In 1996,the journal Development published a special issue on zebrafish solely focusing on characterization of dozens of phenotypic mutants chosen from hundreds of mutants identified through chemical（ENU）mutagenesis ...In 1996,the journal Development published a special issue on zebrafish solely focusing on characterization of dozens of phenotypic mutants chosen from hundreds of mutants identified through chemical（ENU）mutagenesis by two zebrafish groups in Tubingen and Boston.This milestone formally catapulted zebrafish to a league of genetically tractable model展开更多
The adult subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG)are the two brain regions where neurogenesis occurs throughout life in the adult mammalian brain(Min...The adult subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG)are the two brain regions where neurogenesis occurs throughout life in the adult mammalian brain(Ming and Song,2011).Adult quiescent hippocampal neural stem cells(NSCs)are bona fide stem cells and,when activated,give rise to newborn granule neurons in the adult brain,which play vital roles in learning,memory,mood,and affective cognition(Bonaguidi et al.,2011;Ming and Song,2011).展开更多
Organism development is a systems level process. It has benefited greatly from the recent technological advances in the field of systems biology. DNA microarray, phenome, interactome and transcriptome mapping, the new...Organism development is a systems level process. It has benefited greatly from the recent technological advances in the field of systems biology. DNA microarray, phenome, interactome and transcriptome mapping, the new generation of deep sequencing technologies, and faster and better computational and modeling approaches have opened new frontiers for both systems biologists and developmental biologists to reexamine the old developmental biology questions, such as pattern formation, and to tackle new problems, such as stem cell reprogramming. As showcased in the International Developmental Systems Biology Symposium organized by Chinese Academy of Sciences, developmental systems biology is flourishing in many perspectives, from the evolution of developmental systems, to the underlying genetic and molecular pathways and networks, to the genomic, epigenomic and noncoding levels, to the computational analysis and modeling. We believe that the field will continue to reap rewards into the future with these new approaches.展开更多
Plant synthetic biology has emerged as a transformative field in agriculture,offering innovative solutions to enhance food security,provide resilience to climate change,and transition to sustainable farming practices....Plant synthetic biology has emerged as a transformative field in agriculture,offering innovative solutions to enhance food security,provide resilience to climate change,and transition to sustainable farming practices.By integrating advanced genetic tools,computational modeling,and systems biology,researchers can precisely modify plant genomes to enhance traits such as yield,stress tolerance,and nutrient use efficiency.The ability to design plants with specific characteristics tailored to diverse environmental conditions and agricultural needs holds great potential to address global food security challenges.Here,we highlight recent advancements and applications of plant synthetic biology in agriculture,focusing on key areas such as photosynthetic efficiency,nitrogen fixation,drought tolerance,pathogen resistance,nutrient use efficiency,biofortification,climate resilience,microbiology engineering,synthetic plant genomes,and the integration of artificial intelligence with synthetic biology.These innovations aim to maximize resource use efficiency,reduce reliance on external inputs,and mitigate environmental impacts associated with conventional agricultural practices.Despite challenges related to regulatory approval and public acceptance,the integration of synthetic biology in agriculture holds immense promise for creating more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems,contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability.Rigorous multi-field testing of these approaches will undoubtedly be required to ensure reproducibility.展开更多
Jasmonates(JAs)are essential phytohormones that coordinate plant defense and development in response to unpredictable environments.Recent advances have highlighted the SCF COI1-JAZ-MYC2-MED25 module as a central hub f...Jasmonates(JAs)are essential phytohormones that coordinate plant defense and development in response to unpredictable environments.Recent advances have highlighted the SCF COI1-JAZ-MYC2-MED25 module as a central hub for JA signaling,orchestrating transcriptional repression,derepression,activation,amplification,and feedback termination.This review summarizes current insights into the roles of JA in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress responses and agronomic traits,including root development,regeneration,fertility,flowering,leaf senescence,and seed development,with a particular emphasis on the crosstalk between JA and a wound-induced peptide hormone,systemin,which mediates systemic wound responses.A deeper understanding of the JA regulatory mechanisms will provide valuable strategies for engineering crops with enhanced stress resilience and improved yields.We further propose JA-based strategies as a promising avenue for crop improvement.展开更多
The domesticated silkworm(Bombyx mori)has evolved a highly efficient nitrogen utilization system to support silk production.The silk glands play a pleiotropic role in sequestering nitrogen resources for silk synthesis...The domesticated silkworm(Bombyx mori)has evolved a highly efficient nitrogen utilization system to support silk production.The silk glands play a pleiotropic role in sequestering nitrogen resources for silk synthesis,mitigating aminoacidemia by assimilating free amino acids,and reallocating nitrogen during metamorphosis through programmed cell death.However,the specific functions of nitrogen metabolism-related genes in this process remain unclear.Using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing,mutations were generated in glutamine synthetase(GS),glutamate synthetase(GOGAT),asparagine synthetase(AS),glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH)and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1(GOT1).Disruption of GS,GOGAT,and AS consistently reduced silkworm cocoon and pupal weight and significantly down-regulated silk protein gene transcription,whereas GOT1 mutation had no such effect.GOGAT mutants exhibited abnormally enlarged silk glands,whereas GS and AS mutants showed delayed programmed cell death in the silk glands.In contrast,GOT1 mutants displayed normal silk gland morphology but were consistently smaller.Disruption of GS,GOGAT,and AS led to more extensive transcriptional changes,including altered expression of transcription factors in the silk glands,compared with GOT1 mutants.Both GS and GOGAT mutants exhibited up-regulation of AS and GDH,while only GOGAT mutants displayed elevated AS enzymatic activity,suggesting that GOGAT may compete with AS for glutamine in the silk glands to support silk protein synthesis.AS mutants showed significantly elevated GOT activity and up-regulation of several metabolic pathways,indicating that AS may functionally interact with GOT in regulating both silk gland development and programmed cell death during metamorphosis.展开更多
Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50%in C3 crops.In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process of photorespira...Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50%in C3 crops.In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process of photorespiration,a photorespiratory bypass consisting of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii glycolate dehydrogenase and Cucurbita maxima malate synthase(termed the GMS bypass)was introduced into the rice cultivar Zhonghua 11 and osplgg1b,a mutant of the rice chloroplast glycolate transporter,to generate GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b transgenic plants.The GMS bypass reduced photorespiration and increased photosynthesis in the transgenic plants.The straw biomass of GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b increased by up to 16.0%and 85.7%,respectively.The yield of GMS/ZH11 increased by 22.0%–34.7%in paddy fields.Thus,the GMS bypass can increase photosynthetic efficiency and yield in rice.展开更多
To maintain soil quality under long-term saline water irrigation,the influence of manure on soil physical properties was examined.Long-term saline irrigation has been conducted from 2015 to 2024 at the Nanpi Eco-Agric...To maintain soil quality under long-term saline water irrigation,the influence of manure on soil physical properties was examined.Long-term saline irrigation has been conducted from 2015 to 2024 at the Nanpi Eco-Agricultural Experimental Station of Chinese Academy Sciences in the Low Plain of the North China Plain,comprising four irrigation treatments:irrigation once at the jointing stage for winter wheat with irrigation water containing salt at fresh water,3,4 and 5 g·L^(–1),and maize irrigation at sowing using fresh water.Manure application was conducted under all irrigation treatments,with treatments without manure application used as controls.The results showed that under long-term irrigation with saline water,the application of manure increased the soil organic matter content,exchangeable potassium,available phosphorus,and total nitrogen content in the 0–20 cm soil layer by 46.8%,117.0%,75.7%,and 45.5%,respectively,compared to treatments without manure application.The application of manure reduced soil bulk density.It also increased the proportion of water-stable aggregates and the abundance of bacteria,fungi,and actinomycetes in the tillage soil layer compared to the controls.Because of the salt contained in the manure,the application of manure had dual effects on soil salt content.During the winter wheat season,manure application increased soil salt content.The salt content was significantly reduced during the summer maize season,owing to the strong salt-leaching effects under manure application,resulting in a smaller difference in salt content between the manure and non-manure treatments.During the summer rainfall season,improvements in soil structure under manure application increased the soil desalination rate for the 1 m top soil layer.The desalination rate for 0–40 cm and 40–100 cm was averagely by 39.1%and 18.9%higher,respectively,under manure application as compared with that under the nomanure treatments.The yield of winter wheat under manure application was 0.12%lower than that of the control,owing to the higher salt content during the winter wheat season.In contrast,the yield of summer maize improved by 3.9%under manure application,owing to the increased soil nutrient content and effective salt leaching.The results of this study indicated that manure application helped maintain the soil physical structure,which is important for the long-term use of saline water.In practice,using manure with a low salt content is suggested to reduce the adverse effects of saline water irrigation on soil properties and achieve sustainable saline water use.展开更多
Regenerative capacity of the central nervous system(CNS)is unevenly distributed among vertebrates.While most mammalian species including humans elicit limited repair following CNS injury or disease,highly regenerative...Regenerative capacity of the central nervous system(CNS)is unevenly distributed among vertebrates.While most mammalian species including humans elicit limited repair following CNS injury or disease,highly regenerative vertebrates including urodele amphibians and teleost fish spontaneously reverse CNS damage.Teletost zebrafish(danio rerio)are tropical freshwater fish that proved to be an excellent vertebrate model of successful CNS regeneration.Differential neuronal,glial,and immune injury responses underlie disparate injury outcomes between highly regenerative zebrafish and poorly regenerative mammals.This article describes complications associated with neuronal repair following spinal cord injury(SCI)in poorly regenerative mammals and highlights intersecting modes of plasticity and regeneration in highly regenerative zebrafish(Figures 1 and 2).Comparative approaches evaluating immunoglial SCI responses were recently reviewed elsewhere(Reyes and Mokalled,2024).展开更多
Bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)is a staple hexaploid crop with numerous wild relatives.However,domestication and modern breeding have significantly narrowed its genetic diversity,diminishing its capacity to adapt to...Bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)is a staple hexaploid crop with numerous wild relatives.However,domestication and modern breeding have significantly narrowed its genetic diversity,diminishing its capacity to adapt to climate change.Wild relatives of wheat serve as a vital reservoir of genetic diversity,offering traits thatenhance its resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses.Over recent decades,remarkable progress has been made in utilizing superior genes from wild relatives to bolster wheat's defenses against diseases and pests,though the exploration of genes conferring abiotic stress tolerance has lagged behind.In this review,we summarize key advancements in the utilization of wild relatives for wheat enhancement over the past century,emphasizing both theoretical and technological innovations.Furthermore,we evaluate the potential contributions of wild relatives to address production challenges posed by climate change.We also explore strategies for isolating superior genes and developing prebreeding germplasm to support the future development of climate-resilient wheat varieties.展开更多
Safflower is an important oilseed crop that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of the clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in its flower petals.However,the biosynthesis an...Safflower is an important oilseed crop that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of the clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in its flower petals.However,the biosynthesis and molecular regulation of these compounds are still elusive due to the lack of a high-quality reference genome and scarce identification of key biosynthetic pathway genes in a medicinal safflower variety.Here we leveraged an integrative multi-omics strategy by combining genomic,comparative genomics,and tissue-specific transcriptome profiling with biochemical analysis to identify uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases(UGTs)for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in safflower.We assembled and annotated a high-quality reference genome of a medicinal safflower variety,‘Yunhong3’.A comprehensive comparative genomic analysis indicated that an evolutionary whole-genome triplication event occurring in safflower contributed to gene amplification of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway.By combining comparative transcriptome profiling with enzymatic reactions,we identified 11 novel UGTs that could catalyze the conversion of naringenin chalcone and phloretin to the corresponding O-glycosides.Moreover,we outlined the molecular pathway of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)biosynthesis featured by 17 newly identified UGTs with promising catalytic activity,laying the foundation for the synthetic production of HSYA.Our study reports systemic genome and gene expression information for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in medicinal safflower and provides insights into mechanisms regulating HSYA biosynthesis,which would facilitate the genetic improvement and synthetic bioengineering design for producing clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in safflower.展开更多
