Comparative leaf morphology and anatomy on ten taxa of Calycanthaceae Lindl. (Laurales)

The comparative leaf morphology and anatomy of ten species of family Calycanthaceae have been studied. Leaf anatomy is very comparable to each other in cell shape and their arrangement. Collected leaves were preserved in FAA and alcohol series were applied for LM and SEM. The layer of epidermis is two in Idiospermum and one in rest of other genera. The structure of vascular bundle is V-shape in Sinocalycanthus and Calycanthus whereas U-shape in Idiospermum and Chimonanthus. The density of trichome is higher in Calycanthus than other genera. The presence of trichome, stomata, epidermal layer, density of trichome and stomata, and leaf surface are represented the distinction among the genera. The adaxial surface of Idiospermum and Sinocalycanthus are smooth whereas of Calycanthus and Chimonanthus are rough. The crystals are present in Calycanthus, Sinocalycanthus and Chimonanthus whereas absent in Idiospermum. The shape of the vascular bundle, density of trichome, epidermal layer, and crystals play important role in the phylogenetic relationship of Calycanthaceae.

Effect of Rosin Modification on the Visual Characteristics of Round Bamboo Culm

Rosin was used to treat round bamboo culm using the impregnation method. The quantitative color and gloss measurements combined with a qualitative eye tracking experiment were used to evaluate the effect of rosin treatment under different temperatures on the visual characteristics of the bamboo surface. Surface morphology analysis was also used to explore the mechanism of modification. The results showed that proper heating of the modified system was conducive to the formation of a continuous rosin film, which increased the gloss value. The maximum gloss value of 19.6 achieved at 50 °C was 122.7% higher than the gloss value of the control group. Heating decreased the brightness of the bamboo culm and changed the color from the green and yellow tones to red and blue. Additionally, at temperatures higher than 60 °C, the bamboo epidermal layer was damaged or shed, and stripes formed on the culm surface. The density of these stripes increased with an increase in treatment temperature. Eye movement experiment and subjective evaluation showed that high gloss would produce dazzling feeling, such as at 50 °C, while low gloss will appear dim, such as at 80 °C, while the gloss at 40 °C and 60 °C were appropriate. Additionally, the solid color surface below 60 °C had a large audience of about 73%, and the striped surface above 60 °C was preferred by 27% of the subjects.

LCM and RNA-seq analyses revealed roles of cell cycle and translational regulation and homoeolog expression bias in cotton fiber cell initiation

Background Cotton fibers provide a powerful model for studying cell differentiation and elongation. Each cotton fiber is a singular and elongated cell derived from epidermal-layer cells of a cotton seed. Efforts to understand this dramatic developmental shift have been impeded by the difficulty of separation between fiber and epidermal cells. Results Here we employed laser-capture microdissection (LCM) to separate these cell types. RNA-seq analysis revealed transitional differences between fiber and epidermal-layer cells at 0 or 2 days post anthesis. Specifically, down-regulation of putative cell cycle genes was coupled with upregulation of ribosome biosynthesis and translation-related genes, which may suggest their respective roles in fiber cell initiation. Indeed, the amount of fibers in cultured ovules was increased by cell cycle progression inhibitor, Roscovitine, and decreased by ribosome biosynthesis inhibitor, Rbin-1. Moreover, subfunctionalization of homoeologs was pervasive in fiber and epidermal cells, with expression bias towards 10% more D than A homoeologs of cell cycle related genes and 40–50% more D than A homoeologs of ribosomal protein subunit genes. Key cell cycle regulators were predicted to be epialleles in allotetraploid cotton. MYB-transcription factor genes displayed expression divergence between fibers and ovules. Notably, many phytohormone-related genes were upregulated in ovules and down-regulated in fibers, suggesting spatial-temporal effects on fiber cell development. Conclusions Fiber cell initiation is accompanied by cell cycle arrest coupled with active ribosome biosynthesis, spatial-temporal regulation of phytohormones and MYB transcription factors, and homoeolog expression bias of cell cycle and ribosome biosynthesis genes. These valuable genomic resources and molecular insights will help develop breeding and biotechnological tools to improve cotton fiber production.

