Quantitative Real-time PCR Validation Research Articles

Mining and expression analysis of color related genes in Bougainvillea glabra bracts based on transcriptome sequencing.

Bract coloration is one of the key ornamental traits in Bougainvillea, yet research has predominantly focused on phenotypic color traits and pigment composition, with limited understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying color formation. This gap hinders the improvement and innovation in bract coloration. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of bract coloration in Bougainvillea and to enhance the utilization of its germplasm resources, this study employed the Illumina Novaseq 6000 sequencing platform to conduct transcriptomic sequencing on 21 samples of bracts exhibiting seven distinct phenotypes. Comparative analysis against Nr, Pfam, EggNOG, GO, and KEGG databases annotated 90,279 unigenes. The highest annotation rates were achieved with the Nr (40.13%), GO (30.44%), and EggNOG (25.64%) databases. Among the species annotated, Beta vulgaris (20.08%) and Chenopodium quinoa (14.58%) shared the highest homology with Bougainvillea bract transcriptomes. WGCNA analysis identified 12 positively correlated tissue-specific modules, of which 2 are related to bract color formation. By comparing transcriptome data and genes within these specific modules against the KEGG database, a total of 321 unigenes associated with bract color formation in Bougainvillea were discovered. Among these, 220 unigenes are involved in anthocyanin synthesis, 43 unigenes are involved in betalain synthesis, 23 unigenes are annotated as Chlorophyll a-b binding protein genes, and 35 unigenes participate in carotenoid synthesis. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including PAL2, CHS1, ANS, BZ1, 6GT, CDOPA5GT, ANR, CHS2, and DOPA, revealed significant expression differences among magenta, yellow, white, and cherry-colored bracts, suggesting their potential as candidate genes for bract color development. This study not only enriches the transcriptomic data of Bougainvillea but also identifies genes associated with bract coloration, providing a valuable theoretical basis for future gene cloning, genetic engineering, and breeding efforts in Bougainvillea.

Characterization and expression analysis of the MADS-box gene AGL8 in cotton: insights into gene function differentiation in plant growth and stress resistance.

AGAMOUS-LIKE 8 (AGL8) belongs to the MADS-box family, which plays important roles in transcriptional regulation, sequence-specific DNA binding and other biological processes and molecular functions. The genome of cotton, a representative polyploid plant, contains multiple AGL8 genes. However, their functional differentiation is still unclear. In this study, a comprehensive genomic analysis of AGL8 genes was conducted. Cotton AGL8s were subdivided into four subgroups (Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4) based on phylogenetic analysis, and different subgroups of AGL8s presented different characteristics, including different structures and conserved motifs. With respect to the promoter regions of the GhAGL8 genes, we successfully predicted cis-elements that respond to phytohormone signal transduction and the stress response of plants. Transcriptome data and real-time quantitative PCR validation indicated that three genes, namely, GH_D07G0744, GH_A03G0856 and GH_A07G0749, were highly induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), and abscisic acid (ABA), which indicated that they function in plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The information from the gene structure, number and types of conserved domains, tissue-specific expression levels, and expression patterns under different treatments highlights the differences in sequence and function of the cotton AGL8 genes. Different AGL8s play roles in vegetative growth, reproductive development, and plant stress resistance. These results lay a foundation for further study of GhAGL8s in cotton.

Transcriptome Sequencing of Gingival Tissues from Impacted Third Molars Patients Reveals the Alterations of Gene Expression.

The removal of impacted third molars by surgery may occur with a series of complications, whereas limited information about the postoperative pathogenesis is available. The objective of this study is to identify changes in gene expression after flap surgical removal of impacted third molars and provide potential information to reduce postoperative complications. The gingival tissues of twenty patients with flap surgical removal of impacted third molars and twenty healthy volunteers were collected for gene expression testing. The collected gingival tissues were used RNA sequencing technology and quantitative real-time PCR validation was performed. DEG was mapped to protein databases such as GO and KEGG for functional annotation and, based on annotation information, for mining of differential expression genes in patients with mpacted third molars. A total of 555 genes were differentially expressed. Among the top up-regulated genes, HLA-DRB4, CCL20, and CXCL8 were strongly associated with immune response and signal transduction. Among the top down-regulated genes, SPRR2B, CLDN17, LCE3D and LCE3E were related to keratinocyte differentiation, IFITM5, and BGLAP were related to bone mineralization, UGT2B17 is associated with susceptibility to osteoporosis. KEGG results showed that the DEGs were related to multiple disease-related pathways. This first transcriptome analysis of gingival tissues from patients with surgical removal of impacted third molars provides new insights into postoperative genetic changes. The results may establish a basis for future research on minimizing the incidence of complications after flap-treated third molars.

