Dry fig is a traditional healthy snack and has important economic value in a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.Cultivars with no anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit peel are preferred for dry fig ...Dry fig is a traditional healthy snack and has important economic value in a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.Cultivars with no anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit peel are preferred for dry fig production.R2R3-MYB transcription factors have promotive or repressive regulatory roles in plant anthocyanin biosynthesis.In this study,113 R2R3-MYB genes were identified in Ficus carica,3 of which were assigned to the S4 subfamily of flavonoid-biosynthesis repressors.FcMYB57 was further recruited as a candidate anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor based on its sequence features and expression,which was significantly negatively correlated with that of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes.Transient overexpression of FcMYB57 in strawberry totally inhibited fruit pigmentation and significantly increased fruit firmness.The metabolomic analysis confirmed a significant reduction in the contents of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside,as well as other flavonoids,and transmission electron microscopy revealed an increment in cell-wall thickness.Transcriptome analysis showed downregulation of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes and upregulation of genes related to xylan synthesis.Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assays demonstrated a negative regulatory effect of FcMYB57 on the promoter of FcUFGT3(UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-O-glcosyl-transferase).Yeast two-hybrid assay showed that FcMYB57 does not interact with FcbHLH42,3,14,MYC2,or FcTTG1,all of which have a previously identified or predicted role in flavonoid biosynthesis,however,interaction was detected with FcTPL(Topless),suggesting that FcMYB57 serves as an active repressor of anthocyanin biosynthesis.This is the first identification of an anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor in fig,with a possible role in fig fruit quality.展开更多
This study compares the relative efficacy of the continuation task and the model-as-feedbackwriting (MAFW) task in EFL writing development. Ninety intermediate-level Chinese EFL learnerswere randomly assigned to a con...This study compares the relative efficacy of the continuation task and the model-as-feedbackwriting (MAFW) task in EFL writing development. Ninety intermediate-level Chinese EFL learnerswere randomly assigned to a continuation group, a MAFW group, and a control group, each with30 learners. A pretest and a posttest were used to gauge L2 writing development. Results showedthat the continuation task outperformed the MAFW task not only in enhancing the overall qualityof L2 writing, but also in promoting the quality of three components of L2 writing, namely, content,organization, and language. The finding has important implications for L2 writing teaching andlearning.展开更多
Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to i...Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.展开更多
Objectives:The current treatment options and therapeutic targets for triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC),an aggressive subtype of breast cancer(BrCA),are limited.This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers and trans...Objectives:The current treatment options and therapeutic targets for triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC),an aggressive subtype of breast cancer(BrCA),are limited.This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers and transcriptional regulatory networks(TRN)inherent in TNBC samples.Methods:We analyzed pan-cancer BrCA datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)to compare triple-positive breast cancer(TPBC)with TNBC.TRN algorithms and virtual inference of protein-enriched regulon(VIPER)were used to identify master regulators and their target genes.Utilizing TNBC cells(MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468),we validated the relationship of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3(NFE2L3)and basic helix-loop-helix family member E 40(BHLHE40)by performing a luciferase assay.The expression levels of these targets were measured after transfections with plasmid and siRNA via qRT-PCR and western blots.The effect of these genes on cell proliferation and migration was studied using phenotypic assays.Results:Using computational approaches,we identified NFE2L3 as a master regulator with BHLHE40 as its target gene.NFE2L3 protein binds to the promoter region of BHLHE40 and regulates its transcriptional activity.Additionally,silencing and overexpressing NFE2L3 and BHLHE40 in TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 showed that NFE2L3 directly regulates BHLHE40 at both transcriptional and translational levels.We found that BHLHE40 requires NFE2L3 for cell proliferation and migration in TNBC.Conclusion:These findings underscore the significance of NFE2L3 and BHLHE40 in TNBC,highlighting NFE2L3’s role in regulating the oncogenic activity of BHLHE40 in TNBC cells.展开更多
基金supported by the key research project for fig development of Weiyuan County(Grant No.1002-69199007),China.
