Correlation between mRNA abundance in the leaves of Maverick and CUF101 varieties and illumination time under artificial growth conditions.

<p>Correlation between mRNA abundance in the leaves of Maverick and CUF101 varieties and illumination time under artificial growth conditions.</p

Screening and identification of key genes regulating fall dormancy in alfalfa leaves

<div><p>Fall dormancy (FD) determines the adaptation of an alfalfa variety and affects alfalfa production and quality. However, the molecular mechanism underlying FD remains poorly understood. Here, 44 genes regulating FD were identified by comparison of the transcriptomes from leaves of Maverick (fall-dormant alfalfa) and CUF101(non-fall-dormant), during FD and non-FD and were classified them depending on their function. The transcription of IAA-amino acid hydrolase ILR1-like 1, abscisic acid receptor PYL8, and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol synthase-3 in Maverick leaves was regulated by daylength and temperature, and the transcription of the abscisic acid receptor PYL8 was mainly affected by daylength. The changes in the expression of these genes and the abundance of their messenger RNA (mRNA) in Maverick leaves differed from those in CUF101 leaves, as evidenced by the correlation analysis of their mRNA abundance profiles obtained from April to October. The present findings suggested that these genes are involved in regulating FD in alfalfa.</p></div

Crystal Structure of TNF-α-Inducing Protein from <em>Helicobacter Pylori</em> in Active Form Reveals the Intrinsic Molecular Flexibility for Unique DNA-Binding

<div><p>Tipα (TNF-α-inducing protein) from <em>Helicobacter pylori</em> is a carcinogenic effector. Studies on this protein revealed that a homodimer linked by a pair of intermolecular disulfide bridges (Cys25-Cys25 and Cys27-Cys27) was absolutely necessary for its biological functions. The activities of Tipα would be abolished when both disulfide bridges were disrupted. The crystal structures of Tipα reported to date, however, were based on inactive, monomeric mutants with their N-terminal, including residues Cys25 and Cys27, truncated. Here we report the crystal structure of <em>H. pylori</em> Tipα protein, TipαN²⁵, at 2.2<b> </b>Å resolution, in which Cys25 and Cys27 form a pair of inter-chain disulfide bridges linking an active dimer. The disulfide bridges exhibit structural flexibility in the present structure. A series of structure-based mutagenesis, biochemical assays and molecular dynamic simulations on DNA-Tipα interactions reveal that Tipα utilizes the dimeric interface as the DNA-binding site and that residues His60, Arg77 and Arg81 located at the interface are crucial for DNA binding. Tipα could bind to one ssDNA, two ssDNA or one dsDNA in experiments, respectively, in the native or mutant states. The unique DNA-binding activities of Tipα indicate that the intrinsic flexible nature of disulfide bridges could endow certain elasticity to the Tipα dimer for its unique bioactivities. The results shed light on the possible structural mechanism for the functional performances of Tipα.</p> </div

Daylength and temperature from April to October.

<p>Daylength and temperature from April to October.</p

Regulating Underwater Superoleophobicity to Superoleophilicity on Hierarchical Structured Copper Substrates through Assembling <i>n</i>‑Alkanoic Acids

In this paper, we report a simple method based on assembling <i>n</i>-alkanoic acids on hierarchical structured copper toward preparing surfaces with tunable oil wetting performance in water. Surface wettability from superoleophobicity to superoleophilicity in water can be regulated through tuning the chain length of <i>n</i>-alkanoic acids. Importantly, even in strongly acid and basic water, such phenomena can still be observed. The cooperation between the hierarchical structures and the surface chemical composition variation is responsible for the controllability. Meanwhile, the tunable ability is universal and the controllability is suitable for various oils including silicon oil, <i>n</i>-hexane, and chloroform. Moreover, the method was also used on copper mesh substrates, and we reported the related application of selective oil/water separation. This paper provides a flexible strategy toward preparing surfaces with tunable oil wetting performances, which can also be suitable for other materials, and offers some fresh ideas in manipulating underwater oil wetting performances on surfaces

Dimeric interactions of TipαN²⁵.

<p>Two subunits of Tipα (Chain A and Chain B) are shown in purple and yellow, respectively. (A) Stereo view of hydrophobic interactions of Tipα. (B) Hydrogen bond network of β-sheet-mediated interface. (C) Top view of the potential DNA-binding site at the dimer interface.</p

mRNA abundance of Rubisco activase in Maverick and CUF101varieties from April to October in 2011 and 2016.

<p>** indicates significant difference between September, October, July, and August at p<0.01.</p

Thermodynamic parameters for Tipα and its mutants binding to dsDNA.

<p>Thermodynamic parameters for Tipα and its mutants binding to dsDNA.</p

Plant height of Maverick and CUF101varieties from April to October.

<p>The difference in plant height in Maverick is marked with *. The difference in plant height between Maverick and CUF101 is marked with #. (*, #, p < 0.05; **, ## p< 0.01).</p

Correlation between mRNA abundance in the leaves of Maverick and CUF101 varieties and illumination time under artificial growth conditions.

<p>Correlation between mRNA abundance in the leaves of Maverick and CUF101 varieties and illumination time under artificial growth conditions.</p