Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most common complications of diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Here, we investigated the association of PNPLA2 gene variations with DKD susceptibility in a Chinese Han population. A total of 818 participants with type 2 diabetes were recruited in the case-control study, including 379 patients diagnosed with DKD. We observed that 2 tagSNPs, PNPLA2 rs28633403 (A>G) and rs1138714 (A>G), were associated with DKD (rs28633403: genotype, P=0.017; allele, P=0.015; rs1138714: genotype, P=0.029; allele, P=0.018). PNPLA2 rs1138693 (T>C), a missense SNP, showed no association with DKD (genotype, P=0.966; allele, P=0.845). Genetic model analysis revealed that minor allele G of PNPLA2 rs28633403 was a protective factor of DKD in a dominant model adjusted by confounders (AG+GG vs. AA: adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.619; 95% CI 0.447-0.857; P=0.004) and in an additive model (AG vs. AA: aOR, 0.633; 95% CI 0.447-0.895; P=0.010; GG vs. AA: aOR, 0.588; 95% CI 0.385-0.897; P=0.014). Minor allele G of PNPLA2 rs1138714 was associated with a higher risk of DKD in a dominant model adjusted by confounders (AG+GG vs. AA: adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.531; 95% CI 1.134-2.067; P=0.005) and in an additive model (AG vs. AA: aOR, 1.529; 95% CI 1.118-2.091; P=0.008). The combined effect of PNPLA2 rs28633403 AA+rs1138714 AG or GG genotype showed an association with DKD, adjusted by confounders (aOR, 2.194; 95% CI 1.378-3.492; P=0.001), which was considered statistically significant with a markedly increased risk of DKD after a Holm-Bonferroni correction for multiple tests (P<0.00125). Our results suggest that PNPLA2 rs28633403 and rs1138714 are significantly associated with the risk of DKD in a Chinese Han population with type 2 diabetes.
Myiasis is a type of parasitosis caused by the larvae of diptera. It commonly occurs in tropical and subtropical zones. The infestation of nose and ears can be extremely dangerous if the larvae destroy the bone and penetrate into the brain, in which case the fatality rate is reported to be as high as 8%. Here, we report a case of aural myiasis in a patient with congenital mental retardation. Twelve maggots were removed mechanically, and the patient was treated with appropriate antibiotics.
Anthocyanins, as the most important chromogenic substances in flavonoids, are responsible for the red, purple, and blue coloration of flowers. Anthocyanins are synthesized in the cytoplasmic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) but accumulate predominantly in the vacuole, while glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are considered to be mainly responsible for the transport process. Our previous studies showed that the expression of PsGSTF3 was positively correlated with anthocyanin content in tree peony tissues, which is a key candidate gene for anthocyanin accumulation. Here, we successfully cloned and characterized full-length PsGSTF3 containing three exons and two introns. Subcellular localization showed that PsGSTF3 was localized in the nucleus and ER membrane. Functional complementation of the Arabidopsis transparent testa19 (tt19) mutant indicated that PsGSTF3 was responsible for the transport of anthocyanins but not of proanthocyanidins (PAs). Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of PsGSTF3 not only led to a decrease in anthocyanin accumulation but also caused a reduction of structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ABP) to varying degrees. Heterologous overexpression of PsGSTF3 was found to increase the anthocyanin accumulation in tobacco petals. Furthermore, the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay showed that PsGSTF3 interacted with PsDFR, which together contributed to the coloration of petals. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that PsGSTF3 encodes an important GST transporter of anthocyanin in tree peony petals and provides a new perspective for the associated transport and regulatory mechanisms.
SummaryBacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is one of the most significant diseases of plantation Eucalyptus in southern China. In this study, 11 isolates were obtained from symptomatic individual trees from eucalypt plantations located in the key eucalypt-growing regions in China: Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan. Cultures of these isolates were subject to morphological examination followed by DNA sequence comparisons to provide positive identification; all were confirmed to be R. solanacearum. Identification of the biovar types of all isolates obtained was then carried out using an improved biovar testing technique established in the course of this study. Ten of the isolates were shown to be biovar 3 of R. solanacearum, whilst the one other isolate appeared similar to one reported from a previous Chinese study on crop plants and designated as subtype 1 of biovar 4. This study represents the first detailed scientific investigation on the causal agent of Eucalyptus bacterial wilt in southern China.
