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Early Parkinson's disease (PD) may cause respiratory dysfunction; however the findings vary among studies. The aim of the preliminary prospective observational study was to explore the deterioration of pulmonary function at various stages in patients with early PD. A total of 237 patients with PD were screened. Fifty-six patients were included (modified Hoehn and Yahr stage [less than or equal to] 2.5). In addition, 56 age-matched healthy controls were also included in the study. Significant differences between the PD and control groups were found in all the investigated lung-function parameters. The maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) percent predicted was the only parameter that distinguished PD stages (101.1 ± 14.9% vs. 82.8 ± 19.2% vs. 71.4 ± 12.9%, Hoehn and Yahr stages 1.5 vs. 2 vs. 2.5, respectively; p < 0.005). MVV could be the most sensitive parameter for distinguishing the severity of early-stage PD., Author(s): Chenxi Zhang [sup.1], Jia Deng [sup.1], Yi Li [sup.1], Guangyu Niu [sup.1], Mingna Li [sup.1], Bin Zhang [sup.1], Jianjun Wang [sup.1], Yanling Liu [sup.2], Boyan Fang [sup.3], Jianing Xi [...]

Drought is a major abiotic stress that limits the growth and yield of alfalfa, a vital forage legume. The plant metalloproteinase Filamentation temperature-sensitive H (FtsH) is an ATP- and Zn2+-dependent enzyme that plays a significant character in the plant's response to environmental stress. However, its functional role in drought resistance remains largely unexplored. This study investigates the drought tolerance role of alfalfa MsFtsH8 by analyzing the growth, physiology, and gene expression of overexpressing plants under drought conditions. The results demonstrated that both MsFtsH8-overexpressing Arabidopsis and alfalfa plants exhibited superior growth condition and enhanced membrane stability. The overexpressing alfalfa plants also showed reduced MDA levels, higher proline content, lower H2O2 accumulation, an increased activity of antioxidant-related enzymes (SOD, POD, and CAT) activity, and an elevated expression of antioxidant-related genes. These results indicated that the overexpression of MsFtsH8 enhanced growth, improved osmotic regulation, reduced ROS levels, and increased antioxidative capacity, ultimately leading to greater drought tolerance in alfalfa. Our findings suggest that MsFtsH8 mitigates oxidative damage caused by drought by modulating the plant's antioxidant system, thus improving drought tolerance in alfalfa. This study provides a molecular basis and candidate genes for enhancing drought resistance in alfalfa through genetic engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress severely inhibits crop growth and production. The native turfgrass species Carex rigescens in northern China, exhibits extraordinary tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. However, little is known about its specific metabolites and pathways under salt stress. To explore the molecular metabolic mechanisms under salt stress, we conducted metabolome analysis combined with transcriptome analysis of two varieties of Carex rigescens with differing salt tolerances: salt-sensitive Lvping NO.1 and salt-tolerant Lvping NO.2. After 5 days of salt treatment, 114 and 131 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) were found in Lvping NO.1 and Lvping NO.2, respectively. Among them, six amino acids involved in the amino acid biosynthesis pathway, namely, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, tryptophan, threonine, and serine, were accumulated after treatment. Furthermore, most DAMs related to phenylalanine biosynthesis, metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis increased under salt stress in both varieties. The expression profiles of metabolism-associated genes were consistent with the metabolic profiles. However, genes including HCT, β-glucosidases, and F5H, and metabolite 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, of the two varieties may account for the differences in salt tolerance. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying salt tolerance in Carex rigescens and reveals potential metabolites and genes to improve crop resilience to saline environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our previous study, circ_015343 was found to inhibit the viability and proliferation of ovine mammary epithelial cells (OMECs) and the expression levels of milk fat synthesis marker genes, but the regulatory mechanism underlying the processes is still unclear. Accordingly in this study, the target relationships between circ_015343 with miR‐25 and between miR‐25 with insulin induced gene 1 (INSIG1) were verified, and the functions of miR‐25 and INSIG1 were investigated in OMECs. The dual‐luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR‐25 mimic remarkably decreased the luciferase activity of circ_015343 in HEK293T cells cotransfected with a wild‐type vector, while it did not change the activity of circ_015343 in HEK293T cells cotransfected with a mutant vector. These suggest that cic_015343 can adsorb and bind miR‐25. The miR‐25 increased the viability and proliferation of OMECs, and the content of triglycerides in OMECs. In addition, INSIG1 was found to be a target gene of miR‐25 using a dual‐luciferase reporter assay. Overexpression of INSIG1 decreased the viability, proliferation, and level of triglycerides of OMECs. In contrast, the inhibition of INSIG1 in expression had the opposite effect on activities and triglycerides of OMECs with overexpressed INSIG1. A rescue experiment revealed that circ_015343 alleviated the inhibitory effect of miR‐25 on the mRNA and protein abundance of INSIG1. These results indicate that circ_015343 sponges miR‐25 to inhibit the activities and content of triglycerides of OMECs by upregulating the expression of INSIG1 in OMECs. This study provided new insights for understanding the genetic molecular mechanism of lactation traits in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

JASMONATE ZIM domain (JAZ) proteins, inhibitors of the jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathway, are identified in different plants, such as rice and Arabidopsis. These proteins are crucial for growth, development, and abiotic stress responses. However, limited information is available regarding the JAZ family in alfalfa. This study identified 11 JAZ genes (MsJAZs) in the "Zhongmu No.1" reference genome of alfalfa. The physical and chemical properties, chromosome localization, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, cis-acting elements, and collinearity of the 11 MsJAZ genes were subsequently analyzed. Tissue-specific analysis revealed distinct functions of different MsJAZ genes in growth and development. The expression patterns of MsJAZ genes under salt stress conditions were validated using qRT-PCR. All MsJAZ genes responded to salt stress, with varying levels of upregulation over time, highlighting their role in stress responses. Furthermore, heterogeneous expression of MsJAZ1 in Arabidopsis resulted in significantly lower seed germination and survival rates in OE-2 and OE-4 compared to the WT under 150 mM NaCl treatment. This study establishes a foundation for further exploration of the function of the JAZ family and provides significant insights into the genetic improvement of alfalfa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the expression profiles of miR-148a were constructed in eight different ovine tissues, including mammary gland tissue, during six different developmental periods. The effect of miR-148a on the viability, proliferation, and milk fat synthesis of ovine mammary epithelial cells (OMECs) was investigated, and the target relationship of miR-148a with two predicted target genes was verified. The expression of miR-148a exhibited obvious tissue-specific and temporal-specific patterns. miR-148a was expressed in all eight ovine tissues investigated, with the highest expression level in mammary gland tissue (p < 0.05). Additionally, miR-148a was expressed in ovine mammary gland tissue during each of the six developmental periods studied, with its highest level at peak lactation (p < 0.05). The overexpression of miR-148a increased the viability of OMECs, the number and percentage of Edu-labeled positive OMECs, and the expression levels of two cell-proliferation marker genes. miR-148a also increased the percentage of OMECs in the S phase. In contrast, transfection with an miR-148a inhibitor produced the opposite effect compared to the miR-148a mimic. These results indicate that miR-148a promotes the viability and proliferation of OMECs in Small-tailed Han sheep. The miR-148a mimic increased the triglyceride content by 37.78% (p < 0.01) and the expression levels of three milk fat synthesis marker genes in OMECs. However, the miR-148a inhibitor reduced the triglyceride level by 87.11% (p < 0.01). These results suggest that miR-148a promotes milk fat synthesis in OMECs. The dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that miR-148a reduced the luciferase activities of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-A (PPARGC1A) in wild-type vectors, suggesting that they are target genes of miR-148a. The expression of miR-148a was highly negatively correlated with PPARGC1A (r = −0.789, p < 0.001) in ovine mammary gland tissue, while it had a moderate negative correlation with DNMT1 (r = −0.515, p = 0.029). This is the first study to reveal the molecular mechanisms of miR-148a underlying the viability, proliferation, and milk fat synthesis of OMECs in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipoxygenase (LOX) is associated with responses to plant hormones, environmental stresses, and signaling substances. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment triggers the production of LOX, polyphenol oxidase, and protease inhibitors in various plants, producing resistance to herbivory. To examine the response of MtLOX24 to MeJA, the phenotypic and physiological changes in Medicago truncatula MtLOX24 overexpression and lox mutant plants were investigated. Additionally, wild-type R108, the MtLOX24-overexpressing line L4, and the mutant lox-1 were utilized as experimental materials to characterize the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolic pathways in response to MeJA. The results indicate that after treatment with 200 µM of MeJA, the damage in the mutants lox-1 and lox-2 was more serious than in the overexpressing lines L4 and L6, with more significant leaf wilting, yellowing, and oxidative damage in lox-1 and lox-2. Exogenous application of MeJA induced H2O2 production and POD activity but reduced CAT activity in the lox mutants. Transcriptome analysis revealed 10,238 DEGs in six libraries of normal-growing groups (cR108, cL4, and clox1) and MeJA-treated groups (R108, L4, and lox1). GO and KEGG functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that under normal growth conditions, the DEGs between the cL4 vs. cR108 and the clox-1 vs. cR108 groups were primarily enriched in signaling pathways such as plant–pathogen interactions, flavonoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, the MAPK signaling pathway, and glutathione metabolism. The DEGs of the R108 vs. cR108 and L4 vs. cL4 groups after MeJA treatment were mainly enriched in glutathione metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, the MAPK signaling pathway, circadian rhythm, and α-linolenic acid metabolism. Among them, under normal growth conditions, genes like PTI5, PR1, HSPs, PALs, CAD, CCoAOMT, and CYPs showed significant differences between L4 and the wild type, suggesting that the expression of these genes is impacted by MtLOX24 overexpression. CDPKs, CaMCMLs, IFS, JAZ, and other genes were also significantly different between L4 and the wild type upon MeJA treatment, suggesting that they might be important genes involved in JA signaling. This study provides a reference for the study of the response mechanism of MtLOX24 under MeJA signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal regulators of the abiotic stress responses in plants, yet their specific involvement in salt/alkali stress during alfalfa germination remains incompletely understood. Here, we subjected Zhongmu No.1 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seeds to salt stress (20 mM NaCl and 20 mM Na2SO4 solutions) or alkali stress (5 mM NaHCO3 and 5 mM Na2CO3 solutions) treatments for 3 days, followed by total RNA extraction and RNA-seq analysis to delineate stress-responsive alfalfa lncRNAs. We identified 17,473 novel alfalfa lncRNAs, among which 101 and 123 were differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) under salt and alkali stress, respectively, compared to the control. Furthermore, we predicted 16 and 237 differentially expressed target genes regulated by DElncRNAs through cis/trans-regulatory mechanisms under salt or alkali stress, respectively. A functional enrichment analysis of DElncRNA target genes indicated that lncRNAs were implicated in the fatty acid metabolism pathway under salt stress, while they played a significant role in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis pathway under alkali stress. Notably, lncRNAs were found to participate in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway, a common regulatory mechanism in both salt and alkali stress responses. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying alfalfa's response to salt and alkali stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of the continued advancement of the green economy transition, the proactive pursuit of carbon emissions reduction and the early attainment of carbon neutrality goals have emerged as essential components in promoting high-quality economic development. Not only does it contribute to the creation of a community of human destiny, but it is also vital to the realization of sustainable development for human civilization. A dynamic evolutionary game model, which encompasses the interactions among government, enterprises, and the public, was constructed to examine the inherent impact mechanisms of the behavior of three