Identification and Functional Characterization of Squamosa Promoter Binding Protein-Like Gene TaSPL16 in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world. Squamosa promoter binding protein-like (SPL) proteins are plant-specific transcript factors and play critical roles in plant growth and development. The functions of many SPL gene family members were well characterized in Arabidopsis and rice, in contrast, research on wheat SPL genes is lagging behind. In this study, we cloned and characterized TaSPL16, an orthologous gene of rice OsSPL16, in wheat. Three TaSPL16 homoeologs are located on the short arms of chromosome 7A, 7B, and 7D, and share more than 96% sequence identity with each other. All the TaSPL16 homoeologs have three exons and two introns, with a miR156 binding site in their last exons. They encode putative proteins of 407, 409, and 414 amino acid residues, respectively. Subcellular localization showed TaSPL16 distribution in the cell nucleus, and transcription activity of TaSPL16 was validated in yeast. Analysis of the spatiotemporal expression profile showed that TaSPL16 is highly expressed in young developing panicles, lowly expressed in developing seeds and almost undetectable in vegetative tissues. Ectopic expression of TaSPL16 in Arabidopsis causes a delay in the emergence of vegetative leaves (3–4 days late), promotes early flowering (5–7 days early), increases organ size, and affects yield-related traits. These results demonstrated the regulatory roles of TaSPL16 in plant growth and development as well as seed yield. Our findings enrich the existing knowledge on SPL genes in wheat and provide valuable information for further investigating the effects of TaSPL16 on plant architecture and yield-related traits of wheat

Specific Alleles of Bitter Receptor Genes Influence Human Sensitivity to the Bitterness of Aloin and Saccharin

SummaryVariation in human taste is a well-known phenomenon [1]. However, little is known about the molecular basis for it. Bitter taste in humans is believed to be mediated by a family of 25 G protein-coupled receptors (hT2Rs, or TAS2Rs) [2–7]. Despite recent progress in the functional expression of hT2Rs in vitro, up until now, hT2R38, a receptor for phenylthiocarbamide (PTC), was the only gene directly linked to variations in human bitter taste [8]. Here we report that polymorphism in two hT2R genes results in different receptor activities and different taste sensitivities to three bitter molecules. The hT2R43 gene allele, which encodes a protein with tryptophan in position 35, makes people very sensitive to the bitterness of the natural plant compounds aloin and aristolochic acid. People who do not possess this allele do not taste these compounds at low concentrations. The same hT2R43 gene allele makes people more sensitive to the bitterness of an artificial sweetener, saccharin. In addition, a closely related gene's (hT2R44's) allele also makes people more sensitive to the bitterness of saccharin. We also demonstrated that some people do not possess certain hT2R genes, contributing to taste variation between individuals. Our findings thus reveal new examples of variations in human taste and provide a molecular basis for them

An efficient and robust exfoliated bentonite/Ag3PO4/AgBr plasmonic photocatalyst for degradation of parabens

Efficient visible-light-driven heterojunction photocatalysts have attracted broad interest owing to their promising adsorption and degradation performances in the removal of organic pollutants. In this study, a mesoporous exfoliated bentonite (EB)/Ag3PO4/AgBr (30%) photocatalyst was obtained by stripping and exfoliating bentonite as the support for loading Ag3PO4 and AgBr. The particle size ranges of Ag3PO4 and AgBr were about 10-30 nm and 5-10 nm, respectively. The exfoliated bentonite could greatly improve the dispersion and adsorption of Ag3PO4 and AgBr, and significantly enhance the stability of the material during paraben photodegradation. 0.2 g L-1 methylparaben (MPB) was completely decomposed over the EB/Ag3PO4/AgBr (30%) in 40 min under visible light irradiation. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of EB/Ag3PO4/AgBr (30%) remained at about 91% after five recycling runs manifesting that EB/Ag3PO4/AgBr (30%) possessed excellent stability. Radical quenching tests revealed that holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the major radicals. They attacked the side chain on the benzene ring of parabens, which were gradually oxidized to the intermediates, such as benzoic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, azelaic acid, and eventually became CO2 and H2O. The enhancement of photocatalytic activity and photo-stability could be ascribed to the stable structural characteristics, enlarged surface area, high absorption ability, and improved light absorption ability from loading Ag3PO4 onto EB. Meanwhile, the matched energy levels of Ag3PO4 and AgBr made the photoelectron-hole pairs separate and transfer effectively at the interfaces. As a result, the photocatalytic properties of EB/Ag3PO4/AgBr (30%) composites were enhanced. © 2020 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Extraction of Pleurotus ostreatus Protein by the Aqueous Two-phase System and Its Characterization

To achieve green and efficient extraction of Pleurotus ostreatus protein (PP), the phase diagram of the PEG-(NH4)2SO4 aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was constructed using the cloud point method. Protein extraction concentration was utilized as evaluation indicator to investigate the effects of ATPS factors such as the molecular weight and mass fraction of PEG, mass fraction of (NH4)2SO4, and proportion of added crude PP extraction. Furthermore, the basic components of PP including emulsification characteristics, foaming properties, and water and oil holding capacities were explored. The optimal process conditions for PP extraction were determined using response surface methodology, with PEG2000 mass fraction set at 19.5%, (NH4)2SO4 mass fraction at 22.6%, and protein crude extract mass fraction at 26%. Under these conditions, the extraction rate of protein reached 93.16%, with a protein content of 1.71 mg/mL. Analysis of the physical and chemical properties revealed uniform protein composition with an average particle size of approximately 220.2 nm. The total amino acid content was measured at 221.46 mg/g, with the highest aspartic acid (Asp) content at 25.06 mg/g. Moreover, PP exhibited exceptional emulsification stability 65.22%, foaming properties 79.87%, and water holding capacity 2.61±0.18 g/g. Compared with similar food proteins, PP protein had higher emulsifying stability, foaming ability, and water holding capacity. This study used a green, environmentally friendly, and low toxicity aqueous two-phase method to extract PP protein, providing a new approach for the green and sustainable development of protein extraction in the food industry, and a research foundation for the development of functional foods based on PP protein

