Search

The spin angular momentum (SAM) plays a significant role in light-matter interactions. It is well known that light carrying SAM can exert optical torques on micro-objects and drive rotations, but 3D rotation around an arbitrary axis remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate full control of the 3D optical torque acting on a trapped microparticle by tailoring the vectorial SAM transfer. To this end, we construct a theoretical relationship between the 3D SAM vector of a tightly focused field and the local polarization helicity of the incident field. In practice, a single-beam configuration is proposed for dynamic 3D SAM manipulation, facilitating time-varying vectorial SAM transfer to particles. Control of 3D optical torque on birefringent microparticles is validated by simulations, and dynamic 3D rotations of optically trapped particles around arbitrary axes are experimentally demonstrated. Our work paves the way for manipulating 3D optical torque and particle spinning, which is expected to boost new functionalities and applications of optical tweezers. Optical tweezers can apply 3D forces to trap and move microparticles, but application of 3D optical torques for controlled rotations remains challenging. Here, the authors report a technique for controlling 3D optical torque via a single beam, achieving dynamic 3D rotations around an arbitrary axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rectal cancer robotic surgery is becoming more and more common, but evidence for predicting surgical difficulty is scarce. Our goal was to look at the elements that influence the complexity of robot-assisted total mesorectal excision (R-TME) in the medical care of middle and low rectal cancer as well as to establish and validate a predictive model on the basis of these factors. Within this multicenter retrospective investigation, 166 consecutive patients receiving R-TME between January 2021 and December 2022 with middle and low rectal cancer were included and categorized according to the median operation time. A nomogram was created to forecast the procedure's complexity after variables that could affect its difficulty were found using logistic regression analysis. Using R software, a total of 166 patients were randomly split into two groups: a test group (48 patients) and a training group (118 patients) at a ratio of 7 to 3. The median operation time of all patients was 207.5 min; patients whose operation time was ≥ 207.5 min were allocated to the difficult surgery group (83 patients), and patients whose operation time was < 207.5 min were allocated to the nondifficult surgery group. Multivariate analysis revealed that body mass index (BMI), the gap between the tumor and the anal verge and the posterior rectal mesenteric thickness were independent predictors of surgical duration. A clinical predictive model was created and assessed employing the above independent predictors. The results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed the adequate discriminative ability of the predictive model. Our study revealed that it is feasible to predict surgical difficulty by obtaining clinical and magnetic resonance parameters for imaging (the gap between the anal verge and the tumour, and posterior mesorectal thickness), and these predictions could be useful in making clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) belong to Theaceae family, in the section Thea. Tea plants are widely distributed in subtropical and tropical regions in the word. α-carotene and β-carotene in the tea leaves belong to carotenoids, which are associated with the aroma and color of the tea. Phytoene synthase (PSY) is a rate-limiting enzyme in carotenoids biosynthesis. We identified three CsPSY genes in 'Shuchazao', named CsPSY1, CsPSY2, and CsPSY3. Structural analysis of three CsPSY genes showed that CsPSY1 had a longer intro structure. The cis-acting elements of CsPSYs promoter were mainly associated with light-responsiveness, abiotic stress-responsiveness, and hormone-responsiveness. CsPSY1 exhibited expression in all tissues of the tea plants, whereas CsPSY2 and CsPSY3 were trace expression levels in all tissues. The positive expression of CsPSY1 under hormonal and abiotic stresses suggested its role in plant development and defense responses. The amino acid sequence of CsPSY1 was highly conserved in eight tea cultivars. The recombinant vector pCAMBIA1301-CsPSY1 was constructed to stabilize the overexpression of CsPSY1 in carrot. The contents of α-carotene and β-carotene in transgenic carrot callus were significantly increased. This study provides a foundational basis for further research on the function of CsPSYs and carotenoids accumulation in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To quantitatively evaluate the morphological parameters of meibomian glands (MGs) and lipid layer thickness (LLT) in patients with keratoconus (KC). Methods: In this prospective, cross-sectional study, 164 eyes of 164 keratoconus patients and 64 eyes of 64 age-matched control subjects were included. An advanced automatic MG analyzer was used to quantitatively measure the morphological and functional parameters of MGs. Morphological and functional parameters of MGs, LLT, and other ocular surface parameters were compared between the control and KC groups. Results: The mean meibomian gland diameter, length, square, and gland area ratio (GA) were all significantly decreased in the KC group (all P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed in the gland tortuosity index (TI) and gland signal index (SI) between the KC and control groups (all P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the number of total and incomplete blinking among patients with different stages of keratoconus (all P > 0.05). The gland diameter, square, and TI were all negatively associated with KC severity (all P < 0.05), while no significant difference was observed among all stages of KC in gland length, GA, and SI (all P > 0.05). Moreover, the LLTs were positively correlated with the gland diameter, square, GA, and TI and negatively correlated with anterior corneal curvature or KC severity (all P < 0.05). Conclusions: Atrophic morphological changes in the meibomian glands were closely correlated with the severity of keratoconus. Gland diameter may be a sensitive functional morphology metric of meibomian glands in patients with keratoconus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT (BZR1) transcription factor family is a key transcription factor downstream of the brassinosteroid (BR) signaling pathway that plays a critical role in plant growth and resistance to environmental stress. