Gene Expression Correlation Analysis Reveals MYC-NAC Regulatory Network in Cotton Pigment Gland Development

Plant NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) family is involved in various development processes including Programmed Cell Death (PCD) associated development. However, the relationship between NAC family and PCD-associated cotton pigment gland development is largely unknown. In this study, we identified 150, 153 and 299 NAC genes in newly updated genome sequences of G. arboreum, G. raimondii and G. hirsutum, respectively. All NAC genes were divided into 8 groups by the phylogenetic analysis and most of them were conserved during cotton evolution. Using the vital regulator of gland formation GhMYC2-like as bait, expression correlation analysis screened out 6 NAC genes which were low-expressed in glandless cotton and high-expressed in glanded cotton. These 6 NAC genes acted downstream of GhMYC2-like and were induced by MeJA. Silencing CGF1(Cotton Gland Formation1), another MYC-coding gene, caused almost glandless phenotype and down-regulated expression of GhMYC2-like and the 6 NAC genes, indicating a MYC-NAC regulatory network in gland development. In addition, predicted regulatory mechanism showed that the 6 NAC genes were possibly regulated by light, various phytohormones and transcription factors as well as miRNAs. The interaction network and DNA binding sites of the 6 NAC transcription factors were also predicted. These results laid the foundation for further study of gland-related genes and gland development regulatory network

Exosomal tRNA-derived small RNA as a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis

Abstract tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) is a novel regulatory small non-coding RNA and participates in diverse physiological and pathological processes. However, the presence of tsRNAs in exosome and their diagnostic potential remain unclear. In this study, we took advantage of small RNA-seq technology to profile exosomal tsRNAs from cell culture medium and plasma, and found ubiquitous presence of tsRNAs in exosome. To explore the potential value of tsRNA for cancer diagnosis, we compared exosomal tsRNA levels between liver cancer patients and healthy donors, revealing that tsRNAs were dramatically increased in plasma exosomes of liver cancer patients. Importantly, patients with liver cancer exhibited significantly higher levels of four tsRNAs (tRNA-ValTAC-3, tRNA-GlyTCC-5, tRNA-ValAAC-5 and tRNA-GluCTC-5) in plasma exosome, demonstrating that plasma exosomal tsRNA could serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker. Taken together, our results not only expand non-coding RNA species in exosome, but also highlight the potential of tsRNAs as a promising biomarker for cancer diagnosis

A protein-independent fluorescent RNA aptamer reporter system for plant genetic engineering

Fluorescent RNA aptamers could potentially be used as protein-independent reporters of transgene expression in plants. Here, the authors report that an optimized RNA aptamer, developed from Broccoli, can be used to detect transgene expression in stable and transiently transformed plant tissue

China: The intersections between poverty, health inequity, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS

From her research in rural China, Joan Kaufman looks at the impact of inequities and under investment on health problems like reproductive health and critical disease threats such as HIV/AIDS. She argues that both a public health system that provides basic care as well as outreach and health education to poor women are required in order to change risk behaviors and adopt health promotion actions. Development (2005) 48, 113–119. doi:10.1057/palgrave.development.1100187