Heterosis-related genes under different planting densities in maize

Heterosis and increasing planting density have contributed to improving maize grain yield (GY) for several decades. As planting densities increase, the GY per plot also increases whereas the contribution of heterosis to GY decreases. There are trade-offs between heterosis and planting density, and the transcriptional characterization of heterosis may explain the mechanism involved. In this study, 48 transcriptome libraries were sequenced from four inbred Chinese maize lines and their F1 hybrids. They were planted at densities of 45,000 plants/ha and 67,500 plants/ha. Maternal-effect differentially expressed genes (DEGs) played important roles in processes related to photosynthesis and carbohydrate biosynthesis and metabolism. Paternal-effect DEGs participated in abiotic/biotic stress response and plant hormone production under high planting density. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed that high planting-density induced heterosis-related genes regulating abiotic/biotic stress response, plant hormone biosynthesis, and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis but repressed other genes regulating energy formation. Under high planting density, maternal genes were mainly enriched in the photosynthesis reaction center, while paternal genes were mostly concentrated in the peripheral antenna system. Four important genes were identified in maize heterosis and high planting density, all with functions in photosynthesis, starch biosynthesis, auxin metabolism, gene silencing, and RNA interference

Radioprotective Effect of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins In Vitro and In Vivo

We have demonstrated that grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) could effectively scavenge hydroxyl radical (•OH) in a dose-dependent manner. Since most of the ionizing radiation- (IR-) induced injuries were caused by •OH, this study was to investigate whether GSPs would mitigate IR-induced injuries in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrated that GSPs could significantly reduce IR-induced DNA strand breaks (DSBs) and apoptosis of human lymphocyte AHH-1 cells. This study also showed that GSPs could protect white blood cells (WBC) from IR-induced injuries, speed up the weight of mice back, and decrease plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), thus improving the survival rates of mice after ionizing radiation. It is suggested that GSPs have a potential as an effective and safe radioprotective agent

Integrating a genome-wide association study with transcriptomic analysis to detect genes controlling grain drying rate in maize (Zea may, L.)

Key message Candidate genes on GDR were identified and drying molecular mechanism of grain was explored by integrating genome-wide association with transcriptomic analysis in maize. Abstract Grain drying rate (GDR) is a key determinant of grain moisture (GM) at harvest. Here, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 309 inbred maize lines was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with drying rates of grain, cobs, and bracts. Out of 217,933 SNPs, seven significant SNPs were repeatedly identified in four environments (P\u3c 10-4). Based on genomic position of significant SNPs, six candidate genes were identified, and one of which (Zm00001d047468) was verified by transcriptomic data between inbred lines with high and low GDR, indicating stable and reliable correlation with GDR. To further detect more genes correlated with GDR and explore drying molecular mechanism of grain, expression profile of all GWAS-identified genes (4,941) detected from different environments, tissues and developmental stage were evaluated by transcriptomic data of six inbred lines with high or low GDR. Results revealed 162 genes exhibit up-regulated expression and another 123 down-regulated in three higher GDR inbred lines. Based on GO enrichment, 162 up-regulated genes were significantly enriched into grain primary metabolic process, nitrogen compound metabolic process and marcromolecule metabolic process (P\u3c 0.05), which indicated grain filling impose notably influence on GDR before and after physiological maturity. Our results lay foundation in accelerating development of higher GDR maize gerplasm through marker-assisted selection and clarifying genetic mechanism of GDR in maize

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of Elsholtzia ciliate essential oil against halitosis-related Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis

The broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity of Elsholtzia ciliate essential oil (ECO) has been previously reported, but its effectiveness against halitosis-causing bacteria such as Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the bacteriostatic activity of ECO against planktonic cells and biofilms of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis, as well as its ability to inhibit bacterial metabolism and production of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) at sub-lethal concentrations. Our findings revealed that ECO exhibited comparable activities to chlorhexidine against these oral bacteria. Treatment with ECO significantly reduced the production of VSCs, including hydrogen sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and methanethiol, which are major contributors to bad breath. As the major chemical components of ECO, carvacrol, p-cymene, and phellandrene, were demonstrated in vitro inhibitory effects on F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis, and their combined use showed synergistic and additive effects, suggesting that the overall activity of ECO is derived from the cumulative or synergistic effect of multiple active components. ECO was found to have a destructive effect on the bacterial cell membrane by examining the cell morphology and permeability. Furthermore, the application of ECO induced significant changes in the bacterial composition of saliva-derived biofilm, resulting in the elimination of bacterial species that contribute to halitosis, including Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, and Prevotella. These results provide experimental evidence for the potential clinical applications of ECOs in the prevention and treatment of halitosis