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a perennial plant with important economic value. In this study, a total of 5, 6, 7, 8, and 7 CsBZR1s were identified from the genomes of wild tea plant ('DASZ') and four tea cultivars ('Longjing 43,' 'Shuchazao,' 'Tieguanyin,' and 'Huangdan'), respectively. The phylogenetic tree analysis classified the 33 CsBZR1s into four groups, with members in the same classification having similar conserved motifs. Covariance and gene structure analysis revealed that two CsBZR1 genes (DACsBZR1.1, DACsBZR1.4) have high sequence alignment rates among the five tea genomes. One unique CsBZR1 gene present in each of 'DASZ,' 'Longjing 43,' 'Shuchazao,' and 'Huangdan.' In comparison, 'Tieguanyin' has three specific CsBZR1 genes. The upstream promoter sequences of 33 CsBZR1 genes contain many regulatory elements associated with hormone and stress responses. The expression levels of lj43CsBZR1s and sczCsBZR1s in different tissues of tea plants were significantly different. Under hormonal (GA, ABA, and BR) and abiotic stress (cold, heat, drought, and salt) treatments, most lj43CsBZR1s and sczCsBZR1s showed up-regulation in their expression levels. The relative expression levels of lj43CsBZR1s and sczCsBZR1s under GA and heat treatments were significantly higher than those under other treatments. This study provided a potential theoretical basis for the analysis of the function of CsBZR1 protein and its regulatory mechanism in response to hormone and abiotic stress in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile acids (BAs) are closely related to the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Aims: To identify potential targets related to BAs in CRC and analyze the correlation with immunity. Methods: The expression of BAs and CRC-related genes in TCGA was studied and screened using KEGG. GSE71187 was used for external validation of differentially expressed genes. Immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and enzymatic cycling assays were used to detect the expression levels of the differentially expressed genes ki67 and BAs. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify genes associated with differential gene expression and immunity. The Cibersort algorithm was used to detect the infiltration of 22 kinds of immune cells in cancer tissues. The PPI network and ceRNA network were constructed to reveal the possible molecular mechanisms behind tumorigenesis. Results: The BA-related gene UGT2A3 is positively correlated with good prognoses in CRC. The expression level of UGT2A3 was negatively related to the BA level and positively related to the Ki67 proliferation index. The expression level of UGT2A3 was higher in the moderately differentiation and advanced stage (stage IV) of CRC. In addition, the expression level of UGT2A3 is correlated with CD8+ T cells. A PPI network related to UGT2A3 and T-cell immune-related genes was constructed. A ceRNA network containing 32 miRNA‒mRNA and 40 miRNA‒lncRNA regulatory pairs was constructed. Conclusion: UGT2A3 is a potential molecular target of bile acids in the regulation of CRC and is related to T-cell immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive and heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer, lacks effective treatment options. Sophora flavescens Aiton, a Chinese medicinal plant, is often used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancer. Matrine (MAT) is an alkaloid extracted from Sophora flavescens. It has good anticancer effects, and thus can be explored as a new therapeutic agent in TNBC research. We performed bioinformatics analysis to analyze the differentially expressed genes between normal breast tissues and TNBC tissues, and comprehensive network pharmacology analyses. The activity and invasion ability of TNBC cells treated with MAT were analyzed. Apoptosis and cell cycle progression were determined using cytometry. We used Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining to determine the condition of autophagosomes. Finally, the expression levels of the key target proteins of the PI3K/AKT pathway were determined using western blotting. The proliferation and invasion ability of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 can be effectively inhibited by MAT. The results of flow cytometry indicated that MAT arrested the TNBC cell cycle and induced apoptosis. In addition, we confirmed that MAT inhibited the expression of BCL-2 while up-regulating the expression of cleaved caspase-3. Moreover, enhanced intensity of MDC staining and high LC3-II expression were observed, which confirmed that MAT induced autophagy in TNBC cells. Western blotting showed that MAT inhibited the PI3K/AKT pathway and downregulated the expressions of PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, and PGK1. This study provides feasible methods, which include bioinformatics analysis and in vitro experiments, for the identification of compounds with anti-TNBC properties. MAT inhibited the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, arrested cell cycle, as well as promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy. These experiments provide evidence for the anti-TNBC effect of MAT and identified potential targets against TNBC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are a serious threat to human health and increase the annual death ratio at a considerable pace. This is not uncommon even among teenagers and martial arts athletes. Due to the increased risk associated with strenuous exercise in the context of a quiescent cardiac abnormality, athletes have a higher rate of heart attack and stroke than their nonathletic colleagues. The mortality rate due to this disease is extremely high, which needs to be controlled at the initial stages. At present, the recognition and analysis of ECG signals is still an issue and requires an expert to analyse it and identify its hidden patterns. The most challenging aspect of ECG signal classification is the irregularities in the signals, which are critical for detecting patient status. Each heartbeat is made up of a variety of action impulse waveforms produced by various cardiac tissues. Classification of heartbeats is difficult because waveforms vary from person to person and are identified by certain features. At present, the automatic identification of ECG signals still requires manual design, which has low accuracy and cannot be widely used in clinical practice. This study proposes an intelligent system based on deep learning and machine learning methods to classify and diagnose ECG signals to improve their classification and recognition accuracy. It improves the detection ability of martial arts athletes' arrhythmia disease and obtains accurate arrhythmia diagnosis information. MIT-BIH arrhythmia dataset has been used for the experimental analysis. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated with the help of various performance measures. We conduct comprehensive experiments, and the results show that the algorithms used in this paper are robust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myopia is a refractive disorder arising from a mismatch between refractive power and relatively long axial length of the eye. With its dramatically increasing prevalence, myopia has become a pervasive social problem. It is commonly accepted that abnormal visual input acts as an initiating factor of myopia. As the first station to perceive visual signals, the retina plays an important role in myopia etiology. The retina is a fine-layered structure with multitudinous cells, processing intricate visual signals via numerous molecular pathways. Accordingly, dopaminergic mechanisms, contributions of rod and cone photoreceptors, myopic structural changes of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and neuro-retinal layers have all suggested a vital role of retinal dysfunction in myopia development. Herein, we separately discuss myopia-related retinal dysfunction and current dilemmas by different levels, from molecules to cells, with the hope that the comprehensive delineation could contribute to a better understanding of myopia etiology, indicate novel therapeutic targets, and inspire future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant, an important beverage crop, is cultivated worldwide. Lignification can improve the hardness of tea plant, which is of great significance for tea quality. Jasmonates (JAs) and cytokinin are plant hormones that control processes of plant development and secondary metabolite accumulation. Hydroxycinnamoyl–CoA shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) is primarily involved in lignin biosynthesis. The effects of exogenous