Regulation Of Size Research Articles

Incompatibility-driven growth and size control during development

Size regulation in living organisms is a major unsolved problem in developmental biology. This is due to the intrinsic complexity of biological growth, which simultaneously involves genetic, biochemical, and mechanical factors. In this article, we propose a novel theoretical framework that explores the role of incompatibility, the geometric source of residual stress in a growing body, as a possible regulator of size termination during development. We explore this paradigm both at the level of a model 2D cell, and at the level of continuous tissues. After establishing a parallel between incompatibility and the shape parameter of vertex models, we show that incompatibility-driven growth leads to size control in a model 2D cell. We then extend the same paradigm to the level of continuous bodies, where incompatibility is measured by the Ricci curvature of the growth tensor. By using the model 2D cell as a template, we now derive an evolutionary law for the growth tensor with curvature fixed at a physiological value. When the analysis is specialised to radial symmetry (discs and spheres), this model captures the salient features observed in Drosophila wing discs and multicellular spheroids: these systems have a target size and build up residual stresses that cause the tissue to open in response to a radial cut, with the cut edges curling outward. The theory proposed in this work suggests that incompatibility in a growing biological tissue is potentially controllable at the cell level, and that incompatibility-driven growth provides an effective method of controlling global information (stress, size) through local geometric controls.

Loss of SAV1 in Kidney Proximal Tubule Induces Maladaptive Repair after Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury.

Kidney ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) is a significant contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI), characterized by tubular injury and kidney dysfunction. Salvador family WW domain containing protein 1 (SAV1) is a key component of the Hippo pathway and plays a crucial role in the regulation of organ size and tissue regeneration. However, whether SAV1 plays a role in kidney IRI is not investigated. In this study, we investigated the role of SAV1 in kidney injury and regeneration following IRI. A proximal tubule-specific knockout of SAV1 in kidneys (SAV1ptKO) was generated, and wild-type and SAV1ptKO mice underwent kidney IRI or sham operation. Plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured to assess kidney function. Histological studies, including periodic acid-Schiff staining and immunohistochemistry, were conducted to assess tubular injury, SAV1 expression, and cell proliferation. Western blot analysis was employed to assess the Hippo pathway-related and proliferation-related proteins. SAV1 exhibited faint expression in the proximal tubules and was predominantly expressed in the connecting tubule to the collecting duct. At 48 h after IRI, SAV1ptKO mice continued to exhibit severe kidney dysfunction, compared to attenuated kidney dysfunction in wild-type mice. Consistent with the functional data, severe tubular damage induced by kidney IRI in the cortex was significantly decreased in wild-type mice at 48 h after IRI but not in SAV1ptKO mice. Furthermore, 48 h after IRI, the number of Ki67-positive cells in the cortex was significantly higher in wild-type mice than SAV1ptKO mice. After IRI, activation and expression of Hippo pathway-related proteins were enhanced, with no significant differences observed between wild-type and SAV1ptKO mice. Notably, at 48 h after IRI, protein kinase B activation (AKT) was significantly enhanced in SAV1ptKO mice compared to wild-type mice. This study demonstrates that SAV1 deficiency in the kidney proximal tubule worsens the injury and delays kidney regeneration after IRI, potentially through the overactivation of AKT.

Dual regulation of particle size and surface structure of SrVO3 for high volumetric capacity

Perovskite SrVO3 stands out as a promising anode material for lithium-ion batteries due to its inherent redox activity, excellent electrical conductivity, and structural adaptability. Despite these advantages, challenges persist, such as in achieving high tap density and volumetric specific capacity. In this study, we overcome these challenges by finely regulating particle size and constructing a tailored surface structure for SrVO3. The implementation of ball milling during the synthesis process proves to be a simple yet highly efficient method for simultaneously tailoring particle size and in-situ creating an amorphous layer on SrVO3 particles. The reduction in particle size not only facilitates enhanced electron and ion transport but also significantly improves the tap density of SrVO3, increasing it from 2.61 to 3.15 g cm−3. The in-situ construction of an amorphous layer introduces a multitude of defects and high valence V5+. These defects serve as active sites for lithium ions, while the V5+ species contribute to increased electron transfer, collectively resulting in a high gravimetric specific capacity. The engineered SrVO3 anode delivers an impressive volumetric capacity of 1134 mAh cm−3 at 0.1 A g−1, surpassing both pristine SrVO3 (733 mAh cm−3) and commercial graphite anode (∼460 mAh cm−3).

