Summary
As the largest cultivated fiber crop in the world, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is often exposed to various biotic stresses during its growth periods. Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium ...dahliae is a severe disease in cotton, and the molecular mechanism of cotton resistance for Verticillium wilt needs to be further investigated. Here, we revealed that the cotton genome contains nine types of GST genes. An evolutionary analysis showed that a newly identified cluster (including Gh_A09G1508, Gh_A09G1509 and Gh_A09G1510) located on chromosome 09 of the A‐subgenome was under positive selection pressure during the formation of an allotetraploid. Transcriptome analysis showed that this cluster participates in Verticillium wilt resistance. Because the Gh_A09G1509 gene showed the greatest differential expression in the resistant cultivar under V. dahliae stress, we overexpressed this gene in tobacco and found that its overexpression resulted in enhanced Verticillium wilt resistance. Suppression of the gene cluster via virus‐induced gene silencing made cotton plants of the resistant cultivar Nongda601 significantly susceptible. These results demonstrated that the GST cluster played an important role in Verticillium wilt resistance. Further investigation showed that the encoded enzymes of the cluster were essential for the delicate equilibrium between the production and scavenging of H2O2 during V. dahliae stress.
Significance statement
Evolution of the glutathione S‐transferases gene family was clarified in the Gossypium genus. A newly identified tau cluster in the A‐subgenome was shown to have undergone adaptive evolution, and provided Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton.
Backscattering suppression in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) is one of the central issues to reduce energy loss and signal distortion, enabling for capability improvement of modern information processing ...systems. Valley physics provides an intriguing way for robust information transfer and unidirectional coupling in topological nanophotonics. Here we realize topological transport in a SOI valley photonic crystal slab. Localized Berry curvature near zone corners guarantees the existence of valley-dependent edge states below light cone, maintaining in-plane robustness and light confinement simultaneously. Topologically robust transport at telecommunication is observed along two sharp-bend interfaces in subwavelength scale, showing flat-top high transmission of ~10% bandwidth. Topological photonic routing is achieved in a bearded-stack interface, due to unidirectional excitation of valley-chirality-locked edge state from the phase vortex of a nanoscale microdisk. These findings show the prototype of robustly integrated devices, and open a new door towards the observation of non-trivial states even in non-Hermitian systems.
We have introduced a novel water-soluble two-photon photoinitiator based on the host–guest interaction between 3,6-bis2-(1-methyl-pyridinium)vinyl-9-pentyl-carbazole diiodide (BMVPC) and ...cucurbit7uril (CB7) because most of the commercial photoinitiators have poor two-photon initiating efficiency in aqueous solutions. The binding ratio of BMVPC and CB7 was determined as 1:1 by isothermal titration calorimetry and quantum chemical calculation. The formation of the host–guest complex increases the two-photon absorption cross-section about five times, and improves the water solubility required as the photoinitiator for hydrogel fabrication. The BMVPC–CB7 inclusion complex was used as the one-component photoinitiator, and the polyethylene glycol diacrylate with promising biocompatibility was used as the hydrogel monomer to form the aqueous-phase photoresist system applied to two-photon polymerization microfabrication. A relatively low laser threshold of 4.5 mW, a high fabricating resolution of 180 nm, and the true three-dimensional (3D) fabricating capability in the aqueous solution have been obtained by using the as-prepared photoresist system. Finally, 3D engineering hydrogel scaffold microstructures with low toxicity and good biocompatibility have been fabricated and cocultured with living HeLa cells, which demonstrates the potential for further application in tissue engineering.
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis syndrome that primarily affects infants and young children. Its etiology is unknown; however, epidemiological findings suggest that genetic ...predisposition underlies disease susceptibility. Taiwan has the third-highest incidence of KD in the world, after Japan and Korea. To investigate novel mechanisms that might predispose individuals to KD, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 250 KD patients and 446 controls in a Han Chinese population residing in Taiwan, and further validated our findings in an independent Han Chinese cohort of 208 cases and 366 controls. The most strongly associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in the joint analysis corresponded to three novel loci. Among these KD-associated SNPs three were close to the COPB2 (coatomer protein complex beta-2 subunit) gene: rs1873668 (p = 9.52×10⁻⁵), rs4243399 (p = 9.93×10⁻⁵), and rs16849083 (p = 9.93×10⁻⁵). We also identified a SNP in the intronic region of the ERAP1 (endoplasmic reticulum amino peptidase 1) gene (rs149481, p(best) = 4.61×10⁻⁵). Six SNPs (rs17113284, rs8005468, rs10129255, rs2007467, rs10150241, and rs12590667) clustered in an area containing immunoglobulin heavy chain variable regions genes, with p(best)-values between 2.08×10⁻⁵ and 8.93×10⁻⁶, were also identified. This is the first KD GWAS performed in a Han Chinese population. The novel KD candidates we identified have been implicated in T cell receptor signaling, regulation of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as antibody-mediated immune responses. These findings may lead to a better understanding of the underlying molecular pathogenesis of KD.
