Physiological Characteristics Research Articles

Transcriptome Profiling Reveals the Response of Seed Germination of Peganum harmala to Drought Stress.

Peganum harmala L. is a perennial herbaceous plant that plays critical roles in protecting the ecological environment in arid, semi-arid, and desert areas. Although the seed germination characteristics of P. harmala in response to environmental factors (i.e., drought, temperature, and salt) have been investigated, the response mechanism of seed germination to drought conditions has not yet been revealed. In this study, the changes in the physiological characteristics and transcriptional profiles in seed germination were examined under different polyethylene glycol (PEG) concentrations (0-25%). The results show that the seed germination rate was significantly inhibited with an increase in the PEG concentration. Totals of 3726 and 10,481 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were, respectively, generated at 5% and 25% PEG vs. the control (C), with 1642 co-expressed DEGs, such as drought stress (15), stress response (175), and primary metabolism (261). The relative expression levels (RELs) of the key genes regulating seed germination in response to drought stress were in accordance with the physiological changes. These findings will pave the way to increase the seed germination rate of P. harmala in drought conditions.

Assessment of the Cu phytoremediation potential of Chrysanthemum indicum L. and Tagetes erecta L. using analysis of growth and physiological characteristics.

In the current study, the Cu phytoremediation ability of two ornamental plants, Chrysanthemum indicum L. and Tagetes erecta L., was tracked concerning the growth and physiological responses. Plants were subjected to varying concentrations of Cu (0, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) under the pot experiment for 8 weeks. The results showed that the measured growth and physiological characteristics declined in T. erecta shoots and roots at all tested treatments compared with the control. However, in C. indicum at 100 mg/kg, shoot biomass, shoot total soluble protein, and leaves number remained equal to that of the control and then reduced by rising Cu concentrations, compared with the control. Also, results indicated that in C. indicum, after 56 days of exposure to Cu, the chlorophyll pigments content markedly increased and reached a maximum level at 100 mg/kg dose and gradually declined with enhancing Cu concentrations, compared with the control. Other measured growth and physiological parameters decreased in both tissues of C. indicum in response to Cu usage in the growth medium. The carotenoid content of T. erecta decreased in all studied Cu levels in comparison to the control, but in C. indicum remained unaffected up to 200 mg/kg Cu in comparison to the control and then enhanced with increasing Cu level. The augmentation of antioxidant enzyme activity in two species, especially in roots, reflected the incident of Cu stress as demonstrated by elevated MDA and ion leakage levels. Data concerning copper accumulation in tissues, TF, and BAF showed T. erecta is a weak Cu accumulator and seems not to be an appropriate candidate for Cu phytoremediation. However, the Cu content in shoots and roots of C. indicum increased significantly with an increment in applied Cu level. Also, C. indicum accumulated higher Cu concentrations in the roots than in shoots and exhibited TF < 1, 0.1 < BAF root < 1, and can be considered as a Cu excluder by the phytostabilization mechanism.

Design and evaluation of an efficient mosquito trap.

Vector mosquito control is important for preventing and controlling mosquito-borne infectious diseases. This study designed and developed a mosquito killer (MK) with a specific light wavelength, simulated human body temperature, human odor, and a photocatalyst to stimulate CO2 based on the physiological characteristics and ecological habits of mosquitoes. We tested the trapping effect of individual and multiple mosquito-trapping elements of the MK through two-way selection experiments and compared them with several commercial mosquito traps. The 365 nm wavelength MK was significantly more effective than the 395 nm (Cx. quinquefasciatus: 62.00% vs. 34.25%; Ae. albopictus: 50.75% vs 45.00%, An. sinensis: 49.75% vs 39.00%). Mosquitoes captured by the MK with heaters at 365 nm were significantly more than those captured by the MK without heaters at 365 nm. A trap with a 365 nm wavelength, heating element, and lure showed significantly better capture effectiveness than MK with a 365 nm wavelength, heating element, but without lure (Cx. quinquefasciatus: 67.00% vs. 29.75%, Ae. albopictus: 60.25% vs 36.25%, An. sinensis: 49.75% vs 39.75%). The coated photocatalyst trap with a 365 nm wavelength, heating element, and lure showed significantly better capture effectiveness than the trap without coating (Cx. quinquefasciatus: 54.25% vs. 42.50%; Ae. albopictus: 53.50% vs 44.00%, An. sinensis: 50.00% vs 41.25%). This trap demonstrated a significantly better capture advantage for Cx. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus compared to the three commercial products. The developed mosquito trap with multiple attractant factors significantly enhanced the capture effectiveness of common mosquitoes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Effects of different microbial agent applications on the growth and quality of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cormels