Pore size regulation of ZIFs for adsorptive separation of branched chain and aromatic amino acids

AbstractThis research endeavour aims to investigate the adsorptive separation of the branched chain (BCAA) and aromatic amino acids (AAA). Based on the different molecular sizes of BCAA and AAA, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with different pore structures were prepared by regulating the size of imidazole ligands. The structure and pore shape were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), x‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and BET surface area (BET). The results indicated the successful synthesis of ZIF‐[Co(mIm)2], ZIF‐[Co(eIm)2], and ZIF‐[Co(pIm)2] with pore size distribution of 7.821, 6.943, and 9.394 Å, and particle size of these ZIFs was approximately 4 μm. ZIF‐[Co(eIm)2] was chosen as the optimal ZIFs for the separation of BCAA and AAA. The adsorption experiment was evaluated in the respective single and binary systems. The corresponding data in a single system demonstrated that ZIF‐[Co(eIm)2] showed good adsorption performance for BCAA and poor for AAA. Furthermore, the adsorption behaviour under experimental conditions conformed well to the pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm. ZIF‐[Co(eIm)2] had great separation ability for BCAA/AAA in their binary system. Finally, regeneration studies further manifested that ZIF‐[Co(eIm)2] exhibited fine reusability performance with adsorption efficiencies still higher than 70% after five cycles. This study exhibits a novel path for the design of adsorbents for efficient separation of BCAA/AAA.

Identification of a new class of activators of the Hippo pathway with antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo

The Hippo pathway is a key regulator of tissue growth, organ size, and tumorigenesis. Activating the Hippo pathway by gene editing or pharmaceutical intervention has been proven to be a new therapeutic strategy for treatment of the Hippo pathway-dependent cancers. To now, a number of compounds that directly target the downstream effector proteins of Hippo pathway, including YAP and TEADs, have been disclosed, but very few Hippo pathway activators are reported. Here, we discovered a new class of Hippo pathway activator, YL-602, which inhibited CTGF expression in cells irrespective of cell density and the presence of serum. Mechanistically, YL-602 activates the Hippo pathway via MST1/2, which is different from known activators of Hippo pathway. In vitro, YL-602 significantly induced tumor cell apoptosis and inhibited colony formation of tumor cells. In vivo, oral administration of YL-602 substantially suppressed the growth of cancer cells by activation of Hippo pathway. Overall, YL-602 could be a promising lead compound, and deserves further investigation for its mechanism of action and therapeutic applications.

Haplotype-resolved genome assembly of the diploid Rosa chinensis provides insight into the mechanisms underlying key ornamental traits

Roses are consistently ranked at the forefront in cut flower production. Increasing demands of market and changing climate conditions have resulted in the need to further improve the diversity and quality of traits. However, frequent hybridization leads to highly heterozygous nature, including the allelic variants. Therefore, the absence of comprehensive genomic information leads to them making it challenging to molecular breeding. Here, two haplotype-resolved chromosome genomes for Rosa chinensis ‘Chilong Hanzhu’ (2n = 14) which is high heterozygous diploid old Chinese rose are generated. An amount of genetic variation (1,605,616 SNPs, 209,575 indels) is identified. 13,971 allelic genes show differential expression patterns between two haplotypes. Importantly, these differences hold valuable insights into regulatory mechanisms of traits. RcMYB114b can influence cyanidin-3-glucoside accumulation and the allelic variation in its promoter leads to differences in promoter activity, which as a factor control petal color. Moreover, gene family expansion may contribute to the abundance of terpenes in floral scents. Additionally, RcANT1, RcDA1, RcAG1 and RcSVP1 genes are involved in regulation of petal number and size under heat stress treatment. This study provides a foundation for molecular breeding to improve important characteristics of roses.

Decoupling cell size homeostasis in diatoms from the geometrical constraints of the silica cell wall.

