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Sour rot disease, caused by Geotrichum citri-aurantii, is one of the major postharvest diseases of citrus. In this study, the inhibitory effect of trans-2-hexenal combined with soluble salts on G. citri-aurantii and sour rot disease was investigated through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results showed that sodium phosphate had a strong antifungal activity against G. citri-aurantii, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 4.00 and 16.00 mg/mL, respectively, whereas sodium diacetate had relatively poor inhibitory effect, with both MIC and MFC of 16.00 mg/mL. However, the growth of G. citri-aurantii could not be completely inhibited by calcium propionate at 16.00 mg/mL. The in vitro experiments showed that the combination of trans-2-hexenal with sodium phosphate, sodium diacetate or calcium propionate resulted in a synergistic effect, with both MIC and MFC of 0.23 mg/mL. When trans-2-hexenal was combined with sodium dehydroacetate, it resulted in an additive effect, with both MIC and MFC of 0.46 mg/mL. The in vivo experiments showed that the combination of trans-2-hexenal at 5 × MFC and 10 × MFC with sodium dehydroacetate had the best inhibitory effect on the development of sour rot disease in citrus fruit inoculated with G. citri-aurantii, and the incidence rate was 0% after six days, which was significantly lower than that observed in the control group (100%). The combination of trans-2- hexenal and sodium dehydroacetate can effectively inhibit the growth of G. citri-aurantii and reduce the incidence of sour rot disease of citrus.

Targeted therapy has considerable promise for the effective eradication of cancer at the primary tumor site prior to subsequent metastasis. Using this therapeutic approach, gaining an understanding of mechanistic cancer models is essential for facilitating the inhibition or suppression of tumor growth. Among different oncogenes and proteins, the protein interacting with never-in-mitosis kinase-1 (Pin1) is particularly important. The interaction between Pin1 and phosphorylated threonine-proline motifs results in significant alterations in protein structure and function. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the processes involving Pin1 and its mechanisms in the context of cancer therapy. Pin1 enhances signaling pathways in a number of different human cancers and plays a pivotal role in the suppressive mechanisms relevant to cancer treatment. It is essential for the regulation of proline-directed phosphorylation and for modulating tumor suppressors. Inhibitors of Pin1, particularly naturally occurring substances, have been found to inhibit the carcinogenic activity of Pin1, and consequently this protein could represent an excellent candidate for novel cancer treatment strategies, offering a valuable therapeutic target in carcinogenesis and treatment resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable soybeans are one of the most important vegetable types in East Asia. The yield of vegetable soybeans is considerably influenced by the size of their pods. To facilitate the understanding of the genetic basis of the pod length and width in vegetable soybeans, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and transcriptome sequencing. Four quantitative trait loci, namely, qGPoL1, qGPoL2, qGPoW1, and qGPoW2, were mapped via GWAS analysis. Through the integration of gene function annotation, transcriptome sequencing, and expression pattern analysis, we identified Glyma.06G255000 and Glyma.13G007000 as the key determinants of the pod length and width in vegetable soybeans, respectively. Furthermore, two kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers, namely, S06-42138365 (A/T) and S13_628331 (A/T), were developed and effectively validated in 27 vegetable soybean accessions. Overall, our research identified genes that regulate the pod length and width and determined KASP markers for molecular marker-assisted selection breeding. These findings have crucial implications for the improvement of soybean crops and can contribute to the development of efficient breeding strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean sprouts are a common culinary vegetable due to their high nutrition and tasty flavors. To select soybean varieties with excellent sprout quality, 101 soybean materials were collected from different regions of China, and eight sprout quality parameters were determined for overall evaluation. The results showed that eight sprout quality parameters achieved varying degrees of difference and correlation. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA), three principal components were extracted, with a cumulative contribution rate of 78.314%. Further, the comprehensive evaluation value (D) of soybean sprout quality was calculated by membership function analysis based on PCA, and the quality of soybean sprouts was ranked accordingly. Subsequently, a regression equation for the prediction of soybean sprout quality was established using a stepwise regression analysis, and the model showed a good prediction performance (correlation coefficient of prediction > 0.8; residual predictive deviation > 2.0). On these grounds, it was proposed that the quality of soybean sprouts could be comprehensively predicted by four parameters: hypocotyl length, edible rate, 100-seed weight, and total isoflavone content and saponin content. In conclusion, this study provides excellent varieties for soybean sprout production and new variety breeding, and it provides an important reference for the prediction of soybean sprout quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The TATA-box binding protein (TBP) and TBP-associated factors (TAFs) constitute the transcription factor IID (TFIID), a crucial component of RNA polymerase II, essential for transcription initiation and regulation. Several TFIID subunits are shared with the