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Background: While evolution has led certain breeds of sheep to exhibit large tails composed of fatty tissue, the genetic basis for this fatty large-tailed phenotypic trait remains to be defined in breeds of Han sheep. Here, we employed a high-throughput sequencing approach to identify mRNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs) that were differentially expressed in tail fat tissue samples from large-tailed Han (LTH) and small-tailed Han (STH) sheep in order to identify key genetic determinants of the large-tailed phenotype.Results: In total, we identified 521 mRNAs (237 upregulated, 284 downregulated) and 14 miRNAs (6 upregulated, 8 downregulated) that were differentially expressed between these two sheep breeds. Predictive analytical database tools were subsequently utilized to identify 2,409 putative targets of these differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs), including 65 which were among the list of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in the present study. By specifically focusing on predicted DEM/DEG pairs with appropriate regulatory directionality, we identified DIRF, HSD17B12, LPL, APOBR, INSIGI, THRSP, ACSL5, FAAH, ACSS2, APOA1, ACLY, and ACSM3 through mRNA analyses and ACSL4, FTO, FGF8, IGF2, GNPDA2, LIPG, PRKAA2, ELOVL7, SOAT2, and SIRT1 through miRNA analyses as candidate genes which may regulate fat deposition and fatty acid metabolism in the adipose tissue from the tails of Han sheep. Conclusion: Together, our data provide insight into the potential genetic basis for the large-tailed phenotype of LTH sheep, suggesting that it may be attributable to specific DEMs and DEGs that regulate one another and thereby control lipid metabolism. These data provide a basis for future research regarding the role of these genes in ovine tail fat deposition, and offer preliminary perspectives on the molecular mechanisms governing the fatty large-tailed phenotype in LTH sheep.

Root is the principal plant organ for nutrient and water uptake,and the place for transformation,synthesis,and assimilation of plant materials.Enzyme activity and morphological characteristics of root are closely related to crop yield and quality.Previous researches have investigated management practices,such as variety,tillage,fertilization,and irrigation,which affect enzyme activity and morphological characteristics of rice root.Planting winter crop is a common practice in double-cropping paddy fields in southern China.Several cereals,grasses,and legumes have been used as winter crops to improve physical,chemical,and biological properties of paddy soil.Winter crops are also beneficial for soil erosion control and environmental amelioration.Nevertheless,the effects of planting winter crops on soil enzyme activity and morphological characteristics of rice root in double-cropping paddy fields are unclear.The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of winter crops,including potato(Solanum tuberosum L.),Chinese milk vetch(Astragalus sinicus L.),and rape seed(Brassica napus L.),on yields and enzyme activity and morphological traits of root in subsequent rice crops using a 7-year experiment located in Changsha city,Hunan province.Chinese milk vetch was seeded directly at the end of September(approximately 20d before the harvest of late rice),and harvested in the middle of April.Rape seed and potato were transplanted at the end of October and harvested at the end of April.At the harvest of Chinese milk vetch,rape seed,and potato,about 22500 kg/hm2,7500 kg/hm2,and 22500 kg/hm2 straw was returned to the field respectively.Crop yields of early and late rice were estimated at harvesting time from 2005 to 2011.Rice roots were sampled to estimate enzyme activity and morphological characteristics at typical growth stages of early and late rice crops in 2011.In comparison with the control(winter fallow),inclusion of winter crops increased root malondialdehyde(MDA) content in early growth stages for both early and late rice crops.No significant difference was found between all the treatments in late growth stages for both early and late rice crops.Winter crops also improved the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and peroxidase(POD) in the roots of subsequent rice crops,which were helpful for remitting cell membrane peroxidation.Root morphology traits of the succeeding rice crops varied with preceding winter crops.Planting potato and Chinese milk vetch promoted root growth of early and late rice crops,thus increased rice yield by 6.29% and 7.76% in 2011,respectively.On the other hand,planting rape seed inhibited root growth of late rice and decreased late rice yield by 6.31%,and double rice yield by 1.96%.Correlation analysis indicated that under potato and Chinese milk vetch treatments,the greater length,number,volume,and surface area of rice roots at grain filling stage were major factors contributed to the improved double rice yields.No significant correlations were observed between yield and enzyme activities(MDA,SOD,POD and CAT) of rice.We concluded that potato and Chinese milk vetch were beneficial winter crops for improving root growth and yield of double rice,while rape seed was not recommended as a suitable winter crop in double cropping rice production.In addition,environmental and economic effects should be considered when selecting winter crops.

Residue management in cropping systems is useful to improve soil quality. However, the studies on the effects of residue management on the enzyme activities and microbial community of soils in South China are few. Therefore, the effects of incorporating winter cover crop residue with a double-cropping rice (Oryza sativa L.) system on soil enzyme activities and microbial community in Southern China fields were studied. The experiment has conducted at the experimental station of the Institute of Soil and Fertilizer Research, Hunan Academy of Agricultural Science, China since winter 2004. Four winter cropping systems were used: rice–rice–ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) (R-R-Ry), rice–rice–Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) (R-R-Mv), rice–rice–rape (Brassica napus L.) (R-R-Ra) and rice–rice with winter fallow (R-R-Fa). The result indicated that the enzyme activities in the R-R-Ry, R-R-Mv and R-R-Ra systems were significantly higher (P

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by the accumulation of malignant blasts with impaired differentiation programs due to recurrent mutations, amongst which IDH mutations occur in 15% of AML patients. Here, we show both in vitro as well as in a xenografted mouse model, that clinically achievable doses of ATRA are sufficient to achieve a terminal granulocytic differentiation in primary AML samples and in AML cell lines harboring IDH1-R132H mutation. There is no effect at this concentration on the WT controls. This is associated with reduction of both proliferation and colony formation, and further leads to apoptosis, thereby improving overall survival of mutant xenografted mice. We further showed, through transcriptomic and western blot analysis, that specific ATRA sensitivity is due to overexpression and activation of C/EBPα in the presence of IDH1-R132H mutation. This primes blasts into myeloid differentiation. Moreover, IDH1 R132H mutation also reduces LYN activation, and thus, also sensitizes to clinically achievable doses of dasatinib, a LYN inhibitor. As ATRA induces a brief LYN activation, which transiently reduces ATRA activity, its combination with dasatinib synergistically increases differentiation. In vivo, the combination of ATRA and dasatinib reduces tumor growth of mutant xenografted mice. The combination ATRA and dasatinib might also be considered for other IDH mutations that produce 2-hydroxyglutarate, since treatment with the mutant-specific oncometabolite (eg. 2-hydroxyglutarate) sensitizes AML cells to ATRA and dasatinib-induced differentiation. Finally, ATRA also reduces BCL2 expression specifically in the presence of IDH1 R132H mutation. Since it has been shown that IDH mutations increase BCL2 dependence in leukemic cells, our results identified a subgroup of patients that is likely to respond to pharmacologic concentrations of ATRA. To conclude, our data provide the preclinical rationale for investigating the use of the combination ATRA and dasatinib in a subgroup of patients who carry IDH1 R132H mutation, in clinical trials. The addition of a BCL2 inhibitor such as ABT-199 would also be considered. Disclosures Off Label Use: ATRA and dasatinib for treatment of non APL AML. Recher:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sunesis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Research Funding; Chugai: Research Funding.