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Functional analysis of MdSUT2.1, a plasma membrane sucrose transporter from apple

ZHANG Bo, FAN Wen-min, ZHU Zhen-zhen, WANG Ying, ZHAO Zheng-yang

2023, 22 (3): 762-775. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2022.09.012

Abstract （267） PDF in ScienceDirect

Sugar content is a determinant of apple (Malus×domestica Borkh.) sweetness. However, the molecular mechanism underlying sucrose accumulation in apple fruit remains elusive. Herein, this study reported the role of the sucrose transporter MdSUT2.1 in the regulation of sucrose accumulation in apples. The MdSUT2.1 gene encoded a protein with 612 amino acid residues that could be localized at the plasma membrane when expressed in tobacco leaf protoplasts. MdSUT2.1 was highly expressed in fruit and was positively correlated with sucrose accumulation during apple fruit development. Moreover, complementary growth assays in a yeast mutant validated the sucrose transport activity of MdSUT2.1. MdSUT2.1 overexpression in apples and tomatoes resulted in significant increases in sucrose, fructose, and glucose contents compared to the wild type (WT). Further analysis revealed that the expression levels of sugar metabolism- and transport-related genes SUSYs, NINVs, FRKs, HXKs, and TSTs increased in apples and tomatoes with MdSUT2.1 overexpression compared to WT. Finally, unlike the tonoplast sugar transporters MdTST1 and MdTST2, the promoter of MdSUT2.1 was not induced by exogenous sugars. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanism underlying sugar accumulation in apples.

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Allele mining of wheat ABA receptor at TaPYL4 suggests neo-functionalization among the wheat homoeologs

WU Bang-bang, SHI Meng-meng, Mohammad POURKHEIRANDISH, ZHAO Qi, WANG Ying, YANG Chen-kang, QIAO Ling, ZHAO Jia-jia, YAN Su-xian, ZHENG Xing-wei, ZHENG Jun

2022, 21 (8): 2183-2196. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63699-7

Abstract （213） PDF in ScienceDirect

ABA receptors (PYR/PYL/RCAR) play a central role in the water loss control of plants. A previous report indicated that TaPYL4 is a critical gene in wheat that improves grain production under drought conditions and increases water use efficiency. In this study, we analyzed the sequence polymorphisms and genetic effects of TaPYL4s. Based on isolated TaPYL4 genes from chromosomes 2A, 2B and 2D, three haplotypes were detected in the promoter region of TaPYL4-2A, and two haplotypes were present in TaPYL4-2B and TaPYL4-2D, respectively. Marker/trait association analysis indicated that TaPYL4-2A was significantly associated with plant height in 262 Chinese wheat core collection accessions, as well as the drought tolerance coefficient (DTC) for plant height in 239 wheat varieties from Shanxi Province in multiple environments. However, the frequencies of favored drought-tolerant haplotype TaPYL4-2A-Hap2 were considerably low, accounting for only 10%, and lines with this certain Hap could be reserved in the breeding program. TaPYL4-2B was significantly associated with grain number, and the favored haplotype TaPYL4-2B-Hap1 was the dominant allele of above 90% in the collection. For TaPYL4-2D, there were no significant differences in these traits between the two haplotypes in either of the two panels. These results indicate that variation might lead to functional differentiation among the homoeologs and the haplotypes had undergone artificial selection during breeding. Two molecular markers developed to distinguish these haplotypes could be used for breeding in water-limited regions.

