We propose and demonstrate a synchronously pumped mode-locked Tm-doped fiber(TDF) laser without any extra mode-locking elements. Pumped by a 1.56 μm pulse fiber laser, the TDF laser generates 1.17 ps pulses with a ...We propose and demonstrate a synchronously pumped mode-locked Tm-doped fiber(TDF) laser without any extra mode-locking elements. Pumped by a 1.56 μm pulse fiber laser, the TDF laser generates 1.17 ps pulses with a spectral width of 9.7 nm and a repetition rate of 9.33 MHz. The emission wavelength is tunable along with the cavity length detuning in a wide range of 3 mm. The high detuning toleration is beneficial to achieve high temperature and vibration stability in all-fiber configuration lasers.展开更多
Religious convictions are a source of bitter confrontations between especially the Muslims and Christians ofNigeria. The problem is so endemic that there are conspicuous spillovers into the political and social sphere...Religious convictions are a source of bitter confrontations between especially the Muslims and Christians ofNigeria. The problem is so endemic that there are conspicuous spillovers into the political and social spheres ofeveryday living in the country. This reality threatens the already fragile unity and social health of the country andhence becomes one that needs special attention. The need to proffer solution to this cankerworm demands that wetake a historical survey of similar or near-similar situations in the human civilization and excavate ideas that weregiven as a way forward. It is in this bid that the ideas of John Locke in his book A Letter Concerning Tolerationbecome very useful. Locke argued for a secular state with a clear dichotomy between government activities, whichbelong to the public domain and hence involve every citizen and matters of faith which are private and devoid ofany form of coercion. Such differentiation is meant to remove the force of compulsion from religion and thepractice thereof as well as keep the government "undefiled" when the need for adjudication in matters that pertainto religion eventually arises. Locke's ideas in the book were aimed at forging peace and decorum in an Englishsociety that was virtually turned asunder by the demon of religious intolerance. This scenario exactly qualifiespresent-day Nigeria, hence there is much need to x-ray these ideas and apply same in our desire to nip the menaceof religious bigotry in the bud. The nature of this work made it necessary to apply the method of text analysis andevaluation to enable us to get an adequate appreciation of Locke's intentions and how these can serve our purposein present-day Nigeria.展开更多
In this paper I examine some presuppositions of toleration and pluralism and explore two models, viz., a deontological and a consequentialist model, respectively, which could support the view that rational agents shou...In this paper I examine some presuppositions of toleration and pluralism and explore two models, viz., a deontological and a consequentialist model, respectively, which could support the view that rational agents should act in a tolerant way. Against the background which is offered by the first model, I give two arguments in favor of the view that people are better off and more rational if they act in a tolerant way. The first argument draws upon aprinciple of charity which is usually applied in philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, but which could, equally well, work with regard to foundational issues in ethics and philosophy of action. The second argument is built upon the epistemic principle offallibilism and it is meant to show that acting in a tolerant way is the rational thing to do from this perspective.展开更多
Regulatory T cells,a subset of CD4^(+)T cells,play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.Recent advances in research have highlighted t...Regulatory T cells,a subset of CD4^(+)T cells,play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.Recent advances in research have highlighted the important therapeutic potential of Tregs in neurological diseases and tissue repair,emphasizing their multifaceted roles in immune regulation.This review aims to summarize and analyze the mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of Tregs in relation to neurological diseases and neural regeneration.Beyond their classical immune-regulatory functions,emerging evidence points to non-immune mechanisms of regulatory T cells,particularly their interactions with stem cells and other non-immune cells.These interactions contribute to optimizing the repair microenvironment and promoting tissue repair and nerve regeneration,positioning non-immune pathways as a promising direction for future research.By modulating immune and non-immune cells,including neurons and glia within neural tissues,Tregs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems.Preclinical studies have revealed that Treg cells interact with neurons,glial cells,and other neural components to mitigate inflammatory damage and support functional recovery.Current mechanistic studies show that Tregs can significantly promote neural repair and functional recovery by regulating inflammatory responses and the local immune microenvironment.However,research on the mechanistic roles of regulatory T cells in other diseases remains limited,highlighting substantial gaps and opportunities for exploration in this field.Laboratory and clinical studies have further advanced the application of regulatory T cells.Technical advances have enabled efficient isolation,ex vivo expansion and functionalization,and adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells,with efficacy validated in animal models.Innovative strategies,including gene editing,cell-free technologies,biomaterial-based recruitment,and in situ delivery have expanded the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells.Gene editing enables precise functional optimization,while biomaterial and in situ delivery technologies enhance their accumulation and efficacy at target sites.These advancements not only improve the immune-regulatory capacity of regulatory T cells but also significantly enhance their role in tissue repair.By leveraging the pivotal and diverse functions of Tregs in immune modulation and tissue repair,regulatory T cells–based therapies may lead to transformative breakthroughs in the treatment of neurological diseases.展开更多
Post-translational modifications(PTMs)regulate the occurrence and development of cancer,and lactylation modification is a new form of PTMs.Recent studies have found that lactic acid modification can regulate the immun...Post-translational modifications(PTMs)regulate the occurrence and development of cancer,and lactylation modification is a new form of PTMs.Recent studies have found that lactic acid modification can regulate the immune tolerance of cancer cells.The classical theory holds that prostate apoptosis response-4(PAR-4)is a tumor suppressor protein.However,our recent research has found that PAR-4 has a biological function of promoting cancer in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and our analysis shows that PAR-4 can be modified of lactic acid.These research evidences suggest that PAR-4 lactylation modification may drive immune tolerance in HCC.Therefore,inhibiting PAR-4 lactylation modification is very likely to increase the sensitivity of HCC to immunotherapy.展开更多
Watermelon(Citrullus lanatus) is sensitive to salt stress. For breeding applications, it is of great significance to explore the genetic mechanism underlying salt tolerance in watermelon by analyzing the dehydration r...Watermelon(Citrullus lanatus) is sensitive to salt stress. For breeding applications, it is of great significance to explore the genetic mechanism underlying salt tolerance in watermelon by analyzing the dehydration responsive element-binding(DREB) factor family members.However, they are rarely studied in watermelon. In this study, we identified ClaDREB gene family members in watermelon based on whole genome data;analyzed the physicochemical properties, evolution, and phylogeny;and studied their expression patterns under salt stress in two watermelon varieties with varying salt tolerance. In total, 57 DREB family members were identified in watermelon, and most of them were located in the nucleus. ClaDREBs were divided into six subgroups Ⅰ-Ⅵ. The promoter region of ClaDREBs from subgroup Ⅱ contained many defense-related and stress responsive elements. Among them, ClaDREB14 was significantly upregulated by salt stress and exhibited differential expression in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive varieties. Moreover, overexpression of ClaDREB14 in watermelon roots significantly improved the salt tolerance of transgenic plants;mainly, it significantly increased the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT and significantly reduced MDA content.However, the results from gene-edited watermelon roots obtained using CRISPR/Cas9 vectors showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ClaDREB14 directly binds to the cis-acting element ACCGAC in the promoter region of ClaPOD6 and promotes its expression.Therefore, ClaDREB14 may enhance salt tolerance by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in watermelon roots. This study provided valuable information on the DREB gene family in watermelon and laid the foundation for future functional validation and genetic engineering applications.展开更多
Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid pigments with essential roles in plants.While the cultivated allotetraploid cottons exhibit distinct mature anther coloration—yellow in Gossypium barbadense versus predominantly ...Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid pigments with essential roles in plants.While the cultivated allotetraploid cottons exhibit distinct mature anther coloration—yellow in Gossypium barbadense versus predominantly white in G.hirsutum—the genetic basis of this divergence remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic basis of anther-color variation in cotton(Gossypium)species.We firstly identified carotenoids as the primary pigments underlying yellow-anthers coloration.Comparative transcriptomics of anthers revealed that the carotenoid biosynthesis gene GbPSY4 was expressed as a key regulator in G.barbadense.Functional validation via tissue-specific expression,subcellular localization,in vivo enzymatic assays,and virus-induced gene silencing confirmed its role in carotenoid biosynthesis and yellow pigmentation.Genome-wide association studies in a G.hirsutum population revealed GhPSY4_At,an ortholog of GbPSY4,as the causal gene of anther-color variation.We conclude that PSY4-regulated carotenoid biosynthesis governs yellow pigmentation.Furthermore,a finding that G.hirsutum accessions with yellow anthers showed greater pollen viability under high-temperature stress than those with white anthers suggests that the same pathway that governs yellow pigmentation influences heat tolerance.PSY4 is a promising target for breeding stress-tolerant cotton varieties.展开更多
Elevated CO_(2)(eCO_(2))may mitigate stress-induced damage to cotton(Gossypium spp.)growth and development.However,understanding the early-stage responses of cotton to multiple abiotic stressors at eCO_(2)levels has b...Elevated CO_(2)(eCO_(2))may mitigate stress-induced damage to cotton(Gossypium spp.)growth and development.However,understanding the early-stage responses of cotton to multiple abiotic stressors at eCO_(2)levels has been limited.This study quantified the impacts of chilling(CS,22/14℃,day/night temperature),heat(HS,38/30℃),drought(DS,50%irrigation of the control),and salt(SS,8 d S m-1)stresses on pigments,physiology,growth,and development of 14 upland cotton cultivars under ambient CO_(2)(aCO_(2),420 ppm;current)and eCO_(2)(700 ppm;future)levels during the vegetative stage.The eCO_(2)partially negated the effects of all stresses by improving one or more of the pigments,physiological,growth,and development traits,except CS.For instance,HS at aCO_(2)significantly increased stomatal conductance by 36%compared with non-stressed plants at aCO_(2).However,HS at eCO_(2)significantly decreased stomatal conductance by 18%compared with HS at aCO_(2).The first squaring was delayed by one day under SS at aCO_(2)but two days earlier under SS at eCO_(2)than non-stressed plants at aCO_(2).Root and shoot dry mass and the total leaf area were significantly higher under all stresses,except for CS,at the eCO_(2)compared with similar stresses at the aCO_(2).Most growth and development traits,including plant height,leaf area,and shoot dry mass,displayed a mirroring response pattern between aCO_(2)and eCO_(2)under all environments except CS.Cultivars exhibited significant interaction with stressed environments.Further,results revealed differential sensitivity and adaptation potential of cultivars to stress environments at varying CO_(2)levels.This study highlights the need to consider eCO_(2)in designing breeding programs to develop stress-tolerant varieties for future cotton-growing environments.展开更多
Multi-site coupling is a promising strategy for developing highly efficient and CO-resistant hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR)catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs).However,designing multifunctional ...Multi-site coupling is a promising strategy for developing highly efficient and CO-resistant hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR)catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs).However,designing multifunctional synergistic schemes for single-atom sites remains a significant challenge.Herein,we propose a dual-template-confined oxophilic engineering strategy to construct well-dispersed iridium-nickel(IrNi)atomic dimers adjacent to IrNi nanoclusters on porous nitrogen-doped carbon(IrNi_(Dimer/NC1.8)-PNC).The paired IrNi dimer features an asymmetric Ir-N_(3)configuration coordinated with heteroatomic Ni-N_(3)O via an N-bridge.Remarkably,IrNi_(Dimer/NC1.8)-PNC exhibits a~23-fold enhancement in mass activity(4.36 A mg-1Ir at 20 mV)and 5-fold longer stability compared to benchmarking Pt/C toward HOR,while achieving a high rated power density of 1.18 W cm^(-2)in PEMFC anode applications.Furthermore,IrNi_(Dimer/NC1.8)-PNC demonstrates superior CO tolerance over monometallic Ir and Pt/C in both half-cell and full-cell devices.Combined experimental and density functional theory studies reveal that oxophilic Ni modulates the electronic environment of Ir through alloying and dimer interactions,thereby enhancing HOR activity.Importantly,the asymmetric IrNi dimer enables efficient CO^(*)and OH^(*)co-adsorption while facilitating CO_(2)^(*)desorption,synergistically mitigating CO poisoning and improving atom utilization efficiency.This work provides a design strategy and fundamental insights for multi-site synergistic catalysts in PEMFC anodes.展开更多
As one of the main chronic diseases in modern society,coronary heart disease,as a major disease that affects people’s lives and health,has the characteristics of hidden onset and sudden onset.Coronary heart disease h...As one of the main chronic diseases in modern society,coronary heart disease,as a major disease that affects people’s lives and health,has the characteristics of hidden onset and sudden onset.Coronary heart disease has relatively clear risk factors.Among them,blood lipid levels and blood sugar levels,as two main risk factors,play an important role in promoting the onset of coronary heart disease.The two complement each other in a vicious cycle,synergize and promote each other,promote the process of coronary atherosclerosis,thereby causing coronary heart disease.Multiple components in blood lipids and poor management of long-term blood sugar levels play a major role in specific clinical problems.This article reviews the different components of blood lipids and the effects of hyperglycemia on coronary heart disease,and initially expounds the mechanism by which blood lipids and blood sugar levels synergize each other to aggravate the risk of coronary heart disease,and combines them with relevant clinical issues,in order to help clinicians guide the prevention of coronary heart disease in terms of blood lipids and blood sugar levels.展开更多