Summary
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) has two ecotypes, upland and lowland rice, that have been observed to show different tolerance levels under flooding stress. In this study, two rice cultivars, upland ...(Up221, flooding‐intolerant) and lowland (Low88, flooding‐tolerant), were initially used to study their molecular mechanisms in response to flooding germination. We observed that variations in the OsCBL10 promoter sequences in these two cultivars might contribute to this divergence in flooding tolerance. Further analysis using another eight rice cultivars revealed that the OsCBL10 promoter could be classified as either a flooding‐tolerant type (T‐type) or a flooding‐intolerant type (I‐type). The OsCBL10 T‐type promoter only existed in japonica lowland cultivars, whereas the OsCBL10 I‐type promoter existed in japonica upland, indica upland and indica lowland cultivars. Flooding‐tolerant rice cultivars containing the OsCBL10 T‐type promoter have shown lower Ca2+ flow and higher α‐amylase activities in comparison to those in flooding‐intolerant cultivars. Furthermore, the OsCBL10 overexpression lines were sensitive to both flooding and hypoxic treatments during rice germination with enhanced Ca2+ flow in comparison to wild‐type. Subsequent findings also indicate that OsCBL10 may affect OsCIPK15 protein abundance and its downstream pathways. In summary, our results suggest that the adaptation to flooding stress during rice germination is associated with two different OsCBL10 promoters, which in turn affect OsCBL10 expression in different cultivars and negatively affect OsCIPK15 protein accumulation and its downstream cascade.
Significance Statement
This study identifies that OsCBL10 is able to communicate with upstream calcium signaling and downstream flooding responses by affecting OsCIPK15 protein accumulation or stability. The variation in OsCBL10 promoter regions could be a general mechanism in Sub1A‐deficient lowland japonica cultivars in response to flooding germination.
Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is characterized by defects of multiple tissue‐specific lysosome‐related organelles (LROs), typically manifesting with oculocutaneous albinism or ocular albinism, ...bleeding tendency, and in some cases with pulmonary fibrosis, inflammatory bowel disease or immunodeficiency, neuropsychological disorders. Eleven HPS subtypes in humans and at least 15 subtypes in mice have been molecularly identified. Current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of HPS is focusing on the defective biogenesis of LROs. Compelling evidences have shown that HPS protein‐associated complexes (HPACs) function in cargo transport, cargo recycling, and cargo removal to maintain LRO homeostasis. Further investigation on the molecular and cellular mechanism of LRO biogenesis and secretion will be helpful for better understanding of its pathogenesis and for the precise intervention of HPS.
High‐security nanoplatform with enhanced therapy compliance is extremely promising for tumor. Herein, using a simple and high‐efficient self‐assembly method, a novel active‐targeting nanocluster ...probe, namely, Ag2S/chlorin e6 (Ce6)/DOX@DSPE‐mPEG2000‐folate (ACD‐FA) is synthesized. Experiments indicate that ACD‐FA is capable of specifically labeling tumor and guiding targeting ablation of the tumor via precise positioning from fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging. Importantly, the probe is endowed with a photodynamic “on‐off” effect, that is, Ag2S could effectively quench the fluorescence of chlorin e6 (89.5%) and inhibit release of 1O2 (92.7%), which is conducive to avoid unwanted phototoxicity during transhipment in the body, and only after nanocluster endocytosed by tumor cells could release Ce6 to produce 1O2. Moreover, ACD‐FA also achieves excellent acid‐responsive drug release, and exhibits eminent chemo‐photothermal and photodynamic effects upon laser irradiation. Compared with single or two treatment combining modalities, ACD‐FA could provide the best cancer therapeutic effect with a relatively low dose, because it made the most of combined effect from chemo‐photothermal and controlled photodynamic therapy, and significantly improves the drug compliance. Besides, the active‐targeting nanocluster notably reduces nonspecific toxicity of both doxorubicin and chlorin e6. Together, this study demonstrates the potency of a newly designed nanocluster for nonradioactive concomitant therapy with precise tumor‐targeting capability.
