Analysis of anthocyanins and total flavonoids content in functional rice and its recombination inbred lines

Anthocyanin is one of the flavonoids, which has strong antioxidant properties. Functional rice rich in anthocyanins can not only improve immunity, but also anti-radiation, beauty, anti-aging effect, very popular in the market. In this study, we used Zibaoxiangnuo 1 (ZBXN 1), a functional rice variety which is rich in total flavonoids and anthocyanins, as the experimental material to construct Recombination Inbred Lines (RILs) with Minghui63 (MH63), a variety without anthocyanins. The contents of anthocyanins and total flavonoids of RILs and two parents were determined for three consecutive generations. The average anthocyanin content of parent ZBXN 1 was 319.31 mg/kg, and the anthocyanin inheritance of RIL population was relatively stable, with 10 samples higher than ZBXN 1. In addition, there was no significant difference in the total flavonoids content between the two parents, the total flavonoids content of Z25 in RIL population was 0.33%. Based on these studies, we believe that ZBXN 1 has abundant and stable anthocyanins, which can be used as an intermediate breeding material for breeding high-quality varieties with high anthocyanins, and lay a foundation for breeding more anthocyanin-rich rice varieties.

Analysis of the Genetic Stability of Insect and Herbicide Resistance Genes in Transgenic Rice Lines: A Laboratory and Field Experiment

A lack of stability in the expression of Bacillus thuringiensis genes (CRY) and the dialaninophosphate resistance gene (BAR) in transgenic rice plants can lead to the loss of important characters. The genetic stability of transgenic expression in high-generation lines is thus critically important for ensuring the success of molecular breeding efforts. Here, we studied the genetic stability of resistance to insect pests and herbicides in transgenic rice lines at the molecular and phenotypic levels in a pesticide-free environment. Southern blot analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed high stability in the copy numbers and expression levels of CRY1C, CRY2A, and BAR in transgenic lines across different generations, and gene expression levels were highly correlated with protein expression levels. The insecticide resistance of the transgenic rice lines was high. The larval mortality of Chilo suppressalis was 50.25% to 68.36% higher in transgenic lines than in non-transgenic control lines. Percent dead hearts and percent white spikelets were 16.66% to 22.15% and 27.07% to 33.47% lower in transgenic lines than in non-transgenic control lines, respectively. The herbicide resistance of the transgenic rice lines was also high. The bud length and root length ranged were 2.53 cm to 4.20 cm and 0.28 cm to 0.73 cm higher in transgenic lines than in non-transgenic control lines in the budding stage, respectively. Following application of the herbicide Basta, the chlorophyll content of the transgenic lines began to recover 2 d later in the seedling and tillering stages and 3 d later in the booting and heading stages, by contrast, the chlorophyll content of the non-transgenic lines did not recover and continued to decrease. These findings revealed high genetic stability of the resistance to insect pests and herbicides across several generations of transgenic rice regardless of the genetic background.

Processing affects (decreases or increases) metabolites, flavonoids, black rice pigment, and total antioxidant capacity of purple glutinous rice grains

The objective of this study was to understand the effects of processing on metabolites, flavonoids, black rice pigments and total antioxidant capacity of purple grains. The biochemical indicators and metabolites were determined before and after processing of purple grains. The results showed that the total antioxidant capacity, total phenol (TP), flavonoid (PD), oligomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC), ascorbic acid (AsA), cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3OG), peonidin 3-glucoside (P3G) contents of purple grains were greatly decreased after brown rice grains were processed into polished rice grains. The TP, PD, OPC, AsA, C3OG, and P3G of Yangzinuo No.1 brown rice (YZN1_B) or polished rice grains (YZN1_H) were higher than those of Yangzinuo No.2 brown rice (YZN2_B) or polished rice grains (YZN2_H). 154 differential metabolites (DMs) were identified between YZN1_B and YZN1_H. 52 DMs were identified between YZN2_B and YZN2_H. Citric acid and isocyanate are key metabolites affected during processing and have good correlations with various biochemical indicators.

