Identification and promoter analysis of some important storage protein genes from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract A cDNA library was constructed using wheat seeds from a cultivar PH82-2-2 with superior bread-making quality, and differential hybridization was conducted by using RNA probes of unpollinated ovary, embryo and endosperm with 10, 000 clones from the cDNA library. 99 out of 800 clones, representing 22 unique genes, were identified as storage protein genes through sequencing blast. These 22 genes encode low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS), high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), gliadin and avenins. Three clones 6A4, 6H11 and 8G17 encoding storage proteins were confirmed to express specifically in endosperm via Northern blot analysis. Southern blot result indicated there are at least three copies of 6A4 in wheat genome. A 2-kb promoter of 8G17 was isolated by Universal GenomeWalker TM Kit. The analysis of cis-acting elements revealed 8G17 promoter contained endosperm related transcriptional elements. The functional genomics data in this paper will provide valuable information for improvement of wheat flour quality. Keywords: Triticum aestivum endosperm avenin-like proteins low molecular weight glutenin subunit High molecular weight glutenin subunit gliadin promoter

The 20 years transition of clinical characteristics and metabolic risk factors in primary liver cancer patients from China

BackgroundThe clinical characteristics of primary liver cancer (PLC) patients are changing, maybe due to hepatitis viral vaccination and lifestyle changes, etc. The linkage between these changes and outcomes among these PLCs has not yet been fully elucidated.MethodsIt was identified total of 1691 PLC cases diagnosed between 2000 ~ 2020. Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to determine the connections between the clinical presentations and their close risk factor(s) from PLC patients.ResultsThe average age of PLC patients increased gradually from 52.74 ± 0.5 years in 2000 ~ 2004 to 58.63 ± 0.44 years in 2017 ~ 2020, accompanied by an increased proportion of females from 11.11% to 22.46%, and non-viral hepatitis-related PLC was raised from 1.5% to 22.35%. 840 (49.67%) PLC patients with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) < 20ng/mL (AFP-negative). The mortality was 285 (16.85%) or 532 (31.46%) PLC patients with alanine transaminase (ALT) between 40 ~ 60 IU/L or ALT > 60 IU/L. The PLC patients with pre-diabetes/diabetes or dyslipidemia also increased from 4.29% or 11.1% in 2000 ~ 2004 to 22.34% or 46.83% in 2017 ~ 2020. The survival period of the PLC patients with normoglycemia or normolipidemic was 2.18 or 3.14 folds longer than those patients with pre-diabetes/diabetes or hyperlipidemia (P<0.05).ConclusionsIt was gradually increased that age, the proportion of females, non-viral hepatitis-related causes, AFP-negative, and abnormal glucose/lipids among PLC patients. Proper control of glucose/lipids or ALT may improve the prognosis of PLCs