoded by the LHC genes were found in the cotton genome,with 55,27,and 27 genes found to be distributed in Gossypium hirsutum,G.arboreum,and G.raimondii,respectively.The proteins encoded by the genes were unevenly distributed on various chromosomes.The Ka/Ks(Non-synonymous substitution rate/Synonymous substitution rate)values were less than one,an indication of negative selection of the gene family.Differential expressions of genes showed that majority of the genes are being highly upregulated in the roots as compared with leaves and stem tissues.Most genes were found to be highly expressed in MR-85,a relative drought tolerant germplasm.Conclusion: The results provide proofs of the possible role of the LHC genes in improving drought stress tolerance,and can be explored by cotton breeders in releasing a more drought tolerant cotton varieties.
基金Project(50954006) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject(2014-12) supported by the Environmental Protection Department of Hunan,China+1 种基金Project(2016TP1007) supported by the Hunan Provincial Science and Technology Plan Project,ChinaProject(2016-01) supported by the Development and Reform Commission of Hunan Province,China
文摘Taking Ta–W alloy system as an example, the concentration formulae of alloy genes of DO3-type alloys in BCC structures were derived on the basis of the theory of alloy genes and the number of coordination atoms. The concentrations of alloy genes of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W ordered alloys were calculated as functions of composition xW and ordering degree （s）. When s=smax, the concentrations of alloy genes of stoichiometric DO3-TaW3 compound are equal to those of alloys, that is, x8^Ta=0.25（at）,x4^W=0.5（at）,x8^W=0.25（at）The concentrations of alloy genes of stoichiometric DO3-Ta3W compound are also equal to those of alloys, that is,x0^Ta=0.25（at）,x4^Ta=0.5（at）,x0^W=0.25（at）. As ordering degree decreases, alloy genes of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W ordered alloys will split. And the degree of splitting of alloy genes increases with the ordering degree decreasing. The atomic states and properties of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W ordered alloys were calculated as a function of composition xW. The reason was pointed out that preparation of DO3-TaW3 and DO3-Ta3W intermetallic compounds is difficult due to small differences in their cohesive energies. It will provide theoretical guidance for the scientific designation to new candidate for ultra- high-temperature materials in areo-engine applications.
基金funded by National Key R&D Program of China(2020YFD1001004).
文摘Background:The cotton crop is universally considered as protein and edible oil source besides the major contributor of natural fiber and is grown in tropical and subtropical regions around the world Unpredicted environmental stresses are becoming significant threats to sustainable cotton production,ultimately leading to a substantial irreversible economic loss.Mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK)is generally considered essential for recognizing environmental stresses through phosphorylating downstream signal pathways and plays a vital role in numerous biological processes.Results:We have identified 74 MAPK genes across cotton,41 from G.hirsutum,19 from G.raimondii,whereas 14 have been identified from G.arboreum.The MAPK gene-proteins have been further studied to determine their physicochemical characteristics and other essential features.In this perspective,characterization,phylogenetic relationship,chromosomal mapping,gene motif,cis-regulatory element,and subcellular localization were carried out.Based on phylogenetic analysis,the MAPK family in cotton is usually categorized as A,B,C,D,and E clade.According to the results of the phylogenic relationship,cotton has more MAPKS genes in Clade A than Clade B.The cis-elements identified were classified into five groups(hormone responsiveness,light responsiveness,stress responsiveness,cellular development,and binding site).The prevalence of such elements across the promoter region of these genes signifies their role in the growth and development of plants.Seven GHMAPK genes(GH_A07G1527,GH_D02G1138,GH_D03G0121,GH_D03G1517,GH_D05G1003,GH_D11G0040,and GH_D12G2528)were selected,and specific tissue expression and profiling were performed across drought and salt stresses.Results expressed that six genes were upregulated under drought treatment except for GH_D11G0040 which is downregulated.Whereas all the seven genes have been upregulated at various hours of salt stress treatment.Conclusions:RNA sequence and qPCR results showed that genes as differentially expressed across both vegetative and reproductive plant parts.Similarly,the qPCR analysis showed that six genes had been upregulated substantially through drought treatment while all the seven genes were upregulated across salt treatments.The results of this study showed that cotton GHMPK3 genes play an important role in improving cotton resistance to drought and salt stresses.MAPKs are thought to play a significant regulatory function in plants’responses to abiotic stresses according to various studies.MAPKs’involvement in abiotic stress signaling and innovation is a key goal for crop species research,especially in crop breeding.
