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Silique development exerts significant impacts on crop yield. CRPs (Cysteine-rich peptides) can mediate cell–cell communication during plant reproduction and development. However, the functional characterization and regulatory mechanisms of CRPs in silique development remain unclear. In this study, we identified many CRP genes downstream of the CRP gene TPD1 (TAPETUM DETERMINANT1) during silique development using a microarray assay. The novel Arabidopsis thaliana pollen-borne CRPs, the PCP-Bs (for pollen coat protein B-class) gene AtPCP-Ba, along with TPD1, are essential for silique development. The AtPCP-Ba was significantly down-regulated in tpd1 flower buds but up-regulated in OE-TPD1 flower buds and siliques. The silencing of AtPCP-Ba compromised the wider silique of OE-TPD1 plants and inhibited the morphology of OE-TPD1 siliques to the size observed in the wild type. A total of 258 CRPs were identified with the bioinformatic analysis in Arabidopsis, Brassica napus, Glycine max, Oryza sativa, Sorghum bicolor, and Zea mays. Based on the evolutionary tree classification, all CRP members can be categorized into five subgroups. Notably, 107 CRP genes were predicted to exhibit abundant expression in flowers and fruits. Most cysteine-rich peptides exhibited high expression levels in Arabidopsis and Brassica napus. These findings suggested the involvement of the CRP AtPCP-Ba in the TPD1 signaling pathway, thereby regulating silique development in Arabidopsis.

Soil salinization represents an increasingly serious threat to agronomic productivity throughout the world, as rising ion concentrations can interfere with the growth and development of plants, ultimately reducing crop yields and quality. A combination of factors is driving this progressive soil salinization, including natural causes, global climate change, and irrigation practices that are increasing the global saline-alkali land footprint. Salt stress damages plants both by imposing osmotic stress that reduces water availability while also inducing direct sodium- and chlorine-mediated toxicity that harms plant cells. Vitis vinifera L. exhibits relatively high levels of resistance to soil salinization. However, as with other crops, grapevine growth, development, fruit yields, and fruit quality can all be adversely affected by salt stress. Many salt-tolerant grape germplasm resources have been screened in recent years, leading to the identification of many genes associated to salt stress and the characterization of the mechanistic basis for grapevine salt tolerance. These results have also been leveraged to improve grape yields through the growth of more tolerant cultivars and other appropriate cultivation measures. The present review was formulated to provide an overview of recent achievements in the field of research focused on grapevine salt tolerance from the perspectives of germplasm resource identification, the mining of functional genes, the cultivation of salt-tolerant grape varieties, and the selection of appropriate cultivation measures. Together, we hope that this systematic review will offer insight into promising approaches to enhancing grape salt tolerance in the future.

The zeolite-catalyzed conversion of DME into chemicals is considered environmentally friendly in industry. The periodic density functional theory, statistical thermodynamics, and the transition state theory are used to study some possible parallel reactions about the hydrogen-bonded DME over zeolite ferrierite. The following are the key findings: (1) the charge separation probably leads to the conversion of a hydrogen-bonded DME into a dimethyl oxonium ion (i.e., DMO+ or (CH3)2OH+) with a positive charge of about 0.804 e; (2) the methylation of DME, CH3OH, H2O, and CO by DMO+ at the T2O6 site of zeolite ferrierite shows the different activated internal energy (∆E≠) ranging from 18.47 to 30.06 kcal/mol, implying the strong methylation ability of DMO+; (3) H-abstraction by DMO+ is about 3.94–15.53 or 6.57–18.16 kcal/mol higher than DMO+ methylation in the activation internal energy; (4) six DMO+-mediated reactions are more likely to occur due to the lower barriers, compared to the experimental barrier (i.e., 39.87 kcal/mol) for methyl acetate synthesis; (5) active intermediates, such as (CH3)3O+, (CH3)2OH+, CH3CO+, CH3OH2+, and CH2=OH+, are expected to appear; (6) DMO+ is slightly weaker than the well-known surface methoxy species (ZO-CH3) in methylation; and (7) the methylated activity declines in the order of DME, CH3OH, H2O, and CO, with corresponding rate constants at 463.15 K of about 3.4 × 104, 1.1 × 102, 0.18, and 8.2 × 10−2 s−1, respectively.

