Effects of genes increasing the number of spikelets per panicle,TAW1 and APO1, on yield and yield-related traits in rice

The genes TAWAWA1 (TAW1) and ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1) increase the number of spikelets per panicle (SN). In the present study, we examined the effects of these genes on morphological traits, yield, and yield-related traits including yield components using the near-isogenic lines (NILs) in the genetic background of a japonica rice variety, Koshihikari – NIL-taw1, NIL-apo1-D3, and NIL-apo1-D4 – in a field experiment. The SN and total number of spikelets per area of the three NILs were larger than those of Koshihikari. However, the yield of the three NILs did not exceed that of Koshihikari due to their low filling ability. Interestingly, our field experiments indicated that TAW1 did not affect the diameter of internodes and the PN, whereas APO1 decreased the PN and increased the diameter of internodes. These results suggest that TAW1 and APO1 differently affect yield-related traits.     

Replication of neurovirulent equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) in CD172a+ monocytic cells

Equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for respiratory disorders, abortion and myeloencephalopathy (EHM) in horses. Two pathotypes of EHV-1 strains are circulating in the field: neurovirulent (N) and non-neurovirulent (NN). For both strains, CD172a⁺ monocytic cells are one of the main carrier cells of EHV-1 during primary infection, allowing the virus to invade the horse’s body. Recently, we showed that EHV-1 NN strains showed a restricted and delayed replication in CD172a⁺ cells. Here we characterize the in vitro replication kinetics of two EHV-1 N strains in CD172a⁺ cells and investigate if the replication of these strains is similarly silenced as shown for EHV-1 NN strains. We found that EHV-1 N replication was restricted to 7–8% in CD172a⁺ cells compared to 100% in control RK-13 cells. EHV-1 N replication was not delayed in CD172a⁺ cells but virus production was significant lower (10^3.0 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells) than in RK-13 cells (10^8.5 TCID₅₀/10⁵ inoculated cells). Approximately 0.04% of CD172a⁺ cells produced and transmitted infectious EHV-1 to neighbour cells compared to 65% of RK-13 cells. Unlike what we observed for the NN strain, pretreatment of CD172a⁺ cells with histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACi) did not influence the replication of EHV-1 N strains in these cells. Overall, these results show that the EHV-1 replication of N strains in CD172a⁺ cells differs from that observed for NN strains, which may contribute to their different pathogeneses in vivo.     

miR-140-3p inhibits viability,invasion and migration of non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells by targeting PD-L1

AIM: To explore the target relationship between microRNA-140-3p (miR-140-3p) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and their effect on the viability, migration and invasion of non-small-cell lung cancer A549 cells.METHODS: RT-qPCR was used to detect the miR-140-3p expression in HLF-1, A549 and H1299 cells, and then the A549 cells with the most significant difference were selected as the subsequent research object. TargetScan software and dual-luciferase reporter assay were performed to predict and confirm the target relationship between miR-140-3p and PD-L1. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to determine the effects of miR-140-3p mimic and inhibitor on PD-L1 expression level. MTT assay was used to detect the viability of A549 cells. Transwell assay was performed to detect the migration and invasion abilities of the A549 cells.RESULTS: miR-140-3p was significantly down-regulated in the A549 cells and H1299 cells (P<0.05). Transfection with miR-140-3p mimic decreased the expression of PD-L1 and inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of the A549 cells. Transfection with pcDNA3.0-PD-L1 reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-140-3p on the viability, migration and invasion of the A549 cells.CONCLUSION: miR-140-3p inhibits the viability, migration and invasion of A549 cells by targeting PD-L1.     

果蔬型甜玉米新品种京科甜191的选育

京科甜191是以超甜玉米自交系T68为母本,自交系T6302为父本,通过杂交选育而成的果蔬型甜玉米品种。果穗筒型,穗长19.0 cm,穗粗5.3 cm,穗行数16~18行,行粒数36~38粒,粒行整齐。籽粒亮黄色,外观漂亮。平均每667 m2鲜果穗产量900 kg左右,出籽率约67.4%。鲜籽粒含粗蛋白2.98%,粗脂肪1.37%,总糖6.7%,口感甜脆清爽,皮薄无渣。播种至采收平均85.4 d(天),适宜京津冀及类似生态区种植。     

Growth performance of Black Bengal,Saanen, and their crossbred F1 as affected by sex,litter size,and season of kidding

The objective of the present study was to determine the factors that influenced growth performance of the goat kids of Black Bengal (BB), Saanen (SA), and their crossbred F1 (male Bengal × female Saanen [BBSA] and male Saanen × female Black Bengal [SABB]). Data for 674 kids were analyzed from 316 litters and 134 does. All kids were weekly measured on their characteristics (body weight, length, height at the withers, and chest girth) from birth to 11 weeks old. The kid’s breed and sex, litter size, and season of kidding influenced birth weight and other characteristics through the experiment. The SA and BBSA kids showed similar performance, which were higher than BB and SABB kids. Male kids had higher performance than female kids, and kids from a single litter showed the highest performance. Kids born during rainy season showed lower performance than those born in hot and cool seasons. In conclusion, the crossbred BBSA is superior to SABB or BB to raise in tropical climate Moreover, sex, litter size, and kidding season also affected growth performance during the preweaning period up to 11 weeks old.     