Resistance exercise has been confirmed to be important for maintaining muscle mass and function.However,despite considerable experimental studies,the underlying mechanisms still requires further investigation to be el...Resistance exercise has been confirmed to be important for maintaining muscle mass and function.However,despite considerable experimental studies,the underlying mechanisms still requires further investigation to be elucidated.Sestrin1 is a stress-inducible protein strongly associated with the occurrence and development of skeletal muscle dysfunction.Besides,oxidative stress is believed to be a major pathogenic mechanism in the development of skeletal muscle atrophy,whereas regular exercise training induces the endogenous antioxidative system and protects the body against adverse effects of oxidative stress.Nevertheless,whether Sestrin1 is involved in the amelioration of resistance exercise on muscle atrophy and the role of its antioxidant function in this process remains unknown.Here we show that six-week resistance exercise training significantly improved muscle function,muscle mass,and oxidative damage and maintained the level of Sestrin1 in dexamethasone-treated C57BL/6J mice.Mechanistically,Sestrin1 overexpression rescued protein degradation and oxidative stress in atrophied myotubes.Furthermore,an emerging regulator of cellular defense against toxic and oxidative insults,nuclear factor erythroid2–related factor 2(Nrf2)controls the basal and induced expression of an array of antioxidant response element–dependent genes to regulate the pathophysiological outcomes of oxidant exposure.In this study,we found that Nrf2 is a target of Sestrin1,and Nrf2 nuclear translocation is facilitated by Sestrin1.ML385(an Nrf2 inhibitor)treatment mitigated the regulatory effects of overexpression-Sestrin1.Therefore,Sestrin1 was involved in the process of resistance exercise against skeletal muscle atrophy,which may be closely related to its antioxidant capacity,revealing a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing the loss of skeletal muscle.展开更多
The NRAMP(natural resistance-associated macrophage protein)family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport,regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants.In rice(Oryza s...The NRAMP(natural resistance-associated macrophage protein)family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport,regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants.In rice(Oryza sativa),OsNRAMP transporters critically influence metal homeostasis,stress adaptation,and grain safety.Among them,OsNRAMP5 serves as a major entry point for cadmium(Cd)and manganese(Mn)uptake,making it a prime target for low-Cd rice breeding.However,knockout of OsNRAMP5 leads to severe Mn deficiency,highlighting the need for precise genetic modifications(e.g.,OsNRAMP5-Q337K),which reduce Cd accumulation while maintaining Mn nutrition.Additionally,OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP2 contribute to Cd translocation and plant immunity,whereas OsNRAMP3/4/6/7 participate in Mn,iron,and zinc distribution and stress responses.This review systematically summarizes the structural,functional,and regulatory mechanisms of OsNRAMPs,emphasizing their roles in metal transport,pathogen resistance,and abiotic stress adaptation.Furthermore,we discuss strategies for developing low-Cd rice varieties,including QTL-based breeding,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing,and multi-gene stacking approaches.Finally,we outline future research directions,such as structural engineering of metal-binding sites and field validation of engineered rice lines,to ensure sustainable rice production in heavy metal-contaminated soils.展开更多
Basic helix-loop-helix(bHLH)transcription factors regulate diverse plant processes,particularly anthocyanin biosynthesis through the MYB-bHLH-WD40 complex.Despite snapdragon(Antirrhinum majus)serving as a classical mo...Basic helix-loop-helix(bHLH)transcription factors regulate diverse plant processes,particularly anthocyanin biosynthesis through the MYB-bHLH-WD40 complex.Despite snapdragon(Antirrhinum majus)serving as a classical model for studying flower pigmentation genetics,its bHLH gene family has rarely been comprehensively characterized.Here,we performed a genome-wide identification and systematic characterization of the bHLH gene family in A.majus,with a focus on candidates involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis.A total of 150 AmbHLH genes were identified and subjected to in-silico analyses,including phylogenetic classification,structural analysis,and promoter cis-element characterization.Comparative transcriptomic profiling between anthocyanin-poor(“SIPPE50”,Green)and anthocyanin-rich(“JI2R”,Red)snapdragon lines highlighted eight differentially expressed AmbHLHs.AmbHLH001,AmbHLH002,and AmbHLH042 showed significant upregulation in the anthocyanin-rich line and showed positive correlations with the expression of key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes.Among these,AmbHLH002 was prioritized as a candidate and was assessed via heterologous overexpression in tomatoes.Notably,AmbHLH002 is a newly identified regulator whose overexpression in tomato resulted in visible purple pigmentation and increased anthocyanin accumulation.These findings support the view that AmbHLH002 acts as a positive regulator,with phylogenetic evidence for conservation of anthocyanin biosynthesis,presenting valuable potential for engineering pigmentation traits in ornamental plants and serving as a candidate visible marker for plant genetic transformation.展开更多
Fluorescence microscopy has become an essential tool for biological research because it can be minimally invasive, acquire data rapidly, and target molecules of interest with specific labeling strategies. However, the...Fluorescence microscopy has become an essential tool for biological research because it can be minimally invasive, acquire data rapidly, and target molecules of interest with specific labeling strategies. However, the diffraction-limited spatial resolution, which is classically limited to about 200 nm in the lateral direction and about 500 nm in the axial direction, hampers its application to identify delicate details of subcellular structure. Extensive efforts have been made to break diffraction limit for obtaining high-resolution imaging of a biological specimen. Various methods capable of obtaining super-resolution images with a resolution of tens of nanometers are currently available. These super-resolution techniques can be generally divided into three primary classes： （1） patterned illumination- based super-resolution imaging, which employs spatially and temporally modulated illumination light to reconstruct sub-diffraction structures; （2） single-molecule localization-based super-resolution imaging, which localizes the profile center of each individual fluo- rophore at subdiffraction precision; （3） bleaching/blinking-based super-resolution imaging. These super-resolution techniques have been utilized in different biological fields and provide novel insights into several new aspects of life science. Given unique technical merits and commercial availability of super-resolution fluorescence microscope, increasing applications of this powerful technique in life science can be expected.展开更多
Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by an abnormal development of the central nervous system, leading to a myriad of symptoms and diseases, including intellectual disability, attention deficits, impairments...Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by an abnormal development of the central nervous system, leading to a myriad of symptoms and diseases, including intellectual disability, attention deficits, impairments in learning and memory, speech disorders and repetitive behavior （Telias and Ben-Yosef, 2014）. Common major neurodevelopmental disorders include autism and autism spectrum disorders （ASDs）, fragile X syndrome （FXS）, Down syndrome （DS）, and Rett syndrome （RTT）. They can be collectively described as disorders in which the plasticity of the brain has been severely impaired. The concept of plasticity refers to the brain＇s ability to adapt to and process new information and react accordingly, and it can be classified into three categories： a） molecular plasticity, whenever specific receptors, ion channels, enzymes,展开更多
The ways in which epigenetic modifications fix the effects of early environmental events,ensuring sustained responses to transient stimuli,which result in modified gene expression patterns and phenotypes later in life...The ways in which epigenetic modifications fix the effects of early environmental events,ensuring sustained responses to transient stimuli,which result in modified gene expression patterns and phenotypes later in life,is a topic of considerable interest.This review focuses on recently discovered mechanisms and calls into question prevailing views about the dynamics,position and functions of epigenetic marks.Most epigenetic studies have addressed the long-term effects on a small number of epigenetic marks,at the global or individual gene level,of environmental stressors in humans and animal models.In parallel,increasing numbers of studies based on high-throughput technologies and focusing on humans and mice have revealed additional complexity in epigenetic processes,by highlighting the importance of crosstalk between the different epigenetic marks.A number of studies focusing on the developmental origin of health and disease and metabolic programming have identified links between early nutrition,epigenetic processes and long-term illness.The existence of a self-propagating epigenetic cycle has been demonstrated.Moreover,recent studies demonstrate an obvious sexual dimorphism both for programming trajectories and in response to the same environmental insult.Despite recent progress,we are still far from understanding how,when and where environmental stressors disturb key epigenetic mechanisms.Thus,identifying the original key marks and their changes throughout development during an individual's lifetime or over several generations remains a challenging issue.展开更多
Seed is the most important reproductive organ in plant.Since its first emergence approximately 370 million years ago,seed plant had overwhelming advantage to non-seed plants in reproduction,spreading and colonization ...Seed is the most important reproductive organ in plant.Since its first emergence approximately 370 million years ago,seed plant had overwhelming advantage to non-seed plants in reproduction,spreading and colonization in terrestrial land.Beside its essential function in the sexual reproduction of plants,seed is the most economically important agricultural product,offering necessity food for human and wildlife,nutritious feed for livestock.Seeds and grains also provide massive amount of raw materials for manufactured goods,such as coffee,starch,and oil.Seeds also play a pivotal role in development of fruits which supplement significant portion of food and nutrition for human and wildlife.展开更多
A disordered somite pattern could be produced artificially when the segmental lateral plate of chick embryo was replaced by dissociated cells of quail segmental pate.The artificially disordered somite pattern formed a...A disordered somite pattern could be produced artificially when the segmental lateral plate of chick embryo was replaced by dissociated cells of quail segmental pate.The artificially disordered somite pattern formed at either place was used in our work as a model to analyze the mechanism of the development and differentiation of somite on chick embryo. Our conclusions include the following: 1.Although the formation of somites from the dissociated segmental plate cells does not require special environment,the development and differentiation of the somltes require a special environment which is related to the neural tube and notochord.The effect of this special environmental factor may decrease gradually with the increase of the distance from neural tube to lateral plate. 2.The somites located on paraxial area at different distances to the axis have different fates in development. 3.The formation of epithelial vesicles is the property of somite cells and the epithelial vesicle is the structural basis of somite differentiation.If and factor interferes with the differentiation of the somite,the epithelial vesicle of the somite will be degenerated within certain period of time. 4.During resegmentation of the somite,the number,size and arrangement of sclerotome in situ do not depend on the somite from which they are derived. 5.Somite cells do not transdifferentiate into kidney tubule directly from their original epithelial vesicles,but are reorganized from the free cells dispersed from the disrupted somites. 6.The establishment of cell commitment may involve several steps.Before commitment is established the of cell commitment is labile. 7.The differentiation of sclerotome starts with the rupture of epithelial wall of somites and the direction of its movement depends not only on the notochord but also on their position with respect to the neural tube and notochord. 8.The disordered somite pattern doesn't influence the segmentation of dorsal root ganglia in situ, but causes the formation of the ectopic dorsal root ganglia.展开更多
Powdery mildew negatively impacts wheat yield and quality.Emmer wheat(Triticum dicoccum),an ancestral species of common wheat,is a gene donor for wheat improvement.Cultivated emmer accession H1-707 exhibited all-stage...Powdery mildew negatively impacts wheat yield and quality.Emmer wheat(Triticum dicoccum),an ancestral species of common wheat,is a gene donor for wheat improvement.Cultivated emmer accession H1-707 exhibited all-stage resistance to powdery mildew over consecutive years.Genetic analysis of H1-707 at the seedling stage revealed a dominant monogenic inheritance pattern,and the underlying gene was designated Pm71.By employing bulked segregant exome sequencing(BSE-Seq)and using 2000 F2:3 families,Pm71 was fine mapped to a 336-kb interval on chromosome arm 6AS by referencing to the durum cv.Svevo RefSeq 1.0.Collinearity analysis revealed high homology in the candidate interval between Svevo and six Triticum species.Among six high-confidence genes annotated within this interval,TRITD6Av1G005050 encoding a GDSL esterase/lipase was identified as a key candidate for Pm71.展开更多
文摘In 1996,the journal Development published a special issue on zebrafish solely focusing on characterization of dozens of phenotypic mutants chosen from hundreds of mutants identified through chemical（ENU）mutagenesis by two zebrafish groups in Tubingen and Boston.This milestone formally catapulted zebrafish to a league of genetically tractable model
基金supported by National Institutes of Health(R35NS137480,R35NS116843,and RF1AG079557)by Dr.Miriam and Sheldon G.Adelson Medical Research Foundation.
