Epigenetics-mediated breeding(epibreeding)involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity.While conventional bree...Epigenetics-mediated breeding(epibreeding)involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity.While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity,epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression,ultimately impacting crop yield.Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes,including histone modification,DNA modification,RNA modification,non-coding RNA,and chromatin remodeling.This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process.We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding,combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics(SynEpi).Finally,we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.展开更多
Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is cruci...Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is crucial to advancing rice breeding program and supporting smallholder farmers.Transcription Activator-Like effectors(TALes)are key virulence factors in Xoo,with some targeting the susceptibility(S)genes such as the sugar transporter SWEET genes in rice.Among these,SWEET14 is an important S gene,with its promoter bound by the TALe TalC which exists across all sequenced African Xoo isolates.In the present study,we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-based cytidine and adenine base editors to alter the effector binding element(EBE)of TalC in the promoter of SWEET14 in rice cultivars Kitaake,IR24,and Zhonghua 11.Mutations with C to T changes in EBE led to reduced SWEET14 induction by TalC-containing Xoo strains,resulting in resistance to African Xoo isolates reliant on TalC for virulence.Conversely,A to G changes retained SWEET14 inducibility and susceptibility to Xoo in edited lines.Importantly,no off-target mutations were detected at predicted sites,and the edited lines exhibited no obvious defects in major agronomic traits in Kitaake.These results underscore the effectiveness of base editing systems for both molecular biology research and crop improvement endeavors.展开更多
“Journal of Jilin University(Science Edition)” is a comprehensive academic journal in the fields of science sponsored by Jilin University and administrated by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic o...“Journal of Jilin University(Science Edition)” is a comprehensive academic journal in the fields of science sponsored by Jilin University and administrated by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.The journal started publication in 1955.The original name at starting publication was “Journal of Natural Science of Northeast People University”,which was changed into “Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Jilinensis” in 1958owing to the name change of the university.展开更多
Biotechnology has revolutionized agriculture through innovations such as genetically modified(GM)technology and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.In this review,a comparative analysis of these methods that addresses the conc...Biotechnology has revolutionized agriculture through innovations such as genetically modified(GM)technology and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.In this review,a comparative analysis of these methods that addresses the concerns regarding the oversimplification of the notion that the CRISPR-based editing approach is equivalent to traditional GM approaches is offered.Since the 1990s,despite the potential benefits for crop improvement and food security,controversies have arisen around recombinant technology and the introduction of GM products due to perceived environmental and health concerns.In contrast,the recent emergence of the CRISPR/Cas systemas a precise genome editing tool has garnered relatively less public resistance.In this review,the reasons for these contrasting findings are explored to shed light on the distinct characteristics inherent to each approach.Additionally,we conduct a bibliographic analysis to examine the shift in research priorities between the two technological eras,followed by a comprehensive comparison of the two approaches,to enable a better understanding of the potential synergies that can be achieved between agricultural biotechnology and conventional techniques for enhancing modern agriculture.A nuanced understanding of these technologies is crucial for informed decision-making,responsible implementation,and addressing the concerns surrounding agricultural biotechnology.展开更多
Base editors are essential tools for precise genome editing in plants.However,achieving high efficiency in C-to-G editing while minimizing byproduct and offtarget mutations remains challenging.In this study,we present...Base editors are essential tools for precise genome editing in plants.However,achieving high efficiency in C-to-G editing while minimizing byproduct and offtarget mutations remains challenging.In this study,we present the development and evaluation of a novel glycosylase-based cytosine base editor(gCBE)for efficient C-to-G editing in rice.Unlike traditional cytosine base editors,which rely on cytosine deamination,gCBE directly excises cytosine to generate an apurinic/apyrimidinic(AP)site,thus circumventing the deamination step and reducing the production of C-to-T byproducts.We constructed several gCBE variants,including N-gCBE,M-gCBE,and C-gCBE,by fusing engineered human UDG2(UNG*)to SpCas9 nickase(nSpCas9,D10A)and tested their editing efficiency and specificity in rice.Our results demonstrate that M-gCBE achieved efficient C-to-G editing(6.3%to 37.5%)similar to OsCGBE(9.4%to 28.1%)at most targets,though with site-dependent variations.Notably,gCBE tools showed a marked reduction in C-to-T byproducts,with average C-to-T mutation rates of 12.5%for N-gCBE and 16.7%for M-gCBE,compared to 53.1%for OsCGBE.Notably,both N-gCBE and M-gCBE were capable of generating homozygous C-to-G mutations in the T_(0)generation,a key advantage over OsCGBE,which predominantly generated C-to-T mutations.Off-target analysis revealed minimal off-target effects with M-gCBE,highlighting its potential for high-precision genome editing.These findings suggest that gCBE tools,particularly M-gCBE,are highly efficient and precise,providing an advanced solution for C-to-G editing in plants and offering promising applications for crop improvement.展开更多
