Cloning a novel reduced-height (Rht) gene TaOSCA1.4 from a QTL in wheat

Reducing plant height (PH) is one of the core contents of the "Green Revolution", which began in the 1960s in wheat. A number of 27 reduced-height (Rht) genes have been identified and a great number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for PH have been mapped on all 21 chromosomes. Nonetheless, only several genes regulated PH have been cloned. In this study, we found the interval of QTL QPh-1B included an EST-SSR marker swes1079. According to the sequence of swes1079, we cloned the TaOSCA1.4 gene. We developed a CAPS marker to analyze the variation across a natural population. The result showed that the PH was significantly different between the two haplotypes of TaOSCA1.4-1B under most of the 12 environments and the average values of irrigation and rainfed conditions. This result further demonstrated that TaOSCA1.4 was associated with PH. Then, we validated the TaOSCA1.4 via RNAi technology. The average PHs of the wild-type (WT), RNAi lines 1 (Ri-1) and 2 (Ri-2) were 94.6, 83.6 and 79.2 cm, respectively, with significant differences between the WT and Ri-1 and Ri-2. This result indicated that the TaOSCA1.4 gene controls PH. TaOSCA1.4 is a constitutively expressed gene and its protein localizes to the cell membrane. TaOSCA1.4 gene is a member of the OSCA gene family, which regulates intracellular Ca2+ concentration. We hypothesized that knock down mutants of TaOSCA1.4 gene reduced regulatory ability of Ca2+, thus reducing the PH. Furthermore, the cell lengths of the knock down mutants are not significantly different than that of WT. We speculate that TaOSCA1.4 gene is not directly associated with gibberellin (GA), which should be a novel mechanism for a wheat Rht gene.

Cytochrome GmGLY1 is Involved in the Biosynthesis of Glycitein in Soybean

Isoflavones, the major secondary metabolites of interest due to their benefits to both human and plant health, are exclusively produced by legumes. In this study, we profiled the isoflavone content in dry seeds from 211 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] accessions grown across five environments. Broad and discernible phenotypic variations were observed among accessions, regions, and years of growth. Twenty-six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the sum of glycitein (GLE), glycitin (GL), 6″-O-acetylglycitin (AGL), and 6″-O-malonylglycitin (MGL) contents were detected in multiple environments via a genome-wide association study (GWAS). These SNPs were located on chromosome 11 (8,148,438 bp to 8,296,956 bp, renamed qGly11-01). Glyma.11g108300 (GmGLY1), a gene that encodes a P450 family protein, was identified via sequence variation analysis, functional annotation, weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and expression profile analysis of candidate gene, and hairy roots transformation in soybean. Overexpression of GmGLY1 increased the glycitein content (GLC) in soybean hairy roots and transgenic seeds, while CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutants exhibited decreased GLC and increased daidzein content (DAC). Haplotype analysis revealed that GmGLY1 allelic variations significantly affect the GLC accumulation. These findings enhance our understanding of genes influencing GLC in soybean and may guide breeding for lines with high and stable GLC.

[Identification and expression pattern analysis of a secretory phospholipase A2 gene in Bombyx mori]

Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms, and it plays an important role in many physiological activities. In a previous study, we have identified a secretory PLA2 in Bombyx mori (BmsPLA2-1-1). In this study, we further identified four new sPLA2 genes (BmsPLA2-1-2, BmsPLA2-2, BmsPLA2-3, and BmsPLA2-4) in B. mori genome. All four genes exhibits the characteristic features of sPLA2, including the sPLA2 domain, metal binding sites, and highly conserved catalytic domain. This study completed the cloning, in vitro expression, and expression pattern analysis of the BmsPLA2-4 gene in B. mori. The full length of BmsPLA2-4 is 585 bp, and the recombinant protein obtained through prokaryotic expression has an estimated size of 25 kDa. qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of BmsPLA2-4 reached its peak on the first day of the fifth instar larval stage. Tissue expression profiling analysis showed that BmsPLA2-4 had the highest expression level in the midgut, followed by the epidermis and fat body. Western blotting analysis results were consistent with those of qRT-PCR. Furthermore, after infecting fifth instar 1-day-old larvae with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the expression level of the BmsPLA2-4 gene significantly increased in 24 h. The findings of this study provides a theoretical basis and valuable experimental data for future related research.