Genomic Insights into Disease Resistance in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus): Identifying Key Regions and Candidate Genes for Verticillium dahliae Resistance.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a globally significant field crop, and disease resistance is crucial for ensuring yield stability and crop quality. Verticillium dahliae is a notorious soilborne pathogen that causes Verticillium Wilt (VW) and threatens sunflower production worldwide. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of sunflower resistance to V. dahliae across 231 sunflower cultivar lines, from the Sunflower Association Mapping (SAM) population. We employed EMMAX and ridge regression best linear unbiased prediction (rrBLUP) and identified 148 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and 23 putative genes associated with V. dahliae resistance, including receptor like kinases, cell wall modification, transcriptional regulation, plant stress signalling and defense regulation genes. Our enrichment and quantitative real-time PCR validation results highlight the importance of membrane vesicle trafficking in the sunflower immune system for efficient signaling and defense upon activation by V. dahliae. This study also reveals the polygenic architecture of V. dahliae resistance in sunflowers and provides insights for breeding sunflower cultivars resistant to VW. This research contributes to ongoing efforts to enhance crop resilience and reduce yield losses due to VW, ultimately benefiting sunflower growers and the agricultural sector.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses elucidate the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in the regulation of mulberry seed germination under salt stress

Seed propagation is the main method of mulberry expansion in China, an important economic forest species. However, seed germination is the most sensitive stage to various abiotic stresses, especially salinity stress. To reveal the molecular regulatory mechanism of mulberry seed germination under salt stress, flavonoid metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses were performed on mulberry seeds germinated under 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl stress. Analysis of the flavonoid metabolome revealed that a total of 145 differential flavonoid metabolites (DFMs) were classified into 9 groups, 40 flavonols, 32 flavones, 16 chalcones and 14 flavanones. Among them, 61.4% (89) of the DFMs accumulated continuously with increasing salt concentration, reaching the highest level at a 100 mmol/L salt concentration; these DFMs included quercetin-3-O-glucoside (isoquercitrin), kaempferol (3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone), quercetin-7-O-glucoside, taxifolin (dihydroquercetin) and apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone), indicating that these flavonoids may be key metabolites involved in the response to salt stress. Transcriptional analysis identified a total of 3055 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), most of which were enriched in flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941), phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (ko00940) and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (ko01110). Combined analysis of flavonoid metabolomic and transcriptomic data indicated that phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), chalcone synthase (CHS), flavonol synthase (FLS), bifunctional dihydroflavonol 4-reductase/flavanone 4-reductase (DFR) and anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) were the key genes involved in flavonoid accumulation during mulberry seed germination under 50 and 100 mmol/L NaCl stress. In addition, three transcription factors, MYB, bHLH and NAC, were involved in the regulation of flavonoid accumulation under salt stress. The results of quantitative real-time PCR (qRT‒PCR) validation showed that the expression levels of 11 DEGs, including 7 genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, under different salt concentrations were consistent with the transcriptomic data, and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) results showed that the expression levels of 6 key enzymes (proteins) involved in flavonoid synthesis were consistent with the accumulation of flavonoids. This study provides a new perspective for investigating the regulatory role of flavonoid biosynthesis in the regulation of mulberry seed germination under salt stress at different concentrations.

Natural Albino Mutant of Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) Reveals a Link between Drought Sensitivity and Photosynthetic Pigments Metabolism.

