Search

Background: Firmiana danxiaensis is a critically endangered and ecologically important tree currently only found in four locations in Danxia or Karst habitats in northern Guangdong Province, China. The specialized habitat preference makes it an ideal model species for study of adaptive evolution. Meanwhile, the phylogenetic relationships of F. danxiaensis in four locations under two landforms are unclear. Therefore, we sequenced its complete chloroplast (cp.) genomes and conducted comprehensive interspecific and intrageneric plastome studies. Results: The F. danxiaensis plastomes in four locations showed a typical quadripartite and circular structure that ranged from 160,832 to 161,206 bp in size, with 112 unique genes encoded. Comparative genomics showed that the plastomes of F. danxiaensis were relatively conserved with high similarity of genome organization, gene number, GC content and SSRs. While the genomes revealed higher biased codon preferences in Karst habitat than those in Danxia habitats. Eighteen and 11 divergent hotpots were identified at interspecific and intrageneric levels for species identification and further phylogenetic studies. Seven genes (clpP, accD, ccsA, ndhH, rpl20, rpoC2, and rps4) were under positive selection and may be related to adaptation. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that F. danxiaensis is sister to F. major and F. simplex. However, the interspecific relationships are not consistent with the habitat types. Conclusions: The characteristics and interspecific relationship of F. danxiaensis plastomes provide new insights into further integration of geographical factors, environmental factors, and genetic variations on the genomic study of F. danxiaensis. Together, our study will contribute to the study of species identification, population genetics, and conservation biology of F. danxiaensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NLRP3 inflammasome activation, essential for cytokine secretion and pyroptosis in response to diverse stimuli, is closely associated with various diseases. Upon stimulation, NLRP3 undergoes subcellular membrane trafficking and conformational rearrangements, preparing itself for inflammasome assembly at the microtubule-organizing center (MTOC). Here, we elucidate an orchestrated mechanism underlying these ordered processes using human and murine cells. Specifically, NLRP3 undergoes palmitoylation at two sites by palmitoyl transferase zDHHC1, facilitating its trafficking between subcellular membranes, including the mitochondria, trans -Golgi network (TGN), and endosome. This dynamic trafficking culminates in the localization of NLRP3 to the MTOC, where LATS1/2, pre-recruited to MTOC during priming, phosphorylates NLRP3 to further facilitate its interaction with NIMA-related kinase 7 (NEK7), ultimately leading to full NLRP3 activation. Consistently, Zdhhc1 -deficiency mitigated LPS-induced inflammation and conferred protection against mortality in mice. Altogether, our findings provide valuable insights into the regulation of NLRP3 membrane trafficking and inflammasome activation, governed by palmitoylation and phosphorylation events. [Display omitted] • Palmitoylation of NLRP3 at C130 and C958 is critical for its membrane trafficking • zDHHC1 serves as the primary palmitoyl transferase for NLRP3 at C130 and C958 • LATS1/2 phosphorylates NLRP3 at S265 to promote its interaction with NEK7 at the MTOC • zDHHC1 -deficiency mitigates LPS-induced inflammation and enhances survival in mice Nie et al. discovered that zDHHC1-mediated palmitoylation of NLRP3 at C130 and C958 residues directs its membrane localization and trafficking to the MTOC, where LATS1/2-mediated phosphorylation facilitates NEK7 interaction and inflammasome assembly. This sequential regulation is crucial for NLRP3 activation, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for controlling inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of protein from tobacco waste residue is one of its comprehensive utilization ways. The ultrasonic-assisted alkaline extraction is helpful to obtain more protein from the waste residue tobacco leaves. On the basis of single factor experiment, the response surface method was used to optimize the ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of protein from the waste residue of tobacco leaves. The results showed that: when the pH of buffered solution was 10, the volume of buffered solution was 32.77 mL, the ultrasonic temperature was 70.9 °C, and the ultrasonic time was 46.1 min, the protein extraction amount of tobacco leaf waste residue reached (19.13 ± 0.21) mg·g-1, which was 140.6 % higher than that before optimization. This process could provide technical reference