BACKGROUND Due to the dry and cold climate,the obvious temperature difference between day and night,and the low oxygen content of the air in the plateau area,people are prone to upper respiratory tract diseases,and of...BACKGROUND Due to the dry and cold climate,the obvious temperature difference between day and night,and the low oxygen content of the air in the plateau area,people are prone to upper respiratory tract diseases,and often the condition is prolonged,and the patients are prone to anxiety and uneasiness,which may be related to the harshness of the plateau environment,somatic discomfort due to the lack of oxygen,anxiety about the disease,and other factors.AIM To investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)on anxiety,sleep disorders,and hypoxia tolerance in patients with high-altitude respiratory diseases.METHODS A total of 2337 patients with high-altitude-related respiratory diseases treated at our hospital between November 2023 and January 2024 were selected as the study subjects.The subjects’pre-high-altitude residential altitude was approximately 1700 meters.They were divided into two groups.Both groups were given symptomatic treatment,and the control group implemented conventional nursing intervention,while the research group simultaneously conducted CBT intervention;assessed the degree of health knowledge of the two groups,and applied the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess the anxiety and sleep quality of the patients before and after the intervention,respectively.It also observed the length and efficiency of sleep,and detected the level of serum hypoxia inducible factor-1α,erythropoietin(EPO)and clinical intervention before and after intervention.EPO levels,and investigated satisfaction with the clinical intervention.RESULTS The rate of excellent health knowledge in the intervention group was 93.64%,which was higher than that in the control group(74.23%;P<0.05).Before the intervention,there was no significant difference in Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores between the two groups(P>0.05),and after the intervention,the scores of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in sleep duration and sleep efficiency between the groups before the intervention(P>0.05),and after the intervention,the scores of the study group were significantly larger than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in serum hypoxia inducible factor-1αand EPO between the two groups before intervention(P>0.05),and both research groups were significantly lower than the control group after intervention(P<0.05).According to the questionnaire survey,the intervention satisfaction of the study group was 95.53%,which was higher than that of the control group(80.14%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION The CBT intervention in the treatment of patients with high-altitude-related respiratory diseases helps improve patients'health knowledge,relieve anxiety,improve sleep quality and hypoxia tolerance,and improve nursing satisfaction.展开更多
Background Maternal obesity during pregnancy can lead to increased risk for metabolic disease in offspring during adulthood,helping fuel the worldwide increase in obesity.Fortunately,studies in rodent models have esta...Background Maternal obesity during pregnancy can lead to increased risk for metabolic disease in offspring during adulthood,helping fuel the worldwide increase in obesity.Fortunately,studies in rodent models have established that female dams(F0)that perform voluntary wheel running exercise during pregnancy have first-generation(F1)offspring with improved glucose tolerance,suggesting a potential means to reduce the burden of generational metabolic disease transmission.We have shown that maternal exercise also affects F1 male offspring as sires,as their progeny(F2)have similarly improved metabolic health.Whether maternal exercise can affect F1 females in a manner that improves F2 offspring metabolism is not known.Here,we determined whether voluntary exercise by F0 grandmothers,via their F1 female progeny,produced F2 male and female offspring with an improved metabolic phenotype.Methods Six-week-old C57BL/6 N female mice(F0)were fed a chow diet and either kept sedentary or exercise trained by voluntary wheel running for 2 weeks preconception and during pregnancy.Chow-fed sedentary F1 female offspring at 8 weeks of age were bred with age-matched untreated virgin males to generate F2 offspring.F2 were kept sedentary and chow fed and studied up to 52 weeks of age.Metabolic parameters were assessed,including food intake,body weight,body composition,glucose tolerance,systemic glucose and insulin levels,and liver metabolism.Results Grandmaternal exercise did not significantly alter male and female F2 offspring body weights measured throughout the first year of life,nor was there an effect of grandmaternal exercise on F2 offspring fat mass or lean mass.Remarkably,despite the lack of effect on body weight parameters,grandmaternal exercise resulted in improved glucose tolerance and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)in F2 offspring at 52 weeks of age,effects that were more pronounced in male F2 offspring.Conclusion Voluntary wheel running exercise in female mice during pregnancy leads to metabolic improvements in her grand offspring,despite no direct intervention of the intermediate maternal generation.Maternal physical activity during pregnancy may reduce metabolic diseases in later generations.展开更多
Source-sink coordination serves as the foundation for improving crop yield.Current research primarily focuses on individual factors,such as increasing the source or expanding the sink,which often leads to disrupted so...Source-sink coordination serves as the foundation for improving crop yield.Current research primarily focuses on individual factors,such as increasing the source or expanding the sink,which often leads to disrupted source-sink balance,causing trade-offs among photosynthesis,yield,and stress response.To address these limitations,we present an integrated synthetic biological framework that synergistically enhances photosynthetic efficiency(source capacity),sink optimization,and abiotic stress tolerance.We developed an editing-overexpression coupling(EOC)vector system enabling simultaneous overexpression of four photosynthesis-enhancing genes(Cyt c6,PsbA,FBPase,OsMGT3),knockout of three yield-limiting genes(GS3,Gn1a,OsAAP5),and self-excision of selection markers,gene-editing modules,and fragment deletion cassettes.Field evaluations of CFMP-gga transgenic lines revealed significant physiological improvements,including 13%–17%increase in photosynthetic rates,improved chlorophyll fluorescence parameters,and increased stomatal conductance.These enhancements translated into remarkable agronomic gains,including 18.7%–22.3%higher grain yield,23.1%–26.1%increased biomass,and improved panicle architecture(increased grain size and grain number per panicle).The engineered lines maintained superior thermotolerance(under 42°C stress)and alkali tolerance(at pH 10)compared to wild-type controls.This study provides a strategy for enhancing crop yield by demonstrating that coordinated multi-gene regulation of source-sink dynamics,coupled with stress resilience engineering,achieves concurrent improvements.展开更多
High epicuticular wax(Ewax)content on leaves is a key trait for drought and heat stress tolerance in plants.One hundred diverse rice germplasm lines from the 3K-IRRI collection were screened for leaf Ewax content unde...High epicuticular wax(Ewax)content on leaves is a key trait for drought and heat stress tolerance in plants.One hundred diverse rice germplasm lines from the 3K-IRRI collection were screened for leaf Ewax content under open field conditions during the monsoon season of 2023,and for their nocturnal transpiration during the summer season of 2024.Using a novel drought-simulator phenomics platform,we identified a balance between cuticular and stomatal transpiration at night,with wax modulating these processes under varying night temperatures.展开更多
Salinization of agricultural land is becoming increasingly severe worldwide,posing a significant threat to food security.The exogenous application of bioactive substances has been widely used to enhance plant resistan...Salinization of agricultural land is becoming increasingly severe worldwide,posing a significant threat to food security.The exogenous application of bioactive substances has been widely used to enhance plant resistance to salt stress.In this study,we used corn steep liquor(CSL),myo-inositol(MI),and their combination to improve salt tolerance in Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa L.ssp.pekinensis)under salt stress conditions.All three treatments significantly increased plant biomass and nutrient uptake,and improved soil physicochemical properties,while alleviating oxidative damage and ion toxicity.展开更多
