Isolation and characterization of an Aux/IAA gene (LaIAA2) from Larix

The phytohormone auxin controls many aspects of plant development. Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA)  transcriptional factors are key regulators of auxin responses in plants. To investigate the effects of auxin on  gene expression during the rooting process of Larix cuttings, a subtractive cDNA library was constructed and  272 UniEST were obtained by using suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Based on a fragment of 272  UniEST, the full-length cDNA of LaIAA2, an Aux /IAA gene from Larix was isolated. Then, the response  expression of LaIAA2 to auxin was determined by treating with different sources and concentration of auxin and cycloheximide and the expression patterns of LaIAA2 were examined in different tissues. The results show  that LaIAA2 appears to be the first response gene of auxin and LaIAA2 gene was involved in the root  development and auxin signaling. The express pattern of LaIAA2 gene indicated that it might play a central role in root development, specially regulated lateral and adventitious root production.Key words: Aux/IAA gene family, auxin, LaIAA2, Lari

SPIDer: Saccharomyces protein-protein interaction database

BACKGROUND: Since proteins perform their functions by interacting with one another and with other biomolecules, reconstructing a map of the protein-protein interactions of a cell, experimentally or computationally, is an important first step toward understanding cellular function and machinery of a proteome. Solely derived from the Gene Ontology (GO), we have defined an effective method of reconstructing a yeast protein interaction network by measuring relative specificity similarity (RSS) between two GO terms. DESCRIPTION: Based on the RSS method, here, we introduce a predicted Saccharomyces protein-protein interaction database called SPIDer. It houses a gold standard positive dataset (GSP) with high confidence level that covered 79.2% of the high-quality interaction dataset. Our predicted protein-protein interaction network reconstructed from the GSPs consists of 92 257 interactions among 3600 proteins, and forms 23 connected components. It also provides general links to connect predicted protein-protein interactions with three other databases, DIP, BIND and MIPS. An Internet-based interface provides users with fast and convenient access to protein-protein interactions based on various search features (searching by protein information, GO term information or sequence similarity). In addition, the RSS value of two GO terms in the same ontology, and the inter-member interactions in a list of proteins of interest or in a protein complex could be retrieved. Furthermore, the database presents a user-friendly graphical interface which is created dynamically for visualizing an interaction sub-network. The database is accessible at . CONCLUSION: SPIDer is a public database server for protein-protein interactions based on the yeast genome. It provides a variety of search options and graphical visualization of an interaction network. In particular, it will be very useful for the study of inter-member interactions among a list of proteins, especially the protein complex. In addition, based on the predicted interaction dataset, researchers could analyze the whole interaction network and associate the network topology with gene/protein properties based on a global or local topology view

TCF1 and LEF1 Control Treg Competitive Survival and Tfr Development to Prevent Autoimmune Diseases.

CD4+ Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells are key players in preventing lethal autoimmunity. Tregs undertake differentiation processes and acquire diverse functional properties. However, how Treg's differentiation and functional specification are regulated remains incompletely understood. Here, we report that gradient expression of TCF1 and LEF1 distinguishes Tregs into three distinct subpopulations, particularly highlighting a subset of activated Treg (aTreg) cells. Treg-specific ablation of TCF1 and LEF1 renders the mice susceptible to systemic autoimmunity. TCF1 and LEF1 are dispensable for Treg's suppressive capacity but essential for maintaining a normal aTreg pool and promoting Treg's competitive survival. As a consequence, the development of T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells, which are a subset of aTreg, is abolished in TCF1/LEF1-conditional knockout mice, leading to unrestrained T follicular helper (Tfh) and germinal center B cell responses. Thus, TCF1 and LEF1 act redundantly to control the maintenance and functional specification of Treg subsets to prevent autoimmunity

Editorial: Noise and vibrations in offshore wind farms and their impact on aquatic species

Dynamics of StructuresOffshore Engineerin

Research on the Concentration Prediction of Nitrogen in Red Tide Based on an Optimal Grey Verhulst Model