Mitochondria play a crucial role in plant growth,fertility,and adaptation.Sugarcane(Saccharum hybrids)represents the world’s primary sugar and energy crop,while S.spontaneum and S.arundinaceum serve as valuable paren...Mitochondria play a crucial role in plant growth,fertility,and adaptation.Sugarcane(Saccharum hybrids)represents the world’s primary sugar and energy crop,while S.spontaneum and S.arundinaceum serve as valuable parental germplasm.Despite their importance,limited research exists regarding the mitochondrial genomes of sugarcane and related species.This study presents the assembly of mitogenomes from one S.arundinaceum,one S.spontaneum,and five sugarcane cultivars.Analysis revealed that these mitogenomes,encoding 33 protein-coding genes(PCGs),ranged from 445,578 to 533,662 bp,with GC content between 43.43-43.82%.The primary structures of S.arundinaceum consisted of three small rings,while S.spontaneum exhibited one ring and one linear structure,and sugarcane displayed two rings;multiple potential conformations emerged due to repeat-mediated recombination.Additionally,this research developed an intron marker SAnad4i3 capable of species differentiation.The analysis identified between 540 and 581 C to U RNA editing sites in the PCGs,with six RNA editing sites linked to start or stop codon creation in S.arundinaceum,and five sites each in S.spontaneum and sugarcane hybrids.Significantly,30-37 fragments homologous to chloroplast DNA were identified,with S.spontaneum containing the highest number.These mitogenomes appear to have undergone substantial genomic reorganization and gene transfer events throughout evolution,including the loss of eight PCGs.This comprehensive study illuminates the genetic diversity and complexity of the Saccharum complex,establishing a foundation for future germplasm identification and evolutionary research.展开更多
Root-knot nematodes(RKNs)are the most widespread soil-borne obligate endoparasites.They can infect the roots of many crops and cause significant yield losses.The only commercially available RKN-resistant gene in tomat...Root-knot nematodes(RKNs)are the most widespread soil-borne obligate endoparasites.They can infect the roots of many crops and cause significant yield losses.The only commercially available RKN-resistant gene in tomatoes,Mi-1.2,fails at soil temperatures above 28℃.We cloned the heat-stable RKN-resistant gene,Mi-9,from a gene cluster composed of seven nucleotide-binding sites and leucine-rich repeat(NBS-LRR)type resistant genes in Solanum arcunum accession LA2157.Screening nematode infections in individual and combinatorial knockouts of five NBS-LRR genes showed that Mi-9 Candidate 4(MiC-4)alone is sufficient to confer heat-stable RKN resistance.Our study identifies a new source of heat-stable resistance to RKN in tomatoes for challenging environmental conditions.We also showcase a roadmap for rapid characterization of resistance genes by combining comparative genomics and genome editing,with the potential to be utilized in other crops.展开更多
Incorporating a low density of ester units into the backbone of polyethylene materials enhances their sustainability and recyclability while maintaining the main material properties of polyethylenes.Here we report a n...Incorporating a low density of ester units into the backbone of polyethylene materials enhances their sustainability and recyclability while maintaining the main material properties of polyethylenes.Here we report a new way to access degradable polyethylene materials with a low content of in-chain ester units via mechanochemical backbone editing.Initially,ester groups are incorporated as side groups through catalytic copolymerization of ethylene with a cyclobutene-fused lactone monomer(CBL),yielding polyethylene materials with high molecular weights and adjustable thermomechanical properties.Subsequent solid-state ball-milling treatment selectively introduces side-chain ester groups into the main chain of the polyethylene materials via force-induced cycloreversion of the cyclobutane units.Under acidic conditions,hydrolysis of the resultant polyethylene materials with in-chain ester units facilitates further degradation into oligomers.展开更多
Cotton is an essential agricultural commodity,but its global yield is greatly affected by climate change,which poses a serious threat to the agriculture sector.This review aims to provide an overview of the impact of ...Cotton is an essential agricultural commodity,but its global yield is greatly affected by climate change,which poses a serious threat to the agriculture sector.This review aims to provide an overview of the impact of climate change on cotton production and the use of genomic approaches to increase stress tolerance in cotton.This paper discusses the effects of rising temperatures,changing precipitation patterns,and extreme weather events on cotton yield.It then explores various genomic strategies,such as genomic selection and marker-assisted selection,which can be used to develop stress-tolerant cotton varieties.The review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research efforts and policy interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on cotton production.Furthermore,this paper presents advanced prospects,including genomic selection,gene editing,multi-omics integration,highthroughput phenotyping,genomic data sharing,climate-informed breeding,and phenomics-assisted genomic selection,for enhancing stress resilience in cotton.Those innovative approaches can assist cotton researchers and breeders in developing highly resilient cotton varieties capable of withstanding the challenges posed by climate change,ensuring the sustainable and prosperous future of cotton production.展开更多
CRISPR-Cas technology has revolutionized our ability to understand and engineer organisms,evolving from a singular Cas9 model to a diverse CRISPR toolbox.A critical bottleneck in developing new Cas proteins is identif...CRISPR-Cas technology has revolutionized our ability to understand and engineer organisms,evolving from a singular Cas9 model to a diverse CRISPR toolbox.A critical bottleneck in developing new Cas proteins is identifying protospacer adjacent motif(PAM)sequences.Due to the limitations of experimental methods,bioinformatics approaches have become essential.However,existing PAM prediction programs are limited by the small number of spacers in CRISPR-Cas systems,resulting in low accuracy.To address this,we develop PAMPHLET,a pipeline that uses homology searches to identify additional spacers,significantly increasing the number of spacers up to 18-fold.PAMPHLET is validated on 20 CRISPR-Cas systems and successfully predicts PAM sequences for 18 protospacers.These predictions are further validated using the DocMF platform,which characterizes protein-DNA recognition patterns via next-generation sequencing.The high consistency between PAMPHLET predictions and DocMF results for Cas proteins demonstrates the potential of PAMPHLET to enhance PAM sequence prediction accuracy,expedite the discovery process,and accelerate the development of CRISPR tools.展开更多