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a bulbous flower whose dried stigmas are used as a herbal medicine and as a spice. Saffron is cultivated worldwide, but corm degradation is an important factor affecting its yield and quantity. This study investigated the effects of three different microbial agents (Bacillus megaterium, Brevibacillus laterosporus, Paenibacillus mucilaginosus) on the growth and quality of saffron cormels. Both the weight and circumference of the cormels were significantly increased in response to microbial agent treatment. Measurements of the physiological and biochemical characteristics of the cormels as well as the flowering traits showed that the starch and protein contents as well as the flowering rate and stigma yield increased significantly after the application of the three microbial agents. Analyses of soil physicochemical properties and microbial populations revealed increases in the soil potassium content and a significant alteration in the soil microbial community structure in response to treatment. Our results showed that the application of three microbial agents enhances the growth, nutritional status and health of saffron cormels and improves the soil environment during saffron corm cultivation. Paenibacillus mucilaginosus also increased the accumulation of crocins and picrocrocin in stigmas. Our results provide the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to reduce corm degradation and to improve saffron corm cultivation.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes affect yield, antioxidant response, and rhizosphere microbial community of scented rice under combined cadmium-lead (Cd–Pb) stress

Rice production is threatened by heavy metal stress. The use of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in agriculture has been reported in previous studies. We aimed to quantify the impact of MWCNTs on the growth and physiological characteristics of scented rice under cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) stresses. Therefore, a pot experiment was conducted, two scented rice varieties Yuxiangyouzhan and Xiangyaxiangzhan were used as materials grown under different concentrations of MWCNTs (0, 100, and 300 mg kg−1 recorded as CK, CNPs100, and CNPs300, respectively). The yield, antioxidant response, and rhizosphere microbial community of scented rice were studied. The results showed that compared with the CK treatment, the CNPs100 and CNPs300 treatments increased leaf dry weight by 17.95%–56.22% at the heading stage, and the H2O2 content in leaves decreased significantly by 36.64%–42.27% at the maturity stage. Under CNPs100 treatment, the grain yield of two scented rice varieties increased significantly by 17.54% and 27.40%, respectively. The MWCNTs regulated the distribution of the Cd and Pb in different plant tissues. The content of Cd (0.11–0.20 mg kg−1) and Pb (0.01–0.04 mg kg−1) in grain were at a safety level (<0.2 mg kg−1). Moreover, MWCNTs increased soil microbial community abundance and altered community composition structure under Cd–Pb stress, which in turn improved agronomic traits and quality of scented rice. Overall, this study suggested that the application of MWCNTs regulates the growth, yield, physiological response, and soil microbial community, the genotypes response effect of scented rice to MWCNTs is needed further studied.

The influence of Au-based nanoparticles on some physiological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of wheat plants during low temperature hardening

One of the most significant problems of the 21st century is the anthropogenic strain on the environment. The development of nanotechnology makes it possible to produce a variety of nanomaterials widely used in people's daily lives. However, nanomaterials can accumulate in ecosystems and spread through food chains. The environmental risks of nanoparticle proliferation are unclear. At the same time, certain nanoparticles act as adaptogens, improving plant tolerance to unfavorable stress factors. It is quite realistic to choose such experimental conditions, under which the effect on plant stress tolerance will be obvious and the accumulation of nanoparticles in tissues will be minimal. In this case, the main relevant factors are the type of nanoparticles, their concentration and their way of penetration into plants. We chose to study gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs), widely used in biomedical research. The concentration of Au-NPs was 20 μg/mL, which is considered safe for living organisms. The influence of Au-NPs on some physiological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of wheat plants during low temperature hardening was examined. The study of the photosynthetic apparatus and antioxidant system was the primary focus. The stimulating effect of Au-NPs on cold tolerance of wheat plants was shown. The results expand our knowledge of the processes by which nanoparticles impact plants and the potential applications of nanoparticles as adaptogens in science and agriculture.