A multifunctional nanoprobe Ag2S/Ce6/DOX@DSPE‐mPEG2000‐folate can specifically label tumor via precise positioning from fluorescence and photoacoustic imaging, which guide targeting ablation of tumor combined effect of chemo‐photothermal and controlled photodynamic therapy. In the process, the probe minimizes the administration dose as much as possible while achieving effective therapeutic effect, reducing nonspecific toxicity, and improving drug compliance.
Porous materials capable of selectively capturing CO2 from flue‐gases or natural gas are of interest in terms of rising atmospheric CO2 levels and methane purification. Size‐exclusive sieving of CO2 ...over CH4 and N2 has rarely been achieved. Herein we show that a crystal engineering approach to tuning of pore‐size in a coordination network, Cu(quinoline‐5‐carboxyate)2n (Qc‐5‐Cu) ena+bles ultra‐high selectivity for CO2 over N2 (SCN≈40 000) and CH4 (SCM≈3300). Qc‐5‐Cu‐sql‐β, a narrow pore polymorph of the square lattice (sql) coordination network Qc‐5‐Cu‐sql‐α, adsorbs CO2 while excluding both CH4 and N2. Experimental measurements and molecular modeling validate and explain the performance. Qc‐5‐Cu‐sql‐β is stable to moisture and its separation performance is unaffected by humidity.
Sieves you right: Crystal engineering of supramolecular isomers of Cu(quinoline‐5‐carboxyate)2n metal–organic materials enables the right pore‐chemistry for ultra‐high CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity even in the presence of water vapor.
Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a malignant proliferation of CD56(+) and cytoCD3(+) lymphocytes with aggressive clinical course, which is prevalent in Asian and South American populations. ...The molecular pathogenesis of NKTCL has largely remained elusive. We identified somatic gene mutations in 25 people with NKTCL by whole-exome sequencing and confirmed them in an extended validation group of 80 people by targeted sequencing. Recurrent mutations were most frequently located in the RNA helicase gene DDX3X (21/105 subjects, 20.0%), tumor suppressors (TP53 and MGA), JAK-STAT-pathway molecules (STAT3 and STAT5B) and epigenetic modifiers (MLL2, ARID1A, EP300 and ASXL3). As compared to wild-type protein, DDX3X mutants exhibited decreased RNA-unwinding activity, loss of suppressive effects on cell-cycle progression in NK cells and transcriptional activation of NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Clinically, patients with DDX3X mutations presented a poor prognosis. Our work thus contributes to the understanding of the disease mechanism of NKTCL.
Tetrabromobisphenol A-bis(2,3-dibromo-2-methylpropyl ether) (TBBPA-DBMPE) has come into use as an alternative to hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), but it is unclear whether TBBPA-DBMPE has less hazard ...than HBCD. Here, we compared the bioaccumulation and male reproductive toxicity between TBBPA-DBMPE and HBCD in mice following long-term oral exposure after birth. We found that the concentrations of TBBPA-DBMPE in livers significantly increased with time, exhibiting a bioaccumulation potency not substantially different from HBCD. Lactational exposure to 1000 μg/kg/d TBBPA-DBMPE as well as 50 μg/kg/d HBCD inhibited testis development in suckling pups, and extended exposure up to adulthood resulted in significant molecular and cellular alterations in testes, with slighter effects of 50 μg/kg/d TBBPA-DBMPE. When exposure was extended to 8 month age, severe reproductive impairments including reduced sperm count, increased abnormal sperm, and subfertility occurred in all treated animals, although 50 μg/kg/d TBBPA-DBMPE exerted lower effects than 50 μg/kg/d HBCD. Altogether, all data led us to conclude that TBBPA-DBMPE exerted weaker male reproductive toxicity than HBCD at the same doses but exhibited bioaccumulation potential roughly equivalent to HBCD. Our study fills the data gap regarding the bioaccumulation and toxicity of TBBPA-DBMPE and raises concerns about its use as an alternative to HBCD.
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