Unicellular organisms are known to exert tight control over their cell size. In the case of diatoms, abundant eukaryotic microalgae, two opposing notions are widely accepted. On the one hand, the rigid silica cell wall that forms inside the parental cell is thought to enforce geometrical reduction of the cell size. On the other hand, numerous exceptions cast doubt on the generality of this model. Here, we monitored clonal cultures of the diatom Stephanopyxis turris for up to 2 yr, recording the sizes of thousands of cells, in order to follow the distribution of cell sizes in the population. Our results show that S. turris cultures above a certain size threshold undergo a gradual size reduction, in accordance with the postulated geometrical driving force. However, once the cell size reaches a lower threshold, it fluctuates around a constant size using the inherent elasticity of cell wall elements. These results reconcile the disparate observations on cell size regulation in diatoms by showing two distinct behaviors, reduction and homeostasis. The geometrical size reduction is the dominant driving force for large cells, but smaller cells have the flexibility to re-adjust the size of their new cell walls.

Designing Urchin-Like S/SiO2 with Regulated Pores Toward Ultra-Fast Room Temperature Sodium-Sulfur Battery.

Captured by high theoretical capacity and low-cost, Sodium-Sulfur (Na-S) batteries have been deemed as promising energy-storage systems. However, their electrochemical properties, containing both cycling and rate properties, still suffer from the notorious "shuttle effect" of polysulfide. Herein, through the effective regulation of pore sizes, a series of S/SiO2 cathode materials are obtained. Benefitting from the abundant pore channels of SiO2 particles, the sulfur loading is as high as 76.3%. Importantly, a suitable pore size can lead to adequate reaction and rapid diffusion behaviors, resulting in excellent electrochemical performances. Specifically, at 2.0Ag-1, the initial capacity of the as-optimized sample can be up to 1370.6mAhg-1. Surprisingly, even after 1050 cycles, it could achieve a high reversible capacity of 1280.8mAhg-1 with an attenuation rate of 0.089%. At 5.0Ag-1, after 500 cycles, the capacity can still remain ≈ 1132.6mAhg-1 (capacity retention rate, 97.5%). Given this, the work is anticipated to offer an effective strategy for advanced electrodes for Na-S batteries.

Synthesis of Organopolysilazane Nanoparticles as Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes with Superior Electrochemical Performance via the Two-Step Stöber Method.

The Stöber method, a widely utilized sol-gel technique, stands as a green and reliable approach for preparing nanostructures on a large scale. In this study, we employed an enhanced Stöber method to synthesize organopolysilazane nanoparticles (OPSZ NPs), utilizing polysilazane oligomers as the primary precursor material and ammonia as the catalytic agent. By implementing a two-step addition process, control over crucial parameters facilitated the regulation of the nanoparticle size. Generally, maintaining relatively low concentrations of organopolysilazane and catalyst while adjusting the water/acetonitrile ratio can effectively enhance the surface energy of the organopolysilazane, resulting in the uniform formation of small spherical particles. The average particle size of the synthesized OPSZ NPs is about 140 nm, which were monodispersed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Furthermore, the composition of OPSZ NPs after pyrolysis was confirmed as SiC2.054N0.206O1.631 with 5.44 wt % free carbon structure by X-ray diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Notably, the electrochemical performance assessment of SiCNO NPs as potential electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries exhibited promising outcomes. Specifically, at 1 A g-1 current density, the specific capacity is 585.45 mA h g-1 after 400 cycles, and the minimum capacity attenuation per cycle is only 0.1076 mA h g-1 (0.0172% of the original capacity), which indicates excellent energy storage capacity and cycle stability. In summary, this research contributes to the development of advanced anode materials for next-generation energy storage systems, marking a stride toward sustainable energy solutions.

NIBR-LTSi is a selective LATS kinase inhibitor activating YAP signaling and expanding tissue stem cells in vitro and in vivo

The YAP/Hippo pathway is an organ growth and size regulation rheostat safeguarding multiple tissue stem cell compartments. LATS kinases phosphorylate and thereby inactivate YAP, thus representing a potential direct drug target for promoting tissue regeneration. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the selective small-molecule LATS kinase inhibitor NIBR-LTSi. NIBR-LTSi activates YAP signaling, shows good oral bioavailability, and expands organoids derived from several mouse and human tissues. In tissue stem cells, NIBR-LTSi promotes proliferation, maintains stemness, and blocks differentiation invitro and invivo. NIBR-LTSi accelerates liver regeneration following extended hepatectomy in mice. However, increased proliferation and cell dedifferentiation in multiple organs prevent prolonged systemic LATS inhibition, thus limiting potential therapeutic benefit. Together, we report a selective LATS kinase inhibitor agonizing YAP signaling and promoting tissue regeneration invitro and invivo, enabling future research on the regenerative potential of the YAP/Hippo pathway.