Comparative study of integrated bio-responses in deep-sea and nearshore mussels upon abiotic condition changes: Insight into distinct regulation and adaptation

Deep-sea mussels, one of the dominant species in most deep-sea ecosystems, have long been used as model organisms to investigate the adaptations and symbiotic relationships of deep-sea macrofauna under laboratory conditions due to their ability to survive under atmospheric pressure. However, the impact of additional abiotic conditions beyond pressure, such as temperature and light, on their physiological characteristics remains unknown.In this study, deep-sea mussels (Gigantidas platifrons) from cold seep of the South China Sea, along with nearshore mussels (Mytilus coruscus) from the East China Sea, were reared in unfavorable abiotic conditions for up to 8 days. Integrated biochemical indexes including antioxidant defense, immune ability and energy metabolism were investigated in the gill and digestive gland, while cytotoxicity was determined in hemocytes of both types of mussels. The results revealed mild bio-responses in two types of mussels in the laboratory, represented by the effective antioxidant defense with constant total antioxidant capability level and malondialdehyde content. There were also disparate adaptations in deep-sea and nearshore mussels. In deep-sea mussels, significantly increased immune response and energy reservation were observed in gills, together with the elevated cytotoxicity in hemocytes, implying the more severe biological adaptation was required, mainly due to the symbiotic bacteria loss under laboratory conditions. On the contrary, insignificant biological responses were exhibited in nearshore mussels except for the increased energy consumption, indicating the trade-off strategy to use more energy to deal with potential stress.Overall, this comparative study highlights the basal bio-responses of deep-sea and nearshore mussels out of their native environments, providing evidence that short-term culture of both mussels under easily achievable laboratory conditions would not dramatically alter their biological status. This finding will assist in broadening the application of deep-sea mussels as model organism in future research regardless of the specialized research equipment.

Physical and Physiological Characteristics of Elite CrossFit Athletes.

Due to little available research on elite CrossFit athletes, the present investigation was undertaken to provide knowledge about their physical and physiological characteristics. Nineteen international level CrossFit athletes (8 men; 11 women) were tested for maximum oxygen consumption (V˙O2max), Wingate, squat 1 repetition maximum (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), lower body force-velocity, and body composition (DXA). To provide perspective, the results were compared to sixteen elite-level Alpinists (8 men; 8 women). There was no significant difference in absolute nor relative V˙O2max between the CrossFit and Alpinist men (p = 0.335 and p = 0.279, respectively). The CrossFit women showed similar absolute but higher relative V˙O2max than the Alpinist women (p = 0.055 and p = 0.005, respectively). Mean anaerobic power was higher in both CrossFit men and women (p = 0.021 and p = 0.008, respectively). There were no significant differences in squat 1RM and CMJ for both men and women (p > 0.05). Both CrossFit men and women showed lesser lower body force production (p = 0.043 and p = 0.034, respectively) but higher power (p = 0.009 and p = 0.003, respectively). The CrossFit men and women had a lower fat mass (p = 0.018 and p = 0.002, respectively) and fat percentage (p = 0.027 and p < 0.001, respectively). These observations show that elite CrossFit athletes possess physical and physiological characteristics comparable to world-class Alpinists.

Study on the Color Design of Elderly Space based on Design Color Science

The article applies the principle of art color science, through the analysis of the physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly group and the various feelings of the color environment of the housing interior space, and carries out a series of research on the color matching method of the housing interior space of the elderly. Artistic color theory is a theory about color, and as a research method, it takes "color" as the focus, not just as an ordinary or auxiliary element, but as the "center" to be considered. The researcher can identify the "central" element of color through the artwork, explore the history of color development, color techniques and expressions, color symbols, and cultural symbolism, as well as the symbolic meaning and significance of ethnicity, nation, or country implied by color in the artwork, Art colorism, as a theory and method of interpreting the artwork.