Proteomic Analysis of Salivary Secretions from the Tea Green Leafhopper, Empoasca flavescens Fabrecius

Saliva plays a crucial role in shaping the compatibility of piercing-sucking insects with their host plants. Understanding the complex composition of leafhopper saliva is important for developing effective and eco-friendly control strategies for the tea green leafhopper, Empoasca flavescens Fabrecius, a major piercing-sucking pest in Chinese tea plantations. This study explored the saliva proteins of tea green leafhopper adults using a custom collection device, consisting of two layers of Parafilm stretched over a sucrose diet. A total of 152 proteins were identified using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) following the filter-aided sample preparation (FASP). These proteins were categorized into six groups based on their functions, including enzymes, transport proteins, regulatory proteins, cell structure proteins, other proteins, and unknown proteins. Bioinformatics analyses predicted 16 secreted proteins, which were successfully cloned and transcriptionally analyzed across various tissues and developmental stages. Genes encoding putative salivary secretory proteins, including Efmucin1, EfOBP1, EfOBP2, EfOBP3, Efmucin2, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (EfLRP), EFVg1, and EFVg2, exhibited high expressions in salivary gland (SG) tissues and feeding-associated expressions at different developmental stages. These findings shed light on the potential elicitors or effectors mediating the leafhopper feeding and defense responses in tea plants, providing insights into the coevolution of tea plants and leafhoppers. The study's conclusions open avenues for the development of innovative leafhopper control technologies that reduce the reliance on pesticides in the tea industry.

Identification and Transcriptome Analysis of a Novel Allelic Mutant of NAL1 in Rice

Leaf morphology is a crucial aspect of plant architecture, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf development remain incompletely understood. In this study, a narrow leaf mutant, m625, was identified in rice (Oryza sativa L.), exhibiting pleiotropic developmental defects. Pigment measurement revealed reduced levels of photochromic pigments in m625. Cytological analysis demonstrated that the m625 gene affected vascular patterns and cell division. Specifically, the narrowing of the leaf was attributed to a decrease in small vein number, shorter vein spacing, and an abnormal V-shaped arrangement of bulliform cells, while the thickening was caused by longer leaf veins, thicker mesophyll cells, and an increased number of parenchyma cell layers. The dwarf stature and thickened internode were primarily due to shortened internodes and an increase in cell layers, respectively. Positional cloning and complementation assays indicated that the m625 gene is a novel allele of NAL1. In the m625 mutant, a nucleotide deletion at position 1103 in the coding sequence of NAL1 led to premature termination of protein translation. Further RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed that the m625 gene significantly impacted regulatory pathways related to IAA and ABA signal transduction, photosynthesis, and lignin biosynthesis. Moreover, the m625 mutant displayed thinner sclerenchyma and cell walls in both the leaf and stem, particularly showing reduced lignified cell walls in the midrib of the leaf. In conclusion, our study suggests that NAL1, in addition to its known roles in IAA transport and leaf photosynthesis, may also participate in ABA signal transduction, as well as regulate secondary cell wall formation and sclerenchyma thickness through lignification.

Cloning and Analysis of Expression of Genes Related to Carotenoid Metabolism in Different Fruit Color Mutants of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

The formation of fruit color in pepper is closely related to the processes of carotenoid metabolism. In this study, red wild-type pepper XHB, SP01, PC01 and their corresponding mutants H0809 (orange), SP02 (yellow), and PC02 (orange) were used as research materials. The Ggps, Psy, Lcyb, Crtz, Zep, and Ccs genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were cloned, and bioinformatics and expression analyses were carried out. The results showed that the full lengths of the six genes were 1110 bp, 2844 bp, 1497 bp, 2025 bp, 510 bp, and 1497 bp, and they encoded 369, 419, 498, 315, 169, and 498 amino acids, respectively. Except for the full-length Ccs gene, which could not be amplified in the yellow mutant SP02 and the orange mutant PC02, the complete full-length sequences of the other genes could be amplified in different materials, indicating that the formation of fruit color in the SP02 and PC02 mutants could be closely related to the deletion or mutation of the Ccs gene. The analytical results of real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the Ggps, Psy, Lcyb, Crtz, and Zep genes were expressed at different developmental stages of three pairs of mature-fruit-colored materials, but their patterns of expression were not consistent. The orange mutant H0809 could be amplified to the full Ccs gene sequence, but its expression was maintained at a lower level. It showed a significant difference in expression compared with the wild-type XHB, indicating that the formation of orange mutant H0809 fruit color could be closely related to the different regulatory pattern of Ccs expression. The results provide a theoretical basis for in-depth understanding of the molecular regulatory mechanism of the formation of color in pepper fruit.