On the morning of January 15,the China-Laos Cultural Road Dialogue took place in Vientiane,Laos.A ceremony was held during the event to release the January 2025 special editions of China Report ASEAN(an English journa...On the morning of January 15,the China-Laos Cultural Road Dialogue took place in Vientiane,Laos.A ceremony was held during the event to release the January 2025 special editions of China Report ASEAN(an English journal)and Champa(a Chinese-Lao bilingual journal named after the national flower of Laos which is considered a symbol of sincerity and joy).Part of the 2025“One River,One Family”Spring Festival cultural series in Laos,the event was supervised by China International Communications Group(CICG),the Chinese Embassy in Laos,and China State Railway Group Company,hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party(LPRP),and organized by CICG Asia-Pacific,Yunnan Daily,Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia,Pasaxon(“The People”newspaper in Laos),and China Railway Kunming Group.展开更多
ChatGPT,a popular large language model developed by OpenAI,has the potential to transform the management of diabetes mellitus.It is a conversational artificial intelligence model trained on extensive datasets,although...ChatGPT,a popular large language model developed by OpenAI,has the potential to transform the management of diabetes mellitus.It is a conversational artificial intelligence model trained on extensive datasets,although not specifically health-related.The development and core components of ChatGPT include neural networks and machine learning.Since the current model is not yet developed on diabetes-related datasets,it has limitations such as the risk of inaccuracies and the need for human supervision.Nevertheless,it has the potential to aid in patient engagement,medical education,and clinical decision support.In diabetes management,it can contribute to patient education,personalized dietary guidelines,and providing emotional support.Specifically,it is being tested in clinical scenarios such as assessment of obesity,screening for diabetic retinopathy,and provision of guidelines for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis.Ethical and legal considerations are essential before ChatGPT can be integrated into healthcare.Potential concerns relate to data privacy,accuracy of responses,and maintenance of the patient-doctor relationship.Ultimately,while ChatGPT and large language models hold immense potential to revolutionize diabetes care,one needs to weigh their limitations,ethical implications,and the need for human supervision.The integration promises a future of proactive,personalized,and patient-centric care in diabetes management.展开更多
Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy of the digestive system and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide(1).In China,CRC ranks as the second most common cancer with inc...Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy of the digestive system and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide(1).In China,CRC ranks as the second most common cancer with incidence and mortality rates continuing to rise(2).The Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology(CSCO)first introduced its guidelines in 2017,and since then,they have been updated annually to incorporate the latest clinical research findings,drug availability,and expert consensus(3-8).This article presents the key updates in the 2025 edition compared to the 2024 version.展开更多
Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1(Cre/loxP)technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and L...Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1(Cre/loxP)technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and Leydig cells within the testis.However,the shortcomings of these genetic tools include high costs,lengthy experimental periods,and limited accessibility for researchers.Therefore,exploring alternative gene silencing techniques is of great practical value.In this study,we employed adeno-associated virus(AAV)as a vector for gene silencing in Sertoli and Leydig cells.Our findings demonstrated that AAV serotypes 1,8,and 9 exhibited high infection efficiency in both types of testis cells.Importantly,we discovered that all three AAV serotypes exhibited exquisite specificity in targeting Sertoli cells via tubular injection while demonstrating remarkable selectivity in targeting Leydig cells via interstitial injection.We achieved cell-specific knockouts of the steroidogenic acute regulatory(Star)and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor(Lhcgr)genes in Leydig cells,but not in Sertoli cells,using AAV9-single guide RNA(sgRNA)-mediated gene editing in Rosa26-LSL-Cas9mice.Knockdown of androgen receptor(Ar)gene expression in Sertoli cells of wild-type mice was achieved via tubular injection of AAV9-short hairpinRNA(shRNA)-mediated targeting.Our findings offer technical approaches for investigating gene function in Sertoli and Leydig cells through AAV9-mediated gene silencing.展开更多
The potherb mustard Xuecai(XC)cultivar is a cruciferous vegetable that is popular either fresh or pickled.Due to the deep notches in the edges of leaves in mustard XC,this plant can be said to have multipinnately lobe...The potherb mustard Xuecai(XC)cultivar is a cruciferous vegetable that is popular either fresh or pickled.Due to the deep notches in the edges of leaves in mustard XC,this plant can be said to have multipinnately lobed leaves.The net photosynthesis of lobed leaves is significantly greater than that of simple leaves.However,the molecular mechanism of leaf shape variation has not been determined.Here,we used HiFi and Hi-C data to assemble the XC genome.The genome was 961.72 Mb in size,with a contig N50 value of 6.565 Mb.The XC genome was compared with four previously sequenced mustard genomes,and the genomic collinearity regions,SNPs,and indels were identified.Five BjRCO genes were found on chromosome(Chr.)A10 in potherb mustard XC when the BjRCO gene locus was compared against other sequenced B.juncea genomes.Segmental duplication was found to contribute to the BjRCO gene copy number.The transcript expression of BjRCO genes was greater in multipinnately lobed leaves than in sawtooth-like leaves.Together,these findings indicate that both the greater copy number and the expression level of BjRCO genes regulate leaf shape from simple to complex in B.juncea.Gene editing of the BjRCO gene from XC changed the leaf shape from multipinnately lobed to simple.The high-quality XC genome sequence not only provides new insight into B.juncea leaf-type genomics but also helps in deciphering leaf shape variation.Our study provides insights into the variation and evolution of important traits in Brassica plants through a comparative analysis of the sequenced genomes.展开更多