LIU Zhishun's clinical experience of electroacupuncture for pediatric neurogenic bladder of lower motor neuron type in children

Professor LIU Zhishun's clinical experience of electroacupuncture (EA) for pediatric neurogenic bladder of lower motor neuron type in children is summarized. Considering the unique physiological and pathological characteristics of children, with the strategy of combining "disease-symptom-location" in the selection of acupoints, professor LIU Zhishun proposes that the main disease location is the bladder and kidney, with the involvement of the conception vessel, governor vessel, kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin and the bladder meridian of foot-taiyang. The primary acupoint prescription-1 (bilateral Zhongliao [BL 33], Ciliao [BL 32] and Huiyang [BL 35]) and primary acupoint prescription-2 (Guanyuan [CV 4], Zhongji [CV 3] and bilateral Sanyinjiao [SP 6]) are selected to promote the yang of the governor vessel, stimulate the yin of the conception vessel, and invigorate the bladder's qi transformation. Before acupuncture, the four-step method is applied to precisely locate Ciliao (BL 32) and Zhongliao (BL 33). During acupuncture, the importance of achieving deqi is emphasized, with deep insertion in the sacral area to reach the disease location. Based on the tolerance characteristics of children, low-frequency EA and gentle moxibustion treatment are applied.

Brucella pituitosastrain BU72, a new hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium through exopolysaccharide-based surfactant production.

Hydrocarbon and heavy metal pollution are amongst the most severe and prevalent environmental problems due to their toxicity and persistence. Bioremediation using microorganisms is considered one of the most effective ways to treat polluted sites. In the present study, we unveil the bioremediation potential of Brucella pituitosa strain BU72. Besides its ability to grow on multiple hydrocarbons as the sole carbon source and highly tolerant to several heavy metals, BU72 produces different exopolysaccharide-based surfactants (EBS) when grown with glucose or with crude oil as sole carbon source. These EBS demonstrated particular and specific functional groups as determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis that showed a strong absorption peak at 3250 cm-1 generated by the -OH group for both EBS. The FTIR spectra of the produced EBS revealed major differences in functional groups and protein content. To better understand the EBS production coupled with the degradation of hydrocarbons and heavy metal resistance, the genome of strain BU72 was sequenced. Annotation of the genome revealed multiple genes putatively involved in EBS production pathways coupled with resistance to heavy metals genes such as arsenic tolerance and cobalt-zinc-cadmium resistance. The genome sequence analysis showed the potential of BU72 to synthesise secondary metabolites and the presence of genes involved in plant growth promotion. Here, we describe the physiological, metabolic, and genomic characteristics of Brucella pituitosa strain BU72, indicating its potential as a bioremediation agent.

Current Issues Related to Biomechanics in Engineering

Motion capture was employed by Eadweard Muybridge and Etienne-Jules Marey. Industry standard for computing joint kinematics is motion capture. Kinematic analysis is a technique used in biomechanics and mechanical engineering to quantify stiff body motion. A joint moment can be computed in one of two ways: bottom-up or top-down. Joint moments measure muscle and joint tension indirectly. Researchers predicted joint moments using kinematic-based characteristics and machine learning outside of the biomechanics lab.Ankle osteoarthritis causes significant biomechanical issues in the foot and lower leg. Patients' 3D multi-segment kinematic foot models were studied. The technique used is Openpose, which recognises the human body from a single photograph.Falling fear is linked to decreased activity, despondency, and anxiety in the elderly. They adopt a hip approach to manage their GRFs and balance. The lateral ankle technique corrects minor foot placement problems by swiftly moving the pressure point. Angular momentum is affected by foot placement and ground reaction forces. Changing the body's centre of mass along a curved trajectory implies large changes in both ground reaction force impulses and ground reaction force.Lens stiffness and a ciliary muscle anterior/inward displacement produce presbyopia. By 55, the majority of folks have lost their ability to accommodate. Cataracts become common around this time, reaching over 70% by 75. The circumferential and meridional stiffnesses rose with anisotropy from pole to equator, but dropped with distance. The Holzapfel model accurately fits the data from inflation and uniaxial mechanical tests.Anatomical motions of the femur during knee flexion were examined. The data revealed morphological and physiological knee kinematic characteristics. The data led to several hypotheses about axial femoral condyle rotation. This review discusses lower limbs, foot positioning, lens capsule, femoral condyle, muscle activation, collagen fibre, knee joint, and walking speed. The purpose is to provide a general overview on the subject matter.