A facile and scalable fabrication procedure for PVDF-PDA/PEI/SiO2 hollow fiber composite ultrafiltration membranes: Integration of co-deposition and cross-linking

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes, widely used for their stability, face limitations due to the hardly adjustable pore size in nanoscale and inherent hydrophobicity. To address this, we proposed a co-deposition method incorporating dopamine (DA), polyethyleneimine (PEI), and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles with glutaraldehyde cross-linking for precise regulation of pore size and hydrophilicity in PVDF hollow fiber membranes. Notably, the pore diameter reduced from 119.0 ± 3.55 nm to 18.4 ± 0.36 nm, while the contact angle decreased from 107.7° to 40.9°. This simultaneous regulation led to a high-performance PDA/PEI/SiO2-PVDF hydrophilic ultrafiltration membrane with a rejection rate exceeding 99% for 20 nm nanoparticles in a long-term simulated separation experiment while achieving a significant protein permeability of 97% in BSA permeation experiments. Additionally, the membrane demonstrated exceptional long-term stability, offering a novel approach for tuning the performance of ultrafiltration/microfiltration membranes.

Exploring the Impact of Visual Perception and Taste Experience on Consumers’ Acceptance of Suboptimal Fresh Produce

Consumers’ tendency to avoid purchasing cosmetically “suboptimal” fruits and vegetables has been widely recognized as a significant contributor to food waste. However, the mechanisms that shape and influence this tendency remain largely unknown. The current study evaluates the impact of visual perception and taste experience on willingness to purchase and quality perceptions of fresh produce, focusing on two types of suboptimality: small size and abnormal shape. The study employed a 3 × 2 between-subjects factorial design in which participants indicated their perceived quality and willingness to purchase suboptimal tomatoes and sweet peppers in three informational conditions: viewing the vegetable picture (no taste), view then taste (participants tasted a slice after viewing the vegetable picture), and taste then view. The results revealed that, as expected, the abnormally shaped vegetable was judged less favorably than the normal one. The small-sized vegetable was judged more favorably than the regular one, in contrast to the current size regulations applied by retailers. Tasting significantly increased people’s willingness to purchase the abnormally shaped produce, but had no effect on the willingness to purchase the abnormally sized produce, nor did it impact the perceived quality of the abnormal products. This study highlights consumer bias towards aesthetic qualities and suggests that direct taste experiences can alter perceptions towards accepting visually imperfect produce, thereby contributing to sustainability and food-waste reduction efforts.

The GW5-WRKY53-SGW5 module regulates grain size variation in rice.

Grain size is a crucial agronomic trait that affects stable yield, appearance, milling quality, and domestication in rice. However, the molecular and genetic relationships among QTL genes (QTGs) underlying natural variation for grain size remain elusive. Here, we identified a novel QTG SGW5 (suppressor of gw5) by map-based cloning using an F2 segregation population by fixing same genotype of the master QTG GW5. SGW5 positively regulates grain width by influencing cell division and cell size in spikelet hulls. Two nearly isogenic lines exhibited a significant differential expression of SGW5 and a 12.2% increase in grain yield. Introducing the higher expression allele into the genetic background containing the lower expression allele resulted in increased grain width, while its knockout resulted in shorter grain hulls and dwarf plants. Moreover, a cis-element variation in the SGW5 promoter influenced its differential binding affinity for the WRKY53 transcription factor, causing the differential SGW5 expression, which ultimately leads to grain size variation. GW5 physically and genetically interacts with WRKY53 to suppress the expression of SGW5. These findings elucidated a new pathway for grain size regulation by the GW5-WRKY53-SGW5 module and provided a novel case for generally uncovering QTG interactions underlying the genetic diversity of an important trait in crops.