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Incidence and prevalence levels of three aphid-transmitted viruses in crucifer crops in China

ZHANG Xiao-yan, PENG Yan-mei, XIANG Hai-ying, WANG Ying, LI Da-wei, YU Jia-lin, HAN Cheng-gui

2022, 21 (3): 774-780. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(21)63618-3

Abstract （235） PDF in ScienceDirect

Poleroviruses, which are distributed worldwide, infect many crops of economic importance and cause severe plant diseases. Brassica yellows virus (BrYV), which has three genotypes, A, B, and C, is a newly identified polerovirus infecting crucifer crops in China, but its distribution is still unclear. Here, we report the distribution and prevalence levels of the three BrYV genotypes in crucifer crops in China. A total of 570 crucifer leaf samples randomly collected from 22 provinces, four ethnic minority autonomous regions, and three municipalities in China were tested for BrYV. RT-PCR detection showed that 97 of the field samples were positive for BrYV, and the average incidence of BrYV was 17.0%. The virus was detected in 22 provinces, with high incidences in north, northwest, and northeast China. The multiplex RT-PCR amplification of the three BrYV genotypes revealed that both single and mixed infections occurred. Among the BrYV infections, 38.1% were mix-infected by more than two viral genotypes, and 8.2% samples were mix-infected by three viral genotypes. Our findings indicated a widespread prevalence of BrYV in China, and BrYV mixed infections with Turnip mosaic virus and Cucumber mosaic virus in crucifer crops are common. This study is the first large-scale survey of BrYV in crucifer crops in China. The information generated in this investigation will contribute to the national prevention and control of viral diseases.

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Chinese herbal formulae defend against Mycoplasma gallisepticum infection

WANG Ying-jie, LIANG Ya-xi, HU Fu-li, SUN Ying-fei, ZOU Meng-yun, LUO Rong-long, PENG Xiu-li

2022, 21 (10): 3026-3036. DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2022.07.038

Abstract （321） PDF in ScienceDirect

Mycoplasma gallisepticum HS strain (MG-HS) is a pathogen that causes chronic respiratory disease (CRD) in chicken, which is characterized by host respiratory inflammatory damage, brings huge economic losses to the poultry industry. Recently, emerging Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) have been used to treat CRD. This study was aimed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects and their potential mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicinal formulae (CHMF), which consisted of 10 kinds of Chinese herbal medicine including Scutellaria, Houttuynia cordate and licorice, on MG-induced CRD in chickens. With respect to the preventive effect, the results showed that CHMF could effectively recover the MG-induced decrease on body weight and feed conversion ratio. Histopathological analysis showed that both prevention and treatment of CHMF could significantly alleviate the severe respiratory inflammation induced by MG infection. Moreover, compared with the MG infection group, both the prevention groups and the treatment groups of CHMF could effectively reduce the expression of MG adhesion protein (pMGA1.2) to inhibit the proliferation of MG, and thus effectively inhibit the expression of MG-induced inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). In summary, these findings confirm that CHMF can protect chickens from various tissue damage caused by MG infection and has no adverse effects on the performance of chickens in the short term. And its efficacy against MG is equal to or better than that of tiamulin.

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New geographic distribution and molecular diversity of Citrus chlorotic dwarf-associated virus in China

YANG Zhen, ZHANG Lan, ZHAO Jin-fa, ZHANG Xing-kai, WANG Ying, LI Tai-sheng, ZHANG Wei, ZHOU Yan

2022, 21 (1): 293-298. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63601-2

Abstract （125） PDF in ScienceDirect

In 2009, an emerging citrus viral disease caused by Citrus chlorotic dwarf-associated virus (CCDaV) was discovered in Yunnan Province of China. However, the occurrence and spread of CCDaV in other citrus-growing provinces in China is unknown to date. To better understand the distribution and molecular diversity of CCDaV in China, a total of 1 772 citrus samples were collected from 11 major citrus-growing provinces and were tested for CCDaV by PCR. Among these, 134 citrus samples from Guangxi, Yunnan and Guangdong were tested positive for CCDaV, demonstrating that the occurrence and spread of CCDaV are increasing in China. The complete genome sequences of 17 CCDaV isolates from different provinces and hosts were sequenced. Comparisons of the whole-genome sequences of the 17 CCDaV isolates as well as the 15 isolates available in GenBank revealed that the sequence identity was about 99–100%, showing that the CCDaV isolates were highly conserved. Phylogenetic studies showed that the 32 CCDaV isolates belonged to four different groups based on geographical origins and host species, and that CCDaV isolates from China and Turkey were clustered into different groups. The results provide important information for clarifying the distribution and genetic diversity of CCDaV in China.