文摘The adult subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the subgranular zone in the hippocampal dentate gyrus(DG)are the two brain regions where neurogenesis occurs throughout life in the adult mammalian brain(Ming and Song,2011).Adult quiescent hippocampal neural stem cells(NSCs)are bona fide stem cells and,when activated,give rise to newborn granule neurons in the adult brain,which play vital roles in learning,memory,mood,and affective cognition(Bonaguidi et al.,2011;Ming and Song,2011).
基金the China National Science Foundation (NSF) (No. 30588001, 30620120433)National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2006CB910700)funds from the Chinese Acad-emy of Sciences to J.-D.J.H. and NSF fellowship to T.A.
文摘Organism development is a systems level process. It has benefited greatly from the recent technological advances in the field of systems biology. DNA microarray, phenome, interactome and transcriptome mapping, the new generation of deep sequencing technologies, and faster and better computational and modeling approaches have opened new frontiers for both systems biologists and developmental biologists to reexamine the old developmental biology questions, such as pattern formation, and to tackle new problems, such as stem cell reprogramming. As showcased in the International Developmental Systems Biology Symposium organized by Chinese Academy of Sciences, developmental systems biology is flourishing in many perspectives, from the evolution of developmental systems, to the underlying genetic and molecular pathways and networks, to the genomic, epigenomic and noncoding levels, to the computational analysis and modeling. We believe that the field will continue to reap rewards into the future with these new approaches.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Category B,XDB1090000).
文摘Plant synthetic biology has emerged as a transformative field in agriculture,offering innovative solutions to enhance food security,provide resilience to climate change,and transition to sustainable farming practices.By integrating advanced genetic tools,computational modeling,and systems biology,researchers can precisely modify plant genomes to enhance traits such as yield,stress tolerance,and nutrient use efficiency.The ability to design plants with specific characteristics tailored to diverse environmental conditions and agricultural needs holds great potential to address global food security challenges.Here,we highlight recent advancements and applications of plant synthetic biology in agriculture,focusing on key areas such as photosynthetic efficiency,nitrogen fixation,drought tolerance,pathogen resistance,nutrient use efficiency,biofortification,climate resilience,microbiology engineering,synthetic plant genomes,and the integration of artificial intelligence with synthetic biology.These innovations aim to maximize resource use efficiency,reduce reliance on external inputs,and mitigate environmental impacts associated with conventional agricultural practices.Despite challenges related to regulatory approval and public acceptance,the integration of synthetic biology in agriculture holds immense promise for creating more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems,contributing to global food security and environmental sustainability.Rigorous multi-field testing of these approaches will undoubtedly be required to ensure reproducibility.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32370332 and 32202481)the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province(325RC839).
文摘Jasmonates(JAs)are essential phytohormones that coordinate plant defense and development in response to unpredictable environments.Recent advances have highlighted the SCF COI1-JAZ-MYC2-MED25 module as a central hub for JA signaling,orchestrating transcriptional repression,derepression,activation,amplification,and feedback termination.This review summarizes current insights into the roles of JA in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stress responses and agronomic traits,including root development,regeneration,fertility,flowering,leaf senescence,and seed development,with a particular emphasis on the crosstalk between JA and a wound-induced peptide hormone,systemin,which mediates systemic wound responses.A deeper understanding of the JA regulatory mechanisms will provide valuable strategies for engineering crops with enhanced stress resilience and improved yields.We further propose JA-based strategies as a promising avenue for crop improvement.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270458,32070411,2023A1515010657)State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects(SKLSGB-ORP202209)。
文摘The domesticated silkworm(Bombyx mori)has evolved a highly efficient nitrogen utilization system to support silk production.The silk glands play a pleiotropic role in sequestering nitrogen resources for silk synthesis,mitigating aminoacidemia by assimilating free amino acids,and reallocating nitrogen during metamorphosis through programmed cell death.However,the specific functions of nitrogen metabolism-related genes in this process remain unclear.Using CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing,mutations were generated in glutamine synthetase(GS),glutamate synthetase(GOGAT),asparagine synthetase(AS),glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH)and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 1(GOT1).Disruption of GS,GOGAT,and AS consistently reduced silkworm cocoon and pupal weight and significantly down-regulated silk protein gene transcription,whereas GOT1 mutation had no such effect.GOGAT mutants exhibited abnormally enlarged silk glands,whereas GS and AS mutants showed delayed programmed cell death in the silk glands.In contrast,GOT1 mutants displayed normal silk gland morphology but were consistently smaller.Disruption of GS,GOGAT,and AS led to more extensive transcriptional changes,including altered expression of transcription factors in the silk glands,compared with GOT1 mutants.Both GS and GOGAT mutants exhibited up-regulation of AS and GDH,while only GOGAT mutants displayed elevated AS enzymatic activity,suggesting that GOGAT may compete with AS for glutamine in the silk glands to support silk protein synthesis.AS mutants showed significantly elevated GOT activity and up-regulation of several metabolic pathways,indicating that AS may functionally interact with GOT in regulating both silk gland development and programmed cell death during metamorphosis.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2020YFA0907600)the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD04080)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270252)the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2024A1515011085).