Comparison of the Phenotypic Performance, Molecular Diversity, and Proteomics in Transgenic Rice

The extent of molecular diversity and differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in transgenic lines provide valuable information to understand the phenotypic performance of transgenic crops compared with their parents. Here, we compared the differences in the phenotypic variation of twelve agronomic and end-use quality traits, the extent of microsatellite diversity, and DEPs of a recurrent parent line with three transgenic rice restorer lines carrying either CRY1C gene on chromosome 11 or CRY2A gene on chromosome 12 or both genes. The three transgenic lines had significantly smaller stem borer infestation than the recurrent parent without showing significant differences among most agronomic traits, yield components, and end-use quality traits. Using 512 microsatellite markers, the three transgenic lines inherited 2.9-4.3% of the Minghui 63 donor genome and 96.3-97.1% of the CH891 recurrent parent genome. As compared with the recurrent parent, the number of upregulated and down-regulated proteins in the three transgenic lines varied from 169 to 239 and from 131 to 199, respectively. Most DEPs were associated with the secondary metabolites biosynthesis transport and catabolism, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, post-translational modification, and signal transduction mechanisms. Although several differentially expressed proteins were observed between transgenic rice and its recurrent parent, the differences may not have been associated with grain yield and most other phenotypic traits in transgenic rice.

A base substitution in OsphyC disturbs its Interaction with OsphyB and affects flowering time and chlorophyll synthesis in rice

BACKGROUND

Phytochromes are important photoreceptors in plants, and play essential roles in photomorphogenesis. The functions of PhyA and PhyB in plants have been fully analyzed, while those of PhyC in plant are not well understood.

RESULTS

A rice mutant, late heading date 3 (lhd3), was characterized, and the gene LHD3 was identified with a map-based cloning strategy. LHD3 encodes phytochrome C in rice. Animo acid substitution in OsphyC disrupted its interaction with OsphyB or itself, restraining functional forms of homodimer or heterodimer formation. Compared with wild-type plants, the lhd3 mutant exhibited delayed flowering under both LD (long-day) and SD (short-day) conditions, and delayed flowering time was positively associated with the day length via the Ehd1 pathway. In addition, lhd3 showed a pale-green-leaf phenotype and a slower chlorophyll synthesis rate during the greening process. The transcription patterns of many key genes involved in photoperiod-mediated flowering and chlorophyll synthesis were altered in lhd3.

CONCLUSION

The dimerization of OsPhyC is important for its functions in the regulation of chlorophyll synthesis and heading. Our findings will facilitate efforts to further elucidate the function and mechanism of OsphyC and during light signal transduction in rice.

Rice microtubule-associated protein OsMAP65-3.1, but not OsMAP65-3.2, plays a critical role in phragmoplast microtubule organization in cytokinesis

In plants, MAP65 preferentially cross-links the anti-parallel microtubules (MTs) and plays an important role for cytokinesis. However, the functions of MAP65 isoforms in rice (Oryza sativa. L) are largely unknown. Here, we identified two MAP65-3 homologs in rice, OsMAP65-3.1 and OsMAP65-3.2. We found that both OsMAP65-3.1 and OsMAP65-3.2 were similar in dimerization and location to AtMAP65-3, and the expression of either rice genes driven by the AtMAP65-3 promoter suppressed the cytokinesis failure and growth defect of atmap65-3. However, OsMAP65-3.1 with native promoter also recovered the atmap65-3, but OsMAP65-3.2 with its own promoter had no effects. OsMAP65-3.1 but not OsMAP65-3.2 was actively expressed in tissues enriched with dividing cells. R1R2R3-Myb (MYB3R) transcription factors directly bound to the OsMAP65-3.1 promoter but not that of OsMAP65-3.2. Furthermore, osmap65-3.2 had no obvious phenotype, while either osmap65-3.1 or osmap65-3.1(+/-) was lethal. The eminent MTs around the daughter nuclei and cytokinesis defects were frequently observed in OsMAP65-3.1-defective plants. Taken together, our findings suggest that OsMAP65-3.1, rather than OsMAP65-3.2, plays essential roles in rice cytokinesis resulting from their differential expression which were passably directly regulated by OsMYB3Rs.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis Provides Insights into the Heterosis of Yield and Quality Traits in Two Hybrid Rice Varieties (Oryza sativa L.)