application of JAs and cytokinin on lignin biosynthesis and related HCT gene expression profiles in tea plants are still unclear. In order to investigate the effects of exogenous JAs and cytokinin on lignin accumulation, anatomical structures, and CsHCT gene profiles in tea plants, we treated tea plants with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and cytokinin (6-BA). MeJA and 6-BA treatments triggered the lignification at 6 and 12 d in tea leaves. The combined treatment resulted in an increase in lignin content at 6 d, which was 1.32 times of that at 0 d for 'Mengshan 9.' The CsHCTs in clade 2 (CsHCT5, CsHCT6, CsHCT7, and CsHCT8) were mainly expressed in leaves. We found that exogenous MeJA and cytokinin might be able to antagonistically regulate tea plant lignin accumulation through the mediation of CsHCT expression. This study revealed that HCTs play potential important roles involved in lignin biosynthesis of tea plant development and hormonal stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A comprehensive review is presented on the chemical reactions of perovskite films under different environmental conditions and with charge transfer materials and metal electrodes in perovskite solar cells. The influence of chemical reactions on device stability is elucidated. Effective strategies for suppressing the degradation reactions are specified. Lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have become a promising next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their skyrocketed power conversion efficiency. However, the device stability issues may restrict their commercial applications, which are dominated by various chemical reactions of perovskite layers. Hence, a comprehensive illustration on the stability of perovskite films in PSCs is urgently needed. In this review article, chemical reactions of perovskite films under different environmental conditions (e.g., moisture, oxygen, light) and with charge transfer materials and metal electrodes are systematically elucidated. Effective strategies for suppressing the degradation reactions of perovskites, such as buffer layer introduction and additives engineering, are specified. Finally, conclusions and outlooks for this field are proposed. The comprehensive review will provide a guideline on the material engineering and device design for PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few reports have been published regarding the microanatomy of the dura mater located at the craniovertebral junction (CVJ). In clinic, the precise microanatomy of the CVJ dura mater would be taken into account, for reducing surgical complications and ineffective surgical outcomes. The main objective of the present investigation was to further elucidate the fiber composition and sources of the cervical spinal dura mater. Methods: The formalin-fixed adult head and neck specimens (n = 21) were obtained and P45 plastinated section method was utilized for the present study. The fibers of the upper cervical spinal dura mater (SDM) were examined in the P45 sagittal sections in the CVJ area. All photographic documentation was performed via a Canon EOS 7D Mark camera. Results: The posterior wall of the SDM sac at CVJ was found to be composed of stratified fibers, which are derived from three sources: the cerebral dura mater, the occipital periosteum, and the myodural bridge (MDB). The proper layer of the cerebral dura mater passes over the brim of the foramen magnum and enters the vertebral canal to form the inner layer of the SDM, and the fibers originating from the periosteum of the brim of the foramen magnum form the middle layer. The fibers of the MDB are inserted into the SDM and form its outer layer. It was found that the total number of fibers from each origin varied in humans. Conclusion: At the CVJ, the posterior wall of the SDM is a multi-layered structure composed of three different originated fibers. The cerebral dura mater, the periosteum located at the brim of the foramen magnum, and MDB contribute to the formation of the SDM. The present study would be beneficial to the choice of surgical approach at the CVJ and the protection of the SDB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombospondin-1 (Tsp-1), a matricellular protein, could protect retinal neurons from endogenous or exogenous insults; however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate Tsp-1-mediated neuron-protection effect in retinal cells. Our data showed that Tsp-1 downregulation would aggravate UV irradiation-induced DNA damage in 661 W cells and cone photoreceptor cells. The increasing levels of poly (ADP ribose) polymer (PAR) and γ-H2AX in Tsp-1-silenced 661 W cells indicate severe DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) and double-strand breaks (DSBs). By utilizing an error-prone substrate, Tsp-1 silencing significantly increased deleted DNA end joining in 661 W cells with spontaneous DNA damage (SDD). Moreover, Tsp-1 is indirectly involved in DNA stability in 661 W cells as UV treatment caused a significant Tsp-1 decreasing in cytoplasm, but no obvious Tsp-1 alteration in cell nuclear of 661 W cells. Furthermore, our data indicate that Tgf-β1 activation domain in Tsp-1 plays a critical role in DNA stability in 661 W cells through expressing mutated exogenous Tsp-1 and Tgf-β inhibitor, LSKL. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the mechanism of the neuroprotective action positively mediated by Tsp-1, which might be a therapeutic target for the treatment of retinal pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP)-box proteins are plant-specific transcription factors (TFs) and play crucial roles in a variety of physiological processes, including plant growth and development, signal transduction, and stress response. However, SBP-box family genes have not been well characterized in tea plant. In the present study, we identified 16 CsSBP genes in tea plant based on the tea plant genomic data. Phylogenetic analysis of SBP-box proteins from tea plant, Arabidopsis, and rice divided these proteins into nine groups (A–I). The number of exon–intron varied among the groups. The SBP-box genes in a same group shared similar exon–intron structures and motif locations. Prediction of miRNA target sites revealed that six CsSBPs genes contained a miR156 target site, while seven were targeted by miR157. RT-qPCR analysis revealed tissue/organ-specific expression patterns of CsSBP genes. In addition, their expression patterns in response to different phytohormone treatments and abiotic stresses were also investigated. This work provides base foundation for understanding the crucial roles of CsSBP genes in plant development and other biological processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The cost-effectiveness of NUDT15 genetic testing-guided initial 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) dosing in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was evaluated. Methods: A decision tree model was used to evaluate the cost to China's medical system per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained and cost per case of severe leukopenia avoided of NUDT15 genetic testing using public clinical data. Results: Genetic testing-guided initial 6-MP dosing reduced overall costs by $518.61, and prevented 0.221 cases of Grade III–IV leukopenia and increased QALY by 0.00136 per patient. Results were robust in one-way analyses and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: NUDT15 genetic testing prior to the initial administration of 6-MP in pediatric ALL patients in China is less expensive than standard dosing without genetic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The occurrence of cardiac pacemaker pocket infection has markedly increased and has become a new problem facing cardiovascular internists. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of treating cardiac pacemaker pocket infection using negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in patients who are unwilling or unable to have their cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) removed. Methods: From March 2013 to April 2019, NPWT was applied to 26 patients with cardiac pacemaker pocket infection who were unwilling or unable to have their CIEDs removed. In the first stage, a negative-pressure drainage system was placed in the pacemaker pocket after debridement. Then, NPWT was used to seal the wound, and the negative pressure (300–400 mmHg) was sustained for 5–7 days. In the second stage, the pacemaker was relocated to the subpectoral layer, and the wound was closed. Results: In all but three of our 26 patients, the wound healed completely without complications and without evidence of residual infection. The average follow-up period was 26.92 ± 9.46 months. Only 3 diabetic patients whose tissue bacterial cultures revealed that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis developed uncontrolled infections. Eventually, the entire original pacemaker systems were removed, and new pacemakers were implanted in the contralateral chest wall. Conclusions: When warranted by strictly selected indications, the method of NPWT without CIED extraction can be considered as a new and effective treatment for patients with pacemaker pocket infection who are unwilling or unable to have the device removed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shading can effectively reduce photoinhibition and improve the quality of tea. Lignin is one of the most important secondary metabolites that play vital functions in plant growth and development. However, little is known about the relationship between shading and xylogenesis in tea plant. To investigate the effects of shading on lignin accumulation in tea plants, 'Longjing 43' was treated with no shading (S0), 40% (S1) and 80% (S2) shading treatments, respectively. The leaf area and lignin content of tea plant leaves decreased under shading treatments (especially S2). The anatomical characteristics showed that lignin is mainly distributed in the xylem of tea leaves. Promoter analysis indicated that the genes involved in lignin pathway contain several light recognition elements. The transcript abundances of 12 lignin-associated genes were altered under shading treatments. Correlation analysis indicated that most genes showed strong positive correlation with lignin content, and CsPAL, Cs4CL, CsF5H, and CsLAC exhibited significant positively correlation under 40% and 80% shading treatments. The results showed that shading may have an important effect on lignin accumulation in tea leaves. This work will potentially helpful to understand the regulation mechanism of lignin pathway under shading treatment, and provide reference for reducing lignin content and improving tea quality through shading treatment in field operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant, an economically important crop, is used in producing tea, which is a non-alcoholic beverage. Lignin, the second most abundant component of the cell wall, reduces the tenderness of tea leaves and affects tea quality. Caffeoyl-coenzyme A O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) involved in lignin biosynthesis affects the efficiency of lignin synthesis and lignin composition. A total of 10 CsCCoAOMTs were identified based on tea plant genome. Systematic analysis of CCoAOMTs was conducted for its physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, gene structure, and promoter cis-element prediction. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that all the CsCCoAOMT proteins can be categorized into three clades. The promoters of six CsCCoAOMT genes possessed lignin-specific cis-elements, indicating they are possibly essential for lignin biosynthesis. According to the distinct tempo-spatial expression profiles, five genes were substantially expressed in eight tested tissues. Most CsCCoAOMT genes were expressed in stems and leaves in three tea plant cultivars 'Longjing 43,' 'Anjibaicha,' and 'Fudingdabai' by RT-qPCR detection and analysis. The expression levels of two genes (CsCCoAOMT5 and CsCCoAOMT6) were higher than those of the other genes. The expression levels of most CsCCoAOMT genes in 'Longjing 43' were significantly higher than that those in 'Anjibaicha' and 'Fudingdabai.' Correlation analysis revealed that only the expression levels of CsCCoAOMT6 were positively correlated with lignin content in the leaves and stems. These results lay a foundation for the future exploration of the roles of CsCCoAOMTs in lignin biosynthesis in tea plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations affect the performances of herbivores. Most previous studies have focused on the effects of abrupt increases in CO2 concentration on herbivore performance, but knowledge about the response of herbivores to gradual increases in CO2 is lacking. We tested the hypothesis that herbivores will show different responses to abrupt and gradual CO2 increases. We measured the performance of the brown planthopper (BPH) (Nilaparvata lugens (Stål)) reared on rice for 15 successive generations under three CO2 levels: ambient CO2 (375 µl/L), a gradual increase in CO2 (25 µl/L increase per generation, 390–750 µl/L), and an abrupt increase in CO2 (750 µl/L). During the first generation, the female and male longevities were affected by both the gradual and abrupt increases in CO2, and the fecundity and net reproductive rate (R0) of the BPH in the abruptly increased CO2 treatment were significantly lower than those in the other two treatments; there were no significant differences in the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and the finite rate of increase (λ) among the three CO2 treatments. After 14 generations, female longevity was significantly prolonged in treatments with both gradual and abrupt CO2 increases. The fecundity of the BPHs reared in the gradual CO2 treatment was significantly higher than that in the other two CO2 treatments. According to the population parameters (r, λ, and R0) and population projection, under a gradual increase in CO2, the BPH population size was higher than that under an abrupt CO2 increase. We concluded that the BPH abundance will increase under a gradual CO2 increase and consequently result in an increase in rice yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visually guided regulation is a sophisticated and active process, whereby sensory input helps to shape ocular development. Here, we sought to investigate the potential involvement of SorCS1, an important protein in synaptic transmission in neuron, in retinal development. A form-deprivation (FD) rat model was established. Ocular variations induced by FD were examined, including changes to eye axial length and retinal thickness. Scotopic electroretinogram (ERG) was used to examine retinal function. RD-PCR assays were screened for differentially expressed genes in FD rat eyes. Immunofluorescence staining identified the expression pattern and localization of SorCS1 in rat retina, with or without FD treatment. Additionally, primary retinal neural cells were cultured and incubated with or without a light–dark cycle, and western blot and real-time PCR assays were used to examine the expression of SorCS1. Retinal neural cells were treated with recombinant SorCS1 (h-SorCS1) coated with beads in serum-free conditions to test for effects on cellular