Synthetic biology(SynBio)is an emerging field of study with great potential in designing,engineering,and constructing new microbial synthetic cells that do not pre-exist in nature or re-engineering existing cells to a...Synthetic biology(SynBio)is an emerging field of study with great potential in designing,engineering,and constructing new microbial synthetic cells that do not pre-exist in nature or re-engineering existing cells to accomplish industrial purposes.Systems biology seeks to understand biology at multiple dimensions,beginning with the molecular and cellular level and progressing to the tissues and organismal level and characterizes cells as complex information-processing systems.SynBio,on the other hand,toggles further and strives to develop and create its systems from scratch.SynBio is now applied in the development of novel therapeutic drugs for the prevention of human diseases,scale up industrial processes,and accomplish previously unfeasible industrial outcomes.This is made possible through significant breakthroughs in DNA sequencing and synthesis technology,as well as insights gained from synthetic chemistry and systems biology.SynBio technologies have allowed for the introduction of improved and synthetic metabolic functionalities in microorganisms to enable the synthesis of a range of pharmacologically-relevant compounds for pharmaceutical exploration.SynBio applications range from finding new ways to making industrial chemical synthesis processes more sustainable as well as the microbial synthesis of improved therapeutic modalities.Hence,this study underpins several innovations,auspicious potentials,and future directions afforded by SynBio that proposes improved industrial microbial synthesis for pharmaceutical exploration.展开更多
Ectothermic organisms may expand their thermal tolerance by producing multiple protein isoforms with differing thermal sensitivities.While such isoforms commonly originate from allelic variation at a single locus(allo...Ectothermic organisms may expand their thermal tolerance by producing multiple protein isoforms with differing thermal sensitivities.While such isoforms commonly originate from allelic variation at a single locus(allozymes)or from gene duplication that gives rise to paralogs with distinct thermal responses,this study investigated mRNA editing as an alternative,post-transcriptional mechanism for generating mRNA variants.Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase(cMDH)was examined in foot tissue of two congeners of the marine mussel genus Mytilus,which occupy different thermal environments.Multiple editing events were detected within the mRNA coding region in both species.Editing sites were species-specific,with no shared positions identified.In M.coruscus,editing occurred at 117,123,135,190,195,204,279,and 444,while in M.galloprovincialis,editing was detected at 216 and 597.Each species exhibited multiple edited mRNA variants,and these isoforms were associated with differential protein expression.These findings suggest that mRNA editing may contribute an additional layer of molecular variation.The generation of diverse mRNA isoforms from a single DNA coding sequence may enhance enzymatic flexibility across temperature ranges,supporting eurythermal physiological performance and mitigating thermal stress.Moreover,the presence of multiple edited transcripts within individual organisms raises important caveats about the limitations of approaches that deduce amino acid sequences or estimate adaptive variation solely from genomic data.展开更多
Nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA)affects about 60%of men with azoospermia,representing a severe form of male infertility.The current approach to manage NOA primarily involves testicular sperm retrieval methods such as c...Nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA)affects about 60%of men with azoospermia,representing a severe form of male infertility.The current approach to manage NOA primarily involves testicular sperm retrieval methods such as conventional testicular sperm extraction(c-TESE)and microdissection testicular sperm extraction(micro-TESE).While combining testicular sperm retrieval with intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)offers hope for patients,the overall sperm retrieval rate(SRR)stands at around 50%.In cases where micro-TESE fails to retrieve sperm,limited options,like donor sperm or adoption,can be problematic in certain cultural contexts.This paper delves into prospective treatments for NOA management.Gene editing technologies,particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated(Cas)protein 9(CRISPR/Cas9),hold potential for correcting genetic mutations underlying testicular dysfunction.However,these technologies face challenges due to their complexity,potential off-target effects,ethical concerns,and affordability.This calls for research to address key challenges associated with NOA management within the clinical settings.This also necessitate ongoing research essential for developing more sensitive diagnostic tests,validating novel treatments,and customizing current treatment strategies for individual patients.This review concluded that the future of NOA management may entail a combination of these treatment options,tailored to each patient’s unique circumstances,providing a comprehensive approach to address NOA challenges.展开更多
The monumental second edition Petroleum Geology of China has been published by the Petroleum Industry Press.This definitive work was compiled under the leadership of Academician Zhai Guangming,a preeminent authority i...The monumental second edition Petroleum Geology of China has been published by the Petroleum Industry Press.This definitive work was compiled under the leadership of Academician Zhai Guangming,a preeminent authority in petroleum exploration.As the culmination of eight years of dedicated effort by over a thousand experts and scholars,this monumental publication comprises 25 volumes(bound in 32 books).展开更多
Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)is a highly valued cereal crop produced and consumed globally,particularly in arid or semi-arid regions(Zhou et al.,2020;Mao et al.,2023).However,its production is increasingly threatened by...Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)is a highly valued cereal crop produced and consumed globally,particularly in arid or semi-arid regions(Zhou et al.,2020;Mao et al.,2023).However,its production is increasingly threatened by the rising incidence of drought events associated with climate change.Arid regions are especially susceptible to these droughts,which are intensifying in both severity and frequency(Eckardt et al.,2023;Mao et al.,2023;Yang and Qin,2023).As of a 2022 report,more than 92%of wheat-producing regions are estimated to experience one or more drought/heatwave events in each growing season.Furthermore,the duration and frequency of these combined stress events have increased by approximately 28%over the past four decades(He et al.,2022).To address this challenge,wheat breeding programs have allocated substantial and research efforts to developing elite,stress tolerant lines.This initiative is large part by rapid innovation in transgenic and genome editing strategies(Hu and Xiong,2014;Gao et al.,2021.展开更多
基金supported by funding from the National Key R&D Program of China(2023ZD0407304)the Sci-Tech Innovation 2030 Agenda(2022ZD0115703)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Non-Profit of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(Y2023PT20).