In order to reduce the harm of red tide to marine ecological balance, marine fisheries, aquatic resources, and human health, an optimal Grey Verhulst model is proposed to predict the concentration of nitrogen in seawater, which is the key factor in red tide. The Grey Verhulst model is established according to the existing concentration data series of nitrogen in seawater, which is then optimized based on background value and time response formula to predict the future changes in the nitrogen concentration in seawater. Finally, the accuracy of the model is tested by the posterior test. The results show that the prediction value based on the optimal Grey Verhulst model is in good agreement with the measured nitrogen concentration in seawater, which proves the effectiveness of the optimal Grey Verhulst model in the forecast of red tide

Research on the Concentration Prediction of Nitrogen in Red Tide Based on an Optimal Grey Verhulst Model

In order to reduce the harm of red tide to marine ecological balance, marine fisheries, aquatic resources, and human health, an optimal Grey Verhulst model is proposed to predict the concentration of nitrogen in seawater, which is the key factor in red tide. The Grey Verhulst model is established according to the existing concentration data series of nitrogen in seawater, which is then optimized based on background value and time response formula to predict the future changes in the nitrogen concentration in seawater. Finally, the accuracy of the model is tested by the posterior test. The results show that the prediction value based on the optimal Grey Verhulst model is in good agreement with the measured nitrogen concentration in seawater, which proves the effectiveness of the optimal Grey Verhulst model in the forecast of red tide

Clinical and immunological features of an APLAID patient caused by a novel mutation in PLCG2

BackgroundThe APLAID syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency caused by gain-of-function mutations in the PLCG2 gene. We present a 7-year-old APLAID patient who has recurrent blistering skin lesions, skin infections in the perineum, a rectal perineal fistula, and inflammatory bowel disease.MethodsTo determine the genetic cause of our patient, WES and bioinformatics analysis were performed. Flow cytometry was used for phenotyping immune cell populations in peripheral blood. Cytokines released into plasma were analyzed using protein chip technology. The PBMCs of patient and a healthy child were subjected to single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis.ResultsThe patient carried a novel de novo missense mutation c.2534T>C in exon 24 of the PLCG2 gene that causes a leucine to serine amino acid substitution (p.Leu845Ser). Bioinformatics analysis revealed that this mutation had a negative impact on the structure of the PLCγ2 protein, which is highly conserved in many other species. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry revealed that in addition to the typical decrease in circulating memory B cells, the levels of myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in the children’s peripheral blood were significantly lower, as were the CD4+ effector T cells induced by their activation. Single-cell sequencing revealed that the proportion of different types of cells in the peripheral blood of the APLAID patient changed.ConclusionsWe present the first case of APLAID with severely reduced myeloid dendritic cells carrying a novel PLCG2 mutation, and conducted a comprehensive analysis of immunological features in the ALPAID patient, which has not been mentioned in previous reports. This study expands the spectrum of APLAID-associated immunophenotype and genotype. The detailed immune analyses in this patient may provide a basis for the development of targeted therapies for this severe autoinflammatory disease

Increased Expression of Ganglioside GM1 in Peripheral CD4+ T Cells Correlates Soluble Form of CD30 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Gangliosides GM1 is a good marker of membrane microdomains (lipid rafts) with important function in cellular activation processes. In this study we found that GM1 expression on CD4+ T cells and memory T cells (CD45RO/CD4) were dramatic increased after stimulation with phytohaemagglutinin in vitro. Next, we examined the GM1 expression on peripheral blood CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells from 44 patients with SLE and 28 healthy controls by flow cytometry. GM1 expression was further analyzed with serum soluble CD30 (sCD30), IL-10, TNF-alpha and clinical parameters. The mean fluorescence intensity of GM1 on CD4+ T cells from patients with SLE was significantly higher than those from healthy controls, but not on CD8+ T cells. Increased expression of GM1 was more marked on CD4+/CD45RO+ memory T cells from active SLE patients. Patients with SLE showed significantly elevated serum sCD30 and IL-10, but not TNF-alpha levels. In addition, we found that enhanced GM1 expression on CD4+ T cells from patients with SLE positively correlated with high serum levels of sCD30 and IgG as well as disease activity (SLEDAI scores). Our data suggested the potential role of aberrant lipid raft/GM1 on CD4+ T cells and sCD30 in the pathogenesis of SLE