基金program was financially sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31671745,31530053)the National key research and development plan(2016YFD0100306)。
文摘Background:Cotton is mainly grown for its natural fiber and edible oil.The fiber obtained from cotton is the indispensable raw material for the textile industries.The ever changing climatic condition,threatens cotton production due to a lack of sufficient water for its cultivation.Effects of drought stress are estimated to affect more than 50%of the cotton growing regions.To elucidate the drought tolerance phenomenon in cotton,a backcross population was developed from G.tomentosum,a drought tolerant donor parent and G.hirsutum which is highly susceptible to drought stress.Results:A genetic map of 10888 SNP markers was developed from 200 BC_2F_2 populations.The map spanned 4191.3 centi-Morgan(c M),with an average distance of 0.1047 c M,covering 51%and 49%of At and Dt sub genomes,respectively.Thirty stable Quantitative trait loci(QTLs)were detected,in which more than a half were detected in the At subgenome.Eighty-nine candidate genes were mined within the QTL regions for three traits:cell membrane stability(CMS),saturated leaf weight(SLW)and chlorophyll content.The genes had varied physiochemical properties.A majority of the genes were interrupted by introns,and only 15 genes were intronless,accounting for 17%of the mined genes.The genes were found to be involved molecular function(MF),cellular component(CC)and biological process(BP),which are the main gene ontological(GO)functions.A number of mi RNAs were detected,such as mi R164,which is associated with NAC and MYB genes,with a profound role in enhancing drought tolerance in plants.Through RT-q PCR analysis,5 genes were found to be the key genes involved in enhancing drought tolerance in cotton.Wild cotton harbors a number of favorable alleles,which can be exploited to aid in improving the narrow genetic base of the elite cotton cultivars.The detection of 30 stable QTLs and 89 candidate genes found to be contributed by the donor parent,G.tomentosum,showed the significant genes harbored by the wild progenitors which can be exploited in developing more robust cotton genotypes with diverse tolerance levels to various environmental stresses.Conclusion:This was the first study involving genome wide association mapping for drought tolerance traits in semi wild cotton genotypes.It offers an opportunity for future exploration of these genes in developing highly tolerant cotton cultivars to boost cotton production.
文摘Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.)is a thermophilic vegetable crop,but sensitive to high temperature stress,especially under the greenhouse conditions.Due to global climate changes,heat stress has now become a great threat to tomato production and fruit quality.Many studies have been conducted to determine the functions of genes in tomato responsive to abiotic and biotic stresses,but transcriptomic information on heat stress responses of tomato fruit is still limited.To investigate heat stress associated genes in tomato fruit,a cDNA library was constructed using fruit harvested from tomato cv.P19-9 plants grown under 42℃for 0,1,2 and4 h and the expression profiles of heat stress responsive genes in tomato fruit were analyzed through RNA-seq.A total of 632224558 clean high quality paired-end reads were obtained and then mapped to reference genome for RNA-seq analysis.After quality control analysis,alignment analysis and transcript assembly,a total of 55457 RNA transcripts were obtained with functional annotations.Overall,6869 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified with a significant response to one or more of the three heat stress treatment times.Based on GO enrichment analysis,22 genes potentially involved in tomato thermo-tolerance were selected and validated for their expressions through qPCR.The expression profile of tomato fruit genes obtained in this study could shed light on the mechanism and gene editing breeding projects for tomato thermo-tolerance.These findings could also benefit improvement of harvest and storage of tomato in greenhouse.