Why we do science—marine ecosystems in context

Abstract Any scientific career is a mix of planning and stochastic events, often with a fair share of the latter. I illustrate this by the evolution of my own career. Ecosystem studies of food webs under the impact of eutrophication (Master), and carbon cycling in DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)-rich lakes (PhD) led me to elemental ratios in organisms and the establishment of ecological stoichiometry. The role of phosphorus (P) in cellular processes again led to research on the evolution and regulation of genome size. As climate came higher on the agenda, it was time to apply the basic research on the C-cycle and climate in a wider context. As natural scientists, we should also engage in even wider contexts, and I have enjoyed discussions and co-operation with philosophers, psychologist, and social scientists. This helps seeing our own work in context. We should also reflect on why we do science. I have always felt that science should also add purpose to life by giving something back to society, and I have devoted much time to outreach, public talks, debates, and writing popular science books. It takes some time, but it is also rewarding and important—perhaps even more so than yet another paper.

Davao Region Mangrove Clam (Pegophysema philippiana) Conservation and Management Strategy

Mangrove clam or imbao (Pegophysema philippiana) is an economically important bivalve species that is very common in the vast mangrove forest in the Davao Region. This marine mangrove resource is subject to overexploitation and indiscriminate gleaning. Small clams are frequently gleaned in the provinces of Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, and Davao del Sur negatively impacting the supply of imbao in the market. A size regulation policy was established in which gleaners were prohibited from collecting sexually immature clams (below 4 cm). After several years of implementing size regulation policy, the mangrove clam stock continuously declined. A rotational harvest strategy was introduced. A cyclical closure of the subdivided plots in each province was imposed. After a year of closure, the wild population of mangrove clams increased especially in Davao Oriental and Davao Occidental. While in Davao del Sur no significant enhancement was observed. The policy change to conserve mangrove clam is a vital step in sustaining this species in the region. However, cooperation, awareness, and adherence to the policy being implemented in the province are factors that influence the effectiveness of the policy.

Improved Neural Inductivity of Size-Controlled 3D Human Embryonic Stem Cells Using Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Background: To improve the efficiency of neural development from human embryonic stem cells, human embryoid body (hEB) generation is vital through 3-dimensional formation. However, conventional approaches still have limitations: long-term cultivation and laborious steps for lineage determination. Methods: In this study, we controlled the size of hEBs for ectodermal lineage specification using cell-penetrating magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), which resulted in reduced time required for initial neural induction. The magnetized cells were applied to concentrated magnetic force for magnet-derived multicellular organization. The uniformly sized hEBs were differentiated in neural induction medium (NIM) and suspended condition. This neurally induced MNP-hEBs were compared with other groups. Results: As a result, the uniformly sized MNP-hEBs in NIM showed significantly improved neural inductivity through morphological analysis and expression of neural markers. Signaling pathways of the accelerated neural induction were detected via expression of representative proteins; Wnt signaling, dopaminergic neuronal pathway, intercellular communications, and mechanotransduction. Consequently, we could shorten the time necessary for early neurogenesis, thereby enhancing the neural induction efficiency. Conclusion: Overall, this study suggests not only the importance of size regulation of hEBs at initial differentiation stage but also the efficacy of MNP-based neural induction method and stimulations for enhanced neural tissue regeneration.

Differences in Carbon Intensity of Energy Consumption and Influential Factors between Yangtze River Economic Belt and Yellow River Basin

The Yangtze River Economic Belt and the Yellow River Basin are significant economic and ecological zones in China, contributing over 70% of the nation’s total carbon emissions, crucial for achieving “peak carbon” and “carbon neutrality” targets. This study examines data spanning 2000 to 2020 from 19 provinces, employing time-series analysis and the Theil index to compare carbon intensity variations in energy consumption between the regions. Findings reveal mean Theil index values of 0.0482 and 0.1699 for the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins, respectively. While the Yangtze River basin displays modest carbon intensity differences with remaining intra-basin disparities, the Yellow River Basin exhibits substantial discrepancies, attributed to both inter-basin and intra-basin factors. Our geodetector underscores the significance of government regulation, population size, and economic development in influencing carbon intensity within the Yangtze River Economic Belt, with impact coefficients exceeding 0.75 while carbon intensity in the Yellow River Basin is influenced by population size, energy consumption, and government regulation, with impact coefficients surpassing 0.8. Additionally, interactions among these factors significantly affect disparities in carbon intensity, suggesting a synergistic effect. We propose leveraging key factors from both basins to orchestrate emissions reduction efforts.