Mutant analysis remains one of the main genetic tools for characterising unclarified gene functions in plants, especially in non-model plants. Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) is a popular perennial ornamental plant grown worldwide. Analysis of daylily mutants can enhance understanding of genes regulating the albino phenotype and improve the cultivar quality of daylily. The natural albino mutant (Alb-⁣/-) was isolated by screening a self-pollinated progeny of daylily cultivar 'black-eyed stella'. Transmission electron microscopy was used in analysing the structure of plastids between mutant and wild-type seedlings. The content of chlorophyll, carotenoids and chlorophyll precursors in plants was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. RNA sequencing and physiological measurements were performed to explore the association between drought tolerance and mutation. All the seedlings of the daylily albino mutants died spontaneously within fifteen days after germination when grown in soil. The carotenoid and chlorophyll content in the leaves of the mutant plants significantly decreased compared with those of the wild-type control. The mutant plants displayed stunted growth, and their leaves were white or light yellow in color. Abnormal plastids such as those showing endomembrane vesiculation and lacking stacking were discovered in the leaves of mutant plants. Furthermore, genetic analysis revealed that a single recessive nuclear gene mutation led to the albino trait, RNA sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR validation showed extensive differences in gene expression between the mutant plants and the wild-type control, and most of the genes related to chlorophyll metabolism were down-regulated, with foldchange ranging from 0.20-0.49. Additionally, the surviving homozygous plants (Alb+⁣/+), which do not contain this mutation, were also isolated by analysing the phenotype of their self-pollinated progeny. The net photosynthesis rate and light saturation point of Alb+⁣/+ were higher than those of heterozygous (Alb+⁣/-) plants. Additionally, the Alb+⁣/+ plants were more tolerant to drought conditions than the Alb+⁣/- plants, suggesting that a heterozygous Alb- mutation is sufficient to negatively affect photosynthetic efficiency and drought tolerance. The albino mutation negatively affects photosynthetic efficiency and drought tolerance, and homozygous mutation is required for the characteristic albino phenotype. This work highlights the link between albino mutation, photosynthetic pigment metabolism and drought sensitivity in daylily.

First Report on Resistance to HPPD Herbicides Mediated by Nontarget-Site Mechanisms in the Grass Leptochloa chinensis.

The emergence of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicides as efficacious target-site herbicides has been noteworthy. In recent years, only four species of broadleaf weeds have developed resistance due to the long-term widespread use of HPPD herbicides. This study represents the first reported instance of a grass weed exhibiting resistance to HPPD inhibitors. We identified a new HPPD-resistant Chinese sprangletop [Leptochloa chinensis (L.) Nees] population (R population). At the recommended dose of tripyrasulfone, the inhibition rate of the R population was only half that of the sensitive population (S). The mechanism underlying resistance does not involve target-site resistance triggered by amino acid mutations or depend on disparities within the HPPD INHIBITOR SENSITIVE 1 (HIS1) gene. The impetus for resistance appears to be interlinked with the metabolic activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) family genes. Following RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation, the study suggests that five P450 genes, CYP71C1, CYP74A2, CYP72A1, CYP84A1, and CYP714C2, alongside a single GST gene GSTF1, may be implicated in the process of metabolic detoxification.

Molecular bases for the stronger plastic response to high nitrate in the invasive plant Xanthium strumarium compared with its native congener.

High expressions of nitrate use and photosynthesis-related transcripts contribute to the stronger plasticity to high nitrate for the invader relative to its native congener, which may be driven by hormones. Strong phenotypic plasticity is often considered as one of the main mechanisms underlying exotic plant invasions. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate the related molecular mechanisms. Here, we determined the differences in the plastic responses to high nitrate between the invasive plant X. strumarium and its native congener, and the molecular bases by transcriptome analysis and quantitative real-time PCR validation. Our results showed that the invader had higher plasticity of growth, nitrogen accumulation and photosynthesis in responses to high nitrate than its native congener. Compared with its congener, more N utilization-related transcripts, including nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family 6.2 and nitrate reductase 1, were induced by high nitrate in the root of X. strumarium, improving its N utilization ability. More transcripts coding for photosynthetic antenna proteins were also induced by high nitrate in the shoot of X. strumarium, enhancing its photosynthesis. Hormones may be involved in the regulation of the plastic responses to high nitrate in the two species. Our study contributes to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the stronger plasticity of the invader in responses to high nitrate, and the potential function of plant hormones in these processes, providing bases for precise control of invasive plants using modern molecular techniques.

