Long Noncoding RNA EGFR-AS1 Promotes Cell Proliferation by Increasing EGFR mRNA Stability in Gastric Cancer

Background/Aims: LncRNA EGFR-AS1 is an antisense transcript of EGFR, which plays a key role in gastric cancer progression. This study was aimed to explore the effects of lncRNA EGFR-AS1 on GC and the underling mechanisms. Methods: The silencing of EGFR-AS1 expression was performed by using EGFR-AS1 shRNA lentivirus in MGC803 and SGC-7901 GC cell. The levels of lncRNA EGFR-AS1 and EGFR were detected by qPCR and western blot. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8, EdU, and colony formation assays. The EGFR mRNA stability was explored by using RNA synthesis inhibitor α-amanitin. Results: In our study, EGFR-AS1 significantly up-regulated in GC tissues and correlated with tumor size. And the expression of EGFR-AS1 positively correlated with EGFR in tissues. Moreover, knock-down of EGFR-AS1 inhibited the proliferation of GC cells via suppressing EGFR-dependent PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro and in vivo. Mechanismly, depletion of EGFR-AS1 was found to decrease EGFR expression by reduction of EGFR mRNA stability. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that EGFR-AS1 might have an oncogenic effect on GC and serve as a potential target of GC

Multi-Locus Genome-Wide Association Studies for 14 Main Agronomic Traits in Barley

The agronomic traits, including morphological and yield component traits, are important in barley breeding programs. In order to reveal the genetic foundation of agronomic traits of interest, in this study 122 doubled haploid lines from a cross between cultivars “Huaai 11” (six-rowed and dwarf) and “Huadamai 6” (two-rowed) were genotyped by 9680 SNPs and phenotyped 14 agronomic traits in 3 years, and the two datasets were used to conduct multi-locus genome-wide association studies. As a result, 913 quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) were identified by five multi-locus GWAS methods to be associated with the above 14 traits and their best linear unbiased predictions. Among these QTNs and their adjacent genes, 39 QTNs (or QTN clusters) were repeatedly detected in various environments and methods, and 10 candidate genes were identified from gene annotation. Nineteen QTNs and two genes (sdw1/denso and Vrs1) were previously reported, and eight candidate genes need to be further validated. The Vrs1 gene, controlling the number of rows in the spike, was found to be associated with spikelet number of main spike, spikelet number per plant, grain number per plant, grain number per spike, and 1,000 grain weight in multiple environments and by multi-locus GWAS methods. Therefore, the above results evidenced the feasibility and reliability of genome-wide association studies in doubled haploid population, and the QTNs and their candidate genes detected in this study are useful for marker-assisted selection breeding, gene cloning, and functional identification in barley

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the medicinal plant Crotalaria albida

Crotalaria albida (C. albida) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that belongs to Fabaceae family. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. albida was sequenced. The genome is 152,743 bp in length and includes two inverted repeat regions of 25,535 bp. It was predicted to contain 127 genes in the chloroplast genome, among which 82 were protein-coding genes, 37 were tRNA genes, and 8 were rRNA genes. The maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis based on 24 complete chloroplast genome sequences showed that C. albida was closely related to Ormosia semicastrata, Ormosia emarginata, and Ormosia xylocarpa

The photoprotective role of spermidine in tomato seedlings under salinity-alkalinity stress.

Polyamines are small, ubiquitous, nitrogenous compounds that scavenge reactive oxygen species and stabilize the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus in response to abiotic stresses. Molecular details underlying polyamine-mediated photoprotective mechanisms are not completely resolved. This study investigated the role of spermidine (Spd) in the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus. Tomato seedlings were subjected to salinity-alkalinity stress with and without foliar application of Spd, and photosynthetic and morphological parameters were analyzed. Leaf dry weight and net photosynthetic rate were reduced by salinity-alkalinity stress. Salinity-alkalinity stress reduced photochemical quenching parameters, including maximum photochemistry efficiency of photosystem II, quantum yield of linear electron flux, and coefficient of photochemical quenching (qP). Salinity-alkalinity stress elevated nonphotochemical quenching parameters, including the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle and nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Microscopic analysis revealed that salinity-alkalinity stress disrupted the internal lamellar system of granal and stromal thylakoids. Exogenous Spd alleviated the stress-induced reduction of leaf dry weight, net photosynthetic rate, and qP parameters. The NPQ parameters increased by salinity-alkalinity stress were also alleviated by Spd. Seedlings treated with exogenous Spd had higher zeaxanthin (Z) contents than those without Spd under salinity-alkalinity stress. The chloroplast ultrastructure had a more ordered arrangement in seedlings treated with exogenous Spd than in those without Spd under salinity-alkalinity stress. These results indicate that exogenous Spd can alleviate the growth inhibition and thylakoid membrane photodamage caused by salinity-alkalinity stress. The Spd-induced accumulation of Z also may have an important role in stabilizing the photosynthetic apparatus