for removing protein from the reconstituted tobacco leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AA5052 aluminum alloy is widely used in automobile and aerospace manufacturing, and with the development of light-weight alloys, it is required that these materials exhibit better mechanical properties. Previous studies have demonstrated that the addition of Sc to aluminum alloys can improve both the microstructure and properties of the alloys. In this study, the effect of Sc on the Fe-rich phase and properties of the AA5052 aluminum alloy was studied by adding 0%, 0.05%, 0.2%, and 0.3% Sc. The results show that with the increase of Sc, the coarse needle-like Fe-rich phase gradually transforms into Chinese-script and then nearly spherical particles, reduce the size of Fe-rich phase, and refine the grain with increase of high angle grain boundaries (HAGBs). These microstructure changes enhance the strength of the AA5052 alloy through Sc addition. The ductility of the alloy is obviously improved because the addition of a lower amount of Sc changes the morphology of Fe-rich phase from needle-like into a Chinese-script, and it is subsequently reduced as a result of significant increase in HAGBs with increasing Sc content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is a vital global source of renewable fiber and ranks among the world's most important cash crops. While extensive nuclear genomic data of Gossypium has been explored, the organellar genomic resources of allotetraploid cotton, remain largely untapped at the population level. The plastid genome (plastome) is well suited for studying plant species relationships and diversity due to its nonrecombinant uniparental inheritance. Here, we conducted de novo assembly of 336 Gossypium plastomes, mainly from domesticated cultivars, and generated a pan‐plastome level resource for population structure and genetic diversity analyses. The assembled plastomes exhibited a typical quadripartite structure and varied in length from 160 103 to 160 597 bp. At the species level, seven allotetraploid species were resolved into three clades, where Gossypium tomentosum and Gossypium mustelinum formed an early diverging clade rooted by diploids, followed by splitting two sister clades of Gossypium darwinii–Gossypium barbadense and Gossypium hirsutum–Gossypium ekmanianum–Gossypium stephensii. Within the G. hirsutum clade the resolution of cultivated accessions was less polyphyletic with landrace and wild accessions than in G. barbadense suggesting some selection on plastome in the domestication of this adaptable species of cotton. The nucleotide diversity of G. hirsutum was higher than that of G. barbadense. We specifically compared the plastomes of G. hirsutum and G. barbadense to find mutational hotspots within each species as potential molecular markers. These findings contribute a valuable resource for exploring cotton evolution as well as in the breeding of new cotton cultivars and the preservation of wild and cultivated germplasm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly diverse beneficial and deleterious microbes in the rhizosphere influence plant growth and crop production in agricultural ecosystems. However, our understanding of the relationships between beneficial and risky phylotypes in the rhizosphere, and plant growth, in addition to their potentially varied response to different fertilization treatments in black soils, remains poor. Here, we investigated variations in multitrophic (e.g., bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, and protists) community composition and diversity under different five-year fertilization treatments, and identified the potential beneficial and potential risky keystone multitrophic biota in maize rhizosphere and bulk soils based on ecological networks and soil food web structure. Bacteria and protist community compositions exhibited greater variations under different fertilization regimes when compared with those of fungi and invertebrates. In addition, two keystone phylotype groups associated with crop yield and soil function were detected, and the potential beneficial keystone phylotypes exhibited higher relative abundances in C-fixation, N-fixation, and P-mineralization genes; conversely, the potential risky keystone phylotypes were associated with denitrification and nitrate reduction genes, and included more potential fungal pathogens. Furthermore, structural equation modeling results indicated that organic amendments, particularly cow manure, could improve crop yield by enriching beneficial keystone phylotypes and suppressing risky keystone phylotypes. Altogether, the results of the present study highlight the critical roles of rhizosphere biota in food