players on the development of a green economy under the context of energy saving and emission reduction subsidies. The results showed that the incentive and punishment mechanisms served as effective tools for harmonizing the interests of system members. Within the mechanisms, the public demonstrated a higher sensitivity to rewards, while enterprises exhibited greater responsiveness to fines. Consequently, the government could influence the behavior of enterprises by incentivizing the public to serve as a third-party inquiry and oversight body. Simultaneously, the government could encourage enterprises to expedite green technology innovation by employing a combination of incentive and punishment mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expansins, a class of cell-wall-loosening proteins that regulate plant growth and stress resistance, have been studied in a variety of plant species. However, little is known about the Expansins present in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) due to the complexity of its tetraploidy. Based on the alfalfa (cultivar "XinjiangDaye") reference genome, we identified 168 Expansin members (MsEXPs). Phylogenetic analysis showed that MsEXPs consist of four subfamilies: MsEXPAs (123), MsEXPBs (25), MsEXLAs (2), and MsEXLBs (18). MsEXPAs, which account for 73.2% of MsEXPs, and are divided into twelve groups (EXPA-I–EXPA-XII). Of these, EXPA-XI members are specific to Medicago trunctula and alfalfa. Gene composition analysis revealed that the members of each individual subfamily shared a similar structure. Interestingly, about 56.3% of the cis-acting elements were predicted to be associated with abiotic stress, and the majority were MYB- and MYC-binding motifs, accounting for 33.9% and 36.0%, respectively. Our short-term treatment (≤24 h) with NaCl (200 mM) or PEG (polyethylene glycol, 15%) showed that the transcriptional levels of 12 MsEXPs in seedlings were significantly altered at the tested time point(s), indicating that MsEXPs are osmotic-responsive. These findings imply the potential functions of MsEXPs in alfalfa adaptation to high salinity and/or drought. Future studies on MsEXP expression profiles under long-term (>24 h) stress treatment would provide valuable information on their involvement in the response of alfalfa to abiotic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to its association with milk protein synthesis via the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, JAK2 also affects milk fat synthesis. However, to date, there have been no reports on the effect of JAK2 on ovine mammary epithelial cells (OMECs), which directly determine milk yield and milk contents. In this study, the coding sequence (CDS) region of ovine JAK2 was cloned and identified and its tissue expression and localization in ovine mammary glands, as well as its effects on the viability, proliferation, and milk fat and casein levels of OMECs, were also investigated. The CDS region of ovine JAK2, 3399 bp in length, was cloned and its authenticity was validated by analyzing its sequence similarity with JAK2 sequences from other animal species using a phylogenetic tree. JAK2 was found to be expressed in six ovine tissues, with the highest expression being in the mammary gland. Over-expressed JAK2 and three groups of JAK2 interference sequences were successfully transfected into OMECs identified by immunofluorescence staining. When compared with the negative control (NC) group, the viability of OMECs was increased by 90.1% in the pcDNA3.1-JAK2 group. The over-expression of JAK2 also increased the number and ratio of EdU-labeled positive OMECs, as well as the expression levels of three cell proliferation marker genes. These findings show that JAK2 promotes the viability and proliferation of OMECs. Meanwhile, the triglyceride content in the over-expressed JAK2 group was 2.9-fold higher than the controls and the expression levels of four milk fat synthesis marker genes were also increased. These results indicate that JAK2 promotes milk fat synthesis. Over-expressed JAK2 significantly up-regulated the expression levels of casein alpha s2 (CSN1S2), casein beta (CSN2), and casein kappa (CSN3) but down-regulated casein alpha s1 (CSN1S1) expression. In contrast, small interfered JAK2 had the opposite effect to JAK2 over-expression on the viability, proliferation, and milk fat and milk protein synthesis of OMECs. In summary, these results demonstrate that JAK2 promotes the viability, proliferation, and milk fat synthesis of OMECs in addition to regulating casein expression in these cells. This study contributes to a better comprehension of the role of JAK2 in the lactation performance of sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]