Global warming impacts plant growth and development,which in turn threatens food security.Plants can clearly respond to warm-temperature(such as by thermomorphogenesis)and high-temperature stresses.At the molecular le...Global warming impacts plant growth and development,which in turn threatens food security.Plants can clearly respond to warm-temperature(such as by thermomorphogenesis)and high-temperature stresses.At the molecular level,many small molecules play crucial roles in balancing growth and defense,and stable high yields can be achieved by fine-tuning the responses to external stimuli.Therefore,it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth in response to heat stress and how plants can adjust their biological processes to survive heat stress conditions.In this review,we summarize the heat-responsive genetic networks in plants and crop plants based on recent studies.We focus on how plants sense the elevated temperatures and initiate the cellular and metabolic responses that allow them to adapt to the adverse growing conditions.We also describe the trade-off between plant growth and responses to heat stress.Specifically,we address the regulatory network of plant responses to heat stress,which will facilitate the discovery of novel thermotolerance genes and provide new opportunities for agricultural applications.展开更多
The chalcone isomerase gene OsCHI,one of the key genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway,plays an important role in rice(Oryza sativa)resistance to abiotic stresses.This study reveals how the chalcone isomerase ge...The chalcone isomerase gene OsCHI,one of the key genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway,plays an important role in rice(Oryza sativa)resistance to abiotic stresses.This study reveals how the chalcone isomerase gene family member OsCHI3 participates in rice responses to drought stress through the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis.Overexpression of OsCHI3 increased the tolerance of rice to drought stress.In contrast,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of OsCHI3 reduced the drought tolerance of rice,an effect that is reversed by exogenous ABA treatment.Transcriptomic and physiological biochemical analyses indicated that flavonoids regulated by OsCHI3 not only scavenge reactive oxygen species(ROS)but also increase drought tolerance in rice by stimulating ABA biosynthesis through the regulation of OsNCED1 and OsABA8ox3 expression.These findings demonstrate that OsCHI3 increases drought stress tolerance in rice by activating the antioxidant defense system and the ABA metabolic pathway,providing new clues for drought-resistant rice breeding research.展开更多
Objectives:Cold-acclimated organisms accumulate low molecular weight organic solutes such as sugar alcohols and soluble sugars.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of five sugar alcohols and 14 soluble sugars in s...Objectives:Cold-acclimated organisms accumulate low molecular weight organic solutes such as sugar alcohols and soluble sugars.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of five sugar alcohols and 14 soluble sugars in stabilizing proteins under freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.Materials and methods:Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase(G6PD)was used as the model protein.G6PD solutions with or without sugar alcohols and or sugars were subjected to freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.The recovery of G6PD activity was measured to evaluate the protective efficacy of these compounds.Results:Without stabilizers,freezing G6PD at-20℃ or-80℃ reduced enzyme activity by around 24%,while freeze-drying or air-drying reduced activity by 90%-95%.Among the five sugar alcohols tested,pinitol,quebrachitol and sorbitol stabilized G6PD,whereas mannitol and myo-inositol destabilized it.Among 14 soluble sugars,trehalose and raffinose showed slightly lower enzyme recovery after repeated freeze-thaw cycles at-20℃.Most soluble sugars(except arabinose and xylose)protected G6PD during freeze-drying,with di-,tri-,and oligosaccharides generally outperforming monosaccharides.During air-drying,lactose was ineffective,while arabinose,galactose,and xylose were detrimental.Conclusion:The study highlights the diverse mechanisms of sugar alcohols and sugars in protein stabilization under stress,offering insights for formulating stable protein-and cell-based drugs.展开更多
The leucine-rich repeat(LRR)protein family is involved in a variety of fundamental metabolic and signaling processes in plants,including growth and defense responses.LRR proteins can be divided into two categories:tho...The leucine-rich repeat(LRR)protein family is involved in a variety of fundamental metabolic and signaling processes in plants,including growth and defense responses.LRR proteins can be divided into two categories:those containing LRR domains along with other structural elements,which are further subdivided into five groups,LRR receptor-like kinases,LRR receptor-like proteins,nucleotide-binding site LRR proteins,LRR-extensin proteins,and polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins,and those containing only LRR domains.Functionally,various LRR proteins are primarily involved in plant development and responses to environmental stress.Notably,the LRR protein family plays a central role in signal transduction pathways related to stress adaptation.In this review,we classify and analyze the functions of LRR proteins in plants.While extensive research has been conducted on the roles of LRR proteins in disease resistance signaling,these proteins also play important roles in abiotic stress responses.This review highlights recent advances in understanding how LRR proteins mediate responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.Building upon these insights,further exploration of the roles of LRR proteins in abiotic stress resistance may aid efforts to develop rice varieties with enhanced stress and disease tolerance.展开更多
Frequent drought events severely restrict global crop productivity,especially those occurring in the reproductive stages.Moderate drought priming during the earlier growth stages is a promising strategy for allowing p...Frequent drought events severely restrict global crop productivity,especially those occurring in the reproductive stages.Moderate drought priming during the earlier growth stages is a promising strategy for allowing plants to resist recurrent severe drought stress.However,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Here,we subjected wheat plants to drought priming during the vegetative growth stage and to severe drought stress at 10 days after anthesis.We then collected leaf samples at the ends of the drought priming and recovery periods,and at the end of drought stress for transcriptome sequencing in combination with phenotypic and physiological analyses.The drought-primed wheat plants maintained a lower plant temperature,with higher stomatal openness and photosynthesis,thereby resulting in much lower 1,000-grain weight and grain yield losses under the later drought stress than the non-primed plants.Interestingly,416 genes,including 27 transcription factors(e.g.,MYB,NAC,HSF),seemed to be closely related to the improved drought tolerance as indicated by the dynamic transcriptome analysis.Moreover,the candidate genes showed six temporal expression patterns and were significantly enriched in several stress response related pathways,such as plant hormone signal transduction,starch and sucrose metabolism,arginine and proline metabolism,inositol phosphate metabolism,and wax synthesis.These findings provide new insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the long-term effects of early drought priming that can effectively improve drought tolerance in wheat,and may provide potential approaches for addressing the challenges of increasing abiotic stresses and securing food safety under global warming scenarios.展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 61675188 and 61875052the Open Fund of Key Laboratory Pulse Power Laser Technology of China under Grant No SKL2016KF03
文摘We propose and demonstrate a synchronously pumped mode-locked Tm-doped fiber(TDF) laser without any extra mode-locking elements. Pumped by a 1.56 μm pulse fiber laser, the TDF laser generates 1.17 ps pulses with a spectral width of 9.7 nm and a repetition rate of 9.33 MHz. The emission wavelength is tunable along with the cavity length detuning in a wide range of 3 mm. The high detuning toleration is beneficial to achieve high temperature and vibration stability in all-fiber configuration lasers.
