Plant growth regulator and its interactions with environment and genotype affect maize optimal plant density and yield

Increasing planting density is important to raise maize yield, however, high density often leads to an increase risk of lodging due to dense canopy and weak stem. Maize yield and optimal plant density are increased by applying plant growth regulator compound of ethephon and DA-6, however, we do not know if this compound would interact with location and genotype. In this study, a novel plant growth regulator, as the synthesis of N, N- diethyl − 2 − hexanoyl oxygen radicals − ethyl amine (2-ethyl chloride) phosphonic acid salt (DHEAP), combining the effects of ethephon and DA-6 in one chemical, was developed and tested at three locations, five plant densities (6.75, 8.25, 9.75, 11.25 and 12.75 plants m⁻²) and three cultivars in 2014–2015. This study aimed to quantify the interactions between environment, genotype and management (Appling DHEAP and plant density) on lodging-related optimal plant density and yield. DHEAP significantly increased grain yield by 10.7% due to the increases of kernel weight by 3.2% and kernel number per ear by 4.4%. On average across genotypes and environments, applying DHEAP increased optimum plant density by 6%. The optimal plant density interacted with cultivar, DHEAP and environment. Applying DHEAP reduced lodging percentage by lowering ear height. The yield-lodging relationship was affected by genotype and location. We concluded that maize yield could be enhanced by optimizing plant density, applying DHEAP and cultivar selection, but climatic and environmental differences of locations should be considered.     

三种融合标签对大熊猫轮状病毒结构蛋白VP6-VP7可溶性表达的影响

大熊猫轮状病毒(giant panda rotavirus,GPRV)是引起幼龄大熊猫腹泻的主要病原,对圈养大熊猫产生了较大的危害。轮状病毒结构蛋白VP6是一种载体蛋白,可介导黏膜免疫反应。VP7是轮状病毒结构蛋白中主要的中和抗原。因此,VP6-VP7的融合表达作为候选抗原对该病的防治具有重要的意义。传统大肠埃希菌原核表达存在表达量低、可溶性差以及纯度低等弊端。本研究使用醛缩酶(EDA)、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)、麦芽糖结合蛋白(MBP)3种融合标签,以实现获得表达量高和纯度高的GPRV-VP6-VP7重组表达蛋白。将扩增的VP6、VP7基因片段利用同源重组酶构建到含3种融合标签的表达载体pET21b上,将重组质粒转化至大肠埃希菌Rosetta(DE3)感受态细胞中进行低温诱导表达。用Ni-柱亲和层析法纯化目的蛋白,SDS-PAGE和Image J分析蛋白表达量和可溶性,Western blot分析得到表达的重组表达蛋白正确且具有蛋白活性。实验结果证明,EDA标签能显著促进VP6-VP7蛋白的原核可溶性表达,提高VP6-VP7蛋白表达量。     

基于GF-6卫星影像多特征优选的酿酒葡萄精准识别

多源遥感信息和特征优选是提高农作物识别精度的重要支撑，高分六号（GF-6）卫星作为首次引入红边波段的国产卫星，其丰富的光谱信息为作物识别提供了新的思路和解决途径。该研究基于宁夏回族自治区银川市永宁县2018年6月-2019年3月的GF-6数据，充分利用红边优势提取光谱特征、纹理特征和植被指数特征，构建多种特征组合方案，并根据随机森林算法对特征重要性进行度量，选取最优特征组合对酿酒葡萄进行精准识别。结果表明，与单一特征相比，多源遥感特征的增加显著改善了酿酒葡萄分类效果，其中，植被指数贡献程度最大，光谱特征次之；基于随机森林的优选特征组合分类效果最佳，其中，总体分类精度为94.15%，酿酒葡萄用户精度为94.23%，制图精度为92.59%；以实地调查的4个酒庄为验证区，将酿酒葡萄提取结果与统计数据进行对比，面积相对精度均在70%以上，其中优选特征结果相对精度在90%以上，研究结果将为国产卫星红边波段在植被分类和识别方面的应用提供数据参考。     