Heterosis is a common biological phenomenon that is useful for breeding superior lines. Using heterosis to increase the yield and quality of crops is one of the main achievements of modern agricultural science. In this study, we analysed the transcriptome and metabolome of two three-line hybrid rice varieties, Taiyou 871 (TY871), and Taiyou 398 (TY398) and the parental grain endosperm using RNA-seq (three biological repeats per variety) and untargeted metabolomic (six biological repeats per variety) methods. TY871 and TY398 showed specific heterosis in yield and quality. Transcriptome analysis of the hybrids revealed 638 to 4059 differentially expressed genes in the grain when compared to the parents. Metabolome analysis of the hybrids revealed 657 to 3714 differential grain metabolites when compared to the parents. The honeydew1 and grey60 module core genes Os04g0350700 and Os05g0154700 are involved in the regulation of awn development, grain size, and grain number, as well as the regulation of grain length and plant height, respectively. Rice grain length may be an important indicator for improving the quality of three-line hybrid rice. In addition, the rice quality-related metabolite NEG_M341T662 was highly connected to the module core genes Os06g0254300 and Os03g0168100. The functions of Os06g0254300 and Os03g0168100 are EF-hand calcium binding protein and late embroideries absolute protein repeat containing protein, respectively. These genes may play a role in the formation of rice quality. We constructed a gene and metabolite coexpression network, which provides a scientific basis for the utilization of heterosis in producing high-yield and high-quality hybrid rice.

Association between maternal oxygenation and brain growth in fetuses with left-sided cardiac obstructive lesions

OBJECTIVE

Impaired brain growth has been observed in fetuses with left-sided obstructive lesions (LSOL). Maternal oxygenation (MO) can alter fetal cerebral oxygenation and vascular reactivity. Our aim was to observe whether brain growth improves during MO in fetuses with LSOL.

METHODS

Forty-six fetuses with LSOL and 23 control fetuses were enrolled in this prospective longitudinal study. Fetuses with LSOL were subgrouped into those with MO (LSOL-MO, n = 23) and those without MO (LSOL-nMO, n = 23). Fetal head circumference (HC) and total intracranial volume (TIV) were evaluated serially at 4-week intervals. Brain biometry and growth were analyzed using linear mixed models adjusted for gestational age and sex. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to identify baseline characteristics predictive of brain growth in the LSOL-MO group.

RESULTS

Duration of MO therapy had significant interaction effects on cerebral biometry in fetuses with LSOL. TIV increased more rapidly after 8 weeks of oxygen exposure and HC was larger after 16 weeks of oxygen exposure in the LSOL-MO group compared with the LSOL-nMO group (P < 0.001). The change in TIV at the final time- point relative to the initial timepoint in the LSOL-MO group correlated negatively with the baseline pulsatility index of the middle cerebral artery (r = -0.58, P = 0.003) and baseline myocardial performance index of the left ventricle (r = -0.68, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

TIV and HC increased faster in fetuses with LSOL which had MO compared with those that did not. Lower cerebral vascular resistance and preserved left heart function at baseline may predict greater cerebral biometric growth during MO. Additional research, including larger serial studies, is needed to confirm these preliminary findings and evaluate the clinical application of MO in this population. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Hypertriton Production in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

The study of nuclei and antinuclei production has proven to be a powerful tool to investigate the formation mechanism of loosely bound states in high-energy hadronic collisions. The first measurement of the production of _{Λ}^{3}H in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV is presented in this Letter. Its production yield measured in the rapidity interval -1<y<0 for the 40% highest-multiplicity p-Pb collisions is dN/dy=[6.3±1.8(stat)±1.2(syst)]×10^{-7}. The measurement is compared with the expectations of statistical hadronization and coalescence models, which describe the nucleosynthesis in hadronic collisions. These two models predict very different yields of the hypertriton in charged particle multiplicity environments relevant to small collision systems such as p-Pb, and therefore the measurement of dN/dy is crucial to distinguish between them. The precision of this measurement leads to the exclusion with a significance larger than 6.9σ of some configurations of the statistical hadronization model, thus constraining the theory behind the production of loosely bound states at hadron colliders.