Selenomethionine Antagonized microRNAs Involved in Apoptosis of Rat Articular Cartilage Induced by T-2 Toxin.

T-2 toxin and selenium deficiency are considered important etiologies of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), although the exact mechanism is still unclear. To identify differentially expressed microRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in the articular cartilage of rats exposed to T-2 toxin and selenomethionine (SeMet) supplementation, thirty-six 4-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into a control group (gavaged with 4% anhydrous ethanol), a T-2 group (gavaged with 100 ng/g·bw/day T-2 toxin), and a T-2 + SeMet group (gavaged with 100 ng/g·bw/day T-2 toxin and 0.5 mg/kg·bw/day SeMet), respectively. Toluidine blue staining was performed to detect the pathological changes of articular cartilage. Three rats per group were randomly selected for high-throughput sequencing of articular cartilage. Target genes of DE-miRNAs were predicted using miRanda and RNAhybrid databases, and the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway were enriched. The network map of miRNA-target genes was constructed using Cytoscape software. The expression profiles of miRNAs associated with KBD were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Additionally, the DE-miRNAs were selected for real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) verification. Toluidine blue staining demonstrated that T-2 toxin damaged articular cartilage and SeMet effectively alleviated articular cartilage lesions. A total of 50 DE-miRNAs (28 upregulated and 22 downregulated) in the T-2 group vs. the control group, 18 DE-miRNAs (6 upregulated and 12 downregulated) in the T-2 + SeMet group vs. the control group, and 25 DE-miRNAs (5 upregulated and 20 downregulated) in the T-2 + SeMet group vs. the T-2 group were identified. Enrichment analysis showed the target genes of DE-miRNAs were associated with apoptosis, and in the MAPK and TGF-β signaling pathways in the T-2 group vs. the control group. However, the pathway of apoptosis was not significant in the T-2 + SeMet group vs. the control group. These results indicated that T-2 toxin induced apoptosis, whereas SeMet supplementation antagonized apoptosis. Apoptosis and autophagy occurred simultaneously in the T-2 + SeMet group vs. T-2 group, and autophagy may inhibit apoptosis to protect cartilage. Compared with the GSE186593 dataset, the evidence of miR-133a-3p involved in apoptosis was more abundant. The results of RT-qPCR validation were consistent with RNA sequencing results. Our findings suggested that apoptosis was involved in articular cartilage lesions induced by T-2 toxin, whereas SeMet supplementation antagonized apoptosis, and that miR-133a-3p most probably played a central role in the apoptosis process.

Transcriptome Profiling of Hippocampus After Cerebral Hypoperfusion in Mice.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) is considered to be one of the major mechanism in the pathogenesis of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Increased inflammatory cells, particularly microglia, often parallel hypoperfusion-induced gray matter damage such as hippocampal lesions, but the exact mechanism remains largely unknown. To understand the pathological mechanisms, we analyzed hippocampus-specific transcriptome profiles after cerebral hypoperfusion. The mouse hypoperfusion model was induced by employing the 0.16/0.18mm bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) procedure. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was assessed after 3-week hypoperfusion. Pathological changes were evaluated via hematoxylin staining and immunofluorescence staining. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed using RNA samples of sham- or BCAS-operated mice, followed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) validation. We found that the 0.16/0.18mm BCAS induced decreased CBF, hippocampal neuronal loss, and microglial activation. Furthermore, GSEA between sham and BCAS mice showed activation of interferon-beta signaling along with inflammatory immune responses. In addition, integrative analysis with published single-cell RNA-seq revealed that up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in a distinct cell type of "microglia," and down-regulated DEGs were enriched in "CA1 pyramidal," not in "interneurons" or "S1 pyramidal." This database of transcriptomic profiles of BCAS-hypoperfusion will be useful for future studies to explore potential targets for vascular cognitive dysfunction.