m6A甲基化在鸡肌肉生长发育中的表达研究

试验旨在研究RNA m6A修饰相关基因去甲基化酶Alk B同源蛋白5（Alk B homologue 5，ALKBH5）、去甲基化酶肥胖相关蛋白（fat mass and obesity-associated protein，FTO）、甲基转移酶样蛋白3（methyltransferase like 3，METTL3）、甲基转移酶样蛋白14（methyltransferase like 14，METTL14）和成肾细胞瘤1-结合蛋白（Wilms’tumor 1-associating protein，WTAP）在鸡骨骼肌发育过程中的表达，分析其与骨骼肌m6A甲基化水平的相关性。首先，利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测m6A甲基化相关基因在金茅花鸡12（E12）、14（E14）、16（E16）、18（E18）胚龄和1日龄腿肌和胸肌组织中mRNA表达水平，以及其在鸡成肌细胞50%、100%增殖期和1、2、3、4、5 d分化期的mRNA表达水平；随后，利用m6A甲基化试剂盒检测金茅花鸡E12和1日龄腿肌和胸肌组织中m6A甲基化修饰水平，与m6A甲基化相关基因表达水平进行相关性分析。结果显示，m6A去甲基化基因ALKBH5和FTO mRNA表达水平在骨骼肌发育过程中显著上调（P<0.05），即在E12、E14低表达，E16、E18逐渐上调，1日龄达到最高。m6A甲基化写入基因METTL14、METTL3和WTAP mRNA表达水平在E12、E14、E16逐渐上升，E18下降，随后至1日龄表达量回升。在细胞增殖过程中，ALKBH5、FTO、METTL14、METTL3和WTAP基因表达均上调；在细胞分化过程中ALKBH5和FTO基因表达水平显著上调（P<0.05），在分化第5天达到最高。METTL14、METTL3和WTAP基因mRNA表达水平在细胞诱导分化的1、2、3、4 d表达量呈下降趋势，而在诱导分化的第5天有所回升。甲基化水平检测结果显示，腿肌和胸肌m6A甲基化水平变化趋势一致，均在胚胎发育过程中显著下降（P<0.05），至1日龄达到最低。相关性分析结果显示，鸡骨骼肌RNA m6A甲基化水平与m6A去甲基化修饰基因ALKBH5、FTO mRNA表达水平呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。综合以上试验结果，推测m6A甲基化修饰与鸡骨骼肌发育相关，而去甲基化基因ALKBH5、FTO可能通过调控RNA m6A甲基化水平，影响鸡骨骼肌发育。本研究结果为进一步研究m6A甲基化修饰调控鸡骨骼肌生长发育的功能和分子机制提供理论依据。     

有机肥、碱性物质对龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗营养生长影响

以玄武岩发育而成酸性粘土、龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗为试材,以施用充足化肥为对照,施用有机肥、碱性物质(碳酸钙、白云石粉)作为其他处理,测量各处理对龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗株高、叶宽、叶片数影响,为龙舌兰麻H.11648合理施用有机肥和碱性物质提供依据。结果如下： 1、用碱性物质碳酸钙或白云石粉调节的土壤pH值6.0、6.5处理的龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗株高、叶宽、叶片数增长率与对照(pH5.5)没有显著差异,龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗在玄武岩发育土壤上生长酸害阈值为pH值5.5；2、有机肥处理对龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗株高、叶片数增长率没有显著影响,但4%、8%有机肥显著增加了叶宽(增长率分别比对照提高62.7%、76.7%),有机肥显著促进了龙舌兰麻H.11648幼苗生长。     

夏训对优秀皮划艇运动员铁调素等铁营养状况以及IL-6的影响

目的：探讨夏训对优秀运动员铁调素等铁营养状况以及IL-6的影响。方法：广东省优秀皮划艇运动员26人(男15人，女11人)参加测试，调查夏训前和夏训后血红蛋白、铁调素、可溶性转铁蛋白受体、血清铁蛋白、可溶性转铁蛋白受体/log铁蛋白、血清铁、总铁结合力、转铁蛋白饱和度以及白介素6变化情况。结果：夏训后，男运动员组铁调素和可溶性转铁蛋白受体极显著上升(P<0.01)、血清铁蛋白极显著下降(P<0.01)，可溶性转铁蛋白受体/log铁蛋白显著上升(P<0.05)，总铁结合力显著下降(P<0.05)，白介素6极显著上升(P<0.01)。女运动员组血红蛋白显著降低(P<0.05)，铁调素和可溶性转铁蛋白受体极显著上升(P<0.01)，血清铁蛋白极显著下降(P<0.01)，可溶性转铁蛋白受体/log铁蛋白极显著上升(P<0.01)，白介素6极显著上升(P<0.01)。结论：夏训可引起运动员炎症因子升高、铁调素升高，导致功能铁不足；铁调素介导的铁代谢紊乱可能是运动性低血色素发生的重要原因。     

H3N2亚型猪流感病毒HA和HA1蛋白的原核表达

为原核表达H3N2亚型猪流感病毒(SIV)的HA和HA1蛋白,通过RT-PCR方法获得SIV的HA和HA1基因,克隆至原核表达载体pMAL-c5X,并转化至原核表达菌Rosetta(DE3)中,表达菌经IPTG诱导表达后进行SDS-PAGE和Western blot分析。结果显示,成功表达了H3亚型SIV的HA和HA1蛋白,目的蛋白均以可溶性蛋白和包涵体两种形式存在,并与H3N2亚型SIV的HA单克隆抗体反应,说明HA和HA1蛋白具有良好的反应原性。     