文摘Photorespiration consumes photosynthetically fixed carbon and reduces yields by 20%–50%in C3 crops.In an attempt to increase photosynthetic efficiency in rice by bypassing the carbon-consuming process of photorespiration,a photorespiratory bypass consisting of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii glycolate dehydrogenase and Cucurbita maxima malate synthase(termed the GMS bypass)was introduced into the rice cultivar Zhonghua 11 and osplgg1b,a mutant of the rice chloroplast glycolate transporter,to generate GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b transgenic plants.The GMS bypass reduced photorespiration and increased photosynthesis in the transgenic plants.The straw biomass of GMS/ZH11 and GMS/osplgg1b increased by up to 16.0%and 85.7%,respectively.The yield of GMS/ZH11 increased by 22.0%–34.7%in paddy fields.Thus,the GMS bypass can increase photosynthetic efficiency and yield in rice.
基金supported by National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFD1900104)。
文摘To maintain soil quality under long-term saline water irrigation,the influence of manure on soil physical properties was examined.Long-term saline irrigation has been conducted from 2015 to 2024 at the Nanpi Eco-Agricultural Experimental Station of Chinese Academy Sciences in the Low Plain of the North China Plain,comprising four irrigation treatments:irrigation once at the jointing stage for winter wheat with irrigation water containing salt at fresh water,3,4 and 5 g·L^(–1),and maize irrigation at sowing using fresh water.Manure application was conducted under all irrigation treatments,with treatments without manure application used as controls.The results showed that under long-term irrigation with saline water,the application of manure increased the soil organic matter content,exchangeable potassium,available phosphorus,and total nitrogen content in the 0–20 cm soil layer by 46.8%,117.0%,75.7%,and 45.5%,respectively,compared to treatments without manure application.The application of manure reduced soil bulk density.It also increased the proportion of water-stable aggregates and the abundance of bacteria,fungi,and actinomycetes in the tillage soil layer compared to the controls.Because of the salt contained in the manure,the application of manure had dual effects on soil salt content.During the winter wheat season,manure application increased soil salt content.The salt content was significantly reduced during the summer maize season,owing to the strong salt-leaching effects under manure application,resulting in a smaller difference in salt content between the manure and non-manure treatments.During the summer rainfall season,improvements in soil structure under manure application increased the soil desalination rate for the 1 m top soil layer.The desalination rate for 0–40 cm and 40–100 cm was averagely by 39.1%and 18.9%higher,respectively,under manure application as compared with that under the nomanure treatments.The yield of winter wheat under manure application was 0.12%lower than that of the control,owing to the higher salt content during the winter wheat season.In contrast,the yield of summer maize improved by 3.9%under manure application,owing to the increased soil nutrient content and effective salt leaching.The results of this study indicated that manure application helped maintain the soil physical structure,which is important for the long-term use of saline water.In practice,using manure with a low salt content is suggested to reduce the adverse effects of saline water irrigation on soil properties and achieve sustainable saline water use.
文摘Regenerative capacity of the central nervous system(CNS)is unevenly distributed among vertebrates.While most mammalian species including humans elicit limited repair following CNS injury or disease,highly regenerative vertebrates including urodele amphibians and teleost fish spontaneously reverse CNS damage.Teletost zebrafish(danio rerio)are tropical freshwater fish that proved to be an excellent vertebrate model of successful CNS regeneration.Differential neuronal,glial,and immune injury responses underlie disparate injury outcomes between highly regenerative zebrafish and poorly regenerative mammals.This article describes complications associated with neuronal repair following spinal cord injury(SCI)in poorly regenerative mammals and highlights intersecting modes of plasticity and regeneration in highly regenerative zebrafish(Figures 1 and 2).Comparative approaches evaluating immunoglial SCI responses were recently reviewed elsewhere(Reyes and Mokalled,2024).
基金supported by the Biological Breeding-National Science and Technology Major Project(2023ZD04071)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFF1000600)and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32272084,32372089,and 31971887).
文摘Bread wheat(Triticum aestivum L.)is a staple hexaploid crop with numerous wild relatives.However,domestication and modern breeding have significantly narrowed its genetic diversity,diminishing its capacity to adapt to climate change.Wild relatives of wheat serve as a vital reservoir of genetic diversity,offering traits thatenhance its resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses.Over recent decades,remarkable progress has been made in utilizing superior genes from wild relatives to bolster wheat's defenses against diseases and pests,though the exploration of genes conferring abiotic stress tolerance has lagged behind.In this review,we summarize key advancements in the utilization of wild relatives for wheat enhancement over the past century,emphasizing both theoretical and technological innovations.Furthermore,we evaluate the potential contributions of wild relatives to address production challenges posed by climate change.We also explore strategies for isolating superior genes and developing prebreeding germplasm to support the future development of climate-resilient wheat varieties.
基金supported by the ability establishment of sustainable use for valuable Chinese medicine resources(Grant No.2060302)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2018YFA0900603)+1 种基金the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2020YFA0908000)the crosswise task based on DEYUANTANG pharmacy Co.,Ltd.Shanxi,China(Grant No.DYTKY180725).
文摘Safflower is an important oilseed crop that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years because of the clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in its flower petals.However,the biosynthesis and molecular regulation of these compounds are still elusive due to the lack of a high-quality reference genome and scarce identification of key biosynthetic pathway genes in a medicinal safflower variety.Here we leveraged an integrative multi-omics strategy by combining genomic,comparative genomics,and tissue-specific transcriptome profiling with biochemical analysis to identify uridine diphosphate glycosyltransferases(UGTs)for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in safflower.We assembled and annotated a high-quality reference genome of a medicinal safflower variety,‘Yunhong3’.A comprehensive comparative genomic analysis indicated that an evolutionary whole-genome triplication event occurring in safflower contributed to gene amplification of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway.By combining comparative transcriptome profiling with enzymatic reactions,we identified 11 novel UGTs that could catalyze the conversion of naringenin chalcone and phloretin to the corresponding O-glycosides.Moreover,we outlined the molecular pathway of hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA)biosynthesis featured by 17 newly identified UGTs with promising catalytic activity,laying the foundation for the synthetic production of HSYA.Our study reports systemic genome and gene expression information for flavonoid glycoside biosynthesis in medicinal safflower and provides insights into mechanisms regulating HSYA biosynthesis,which would facilitate the genetic improvement and synthetic bioengineering design for producing clinically valuable flavonoid glycosides in safflower.