Xinkeshu tablets promote angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells through multiple signaling pathways

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAngiogenesis is particularly important in ischemic cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease (CHD). Xinkeshu tablets (XKS) are a commonly used Chinese patent medicine for CHD with a defined clinical effect. However, the proangiogenic effect of XKS remains unknown.Aim of the study: We attempted to investigate the chemical composition and proangiogenic effect of XKS, as well as its underlying mechanisms. Materials and methodsThe chemical composition of a XKS methanol extract was analyzed using a UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS system. The compound's proangiogenic effects were evaluated in zebrafish embryos and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms were investigated using transcriptome assays and real-time quantitative PCR validation. ResultsWe identified 116 chemical constituents of XKS. XKS significantly stimulated subintestinal vessel plexus (SIVs) growth and rescued tyrosine kinase inhibitor (PTK787)-induced intersegmental vessels (ISVs) injury in zebrafish in a concentration-dependent manner. XKS significantly rescued the proliferation, migration capacity and tube formation of Recombinant VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor II (VRI)-injured HUVECs. XKS promoted angiogenesis through multiple signaling pathways, including metabolic pathways, the PPAR signaling pathway, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, the VEGF signaling pathway, and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. ConclusionHerein, we identified 116 chemical constituents of XKS for the first time and demonstrated that XKS may regulate angiogenesis through multiple signaling pathways to treat CHD.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the SWEET Gene Family in Annual Alfalfa (Medicago polymorpha).

SWEET (Sugars will eventually be exported transporter) proteins are a group of sugar transporters that are involved in sugar efflux, phloem loading, reproductive development, plant senescence, and stress responses. In this study, 23 SWEET transporter members were identified in the Medicago polymorpha genome, heterogeneously distributed on seven chromosomes. These MpSWEET genes were divided into four subfamilies, which showed similar gene structure and motif composition within the same subfamily. Seventeen MpSWEET genes encode seven transmembrane helices (TMHs), and all MpSWEET proteins possess conserved membrane domains and putative serine phosphorylation sites. Four and three pairs of MpSWEET genes were predicted to be segmentally and tandemly duplicated, respectively, which may have contributed to their evolution of M. polymorpha. The results of microarray and RNA-Seq data showed that some MpSWEET genes were specifically expressed in disparate developmental stages (including seedling stage, early flowering stage, and late flowering stage) or tissues such as flower and large pod. Based on protein network interaction and expression patterns of MpSWEET genes, six MpSWEET genes were selected for further quantitative real-time PCR validation in different stress treatments. qRT-PCR results showed that MpSWEET05, MpSWEET07, MpSWEET12, MpSWEET15, and MpSWEET21 were significantly upregulated for at least two of the three abiotic stress treatments. These findings provide new insights into the complex transcriptional regulation of MpSWEET genes, which facilitates future research to elucidate the function of MpSWEET genes in M. polymorpha and other legume crops.

Deciphering the biodesulfurization pathway employing marine mangrove Bacillus aryabhattai strain NM1-A2 according to whole genome sequencing and transcriptome analyses

In the biogeochemical cycle, sulfur oxidation plays a vital role and is typically referred to as the elemental sulfur or reductive sulfide oxidation process. This study aimed to characterize a subtropical mangrove-isolated bacterial strain using biochemical, whole-genome, and transcriptome sequencing analyses to enhance our understanding of sulfur metabolism and biodegradation from a molecular genetic perspective. Strain NM1-A2 was characterized as Gram-positive and found to have a close molecular phylogenetic relationship with Bacillus aryabhattai. NM1-A2 efficiently converted dibenzothiophene (DBT) into 2-hydroxybiphenyl (2-HBP) via a 4S pathway with 95% efficiency, using enzymes encoded by the dsz operon (dszA, dszB, and dszC), which determine monooxygenases (DszA & DszC) and desulfinase (DszB). The whole-genome sequence of NM1-A2 had a length of approximately 5,257,678 bp and included 16 sulfur metabolism-related genes, featuring the ABC transport system, small subunit (ssu) and cysteine (cys) gene families, and adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) and 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) biosynthesis-related genes. Transcriptomic analysis of NM1-A2 using three sulfur groups—magnesium sulfate (MS), sulfur powder (SP), and sodium thiosulfate (ST) resulted in a significant number of differentially expressed genes (1200, 2304, and 2001, respectively). This analysis revealed that intracellular cysteine concentration directly regulated the expression of cys and ssu genes. Sulfate did not directly affect cys gene expression but repressed ssu gene expression. The cys gene expression levels decreased during the conversion of sulfate to sulfide and cysteine. The transcriptomic data was validated by analyzing the expression patterns of NM1-A2 using real-time quantitative PCR validation analysis. The expression levels of cysl, mccB, and nrnA were significantly upregulated, while cysH, metB, and sat were downregulated in the SP, ST, and MS groups, respectively. This research contributes to our understanding of marine mangrove microorganisms' bacterial efficiency through characterization, whole-genome, and transcriptome sequencing-based molecular degradation of organic compounds in the mangrove ecosystem, which may enhance nutrient availability.

