50 research outputs found
Revealing biomass heterosis in the allodiploid xBrassicoraphanus, a hybrid between Brassica rapa and Raphanus sativus, through integrated transcriptome and metabolites analysis
Background
Heterosis is biologically important but the molecular basis of the phenomenon is poorly understood. We characterized intergeneric hybrids between B. rapa cv. Chiifu and R. sativus cv. WK10039 as an extreme example of heterosis. Taking advantage of clear heterosis phenotypes and the genetic distance between parents, we performed transcriptome and metabolite analysis to decipher the molecular basis of heterosis.
Results
The heterosis was expressed as fresh weight in the field and as inflorescence stem length in the glass house. Flowering time, distributed as a normal segregating population, ranged from the early flowering of one parent to the late flowering of the other, in contrast to the homogeneous flowering time in a typical F1 population, indicating unstable allelic interactions. The transcriptome and metabolome both indicated that sugar metabolism was altered, suggesting that the change in metabolism was linked to the heterosis. Because alleles were not shared between the hybridized genomes, classic models only partly explain this heterosis, indicating that other mechanisms are involved.
Conclusion
The differential expression of genes for primary and secondary metabolism, along with the altered metabolite profiles, suggests that heterosis could involve a change in balance between primary and secondary metabolism.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT
(2016R1D1A1B03930431 and 2013R1A1A2058687 to GY) and by NextGeneration BioGreen 21 Program (PJ013262 to HJH) Rural Development Administration (RDA), Korea. The funding agencies were not involved in the experimental design, collection and interpretation of data, and in preparation of the manuscript
Clinical implications of gut microbiota and cytokine responses in coronavirus disease prognosis
ObjectivesSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects gut luminal cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor and disrupts the gut microbiome. We investigated whether the gut microbiome in the early stage of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with the prognosis of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).MethodsThirty COVID-19 patients and 16 healthy controls were prospectively enrolled. Blood and stool samples and clinical details were collected on days 0 (enrollment), 7, 14, and 28. Participants were categorized into four groups by their clinical course.ResultsGut microbiota composition varied during the clinical course of COVID-19 and was closely associated with cytokine levels (p=0.003). A high abundance of the genus Dialister (linear discriminant analysis [LDA] effect size: 3.97856, p=0.004), species Peptoniphilus lacrimalis (LDA effect size: 4.00551, p=0.020), and Anaerococcus prevotii (LDA effect size: 4.00885, p=0.007) was associated with a good prognosis. Starch, sucrose, and galactose metabolism was highly activated in the gut microbiota of the poor prognosis group. Glucose-lowering diets, including whole grains, were positively correlated with a good prognosis.ConclusionGut microbiota may mediate the prognosis of COVID-19 by regulating cytokine responses and controlling glucose metabolism, which is implicated in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2
Whole-genome sequence of Bacillus solimangrovi GH 2-4T, isolated from mangrove soil
Bacillus solimangrovi GH 2-4T was isolated from mangrove soil and subjected to whole genome sequencing on HiSeq platform and annotated on RAST. The nucleotide sequence of this genome was deposited into DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession MJEH00000000
Whole-genome sequence of Sunxiuqinia dokdonensis DH1T, isolated from deep sub-seafloor sediment in Dokdo Island
Sunxiuqinia dokdonensis DH1T was isolated from deep sub-seafloor sediment at a depth of 900 m below the seafloor off Seo-do (the west part of Dokdo Island) in the East Sea of the Republic of Korea and subjected to whole genome sequencing on HiSeq platform and annotated on RAST. The nucleotide sequence of this genome was deposited into DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession LGIA00000000
Whole-genome sequence of Dermabacter vaginalis AD1-86T, isolated from vaginal fluid of Korean woman
Dermabacter vaginalis AD1–86T was isolated from the vaginal fluid of a Korean woman. Whole genome sequencing analysis was conducted using a PacBio RS II platform and annotated on RAST. The nucleotide sequence of this genome was deposited into DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession NZ_CP012117
Whole-genome sequence of Clostridium lituseburense L74, isolated from the larval gut of the rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus
Clostridium lituseburense L74 was isolated from the larval gut of the rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus collected in Yeong-dong, Chuncheongbuk-do, South Korea and subjected to whole genome sequencing on HiSeq platform and annotated on RAST. The nucleotide sequence of this genome was deposited into DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under the accession NZ_LITJ00000000. Keywords: Insect, Larval gut, Whole genome shot-gun sequencin
Dendrobium nobile Lindley Administration Attenuates Atopic Dermatitis-like Lesions by Modulating Immune Cells
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that can significantly affect daily life by causing sleep disturbance due to extreme itching. In addition, if the symptoms of AD are severe, it can cause mental disorders such as ADHD and suicidal ideation. Corticosteroid preparations used for general treatment have good effects, but their use is limited due to side effects. Therefore, it is essential to minimize the side effects and study effective treatment methods. Dendrobium nobile Lindley (DNL) has been widely used for various diseases, but to the best of our knowledge, its effect on AD has not yet been proven. In this study, the inhibitory effect of DNL on AD was confirmed in a DNCB-induced Balb/c mouse. In addition, the inhibitory efficacy of inflammatory cytokines in TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells and PMACI-induced HMC-1 cells was confirmed. The results demonstrated that DNL decreased IgE, IL-6, IL-4, scratching behavior, SCORAD index, infiltration of mast cells and eosinophils and decreased the thickness of the skin. Additionally, DNL inhibited the expression of cytokines and inhibited the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. This suggests that DNL inhibits cytokine expression, protein signaling pathway, and immune cells, thereby improving AD symptoms in mice
Transcriptome Analysis of the Fruit of Two Strawberry Cultivars “Sunnyberry” and “Kingsberry” That Show Different Susceptibility to <i>Botrytis cinerea</i> after Harvest
Gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) is a fungal plant pathogen causing postharvest decay in strawberry fruit. Here, we conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis to identify differences in gene expression between the immature-green (IG) and mature-red (MR) stages of the “Sunnyberry” (gray mold-resistant) and “Kingsberry” (gray mold susceptible) strawberry cultivars. Most of the genes involved in lignin and alkane-type wax biosynthesis were relatively upregulated in “Sunnyberry”. However, pathogenesis-related proteins encoding R- and antioxidant-related genes were comparatively upregulated in “Kingsberry”. Analysis of gene expression and physiological traits in the presence and absence of B. cinerea inoculation revealed that the defense response patterns significantly differed between IG and MR rather than the cultivars. “Kingsberry” showed higher antioxidant induction at IG and upregulated hemicellulose-strengthening and R genes at MR. Hence, “Sunnyberry” and “Kingsberry” differed mainly in terms of the expression levels of the genes forming cuticle, wax, and lignin and controlling the defense responses. These discrepancies might explain the relative difference between these strawberry cultivars in terms of their postharvest responses to B. cinerea
Manipulation of Structural Colors in Liquid-Crystal Helical Structures Deformed by Surface Controls
Structural colors from cholesteric
liquid crystals (CLCs) are manipulated by changing the only surface
anchoring energy of an alignment layer. This behavior comes from the
fact that weak surface energy of the perfluoropolymer induces the
tilting of the cholesteric helix. Such deformed CLC structures with
durability are successfully demonstrated without any external field
applications and additional solidification processes. In addition,
electrical tunings of structural colors from the deformed CLCs occur
at very low operating voltages, compared to those of conventional
CLC structures. On the basis of easy and simple fabrication, high
durability, electrical tunability at low operating voltages, and the
unique optical characteristics, the new deformed CLC structure could
lead to extension in applications of CLCs, including multifunctional
sensors, displays, and lasers