Plant Growth Regulators Enhance Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield under High Density by Optimizing Canopy Structure and Delaying Leaf Senescence

Shaping the canopy architecture and delaying leaf senescence in maize are pivotal strategies for extending the crop’s photosynthetic period and improving yield. The application of plant growth regulators (PGRs) is a critical cultivation measure, with the timing of application being of paramount importance. To explore the effects of PGR application time on maize canopy structure, leaf senescence characteristics and yield, a comparative two-year field study was undertaken during the 2019–2020 growing seasons at the Gongzhuling Experimental Station of the Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, utilizing a PGR containing ethephon as the active ingredient. The experiment was structured with two plant densities of 60,000 and 90,000 plants ha−1, and three distinct PGR application protocols: T10 (application of PGR at the 10th leaf stage), T15 (application at the 15th leaf stage), and CK (control group sprayed with water). The result indicated that the yield increased by 5.62% following T15 treatment compared to the CK under high density (90,000 plants ha−1). Furthermore, the kernel per ear and the 1000-kernel weight increased by 3.93% and 5.62% respectively, while the abortion rate decreased. Correlation analysis showed that yield and yield components were correlated with plant morphology, physiology, and aging characteristics under 90,000 plants ha−1. Pollen density was also positively correlated with the top leaf area and the top leaf angle (p &lt; 0.01). Furthermore, relative green leaf area at maturity (RGLAM) showed positive correlations with chlorophyll b, superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), peroxidase activity (POD), catalase activity (CAT), and soluble protein content (p &lt; 0.01), while displaying a negative correlation with malondialdehyde content (MDA) (p &lt; 0.01). Spraying plant growth regulators at the 15-leaf stage under high density can effectively enhance the top canopy structure of the maize and reduce the upper leaf area and angle, increase pollen density, and boost the number of grains. Furthermore, it delayed the senescence of leaves, prolonged the functional period of the leaves, increased kernel weight, optimized light resource utilization, and ultimately enhanced the maize yield.

Long-read genome assembly of the Japanese parasitic wasp Copidosoma floridanum (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).

Copidosoma floridanum is a cosmopolitan species and an egg-larval parasitoid of the Plusiine moth. C. floridanum has a unique development mode called polyembryony, in which over two thousand genetically identical embryos are produced from a single egg. Some embryos develop into sterile soldier larvae precociously, and their emergence period and aggressive behavior differ between the US and Japanese C. floridanum strains. Genome sequencing expects to contribute to our understanding of the molecular bases underlying the progression of polyembryony. However, only the genome sequence of the US strain generated by the short-read assembly has been reported. In the present study, we determined the genome sequence of the Japanese strain using Pacific Biosciences high-fidelity reads and generating a highly contiguous assembly (552.7 Mb, N50: 17.9 Mb). Gene prediction and annotation identified 13,886 transcripts derived from 10,786 gene models. We searched the genomic differences between US and Japanese strains. Among gene models predicted in this study, 100 gene loci in the Japanese strain had extremely different gene structures from those in the US strain. This was accomplished through functional annotation (GGSEARCH) and long-read sequencing. Genomic differences between strains were also reflected in amino acid sequences of vasa that play a central role in caste determination in this species. The genome assemblies constructed in this study will facilitate the genomic comparisons between Japanese and US strains, leading to our understanding of detailed genomic regions responsible for the ecological and physiological characteristics of C. floridanum.

In vitro exposure of porcine spermatozoa to methylparaben, and propylparaben, alone or in combination adversely affects sperm quality.

Parabens (PBs) are widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries as preservatives of products. Because of its great use, humans and other organisms are highly exposed daily. However, little is known about the effect of PBs on male infertility. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of methylparaben (MePB) and propylparaben (PrPB), alone or in combination, on the physiological characteristics of pig in vitro exposed sperm to different concentrations (0, 200, 500, and 700 μM) for viability, motility, and acrosome integrity evaluation and (0, 200, 500, 700, 1000, and 2000 μM) for DNA fragmentation index evaluation, after 4 h of exposure. The results showed that sperm viability decreased after exposure to MePB from the concentration of 500 μM. In the PrPB and mixture groups, viability decreased at all concentrations except for the control. The decrease in viability of sperm exposed to PrPB was greater than that of the mixture and MePB groups. Sperm motility decreased in all the experimental groups exposed to PBs, at all concentrations, except for the control group. Acrosome integrity was not decreased in the MePB group; however, in the PrPB group, it decreased at a concentration of 200 μM and in the mixture at 500 μM. All groups exhibited DNA damage at different concentrations, except for the control group. Additionally, the effect of PBs on sperm quality was concentration-dependent. The results demonstrated that MePB and PrPB alone or in combination can have adverse effects on sperm quality parameters. MePB had lower toxicity than did both PrPB and the mixture. The mixture did not have an additive effect on any of the parameters evaluated. This could partially explain the link between PB exposure and infertility.