Molecular Characterization of Resistance to Nicosulfuron in Setaria viridis.

The green foxtail, Setaria viridis (L.) P. Beauv. (Poales: Poaceae), is a troublesome and widespread grass weed in China. The acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide nicosulfuron has been intensively used to manage S. viridis, and this has substantially increased the selection pressure. Here we confirmed a 35.8-fold resistance to nicosulfuron in an S. viridis population (R376 population) from China and characterized the resistance mechanism. Molecular analyses revealed an Asp-376-Glu mutation of the ALS gene in the R376 population. The participation of metabolic resistance in the R376 population was proved by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) inhibitor pre-treatment and metabolism experiments. To further elucidate the mechanism of metabolic resistance, eighteen genes that could be related to the metabolism of nicosulfuron were obtained bythe RNA sequencing. The results of quantitative real-time PCR validation indicated that three ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters (ABE2, ABC15, and ABC15-2), four P450 (C76C2, CYOS, C78A5, and C81Q32), and two UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) (UGT13248 and UGT73C3), and one glutathione S-transferases (GST) (GST3) were the major candidates that contributed to metabolic nicosulfuron resistance in S. viridis. However, the specific role of these ten genes in metabolic resistance requires more research. Collectively, ALS gene mutations and enhanced metabolism may be responsible for the resistance of R376 to nicosulfuron.

An exploratory approach to identify microRNAs as circulatory biomarker candidates for epilepsy-associated psychiatric comorbidities in an electrical post-status epilepticus model

Patients with epilepsy have a high risk of developing psychiatric comorbidities, and there is a particular need for early detection of these comorbidities. Here, in an exploratory, hypothesis-generating approach, we aimed to identify microRNAs as potential circulatory biomarkers for epilepsy-associated psychiatric comorbidities across different rat models of epilepsy. The identification of distress-associated biomarkers can also contribute to animal welfare assessment. MicroRNA expression profiles were analyzed in blood samples from the electrical post-status epilepticus (SE) model. Preselected microRNAs were correlated with behavioral and biochemical parameters in the electrical post-SE model, followed by quantitative real-time PCR validation in three additional well-described rat models of epilepsy. Six microRNAs (miR-376a, miR-429, miR-494, miR-697, miR-763, miR-1903) were identified showing a positive correlation with weight gain in the early post-insult phase as well as a negative correlation with social interaction, saccharin preference, and plasma BDNF. Real-time PCR validation confirmed miR-203, miR-429, and miR-712 as differentially expressed with miR-429 being upregulated across epilepsy models. While readouts from the electrical post-SE model suggest different microRNA candidates for psychiatric comorbidities, cross-model analysis argues against generalizability across models. Thus, further research is necessary to compare the predictive validity of rodent epilepsy models for detection and management of psychiatric comorbidities.

Pancreatic Cancer-Derived Exosomes Promote the Proliferation, Invasion, and Metastasis of Pancreatic Cancer by the miR-3960/TFAP2A Axis.