Analysis of Rac/Rop Small GTPase Family Expression in Santalum album L. and Their Potential Roles in Drought Stress and Hormone Treatments

Plant-specific Rac/Rop small GTPases, also known as Rop, belong to the Rho subfamily. Rac proteins can be divided into two types according to their C-terminal motifs: Type I Rac proteins have a typical CaaL motif at the C-terminal, whereas type II Rac proteins lack this motif but retain a cysteine-containing element for membrane anchoring. The Rac gene family participates in diverse signal transduction events, cytoskeleton morphogenesis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and hormone responses in plants as molecular switches. S. album is a popular semiparasitic plant that absorbs nutrients from the host plant through the haustoria to meet its own growth and development needs. Because the whole plant has a high use value, due to the high production value of its perfume oils, it is known as the “tree of gold”. Based on the full-length transcriptome data of S. album, nine Rac gene members were named SaRac1-9, and we analyzed their physicochemical properties. Evolutionary analysis showed that SaRac1-7, AtRac1-6, AtRac9 and AtRac11 and OsRac5, OsRacB and OsRacD belong to the typical plant type I Rac/Rop protein, while SaRac8-9, AtRac7, AtRac8, AtRac10 and OsRac1-4 belong to the type II Rac/ROP protein. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that nine genes were expressed in roots, stems, leaves and haustoria, and SaRac7/8/9 expression in stems, haustoria and roots was significantly higher than that in leaves. The expression levels of SaRac1, SaRac4 and SaRac6 in stems were very low, and the expression levels of SaRac2 and SaRac5 in roots and SaRac2/3/7 in haustoria were very high, which indicated that these genes were closely related to the formation of S. album haustoria. To further analyze the function of SaRac, nine Rac genes in sandalwood were subjected to drought stress and hormone treatments. These results establish a preliminary foundation for the regulation of growth and development in S. album by SaRac

Exogenous γ-Aminobutyric Acid Improves the Structure and Function of Photosystem II in Muskmelon Seedlings Exposed to Salinity-Alkalinity Stress

<div><p>Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is important in plant responses to environmental stresses. We wished to clarify the role of GABA in maintenance of photosynthesis in muskmelon seedlings (<i>Cucumis melo</i> L., cv. Yipintianxia) during saline-alkaline stress. To this end, we assessed the effect of GABA on the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus in muskmelon seedlings grown under saline-alkaline stress. These stresses in combination reduced net photosynthetic rate, gas-exchange, and inhibited photosystem II (PSII) electron transport as measured by the JIP-test. They also reduced the activity of chloroplast ATPases and disrupted the internal lamellar system of the thylakoids. Exogenous GABA alleviated the stress-induced reduction of net photosynthesis, the activity of chloroplast ATPases, and overcame some of the damaging effects of stress on the chloroplast structure. Based on interpretation of the JIP-test, we conclude that exogenous GABA alleviated stress-related damage on the acceptor side of PSII. It also restored energy distribution, the reaction center status, and enhanced the ability of PSII to repair reaction centers in stressed seedlings. GABA may play a crucial role in protecting the chloroplast structure and function of PSII against the deleterious effects of salinity-alkalinity stress.</p></div

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Actinidia styracifolia C. F. Liang

The complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of Actinidia styracifolia C. F. Liang was assembled using Illumina pair-end sequencing data in this study. The assembled plastome was 156,845 bp in length, including a large single copy (LSC) region of 88,624 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 20,535bp, which were separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 23,843 bp. The plastome contains 113 different genes, consisting of 79 unique protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes revealed that A. styracifolia has a close genetic relationship with A. eriantha

Two performance indices in muskmelon seedlings.

<p>A. Performance index on an absorption basis (PI_ABS). B. Proton motor force on an absorption basis (DF_ABS). Control, plants grown in medium only; CG, medium with leaf spraying with GABA; S, nutrient medium with complex neutral and alkali salt; SG, medium with both complex neutral and alkali salt and leaf spraying with GABA. Data represent the mean ± SE of three independent experiments (<i>n</i> = 3). Different letters indicate significant differences between treatments (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p

Effects of exogenous spermidine on tomato seedling dry weight under salinity-alkalinity stress.

<p><b>Note:</b> Data were measured after salinity-alkalinity treatment for 4 days. Each value represents mean ± standard error of four independent experiments (<i>n</i> = 4). Different letters indicate significant differences between treatments (<i>P</i><0.05).</p><p><b>Abbreviations:</b> CK, 0 mM salinity-alkalinity plus 0 mM Spd; CS, 0 mM salinity-alkalinity plus 0.25 mM Spd; S, 75 mM salinity-alkalinity plus 0 mM Spd; SS, 75 mM salinity-alkalinity plus 0.25 mM Spd.</p><p>Effects of exogenous spermidine on tomato seedling dry weight under salinity-alkalinity stress.</p