Radish (Raphanus sativus L.), an important root vegetable crop of the Brassicaceae family, has a high level of anthocyanin accumulation in its pigment root tissues. It was reported that MYB transcription factors (TFs) play vital roles in plant development and anthocyanin metabolism, and the PAP1/2 could promote expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes. In this study, a total of 187 radish MYB genes (RsMYBs) were identified in the radish genome and clustered into 32 subfamilies. Among them, 159 RsMYBs were localized on nine radish chromosomes. Interestingly, 14 RsMYBs exhibited differential expression profiles in different taproot developmental stages among four differently colored radish lines. A number of RsMYBs were highly expressed in the pigmented root tissues at the maturity stage, several genes including RsMYB41, RsMYB117, and RsMYB132 being homologous to PAP1/2, showed high expression levels in the red skin of NAU-YH (red skin-white flesh) taproot, while RsMYB65 and RsMYB159 were highly expressed in the purple root skin of NAU-YZH (purple skin-red flesh), indicating that these RsMYBs might positively regulate the process of anthocyanin accumulation in radish taproot. These results would provide valuable information for further functional characterization of RsMYBs, and facilitate clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying anthocyanin biosynthesis in radish.
Summary High‐density genetic map is a valuable tool for exploring novel genomic information, quantitative trait locus ( QTL ) mapping and gene discovery of economically agronomic traits in plant species. However, high‐resolution genetic map applied to tag QTLs associated with important traits and to investigate genomic features underlying recombination landscape in radish ( Raphanus sativus ) remains largely unexplored. In this study, an ultra‐high‐density genetic map with 378 738 SNP s covering 1306.8 cM in nine radish linkage groups ( LG s) was developed by a whole‐genome sequencing‐based approach. A total of 18 QTL s for 11 horticulture traits were detected. The map‐based cloning data indicated that the R2R3‐ MYB transcription factor Rs MYB 90 was a crucial candidate gene determining the taproot skin colour. Comparative genomics analysis among radish, Brassica rapa and B. oleracea genome revealed several genomic rearrangements existed in the radish genome. The highly uneven distribution of recombination was observed across the nine radish chromosomes. Totally, 504 recombination hot regions (RHRs) were enriched near gene promoters and terminators. The recombination rate in RHRs was positively correlated with the density of SNP s and gene, and GC content, respectively. Functional annotation indicated that genes within RHRs were mainly involved in metabolic process and binding. Three QTL s for three traits were found in the RHRs. The results provide novel insights into the radish genome evolution and recombination landscape, and facilitate the development of effective strategies for molecular breeding by targeting and dissecting important traits in radish.
Orchid flowers have a unique structure that consists of three sepals and three petals, with one of the petals forming the labellum (lip) that can be differentiated into the hypochile and epichile. In orchids, the emission of floral scent is specific and spatially complex. Little is understood about the molecular and biochemical mechanisms of the differing scent emissions between the parts of orchid flowers. Here, we investigated this in the Cattleya hybrid KOVA, and our study showed that monoterpenes, including linalool and geraniol, are the main components responsible for the KOVA floral scent. The KOVA flower was scentless to the human nose before it reached full bloom, potentially because the 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate synthases (RcDXSs) and 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate synthases (RcHDSs) that biosynthesize monoterpenes were highly expressed in flowers only when it reached full flowering. Additionally, the spatial expression profile of the monoterpene synthases (RcMTPSs), which were highly expressed in the basal region of the lip (hypochile), contributed to the highest monoterpene emissions from this part of the flower. This might have caused the hypochile to be more fragrant than the other parts of the flower. These findings enrich our understanding of the difference in scents between different flower parts in plants and provide information to breed novel orchid cultivars with special floral scents.
Naringenin (1) was transformed to three metabolites (2-4) by Mucor sp. Based on LCMS(n)-IT-TOF and NMR spectroscopic data, 2-4 were identified as naringenin-7-O-sulphate, naringenin-4'-O-sulphate, and naringenin-5-O-sulphate, respectively. These results might provide hints to the mammalian/human metabolism of naringenin.
The preliminary study on the environmental physiological characteristics of bryophytes collected from Shanghai area, including their responses to drought, temperature, humidity, light and growth substrate, as well as their tissue culture technology showed that different species of bryophytes under same conditions and the same species under different conditions had different drought resistance. Adding organic matter to sand soil and short-illumination benefited the growth of bryophytes. Treating with proper growth hormones could accelerate the reproduction and growth of bryophyte. Hogland medium was suitable for the tissue culture of bryophytes.