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Divergent responses of tiller and grain yield to fertilization and fallow precipitation: Insights from a 28-year long-term experiment in a semiarid winter wheat system

WANG Rui, WANG Ying, HU Ya-xian, DANG Ting-hui, GUO Sheng-li

2021, 20 (11): 3003-3011. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63296-8

Abstract （156） PDF in ScienceDirect

Tillering is an important phenological stage, which is strongly related to the yield in spike components and final grain yield during winter wheat growth. Precipitation during the fallow season (fallow precipitation) influences tillering in winter wheat on the semi-arid Chinese Loess Plateau. However, little work has been done regarding tiller number changes under various types of fertilization and amounts of fallow precipitation on a long-term scale. Effects of fallow precipitation and fertilization on tiller were investigated in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) system in a 28-year field study (1990 to 2017) in a semiarid agro-ecosystem. Tiller number, spike number and grain yield were measured in four fertilization conditions: control without fertilizer (CK); mineral nitrogen fertilizer alone (N); mineral phosphorus fertilizer alone (P); mineral nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer together (NP). Based on the long-term annual fallow precipitation, dry years (<mean annual fallow precipitation) and wet years (>mean annual fallow precipitation) were distinguished. Phosphorus fertilization alone significantly increased the mean annual tiller number (23%), and the increase in tiller number was higher in wet years (29%) than in the dry years (17%). However, nitrogen fertilization alone had little effect on mean tiller number, while nitrogen and phosphorus together significantly increased mean annual tiller number (30%), mean tiller number in wet years (45%) and mean tiller number in dry years (17%). Tiller number was significantly and positively correlated with fallow precipitation in dry years for all fertilizer treatments, whereas it was weakly and either positively or negatively correlated with fallow precipitation in wet years depending on the treatment. This study found positive correlations between tiller number and fallow precipitation in the CK and NP treatments, and it found negative correlations between tiller number and fallow precipitation in the treatments with nitrogen fertilization alone or phosphorous fertilization alone in wet years. Understanding the impacts of fallow precipitation and fertilization on tiller development shed light on ways to improve crop production in rain-fed agricultural regions.

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The expression of Lin28B was co-regulated by H3K4me2 and Wnt5a/β-catenin/TCF7L2

ZHANG Ya-ni, HU Cai, WANG Ying-jie, ZUO Qi-sheng, LI Bi-chun

2020, 19 (12): 3054-3064. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(20)63441-4

Abstract （121） PDF in ScienceDirect

Lin28A and Lin28B are homologous RNA-binding proteins that participate in the development of primordial germ cells. The mechanisms underlying expression and regulation of Lin28A have been well documented, but such information for Lin28B is limited. In this study, a fragment of the Lin28B promoter was cloned, the pEGFP-pLin28B vector was constructed. DF-1 chicken fibroblasts were transfected and the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was measured. Furtherly, Lin28B promoter of different lengths fragments was cloned using the chromosome-walking method and the fragments were ligated into the PGL3-Basic vector, and transfected into DF-1 cells. Results of dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that the core of the Lin28B promoter was included in the sequence from –1 431 to –1 034 bp. The binding sites of the transcription factor TCF7L2 was showed within this sequence by bioinformatics analysis. The promoter activity of Lin28B was downregulated (P<0.05) when the TCF7L2 binding site was mutated. Further experiments suggested that Lin28B promoter activity responded to the activation or inhibition of Wnt signaling. Results of chromatin immunoprecipitation and quantitative PCR showed that β-catenin-TCF7L2 may be enriched in the Lin28B promoter core area. In vivo and in vitro activation or inhibition of Wnt signaling significantly up- or down-regulated (P<0.05) Lin28B expression. H3K4me2 enriched in the promoter of Lin28B, which affected the regulation of Wnt signaling to Lin28B. In conclusion, our results showed that H3K4me2 and Wnt5a/β-catenin/TCF7L2 were the positive regulators of Lin28B expression. Findings of this study may lay a theoretical foundation for illuminating the mechanism underlying Lin28B expression.