Genome-wide association study of maize resistance to Pythium aristosporum stalk rot

Stalk rot, a severe and widespread soil-borne disease in maize, globally reduces yield and quality. Recent documentation reveals that Pythium aristosporum has emerged as one of the dominant causal agents of maize stalk rot. However, a previous study of maize stalk rot disease resistance mechanisms and breeding had mainly focused on other pathogens, neglecting P. aristosporum. To mitigate crop loss, resistance breeding is the most economical and effective strategy against this disease. This study involved characterizing resistance in 295 inbred lines using the drilling inoculation method and genotyping them via sequencing. By combining with population structure, disease resistance phenotype, and genome-wide association study (GWAS), we identified 39 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with P. aristosporum stalk rot resistance by utilizing six statistical methods. Bioinformatics analysis of these SNPs revealed 69 potential resistance genes, among which Zm00001d051313 was finally evaluated for its roles in host defense response to P. aristosporum infection. Through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) verification and physiological index determination, we found that transient silencing of Zm00001d051313 promoted P. aristosporum infection, indicating a positive regulatory role of this gene in maize’s antifungal defense mechanism. Therefore, these findings will help advance our current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of maize defense to Pythium stalk rot

Protein markers of dysfunctional HDL in scavenger receptor class B type I deficient mice

Abstract Background Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) plays a key role in high density lipoproteins (HDL) metabolism. SR-BI deficiency in mice results in enhanced susceptibility to atherosclerosis with abnormal large, cholesterol enriched, and functional impaired HDL. This study was to characterize the protein markers of dysfunctional HDL in SR-BI deficient (SR-BI−/−) mice and to test if the defective of HDL might be affected by probucol treatment. Methods Shotgun proteomics and 2-D gel electrophoresis were performed to examine the profile of HDL protein and distribution of HDL particles isolated from SR-BI−/− mice. HDL’s cell-function, paraoxonase 1 (PON1) and myeloperoxidase activity were assessed. The mice were treated with 1.2 mg/g/day probucol for 6 weeks and the impact on HDL protein markers was analyzed. The differential proteins were quantified by Western blotting. Results The relative amount of protein in SR-BI−/− HDL was decreased by about 25% compared to that in HDL from wild type (WT) mice. Compared to WT HDL, relative protein abundance of representative apoAI and PON1 in SR-BI−/− HDL were significantly reduced, whereas acute-phase protein serum amyloid A (SAA) and apoAIV, proteinase inhibitor proteins α-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) were increased. The distribution of plasma apoAI-containing HDL particles in SR-BI−/− mice was also dramatically altered, although plasma apoAI level was no difference. The protein alterations were accompanied with dysfunction of SR-BI−/− HDL, evidenced by impaired cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages, and reduced anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Probucol treatment of SR-BI−/− mice could restored the relative contents of critical proteins including apoAI, PON1, SAA, apoAIV and A1AT on HDL, and improve HDL dysfunction despite decreased HDL-C level. Conclusion SR-BI deficiency leading to dysfunctional HDL is closely related to alteration of HDL protein, suggesting that identification of apoAI, PON1, SAA, apoAIV, and A1AT may serve as the valuable protein markers for diagnosis and therapeutics of dysfunctional HDL-related metabolic diseases

Influence of an m-type thioredoxin in maize on potyviral infection

Expression of many host genes can be altered during virus infection. In a previous study of sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) infection in maize (Zea mays), we observed that expression of ZmTrm2, a gene encoding thioredoxin m, was up-regulated at about 10 days post-inoculation (dpi). In this present study we determined that ZmTrm2 silencing in maize by virus-induced gene silencing significantly enhanced systemic SCMV infection. In contrast transient over-expression of ZmTrm2 in maize protoplasts inhibited accumulation of SCMV viral RNA. Furthermore, we found that in inoculated Nicotiana tabacum leaves transient expression of ZmTrm2 inhibited accumulation of the RNA of tobacco vein-banding mosaic virus (TVBMV), a potyvirus infecting dicotyledonous plants. Interestingly in ZmTrm2 transiently expressed N. tabacum leaves, we detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR a reduced level of the mRNA of class I beta-1, 3-glucanase (GluI), a protein known to have a role in cell wall callose deposition and viral movement. Our data indicate that the maize ZmTrm2 plays an inhibitory role during infection of plants by SCMV and TVBMV