LCM and RNA-seq analyses revealed roles of cell cycle and translational regulation in early stages of cotton fiber cell development

BackgroundCotton fibers provide a powerful model for studying cell differentiation and elongation. Each cotton fiber is a singular and elongated cell derived from epidermal-layer cells of a cotton seed. Efforts to understand this dramatic developmental shift have been impeded by the difficulty of isolating fiber cells from epidermal cells.ResultsHere we employed laser-capture microdissection (LCM) to separate these cell types. RNA-seq analysis revealed transitional differences between the fiber and epidermal-layer cells at 0 or 2 days post anthesis. Specifically, down-regulation of putative cell cycle genes was coupled with upregulation of ribosome biosynthesis and translation-related genes, which may suggest their respective roles in fiber cell initiation and elongation. Indeed, the amount of fibers in cultured ovules was increased by cell cycle progression inhibitor, Roscovitine, and decreased by ribosome biosynthesis inhibitor, Rbin-1. Moreover, many phytohormone-related genes were upregulated in the ovules and down-regulated in the fibers, suggesting their spatial-temporal effects on fiber cell development. Key cell cycle regulators were predicted to be epialleles, and MYB-transcription factor related genes displayed expression divergence between fibers and ovules, implying their effects on fiber traits.ConclusionsWe revealed that fiber cell initiation is accompanied by cell cycle arrest coupled with active ribosome biosynthesis, spatial-temporal regulation of phytohormones and expression divergence between MYB transcription factor genes. These valuable genomic resources and molecular insights will help develop breeding and biotechnological tools to improve cotton fiber production.

Nano-Lipid-carriers for the Treatment of Vitiligo: A Recent Update, Pathophysiology and Mechanism of Drug Delivery

Background:: Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease with white-coloured disfiguring patches or spots on the skin surface. It is highly prevalent in several corners of the world. This disease spreads in different age groups. Aim:: The main aim of this review is to provide overview of Pathophysiology and Lipid-based nano-carriers for the treatment of vitiligo. Methods:: The conventional delivery systems available are having limited efficacy due to the less retention of the drug in the epidermal layer where melanocytes resides. In order to overcome these issues, delivery system with Lipid-based nano-carriers for the treatment of vitiligo were proven to better as per the literature explored. Results:: This review summarizes the pathophysiology along with novel Lipid-based nano-carriers for the treatment of vitiligo are described well. Conclusion:: Though various treatment regimens are present for the disease, nano-lipid carrier systems are gaining importance hugely now-a-days, due to their high effectivity in topically acting on the target site. Nano-lipid carrier systems such as liposomes, ethosomes, transethosomes and transferosomes can be said to be at the top of the list in acting effectively against vitiligo or several other topical diseases.

Establishment of long-term ostracod epidermal culture

Primary crustacean cell culture was introduced in the 1960s, but to date limited cell lines have been established. Skogsbergia lerneri is a myodocopid ostracod, which has a body enclosed within a thin, durable, transparent bivalved carapace, through which the eye can see. The epidermal layer lines the inner surface of the carapace and is responsible for carapace synthesis. The purpose of the present study was to develop an in vitro epidermal tissue and cell culture method for S. lerneri. First, an optimal environment for the viability of this epidermal tissue was ascertained, while maintaining its cell proliferative capacity. Next, a microdissection technique to remove the epidermal layer for explant culture was established and finally, a cell dissociation method for epidermal cell culture was determined. Maintenance of sterility, cell viability and proliferation were key throughout these processes. This novel approach for viable S. lerneri epidermal tissue and cell culture augments our understanding of crustacean cell biology and the complex biosynthesis of the ostracod carapace. In addition, these techniques have great potential in the fields of biomaterial manufacture, the military and fisheries, for example, in vitro toxicity testing.