Cloning, Expression, and Functional Analysis of the MYB Transcription Factor SlMYB86-like in Tomato

MYB transcription factors (TFs) have been shown to play a key role in plant growth and development and are in response to various types of biotic and abiotic stress. Here, we clarified the structure, expression patterns, and function of a MYB TF, SlMYB86-like (Solyc06g071690) in tomato using an inbred tomato line exhibiting high resistance to bacterial wilt (Hm 2-2 (R)) and one susceptible line (BY 1-2 (S)). The full-length cDNA sequence of this gene was 1226 bp, and the open reading frame was 966 bp, which encoded 321 amino acids; its relative molecular weight was 37.05055 kDa; its theoretical isoelectric point was 7.22; it was a hydrophilic nonsecreted protein; and it had no transmembrane structures. The protein also contains a highly conserved MYB DNA-binding domain and was predicted to be localized to the nucleus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that SlMYB86-like is closely related to SpMYB86-like in Solanum pennellii and clustered with other members of the family Solanaceae. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that the expression of the SlMYB86-like gene was tissue specific and could be induced by Ralstonia solanacearum, salicylic acid, and jasmonic acid. The results of virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) revealed that SlMYB86-like silencing decreased the resistance of tomato plants to bacterial wilt, suggesting that it positively regulates the resistance of tomatoes to bacterial wilt. Overall, these findings indicate that SlMYB86-like plays a key role in regulating the resistance of tomatoes to bacterial wilt.

Characterization and transformation of the CabHLH18 gene from hot pepper to enhance waterlogging tolerance

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are important in abiotic stress control. Here, a specific bHLH transcription factor gene, CabHLH18, from a strong waterlogging-tolerant pepper cultivar, 'ZHC2', was successfully cloned. The CabHLH18 gene presented a coding sequence length of 1,056 bp, encoding 352 amino acids, and the protein was the closest to Capsicum annuum XM016694561.2 protein. The CabHLH18 protein was located in the nucleus. The transformation of the CabHLH18 overexpression vector into the plumules of hot peppers, 'DFZJ' and 'ZHC1', exhibited 21.37% and 22.20% efficiency, respectively. The root length, plant height, and fresh weight of the 'DFZJ' overexpression lines were greater than those of wild-type (WT) plants under waterlogging conditions. Compared with the WT plants, the overexpression lines generally showed greater contents of water, the amino acid, proline, soluble sugar, root viability, and superoxide dismutase activity, but lower malondialdehyde content under waterlogging conditions. Plant fresh weight, amino acids, proline, and soluble sugar levels of the overexpression lines were 39.17%, 45.03%, 60.67%, and 120.18% greater, respectively, compared with the WT plants at 24 h after waterlogging stress. Therefore, the CabHLH18 gene could be implicated in conferring waterlogging tolerance in hot peppers and holds promise for enhancing their overall waterlogging tolerance.

Cloning of suppressor of cytokine signaling 7 from silkworm (Bombyx mori) and its response to the infection of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus

Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) play important roles in the regulation of growth, development, and immunity of eukaryotic organisms. SOCS7 is an important member of the SOCS family, but its physiological and pathological functions remain largely unknown in invertebrates including insects. Here, we first report the cloning of a SOCS7 gene from a domesticated silkworm (Bombyx mori), named BmSOCS7. We have characterized BmSOCS7 expression profiles in silkworm varieties susceptible or resistant to the infection of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) using the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. BmSOCS7 expresses highly in embryogenesis and lowly in metamorphosis in resistant silkworms but does in opposite contrast in susceptible silkworms. Its expression is at very low level in the fat body of resistant silkworms but is relatively high in the fat body of susceptible ones. BmNPV inoculation induces a transient downregulation and then a general upregulation of BmSOCS7 expression in BmN cells, while it induces a general downregulation in silkworm midgut, fat body and hemolymph with more pronounced effect in resistant silkworms than susceptible ones and more prominent in the fat body and hemolymph than the midgut. Together, our work reveals that downregulation of BmSOCS7 expression may be an important strategy for silkworm anti-BmNPV immune response, and BmSOCS7 may mainly function in the fat body and hemolymph rather than the midgut to participate in BmNPV infection process.