Notch1 promotes renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis in renal tissues of diabetic mice by inhibiting autophagy through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

AIM: To observe the changes of Notch1 expression and autophagy in the renal tissues of diabetic mice, and to explore the regulatory effect of Notch1 on tubulointerstitial fibrosis by inhibiting autophagy in diabetic nephro-pathy. METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into normal control group (db/m mice) and diabetes group (db/db mice), with 8 rats in each group. After 12 weeks of feeding, the mice were sacrificed and the corresponding biochemical indexes were measured. The protein expression of Notch1 in the renal tubular epithelial cells was observed by immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of Notch1, PTEN, p-Akt (Thr308), Akt, p-mTOR (Ser2448), mTOR, LC3, P62, collagen type Ⅰ (Col-Ⅰ) and collagen type Ⅲ (Col-Ⅲ) were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with the db/m mice, the blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, serum creatinine, triglyceride and total cholesterol were increased in the db/db mice (P<0.01). Renal tubular epithelial cell vacuolar degeneration, renal tubular expansion and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration in db/db mouse renal tissues with HE staining were observed. The images of Masson staining showed collagenous fiber-like substance deposition in the glomerular capillaries and renal interstitium, and disarrangement of tubular structure in the renal tissues of db/db mice. The protein expression levels of PTEN and LC3-Ⅱ were decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), while the protein levels of Notch1, P62, p-mTOR (Ser2448), p-Akt (Thr308), Col-I and Col-III were increased in the db/db mice as compared with the db/m mice (P<0.01). However, no significant change of total mTOR and Akt proteins between the 2 groups was found. CONCLUSION: Notch1 protein expression was increased, PTEN expression was significantly reduced, Akt/mTOR pathway was activated, autophagy was inhibited, and fibrosis was aggravated in the renal tissues of the diabetic mice.     

Effect of beclin-1 gene silencing on TuAKe-injured gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells

AIM: To observe the effect of beclin-1 silencing by the technique of RNA interference on the injury of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell by Sheliugu extract (the extract from tuber of Amorphophallus konjac, TuAKe). METHODS: To knock down the expression of beclin-1 gene, SGC-7901 cells were transfected with lentiviral vector carrying beclin-1-shRNA. The beclin-1 gene knock-down and non-knock-down SGC-7901 cells were treated with TuAKe. The cell viability was analyzed by CKK-8 assay. The percentages of apoptotic cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression of beclin-1 and LC3 was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The beclin-1 gene silencing decreased the protein expression of beclin-1 and increased the protein expression of LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells, leading to the decrease in cell viability and the increase in apoptotic rate (P<0.05). TuAKe increased the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells, and decreased the protein expression of LC3 in the SGC-7901 cells with beclin-1 gene silencing, thus inhibiting the cell viability and increasing the apoptotic rate (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Beclin-1 gene silencing inhibits the activation of beclin-1-related signaling pathway in gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and aggravates the injury of cell viability induced by TuAKe.     

1-MCP处理对“丽格”海棠果实采后生理及品质的影响

以"丽格"海棠果实为试材,研究经1.0μL/L的1-MCP处理后,室温(20±1)℃条件下贮藏的海棠果实品质和生理变化,并利用主成分对采后测定的各项生理指标进行分析。结果表明,与不加1-MCP的对照组相比,1-MCP处理可保持海棠果实硬度,抑制可溶性固形物(TSS)含量的升高,减缓VC含量的降低、果皮叶绿素的分解和过氧化物酶(POD)活性的下降,降低呼吸强度和乙烯生成速率,有效地延缓果实衰老,使海棠果更耐贮藏。主成分分析在特征值大于1时将经1-MCP处理后的海棠果实8个生理指标综合为2个因子,累积方差贡献率达到84.44%,其中第1主成分主要代表果肉硬度和叶绿素信息,第2主成分主要代表乙烯释放量信息。     

漆酶LAC表达与鸭梨果心褐变的关系

【目的】探究在不同成熟度和降温贮藏方式下,LAC表达模式与鸭梨果心褐变的关系,为进一步解析鸭梨果心褐变机制提供理论依据。【方法】以鸭梨作为材料,通过对不同成熟度（早采、中采和晚采）的鸭梨进行急速降温（急降）和缓慢降温（缓降）处理,观察贮藏期间鸭梨果心褐变情况,测定漆酶（Laccase,LAC）活性及其基因LAC的相对表达量,研究LAC在鸭梨果心褐变过程中的参与作用。【结果】冷藏60 d时,晚采鸭梨出现褐变,晚采缓降处理的鸭梨果心褐变指数为0.32,是同期急速降温处理的2.56倍;在贮藏90 d时,中采缓降处理的褐变指数是0.24,中采急降处理的褐变指数仅为0.01。各个处理组在贮藏期间LAC活性多数表现为先逐渐升高后下降的趋势,晚采的果实在贮藏60 d时出现活性高峰,褐变发生;早采和中采鸭梨LAC活性高峰均在90 d时出现,褐变程度低于晚采鸭梨。在贮藏期间,缓慢降温处理的LAC活性高于急速降温处理。鸭梨LAC14和LAC7表达量呈先上升后下降的趋势,LAC6表现为先下降后上升再降低的变化趋势;中采、晚采鸭梨在贮藏60 d时,LAC14和LAC7表达量最高。【结论】与缓慢降温相比,急速降温处理减少了鸭梨果心褐变的发生。在整个贮藏期间,LAC活性呈先上升后下降然后又上升的趋势,其峰值时的活性高低次序为：晚采>中采>早采,这与果心褐变趋势一致;LAC在鸭梨果心褐变过程中上调表达。相比缓慢降温处理,急速降温处理具有较低的LAC7、LAC14和LAC6表达量。急速降温结合适时采收能够抑制LAC的上调表达,减少鸭梨果心褐变发生。