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Phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins in three ovine muscles during postmortem ageing

WANG Ying, LI Xin, LI Zheng, DU Man-ting, ZHU Jie, ZHANG She-qi, ZHANG De-quan

2019, 18 (7): 1643-1651. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(19)62653-5

Abstract （308） PDF in ScienceDirect

This study aimed to examine changes in phosphorylation of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins from longissimus lumborum, semitendinosus, and psoas major muscles during postmortem ageing for 5 d. These sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins were separated using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stained with phosphorous and protein specific stains. Myofibril fragmentation index, pH, the content of lactic acid and the relative activity of μ-calpain in three ovine muscles were measured. These results showed that the relative phosphorylation level of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins of psoas major muscle were lower compared with longissimus lumborum and semitendinosus muscles (P<0.05). The pH of psoas major muscle was the lowest at 0.5 h postmortem, and the highest after 12 h postmortem (P<0.05). In addition, the relative activity of μ-calpain was higher within 5 d postmortem and myofibril fragmentation index was higher after 1 d postmortem in psoas major muscle than those of longissimus lumborum and semitendinosus muscles (P<0.05). The sarcoplasmic protein phosphorylation may regulate the rate of pH decline to influence the μ-calpain activity and then proteolysis of proteins consequently. This study gives a new perspective of the mechanism of postmortem meat tenderization.

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Invasion biology of the cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley: Current knowledge and future directions

TONG Hao-jie, AO Yan, LI Zi-hao, WANG Ying, JIANG Ming-xing

2019, 18 (4): 758-770. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)61972-0

Abstract （307） PDF （825KB）（667）

The cotton mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), which is native to North America, emerged as a major invasive insect pest of multiple crops in Asia at the beginning of the 21st century. Considering the economic significance of this insect and its rapid worldwide spread, we examined the possible factors driving its invasions. In this paper, we summarize the life history traits of P. solenopsis conceivably related to population development in invaded regions; these traits include its use of diverse host plants, reproductive capacity and mode, adaptation to temperature, response to food shortage, and insecticidal resistance. Then, focusing on the multiple trophic interactions that may promote or hinder invasion, we review the mutualistic relationship of this mealybug with ants and predation and parasitism by natural enemies. Finally, we suggest topics for future research and provide our perspective on the biological invasions of this mealybug. We speculate that specific biological factors associated with this mealybug, particularly its wide host range, high reproductive potential, evolved changes in life history traits, and mutualism with ants have played important roles in its invasions, allowing this pest to become established and rapidly increase its population upon its introduction into new regions.

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Maize ABP2 enhances tolerance to drought and salt stress in transgenic Arabidopsis

ZONG Na, LI Xing-juan, WANG Lei, WANG Ying, WEN Hong-tao, LI Ling, ZHANG Xia, FAN Yun-liu, ZHAO Jun

2018, 17 (11): 2379-2393. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)61947-1

Abstract （375） PDF （35768KB）（362）

Abiotic stresses, especially drought and salt, severely affect maize production, which is one of the most important cereal crops in the world. Breeding stress-tolerant maize through biotechnology is urgently needed to maintain maize production. Therefore, it is important to identify new genes that can enhance both drought and salt stress tolerance for molecular breeding. In this study, we identified a maize ABA (abscisic acid)-responsive element (ABRE) binding protein from a 17-day post-pollination (dpp) maize embryo cDNA library by yeast one-hybrid screen using the ABRE2 sequence of the maize Cat1 gene as bait. This protein, designated, ABRE binding protein 2 (ABP2), belongs to the bZIP transcription factor family. Endogenous expression of ABP2 in maize can be detected in different tissues at various development stages, and can be induced by drought, salt, reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating agents, and ABA treatment. Constitutive expression of ABP2 in transgenic Arabidopsis plants enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress, and increased sensitivity to ABA. In exploring the mechanism by which ABP2 can stimulate abiotic stress tolerance, we found that ROS levels were reduced and expression of stress-responsive and carbon metabolism-related genes was enhanced by constitutive ABP2 expression in transgenic plants. In short, we identified a maize bZIP transcription factor which can enhance both drought and salt tolerance of plants.