Identification, expression analysis of quinoa betalain biosynthesis genes and their role in seed germination and cold stress

Betalains provide Chenopodium quinoa bright color, and the key enzyme genes for betalain biosynthesis include CYP76AD, DODA, and GTs. In this study, 59 CqCYP76AD, CqDODA and CqGTs genes in quinoa were identified and characterized by gene structural characteristics, phylogenetic relationships and gene expression patterns. The CqCYP76AD genes were divided into ɑ, β and γ types, CqDODA into ɑ and β types, and CqGTs into CqcDOPA5GT, CqB5GT and CqB6GT types according to phylogenetic relationships. The analysis of co-linearity identified eight pairs of duplicated genes which were subjected to purifying selection during evolution. CqCYP76AD and CqDODA, as well as CqcDOPA5GT and CqB5GT may have been evolutionarily linked in genetic inheritance, based on gene location and gene structure study. The tissue expression specificity of CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs genes in response to seed germination and cold stress was studied by RNA-Seq data. The genes CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs were involved in betalain biosynthesis and cold stress. CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, CqcDOPA5GT and CqB5GT gene sequences were consistent in the eight quinoa samples and showed significant variations in expression. In contrast, the inconsistency between changes in gene expression and betalain accumulation indicates that other factors may influence betalain biosynthesis in quinoa. This study offers the theoretical basis for the roles of the CqCYP76AD, CqDODA, and CqGTs genes in betalain biosynthesis and cold stress in quinoa, as well as a guide for the full utilization of betalains in quinoa plants.

[Analyzing the evolution of insect TMED gene and the expression pattern of silkworm TMED gene]

Transmembrane emp24 domain (TMED) gene is closely related to immune response, signal transduction, growth and disease development in mammals. However, only the Drosophila TMED gene has been reported on insects. We identified the TMED family genes of silkworm, Tribolium castaneum, tobacco moth and Italian bee from their genomes, and found that the TMED family gene composition patterns of one α-class, one β-class, one δ-class and several γ-classes arose in the common ancestor of pre-divergent Hymenoptera insects, while the composition of Drosophila TMED family members has evolved in a unique pattern. Insect TMED family γ-class genes have evolved rapidly, diverging into three separate subclasses, TMED6-like, TMED5-like and TMED3-like. The TMED5-like gene was lost in Hymenoptera, duplicated in the ancestors of Lepidoptera and duplicated in Drosophila. Insect TMED protein not only has typical structural characteristics of TMED, but also has obvious signal peptide. There are seven TMED genes in silkworm, distributed in six chromosomes. One of seven is single exon and others are multi-exons. The complete open reading frame (ORF) sequences of seven TMED genes of silkworm were cloned from larval tissues and registered in GenBank database. BmTMED1, BmTMED2 and BmTMED6 were expressed in all stages and tissues of the silkworm, and all genes were expressed in the 4th and 5th instar and silk gland of the silkworm. The present study revealed the composition pattern of TMED family members, their γ class differentiation and their evolutionary history, providing a basis for further studies on TMED genes in silkworm and other insects.

Enhancing maize's nitrogen-fixing potential through ZmSBT3, a gene suppressing mucilage secretion

Maize (Zea mays) requires substantial amounts of nitrogen, posing a challenge for its cultivation. Recent work discovered that some ancient Mexican maize landraces harbored diazotrophic bacteria in mucilage secreted by their aerial roots. To see if this trait is retained in modern maize, we conducted a field study of aerial root mucilage (ARM) in 258 inbred lines. We observed that ARM secretion is common in modern maize, but the amount significantly varies, and only a few lines have retained the nitrogen-fixing traits found in ancient landraces. The mucilage of the high-ARM inbred line HN5-724 had high nitrogen-fixing enzyme activity and abundant diazotrophic bacteria. Our genome-wide association study identified 17 candidate genes associated with ARM across three environments. Knockouts of one candidate gene, the subtilase family gene ZmSBT3, confirmed that it negatively regulates ARM secretion. Notably, the ZmSBT3 knockout lines had increased biomass and total nitrogen accumulation under nitrogen-free culture conditions. High ARM was associated with three ZmSBT3 haplotypes that were gradually lost during maize domestication, being retained in only a few modern inbred lines such as HN5-724. In summary, our results identify ZmSBT3 as a potential tool for enhancing ARM, and thus nitrogen fixation, in maize.

Cloning of STC-1 and analysis of its differential expression in Hezuo pig

The purpose of this study was to examine STC-1's structure, function, and differential expression in large and miniature pigs. We cloned the Hezuo pig's coding sequence, compared its homology, and used bioinformatics to assess the structure. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression in ten tissues of Hezuo pig and Landrace pig. The results showed that Hezuo pig was most closely related to Capra hircus and most distantly related to Danio rerio. The protein STC-1 has a signal peptide and its secondary structure is dominated by the alpha helix. The mRNA expression in the spleen, duodenum, jejunum, and stomach of Hezuo pigs was higher than that of Landrace pigs. And except for heart and duodenum, expression of the protein in Hezuo pig was higher than in another. In conclusion, STC-1 is highly conserved among different breeds of pigs, and the expression and distribution of its mRNA and protein are different in large and miniature pigs. This work can lay the foundation for future study into the mechanism of action of STC-1 in Hezuo pigs and the enhancement of breeding in miniature pigs.

