Combining targeted metabolite analyses and transcriptomics to reveal the specific chemical composition and associated genes in the incompatible soybean variety PI437654 infected with soybean cyst nematode HG1.2.3.5.7

BACKGROUND

Soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, is one of the most devastating pathogens of soybean and causes severe annual yield losses worldwide. Different soybean varieties exhibit different responses to H. glycines infection at various levels, such as the genomic, transcriptional, proteomic and metabolomic levels. However, there have not yet been any reports of the differential responses of incompatible and compatible soybean varieties infected with H. glycines based on combined metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses.

RESULTS

In this study, the incompatible soybean variety PI437654 and three compatible soybean varieties, Williams 82, Zhonghuang 13 and Hefeng 47, were used to clarify the differences in metabolites and transcriptomics before and after the infection with HG1.2.3.5.7. A local metabolite-calibrated database was used to identify potentially differential metabolites, and the differences in metabolites and metabolic pathways were compared between the incompatible and compatible soybean varieties after inoculation with HG1.2.3.5.7. In total, 37 differential metabolites and 20 KEGG metabolic pathways were identified, which were divided into three categories: metabolites/pathways overlapped in the incompatible and compatible soybeans, and metabolites/pathways specific to either the incompatible or compatible soybean varieties. Twelve differential metabolites were found to be involved in predicted KEGG metabolite pathways. Moreover, 14 specific differential metabolites (such as significantly up-regulated nicotine and down-regulated D-aspartic acid) and their associated KEGG pathways (such as the tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism and arginine biosynthesis) were significantly altered and abundantly enriched in the incompatible soybean variety PI437654, and likely played pivotal roles in defending against HG1.2.3.5.7 infection. Three key metabolites (N-acetyltranexamic acid, nicotine and D,L-tryptophan) found to be significantly up-regulated in the incompatible soybean variety PI437654 infected by HG1.2.3.5.7 were classified into two types and used for combined analyses with the transcriptomic expression profiling. Associated genes were predicted, along with the likely corresponding biological processes, cellular components, molecular functions and pathways.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results not only identified potential novel metabolites and associated genes involved in the incompatible response of PI437654 to soybean cyst nematode HG1.2.3.5.7, but also provided new insights into the interactions between soybeans and soybean cyst nematodes.

A common variant of the NOTCH4 gene modulates functional connectivity of the occipital cortex and its relationship with schizotypal traits

BACKGROUND

Schizotypal traits are considered as inheritable traits and the endophenotype for schizophrenia. A common variant in the NOTCH4 gene, rs204993, has been linked with schizophrenia, but the neural underpinnings are largely unknown.

METHODS

In present study, we compared the differences of brain functions between different genotypes of rs204993 and its relationship with schizotypal traits among 402 Chinese Han healthy volunteers. The brain function was evaluated with functional connectivity strength (FCS) using the resting-state functional magnetic resonance image(rs-fMRI). The schizotypal traits were measured by the schizotypal personality questionnaire (SPQ).

RESULTS

Our results showed that carriers with the AA genotype showed reduced FCS in the left occipital cortex when compared with carriers with the AG and GG genotypes, and the carriers with the AG genotype showed reduced FCS in the left occipital cortex when compared with carriers with the GG genotype. The FCS values in the left occipital lobe were negatively associated with the SPQ scores and its subscale scores within the carriers with the GG genotype, but not within the carriers with AA or AG genotype.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that the common variant in the NOTCH4 gene, rs204993, modulates the function of the occipital cortex, which may contribute to schizotypal traits. These findings provide insight for genetic effects on schizotypal traits and its potential neural substrate.

Klotho is regulated by transcription factor Sp1 in renal tubular epithelial cells

BACKGROUND

Klotho is a multifunctional protein, which exists both in a membrane bound and a soluble form. In renal tubules, Klotho is involved in cell senescence, anti-oxidant response, and renal fibrosis, thus regulation of its expression is critical to understand its roles in renal diseases. Indeed, reduced expression was observed in various renal disease. However, the mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation of the human klotho gene (KL) largely remain unknown.

RESULTS

Here we demonstrated that the Klotho expression in human renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) was enhanced by overexpression of the transcription factor Sp1. On the contrary, Klotho expression was decreased by Sp1 knockdown. Besides, increased expression of Sp1 alleviated TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in HK-2 cells by inducing Klotho expression. Luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays further identified the binding site of Sp1 was located in - 394 to - 289 nt of the KL promoter, which was further confirmed by mutation analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

These data demonstrate that KL is a transcriptional target of Sp1 and TGF-β1-induced fibrosis was alleviated by Sp1 in human RTECs by directly modulating Klotho expression, which help to further understand the transcriptional regulation of Klotho in renal disease models.

A method for addressing right upper lobe obstruction with right-sided double-lumen endobronchial tubes during surgery: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

A right-sided double-lumen tube (R-DLT) tends to obstruct the right upper lobe intraoperatively due to anatomical distortion during surgery. If the R-DLT is poorly matched with the patient's airway anatomy, it will not be possible to correctly replace the tube with a fiberoptic bronchoscope (FOB). In our study, we aimed to explore an efficient method for difficult repositioning caused by right upper lobe occlusion during surgery: repositioning the R-DLT from the right main bronchus into the left main bronchus. The current study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of this method.

METHODS

Sixty adult patients scheduled to undergo left-sided thoracic surgery were randomly assigned to two groups. With the patient in the right lateral position during surgery, the R-DLT was pulled back to the trachea while being rotated 90° clockwise; it was then either rotated 90° clockwise for placement into the left main bronchus (Group L) or rotated 90° anticlockwise and returned to the right main bronchus (Group R) using FOB guidance. The primary outcomes included clinical performance, which was measured by intubation time, and the quality of lung collapse. A secondary outcome was safety, which was determined according to bronchial injury and vocal cord injury.