Polarization of Λ and Λ[over ¯] Hyperons along the Beam Direction in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02 TeV

The polarization of the Λ and Λ[over ¯] hyperons along the beam (z) direction, P_{z}, has been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded with ALICE at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The main contribution to P_{z} comes from elliptic flow-induced vorticity and can be characterized by the second Fourier sine coefficient P_{z,s2}=⟨P_{z}sin(2φ-2Ψ_{2})⟩, where φ is the hyperon azimuthal emission angle and Ψ_{2} is the elliptic flow plane angle. We report the measurement of P_{z,s2} for different collision centralities and in the 30%-50% centrality interval as a function of the hyperon transverse momentum and rapidity. The P_{z,s2} is positive similarly as measured by the STAR Collaboration in Au-Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV, with somewhat smaller amplitude in the semicentral collisions. This is the first experimental evidence of a nonzero hyperon P_{z} in Pb-Pb collisions at the LHC. The comparison of the measured P_{z,s2} with the hydrodynamic model calculations shows sensitivity to the competing contributions from thermal and the recently found shear-induced vorticity, as well as to whether the polarization is acquired at the quark-gluon plasma or the hadronic phase.

[Impact of probiotics on the lung development of Bama minipig after premature birth]

Objectives: To examine the impact of probiotics on the lung development of preterm birth of Bama pig. Methods: From April 2020 to October 2021, this animal experimental research was performed by setting up preterm (birth at gestation 104 d), full-term (birth at gestation 113 d), preterm with probiotics (birth at gestation 104 d treated with probiotics given at 3 d after birth), and full-term with probiotics (birth at gestation 113 d treated with probiotics given at 3 d after birth) groups and using the preterm Bama minipig model, the body weights were recorded and lung, ileum, and intestinal content samples were collected at birth, 4 days, 9 days, and 21 days after births of the piglets in preterm and full-term groups, the same samples were collected on 9 days after births of the piglets in preterm with probiotics and full-term with probiotics groups. The body weight and radial alveolar counts (RAC) were compared to evaluate the lung development of the piglets. The lengths of ileal villus were compared to evaluate the development of ileum. The composition structures of bacteria in ileum were analyzed by 16 S rRNA sequencing. The statistical analyses between different groups were performed by t test. Results: There were totally 30 piglets (16 female piglets and 14 male piglets) involving 12 piglets in preterm and full-term groups respectively and 3 piglets in preterm with probiotics and full-term with probiotics groups respectively. The body weights of the piglets in preterm group were lower than those in full-term group at 4, 9 and 21 d after birth ((507±27) vs. (694±56) g, (620±35) vs. (1 092±154) g, (1 660±210) vs. (2 960±418) g,t=2.96, 2.99, 2.78, all P<0.05). The alveolarization of the preterm piglets at 9 days after birth was significantly lower than that of the full-term piglets at the equivalent time point (4.00±0.29 vs. 6.11±0.35, t=4.64, P<0.01). The bacteria genus with the highest abundance in ileum were all different between the preterm and the full-term groups at 4, 9 and 21 d after birth (4 d Escherichia-Shigella (26.63%) and Enterococcus (30.48%) respectively;9 d Turicibacter (35.94%) and Lactobacillus (27.33%) respectively;21 d Escherichia-Shigella (28.02%) and Lactobacillus (46.29%) respectively). The heights of ileal villus of the preterm piglets at 9 d after birth were significantly lower than those of the full-term minipigs at the equivalent time point ((297±21) vs. (411±32) μm, t=3.01, P=0.007).There were both no differences in the body weight and alveolarization ((692±36) vs. (767±67) g, 5.44±0.34 vs. 5.89±0.26, t=0.74, 1.04, both P>0.05) between the piglets in preterm with probiotics group and those in full-term with probiotics group. Turicibacter was the dominant genus in the piglets of both preterm with probiotics and the full-term with probiotics groups. The heights of ileal villus of the piglets in preterm with probiotics group were significantly longer that those of the piglets in preterm group ((371±13) vs. (297±21) μm, t=3.04, P=0.006), and were both not significantly different from those of the piglets in full-term with probiotics group and full-term group ((371±13) vs. (338±12) and (411±32) μm, t=1.90, 1.15, both P>0.05). Conclusions: Premature birth could impact the lung alveolarization of piglets. The probiotics could improve the lung alveolarization of preterm minipigs by promoting the development of ileum.