Molecular cloning and characterization of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (sod1) gene in brown trout and its expression in response to acute aquaculture stressors

Aquaculture species are often exposed to acute stressors such as low water levels and handling during routine aquaculture procedures. This might result in oxidative stress by the increased reactive oxygen species (ROS)' production (e.g., superoxide anion). The harmful effects of ROS are eliminated by a defense system, referred antioxidant defense system (ADS). sod1 is the first gene involved in the ADS. Therefore, we cloned and characterized the open reading frame of the sod1 in brown trout. Then, we determined the effects of low water level and handling stress on sod1 mRNA expression in the liver and gills at 0 min, 1 and 2 h. The total RNA isolated was used to synthesize cDNA for RT-qPCR analysis. Phylogenetic tree, identity/similarity percentages, genomic organization, and conserved gene synteny analyses were applied to characterize Sod1/sod1. While low water level stress upregulated sod1 expression in the liver compared to the control group, no significant differences were observed in the gills between experimental groups. However, brown trout differently responded to handling stress at different time intervals in both tissues. Transcriptional differences were also noted between the sexes. This study contributes to the current understanding of the molecular mechanism between oxidative stress and ADS.

A Novel Two-Domain Laccase with Middle Redox Potential: Physicochemical and Structural Properties

The gene for a previously unexplored two-domain laccase was identified in the genome of actinobacterium Streptomyces carpinensis VKM Ac-1300. The two-domain laccase, named ScaSL, was produced in a heterologous expression system (Escherichia coli strain M15 [pREP4]). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity using affinity chromatography. ScaSL laccase, like most two-domain laccases, exhibited activity in the homotrimer form. However, unlike the most two-domain laccases, it was also active in multimeric forms. The enzyme exhibited maximum activity at 80°C and was thermally stable. Half-inactivation time of ScaSL at 80°C was 40 min. The laccase was able to oxidize a non-phenolic organic compound ABTS at a maximum rate at pH 4.7, and to oxidized a phenolic compound 2,6-dimethoxyphenol at a maximum rate at pH 7.5. The laccase stability was observed in the pH range 9-11. At pH 7.5, laccase was slightly inhibited by sodium azide, sodium fluoride, and sodium chloride; at pH 4.5, the laccase was completely inhibited by 100 mM sodium azide. The determined Km and kcat of the enzyme for ABTS were 0.1 mM and 20 s-1, respectively. The Km and kcat for 2,6-dimethoxyphenol were 0.84 mM and 0.36 s-1, respectively. ScaSL catalyzed polymerization of humic acids and lignin. Redox potential of the laccase was 0.472 ± 0.007 V. Thus, the ScaSL laccase is the first characterized two-domain laccase with a middle redox potential. Crystal structure of ScaSL was determined with 2.35 Å resolution. Comparative analysis of the structures of ScaSL and other two-domain laccases suggested that the middle potential of ScaSL may be associated with conformational differences in the position of the side groups of amino acids at position 230 (in ScaSL numbering), which belong to the second coordination sphere of the copper atom of the T1 center.

[Gene cloning and enzymatic activity analysis of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase from Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying]

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the key entry enzyme of plant phenylpropanoid pathway. It plays an important role in the biosynthesis of podophyllotoxin, an anti-tumor lignan that is currently produced from its main natural source Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying. In this study, we cloned the gene ShPAL encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase by RT-PCR from the root of S. hexandrum ecotype inhabited in the Aba' district, Sichuan, based on its public SRA transcriptome data-package. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the ShPAL-encoded protein is composed of 711 amino acids, contains the conserved domains of PAL, and has the signature motif within the active center of aromatic ammonia-lyases. Moreover, ShPAL protein was predicted to have a secondary structure mainly composed of α-helix and random coil, a typical 'seahorse' shape monomer tertiary structure, and a homologous tetramer three-dimensional structure by Swiss-Modelling. The phylogenetic lineage analysis indicated ShPAL was of the highest sequence identity and the shortest evolutionary distance with the PAL of Epimedium sagittatum from the same Berberidaceae family. Subcellular localization experiments showed that ShPAL protein was mainly distributed in the cytoplasm, despite of a minority on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Furthermore, ShPAL protein was recombinantly expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by histidine-tag affinity chromatography. Its enzymatic activity was determined up to 20.91 U/mg, with the optimum temperature of 41 ℃ and pH of 9.0. In contrast, the enzyme activity of its F130H mutant decreased by about 23.6%, yet with the same trends of change with temperature and pH, confirming that phenylalanine at this position does affect the substrate specificity of PAL. Both the wild type and the mutant have relatively poor thermostability, but good pH-stability. These results may help to further investigate the regulatory role of PAL in the process of podophyllotoxin biosynthesis and advance the heterologous synthesis of podophyllotoxin to protect the germplasm resource of S. hexandrum. They also demonstrate that ShPAL has a potential application in biochemical industry and biomedicine.