Anesthesia Applications In Experimental Neurological Disease Modeling

Neuroscience, which covers the molecular mechanisms employed by the brain to cause neurological diseases and how they can be treated, remains current as the subject of high-budget investigations to develop early diagnosis and new treatment modalities with multidisciplinary approaches. For this purpose, creating the appropriate model with the correct modality and anesthesia in neurological in vivo experimental models is the most important phase to obtain accurate results and ensure animal welfare. To manage anesthesia in rodents, knowing the physiological characteristics of anesthetics and their risks will strengthen experimental procedures. Among the injectable anesthetics, ketamine, xylazine, and pentobarbital are the most frequently preferred agents for general anesthesia in short surgical procedures. Isoflurane and sevoflurane are inhaler anesthetics that are administered through a vaporizer because they are liquids. Important advantages of inhaled anesthetics, such as rapid induction and rapid withdrawal, make inhaled anesthetics stand out in neuroscience studies. In this review, the properties of frequently used anesthetic agents in rodents, their usage methods, and which model they are preferred will be discussed. For this purpose, the selection of appropriate anesthetics in animal models such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury, traumatic brain injury, ischemic stroke, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and ophthalmic surgical procedures and their side effects will be reviewed.

HNRNPA2B1 stabilizes NFATC3 levels to potentiate its combined actions with FOSL1 to mediate vasculogenic mimicry in GBM cells

BackgroundVasculogenic mimicry (VM) is an enigmatic physiological feature that influences blood supply within glioblastoma (GBM) tumors for their sustained growth. Previous studies identify NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 as significant mediators of VEGFR2, a key player in vasculogenesis, and their molecular relationships may be crucial for VM in GBM.AimsThe aim of this study was to understand how NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 collectively influence VM in GBM.MethodsWe have investigated the underlying gene regulatory mechanisms for VM in GBM cell lines U251 and U373 in vitro and in vivo. In vitro cell-based assays were performed to explore the role of NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 in GBM cell proliferation, VM and migration, in the context of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown alongside corresponding controls. Western blotting and qRT-PCR assays were used to examine VEGFR2 expression levels. CO-IP was employed to detect protein–protein interactions, ChIP was used to detect DNA–protein complexes, and RIP was used to detect RNA–protein complexes. Histochemical staining was used to detect VM tube formation in vivo.ResultsFocusing on NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1, we found each was significantly upregulated in GBM and positively correlated with VM-like cellular behaviors in U251 and U373 cell lines. Knockdown of NFATC3, FOSL1 or HNRNPA2B1 each resulted in decreased levels of VEGFR2, a key growth factor gene that drives VM, as well as the inhibition of proliferation, cell migration and extracorporeal VM activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies and luciferase reporter gene assays revealed that NFATC3 binds to the promoter region of VEGFR2 to enhance VEGFR2 gene expression. Notably, FOSL1 interacts with NFATC3 as a co-factor to potentiate the DNA-binding capacity of NFATC3, resulting in enhanced VM-like cellular behaviors. Also, level of NFATC3 protein in cells was enhanced through HNRNPA2B1 binding of NFATC3 mRNA. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated silencing of NFATC3, FOSL1 and HNRNPA2B1 in GBM cells reduced their capacity for tumor formation and VM-like behaviors in vivo.ConclusionTaken together, our findings identify NFATC3 as an important mediator of GBM tumor growth through its molecular and epistatic interactions with HNRNPA2B1 and FOSL1 to influence VEGFR2 expression and VM-like cellular behaviors.Graphical 1. NFATC3 binds to the promoter region of VEGFR2 to enhance VEGFR2 gene expression which leads to an increase in VM of GBM.2. FOSL1 interacts with NFATC3 to further facilitate VEGFR2 gene expression and VM.3. HNRNPA2B1 enhances NFATC3 mRNA stability to increase VEGFR2 expression and VM.

