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Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) play a keystone role in the alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). For decades, alpine meadows on the QTP have suffered from severe degradation, predominantly due to livestock grazing and frequent dramatic increases in plateau pikas. The cause has long been thought to be that livestock grazing provides open habitats for pikas. However, open habitats with low food nutrient quality are insufficient to maintain high-density populations. Feeding facilitation is a process or action undertaken by one species whose activity benefits another species. However, the facilitative effects on population consequences remain unclear. Here, we examined the impact of feeding facilitation on the population dynamics of plateau pikas. We hypothesize that the high protein amount provided by meadows that have been overgrazed would be an important factor leading to dramatic increases in plateau pikas. We found that plateau pikas preferred high-protein foods, and relatively abundant high-protein food resources were found in meadows following high levels of livestock grazing. Body mass and amount of protein in stomach digesta of pikas were higher in moderately and heavily grazed meadows than in lightly grazed meadow. Thus, pika population density was associated with high-protein food resources. A supplemental protein experiment confirmed that high-protein foods led to higher pika population density by increasing reproductive performance. Livestock grazing increased the abundance of plateau pikas by shifting plant nutrient contents toward higher protein conditions favorable to them. Feeding facilitation is an important factor that causes a dramatic increase in plateau pikas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the relevance between YKL-40 and recurrence and progression of bladder cancer, and determine whether YKL-40 can be used as a potential target in patients with bladder cancer. We analyzed the invasion and metastasis ability of BIU-87, UMUC3, J82, T24, 5637 and immortalized human bladder epithelial cells SVHUC1 by Transwell method. The YKL-40 expression levels in cell lines were analyzed by Western blot and qPCR. The increase of YKL-40 level, especially in tumour group, was related to tumour pathological stage and tumour invasion and metastasis. The cell lines with YKL-40 high expression had stronger invasion and metastasis ability. Overexpression of YKL-40 in SVHUC1 with the lowest YKL-40 expression can enhance the invasion and migration of cells. In T24 cells with YKL-40 high expression, transfection of shRNA plasmid targeting YKL-40 can down regulate the invasion and migration. The expression levels of N-cadherin and Vimentin in YKL-40 overexpressed SVHUC1 cells were increased, the E-cadherin expression was decreased, the Twist, Snail and Slug expression levels were increased, but they were opposite in T24 cells with down-regulation of YKL-40 expression. YKL-40 promoted the migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by up regulating the EMT gene expression. The YKL-40 expression is closely related to the invasion and migration of bladder cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grain weight is an important characteristic of grain shape and a key contributing factor to the grain yield in rice. Here, we report that gw2.1 , a new allele of the Grain Width and Weight 2 (GW2) gene, regulates grain size and grain weight. A single nucleotide substitution in the coding sequence (CDS) of gw2.1 resulted in the change of glutamate to lysine (E128K) in GW2.1 protein. Complementation tests and GW2 overexpression experiments demonstrated that the missense mutation in gw2.1 was responsible for the phenotype of enlarged grain size in the mutant line jf42. The large grain trait of the near-isogenic line NIL- gw2.1 was found to result from increased cell proliferation during flower development. Meanwhile, NIL- gw2.1 was shown to increase grain yield without compromising the grain quality. The GW2 protein was localized to the cell nucleus and membrane, and interacted with CHB705, a subunit of the chromatin remodeling complex. Finally, the F 1 hybrids from crosses of NIL- gw2.1 with 7 cytoplasmic male-sterile lines exhibited large grains and desirable grain appearance. Thus, gw2.1 is a promising allele that could be applied to improve grain yield and grain appearance in rice. The datasets generated and/or analyzed in the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. • gw2.1 was a new GW2 allele that influences grain size and grain weight. • NIL- gw2.1 exhibits a larger grain size and increased grain weight without reducing rice appearance quality. • gw2.1 affects glume shape by regulating cell proliferation. • GW2 is located in the cell nucleus and membrane and interacts with CHB705. • The application of gw2.1 improves grain yield and appearance quality in hybrid rice combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ribosomal protein L13 (RPL13) is highly conserved in evolution. At present, the properties and functions of RPL13 have not been characterised in insects. In this study, Bombyx mori RPL13 (BmRPL13) was first found to be specifically recruited to the sites of ultraviolet (UV)-induced DNA damage and contributed to UV damage repair. Escherichia coli expressing BmRPL13 showed better resistance to UV radiation. After knocking down the expression of BmRPL13 in BmN cells, the repair speed of UV-damaged DNA slowed down. The further results showed that BmRPL13 interacted with B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) ORF65 (Bm65) protein to locate at the UV-induced DNA damage sites of BmNPV and helped repair UV-damaged viral DNA., (© 2024 Royal Entomological Society.)

Ginseng black spot, caused by Alternaria panax , is one of the most common diseases of Panax ginseng , which usually causes serious yield loss of ginseng plants. However, the pathogenic mechanism of A. panax has not been clarified clearly. Mycotoxins produced by phytopathogens play an important role in the process of infection. Previous study reported that dibutyl phthalate (DBP) identified from the metabolites of A. panax is a potent mycotoxin against P. ginseng . However, more evidence suggests that DBP is one of the constituents of plasticisers. To identify mycotoxins from A. panax and evaluate their phytotoxicity on the leaves of P. ginseng , different chromatographic, spectral and bioassay-guided methods were used together in this report. As a result, tyrosol ( 1 ), 3-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propanoic acid ( 2 ), and 3-benzylpiperazine-2,5-dione ( 3 ) were isolated and characterised from the extract of A. panax , in which compounds 1 and 2 showed phytotoxic activity on ginseng leaves. Furthermore, DBP was confirmed to come from the residue of ethyl acetate through UPLC-MS/MS analysis, and displayed no phytotoxicity on ginseng leaves based on biological experiments. The results in this report first revealed that tyrosol ( 1 ), and 3-hydroxy-3-(4-methoxyphenyl) propanoic acid ( 2 ) not DBP were the potent mycotoxins of A. panax ., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors., (© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the common abnormalities in 5 to 8% of reproductive-age women, which is associated with high levels of androgens and polycystic ovaries. A clear connection between the level of sex hormones and some women's cancers and infertility abnormalities has been identified. Investigating common mutations in ovarian and breast cancer in people with PCOS can help to better understand the risk and their relationship. Epidemiological data suggest that the induction and biology of breast and ovarian cancer are related to estrogen levels. According to molecular findings, there are common mutations in BRCA genes in ovarian and breast cancer and PCOS patients. The BRCA1 gene produces proteins that prevent malignant tumor formation in the body. Despite common cancer mutations, there is a risk of ovarian and breast cancer in polycystic patients, and these mutations can confirm the risk of ovarian and breast cancer in PCOS patients. Of course, long-term laboratory studies are needed to confirm this relationship. In addition, the presence of genetic mutations can be considered a predisposing marker in connection with ovarian and breast cancer onset, and this awareness can be effective in preventing them from developing in the future.