[Establishment and application of a nomogram model for prognostic risk prediction in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer]

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), construct a nomogram model, and evaluate the prognosis of EOC patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinicopathological data of 208 cases of EOC patients who received initial treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from August 11, 2016 to July 11, 2018, including age, preoperative ascites, preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical method, pathological type, pathological differentiation degree, surgical pathology stage, preoperative and post-chemotherapy serum cancer antigen 125 (CA₁₂₅) level, human epididymal protein 4 (HE4) level, platelet count and platelet/lymphocyte number ratio (PLR). The univariate and multivariate Cox risk ratio models were used to analyze the related factors affecting progression free survival (PFS) in EOC patients, and the prediction nomogram of PFS in EOC patients was established to evaluate its efficacy in predicting PFS. Results: Univariate analysis showed that preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, pathological type, pathological differentiation degree, surgical pathology stage, serum CA₁₂₅ and HE4 level before operation and after chemotherapy, platelet count and PLR before operation and after chemotherapy were significantly correlated with PFS in EOC patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that surgical pathology stage, preoperative PLR, serum CA₁₂₅ and HE4 level after chemotherapy were independent prognostic factors affecting PFS of EOC patients (all P<0.01). The index coefficient of the prediction model for the prognosis of EOC patients established by this method was 0.749 (95% CI: 0.699-0.798), which had good prediction ability, and could help clinicians to more accurately evaluate the prognosis of EOC patients. Conclusion: The nomogram model constructed based on surgical pathology stage, preoperative PLR, serum CA₁₂₅ and HE4 level after chemotherapy could effectively predict the PFS of EOC patients after initial treatment, could help clinicians to screen high-risk patients, provide individualized treatment, and improve the prognosis of EOC patients.

Measurement of the Groomed Jet Radius and Momentum Splitting Fraction in pp and Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

This article presents groomed jet substructure measurements in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector. The soft drop grooming algorithm provides access to the hard parton splittings inside a jet by removing soft wide-angle radiation. We report the groomed jet momentum splitting fraction, z_{g}, and the (scaled) groomed jet radius, θ_{g}. Charged-particle jets are reconstructed at midrapidity using the anti-k_{T} algorithm with resolution parameters R=0.2 and R=0.4. In heavy-ion collisions, the large underlying event poses a challenge for the reconstruction of groomed jet observables, since fluctuations in the background can cause groomed parton splittings to be misidentified. By using strong grooming conditions to reduce this background, we report these observables fully corrected for detector effects and background fluctuations for the first time. A narrowing of the θ_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is seen, which provides direct evidence of the modification of the angular structure of jets in the quark-gluon plasma. No significant modification of the z_{g} distribution in Pb-Pb collisions compared to pp collisions is observed. These results are compared with a variety of theoretical models of jet quenching, and provide constraints on jet energy-loss mechanisms and coherence effects in the quark-gluon plasma.

Measurement of Prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) Production in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of prompt D^{0}, Λ_{c}^{+}, and Σ_{c}^{0,++}(2455) charmed hadrons are measured at midrapidity (|y|<0.5) in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV. This is the first measurement of Σ_{c}^{0,++} production in hadronic collisions. Assuming the same production yield for the three Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} isospin states, the baryon-to-meson cross section ratios Σ_{c}^{0,+,++}/D^{0} and Λ_{c}^{+}/D^{0} are calculated in the transverse momentum (p_{T}) intervals 2<p_{T}<12 and 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. Values significantly larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions are observed, indicating for the first time that baryon enhancement in hadronic collisions also extends to the Σ_{c}. The feed-down contribution to Λ_{c}^{+} production from Σ_{c}^{0,+,++} is also reported and is found to be larger than in e^{+}e^{-} collisions. The data are compared with predictions from event generators and other phenomenological models, providing a sensitive test of the different charm-hadronization mechanisms implemented in the models.