Characterization and gene expression patterns analysis implies BSK family genes respond to salinity stress in cotton

Identification, evolution, and expression patterns of BSK (BR signaling kinase) family genes revealed that BSKs participated in the response of cotton to abiotic stress and maintained the growth of cotton in extreme environment. The steroidal hormone brassinosteroids (BR) play important roles in different plant biological processes. This study focused on BSK which were downstream regulatory element of BR, in order to help to decipher the functions of BSKs genes from cotton on growth development and responses to abiotic stresses and lean the evolutionary relationship of cotton BSKs. BSKs are a class of plant-specific receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases involved in BR signal transduction. In this study, bioinformatics methods were used to identify the cotton BSKs gene family at the cotton genome level, and the gene structure, promoter elements, protein structure and properties, gene expression patterns and candidate interacting proteins were analyzed. In the present study, a total of 152 BSKs were identified by a genome-wide search in four cotton species and other 11 plant species, and phylogenetic analysis revealed three evolutionary clades. It was identified that BSKs contain typical PKc and TPR domains, the N-terminus is composed of extended chains and helical structures. Cotton BSKs genes show different expression patterns in different tissues and organs. The gene promoter contains numerous cis-acting elements induced by hormones and abiotic stress, the hormone ABA and Cold-inducing related elements have the highest count, indicating that cotton BSK genes may be regulated by various hormones at different growth stages and involved in the response regulation of cotton to various stresses. The expression analysis of BSKs in cotton showed that the expression levels of GhBSK06, GhBSK10, GhBSK21 and GhBSK24 were significantly increased with salt-inducing. This study is helpful to analyze the function of cotton BSKs genes in growth and development and in response to stress

Preparation and characterization of metal-organic framework /microencapsulated phase change material composites for indoor hygrothermal control

Building materials with high thermal and hygric inertia can moderate the fluctuation of indoor temperature and relative humidity, and thus can improve the indoor thermal comfort and reduce the building energy consumption passively. In this study, a novel hygrothermal control material was prepared based on Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) and microencapsulated phase change material (MicroPCM). The new MOF/MicroPCM composite has a dual functionality of adsorption and desorption of both heat and moisture, can offer an accurate passive control of the indoor hygrothermal environment. N-octadecane was encapsulated by polymethylmetracrylate (PMMA) as MicroPCM for the thermal buffering. MIL-100(Fe) was prepared by the hydrothermal reaction method as the humidity buffering material. A series of hygrothermal control composite materials were obtained by grinding MicroPCM and MIL-100(Fe). Physicochemical properties of the synthesized materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, N2 physisorption, Water vapor sorption isotherm, DSC and TGA techniques. Hygrothermal properties of the composites were analyzed in comparison to pure MicroPCM and MIL-100(Fe). The thermal and humidity buffering behavior of the composites containing 50% MicroPCM was analyzed by numerical simulations. The results show that the composites possess an excellent thermal and humidity buffer capacity, which can be used for building energy-saving and improving thermal comfort