文摘Religious convictions are a source of bitter confrontations between especially the Muslims and Christians ofNigeria. The problem is so endemic that there are conspicuous spillovers into the political and social spheres ofeveryday living in the country. This reality threatens the already fragile unity and social health of the country andhence becomes one that needs special attention. The need to proffer solution to this cankerworm demands that wetake a historical survey of similar or near-similar situations in the human civilization and excavate ideas that weregiven as a way forward. It is in this bid that the ideas of John Locke in his book A Letter Concerning Tolerationbecome very useful. Locke argued for a secular state with a clear dichotomy between government activities, whichbelong to the public domain and hence involve every citizen and matters of faith which are private and devoid ofany form of coercion. Such differentiation is meant to remove the force of compulsion from religion and thepractice thereof as well as keep the government "undefiled" when the need for adjudication in matters that pertainto religion eventually arises. Locke's ideas in the book were aimed at forging peace and decorum in an Englishsociety that was virtually turned asunder by the demon of religious intolerance. This scenario exactly qualifiespresent-day Nigeria, hence there is much need to x-ray these ideas and apply same in our desire to nip the menaceof religious bigotry in the bud. The nature of this work made it necessary to apply the method of text analysis andevaluation to enable us to get an adequate appreciation of Locke's intentions and how these can serve our purposein present-day Nigeria.
文摘In this paper I examine some presuppositions of toleration and pluralism and explore two models, viz., a deontological and a consequentialist model, respectively, which could support the view that rational agents should act in a tolerant way. Against the background which is offered by the first model, I give two arguments in favor of the view that people are better off and more rational if they act in a tolerant way. The first argument draws upon aprinciple of charity which is usually applied in philosophy of mind and philosophy of language, but which could, equally well, work with regard to foundational issues in ethics and philosophy of action. The second argument is built upon the epistemic principle offallibilism and it is meant to show that acting in a tolerant way is the rational thing to do from this perspective.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.32271389,31900987(both to PY)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,No.BK20230608(to JJ)。
文摘Regulatory T cells,a subset of CD4^(+)T cells,play a critical role in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis due to their potent immunosuppressive properties.Recent advances in research have highlighted the important therapeutic potential of Tregs in neurological diseases and tissue repair,emphasizing their multifaceted roles in immune regulation.This review aims to summarize and analyze the mechanisms of action and therapeutic potential of Tregs in relation to neurological diseases and neural regeneration.Beyond their classical immune-regulatory functions,emerging evidence points to non-immune mechanisms of regulatory T cells,particularly their interactions with stem cells and other non-immune cells.These interactions contribute to optimizing the repair microenvironment and promoting tissue repair and nerve regeneration,positioning non-immune pathways as a promising direction for future research.By modulating immune and non-immune cells,including neurons and glia within neural tissues,Tregs have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in enhancing regeneration in the central and peripheral nervous systems.Preclinical studies have revealed that Treg cells interact with neurons,glial cells,and other neural components to mitigate inflammatory damage and support functional recovery.Current mechanistic studies show that Tregs can significantly promote neural repair and functional recovery by regulating inflammatory responses and the local immune microenvironment.However,research on the mechanistic roles of regulatory T cells in other diseases remains limited,highlighting substantial gaps and opportunities for exploration in this field.Laboratory and clinical studies have further advanced the application of regulatory T cells.Technical advances have enabled efficient isolation,ex vivo expansion and functionalization,and adoptive transfer of regulatory T cells,with efficacy validated in animal models.Innovative strategies,including gene editing,cell-free technologies,biomaterial-based recruitment,and in situ delivery have expanded the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells.Gene editing enables precise functional optimization,while biomaterial and in situ delivery technologies enhance their accumulation and efficacy at target sites.These advancements not only improve the immune-regulatory capacity of regulatory T cells but also significantly enhance their role in tissue repair.By leveraging the pivotal and diverse functions of Tregs in immune modulation and tissue repair,regulatory T cells–based therapies may lead to transformative breakthroughs in the treatment of neurological diseases.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82573045,82460602,82560459)the Hainan Provincial Graduate Student Innovative Research Project(No.Qhys2024-440).
文摘Post-translational modifications(PTMs)regulate the occurrence and development of cancer,and lactylation modification is a new form of PTMs.Recent studies have found that lactic acid modification can regulate the immune tolerance of cancer cells.The classical theory holds that prostate apoptosis response-4(PAR-4)is a tumor suppressor protein.However,our recent research has found that PAR-4 has a biological function of promoting cancer in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),and our analysis shows that PAR-4 can be modified of lactic acid.These research evidences suggest that PAR-4 lactylation modification may drive immune tolerance in HCC.Therefore,inhibiting PAR-4 lactylation modification is very likely to increase the sensitivity of HCC to immunotherapy.
基金funded by grants fromthe China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-25)the Key Research and Development Program of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region(Grant No.2023B02017)+3 种基金the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(CAAS-ASTIP-2021-ZFRI,CAAS-ASTIP-2024-WRI)the Basic Research Funds of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Grant No.1610192023201)Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(Grant No.252300421694)Joint Research on Agricultural Variety Improvement of Henan Province(Grant No.2022010503).
文摘Watermelon(Citrullus lanatus) is sensitive to salt stress. For breeding applications, it is of great significance to explore the genetic mechanism underlying salt tolerance in watermelon by analyzing the dehydration responsive element-binding(DREB) factor family members.However, they are rarely studied in watermelon. In this study, we identified ClaDREB gene family members in watermelon based on whole genome data;analyzed the physicochemical properties, evolution, and phylogeny;and studied their expression patterns under salt stress in two watermelon varieties with varying salt tolerance. In total, 57 DREB family members were identified in watermelon, and most of them were located in the nucleus. ClaDREBs were divided into six subgroups Ⅰ-Ⅵ. The promoter region of ClaDREBs from subgroup Ⅱ contained many defense-related and stress responsive elements. Among them, ClaDREB14 was significantly upregulated by salt stress and exhibited differential expression in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive varieties. Moreover, overexpression of ClaDREB14 in watermelon roots significantly improved the salt tolerance of transgenic plants;mainly, it significantly increased the activities of POD, SOD, and CAT and significantly reduced MDA content.However, the results from gene-edited watermelon roots obtained using CRISPR/Cas9 vectors showed the opposite trend. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ClaDREB14 directly binds to the cis-acting element ACCGAC in the promoter region of ClaPOD6 and promotes its expression.Therefore, ClaDREB14 may enhance salt tolerance by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes in watermelon roots. This study provided valuable information on the DREB gene family in watermelon and laid the foundation for future functional validation and genetic engineering applications.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32170271,32470277)the Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City(SCKJ-JYRC-2023-52)the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(252300421076,222300420024).