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Identification and characterization of Pichia membranifaciens Hmp-1 isolated from spoilage blackberry wine

WANG Ying, ZHAO Yan-cun, FAN Lin-lin, XIA Xiu-dong, LI Ya-hui, ZHOU Jian-zhong

2018, 17 (09): 2126-2136. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(18)62027-1

Abstract （416） PDF in ScienceDirect

The pellicle-forming yeast could cause the quality deterioration of wine. In this study, a pellicle-forming strain Hmp-1 was isolated from the spoilage blackberry wine, and identified as Pichia membranifaciens based on the morphology and partial nucleotide sequence of 26S rDNA. The effects of fermentation conditions (ethanol, sulfur dioxide, sugar, and temperature) on the growth of P. membranifaciens strain Hmp-1 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain FM-S-115 (a strain used for the blackberry wine fermentation) were investigated, respectively. The results indicated that Hmp-1 had lower resistance to these factors compared to FM-S-115, and the growth of Hmp-1 was completely inhibited by 10% (v/v) or 50 mg L^–1 SO₂ during the fermentation of blackberry wine. These results suggested that Hmp-1 could effectively be controlled by increasing ethanol or SO₂ concentration during the fermentation and storage of blackberry wine. Furthermore, the analysis based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that Hmp-1 remarkably decreased kinds of volatile compounds in blackberry wine, especially aldehydes and esters. In addition, some poisonous compounds were detected in the blackberry wine fermented by FM-S-115 and Hmp-1. These results suggested that Hmp-1 was a major cause leading to the quality deterioration of blackberry wine.

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The effect of dehydrogenase enzyme activity in glycolysis on the colour stability of mutton during postmortem storage

XIN Jian-zeng, LI Zheng, LI Xin, LI Meng, WANG Ying, YANG Fu-min, ZHANG De-quan

2017, 16 (11): 2646-2654. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61622-2

Abstract （623） PDF in ScienceDirect

This study investigated the influence of activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and lactate dehydrogenase-B (LDH-B) on the colour stability of mutton. From 60 sheep (Bayannur mutton sheep), 15 longissimus dorsi (LD) muscles were selected on the basis of colour stability (R630/580 and a* value) during the storage and classified into three groups (5 for each group) as high colour stability (HCS), intermediate colour stability (ICS) and low colour stability (LCS). The activities of GAPDH and LDH-B, muscle colour attributes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleuotide (NADH) concentration and lactate concentration were measured. The samples in HCS had higher activities of GAPDH and LDH-B than the samples in the LCS, and the samples in the HCS group also possessed higher NADH and lower lactate concentration. The higher activity of dehydrogenase enzyme may result in higher NADH concentrations and colour stability in muscle tissue. The results suggest that the activity of GAPDH and LDH-B may also play a role in maintaining colour stability.

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Responses of N₂O reductase gene (nosZ)-denitrifier communities to long-term fertilization follow a depth pattern in calcareous purplish paddy soil

WANG Ying-yan, LU Sheng-e, XIANG Quan-ju, YU Xiu-mei, ZHAO Ke, ZHANG Xiao-ping, TU Shihua, GU Yun-fu

2017, 16 (11): 2597-2611. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61707-6