[Gene cloning and sequence analysis of the RPL29 gene and its effect on lipogenesis in goat intramuscular adipocytes]

The aim of this study was to clone the goat RPL29 gene and analyze its effect on lipogenesis in intramuscular adipocytes. Using Jianzhou big-eared goats as the object, the goat RPL29 gene was cloned by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the gene structure and expressed protein sequence were analyzed by bioinformatics, and the mRNA expression levels of RPL29 in various tissues and different differentiation stages of intramuscular adipocytes of goats were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The RPL29 overexpression vector pEGFP-N1-RPL29 constructed by gene recombination was used to transfect into goat intramuscular preadipocytes and induce differentiation. Subsequently, the effect of overexpression of RPL29 on fat droplet accumulation was revealed morphologically by oil red O and Bodipy staining, and changes in the expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism were detected by qRT-PCR. The results showed that the length of the goat RPL29 was 507 bp, including a coding sequence (CDS) region of 471 bp which encodes 156 amino acid residues. It is a positively charged and stable hydrophilic protein mainly distributed in the nucleus of cells. Tissue expression profiling showed that the expression level of this gene was much higher in subcutaneous adipose tissue and inter-abdominal adipose tissue of goats than in other tissues (P < 0.05). The temporal expression profile showed that the gene was expressed at the highest level at 84 h of differentiation in goat intramuscular adipocytes, which was highly significantly higher than that in the undifferentiated period (P < 0.01). Overexpression of RPL29 promoted lipid accumulation in intramuscular adipocytes, and the optical density values of oil red O staining were significantly increased (P < 0.05). In addition, overexpression of RPL29 was followed by a highly significant increase in ATGL and ACC gene expression (P < 0.01) and a significant increase in FASN gene expression (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the goat RPL29 may promote intra-muscular adipocyte deposition in goats by up-regulating FASN, ACC and ATGL.

Cloning and expression analysis of VrNAC13 gene in mung bean

To explore the role of NAC transcription factors in mung bean (Vigna ratiata), we here comprehensively analyzed VrNAC13 structure and expression patterns in the mung bean cultivar "Yulin No.1". The nucleotide sequence of VrNAC13 (GenBank accession number xp014518431.1) was determined by cloning and sequencing the gene. A predicted transcriptional activation domain in VrNAC13 was validated with a yeast one-hybrid assay. The composition and functional characteristics of VrNAC13 were analyzed using basic bioinformatics techniques, and the expression characteristics of VrNAC13 were analyzed via quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The results showed that VrNAC13 was 1,068 bp in length and encoded a product of 355 amino acids. VrNAC13 was predicted to contain a NAM domain and to belong to the NAC transcription factor family. The protein was hydrophilic and contained several threonine phosphorylation sites. Phylogenetic analysis showed that VrNAC13 was highly similar in sequence to two Arabidopsis thaliana NAC proteins; we hypothesize that VrNAC13 may perform functions in mung bean similar to those of the two closely related proteins in Arabidopsis. Promoter analysis of VrNAC13 revealed cis-acting elements predicted to respond to abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin, auxin, light, drought, low temperature, and other stressors. VrNAC13 was most highly expressed in the leaves and expressed at very low levels in the stem and root. It was experimentally determined to be induced by drought and ABA. Based on these results, VrNAC13 appears to regulate stress resistance in mung bean.