文摘Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid pigments with essential roles in plants.While the cultivated allotetraploid cottons exhibit distinct mature anther coloration—yellow in Gossypium barbadense versus predominantly white in G.hirsutum—the genetic basis of this divergence remains unclear.The purpose of this study was to identify the genetic basis of anther-color variation in cotton(Gossypium)species.We firstly identified carotenoids as the primary pigments underlying yellow-anthers coloration.Comparative transcriptomics of anthers revealed that the carotenoid biosynthesis gene GbPSY4 was expressed as a key regulator in G.barbadense.Functional validation via tissue-specific expression,subcellular localization,in vivo enzymatic assays,and virus-induced gene silencing confirmed its role in carotenoid biosynthesis and yellow pigmentation.Genome-wide association studies in a G.hirsutum population revealed GhPSY4_At,an ortholog of GbPSY4,as the causal gene of anther-color variation.We conclude that PSY4-regulated carotenoid biosynthesis governs yellow pigmentation.Furthermore,a finding that G.hirsutum accessions with yellow anthers showed greater pollen viability under high-temperature stress than those with white anthers suggests that the same pathway that governs yellow pigmentation influences heat tolerance.PSY4 is a promising target for breeding stress-tolerant cotton varieties.
基金supported by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station,Special Research Initiative(MAFES-SRI),USA,the USDA-Agricultural Research Service(USDA-ARS)(58-6064-3-007)the National Institute of Food and Agriculture,USA(MIS-430030)。
文摘Elevated CO_(2)(eCO_(2))may mitigate stress-induced damage to cotton(Gossypium spp.)growth and development.However,understanding the early-stage responses of cotton to multiple abiotic stressors at eCO_(2)levels has been limited.This study quantified the impacts of chilling(CS,22/14℃,day/night temperature),heat(HS,38/30℃),drought(DS,50%irrigation of the control),and salt(SS,8 d S m-1)stresses on pigments,physiology,growth,and development of 14 upland cotton cultivars under ambient CO_(2)(aCO_(2),420 ppm;current)and eCO_(2)(700 ppm;future)levels during the vegetative stage.The eCO_(2)partially negated the effects of all stresses by improving one or more of the pigments,physiological,growth,and development traits,except CS.For instance,HS at aCO_(2)significantly increased stomatal conductance by 36%compared with non-stressed plants at aCO_(2).However,HS at eCO_(2)significantly decreased stomatal conductance by 18%compared with HS at aCO_(2).The first squaring was delayed by one day under SS at aCO_(2)but two days earlier under SS at eCO_(2)than non-stressed plants at aCO_(2).Root and shoot dry mass and the total leaf area were significantly higher under all stresses,except for CS,at the eCO_(2)compared with similar stresses at the aCO_(2).Most growth and development traits,including plant height,leaf area,and shoot dry mass,displayed a mirroring response pattern between aCO_(2)and eCO_(2)under all environments except CS.Cultivars exhibited significant interaction with stressed environments.Further,results revealed differential sensitivity and adaptation potential of cultivars to stress environments at varying CO_(2)levels.This study highlights the need to consider eCO_(2)in designing breeding programs to develop stress-tolerant varieties for future cotton-growing environments.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22279079 and 22472101)Guangdong Science and Technology Department Program(2021QN02L252,2023A1515010021,and 2024A1515011543)Research Team Cultivation Program of Shenzhen University(2023QNT007)。
文摘Multi-site coupling is a promising strategy for developing highly efficient and CO-resistant hydrogen oxidation reaction(HOR)catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells(PEMFCs).However,designing multifunctional synergistic schemes for single-atom sites remains a significant challenge.Herein,we propose a dual-template-confined oxophilic engineering strategy to construct well-dispersed iridium-nickel(IrNi)atomic dimers adjacent to IrNi nanoclusters on porous nitrogen-doped carbon(IrNi_(Dimer/NC1.8)-PNC).The paired IrNi dimer features an asymmetric Ir-N_(3)configuration coordinated with heteroatomic Ni-N_(3)O via an N-bridge.Remarkably,IrNi_(Dimer/NC1.8)-PNC exhibits a~23-fold enhancement in mass activity(4.36 A mg-1Ir at 20 mV)and 5-fold longer stability compared to benchmarking Pt/C toward HOR,while achieving a high rated power density of 1.18 W cm^(-2)in PEMFC anode applications.Furthermore,IrNi_(Dimer/NC1.8)-PNC demonstrates superior CO tolerance over monometallic Ir and Pt/C in both half-cell and full-cell devices.Combined experimental and density functional theory studies reveal that oxophilic Ni modulates the electronic environment of Ir through alloying and dimer interactions,thereby enhancing HOR activity.Importantly,the asymmetric IrNi dimer enables efficient CO^(*)and OH^(*)co-adsorption while facilitating CO_(2)^(*)desorption,synergistically mitigating CO poisoning and improving atom utilization efficiency.This work provides a design strategy and fundamental insights for multi-site synergistic catalysts in PEMFC anodes.
文摘As one of the main chronic diseases in modern society,coronary heart disease,as a major disease that affects people’s lives and health,has the characteristics of hidden onset and sudden onset.Coronary heart disease has relatively clear risk factors.Among them,blood lipid levels and blood sugar levels,as two main risk factors,play an important role in promoting the onset of coronary heart disease.The two complement each other in a vicious cycle,synergize and promote each other,promote the process of coronary atherosclerosis,thereby causing coronary heart disease.Multiple components in blood lipids and poor management of long-term blood sugar levels play a major role in specific clinical problems.This article reviews the different components of blood lipids and the effects of hyperglycemia on coronary heart disease,and initially expounds the mechanism by which blood lipids and blood sugar levels synergize each other to aggravate the risk of coronary heart disease,and combines them with relevant clinical issues,in order to help clinicians guide the prevention of coronary heart disease in terms of blood lipids and blood sugar levels.
基金Supported by Army Logistics Department Health Bureau Project,No.QJGYXYJZX-012.