Abstract （1024） PDF in ScienceDirect

The effect of long-term fertilization on soil denitrifying communities was analysed by measuring the abundance and diversity of the nitrous oxide (N₂O) reductase gene, nosZ. Soil samples were collected from plots of a long-term fertilization experiment established in 1982 in Suining City, China. The fertilizer treatments were no fertilizer (CK), three chemical fertilizer (CF) treatments (N, NP, NPK), manure (M) alone, and manure with chemical fertilizers (NM, NPM, NPKM). The abundance and diversity of the denitrifying bacteria were assessed by real-time quantitative PCR, terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP), and cloning and sequencing of nosZ genes. The diversity and abundance of nosZ-denitrifiers was higher in soil amended with manure and chemical fertilizers (CFM) than in soil amended with CF alone, and the highest in topsoil (0–20 cm). The nosZ-denitrifier community composition was more complex in CFM soil than in CF soil. Specific species were detected only in the CFM soil. The abundance of nosZ-denitrifier in the NPKM treatment was approximately two times higher than that in the CK, N, and NPK treatments. Most of the cloned nosZ sequences were closely related to nosZ sequences from Bradyrhizobiaceae and Rhodospirillaceae in Alphaproteobacteria. Of the measured abiotic factors, soil organic matter correlated significantly with the abundance (P<0.01); available phosphorus correlated significantly with the topsoil community composition (P<0.01), whereas soil organic matter correlated significantly with the subsoil (20–90 cm) community composition (P<0.01). This study demonstrated that long-term CFM fertilization affected both the abundance and composition of the nosZ-denitrifier community.

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Research on the appropriate way to transfer exogenous substances into chicken embryos

WANG Yi-lin, JIN Kai, HE Na-na, CHENG Shao-ze, ZUO Qi-sheng, LI Dong, WANG Ying-jie, WANG Fei, JI Yan-qing, LU Zhen-yu, ZHANG Chen, WANG Man, ZHAO Rui-feng, YU Xin-jian, ZHANG Ya-ni, ZHAO Wen-ming...

2017, 16 (10): 2257-2263. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(17)61668-X

Abstract （535） PDF in ScienceDirect

In biological research, chicken embryos are a classic experimental model for the exploration of the embryonic development and cell differentiation. Transferring exogenous substances into chicken embryos for producing medical antibodies has been widely used in the production practice. However, there are few studies about the effect of the different injection site and dosage on chicken embryos. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of different injection sites and dosages on chicken embryo hatching rate and development, so as to provide a basis for further studies using the chicken embryo model. Freshly laid eggs (Rugao yellow chicken) were injected with different doses of saline at the tip, equatorial plane and the blunt end of the egg shell, respectively. Egg hatching rate was recorded and compared among injection sites and different doses. A trypan blue stain was also injected at the aforementioned sites and the growth of chicken embryos was observed. The SPSS (statistical package for the social science) software was used to analyze the relationship between the chicken eggs hatching rate and the different injection sites or the different dosages. The experimental results showed that there were significant differences on egg hatching rates among the different injection sites and doses (P<0.05). The hatchability of the blunt end injection group was significantly higher than that of the other two sites. The egg hatching rate decreased with increased saline doses. The egg hatching rate of the 100 µL saline injection group was higher than the 200 and 300 µL dosage groups. Ultimately, we suggest that the optimal chicken embryo injection process is during early development, at the blunt end site with a dose less than 100 µL to minimize damage to the egg.

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BRITTLE CULM16 (BRITTLE NODE) is required for the formation of secondary cell walls in rice nodes

WANG Ying, REN Yu-long, CHEN Sai-hua, XU Yang, ZHOU Kun-neng, ZHANG Long, MING Ming, WU Fu-qing, LIN Qi-bing, WANG Jiu-lin, GUO Xiu-ping, ZHANG Xin, LEI Cai-lin, CHENG Zhi-jun, WAN Jian-min

2017, 16 (06): 1286-1293. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61536-8