文摘Epigenetics-mediated breeding(epibreeding)involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity.While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity,epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression,ultimately impacting crop yield.Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes,including histone modification,DNA modification,RNA modification,non-coding RNA,and chromatin remodeling.This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process.We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding,combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics(SynEpi).Finally,we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.
基金supported by a sub-award to the University of Missouri from the Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf funded by the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation(OPP1155704)(Bing Yang)and the China Scholar Council(Chenhao Li,as a joint Ph.D.student).
文摘Bacterial blight(BB),caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae(Xoo),poses a significant threat to rice production,particularly in Asia and West Africa.Breeding resistance against BB in elite rice varieties is crucial to advancing rice breeding program and supporting smallholder farmers.Transcription Activator-Like effectors(TALes)are key virulence factors in Xoo,with some targeting the susceptibility(S)genes such as the sugar transporter SWEET genes in rice.Among these,SWEET14 is an important S gene,with its promoter bound by the TALe TalC which exists across all sequenced African Xoo isolates.In the present study,we utilized CRISPR/Cas9-based cytidine and adenine base editors to alter the effector binding element(EBE)of TalC in the promoter of SWEET14 in rice cultivars Kitaake,IR24,and Zhonghua 11.Mutations with C to T changes in EBE led to reduced SWEET14 induction by TalC-containing Xoo strains,resulting in resistance to African Xoo isolates reliant on TalC for virulence.Conversely,A to G changes retained SWEET14 inducibility and susceptibility to Xoo in edited lines.Importantly,no off-target mutations were detected at predicted sites,and the edited lines exhibited no obvious defects in major agronomic traits in Kitaake.These results underscore the effectiveness of base editing systems for both molecular biology research and crop improvement endeavors.
文摘“Journal of Jilin University(Science Edition)” is a comprehensive academic journal in the fields of science sponsored by Jilin University and administrated by the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.The journal started publication in 1955.The original name at starting publication was “Journal of Natural Science of Northeast People University”,which was changed into “Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Jilinensis” in 1958owing to the name change of the university.
基金supported by the by the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme(Grant No.FRGS/1/2023/STG03/UM/02/2)Universiti Malaya RU Fund(Grant No.ST087-2022).
文摘Biotechnology has revolutionized agriculture through innovations such as genetically modified(GM)technology and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing.In this review,a comparative analysis of these methods that addresses the concerns regarding the oversimplification of the notion that the CRISPR-based editing approach is equivalent to traditional GM approaches is offered.Since the 1990s,despite the potential benefits for crop improvement and food security,controversies have arisen around recombinant technology and the introduction of GM products due to perceived environmental and health concerns.In contrast,the recent emergence of the CRISPR/Cas systemas a precise genome editing tool has garnered relatively less public resistance.In this review,the reasons for these contrasting findings are explored to shed light on the distinct characteristics inherent to each approach.Additionally,we conduct a bibliographic analysis to examine the shift in research priorities between the two technological eras,followed by a comprehensive comparison of the two approaches,to enable a better understanding of the potential synergies that can be achieved between agricultural biotechnology and conventional techniques for enhancing modern agriculture.A nuanced understanding of these technologies is crucial for informed decision-making,responsible implementation,and addressing the concerns surrounding agricultural biotechnology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82404798)the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Province(2024NSFSC1831)+1 种基金the National Key Laboratory for Tropical Crop Breeding(NKLTCB-RC202403,NKLTCBZRJJ4)the Hainan Seed Industrial Laboratory(B22C1000P).
文摘Base editors are essential tools for precise genome editing in plants.However,achieving high efficiency in C-to-G editing while minimizing byproduct and offtarget mutations remains challenging.In this study,we present the development and evaluation of a novel glycosylase-based cytosine base editor(gCBE)for efficient C-to-G editing in rice.Unlike traditional cytosine base editors,which rely on cytosine deamination,gCBE directly excises cytosine to generate an apurinic/apyrimidinic(AP)site,thus circumventing the deamination step and reducing the production of C-to-T byproducts.We constructed several gCBE variants,including N-gCBE,M-gCBE,and C-gCBE,by fusing engineered human UDG2(UNG*)to SpCas9 nickase(nSpCas9,D10A)and tested their editing efficiency and specificity in rice.Our results demonstrate that M-gCBE achieved efficient C-to-G editing(6.3%to 37.5%)similar to OsCGBE(9.4%to 28.1%)at most targets,though with site-dependent variations.Notably,gCBE tools showed a marked reduction in C-to-T byproducts,with average C-to-T mutation rates of 12.5%for N-gCBE and 16.7%for M-gCBE,compared to 53.1%for OsCGBE.Notably,both N-gCBE and M-gCBE were capable of generating homozygous C-to-G mutations in the T_(0)generation,a key advantage over OsCGBE,which predominantly generated C-to-T mutations.Off-target analysis revealed minimal off-target effects with M-gCBE,highlighting its potential for high-precision genome editing.These findings suggest that gCBE tools,particularly M-gCBE,are highly efficient and precise,providing an advanced solution for C-to-G editing in plants and offering promising applications for crop improvement.