Background The microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer-derived exosomes have the ability to change tumor microenvironment. This study aims to investigate the role of miRNA in cancer-derived exosomes in pancreatic cancer (PC). Methods Based on the analysis of PC-derived and healthy exosomes by bioinformatics analysis and quantitative real-time PCR validation, the miR-3960 was identified to be the most significantly different miRNA, and TFAP2A proved as its potential target gene. Besides, the exosomes were isolated from PANC-1 cells and identified. After that, PANC-1 cells were treated with the isolated exosomes or transfected with miR-3960 mimics or si-TFAP2A, the effect of PC-derived exosomes, as well as the miR-3960/TFAP2A axis in PC cells, were assessed by the CCK-8, EDU staining, Transwell, cell colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. Furthermore, the effects of exosomes and the miR-3960/TFAP2A axis on PC tumor growth were observed in tumor-bearing mice by the measurement of tumor weight and volume, and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Moreover, the expressions of TFAP2A/PTEN/AKT signaling proteins were detected by Western blot. Results PC-derived exosomes were isolated successfully and proved to have promotion effects on the proliferation, metastasis, and invasion of PC cells both in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Also, the PC-derived exosomes upregulated the TFAP2A, Bcl-2, and p-AKT/AKT protein levels, and inhibited PTEN and Bax levels and PANC-1 cell apoptosis. Overexpression of miR-3960 antagonized the promotion effect of exosomes on PC cells and the TFAP2A/PTEN/AKT signaling pathway, inhibiting the growth of tumors. Besides, si-TFAP2A enhanced the inhibitory effect of miR-3960 in PC. Conclusion MiR-3960 antagonizes the promotion effect of tumor-derived exosomes on the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of PC via suppressing TFAP2A.

MiRNome-transcriptome analysis unveils the key regulatory pathways involved in the tumorigenesis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is considered the most common malignant tumor among the oral squamous cell carcinomas with a poor prognosis. Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms that underpin TSCC and its treatments is the focus of the research. Deregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) has recently been implicated in various biological processes linked to cancer. Therefore, in this study, we attempted to investigate miRNAs and their targets expressed in TSCC, which could be involved in its oncogenesis. We performed next-generation sequencing of small RNAs and transcriptomes in H357 TSCC cell line and human oral keratinocytes as a control to find miRNAs and mRNAs that are differentially expressed (DE), which were then supplemented with additional expression datasets from databases, yielding 269 DE miRNAs and 2094 DE genes. The target prediction followed by pathway and disease function analysis revealed that the DE targets were significantly associated with the key processes and pathways, such as apoptosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, endocytosis and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathways. Furthermore, the top 12 DE targets were chosen based on their involvement in more than one cancer-related pathway, of which 6 genes are targeted by miR-128-3p. Real-time quantitative PCR validation of this miRNA and its targets in H357 and SCC9 TSCC cells confirmed their possible targeting from their reciprocal expression, with MAP2K7 being a critical target that might be involved in oncogenesis and progression of TSCC by acting as a tumor suppressor. Further research is underway to understand how miR-128-3p regulates oncogenesis in TSCC via MAP2K7 and associated pathways.

Comprehensive Analysis of Serum Small Extracellular Vesicles-Derived Coding and Non-Coding RNAs from Retinoblastoma Patients for Identifying Regulatory Interactions.

Simple SummaryThe diagnosis of retinoblastoma (RB) is usually made by clinical examination and imaging modalities. Routine tissue biopsy is not done due to the risk of extraocular spread. Blood-based RNA cargoes could be promising surrogate markers for RB diagnosis and prognostication. Our data indicated that the size, morphology, and zeta potential (ZP) of RB and non-RB serum extracellular vesicles (EVs) met standard exosome properties with similar concentrations. MALTA1, AFAP1-AS1, miR-145, and miR-101 were identified as hub non-coding RNAs that promote RB progression by targeting cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, c-MYC, EZH2, ZEB1, TP53, and BCL2. Along with these, the aberrantly expressed miRNAs, lncRNAs, and their target mRNAs of RB EVs were implicated in cell cycle, metabolism, and tumor-associated signaling pathways. The differential expression of EV RNAs in RB compared to controls may aid in the identification of possible serum prognostic biomarkers for RB.The present study employed nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy, immunoblotting, RNA sequencing, and quantitative real-time PCR validation to characterize serum-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from RB patients and age-matched controls. Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze functions, and regulatory interactions between coding and non-coding (nc) sEVs RNAs. The results revealed that the isolated sEVs are round-shaped with a size < 150 nm, 5.3 × 1011 ± 8.1 particles/mL, and zeta potential of 11.1 to −15.8 mV, and expressed exosome markers CD9, CD81, and TSG101. A total of 6514 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs, 123 DE miRNAs, and 3634 DE lncRNAs were detected. Both miRNA-mRNA and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network analysis revealed that the cell cycle-specific genes including CDKNI1A, CCND1, c-MYC, and HIF1A are regulated by hub ncRNAs MALAT1, AFAP1-AS1, miR145, 101, and 16-5p. Protein-protein interaction network analysis showed that eye-related DE mRNAs are involved in rod cell differentiation, cone cell development, and retinol metabolism. In conclusion, our study provides a comprehensive overview of the RB sEV RNAs and regulatory interactions between them.