Identification and Expression Profiling of the 5-HT Receptor Gene in Harmonia axyridis

It has been found that 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) modulates the feeding of some insects, and this phenomenon was found in Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) by our previous study. An understanding of the 5-HT system in this beetle is helpful for utilizing 5-HT to modulate its predation to improve biological control efficiency, especially in greenhouses in winter in north China. This is because 5-HT influences diapause in insects by modulating the synthesis and release of prothoracic hormone (PTTH) and, therefore, influences feeding. To elucidate the molecular basis of the H. axyridis 5-HT system, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), multiple sequence alignment, and phylogenetic tree construction were used to identify the 5-HT receptor in H. axyridis, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to analyze the expression pattern of these receptor genes in different developmental stages and in the nervous system (brain + ventral nerve cord), digestive tract, pectoral muscles, and gonads of the adult ladybird. The results showed that four 5-HT receptors were identified in H. axyridis, named 5-HT_1AHar, 5-HT_1BHar, 5-HT₂Har, and 5-HT₇Har. The four receptors were expressed at high levels in the adult stage, especially in 2-day-old adults, with expression levels of 18.72-fold (male) and 14.21-fold (female) of that in eggs for 5-HT_1A, 32.27-fold (male) and 83.58-fold (female) of that in eggs for 5-HT_1B, 36.82-fold (male) and 119.35-fold (female) of that in eggs for 5-HT₂, and 165.47-fold (male) and 115.59-fold (female) of that in eggs for 5-HT₇. The level of expression decreased with the advance of day-age in adults. The levels of expression of 5-HT_1BHar, 5-HT₂Har, and 5-HT₇Har were low at the egg, larval, and pupal stages, and 5-HT_1AHar was not expressed in the larval stage. The four receptors were expressed in the nervous system, digestive tract, pectoral muscles, and male and female gonads. The 5-HT_1AHar was expressed at a high level in the pectoral muscle (6.75-fold of that in the nervous system), 5-HT_1BHar in male gonads (1.02-fold of that in the nervous system) and the nervous system, 5-HT₂Har in male gonads (5.74-fold of that in the nervous system), and 5-HT₇Har in the digestive tract (1.81-fold of that in the nervous system). The results of this study will lay a foundation for research on the function of the 5-HT receptor by RNA interference in the regulation of predation by H. axyridis.

Effect of CXCL17 on Subcutaneous Preadipocytes Proliferation in Goats

The presence or absence of subcutaneous adipose accumulation will affect the energy storage, insulation resistance and metabolism of animals. Proliferation and differentiation of preadipocytes play a significant role in lipid deposition. The objective of this study was to clone the goat CXCL17 gene and investigate its potential functions on goat subcutaneous preadipocytes' proliferation by gaining or losing function in vitro. The goat CXCL17 gene was cloned by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and bioinformatics analysis was performed. The expression of the CXCL17 gene in the different goat tissues and adipocytes at different differentiation stages was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR). The results showed that the cloned sequence of goat CXCL17 gene is 728 bp and the CDS region is 357 bp, encoding 118 amino acids. CXCL17 protein is located in nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria and extracellular matrix. Tissue-expression profiles revealed that CXCL17 expressed in all of the examined tissues. In visceral tissues, the highest expression level was found in lung (p < 0.01); in muscle tissues, the highest CXCL17 expression level was found in the longissimus dorsi (p < 0.01) and in adipose tissues, the highest expression level was found in subcutaneous adipose (p <0.01). Compared with those cells before differentiation, CXCL17 expression levels upregulated at 48 h (p < 0.01), 72 h (p < 0.01), 120 h (p < 0.01) and downregulated at 96 h (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the results of crystal violet staining and semi-quantitative assay showed that transfection with 1 μg CXCL17 expression plasmid reduced the cell numbers in vitro. Meanwhile, the expression of CCND1 was significantly decreased. A similar consequence happened after interfering with CXCL17 expression. However, plasmid transfected with 2 μg pEGFPN1-CXCL17 increased the number of cells in vitro. These results suggest that CXCL17 is involved in the proliferation of goat subcutaneous preadipocytes.

Reduction of Membrane Lipid Metabolism in Postharvest Hami Melon Fruits by n-Butanol to Mitigate Chilling Injury and the Cloning of Phospholipase D-β Gene

To investigate the effect of n-butanol on postharvest membrane lipid metabolism of Hami melon (Cucumis melo 'Hami'), the fruits were soaked in a 1.0% solution of n-butanol for 30 min with water as the control. Symptoms of chilling injury were observed regularly, and the indices related to permeability and membrane lipid metabolism of pericarp cells were measured. The results showed that treatment with n-butanol inhibited the increase in chilling injury index, membrane permeability, and malondialdehyde content of Hami melon fruits, promoted an increase in the contents of phosphatidyl alcohol and unsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid (except 14 d), and erucic acid (28-42 d), and decreased the content of saturated fatty acids, stearic acid (0-28 d), phosphatidic acid (except for 21 d), and the key enzymes of membrane lipid metabolism compared with the control. The activities of phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) and the downregulation of the levels of expression CmPLD-β and CmLOX (42 d only) genes reduced the chilling injury index of Hami melon and alleviated the further expansion of chilling injury symptoms in the fruits. We also cloned the key gene of membrane lipid metabolism CmPLD-β, which was obtained by pre-transcriptome screening of the pericarp. We found that CmPLD-β of Hami melon had the closest affinity with cucumber (CsXP5), indicating that the CmPLD-β gene of Hami melon was functionally similar to that of cucumber. In addition, a two-fold alignment analysis of CmPLD-β and CmXP5 base sequences indicated that the base sequences of the two promoter regions differed from each other.