Effects of Different Doses of sUV-B Exposure on Taxane Compounds' Metabolism in Taxus wallichiana var. Mairei.

UV-B is an important environmental factor that differentially affects plant growth and secondary metabolites. The effects of supplemental ultraviolet-B (sUV-B) exposure (T1, 1.40 kJ·m-2·day-1; T2, 2.81 kJ·m-2·day-1; and T3, 5.62 kJ·m-2·day-1) on the growth biomass, physiological characteristics, and secondary metabolites were studied. Our results indicated that leaf thickness was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced under T3 relative to the control (natural light exposure, CK); The contents of 6-BA and IAA were significantly reduced (p < 0.05); and the contents of ABA, 10-deacetylbaccatin III, and baccatin III were significantly (p < 0.05) increased under T1 and T2. The paclitaxel content was the highest (0.036 ± 0.0018 mg·g-1) under T3. The cephalomannine content was significantly increased under T1. Hmgr gene expression was upregulated under T1 and T3. The gene expressions of Bapt and Dbtnbt were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated under sUV-B exposure, and the gene expressions of CoA, Ts, and Dbat were significantly (p < 0.05) downregulated. A correlation analysis showed that the 6-BA content had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with Dbat gene expression. The IAA content had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with the gene expression of Hmgr, CoA, Ts, and Dbtnbt. The ABA content had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with Bapt gene expression. Dbat gene expression had a significantly (p < 0.05) positive correlation with the 10-deacetylbaccatin content. Hmgr gene expression was positively correlated with the contents of baccatin III and cephalomannine. Bapt gene expression had a significantly (p < 0.01) positive correlation with the paclitaxel content. A factor analysis showed that the accumulation of paclitaxel content was promoted under T2, which was helpful in clarifying the accumulation of taxane compounds after sUV-B exposure.

Gene choice in cancer cells is exclusive in ion transport but concurrent in DNA replication

Cancers share common cellular and physiological features. Little is known about whether distinctive gene expression patterns can be displayed at the single-cell level by gene families in cancer cells. The expression of gene homologs within a family can exhibit concurrence and exclusivity. Concurrence can promote all-or-none expression patterns of related genes and underlie alternative physiological states. Conversely, exclusive gene families express the same or similar number of homologs in each cell, allowing a broad repertoire of cell identities to be generated. We show that gene families involved in the cell-cycle and antigen presentation are expressed concurrently. Concurrence in the DNA replication complex MCM reflects the replicative status of cells, including cell lines and cancer-derived organoids. Exclusive expression requires precise regulatory mechanism, but cancer cells retain this form of control for ion homeostasis and extend it to gene families involved in cell migration. Thus, the cell adhesion-based identity of healthy cells is transformed to an identity based on migration in the population of cancer cells, reminiscent of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Roseiterribacter gracilis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel filterable alphaproteobacterium isolated from soil using a gel-filled microwell array device.

Our previous studies indicate the abundant and diverse presence of yet-to-be-cultured microorganisms in the micropore-filtered fractions of various environmental samples. Here, we isolated a novel bacterium (designated as strain TMPK1T) from a 0.45-μm-filtered soil suspension by using a gel-filled microwell array device comprising 900 microwells and characterized its phylogenetic and physiological features. This strain showed low 16S rRNA gene sequence identities (<91%) and low average nucleotide identity values (<70%) to the closest validly described species, and belonged to a novel-family-level lineage within the order Rhodospirillales of Alphaproteobacteria. Strain TMPK1T exhibited small cell sizes (0.08-0.23 μm3) and had a high cyclopropane fatty acid content (>13%), and these characteristics were differentiated from other Rhodospirillales bacteria. A comprehensive habitability search using amplicon datasets suggested that TMPK1T and its close relatives are mainly distributed in soil and plant-associated environments. Based on these results, we propose that strain TMPK1T represents a novel genus and species named Roseiterribacter gracilis gen. nov., sp. nov. (JCM 34627T = KCTC 82790T). We also propose Roseiterribacteraceae fam. nov. to accommodate the genus Roseiterribacter.