文摘BACKGROUND Due to the dry and cold climate,the obvious temperature difference between day and night,and the low oxygen content of the air in the plateau area,people are prone to upper respiratory tract diseases,and often the condition is prolonged,and the patients are prone to anxiety and uneasiness,which may be related to the harshness of the plateau environment,somatic discomfort due to the lack of oxygen,anxiety about the disease,and other factors.AIM To investigate the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT)on anxiety,sleep disorders,and hypoxia tolerance in patients with high-altitude respiratory diseases.METHODS A total of 2337 patients with high-altitude-related respiratory diseases treated at our hospital between November 2023 and January 2024 were selected as the study subjects.The subjects’pre-high-altitude residential altitude was approximately 1700 meters.They were divided into two groups.Both groups were given symptomatic treatment,and the control group implemented conventional nursing intervention,while the research group simultaneously conducted CBT intervention;assessed the degree of health knowledge of the two groups,and applied the Hamilton Anxiety Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess the anxiety and sleep quality of the patients before and after the intervention,respectively.It also observed the length and efficiency of sleep,and detected the level of serum hypoxia inducible factor-1α,erythropoietin(EPO)and clinical intervention before and after intervention.EPO levels,and investigated satisfaction with the clinical intervention.RESULTS The rate of excellent health knowledge in the intervention group was 93.64%,which was higher than that in the control group(74.23%;P<0.05).Before the intervention,there was no significant difference in Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores between the two groups(P>0.05),and after the intervention,the scores of the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in sleep duration and sleep efficiency between the groups before the intervention(P>0.05),and after the intervention,the scores of the study group were significantly larger than those of the control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in serum hypoxia inducible factor-1αand EPO between the two groups before intervention(P>0.05),and both research groups were significantly lower than the control group after intervention(P<0.05).According to the questionnaire survey,the intervention satisfaction of the study group was 95.53%,which was higher than that of the control group(80.14%;P<0.05).CONCLUSION The CBT intervention in the treatment of patients with high-altitude-related respiratory diseases helps improve patients'health knowledge,relieve anxiety,improve sleep quality and hypoxia tolerance,and improve nursing satisfaction.
基金supported by NIH awards R01 DK101043 to LJG and P30 DK036836 to Joslin Diabetes Centersupported by American Diabetes Association Grant No.1-17-PMF-009+1 种基金supported by American Diabetes Association(Grant No.1-25-PDF-67)supported by fellowships from Sunstar Foundation,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS),Kanae Foundation,and Meiji Yasuda Life Foundation of Health and Welfare.
文摘Background Maternal obesity during pregnancy can lead to increased risk for metabolic disease in offspring during adulthood,helping fuel the worldwide increase in obesity.Fortunately,studies in rodent models have established that female dams(F0)that perform voluntary wheel running exercise during pregnancy have first-generation(F1)offspring with improved glucose tolerance,suggesting a potential means to reduce the burden of generational metabolic disease transmission.We have shown that maternal exercise also affects F1 male offspring as sires,as their progeny(F2)have similarly improved metabolic health.Whether maternal exercise can affect F1 females in a manner that improves F2 offspring metabolism is not known.Here,we determined whether voluntary exercise by F0 grandmothers,via their F1 female progeny,produced F2 male and female offspring with an improved metabolic phenotype.Methods Six-week-old C57BL/6 N female mice(F0)were fed a chow diet and either kept sedentary or exercise trained by voluntary wheel running for 2 weeks preconception and during pregnancy.Chow-fed sedentary F1 female offspring at 8 weeks of age were bred with age-matched untreated virgin males to generate F2 offspring.F2 were kept sedentary and chow fed and studied up to 52 weeks of age.Metabolic parameters were assessed,including food intake,body weight,body composition,glucose tolerance,systemic glucose and insulin levels,and liver metabolism.Results Grandmaternal exercise did not significantly alter male and female F2 offspring body weights measured throughout the first year of life,nor was there an effect of grandmaternal exercise on F2 offspring fat mass or lean mass.Remarkably,despite the lack of effect on body weight parameters,grandmaternal exercise resulted in improved glucose tolerance and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)in F2 offspring at 52 weeks of age,effects that were more pronounced in male F2 offspring.Conclusion Voluntary wheel running exercise in female mice during pregnancy leads to metabolic improvements in her grand offspring,despite no direct intervention of the intermediate maternal generation.Maternal physical activity during pregnancy may reduce metabolic diseases in later generations.
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0907600)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31100869)+1 种基金Central Public-interest Scientific Institutions Basal Research Fund for Zhang Zhiguo(Y2025YY06)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Nonprofit Scientific Institutions for Lu Tiegang,and Cui Xuean.
文摘Source-sink coordination serves as the foundation for improving crop yield.Current research primarily focuses on individual factors,such as increasing the source or expanding the sink,which often leads to disrupted source-sink balance,causing trade-offs among photosynthesis,yield,and stress response.To address these limitations,we present an integrated synthetic biological framework that synergistically enhances photosynthetic efficiency(source capacity),sink optimization,and abiotic stress tolerance.We developed an editing-overexpression coupling(EOC)vector system enabling simultaneous overexpression of four photosynthesis-enhancing genes(Cyt c6,PsbA,FBPase,OsMGT3),knockout of three yield-limiting genes(GS3,Gn1a,OsAAP5),and self-excision of selection markers,gene-editing modules,and fragment deletion cassettes.Field evaluations of CFMP-gga transgenic lines revealed significant physiological improvements,including 13%–17%increase in photosynthetic rates,improved chlorophyll fluorescence parameters,and increased stomatal conductance.These enhancements translated into remarkable agronomic gains,including 18.7%–22.3%higher grain yield,23.1%–26.1%increased biomass,and improved panicle architecture(increased grain size and grain number per panicle).The engineered lines maintained superior thermotolerance(under 42°C stress)and alkali tolerance(at pH 10)compared to wild-type controls.This study provides a strategy for enhancing crop yield by demonstrating that coordinated multi-gene regulation of source-sink dynamics,coupled with stress resilience engineering,achieves concurrent improvements.
基金supported by the Department of Science and Technology,Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research,India(Grant No.DST/INSPIRE/04/2022/003192)the Ad-RICCE Project,India(Grant No.IC-12012(12)/2/2022-ICD-DBT)the Dutch Research Council,the Netherlands(Grant No.482.20.202).
文摘High epicuticular wax(Ewax)content on leaves is a key trait for drought and heat stress tolerance in plants.One hundred diverse rice germplasm lines from the 3K-IRRI collection were screened for leaf Ewax content under open field conditions during the monsoon season of 2023,and for their nocturnal transpiration during the summer season of 2024.Using a novel drought-simulator phenomics platform,we identified a balance between cuticular and stomatal transpiration at night,with wax modulating these processes under varying night temperatures.
基金supported by the sub-project“Research and Application of In-Situ Value-Added Water-Soluble Fertilizer Application Technology”(Grant No.2023YFD1700204-3)under the 14th Five-Year National Key R&D Program Project“Development and Industrialization of Novel Green Value-Added Fertilizers”.