云南和广东省流行性出血病病毒血清6型毒株(EHDV-6)的分离与遗传特性

【目的】分离流行于我国南方地区的流行性出血病病毒血清6型毒株(EHDV-6),掌握分离毒株的遗传特征。【方法】对设立于我国云南和广东省的哨兵动物定期采血,进行EHDV感染情况监测与病毒分离培养。通过血清中和试验确定分离EHDV的血清型,采用一步法RT-PCR对分离的EHDV-6毒株基因节段2、3、6(Seg-2、-3、-6)进行扩增与序列分析。【结果】2012—2016年,从云南省和广东省的哨兵动物中分离出25株EHDV毒株,其中,11株为EHDV-6型。中国EHDV-6型毒株的Seg-2、-3与-6均属Eastern型,核酸序列相似性分别为99.1%、98.9%和98.8%,在系统发生树上分别聚为1个独立的中国支系。在日本引起疫病暴发的EHDV-6型毒株与中国EHDV-6型毒株具有最近的亲缘关系。日本EHDV-6型毒株在系统发生树上处于中国支系内部,Seg-2、Seg-3与中国毒株的核酸序列相似性分别为98.5%和93.9%。【结论】云南和广东省流行的EHDV-6型毒株核酸与氨基酸序列高度相似;日本和中国的EHDV-6型毒株具有最近的亲缘关系,提示中日之间可能存在EHDV的流动。研究结果为进一步开展我国EHDV-6型毒株流行病学分析、致病性、病原学诊断与疫苗制备等研究提供了基础。     

Periplaneta americana peptide decreases apoptosis of pig-ovary granulosa cells induced by H2O2 through FoxO1

Oxidative stress can induce apoptosis of granulosa cells and lead to follicular atresia, thereby reducing the number of pigs giving birth. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of Periplaneta americana peptide (PAP) on the apoptosis of the granulosa cells of pig ovaries (PGCs) induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) via FoxO1. PGCs were treated with H₂O₂ to establish a cell apoptosis model. Cell viability was measured using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. The malondialdehyde (MDA) level and nitric oxide (NO) content were detected to reflect the oxidative stress. Western blotting, qRT-PCR and overexpression were undertaken to determine the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3, and immunofluorescence was used to detect FoxO1 in the nucleus and cytoplasm. PGCs were treated with 100 μM H₂O₂ for 6 hr, which resulted in oxidative damage and apoptosis and an apoptosis rate for PGCs of 32.95%. Next, PGCs were treated with 400 μg/ml PAP for 24 hr to repair the apoptosis induced by H₂O₂. PAP improved cell viability in H₂O₂-stimulated PGCs, the increased MDA level and NO content caused by H₂O₂ stimulation were reversed and the apoptotic rate of PGCs was reduced. The qRT-PCR and Western blotting results indicated that PAP decreased the H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and the expression of FoxO1 and caspase-3 in PGCs. The effect of PAP was the same following FoxO1 overexpression. FoxO1 was expressed in the nucleus when stimulated by H₂O₂ or overexpression; however, it migrated to the cytoplasm following PAP treatment. PAP decreased the apoptosis of PGCs induced by H₂O₂ by regulating FoxO1 expression and nuclear translocation.     

Expression and mechanisms of hsa_circ_087631 in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

AIM To explore the expression and mechanisms of circular RNA hsa_circ_087631 in the patients with primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. METHODS RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_087631 in PBC patients and healthy controls. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was constructed and transfected into human acute T cell leukemia Jurkat cells， and then the expression levels of hsa_circ_087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and interleukin-21 （IL-21） mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the interactions between hsa_circ_087631 and hsa-miR-346. RESULTS The expression of hsa_circ_087631 in the PBC patients was significantly increased compared with the healthy subjects. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was successfully constructed. The expression of hsa-miR-346 was significantly increased after the hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector was transfected into the Jurkat cells， while the expression levels of hsa_circ_0087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and IL-21 mRNA were significantly decreased. After wild-type or mutant hsa_circ_087631 vector and hsa-miR-346 mimics were transfected into 293T cells， the results of dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that hsa-miR-346 significantly decreased the luciferase activity of wild-type hsa_circ_087631 （P<0.01）， but the regulation did not change significantly after mutation of the predicted binding site. CONCLUSION Peripheral blood hsa_circ_087631 level is elevated in the PBC patients. The hsa_circ_087631/hsa-miR-346/Bcl-6 signaling may take effect in human T cells. Hsa-miR-346 significantly reduces the expression of hsa_circ_087631， but it may not be regulated by predicted binding sites.