production, and identify keystone phylotypes that are beneficial or harmful to crop production and soil function, which could facilitate the conservation of beneficial biota and the early detection of potential pathogens, as well as the exploitation of beneficial biota to increase crop yield. [Display omitted] • Bacteria and protists had greater variation under different fertilization regimes. • Fungi and invertebrates had less variation under different fertilization regimes. • Beneficial phylotypes had higher C-fixation, N-fixation, and P-mineralization genes. • Potential risky phylotypes associated with denitrification and nitrate reduction genes. • Cow manure enriched beneficial phylotypes and suppressed risky phylotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the interaction between estrogen and PCSK9 and their collective impact on lipid metabolism, especially concerning the regulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor levels. Utilizing both animal and cellular models, including ovariectomized mice and HepG2 cell lines, we demonstrate that estrogen deficiency leads to a disruption in lipid metabolism, characterized by elevated levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C. The study commences with mice undergoing ovariectomy, followed by a diet regimen comprising either high-fat diet or normal feed for a four-week duration. Key assessments include analyzing lipid metabolism, measuring PCSK9 levels in the bloodstream, and evaluating hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor expression. We will also conduct correlation analyses to understand the relationship between PCSK9 and various lipid profiles. Further, a subset of ovariectomized mice on high-fat diet will undergo treatment with either estrogen or PCSK9 inhibitor for two weeks, with a subsequent re-evaluation of the earlier mentioned parameters. Our findings reveal that estrogen inhibits PCSK9-mediated degradation of low-density lipoprotein receptor, a process crucial for maintaining lipid homeostasis. Through a series of experiments, including immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, we establish that PCSK9 is involved in lipid metabolism disorders caused by estrogen deficiency and that estrogen regulates PCSK9 and low-density lipoprotein receptor at post-transcriptional level. The study provides a mechanism for the involvement of PCSK9 in elucidating the disorders of lipid metabolism caused by estrogen deficiency due to perimenopause and ovarian decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Galectin-9, a tandem-repeat galectin, plays an important role in the regulation of innate immune response against various microbial infections. Here, galectin-9 from mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris) was identified and named as BpGal-9. Putative BpGal-9 contains two conserved carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs), one CRD within N-terminal (N-CRD) and the other one within C-terminal (C-CRD). Multi-alignment analysis indicated that BpGal-9 shared the highest amino acid sequence identity of 64.3 % with that of Southern platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus). Phylogenetic analysis showed that BpGal-9 grouped tightly with other teleosts galectin-9 and was most closely related to that of Southern platyfish. BpGal-9 transcripts were more abundant in the intestine, and its expression upregulated significantly in the intestine, kidney, spleen, gills, and skin after Edwardsiella tarda infection. Meanwhile, BpGal-9 expression significantly increased in hemocytes and serum of mudskipper infected by E. tarda. The recombinant BpGal-9 (rBpGal-9) and rBpGal-9C-CRD could agglutinate all tested bacteria, whereas rBpGal-9N-CRD could only agglutinate three kinds of bacteria. When targeting the same bacteria, rBpGal-9 showed stronger agglutinating activities than rBpGal-9C-CRD or rBpGal-9N-CRD. In addition, the induction effect of three recombinant proteins on the mRNA expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (BpIL-10 and BpTGF-β) was better than that on the pro-inflammatory cytokines (BpIL-1β and BpTNF-α). Our result suggested that the N-CRD and C-CRD of galectin-9 contribute differently to its multiple functions in innate immunity in teleosts. • We identified a galectin-9 (BpGal-9) from mudskipper. • BpGal-9 transcripts showed upregulation in multiple tissues against Edwardsiella tarda. • rBpGal-9 displayed stronger microbial agglutinating activity than rBpGal-9C-CRD and rBpGal-9N-CRD. • The induction effect of three recombinant proteins on the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines was better than that on pro-inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]