基金supported by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences for Science and Technology Innovation Team of National Tropical Agricultural Science Center(CATASCXTD202402)the Science and Technology Major Project of Guangxi,China(Guike AA23073001)+3 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFD2301100)the Project of State Key Laboratory of Tropical Crop Breeding,China(NKLTCBCXTD24,NKLTCBHZ04,NKLTCB-RC202401 and SKLTCBYWF202504)the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-17)the Scientific Research Start-up Fund for High-level Introduced Talents of Henan Institute of Science and Technology,China(103020224001/073)。
文摘Mitochondria play a crucial role in plant growth,fertility,and adaptation.Sugarcane(Saccharum hybrids)represents the world’s primary sugar and energy crop,while S.spontaneum and S.arundinaceum serve as valuable parental germplasm.Despite their importance,limited research exists regarding the mitochondrial genomes of sugarcane and related species.This study presents the assembly of mitogenomes from one S.arundinaceum,one S.spontaneum,and five sugarcane cultivars.Analysis revealed that these mitogenomes,encoding 33 protein-coding genes(PCGs),ranged from 445,578 to 533,662 bp,with GC content between 43.43-43.82%.The primary structures of S.arundinaceum consisted of three small rings,while S.spontaneum exhibited one ring and one linear structure,and sugarcane displayed two rings;multiple potential conformations emerged due to repeat-mediated recombination.Additionally,this research developed an intron marker SAnad4i3 capable of species differentiation.The analysis identified between 540 and 581 C to U RNA editing sites in the PCGs,with six RNA editing sites linked to start or stop codon creation in S.arundinaceum,and five sites each in S.spontaneum and sugarcane hybrids.Significantly,30-37 fragments homologous to chloroplast DNA were identified,with S.spontaneum containing the highest number.These mitogenomes appear to have undergone substantial genomic reorganization and gene transfer events throughout evolution,including the loss of eight PCGs.This comprehensive study illuminates the genetic diversity and complexity of the Saccharum complex,establishing a foundation for future germplasm identification and evolutionary research.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2018YFA0900600 and 2021YFF1000103-5)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA24030503)。
文摘Root-knot nematodes(RKNs)are the most widespread soil-borne obligate endoparasites.They can infect the roots of many crops and cause significant yield losses.The only commercially available RKN-resistant gene in tomatoes,Mi-1.2,fails at soil temperatures above 28℃.We cloned the heat-stable RKN-resistant gene,Mi-9,from a gene cluster composed of seven nucleotide-binding sites and leucine-rich repeat(NBS-LRR)type resistant genes in Solanum arcunum accession LA2157.Screening nematode infections in individual and combinatorial knockouts of five NBS-LRR genes showed that Mi-9 Candidate 4(MiC-4)alone is sufficient to confer heat-stable RKN resistance.Our study identifies a new source of heat-stable resistance to RKN in tomatoes for challenging environmental conditions.We also showcase a roadmap for rapid characterization of resistance genes by combining comparative genomics and genome editing,with the potential to be utilized in other crops.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52473097)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.24X010301678)Shanghai Jiao Tong University 2030 Initiative(No.WH510363002/002)。
文摘Incorporating a low density of ester units into the backbone of polyethylene materials enhances their sustainability and recyclability while maintaining the main material properties of polyethylenes.Here we report a new way to access degradable polyethylene materials with a low content of in-chain ester units via mechanochemical backbone editing.Initially,ester groups are incorporated as side groups through catalytic copolymerization of ethylene with a cyclobutene-fused lactone monomer(CBL),yielding polyethylene materials with high molecular weights and adjustable thermomechanical properties.Subsequent solid-state ball-milling treatment selectively introduces side-chain ester groups into the main chain of the polyethylene materials via force-induced cycloreversion of the cyclobutane units.Under acidic conditions,hydrolysis of the resultant polyethylene materials with in-chain ester units facilitates further degradation into oligomers.
基金supported by major national R&D projects(No.2023ZD04040-01)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.5201101621)National Key R&D Plan(No.2022YFD1200304).
文摘Cotton is an essential agricultural commodity,but its global yield is greatly affected by climate change,which poses a serious threat to the agriculture sector.This review aims to provide an overview of the impact of climate change on cotton production and the use of genomic approaches to increase stress tolerance in cotton.This paper discusses the effects of rising temperatures,changing precipitation patterns,and extreme weather events on cotton yield.It then explores various genomic strategies,such as genomic selection and marker-assisted selection,which can be used to develop stress-tolerant cotton varieties.The review emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary research efforts and policy interventions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on cotton production.Furthermore,this paper presents advanced prospects,including genomic selection,gene editing,multi-omics integration,highthroughput phenotyping,genomic data sharing,climate-informed breeding,and phenomics-assisted genomic selection,for enhancing stress resilience in cotton.Those innovative approaches can assist cotton researchers and breeders in developing highly resilient cotton varieties capable of withstanding the challenges posed by climate change,ensuring the sustainable and prosperous future of cotton production.
基金supported by grants from the Foundation for Distinguished Young Talents in Higher Education of Guangdong,China(2024KQNCX157)Our work was also supported in part by the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research and Application for Data Science,BNU-HKBU United International College(2022B1212010006)+1 种基金in part by the Guangdong Higher Education Upgrading Plan(2021-2025)of“Rushing to the Top,Making Up Shortcomings and Strengthening Special Features”(R0400001-22)Additionally,we acknowledge support from the Zhuhai Basic and Applied Basic ResearchFoundation(2220004002717).