The phytohormone gibberellic acid (GA3) is widely used in the table grape industry. However, there is a paucity of information concerning the effects of GA3 on fruit quality and sink strength. This study investigated the effects of exogenous GA3 treatments (elongating cluster + seedless + expanding, T1; seedless + expanding, T2; expanding, T3; and water, CK) on the content of sugars, organic acids, and endogenous hormones and sink strength. Results showed that T2 treatment displayed the highest fructose and glucose levels at 100 days after treatment (DAT), whereas its effect on tartaric acid, malic acid, and citric acid concentrations at 80 and 100 DAT was relatively weak. Under GA3 treatments, GA3, IAA, and CTK contents increased, whereas ABA content decreased at 1, 2, 4, 8, and 48 h. Analysis of sugar phloem unloading revealed that T2 treatment exhibited the highest values during softening and ripening stages. Our findings indicate that appropriate GA3 application can positively influence sink strength by regulating sink size and activity, including berry size enlargement, sugar phloem unloading, and sugar accumulation in grape sink cells.

Calmodulin-like interacting protein kinases play an important role in plant response to abiotic stresses and development. But the role of the CIPK gene in grapevine is unknown. In this study, VyCIPK1, isolated from the Chinese wild grape V. Yanshanesis, was strongly induced by salt stress. Overexpressing VyCIPK1 could induce AOC and AOS, and result in notably increased jamonate levels in tobacco. Under salt stress, transgenic plants showed higher germination rate, leaf number, and fresh weight than wild-type plants. Moreover, transgenic plants displayed higher chlorophyll content, catalase activity, peroxidase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and lower malondialdehyde content, H2O2, and O2- content than that of wild type under salt stress conditions. And the stress-related genes, including ERD10C, ERD10D, LEA5, POD, SOD, and CAT, were up-regulated in transgenic plants. Our founding demonstrated that the VyCIPK1 has the potential for grape molecular breeding of salt tolerance as a candidate gene.

In grapevines, the MYB transcription factors play an important regulatory role in the phenylpropanoid pathway including proanthocyanidin, anthocyanin, and flavonoid biosynthesis. However, the role of MYB in abiotic stresses is not clear. In this study, an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, VyMYB24, was isolated from a high drought-tolerant Chinese wild Vitis species V. yanshanesis. Our findings demonstrated that it was involved in plant development and drought tolerance. VyMYB24 is a nuclear protein and is significantly induced by drought stress. When over-expressed in tobacco, VyMYB24 caused plant dwarfing including plant height, leaf area, flower size, and seed weight. The GA1+3 content in transgenic plants was reduced significantly, and spraying exogenous gibberellin could recover the dwarf phenotype of VyMYB24 transgenic plants, suggesting that VyMYB24 might inhibit plant development by the regulation of gibberellin (GA) metabolism. Under drought stress, the VyMYB24 transgenic plants improved their tolerance to drought with a lower wilting rate, lower relative electrical conductivity, and stronger roots. Compared to wild-type tobacco plants, VyMYB24 transgenic plants accumulated less reactive oxygen, accompanied by increased antioxidant enzyme activity and upregulated gene expression levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) genes. In addition, transgenic plants accumulated more proline, and their related synthetic genes NtP5CR and NtP5CS genes were significantly upregulated when exposed to drought. Besides, abiotic stress-responsive genes, NtDREB, NtERD10C, NtERD10D, and NtLEA5, were upregulated significantly in VyMYB24 transgenic plants. These results indicate that VyMYB24 plays a positive regulatory role in response to drought stress and also regulates plant development, which provides new evidence to further explore the molecular mechanism of drought stress of the MYB gene family.