A single-nucleotide polymorphism in WRKY33 promoter is associated with the cold sensitivity in cultivated tomato.

Natural variations in cis-regulatory regions often affect crop phenotypes by altering gene expression. However, the mechanism of how promoter mutations affect gene expression and crop stress tolerance is still poorly understood. In this study, by analyzing RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) data and reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR validation in the cultivated tomato and its wild relatives, we reveal that the transcripts of WRKY33 are almost unchanged in cold-sensitive cultivated tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. 'Ailsa Craig' but are significantly induced in cold-tolerant wild tomato relatives Solanum habrochaites LA1777 and Solanum pennellii LA0716 under cold stress. Overexpression of SlWRKY33 or ShWRKY33 positively regulates cold tolerance in tomato. Variant of the critical W-box in SlWRKY33 promoter results in the loss of self-transcription function of SlWRKY33 under cold stress. Analysis integrating RNA-Seq and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data reveals that SlWRKY33 directly targets and induces multiple kinases, transcription factors, and molecular chaperone genes, such as CDPK11, MYBS3, and BAG6, thus enhancing cold tolerance. In addition, heat- and Botrytis-induced WRKY33s expression in both wild and cultivated tomatoes are independent of the critical W-box variation. Our findings suggest nucleotide polymorphism in cis-regulatory regions is crucial for different cold sensitivity between cultivated and wild tomato plants.

The analysis of Modified Qing' E Formula on the differential expression of exosomal miRNAs in the femoral head bone tissue of mice with steroid-induced ischemic necrosis of femoral head.

ObjectiveTo investigate the differential expression of exosomal miRNAs in the bone marrow tissue of Modified Qing’ E Formula (MQEF) on steroid-induced ischemic necrosis of the femoral head (INFH) model.MethodsSteroid hormones were used to establish the INFH model and treated with MQEF. After successful modeling, femoral tissue exosomes were isolated for miRNA sequencing to obtain femoral tissue exosomal differential miRNAs. By GO analysis and KEGG analysis of the differential genes in both groups, the major exosomal miRNAs of MQEF exerting anti-INFH as well as the major signaling pathways were identified. Next, a quantitative metabolomic validation of MQEF with broad targeting was performed to obtain the main active components of MQEF and to perform biological analysis and signaling pathway prediction of the active components by network pharmacology. Finally, the sequencing results were validated by using RT-qPCR. The results of miRNA sequencing were verified by double examination of network pharmacology and RT-qPCR, and the exosomal miRNAs regulated by the anti-INFH effect of MQEF and the specific signaling pathway of the effect were clarified.ResultsA total of 65,389 target genes were predicted in the exosomes of two groups of mice, and 18 significant differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained, of which 14 were up-regulated and 4 down-regulated. GO enrichment analysis showed that these predicted target genes were enriched in 12371 biological processes, 1727 cell components, and 4112 molecular functions. KEGG analysis showed that the predicted miRNA target genes were annotated to 342 signal pathways, in which the highly enriched pathways closely related to bone metabolism were PI3K-Akt signal pathway, MAPK signal pathway, and Wnt signal pathway. The most significantly up-regulated miRNAs were miR-185-3p and miR-1b-5p and the most significantly down-regulated miRNAs were miR-129b-5p and miR-223-5p, of which the targeted genes were closely related to the PI3K-Akt signal pathway. MQEF aqueous decoction extract targeted metabolomics quantitatively combined with network pharmacology predicted targets also closely related to PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Real-time quantitative PCR validation showed that miR-185-3p was up-regulated 7.2-fold and miR-129b-5p was down-regulated 2.2-fold in the treatment group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionsMQEF can regulate exosomal miRNA expression in steroid-induced INFH models, miR-185-3p or miR-129b-5p/PI3K-Akt signal axis may be part of the mechanism of MQEF against steroid-induced INFH.