基金funded by research grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171135).
文摘Resistance exercise has been confirmed to be important for maintaining muscle mass and function.However,despite considerable experimental studies,the underlying mechanisms still requires further investigation to be elucidated.Sestrin1 is a stress-inducible protein strongly associated with the occurrence and development of skeletal muscle dysfunction.Besides,oxidative stress is believed to be a major pathogenic mechanism in the development of skeletal muscle atrophy,whereas regular exercise training induces the endogenous antioxidative system and protects the body against adverse effects of oxidative stress.Nevertheless,whether Sestrin1 is involved in the amelioration of resistance exercise on muscle atrophy and the role of its antioxidant function in this process remains unknown.Here we show that six-week resistance exercise training significantly improved muscle function,muscle mass,and oxidative damage and maintained the level of Sestrin1 in dexamethasone-treated C57BL/6J mice.Mechanistically,Sestrin1 overexpression rescued protein degradation and oxidative stress in atrophied myotubes.Furthermore,an emerging regulator of cellular defense against toxic and oxidative insults,nuclear factor erythroid2–related factor 2(Nrf2)controls the basal and induced expression of an array of antioxidant response element–dependent genes to regulate the pathophysiological outcomes of oxidant exposure.In this study,we found that Nrf2 is a target of Sestrin1,and Nrf2 nuclear translocation is facilitated by Sestrin1.ML385(an Nrf2 inhibitor)treatment mitigated the regulatory effects of overexpression-Sestrin1.Therefore,Sestrin1 was involved in the process of resistance exercise against skeletal muscle atrophy,which may be closely related to its antioxidant capacity,revealing a potential therapeutic strategy for reducing the loss of skeletal muscle.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program,China(Grant No.2022YFD1201505)the Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province Open Project,China(Grant No.2023LYKF02)+1 种基金the Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund,China(Grant No.CPSIBRF-CNRRI-202306)the Sichuan Provincial Financial Independent Innovation Project,China(Grant No.2022ZZCX001).
文摘The NRAMP(natural resistance-associated macrophage protein)family plays a pivotal role in metal ion transport,regulating both essential micronutrient uptake and toxic heavy metal accumulation in plants.In rice(Oryza sativa),OsNRAMP transporters critically influence metal homeostasis,stress adaptation,and grain safety.Among them,OsNRAMP5 serves as a major entry point for cadmium(Cd)and manganese(Mn)uptake,making it a prime target for low-Cd rice breeding.However,knockout of OsNRAMP5 leads to severe Mn deficiency,highlighting the need for precise genetic modifications(e.g.,OsNRAMP5-Q337K),which reduce Cd accumulation while maintaining Mn nutrition.Additionally,OsNRAMP1 and OsNRAMP2 contribute to Cd translocation and plant immunity,whereas OsNRAMP3/4/6/7 participate in Mn,iron,and zinc distribution and stress responses.This review systematically summarizes the structural,functional,and regulatory mechanisms of OsNRAMPs,emphasizing their roles in metal transport,pathogen resistance,and abiotic stress adaptation.Furthermore,we discuss strategies for developing low-Cd rice varieties,including QTL-based breeding,CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing,and multi-gene stacking approaches.Finally,we outline future research directions,such as structural engineering of metal-binding sites and field validation of engineered rice lines,to ensure sustainable rice production in heavy metal-contaminated soils.
基金funded by the USDANIFA grant 2019-67013-29236the USDA HATCH program FLA-MFC-006387,awarded to Heqiang Huo.
文摘Basic helix-loop-helix(bHLH)transcription factors regulate diverse plant processes,particularly anthocyanin biosynthesis through the MYB-bHLH-WD40 complex.Despite snapdragon(Antirrhinum majus)serving as a classical model for studying flower pigmentation genetics,its bHLH gene family has rarely been comprehensively characterized.Here,we performed a genome-wide identification and systematic characterization of the bHLH gene family in A.majus,with a focus on candidates involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis.A total of 150 AmbHLH genes were identified and subjected to in-silico analyses,including phylogenetic classification,structural analysis,and promoter cis-element characterization.Comparative transcriptomic profiling between anthocyanin-poor(“SIPPE50”,Green)and anthocyanin-rich(“JI2R”,Red)snapdragon lines highlighted eight differentially expressed AmbHLHs.AmbHLH001,AmbHLH002,and AmbHLH042 showed significant upregulation in the anthocyanin-rich line and showed positive correlations with the expression of key anthocyanin biosynthetic genes.Among these,AmbHLH002 was prioritized as a candidate and was assessed via heterologous overexpression in tomatoes.Notably,AmbHLH002 is a newly identified regulator whose overexpression in tomato resulted in visible purple pigmentation and increased anthocyanin accumulation.These findings support the view that AmbHLH002 acts as a positive regulator,with phylogenetic evidence for conservation of anthocyanin biosynthesis,presenting valuable potential for engineering pigmentation traits in ornamental plants and serving as a candidate visible marker for plant genetic transformation.
基金supported by the grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11174089 and 61138003)the Instrument Developing Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.YZ201263)+2 种基金the Instrument Function Developing Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.yg2012032)the Key Project of Department of Education of Guangdong Province(No.cxzd1112)Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Program Project(No.2012J5100004)
文摘Fluorescence microscopy has become an essential tool for biological research because it can be minimally invasive, acquire data rapidly, and target molecules of interest with specific labeling strategies. However, the diffraction-limited spatial resolution, which is classically limited to about 200 nm in the lateral direction and about 500 nm in the axial direction, hampers its application to identify delicate details of subcellular structure. Extensive efforts have been made to break diffraction limit for obtaining high-resolution imaging of a biological specimen. Various methods capable of obtaining super-resolution images with a resolution of tens of nanometers are currently available. These super-resolution techniques can be generally divided into three primary classes： （1） patterned illumination- based super-resolution imaging, which employs spatially and temporally modulated illumination light to reconstruct sub-diffraction structures; （2） single-molecule localization-based super-resolution imaging, which localizes the profile center of each individual fluo- rophore at subdiffraction precision; （3） bleaching/blinking-based super-resolution imaging. These super-resolution techniques have been utilized in different biological fields and provide novel insights into several new aspects of life science. Given unique technical merits and commercial availability of super-resolution fluorescence microscope, increasing applications of this powerful technique in life science can be expected.