physiology and expression of neurotransmitters involved in visual development. To monitor cell viability, a CCK8 assay was employed. Our data demonstrated that FD led to ocular axial elongation and retinal thinning. ERG tests showed FD impaired electrophysiological function in rat. An age-related expression pattern of SorCS1 was observed in the rat retina, and SorCS1 was significantly up-regulated in the FD rat retina. In addition, in vitro evidence suggested a strong correlation between light exposure and SorCS1 expression. Furthermore, treatment of retinal neural cells with h-SorCS1-beads promoted cell viability, neurite outgrowth, and up-regulation of inhibitory neurotransmitter expression, which implies that over-expression of SorCS1 may cause abnormal retinal development. Our findings suggest that SorCS1 is involved in the physiological processes of light/visually guided ocular growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (PEA) additive is introduced into the perovskite solar cells to passivate both surface and grain boundary defects, and hence improve the device efficiency and stability. MAPbI3 device with PEA exhibits significantly enhanced efficiency of 18.87%. (FAPbI3)1-x(MAPbBr3)x device with PEA exhibits enhanced efficiency of 21.60%. The unsealed passivated device degrades only by 5% in PCE after being exposed to air (30 ± 5% relative humidity) for 30 days.Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are regarded as promising candidates for future renewable energy production. High-density defects in the perovskite films, however, lead to unsatisfactory device performances. Here, poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (PEA) additive is utilized to passivate the trap states in perovskite. The PEA molecules chemically interact with lead ions in perovskite, considerably passivate surface and bulk defects, which is in favor of charge transfer and extraction. Furthermore, the PEA additive can efficiently block moisture and oxygen to prolong the device lifetime. As a result, PEA-treated MAPbI3 (MA: CH3NH3) solar cells show increased power conversion efficiency (PCE) (from 17.18 to 18.87%) and good long-term stability. When PEA is introduced to (FAPbI3)1-x(MAPbBr3)x (FA: HC(NH2)2) solar cells, the PCE is enhanced from 19.66 to 21.60%. For both perovskites, their severe device hysteresis is efficiently relieved by PEA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have reported mixed results on the association between the pro-inflammatory dietary index and risk of breast cancer. We perform this comprehensive meta-analysis to figure out whether high dietary inflammatory index (DII) score is a risk factor for the occurrence of breast cancer.Methods: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases to identify included studies updated to September 12, 2017. All studies that reported risk estimates by comparing the highest DII score to the lowest were assessed.Results: A total of seven observational studies were identified: three case controls and four cohorts, involving 319,993 participants. Overall, the meta-analysis reported that individuals with the highest DII score were associated with a 25% increased risk of breast cancer versus those with the lowest DII score (relative risk [RR] = 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.44; I2 = 82.7%, p = 0.000). Upon stratified analysis, significant positive associations remained for postmenopausal women (RR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.02-1.30; p = 0.020), case-control studies (RR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.13-2.49; p = 0.010), Asia (RR = 2.30; 95% CI 1.7-3.12; p = 0.0031) and Europe (RR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.01-1.58; p = 0.0477). When analysed on hormonal receptor status, 36% increased risk was explored for hormone-receptor negative.Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that more pro-inflammatory diets (higher DII scores) are associated with increased breast cancer incidence. However, the research is not about significant associations but about moderate effect sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is a complex aromatic heteropolymer that plays essential roles in mechanical support, water transport, and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. The tea plant is a leaf-type beverage crop, which serves as a resource for non-alcoholic beverage tea. The content and distribution of lignin in tea plant leaves seriously affect the quality of tea. However, the biosynthetic pathways of lignin remain to be characterized in the tea plant. In the present study, lignin accumulation was investigated in tea plant leaves and stems at three developmental stages. The lignin content continuously increased during leaf and stem development in both tea plant cultivars 'Fudingdabai' and 'Suchazao.' The lignin distribution and anatomical characteristics of the tea plant leaves coincided with lignin accumulation and showed that lignin is mainly distributed in the epidermis, xylem, and vascular bundle sheath. 'Suchazao' exhibits a low lignin content and lacks a vascular bundle sheath. Twelve genes encoding the enzymes involved in the lignin biosynthesis of tea plant were identified and included CsPAL, CsC4H, Cs4CL, CsHCT, CsC3H, CsCCoAOMT, CsCCR, CsCAD, CsF5H, CsCOMT, CsPER, and CsLAC. The expression profiling of lignin biosynthesis-related genes and analysis of lignin accumulation may help elaborate the regulatory mechanisms of lignin biosynthesis in tea plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tea plant is an important commercial horticulture crop cultivated worldwide. Yield and quality of this plant are influenced by abiotic stress. The bHLH family transcription factors play a pivotal role in the growth and development, including abiotic stress response, of plants. A growing number of bHLH proteins have been functionally characterized in plants. However, few studies have focused on the bHLH proteins in tea plants. In this study, 120 CsbHLH TFs were identified from tea plants using computational prediction method. Structural analysis detected 23 conservative residues, with over 50% identities in the bHLH domain. Moreover, 103 CsbHLH proteins were assumed to bind DNA and encompassed 98 E-Box binders and 85 G-Box binders. The CsbHLH proteins were grouped into 20 subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis and a previous classification system. A survey of transcriptome profiling screened 22 and 39 CsbHLH genes that were upregulated under heat and drought stress. Nine CsbHLH genes were validated using qRT-PCR. Results were approximately in accordance with transcriptome data. These genes could be induced by one or more abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the maximal space-like hypersurface defined on a convex ring in R2, we obtain the regularity and the strict convexity of its level lines by the continuity method, and the curvature estimate of the level lines is also derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction of macro-materials with highly oriented microstructures and well-connected interfaces between building blocks is significant for a variety of applications. However, it is still challenging to confine the desired structures. Thus, well-defined building blocks would be crucial to address this issue. Herein, we present a facile process based on 1.8 nm Pd nanoclusters (NCs) to achieve centimeter-size assemblages with aligned honeycomb structures, where the diameter of a single tubular moiety is ∼4 μm. Layered and disordered porous assemblages were also obtained by modulating the temperature in this system. The reconciled