Comparative transcript profiling explores differentially expressed genes associated with sexual phenotype in kiwifruit

<div><p>Background</p><p>Kiwifruit is a perennial, deciduous and functionally dioecious plant. However, very little is known about the whole-genome molecular mechanisms contributing to distinct sexual phenotypes. To gain a global view of genes differentially expressed between male and female flowers, we analyzed genome-wide gene expression profiles in the flowers of male and female plants using high-throughput RNA sequencing.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 53.5 million reads were generated. Based on the alignments of unigenes to kiwifruit genome predicted genes, a total of 39,040 unique genes with a mean length of 970 bp were identified. There were 2,503 UniGenes differentially expressed between female and male flowers, with 1,793 up-regulated and 710 down-regulated in the female flowers. Moreover, the gene expression pattern of 17 out of 19 unigenes differentially expressed between male and female flowers revealed by RNA-Seq was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Here, we obtained a large number of EST sequences from female and male flowers of kiwifruit. This comparative transcriptome analysis provides an invaluable resource for gene expression, genomics, and functional genomic studies in <i>A</i>. <i>chinensis</i> and its related species. This study also represents a first step toward the investigation of genes involved in kiwifruit sex determination.</p></div

Air pollution and tourism development: An interplay

We empirically examine the interplay between air pollution and tourism development based on a fine-grained dataset covering monthly-level tourism information of 58 major cities in China from October 2013 to December 2017. We adopt an empirical strategy utilizing wind speed as an instrumental variable for air pollution to deal with the endogeneity caused by the reverse causality. We control for individual city fixed effects, month fixed effects, meteorological conditions and other social factors of tourism destinations. We find the interplay between air pollution and tourism development. Our study offers significant empirical evidence for policy makers to design policies that can mitigate the consequences of air pollution in the tourism sector and manage the development of the tourism economy

KEGG analysis for genes differentially expressed between female and male flowers.

<p>KEGG analysis for genes differentially expressed between female and male flowers.</p

GO analysis for genes differentially expressed between female and male flowers.

<p>GO analysis for genes differentially expressed between female and male flowers.</p

Distribution of over-expressed transcription factors in female and male flowers.

<p>Distribution of over-expressed transcription factors in female and male flowers.</p

Validation of 19 genes differentially expressed between female and male flowers using qRT-PCR.

<p>These differentially expressed genes encode V-type proton ATPase subunit E (A), DELLA protein GAI (B), Putative leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase family protein (C), Putative uncharacterized protein OSJNBb0014M19.23–2 (D), Male sterility MS5 (E), Tapetum-specific protein A9 (F), Pollen ole e 1 allergen and extensin family protein (G), Flowering promoting factor-like protein (H), Transcription factor MYC (I), WRKY transcription factor (J), Transcription factor MYC2 (K), Pistil-specific extensin-like protein (L), Unknown protein (M), MYB transcription factor (N), Mitochondrial phosphate carrier protein (O), Nudix hydrolase 2 (P), Ethylene responsive transcription factor 12 (Q), Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase (R) and Small ubiquitin-related modifier 2 (S).</p

Summary of sequence analysis.

<p>Summary of sequence analysis.</p

Plant hormone signal transduction.

<p>Thirty-seven unigenes were assigned to plant hormone signal transduction pathways by KEGG. The kiwifruit unigenes involved in these pathways are marked in green. Arrows indicate differentially expressed genes closely associated with hormone synthesis and metabolism.</p

Morphological differences in the floral organs of female and male kiwifruit individuals.

<p>Morphological differences in the floral organs of female and male kiwifruit individuals.</p

PRRT2 mutations in a cohort of Chinese families with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and genotype–phenotype correlation reanalysis in literatures

<p><b>Purpose</b><b>of the study</b>: Though rare, children are susceptible to paroxysmal dyskinesias such as paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia, and infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis. Recent studies showed that the cause of paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis could be proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (<i>PRRT2</i>) gene mutations.</p> <p><b>Material and methods:</b> This study analysed <i>PRRT2</i> gene mutations in 51 families with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis by direct sequencing. In particular, we characterize the genotype–phenotype correlation between age at onset and the types of <i>PRRT2</i> mutations in all published cases.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Direct sequencing showed that 12 out of the 51 families had three different pathogenic mutations (c.649dupC, c.776dupG, c.649C>T) in the <i>PRRT2</i> gene. No significant difference of age at onset between the patients with and without <i>PRRT2</i> mutations was found in this cohort of patients. A total of 97 different <i>PRRT2</i> mutations have been reported in 87 studies till now. The <i>PRRT2</i> mutation classes are wide, and most mutations are frameshift mutations but the most common mutation remains c.649dupC. Comparisons of the age at onset in paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia or infantile convulsions patients with different types of mutations showed no significant difference.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> This study expands the clinical and genetic spectrums of Chinese patients with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia and infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis. No clear genotype–phenotype correlation between the age at onset and the types of mutations has been determined.</p