文摘CRISPR-Cas technology has revolutionized our ability to understand and engineer organisms,evolving from a singular Cas9 model to a diverse CRISPR toolbox.A critical bottleneck in developing new Cas proteins is identifying protospacer adjacent motif(PAM)sequences.Due to the limitations of experimental methods,bioinformatics approaches have become essential.However,existing PAM prediction programs are limited by the small number of spacers in CRISPR-Cas systems,resulting in low accuracy.To address this,we develop PAMPHLET,a pipeline that uses homology searches to identify additional spacers,significantly increasing the number of spacers up to 18-fold.PAMPHLET is validated on 20 CRISPR-Cas systems and successfully predicts PAM sequences for 18 protospacers.These predictions are further validated using the DocMF platform,which characterizes protein-DNA recognition patterns via next-generation sequencing.The high consistency between PAMPHLET predictions and DocMF results for Cas proteins demonstrates the potential of PAMPHLET to enhance PAM sequence prediction accuracy,expedite the discovery process,and accelerate the development of CRISPR tools.
文摘On the morning of January 15,the China-Laos Cultural Road Dialogue took place in Vientiane,Laos.A ceremony was held during the event to release the January 2025 special editions of China Report ASEAN(an English journal)and Champa(a Chinese-Lao bilingual journal named after the national flower of Laos which is considered a symbol of sincerity and joy).Part of the 2025“One River,One Family”Spring Festival cultural series in Laos,the event was supervised by China International Communications Group(CICG),the Chinese Embassy in Laos,and China State Railway Group Company,hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party(LPRP),and organized by CICG Asia-Pacific,Yunnan Daily,Yunnan International Communication Center for South and Southeast Asia,Pasaxon(“The People”newspaper in Laos),and China Railway Kunming Group.
文摘ChatGPT,a popular large language model developed by OpenAI,has the potential to transform the management of diabetes mellitus.It is a conversational artificial intelligence model trained on extensive datasets,although not specifically health-related.The development and core components of ChatGPT include neural networks and machine learning.Since the current model is not yet developed on diabetes-related datasets,it has limitations such as the risk of inaccuracies and the need for human supervision.Nevertheless,it has the potential to aid in patient engagement,medical education,and clinical decision support.In diabetes management,it can contribute to patient education,personalized dietary guidelines,and providing emotional support.Specifically,it is being tested in clinical scenarios such as assessment of obesity,screening for diabetic retinopathy,and provision of guidelines for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis.Ethical and legal considerations are essential before ChatGPT can be integrated into healthcare.Potential concerns relate to data privacy,accuracy of responses,and maintenance of the patient-doctor relationship.Ultimately,while ChatGPT and large language models hold immense potential to revolutionize diabetes care,one needs to weigh their limitations,ethical implications,and the need for human supervision.The integration promises a future of proactive,personalized,and patient-centric care in diabetes management.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82373415)Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation(No.Ytongshu2021/ms-0003)。
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy of the digestive system and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide(1).In China,CRC ranks as the second most common cancer with incidence and mortality rates continuing to rise(2).The Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology(CSCO)first introduced its guidelines in 2017,and since then,they have been updated annually to incorporate the latest clinical research findings,drug availability,and expert consensus(3-8).This article presents the key updates in the 2025 edition compared to the 2024 version.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82070872 and No.82370854 to JXL)Innovative and Entrepreneurial Team of Jiangsu Province(No.JSSCTD2021 to JXL)+1 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2023M741790 to JP)Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent(2023ZB558 to JP).
文摘Researchers commonly use cyclization recombination enzyme/locus of X-over P1(Cre/loxP)technology-based conditional gene knockouts of model mice to investigate the functional roles of genes of interest in Sertoli and Leydig cells within the testis.However,the shortcomings of these genetic tools include high costs,lengthy experimental periods,and limited accessibility for researchers.Therefore,exploring alternative gene silencing techniques is of great practical value.In this study,we employed adeno-associated virus(AAV)as a vector for gene silencing in Sertoli and Leydig cells.Our findings demonstrated that AAV serotypes 1,8,and 9 exhibited high infection efficiency in both types of testis cells.Importantly,we discovered that all three AAV serotypes exhibited exquisite specificity in targeting Sertoli cells via tubular injection while demonstrating remarkable selectivity in targeting Leydig cells via interstitial injection.We achieved cell-specific knockouts of the steroidogenic acute regulatory(Star)and luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptor(Lhcgr)genes in Leydig cells,but not in Sertoli cells,using AAV9-single guide RNA(sgRNA)-mediated gene editing in Rosa26-LSL-Cas9mice.Knockdown of androgen receptor(Ar)gene expression in Sertoli cells of wild-type mice was achieved via tubular injection of AAV9-short hairpinRNA(shRNA)-mediated targeting.Our findings offer technical approaches for investigating gene function in Sertoli and Leydig cells through AAV9-mediated gene silencing.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32002056)the Science and Technology Research Key Project of Henan Province,China(242102111138)。
文摘The potherb mustard Xuecai(XC)cultivar is a cruciferous vegetable that is popular either fresh or pickled.Due to the deep notches in the edges of leaves in mustard XC,this plant can be said to have multipinnately lobed leaves.The net photosynthesis of lobed leaves is significantly greater than that of simple leaves.However,the molecular mechanism of leaf shape variation has not been determined.Here,we used HiFi and Hi-C data to assemble the XC genome.The genome was 961.72 Mb in size,with a contig N50 value of 6.565 Mb.The XC genome was compared with four previously sequenced mustard genomes,and the genomic collinearity regions,SNPs,and indels were identified.Five BjRCO genes were found on chromosome(Chr.)A10 in potherb mustard XC when the BjRCO gene locus was compared against other sequenced B.juncea genomes.Segmental duplication was found to contribute to the BjRCO gene copy number.The transcript expression of BjRCO genes was greater in multipinnately lobed leaves than in sawtooth-like leaves.Together,these findings indicate that both the greater copy number and the expression level of BjRCO genes regulate leaf shape from simple to complex in B.juncea.Gene editing of the BjRCO gene from XC changed the leaf shape from multipinnately lobed to simple.The high-quality XC genome sequence not only provides new insight into B.juncea leaf-type genomics but also helps in deciphering leaf shape variation.Our study provides insights into the variation and evolution of important traits in Brassica plants through a comparative analysis of the sequenced genomes.