Regulation of morphology and particle size of spinel LiMn2O4 induced by Fe-B co-doping for high-power lithium ion batteries

The spinel LiMn2O4 cathode material shows severe capacity degradation due to Jahn–Teller distortion and dissolution of Mn during the charge-discharge process. Herein, a series of single crystal truncated octahedral of LiFe0.03BxMn1.97−xO4 (0≤x≤0.10) were synthesized by simple solid-state combustion combined with Fe-B co-doping, morphology and particle size controlling strategy. Through Fe-B co-doping, not only the LiFe0.03Mn1.97O4 containing {111}, {100} and {110} planes are successfully controlled to the particles containing only {111} and {100} planes, but also the near-nanometer particles are controlled to bigger submicron sizes. It is found that Fe-B co-doping can enhance the stability of the crystal structure, inhibit Jahn-Teller distortion and reduce the dissolution of Mn. Among them, the optimized LiFe0.03B0.08Mn1.89O4 forms a truncated octahedral single crystal particle with good crystallization and only {111} and {100} crystal faces, and the particle size is around 349.3 nm, showing exceptional high rate capacity and long cycle life. The LiFe0.03B0.08Mn1.89O4 releases a high initial discharge capacity of 107.1 mAh/g with a capacity retention of 77.7% after 1000 cycles at 10 C, which is higher than that of the LiFe0.03Mn1.97O4 (58.8%). Even at 20 C, LiFe0.03B0.08Mn1.89O4 still achieves a high reversible specific capacity (90.4 mAh/g) and outstanding long-cycle stability (81.3%, 1000th). This work provides a scientific basis for the crystal surface control and particle size control of spinel LiMn2O4, which is of great significance for the development of the next generation of high-power lithium-ion batteries.

Rice AGL1 determines grain size and sterile lemma identity

The grass spikelet is a unique inflorescence structure that determines grain size. Although many genetic factors have been well characterized for grain size and glume development, the underlying molecular mechanisms in rice are far from established. Here, we isolated rice gene, AGL1 that controlled grain size and determines the fate of the sterile lemma. Loss of function of AGL1 produced larger grains and reduced the size of the sterile lemma. Larger grains in the agl1 mutant were caused by a larger number of cells that were longer and wider than in the wild type. The sterile lemma in the mutant spikelet was converted to a rudimentary glume-like organ. Our findings showed that the AGL1 (also named LAX1) protein positively regulated G1 expression, and negatively regulated NSG1 expression, thereby affecting the fate of the sterile lemma. Taken together, our results revealed that AGL1 played a key role in negative regulation of grain size by controlling cell proliferation and expansion, and supported the opinion that rudimentary glume and sterile lemma in rice are homologous organs.

The TaSnRK1-TabHLH489 module integrates brassinosteroid and sugar signalling to regulate the grain length in bread wheat.

Regulation of grain size is a crucial strategy for improving the crop yield and is also a fundamental aspect of developmental biology. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms governing grain development in wheat remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified a wheat atypical basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, TabHLH489, which is tightly associated with grain length through genome-wide association study and map-based cloning. Knockout of TabHLH489 and its homologous genes resulted in increased grain length and weight, whereas the overexpression led to decreased grain length and weight. TaSnRK1α1, the α-catalytic subunit of plant energy sensor SnRK1, interacted with and phosphorylated TabHLH489 to induce its degradation, thereby promoting wheat grain development. Sugar treatment induced TaSnRK1α1 protein accumulation while reducing TabHLH489 protein levels. Moreover, brassinosteroid (BR) promotes grain development by decreasing TabHLH489 expression through the transcription factor BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT1 (BZR1). Importantly, natural variations in the promoter region of TabHLH489 affect the TaBZR1 binding ability, thereby influencing TabHLH489 expression. Taken together, our findings reveal that the TaSnRK1α1-TabHLH489 regulatory module integrates BR and sugar signalling to regulate grain length, presenting potential targets for enhancing grain sizein wheat.