Spt–Ada–Gcn5–acetyltransferase (SAGA) coactivator complex. Recent research has revealed the roles of TBP and TAFs in organogenesis and stress adaptation. In this study, we identified 1 TBP and 21 putative TAFs in the mungbean genome, among which VrTAF5, VrTAF6, VrTAF8, VrTAF9, VrTAF14, and VrTAF15 have paralogous genes. Their potential involvement in abiotic stress responses was also investigated here, including high salinity, water deficit, heat, and cold. The findings indicated that distinct genes exerted predominant influences in the response to different abiotic stresses through potentially unique mechanisms. Specifically, under salt stress, VrTBP, VrTAF2, and VrTAF15–1 were strongly induced, while VrTAF10, VrTAF11, and VrTAF13 acted as negative regulators. In the case of water-deficit stress, it was likely that VrTAF1, VrTAF2, VrTAF5–2, VrTAF9, and VrTAF15–1 were primarily involved. Additionally, in response to changes in ambient temperature, it was possible that genes such as VrTAF5–1, VrTAF6–1, VrTAF9–2, VrTAF10, VrTAF13, VrTAF14b–2, and VrTAF15–1 might play a dominant role. This comprehensive exploration of VrTBP and VrTAFs can offer a new perspective on understanding plant stress responses and provide valuable insights into breeding improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, characterized by a complex interplay of genetic, environmental, and immunological factors that contribute to its onset and progression. Recent advances in researches have illuminated the critical role of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis and development of asthma. Exosomes are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that facilitate intercellular communication by transporting a variety of bioactive molecules, including miRNAs, and play a crucial role in regulating gene expression and immune responses, which are central to the inflammatory processes underlying asthma. Exosomal miRNAs are emerging as key players in asthma due to their involvement in various aspects of the disease, including the regulation of inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling. Their ability to influence the behavior of target cells and tissues makes them valuable both as diagnostic biomarkers and as potential therapeutic targets. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the biogenesis of exosomes, the functional roles of exosomal miRNAs in asthma, and their clinical potential. It will explore the mechanisms by which these miRNAs contribute to asthma pathophysiology, discuss their utility in diagnosing and monitoring the disease, and highlight ongoing research efforts to harness their therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Abstract] Objective: To observe the effect of Pingchuan granules on METTL3-mediated m6A modification of miR-29a-3p in airway epithelial cells, and to clarify its molecular mechanism in inhibiting airway inflammation of asthma. Methods: 16HBE was induced by LPS (50 mg/L) to construct a cell model, and Pingchuan granules-containing serum and dexamethasone were given for intervention. The cell activity was detected by CCK8 assay, the content of inflammatory factors (TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8) and the m6A modification level of miR-29a-3p were detected by ELISA, the expression of METTL3 and PAN-apoptotic protein was detected by Western blot and the expression of METTL3 and miR-29a-3p was detected by qRT-PCR, respectively. Results: Compared with the model group, Pingchuan granules could significantly increase the activity of 16HBE, inhibit the contents of inammatory factors TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-8, and downregulate PANoptosisTelated proteins p-RIPK3, p-MLKL, cleaved Cas- pase-1, cleaved Caspase-3 and the ratio of GSDMD-NT/FL-GSDMD and GSDME-NT/FL-GSDME, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). In addition, Pingchuan granules can significantly increase the expression levels of miR-29a-3p and METTL3 in 16HBE, and promote the m6A modification level of miR-29a-3p when compared with the model group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusion: Pingchuan granules enhance the m6A modification level of miR-29a-3p through METTL3, thereby inhibiting the PANoptosis of airway epithelial cells and improving airway inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sorghum is an important C4 crop with various food and nonfood uses. Although improvements through hybridization and selection have been exploited, the introduction of genetic variation and the development of new genotypes in sorghum are still limited. Fast-neutron (FN) mutagenesis is a very effective method for gene functional studies and to create genetic variability. However, the full spectrum of FN-induced mutations in sorghum is poorly understood. To address this, we generated an FN-induced mutant population from the inbred line 'BTx623' and sequenced 40 M1 seedlings to evaluate the mutagenic effects of FNs on sorghum. The results show that each line had an average of 43.7 single-base substitutions (SBSs), 3.7 InDels and 35.15 structural variations (SVs). SBSs accounted for approximately 90.0% of the total number of small mutations. Among the eight treatment groups, FN irradiation at a dose of 19 Gy generated the highest number of mutations. The ratio of transition/transversion ranged from 1.77 to 2.21, and the G/C to A/T transition was the most common substitution in all mutant lines. The distributions of the identified SBSs and InDels were similar and uneven across the genome. An average of 3.63 genes were mutated in each mutant line, indicating that FN irradiation resulted in a suitable density of mutated genes, which can be advantageous for improving elite material for one specific or a few traits. These results provide a basis for the selection of the suitable dose of mutagen and new genetic resources for sorghum breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]