Abstract （958） PDF in ScienceDirect

Plant cell walls constitute the skeletal structures of plant bodies, and thus confer lodging resistance for grain crops. While the basic cell wall synthesis machinery is relatively well established now, our understanding of how the process is regulated remains limited and fragmented. In this study, we report the identification and characterization of the novel rice (Oryza sativa L.) brittle culm16 (brittle node; bc16) mutant. The brittle node phenotype of the bc16 mutant appears exclusively at nodes, and resembles the previously reported bc5 mutant. Combined histochemical staining and electron microscopy assays revealed that in the bc16 mutant, the secondary cell wall formation and thickening of node sclerenchyma tissues are seriously affected after heading. Furthermore, cell wall composition assays revealed that the bc16 mutation led to a significant reduction in cellulose and lignin contents. Using a map-based cloning approach, the bc16 locus is mapped to an approximately 1.7-Mb region of chromosome 4. Together, our findings strengthen evidence for discretely spatial differences in the secondary cell wall formation within plant bodies.

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The diversity and potential function of endophytic bacteria isolated from Kobreasia capillifolia at alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau, China

WANG Ying, YANG Cheng-de, YAO Yu-ling, WANG Yu-qin, ZHANG Zhen-fen, XUE Li

2016, 15 (9): 2153-2162. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61248-5

Abstract （1448） PDF in ScienceDirect

A total of 50 endophytic bacterial isolates were obtained from Kobreasia capillifolia at alpine grasslands in the Eastern Qilian Mountains on the Tibetan Plateau in China. Based on the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA genes, all isolates phylogenetically related closely to Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Brevundimonas, Arthrobacter, Curtobacterium, Paenibacillus, Plantibacter, Promicromonospora, Serratia, and Microbacterium, among which Bacillus was the predominant genus (47.8% of the total number of endophytic isolates). These isolates possessed different biological functions. In 50 endophytic bacteria, 42 isolates produced indole acetic acid (IAA) on King medium. There were seven isolates showing potency of mineral phosphate solubilization in Pikovaskaia’s (PKO) liquid medium. Seven isolates exhibited antagonistic effect against Fusarium avenaceum, Colletotrichum coccodes and Phoma foveata. This was the first report on diversity and plant growth promotion of endophytic bacteria from K. capillifolia on alpine grassland in the Eastern Qilian Mountains, Chain. It is essential for revealing the relationship among plant, microorganism, and the special environment because the potential function of endophytic bacteria made a contribution to the interactions of plants and endophytic bacteria.

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Identification of a novel gain-of-function mutant allele, slr1-d5, of rice DELLA protein

ZHANG Yun-hui, BIAN Xiao-feng, ZHANG Suo-bing, LING Jing, WANG Ying-jie, WEI Xiao-ying, FANG Xian-wen

2016, 15 (7): 1441-1448. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61208-4

Abstract （1447） PDF in ScienceDirect

Controlling the height of crops plays a crucial role for their yields. The large scale utilization of semi-dwarf varieties has greatly improved crop yield, providing an effective support for world food security. In rice, a main food for over half of the world’s population, a number of dwarf loci have been identified. However, most of them are recessive, such as the ‘green revolution’ gene sd1. To gain more beneficial loci for rice breeding programs, exploring new mutations is needed, especially the dominant loci which can be used broadly for hybrid breeding. Here, we isolated a novel dominant dwarf rice mutant, slr1-d5. All of the internodes of slr1-d5 are reduced. We find that the responsiveness of slr1-d5 to gibberellin (GA), GA₃, was significantly reduced. Map-based cloning revealed that the dominant dwarfism of slr1-d5 was caused by an amino acid substitution in the N-terminal TVHYNP domain of rice DELLA protein, SLR1, where the conserved amino acid Pro (P) was substituted to His (H). Our findings not only further prove the pivotal role of TVHYNP motif in regulating SLR1 stability, but also provide a new dwarf source for improvement of rice germplasms.