interactions between the NCs were crucial to the assemblages. As a comparison, 14 nm Pd nanoparticles formed only aggregates. This work highlights the approach of confining the size of the building blocks in order to better control the assembly process and improve the stability of the structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is a typical leaf-type beverage crop. Many secondary metabolites, such as tea polyphenols, theanine, and caffeine that accumulated in tea leaves are beneficial to human health. The fresh leaves of tea plant are harvested and timely processed into tea products with different flavors. The withering of fresh tea leaves is the first step in tea processing and directly affects tea color, taste, and fragrance. To understand the molecular mechanism that influences tea quality during withering, we investigated the dynamic changes in the proteome of postharvest tea leaves in four withering stages (0, 1, 4, and 12 h treatments). A total of 863 unique differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified by iTRAQ. The up- and down-regulated DEPs and the protein–protein interaction networks in different samples presented dynamic changes in their characteristics. The results of the functional annotation revealed that the molecular characteristics of tea withering are similar to leaf senescence. The biosynthesis of main tea-specific compounds that constitute tea color, taste, and fragrance of tea is restricted during withering. The substance transformation and degradation may have positive contributions to tea quality in withering technology. The proteome dynamics can be a useful aid for understanding the withering mechanisms and providing available information for functional discovery of proteins in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant is an economic crop in China. Trihelix family transcription factor, also known as GT factor, is one of plant-specific TF families in plant. Its functions have been recognized in the development and stress tolerance in various plants. However, the trihelix TFs and its roles in abiotic stress tolerance in tea plant remains unclear. In this study, ten putative trihelix family TFs were identified from the transcriptome of tea plant, and divided into five clades. The leaves of two tea plant cultivars ('Yingshuang' and 'Huangjinya') under four abiotic stress treatments (38, 4 °C, salt and drought) were collected. Then, the expression profiles of two genes under abiotic stress treatments were detected and analyzed by qRT-PCR. The protein-protein interactions of trihelix family between C. sinensis and Arabidopsis were also performed. The expression levels of CsGT1- 3 and CsGT2- 1 were varied in the two tea plant cultivars. Meanwhile, CsGT1- 3 and CsGT2- 1 were differentially induced by the abiotic stresses. Up-regulation of CsGT1- 3 and CsGT2- 1 expressions by the induction of salt stress was observed. Our results might suggest that the transcriptome-based analysis was considered to be an available method to identify the identification and characterization of trihelix family TFs in C. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydration-responsive element-binding protein (DREB) transcription factors play key roles in plant stress signal transduction pathways. We herein describe the functions of a Camellia sinensis DREB transcription factor (CsDREB) in response to abiotic stress. Subcellular localization analyses indicated that the CsDREB localizes to the nucleus. CsDREB expression in C. sinensis leaves was induced by heat, cold, drought, high salinity, HO, and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). Additionally, CsDREB showed no transcriptional activation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing CsDREB exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses. The overexpression of CsDREB in A. thaliana plants resulted in the up-regulated expression of ABA-dependent stress-induced genes (i.e., AtRD29B, AtRAB18, AtABI1, and AtABI2) and ABAindependent stress-induced genes (i.e., AtCOR15a and AtRD29A). Furthermore, an analysis of the CsDREB promoter sequence revealed the presence of several abiotic and biotic stress-related motifs, along with the developmental stageand tissue-specific elements. An examination of the transient expression of the CsDREB promoter in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves revealed that the promoter is highly responsive to ABA and methyl jasmonate. Collectively, these results suggest that CsDREB may increase plant tolerance to salt and drought stresses via both ABA-dependent and ABAindependent pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant ( Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) is an important leaf-type woody crop used for producing of non-alcoholic beverages worldwide. The GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR (GRF) transcription factors cooperated with GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR (GIF) transcriptional coactivators positively regulate leaf development. In the present study, six GRF and two GIF genes were identified and characterized in the leaf transcriptome of C. sinensis, respectively. The alignment results showed that the feature structures of the predicted homologous GRF and GIF proteins of C. sinensis hold a high identity with Arabidopsis and rice. The presence of C. sinensis miR396 target sites suggested that these miR396 members are the potential post-transcriptional regulators of CsGRF genes. The expression profiles of CsGRF and CsGIF1 genes were higher in tender leaves and consistently downregulated during tea plant leaf development. Those results suggested that these genes may be actively involved in the early stage leaf tissue formation in tea plant. The divergence of CsGRF and CsGIF genes in response to different hormonal stimuli revealed the possible multiple functions of these genes in hormonal regulation. This study provided the potential molecular basis of the CsGRF and CsGIF family genes for future functional research on leaf development and hormonal stimuli in C. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant [ Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] is a leaf-type healthy non-alcoholic beverage crop, which has been widely introduced worldwide. Tea is rich in various secondary metabolites, which are important for human health. However, varied climate and complex geography have posed challenges for tea plant survival. The WRKY gene family in plants is a large transcription factor family that is involved in biological processes related to stress defenses, development, and metabolite synthesis. Therefore, identification and analysis of WRKY family transcription factors in tea plant have a profound significance. In the present study, 50 putative C. sinensis WRKY proteins (CsWRKYs) with complete WRKY domain were identified and divided into three Groups (Group I-III) on the basis of phylogenetic analysis results. The distribution of WRKY family transcription factors among plantae, fungi, and protozoa showed that the number of WRKY genes increased in higher plant, whereas the number of these genes did not correspond to the evolutionary relationships of different species. Structural feature and annotation analysis results showed that CsWRKY proteins contained WRKYGQK/WRKYGKK domains and C2H2/C2HC-type zinc-finger structure: D-X-R-X-Y-X-C-X-C-X-H motif; CsWRKY proteins may be associated with the biological processes of abiotic and biotic stresses, tissue development, and hormone and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Temperature stresses suggested that the candidate CsWRKY genes were involved in responses to