文摘Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by an abnormal development of the central nervous system, leading to a myriad of symptoms and diseases, including intellectual disability, attention deficits, impairments in learning and memory, speech disorders and repetitive behavior （Telias and Ben-Yosef, 2014）. Common major neurodevelopmental disorders include autism and autism spectrum disorders （ASDs）, fragile X syndrome （FXS）, Down syndrome （DS）, and Rett syndrome （RTT）. They can be collectively described as disorders in which the plasticity of the brain has been severely impaired. The concept of plasticity refers to the brain＇s ability to adapt to and process new information and react accordingly, and it can be classified into three categories： a） molecular plasticity, whenever specific receptors, ion channels, enzymes,
基金Supported by Grants from INRA,INSERM (ATC-Nutrition,PRNH)Association Franaise des Diabétiques+3 种基金the Institut Benjamin Delessertthe Fondation Coeur et Artères (FCA N° 05-T4)the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche (ANR 06-PNRA-022-01)Contrat Cadre d’Aide au Projet d’Innova-tion Stratégique Industrielle "IT-Diab"OSEO-ISI (ISI IT-DIAB-18/12/2008)
文摘The ways in which epigenetic modifications fix the effects of early environmental events,ensuring sustained responses to transient stimuli,which result in modified gene expression patterns and phenotypes later in life,is a topic of considerable interest.This review focuses on recently discovered mechanisms and calls into question prevailing views about the dynamics,position and functions of epigenetic marks.Most epigenetic studies have addressed the long-term effects on a small number of epigenetic marks,at the global or individual gene level,of environmental stressors in humans and animal models.In parallel,increasing numbers of studies based on high-throughput technologies and focusing on humans and mice have revealed additional complexity in epigenetic processes,by highlighting the importance of crosstalk between the different epigenetic marks.A number of studies focusing on the developmental origin of health and disease and metabolic programming have identified links between early nutrition,epigenetic processes and long-term illness.The existence of a self-propagating epigenetic cycle has been demonstrated.Moreover,recent studies demonstrate an obvious sexual dimorphism both for programming trajectories and in response to the same environmental insult.Despite recent progress,we are still far from understanding how,when and where environmental stressors disturb key epigenetic mechanisms.Thus,identifying the original key marks and their changes throughout development during an individual's lifetime or over several generations remains a challenging issue.
文摘Seed is the most important reproductive organ in plant.Since its first emergence approximately 370 million years ago,seed plant had overwhelming advantage to non-seed plants in reproduction,spreading and colonization in terrestrial land.Beside its essential function in the sexual reproduction of plants,seed is the most economically important agricultural product,offering necessity food for human and wildlife,nutritious feed for livestock.Seeds and grains also provide massive amount of raw materials for manufactured goods,such as coffee,starch,and oil.Seeds also play a pivotal role in development of fruits which supplement significant portion of food and nutrition for human and wildlife.
文摘A disordered somite pattern could be produced artificially when the segmental lateral plate of chick embryo was replaced by dissociated cells of quail segmental pate.The artificially disordered somite pattern formed at either place was used in our work as a model to analyze the mechanism of the development and differentiation of somite on chick embryo. Our conclusions include the following: 1.Although the formation of somites from the dissociated segmental plate cells does not require special environment,the development and differentiation of the somltes require a special environment which is related to the neural tube and notochord.The effect of this special environmental factor may decrease gradually with the increase of the distance from neural tube to lateral plate. 2.The somites located on paraxial area at different distances to the axis have different fates in development. 3.The formation of epithelial vesicles is the property of somite cells and the epithelial vesicle is the structural basis of somite differentiation.If and factor interferes with the differentiation of the somite,the epithelial vesicle of the somite will be degenerated within certain period of time. 4.During resegmentation of the somite,the number,size and arrangement of sclerotome in situ do not depend on the somite from which they are derived. 5.Somite cells do not transdifferentiate into kidney tubule directly from their original epithelial vesicles,but are reorganized from the free cells dispersed from the disrupted somites. 6.The establishment of cell commitment may involve several steps.Before commitment is established the of cell commitment is labile. 7.The differentiation of sclerotome starts with the rupture of epithelial wall of somites and the direction of its movement depends not only on the notochord but also on their position with respect to the neural tube and notochord. 8.The disordered somite pattern doesn't influence the segmentation of dorsal root ganglia in situ, but causes the formation of the ectopic dorsal root ganglia.
基金financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(32301800,32301923 and 32072053)Wheat Industrial Technology System of Shandong Province(SDAIT-01-01)Key Research and Development Project of Shandong Province(2022LZG002-4,2023LZGC009-4-4).
文摘Powdery mildew negatively impacts wheat yield and quality.Emmer wheat(Triticum dicoccum),an ancestral species of common wheat,is a gene donor for wheat improvement.Cultivated emmer accession H1-707 exhibited all-stage resistance to powdery mildew over consecutive years.Genetic analysis of H1-707 at the seedling stage revealed a dominant monogenic inheritance pattern,and the underlying gene was designated Pm71.By employing bulked segregant exome sequencing(BSE-Seq)and using 2000 F2:3 families,Pm71 was fine mapped to a 336-kb interval on chromosome arm 6AS by referencing to the durum cv.Svevo RefSeq 1.0.Collinearity analysis revealed high homology in the candidate interval between Svevo and six Triticum species.Among six high-confidence genes annotated within this interval,TRITD6Av1G005050 encoding a GDSL esterase/lipase was identified as a key candidate for Pm71.