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Characterization and Comparison of Ochratoxin A-Ovalbumin (OTA-OVA) Conjugation by Three Methods

WANG Xi-chun, BAO Ming, WU Jin-jie, LUO Ying, MA Liang-you, WANG Ying, ZHANG Ai-hua, HE Cheng-hua , ZHANG Hai-bin

2014, 13 (5): 1130-1136. DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60767-X

Abstract （1807） PDF in ScienceDirect

In order to generate an antibody against a small hapten molecule, the hapten is cross-linked with carrier protein to make it immunogenic. In this study, the hapten (ochratoxin A, OTA) was coupled to ovalbumin (OVA) by an active ester reaction. To develop a technique for detecting the conjugation, the hapten-protein conjugate (OTA-OVA) was characterized thoroughly by immunoarray technology, ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), respectively. The molecular weight of OTA-OVA was 50 350.141 Da, and the molecular weight of OVA was 44 887.506 Da, which were determined by MALDI-TOF-MS, respectively. In OTA-OVA, the molecular coupling ratio was 13:1 by MALDI-TOF-MS while the molecular coupling ratio was 10:1 by UV. In this experiment, UV and MALDI-TOF-MS were selected as the efficient methods to evaluate the cross-linking effect and calculate the molecular coupling ratio.

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Functional Characterization of a NEM1-Like Gene in Magnaporthe oryzae

WANG Ying, JIAO Tian-lei, LIU Xiao-hong, LIN Fu-cheng , WU Wei-ren

2011, 10 (9): 1385-1390. DOI: 10.1016/S1671-2927(11)60131-4

Abstract （2095） PDF in ScienceDirect

Magnaporthe oryzae, a filamentous ascomycete fungus, is well known as the causal agent of rice blast. With thetechnology of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), it was previously found that MGG_06001 (or named MoNEM1),a gene of M. oryzae homologous to the NEM1 (nuclear envelope morphology protein 1) gene of baker’s yeast(Saccharomyces cerevisiae), is differentially expressed between the mature appressium and the conidium and mycelium.This study aimed to characterize the function of MoNEM1 gene by knocking it out using the method of target genereplacement. The ΔMonem1 mutants exhibited reduced mycelial growth and conidiation. However, disruption of MoNEM1gene does not affect the pathogenicity of M. oryzae on barley and rice.

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WANG Teng-fei, FAN Chang-yong, XIAO Yu-fei, LV Shan, JIANG Guang-yang, ZOU Meng-yun, WANG Ying-jie, GUO Qiao, CHE Zheng-hao, PENG Xiu-li

DOI: 10.1016/j.jia.2023.11.043 Online: 29 November 2023

Abstract （88） PDF in ScienceDirect

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a common avian pathogen that mainly infects poultry, causing significant reductions in body weight gain and egg production, along with damage to immune organs and immunosuppression. MG is susceptible to co-infections with other pathogens, leading to increased mortality rates and significant economic losses in the global poultry industry. While antibiotics have been extensively applied worldwide to treat MG infections in poultry production, concerns regarding antibiotic resistance and residue remain prevalent. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), renowned for its natural, safe, and non-toxic properties, has shown significant anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing effects. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of TCM on production performance and its impact on MG-induced immunosuppression through the MAPK/ERK/JNK signaling pathway in chickens. Our results showed that TCM alleviated the negative effects of MG infection on production performance, as evidenced by improvements in body weight gain, feed conversion rate, survival rate, and immune organ index. TCM exhibited direct inhibition of the MG proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, TCM treatment promoted the normalization of trachea and lung tissue structure in MG-infected chickens, leading to a significant reduction in inflammatory damage. Moreover, following the treatment with the TCM, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) decreased significantly, accompanied by the downregulation of pro-apoptotic genes caspase3, caspase9, and BAX, both in vitro and in vivo. A mechanism-based study showed that in vitro and in vivo treatment with the TCM significantly reduced the expression of key proteins, including early growth response gene1 (EGR1), p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-JUN. Altogether, TCM improved body weight gain, inhibited pro-inflammation responses, and alleviated tissue damage by inhibiting the MAPK/ERK/JNK signaling pathway to protect the performance and immune system of MG-infected chickens.

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