extreme temperatures. The current study established an extensive overview of the WRKY family transcription factors in tea plant. This study also provided a global survey of CsWRKY transcription factors and a foundation of future functional identification and molecular breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea plant ( Camellia sinensis) is an important natural resource for the global supply of non-alcoholic beverage production. The extension of tea plant cultivation is challenged by biotic and abiotic stresses. Transcription factors (TFs) of the APETALA 2 (AP2)/ethylene-responsive factor (ERF) family are involved in growth and anti-stresses through multifaceted transcriptional regulation in plants. This study comprehensively analyzed AP2/ERF family TFs from C. sinensis on the basis of the transcriptome sequencing data of four tea plant cultivars, namely, 'Yunnanshilixiang', 'Chawansanhao', 'Ruchengmaoyecha', and 'Anjibaicha'. A total of 89 putative AP2/ERF transcription factors with full-length AP2 domain were identified from C. sinensis and classified into five subfamilies, namely, AP2, dehydration-responsive-element-binding (DREB), ERF, related to ABI3/VP (RAV), and Soloist. All identified CsAP2/ ERF genes presented relatively stable expression levels in the four tea plant cultivars. Many groups also showed cultivar specificity. Five CsAP2/ ERF genes from each AP2/ERF subfamily (DREB, ERF, AP2, and RAV) were related to temperature stresses; these results indicated that AP2/ERF TFs may play important roles in abnormal temperature stress response in C. sinensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zirconia-based ceramics is widely used in dentistry. Different compositions of ceramics have different features. Our self-renovated ceramics become more machinable without scarifying its dental restoration properties after adjusting ratio of lanthanum phosphate (LaPO)/yttrium oxide (YO). In order to evaluate its safety, here, we tested its genotoxicity in primary human peripheral lymphocytes. The human lymphocytes cultured on three groups of different ratios of LaPO/YO diphase ceramics for 6 days showed little effect of growth inhibition and similar effect of growth trend to the negative control. Furthermore, single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay) indicated that there was no significant difference of the value of tail moment between the tested ceramics and negative control, the IPS Empress II ( P > 0.05). Our findings implicate that our self-renovated ceramics do not induce DNA damages in human peripheral lymphocytes and support their future clinic application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim:Arctigenin, a phenylpropanoid dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan found in traditional Chinese herbs, has been determined to exhibit a variety of pharmacological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and endurance enhancement. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidation and anti-fatigue effects of arctigenin in rats.Methods:Rat L6 skeletal muscle cell line was exposed to H2O2 (700 μmol/L), and ROS level was assayed using DCFH-DA as a probe. Male SD rats were injected with arctigenin (15 mg·kg−1·d−1, ip) for 6 weeks, and then the weight-loaded forced swimming test (WFST) was performed to evaluate their endurance. The levels of antioxidant-related genes in L6 cells and the skeletal muscles of rats were analyzed using real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting.Results:Incubation of L6 cells with arctigenin (1, 5, 20 μmol/L) dose-dependently decreased the H2O2-induced ROS production. WFST results demonstrated that chronic administration of arctigenin significantly enhanced the endurance of rats. Furthermore, molecular biology studies on L6 cells and skeletal muscles of the rats showed that arctigenin effectively increased the expression of the antioxidant-related genes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (Gsr), glutathione peroxidase (GPX1), thioredoxin (Txn) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), through regulation of two potential antioxidant pathways: AMPK/PGC-1α/PPARα in mitochondria and AMPK/p53/Nrf2 in the cell nucleus.Conclusion:Arctigenin efficiently enhances rat swimming endurance by elevation of the antioxidant capacity of the skeletal muscles, which has thereby highlighted the potential of this natural product as an antioxidant in the treatment of fatigue and related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from expressed sequence tag sequences and using the conserved amino acid sequence of the Arabidopsis thaliana AP2/ERF domain as a probe, we used in silico cloning to identify 87 genes that encode putative AP2/ERF transcription factors (TFs) from the Brassica napus. Almost all of the putative AP2/ERF factors from B. napus were similar to genes previously defined as AP2/ERF genes from A. thaliana. Based on the number of AP2-domains and the function of the genes, the AP2/ERF TFs from B. napus were classified into four subfamilies, named the AP2, DREB, ERF, and RAV subfamilies. We then predicted and analyzed cDNA sequences and amino acid sequences, amino acid compositions, physical and chemical characteristics, phylogenetic trees, conserved domain sequences, functional domains, molecular models, and folding states of the proteins they are predicted to encode. Expression analysis showed that four factors, which belonged to the ERF and DREB subfamilies, were induced by abiotic stresses, as well as by hormone treatment. This suggests that those AP2/ERF factors may be involved in signaling pathways responsive to abiotic and biotic stresses. The results from this study, reported herein, form a basis for future functional analyses of B. napus TFs that belong to the AP2/ERF family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AP2/ERF transcription factors of higher plants regulate transcriptional networks that control development and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, the rice OsAP23 gene, which encodes an AP2/ERF transcription factor, was isolated from rice using a yeast-one-hybrid system. The OsAP23 transcription factor belongs to the B3 group of the ERF subfamily. Germination results for transgenic Arabidopsis plants hosting the OsAP23 gene revealed greater inhibition at the germination and seedling stages with increasing concentration of NaCl compared to the wild-type plants. Exogenous ABA also reduced the rate of germination of transgenic Arabidopsis seeds that over-express OsAP23 compared with wild-type Arabidopsis seeds. In addition, following exposure to high salt concentrations, several stress-responsive regulatory genes were induced to a significantly greater extent in the wild-type lines compared with lines that over-express OsAP23. These results suggested that OsAP23 might be a negative regulator of the salt stress response in higher plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most rapid and effective defensive mechanisms plants have for protecting themselves, from a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, is the regulation of plant signal transcription factors. AP2/ERF factors play an important role in plant development as well as in hormonal regulation and cold response. Directed evolution is a powerful tool to modify proteins, improving their properties, and for studying their structure-function relations. Here, the transgenic Arabidopsis plants over-expressed a mutant gene, BnaERF- B3- hy15- mu3, which encoded for a factor that exhibited more binding activity with the GCC box element than the wild-type gene BnaERF- B3- hy15 encode factor, and exhibited more freezing