RESULTS

The median intubation time (IQR [range]) required for placement of a R-DLT into the left main bronchus was shorter than the time required for placement into the right main bronchus (15.0 s [IQR, 12.0 to 20.0 s]) vs 23.5 s [IQR, 14.5 to 65.8 s], P = 0.005). The groups showed comparable overall results for the quality of lung collapse during the total period of one-lung ventilation (P = 1.000). The numbers of patients with bronchial injuries or vocal cord injuries were also comparable between groups (Group R, 11/30 vs. Group L 8/30, P = 0.580 for bronchus injuries; Group R, 15/30 vs. Group L 13/30, P = 0.796 for vocal cord injuries).

CONCLUSIONS

Repositioning a R-DLT from the right main bronchus into the left main bronchus had good clinical performance without causing additional injury. This may be an efficient method for the difficult repositioning of a R-DLT due to right upper lobe occlusion during surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IPR-15006933 , registered on 15 August 2015.

Establishment of malignantly transformed dendritic cell line SU3-ihDCTC induced by Glioma stem cells and study on its sensitivity to resveratrol

BACKGROUND

As a factor contributing to the tumor cell drug resistance, tumor microenvironment (TME) is being paid increasingly attention. However, the drug resistance of malignantly transformed cells in TME has rarely been revealed. This paper is designed to investigate the sensitivity of malignantly transformed cell line (ihDCTC) induced by glioma stem cells (GSCs) in TME to chemotherapeutic drugs.

METHODS

(1) Establishment of ihDCTC cell line,The bone marrow cells from enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transgenic nude mice were employed to culture the dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro, which were then co-cultured with red fluorescence protein (RFP) transgenic GSCs (SU3) to obtain ihDCTC (2) Res and Cis were used to intervene in the growth of abovemetioned cell lines in vitro and Res treated in bearing ihDCTC tumor mice, followed by evaluating their drug sensitivity and changes in key signaling proteins via half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), tumor mass and immunostaining method.

RESULTS

(1) ihDCTC could express CD11c and CD80 as well as possessed immortalized potential, heteroploid chromosomes and high tumorigenicity in nude mice in vivo. (2) At 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, the IC50 value of ihDCTC treated with Cis was 3.62, 3.25 and 2.10 times higher than that of SU3, while the IC50 value of ihDCTC treated with Res was 0.03, 0.47 and 1.19 times as much as that of SU3; (3) The xenograft mass (g) in vivo in the control, Res, Cis and Res + Cis groups were 1.44 ± 0.19, 0.45 ± 0.12, 0.94 ± 0.80 and 0.68 ± 0.35(x ± s) respectively. The expression levels of IL-6, p-STAT3 and NF-κB proteins in the xenograft tissue were significantly reduced only in the Res treatment group.

CONCLUSION

In vitro co-culture with GSC can induce the malignant transformation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells, on the one hand, ihDCTC shows higher drug resistance to the traditional chemotherapeutic drug Cis than GSCs, but, on the other hand, appears to be more sensitive to Res than GSCs. Therefore, our findings provide a broader vision not only for the further study on the correlation between TME and tumor drug resistance but also for the exploration of Res anti-cancer value.

The Synthesis of Size-Adjustable Superparamagnetism Fe3O4 Hollow Microspheres

One hundred fifty to 300-nm-sized monodisperse iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) hollow microspheres were synthesized by the one-pot hydrothermal method. The morphology and crystal structure of the as-prepared hollow microspheres was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, while the magnetic property was investigated by vibrating sample magnetometer. We found that the particle size of the hollow microspheres was related to the amount of sodium citrate, polyacrylamide (PAM), and urea. The hollow structure of Fe₃O₄ microspheres has high magnetization saturation values ranging in 49.10-75.41 emu/g.

Chromosome segment detection for seed size and shape traits using an improved population of wild soybean chromosome segment substitution lines

Size and shape of soybean seeds are closely related to seed yield and market value. Annual wild soybeans have the potential to improve cultivated soybeans, but their inferior seed characteristics should be excluded. To detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs)/segments of seed size and shape traits in annual wild soybean, its chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from NN1138-2 (recurrent parent, Glycine max) and N24852 (donor parent, Glycine soja) and then modified 2 iterations (coded SojaCSSLP3) were improved further to contain more lines (diagonal segments) and less heterozygous and missing portions. The new population (SojaCSSLP4) composed of 195 CSSLs was evaluated under four environments, and 11, 13, 7, 15 and 14 QTLs/segments were detected for seed length (SL), seed width (SW), seed roundness (SR), seed perimeter (SP) and seed cross section area (SA), respectively, with all 60 wild allele effects negative. Among them, 16 QTLs/segments were shared by 2-5 traits, respectively, but 0-3 segments for each of the 5 traits were independent. The non-shared Satt274 and shared Satt305, Satt540 and Satt239 were major segments, along with other segments composed of two different but related sets of genetic systems for SR and the other 4 traits, respectively. Compared with the literature, 7 SL, 5 SW and 2 SR QTLs/segments were also detected in cultivated soybeans; allele distinction took place between cultivated and wild soybeans, and also among cultivated parents. The present mapping is understood as macro-segment mapping, the segments may be further dissected into smaller segments as well as corresponding QTLs/genes.

Further New Highly Oxidative Cembranoids from the Hainan Soft Coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum

Three new highly oxidative cembranoids, sarcophytrols D-F (1-3), were obtained from the South China Sea soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, along with two known related ones (4 and 5). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison with literature data. The discovery of these new secondary metabolites enriched the family of cembranoids deduced from the title animal.