文摘Salinization of agricultural land is becoming increasingly severe worldwide,posing a significant threat to food security.The exogenous application of bioactive substances has been widely used to enhance plant resistance to salt stress.In this study,we used corn steep liquor(CSL),myo-inositol(MI),and their combination to improve salt tolerance in Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa L.ssp.pekinensis)under salt stress conditions.All three treatments significantly increased plant biomass and nutrient uptake,and improved soil physicochemical properties,while alleviating oxidative damage and ion toxicity.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171945,32301760)the Program for Innovative Research Team(in Science and Technology)in University of Henan Province,China(22IRTSTHN023)+2 种基金the Scientific and Technological Research Project of Henan Province,China(242102111116)the National Science Foundation for Postdoctoral Scientists of China(2023M731003)the Postdoctoral Research Subsidize Fund of Henan Province,China(HN2022139)。
文摘Global warming impacts plant growth and development,which in turn threatens food security.Plants can clearly respond to warm-temperature(such as by thermomorphogenesis)and high-temperature stresses.At the molecular level,many small molecules play crucial roles in balancing growth and defense,and stable high yields can be achieved by fine-tuning the responses to external stimuli.Therefore,it is essential to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth in response to heat stress and how plants can adjust their biological processes to survive heat stress conditions.In this review,we summarize the heat-responsive genetic networks in plants and crop plants based on recent studies.We focus on how plants sense the elevated temperatures and initiate the cellular and metabolic responses that allow them to adapt to the adverse growing conditions.We also describe the trade-off between plant growth and responses to heat stress.Specifically,we address the regulatory network of plant responses to heat stress,which will facilitate the discovery of novel thermotolerance genes and provide new opportunities for agricultural applications.
基金supported by Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan province(2024NK1010,2023NK1010,2023ZJ1080)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U21A20208).
文摘The chalcone isomerase gene OsCHI,one of the key genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway,plays an important role in rice(Oryza sativa)resistance to abiotic stresses.This study reveals how the chalcone isomerase gene family member OsCHI3 participates in rice responses to drought stress through the regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis.Overexpression of OsCHI3 increased the tolerance of rice to drought stress.In contrast,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of OsCHI3 reduced the drought tolerance of rice,an effect that is reversed by exogenous ABA treatment.Transcriptomic and physiological biochemical analyses indicated that flavonoids regulated by OsCHI3 not only scavenge reactive oxygen species(ROS)but also increase drought tolerance in rice by stimulating ABA biosynthesis through the regulation of OsNCED1 and OsABA8ox3 expression.These findings demonstrate that OsCHI3 increases drought stress tolerance in rice by activating the antioxidant defense system and the ABA metabolic pathway,providing new clues for drought-resistant rice breeding research.
基金supported by a research grant from the National University of Singapore to WQS(RP-3960366)a collaborative research grant from Sichuan Zhongke Organ Co.Ltd(Chengdu,China).
文摘Objectives:Cold-acclimated organisms accumulate low molecular weight organic solutes such as sugar alcohols and soluble sugars.This study aimed to compare the efficacy of five sugar alcohols and 14 soluble sugars in stabilizing proteins under freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.Materials and methods:Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase(G6PD)was used as the model protein.G6PD solutions with or without sugar alcohols and or sugars were subjected to freezing,freeze-drying,and air-drying stresses.The recovery of G6PD activity was measured to evaluate the protective efficacy of these compounds.Results:Without stabilizers,freezing G6PD at-20℃ or-80℃ reduced enzyme activity by around 24%,while freeze-drying or air-drying reduced activity by 90%-95%.Among the five sugar alcohols tested,pinitol,quebrachitol and sorbitol stabilized G6PD,whereas mannitol and myo-inositol destabilized it.Among 14 soluble sugars,trehalose and raffinose showed slightly lower enzyme recovery after repeated freeze-thaw cycles at-20℃.Most soluble sugars(except arabinose and xylose)protected G6PD during freeze-drying,with di-,tri-,and oligosaccharides generally outperforming monosaccharides.During air-drying,lactose was ineffective,while arabinose,galactose,and xylose were detrimental.Conclusion:The study highlights the diverse mechanisms of sugar alcohols and sugars in protein stabilization under stress,offering insights for formulating stable protein-and cell-based drugs.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32072048 and U2004204)National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2023YFF1001200)+2 种基金China Rice Research Institute Basal Research Fund(Grant No.CPSIBRF-CNRRI-202404)Academician Workstation of National Nanfan Research Institute(Sanya),Chinese Agricultural Academic Science(CAAS),(Grant Nos.YBXM2422 and YBXM2423)Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of CAAS,China.
文摘The leucine-rich repeat(LRR)protein family is involved in a variety of fundamental metabolic and signaling processes in plants,including growth and defense responses.LRR proteins can be divided into two categories:those containing LRR domains along with other structural elements,which are further subdivided into five groups,LRR receptor-like kinases,LRR receptor-like proteins,nucleotide-binding site LRR proteins,LRR-extensin proteins,and polygalacturonase-inhibiting proteins,and those containing only LRR domains.Functionally,various LRR proteins are primarily involved in plant development and responses to environmental stress.Notably,the LRR protein family plays a central role in signal transduction pathways related to stress adaptation.In this review,we classify and analyze the functions of LRR proteins in plants.While extensive research has been conducted on the roles of LRR proteins in disease resistance signaling,these proteins also play important roles in abiotic stress responses.This review highlights recent advances in understanding how LRR proteins mediate responses to biotic and abiotic stresses.Building upon these insights,further exploration of the roles of LRR proteins in abiotic stress resistance may aid efforts to develop rice varieties with enhanced stress and disease tolerance.
基金supported by the projects of the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFD2300202)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,China(BK20241543)+5 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272213,32030076,U1803235,and 32021004)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(XUEKEN2023013)the Jiangsu Innovation Support Program for International Science and Technology Cooperation Project,China(BZ2023049)the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund,China(CX(22)1006)the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-03)the Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production,China(JCIC-MCP)。
文摘Frequent drought events severely restrict global crop productivity,especially those occurring in the reproductive stages.Moderate drought priming during the earlier growth stages is a promising strategy for allowing plants to resist recurrent severe drought stress.However,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Here,we subjected wheat plants to drought priming during the vegetative growth stage and to severe drought stress at 10 days after anthesis.We then collected leaf samples at the ends of the drought priming and recovery periods,and at the end of drought stress for transcriptome sequencing in combination with phenotypic and physiological analyses.The drought-primed wheat plants maintained a lower plant temperature,with higher stomatal openness and photosynthesis,thereby resulting in much lower 1,000-grain weight and grain yield losses under the later drought stress than the non-primed plants.Interestingly,416 genes,including 27 transcription factors(e.g.,MYB,NAC,HSF),seemed to be closely related to the improved drought tolerance as indicated by the dynamic transcriptome analysis.Moreover,the candidate genes showed six temporal expression patterns and were significantly enriched in several stress response related pathways,such as plant hormone signal transduction,starch and sucrose metabolism,arginine and proline metabolism,inositol phosphate metabolism,and wax synthesis.These findings provide new insights into the physiological and molecular mechanisms of the long-term effects of early drought priming that can effectively improve drought tolerance in wheat,and may provide potential approaches for addressing the challenges of increasing abiotic stresses and securing food safety under global warming scenarios.