文摘Synthetic biology(SynBio)is an emerging field of study with great potential in designing,engineering,and constructing new microbial synthetic cells that do not pre-exist in nature or re-engineering existing cells to accomplish industrial purposes.Systems biology seeks to understand biology at multiple dimensions,beginning with the molecular and cellular level and progressing to the tissues and organismal level and characterizes cells as complex information-processing systems.SynBio,on the other hand,toggles further and strives to develop and create its systems from scratch.SynBio is now applied in the development of novel therapeutic drugs for the prevention of human diseases,scale up industrial processes,and accomplish previously unfeasible industrial outcomes.This is made possible through significant breakthroughs in DNA sequencing and synthesis technology,as well as insights gained from synthetic chemistry and systems biology.SynBio technologies have allowed for the introduction of improved and synthetic metabolic functionalities in microorganisms to enable the synthesis of a range of pharmacologically-relevant compounds for pharmaceutical exploration.SynBio applications range from finding new ways to making industrial chemical synthesis processes more sustainable as well as the microbial synthesis of improved therapeutic modalities.Hence,this study underpins several innovations,auspicious potentials,and future directions afforded by SynBio that proposes improved industrial microbial synthesis for pharmaceutical exploration.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022-24)National Natural Science Foundation of China(42025604,42376102)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Ectothermic organisms may expand their thermal tolerance by producing multiple protein isoforms with differing thermal sensitivities.While such isoforms commonly originate from allelic variation at a single locus(allozymes)or from gene duplication that gives rise to paralogs with distinct thermal responses,this study investigated mRNA editing as an alternative,post-transcriptional mechanism for generating mRNA variants.Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase(cMDH)was examined in foot tissue of two congeners of the marine mussel genus Mytilus,which occupy different thermal environments.Multiple editing events were detected within the mRNA coding region in both species.Editing sites were species-specific,with no shared positions identified.In M.coruscus,editing occurred at 117,123,135,190,195,204,279,and 444,while in M.galloprovincialis,editing was detected at 216 and 597.Each species exhibited multiple edited mRNA variants,and these isoforms were associated with differential protein expression.These findings suggest that mRNA editing may contribute an additional layer of molecular variation.The generation of diverse mRNA isoforms from a single DNA coding sequence may enhance enzymatic flexibility across temperature ranges,supporting eurythermal physiological performance and mitigating thermal stress.Moreover,the presence of multiple edited transcripts within individual organisms raises important caveats about the limitations of approaches that deduce amino acid sequences or estimate adaptive variation solely from genomic data.
文摘Nonobstructive azoospermia(NOA)affects about 60%of men with azoospermia,representing a severe form of male infertility.The current approach to manage NOA primarily involves testicular sperm retrieval methods such as conventional testicular sperm extraction(c-TESE)and microdissection testicular sperm extraction(micro-TESE).While combining testicular sperm retrieval with intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)offers hope for patients,the overall sperm retrieval rate(SRR)stands at around 50%.In cases where micro-TESE fails to retrieve sperm,limited options,like donor sperm or adoption,can be problematic in certain cultural contexts.This paper delves into prospective treatments for NOA management.Gene editing technologies,particularly clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats(CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated(Cas)protein 9(CRISPR/Cas9),hold potential for correcting genetic mutations underlying testicular dysfunction.However,these technologies face challenges due to their complexity,potential off-target effects,ethical concerns,and affordability.This calls for research to address key challenges associated with NOA management within the clinical settings.This also necessitate ongoing research essential for developing more sensitive diagnostic tests,validating novel treatments,and customizing current treatment strategies for individual patients.This review concluded that the future of NOA management may entail a combination of these treatment options,tailored to each patient’s unique circumstances,providing a comprehensive approach to address NOA challenges.
文摘The monumental second edition Petroleum Geology of China has been published by the Petroleum Industry Press.This definitive work was compiled under the leadership of Academician Zhai Guangming,a preeminent authority in petroleum exploration.As the culmination of eight years of dedicated effort by over a thousand experts and scholars,this monumental publication comprises 25 volumes(bound in 32 books).
基金supported by grants from the Major Project on Agricultural Bio-breeding of China(2023ZD04026)National Natural Science Foundation of China(31872866 and 32372124)+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M721101)National Natural Science Foundation of Hunan(2023JJ40132)Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing(CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0542).
文摘Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)is a highly valued cereal crop produced and consumed globally,particularly in arid or semi-arid regions(Zhou et al.,2020;Mao et al.,2023).However,its production is increasingly threatened by the rising incidence of drought events associated with climate change.Arid regions are especially susceptible to these droughts,which are intensifying in both severity and frequency(Eckardt et al.,2023;Mao et al.,2023;Yang and Qin,2023).As of a 2022 report,more than 92%of wheat-producing regions are estimated to experience one or more drought/heatwave events in each growing season.Furthermore,the duration and frequency of these combined stress events have increased by approximately 28%over the past four decades(He et al.,2022).To address this challenge,wheat breeding programs have allocated substantial and research efforts to developing elite,stress tolerant lines.This initiative is large part by rapid innovation in transgenic and genome editing strategies(Hu and Xiong,2014;Gao et al.,2021.