Nitrogen, one of the essential elements, is a key determinant for improving peanut growth and yield. GATA zinc finger transcription factors have been found to be involved in regulation of nitrogen metabolism. However, a systematic characterization of the GATA gene family and patterns of their expression under different nitrogen levels remains elusive. In this study, a total of 45 GATA genes distributed among 17 chromosomes were identified in the peanut genome and classified into three subfamilies I, II and III with 26, 13 and 6 members, respectively, whose physicochemical characteristics, gene structures and conserved motifs were also analyzed. Furthermore, the optimal level of nitrogen fertilizer on the growth of peanut cultivar Yuhua 23 was determined by pod yield and value cost ratio from 2020 to 2022, and the results revealed that 150 kg hm−2 nitrogen was the best for cultivation of peanut Yuhua 23 because of its highest pod yield and relatively higher VCR of more than four. In addition, expression patterns of peanut GATA genes under different nitrogen levels were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and several GATA genes were significantly changed under a nitrogen level of 150 kg hm−2. Overall, the above results would be helpful for further understanding biological functions of the GATA gene family in cultivated peanut.

Acute antibody-mediated rejection (AAMR) is an important cause of cardiac allograft dysfunction, and more effective strategies need to be explored to improve allograft prognosis. Interleukin (IL)-6/IL-6R signaling plays a key role in the activation of immune cells including B cells, T cells and macrophages, which participate in the progression of AAMR. In this study, we investigated the effect of IL-6/IL-6R signaling blockade on the prevention of AAMR in a mouse model. We established a mouse model of AAMR for cardiac transplantation via presensitization of skin grafts and addition of cyclosporin A, and sequentially analyzed its features. Tocilizumab, anti-IL-6R antibody, and recipient IL-6 knockout were used to block IL-6/IL-6R signaling. We demonstrated that blockade of IL-6/IL-6R signaling significantly attenuated allograft injury and improved survival. Further mechanistic research revealed that signaling blockade decreased B cells in circulation, spleens, and allografts, thus inhibiting donor-specific antibody production and complement activation. Moreover, macrophage, T cell, and pro-inflammatory cytokine infiltration in allografts was also reduced. Collectively, we provided a highly practical mouse model of AAMR and demonstrated that blockade of IL-6/IL-6R signaling markedly alleviated AAMR, which is expected to provide a superior option for the treatment of AAMR in clinic.

Full utilization of ZSM-5 shape-selectivity is restricted by crystal external surface acid sites and co-existence of two different sized channels. Here, the authors synthesize reverse Al zoned ZSM-5 with sinusoidal channel preferentially opened to its inert external surface to achieve 99.3% p-xylene selectivity.

Background: C4d is a specific biomarker for the diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after cardiac transplantation. Although strongly recommended, routine C4d surveillance is hindered by the invasive nature of endomyocardial biopsy. Targeted ultrasound (US) has high sensitivity, and C4d is abundantly expressed within the graft of patients experiencing AMR, which makes it possible to visualize C4d deposition in vivo using targeted US. Methods: We designed a serial dilution of C4d-targeted microbubbles (MBC4d) using a streptavidin-biotin conjugation system. A rat model of AMR with C4d deposition was established by pre-sensitization with skin transplantation before cardiac transplantation. MBC4d were injected into recipients and then qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using the destruction-replenishment method with a clinical US imaging system and analyzed by software. Findings: We successfully obtained qualitative images of C4d deposition in a wide cardiac allograft section, which, for the first time, reflected real-time C4d distribution. Moreover, normal intensity difference was used for quantitative analysis and exhibited an almost nearly linear correlation with the grade of C4d deposition according to the pathologic evidence. In addition, MBC4d injection did not affect the survival and aggravate injury, which demonstrates its safety. Interpretation: This study demonstrates a noninvasive, quantitative and safe evaluation method for C4d. As contrast-enhanced US has been widely used in clinical settings, this technology is expected to be applied quickly to clinical practice. Fund: National Natural Science Foundation of China and Guangdong Province, Leading Scientific Talents of Guangdong special support program, the Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province and Guangzhou City. Keywords: Noninvasive, Antibody-mediated rejection, C4d, Cardiac transplantation, Targeted microbubbles