文摘Dry fig is a traditional healthy snack and has important economic value in a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.Cultivars with no anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit peel are preferred for dry fig production.R2R3-MYB transcription factors have promotive or repressive regulatory roles in plant anthocyanin biosynthesis.In this study,113 R2R3-MYB genes were identified in Ficus carica,3 of which were assigned to the S4 subfamily of flavonoid-biosynthesis repressors.FcMYB57 was further recruited as a candidate anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor based on its sequence features and expression,which was significantly negatively correlated with that of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes.Transient overexpression of FcMYB57 in strawberry totally inhibited fruit pigmentation and significantly increased fruit firmness.The metabolomic analysis confirmed a significant reduction in the contents of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside,as well as other flavonoids,and transmission electron microscopy revealed an increment in cell-wall thickness.Transcriptome analysis showed downregulation of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes and upregulation of genes related to xylan synthesis.Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assays demonstrated a negative regulatory effect of FcMYB57 on the promoter of FcUFGT3(UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-O-glcosyl-transferase).Yeast two-hybrid assay showed that FcMYB57 does not interact with FcbHLH42,3,14,MYC2,or FcTTG1,all of which have a previously identified or predicted role in flavonoid biosynthesis,however,interaction was detected with FcTPL(Topless),suggesting that FcMYB57 serves as an active repressor of anthocyanin biosynthesis.This is the first identification of an anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor in fig,with a possible role in fig fruit quality.
文摘This study compares the relative efficacy of the continuation task and the model-as-feedbackwriting (MAFW) task in EFL writing development. Ninety intermediate-level Chinese EFL learnerswere randomly assigned to a continuation group, a MAFW group, and a control group, each with30 learners. A pretest and a posttest were used to gauge L2 writing development. Results showedthat the continuation task outperformed the MAFW task not only in enhancing the overall qualityof L2 writing, but also in promoting the quality of three components of L2 writing, namely, content,organization, and language. The finding has important implications for L2 writing teaching andlearning.
文摘Background:Epidemiological studies have confirmed that longer exposure to insecticides like cypermethrin(CYP)significantly increases the risk of male reproductive toxicity.Crocus sativus L.has been recognized due to its therapeutic properties,but its exact role and molecular mechanisms in treatment of reproductive dysfunction remain unclear.Methods:During this study,36 rats were randomly divided into six groups(n=6):control,CYP-induced(60 mg/kg),standard(leuprolide 3 mg/kg)and three treatment groups receiving aqueous,ethanolic,and oil extracts(50 mg/kg or 20 mL/kg)for post-toxicity induction.Results:The finding represented that exposure of CYP significantly increased oxidative stress,disrupted testicular architecture,and markedly reduced testosterone levels(P<0.05).Importantly,Crocus sativus L.treatment alleviated these changes by increasing the expression of Nrf2(nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2),restoring the activity of antioxidant enzymes,and enhancing testicular histomorphology.Surprisingly,molecular docking established a high binding affinity of Crocus sativus L.phytoconstituents such as gallic acid,cinnamic acid and quercetin to the Nrf2-Keap1 complex.It is worth noting that,Crocus sativus L.exhibited a high level of protection against reproductive toxicity caused by CYP in male rats,which was mediated by the activation of Nrf2 pathway,reduction of oxidative damage,and favorable ADMET characteristics.Conclusion:Notably,this research provides a more valid,safe,and effective method of developing new drugs for reproductive disorders,however,further investigation is needed to support the research findings and implement it in clinical practice.
文摘Objectives:The current treatment options and therapeutic targets for triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC),an aggressive subtype of breast cancer(BrCA),are limited.This study aimed to identify novel biomarkers and transcriptional regulatory networks(TRN)inherent in TNBC samples.Methods:We analyzed pan-cancer BrCA datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)to compare triple-positive breast cancer(TPBC)with TNBC.TRN algorithms and virtual inference of protein-enriched regulon(VIPER)were used to identify master regulators and their target genes.Utilizing TNBC cells(MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468),we validated the relationship of nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 3(NFE2L3)and basic helix-loop-helix family member E 40(BHLHE40)by performing a luciferase assay.The expression levels of these targets were measured after transfections with plasmid and siRNA via qRT-PCR and western blots.The effect of these genes on cell proliferation and migration was studied using phenotypic assays.Results:Using computational approaches,we identified NFE2L3 as a master regulator with BHLHE40 as its target gene.NFE2L3 protein binds to the promoter region of BHLHE40 and regulates its transcriptional activity.Additionally,silencing and overexpressing NFE2L3 and BHLHE40 in TNBC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 showed that NFE2L3 directly regulates BHLHE40 at both transcriptional and translational levels.We found that BHLHE40 requires NFE2L3 for cell proliferation and migration in TNBC.Conclusion:These findings underscore the significance of NFE2L3 and BHLHE40 in TNBC,highlighting NFE2L3’s role in regulating the oncogenic activity of BHLHE40 in TNBC cells.