tolerance than transgenic plants containing the original BnaERF- B3- hy15 gene. Real-time PCR analyses also revealed that the expression levels of several stress-regulated genes were altered in the over-expressed BnaERF- B3- hy15- mu3 transgenic lines. The BnaERF- B3- hy15 responded to exogenous ABA. Using RT-PCR analysis, the expression of BnaERF- B3- hy15 at different stages and stress treatments were also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated CO may reduce the tolerance of Nilaparvata lugen ( N. lugens) to adverse environmental factors through the biological and physiological degeneration of N. lugens. In an artificial climate box, under 375 and 750 μL L CO levels, the rice stems nutrient content, the nutrient content and enzyme activities of N. lugens nymph fed on rice seedlings exposed to ambient and elevated CO were studied. The results showed that rice stems had significantly higher protein and total amino acid levels under ambient than elevated CO levels. Nymphs had significantly higher protein levels in the ambient CO treatment, while their glucose levels were significantly lower under ambient CO conditions. Significantly higher trypsin activity was observed in nymphs grown in elevated CO. Significantly lower activities of the protective enzymes total superoxide dismutase and catalase were observed in the nymphs under ambient CO. Meanwhile, the activity of the detoxification enzyme glutathione S-transferase was significantly higher in the ambient CO treatment. Measuring how energy and resources were allocated to enzymes in N. lugens nymphs under elevated CO conditions can provide a more meaningful evaluation of their metabolic tolerances to adverse climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly of nanoparticles (NPs) into complex structures is a fundamental topic in nanochemistry. Although progress has been made in this respect, the classical treatment of NPs as hard building blocks that lack the ability to anisotropically 'bond' to each other limits the construction of more complex assemblies. More importantly, extension of methods of assembly of robust NPs to the assembly of ultrasmall ones with size below 2 nm is still challenging. Here we report the controlled self-assembly of ∼2 nm gold NPs into one-dimensional (1D) nanochain, two-dimensional (2D) nanobelt and three-dimensional (3D) nanocomet architectures by kinetically controlling the diffusion of ultrasmall gold NPs with anisotropic surfaces in solution. This process is presumed to allow selective ligand exchange with linkers at different binding sites on the NP surface, and results in 'multivalent' interactions between NPs. Different from the assembly of 'hard building blocks', our results demonstrate the significance of surface effects for ultrasmall NPs (or clusters) in determining the structure of complex self-assemblies, and suggest the possibility of assembling these 'molecule-like' ultrasmall nanocrystals into novel complex materials on a nanoscale approaching that of real atoms or molecules. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley is a cereal grain derived from annual grass. In modern agriculture, barley plays a significant role as feedstock for feed, malt and food. During its life cycle, as do most plants, barley faces numerous external challenges from the environment. Both biotic and abiotic stresses decrease the growth, yield and cultivation area of barley. Plants have to respond to biotic and abiotic stresses and environmental stimuli during their growth and developmental period. Transcriptional factors play essential roles in the process. In this article, we surveyed and comparatively analyzed AP2-like genes from H. vulgare. A total of 53 AP2-like genes were identified from a database of 480,830 records for H. vulgare-expressed sequence tags. Based on the number of AP2/ERF domains and putative gene functions, the AP2/ERF transcription factors from H. vulgare were classified into four subfamilies and a soloist. cDNA and deduced amino acid sequence, composition, physical and chemical characterization, conserved domain sequences and function domain were investigated, and phylogenetic tree was generated. Using the available EST information as a source of expression profile, those AP2-like genes from barley were detected in ten different tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AP2/ERF family transcription factors (TFs) act as the nodes of a regulatory network in a plant's response to abiotic and biotic stress. AP2-like genes from apple ( Malus × domestica Borkh), one of the most widely cultivated fruit trees worldwide, were identified and analysed in order to understand the transcriptional regulation through the AP2/ERF family TFs. Starting from the M. domestica database, 58 AP2-like TFs were identified by in silico cloning using the AP2/ERF TFs amino acid sequence of Arabidopsis thaliana as a probe. The AP2/ERF TFs from apple were classified into four subfamilies, DREB, ERF, AP2 and RAV. To establish detailed expression data of this gene family in apple, six kinds of tissue (bud, flower, fruit, leaf, root and stem) and cell culture were examined for the presence of AP2-like genes. Most of the apple AP2-like genes indicate some degree of tissue specificity and were most abundant in root followed by stem, and expression levels were low in leaf and in bud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transcription factor (TF) is a protein that binds to specific DNA sequences and thereby controls transcription. A large number of TFs are found in plants. The AP2/ERF family of TFs contain the AP2 DNA-binding domain, which play important roles in transcriptional regulation in plant life. To understand the AP2/ERF family TFs of maize, the discovery, phylogeny and expression pattern analysis of AP2-like genes from maize were described. A total of 167 AP2-like genes were identified by in silico cloning using the amino acid sequence of AP2/ERF family TFs from Arabidopsis thaliana as the probe. The maize AP2-like genes identified were orthologous to those TFs in Arabidopsis. The AP2/ERF TFs from maize were classified into four subfamilies (DREB, ERF, AP2 and RAV) and a Soloist. Using the EST information of maize as a source of expression data, those AP2-like genes from maize were detected in different plant tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascorbic acid (AsA), known as vitamin C, is an essential nutrient for humans and mainly absorbed from food. Tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) leaves can be a dietary source of AsA for humans. However, experimental evidence on the biosynthesis, recycling pathway and distribution of AsA during leaf development in tea plants is unclear. To gain insight into the mechanism and distribution of AsA in the tea plant leaf, we identified 18 related genes involved in AsA biosynthesis and recycling pathway based on the transcriptome database of tea plants. Tea plant leaves were used as samples at different developmental stages. AsA contens in tea plant leaves at three developmental stages were measured by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The correlations between expression levels of these genes and AsA contents during the development of tea plant leaves were discussed. Results indicated that the l-galactose pathway might be the primary pathway of AsA biosynthesis in tea plant leaves. CsMDHAR and CsGGP might play a regulatory role in AsA accumulation in the leaves of three cultivars of tea plants. These findings may provide a further glimpse to improve the AsA accumulation in tea plants and the commercial quality of tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]