Radiation-induced skin injury, which remains a serious concern in radiation therapy, is currently believed to be the result of vascular endothelial cell injury and apoptosis. Here, we established a model of acute radiation-induced skin injury and compared the effect of different vascular growth factors on skin healing by observing the changes of microcirculation and cell apoptosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was more effective at inhibiting apoptosis and preventing injury progression than other factors. A new strategy for improving the bioavailability of vascular growth factors was developed by loading VEGF with chitosan nanoparticles. The VEGF-chitosan nanoparticles showed a protective effect on vascular endothelial cells, improved the local microcirculation, and delayed the development of radioactive skin damage.

Abstract Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 800 loci associated with kidney function, yet the specific genes, variants, and pathways involved remain elusive. By integrating kidney function GWAS with human kidney expression and methylation quantitative trait analyses, we identified Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) DNA demethylase 2 (TET2) as a novel kidney disease risk gene. Utilizing single-cell chromatin accessibility and CRISPR-based genome editing, we highlight GWAS variants that influence TET2 expression in kidney proximal tubule cells. Experiments using kidney/tubule-specific Tet2 knockout mice indicated its protective role in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury, as well as in chronic kidney disease and fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction or adenine diet. Single-cell gene profiling of kidneys from Tet2 knockout mice and TET2-knockdown tubule cells revealed the altered expression of DNA damage repair and chromosome segregation genes, notably including INO80, another kidney function GWAS target gene itself. Remarkably, both TET2-null and INO80-null cells exhibited an increased accumulation of micronuclei after injury, leading to the activation of cytosolic nucleotide sensor cGAS-STING. Genetic deletion of cGAS or STING in kidney tubules, or pharmacological inhibition of STING, protected TET2-null mice from disease development. In conclusion, our findings highlight TET2 and INO80 as key genes in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases, indicating the importance of DNA damage repair mechanisms.

The peel stripe margin pattern is one of the most important quality traits of watermelon. In this study, two contrasted watermelon lines [slb line (P1) with a clear peel stripe margin pattern and GWAS-38 line (P2) with a blurred peel stripe margin pattern] were crossed, and biparental F2 mapping populations were developed. Genetic segregation analysis revealed that a single recessive gene is modulating the main-effect genetic locus (Clcsm) of the clear stripe margin pattern of peel. Bulked segregant analysis-based sequencing (BSA-Seq) and fine genetic mapping exposed the delimited Clcsm locus to a 19.686-kb interval on chromosome 6, and the Cla97C06G126680 gene encoding the MYB transcription factor family was identified. The gene mutation analysis showed that two non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) sites [Chr6:28438793 (A-T) and Chr6:28438845 (A-C)] contribute to the clear peel stripe margin pattern, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) also showed a higher expression trend in the slb line than in the GWAS-38 line. Further, comparative transcriptomic analysis identified major differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in three developmental periods [4, 12, and 20 days after pollination (DAP)] of both parental lines. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses indicated highly enriched DEGs involved in metabolic processes and catalytic activity. A total of 44 transcription factor families and candidate genes belonging to the ARR-B transcription factor family are believed to regulate the clear stripe margin trait of watermelon peel. The gene structure, sequence polymorphism, and expression trends depicted significant differences in the peel stripe margin pattern of both parental lines. The ClMYB36 gene showed a higher expression trend for regulating the clear peel stripe margin of the slb line, and the ClAPRR5 gene depicted a higher expression for modulating the blurred peel stripe margin in the GWAS-38 line. Overall, our fine genetic mapping and transcriptomic analysis revealed candidate genes differentiating the clear and blurred peel stripe patterns of watermelon fruit.