[Cloning and expression profile of ZFP36L1 gene in goat]

The purpose of this study was to clone and characterize the ZFP36L1 (zinc finger protein 36-like 1) gene, clarify its expression characteristics, and elucidate its expression patterns in different tissues of goats. Samples of 15 tissues from Jianzhou big-eared goats, including heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney were collected. Goat ZFP36L1 gene was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), then the gene and protein sequence were analyzed by online tools. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect the expression level of ZFP36L1 in intramuscular preadipocytes in different tissues and adipocytes of goat at different differentiation stages. The results showed that the length of ZFR36L1 gene was 1 224 bp, and the coding sequence (CDS) region was 1 017 bp, encoding 338 amino acids, which was a non-secretory unstable protein mainly located in nucleus and cytoplasm. Tissue expression profile showed that ZFP36L1 gene was expressed in all selected tissues. In visceral tissues, the small intestine showed the highest expression level (P < 0.01). In muscle tissue, the highest expression level was presented in longissimus dorsi muscle (P < 0.01), whereas the expression level in subcutaneous adipose tissue was significantly higher than that in other tissues (P < 0.01). The results of induced differentiation showed that the expression of this gene was up-regulated during adipogenic differentiation of intramuscular precursor adipocytes (P < 0.01). These data may help to clarify the biological function of the ZFP36L1 gene in goat.

Mutation and sequencing-based cloning and functional studies of a rust resistance gene in sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

Rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia helianthi Schwein., is one of the most devastating diseases of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), affecting global production. The rust R gene R₁₁ in sunflower line HA-R9 shows broad-spectrum resistance to P. helianthi virulent races and was previously mapped to an interval on sunflower chromosome 13 encompassing three candidate genes annotated in the XRQr1.0 reference genome assembly. In the current study, we combined ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis with targeted region capture and PacBio long-read sequencing to clone the R₁₁ gene. Sequencing of a 60-kb region spanning the R₁₁ locus from the R₁₁ -HA-R9 rust-resistant line and three EMS-induced susceptible mutants facilitated the identification of R₁₁ and definition of induced mutations. The R₁₁ gene is predicted to have a single 3996-bp open reading frame and encodes a protein of 1331 amino acids with CC-NBS-LRR domains typical of genes conferring plant resistance to biotrophic pathogens. Point mutations identified in the R₁₁ rust-susceptible mutants resulted in premature stop codons, consistent with loss of function leading to rust susceptibility. Additional functional studies using comparative RNA sequencing of the resistant line R₁₁ -HA-R9 and R₁₁ -susceptible mutants revealed substantial differences in gene expression patterns associated with R₁₁ -mediated resistance at 7 days post-inoculation with rust, and uncovered the potential roles of terpenoid biosynthesis and metabolism in sunflower rust resistance.

Phosphatidylglycerol-specific phospholipase C from Amycolatopsis sp. NT115 strain: purification, characterization, and gene cloning

Recently, phosphatidylglycerol (PG) focused on its important role in chloroplast photosynthesis, mitochondrial function of the sperm, an inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2 ability to infect naïve cells and reducing lung inflammation caused by COVID-19. To develop an enzymatic PG determination method as the high-throughput analysis of PG, a PG-specific phospholipase C (PG-PLC) was found in the culture supernatant of Amycolatopsis sp. NT115. PG-PLC (54 kDa by SDS-PAGE) achieved the maximal activity at pH 6.0 and 55°C and was inhibited by detergents, such as Briji35, Tween 80, and sodium cholate, but not by EDTA and metal ions, except for Zn2+. The open reading frame of the PG-PLC gene consisted of 1620 bp encoding 515-amino-acid residues containing the preceding 25-amino-acid residues (Tat signal peptide sequence). The putative amino-acid sequence of PG-PLC was highly similar to those of metallophosphoesterases; however, its substrate specificity was completely different from those of known PLCs.