Microbial-feeding interactions reveal the effects of feeding blood on the gut microbiota of the aquaculture leech (Hirudo nipponica)

Leeches (Hirudo nipponica), as a kind of aquatic animal, mainly feed on fresh blood. After feeding, they needed to digest for a long time because the intestinal digestive enzyme content is low, so their digestive needed the help of gut microbiota. Here, we examined intestinal microbiota in captive Hirudo nipponica of different periods after feeding blood with high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that gut microbial diversity was lower before feeding than after. At the level of the core phylum of the gut microbiota of Hirudo nipponica, the focus was on Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. After feeding blood, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria decreased, while the opposite was true for Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. The core bacteria at the genus level are Aeromonas and Mucinivorans. The results show that the structure of the gut microbiota and function are closely associated with the blood feeding. The study aimed to lay a theoretical foundation for the blood-digestive mechanism of Hirudo nipponica

The Roles of the Kisspeptin System in the Reproductive Physiology of the Lined Seahorse (Hippocampus erectus), an Ovoviviparous Fish With Male Pregnancy

The kisspeptin/GPR54 system plays a crucial role in the regulation of the reproductive axis in vertebrates. Male pregnancy and ovoviviparity are special reproductive phenomena among vertebrates. To better understand the neuroendocrine mechanisms of male pregnancy, cDNAs encoding kiss2 and GPR54 were cloned and functionally characterized from the lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, an ovoviviparous teleost with male pregnancy. The core mature peptide of seahorse Kiss2 is high conserved among seahorses, but unique among vertebrate Kiss orthologs. In the phylogenic analysis, the seahorse Kiss clustered with the teleost Kiss2 clade. The kiss2 transcripts were shown to be widely expressed in various tissues, notably in the brain and gonad of the seahorse, while GPR54-2 mRNA was expressed exclusively in the brain. In addition, kiss2 mRNA found in male seahorse brain tissue increased significantly at the early pubertal stage, and decreased significantly during pregnancy. Intraperitoneal administration of seahorse Kiss2-10 to sexual mature male seahorses demonstrated to stimulate lutropin β (LHβ) and follitropin β (FSHβ) release and increased serum testosterone levels. In summary, we first identified the kisspeptin/GPR54 system in an ovoviviparous fish with male pregnancy, which might be involved in the regulation of the reproductive functions of pubertal onset, gonadal development, and male pregnancy via regulating the synthesis of both gonadotropic hormone (GTH) and testosterone

The efficacy of furmonertinib in untreated advanced NSCLC patients with sensitive EGFR mutations in a real-world setting: a single institutional experience

BackgroundFurmonertinib is the standard treatment option in the first-line setting for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with sensitive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in China. However, there are limited real-world data available.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study at a single center, analyzing a cohort of 73 NSCLC patients who tested positive for EGFR mutations and were treated with furmonertinib as their initial therapy between August 2022 and December 2023. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary endpoints including objective response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), and safety profile.ResultsThe median observation period was 9 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0–20.0). The median PFS was 19.5 months (95% CI, 14.6–24.4). OS data were not yet mature. Univariate analysis showed no significant correlation between PFS and factors such as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score, presence of brain or liver metastases, sex, age, EGFR mutation status, or number of metastatic sites. However, multivariate analysis indicated a potential trend toward extended PFS in patients younger than 65 years (p = 0.053, 95% CI, 0.10–1.02), although the p-value was only marginally significant. The most common adverse events were diarrhea (24%), anemia (36%), and liver injury (32%); however, only four cases experienced severe adverse events.ConclusionIn a real-world setting, furmonertinib appears to be a favorable treatment option for EGFR-mutated patients. The manageable nature of adverse events further supports its use in clinical practice

Extraction of phosphorus from metallurgical grade silicon using a combined process of Si-Al-Ca solvent refining and CaO-CaF 2 slag treatment

Abstract(#br)A combined purification process of Si-Al-Ca solvent refining and CaO-CaF 2 slag treatment was investigated with a focus on removing phosphorus (P) from metallurgical-grade Si (MG-Si). The primary precipitates in the slag-treated Si-Al-Ca alloy are CaAl 2 Si 2 and CaSi 2 , and these precipitates can be eliminated via leaching with HCl + CH 3 COOH and HCl + HF in sequence. Compared to MG-Si, a higher extraction efficiency of P was achieved with Si-Al-Ca alloy after CaO-CaF 2 slag treatment. Influences of alloy composition, slag components, and operation parameter on the P removal efficiency were studied systematically. The optimal dephosphorization efficiency reached 98.6% when the 70%Si-Al-Ca alloy was treated with 20%CaO–80%CaF 2 slag twice. Furthermore, the mechanism of P removal using the combined process was studied. The results indicate that the Si-Al-Ca solvent refining causes the segregation coefficient of P to be lower, thus facilitating its mass transfer in slag treatment. A large amount of P was reduced and then diffused to the slag phase in the slag experiment. Residual P in the slag-treated alloy was trapped by the CaAl 2 Si 2 phase and was then removed via acid leaching