Rsc3K, a SMV resistance gene localized on chromosome 2 in soybean cv. Kefeng No.1, interacts with virulence determinant P3

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most devastating viral pathogens in Glycine max (L.) Merr (soybean). Twenty-two SMV strains (SC1-SC22) isolated in China were identified based on their responses to ten soybean cultivars. By using the F2-derived F3 (F2:3) and recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations of resistant Soybean cultivar (cv.) Kefeng No.1 × susceptible cv. Nannong 1138-2, we localized the gene mediating resistant to SMV-SC3 strain to a 90 kb interval on chromosome 2 in Kefeng No.1. Bean pod mottle vi-rus (BPMV)-induced gene silencing (VIGS) were used to study the gene function of candidate genes in the mapping interval and revealed that an recombinant gene, later named as Rsc3K, caused by internal deletion of a genomic DNA fragement in Kefeng No.1, is the resistant gene to SMV-SC3. By shuffling genes between avirulent isolate SC3 and avirulent SMV isolate 1129, we found that P3 is the virulence determinant causing resistance on Kefeng No.1. We showed the interaction between Rsc3K and P3 by the yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and bimolecular fluorescent complementation (BiFC) assays. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that Rsc3K plays a crucial role in resistance of Kefeng No.1 to SMV-SC3 by direct interaction with viral protein P3.

Multidisciplinary Study of Cores From the Wetland of El Melah, Southwestern Tunisia

Saline systems are candidates to be threatened by climatic change. In terms of methodology and materials, color identification, geochemistry, and mineralogy analysis were used. The spectral analysis of data of the amount of active K and Na firstly shows the individualization of a cycle stretching along with 1000 yr. Then, a less pronounced cycle of 2500 years is marked with a lower intensity. Also, on the spectral analysis of K data, the drowned cycles of 650 and 500 years are marked by weak intensities not reaching the threshold level. These two comparable cycles may be artifacts due to analysis errors or variability in the rate of sedimentation resulting in the bifurcation of two hybrid cycles from one real cycle. This work confirmed the cycles found by color studies through real analyses such as geochemical and magnetic measurements. As a matter of fact, the majority of cycles found out by the spectral analysis of colors data are confirmed through analyses.

Influences of Adoptive Mother and Father’s Parenting and Child’s Temperament on Adoptees’ Social Skills: A Hybrid Dyadic Analysis

Adoption provides a unique opportunity to study the simultaneous effect on adoptees’ development of environmental influences related to adoptive parenting, and children’s biology-based characteristics. In this paper, two Hybrid Dyadic Models were tested to study the mediational role of the adoptees’ negative reactivity on the relationship between mothers and fathers’ supportive (Model A) and unsupportive (Model B) parenting, and adoptees’ social skills. In a sample of 102 couples, mothers and fathers’ reports on adoptees’ social skills, the adoptees’ negative reactivity, and supportive/unsupportive parenting were explored. Supportive/unsupportive parenting was assessed individually (mothers and fathers separately), whereas the adoptees’ negative reactivity and social skills were treated as common fate variables, with both parents’ scores as indicators of a latent construct. Results were non-significant for Model A. Regarding Model B, different relation patterns between unsupportive parenting and social skills were found, depending on whether it was the mother's or the father's parenting. The child's negative reactivity mediated the relationship between the father's (not the mother's) unsupportive parenting and the child's social skills. With information from both parents and considering simultaneously their unique and shared perspectives, this study advances adoption research and strengthens the relevance of dyadic analyses when studying the adoptive family dynamics.

Out with Acetonitrile: Water-assisted Accelerated-Aging Synthesis of CuI-Pyrazine Hybrid Materials

CuI and pyrazine form three hybrid materials, [(CuI)2(pyrazine)] (Yellow), [(CuI)2(pyrazine)2] (Orange), and [(CuI)(pyrazine)] (Red). In this work, Red was prepared using a green synthetic method, water-assisted accelerated-aging synthesis, for the first time. The syntheses were performed under ambient conditions with only water and no organic solvents. Depending on the reaction conditions, the other two hybrid materials can be formed as well: Orange was formed immediately after dry grinding CuI and pyrazine, while Yellow can be formed from Red and excess amount of CuI at mildly elevated temperatures. The impacts of temperature and types and amounts of liquid added to the aging mixture on the accelerated-aging synthesis were studied, and mechanisms of the synthesis and interconversions between the three CuI-pyrazine hybrid materials were proposed.

AFP2 inhibits ABA responses during germination without ABI5 degradation but DWAs reduce desiccation tolerance

Overexpression of ABI5/ABF interacting proteins (AFPs) results in extreme ABA resistance of seeds and failure to acquire desiccation tolerance, at least in part through effects on chromatin modification. This study tests the hypothesis that the AFPs promote germination by also functioning as adapters for E3 ligases that ubiquitinate ABI5, leading to its degradation. Interactions between AFPs and two well-characterized classes of E3 ligases targeting ABI5, DWD HYPERSENSITIVE TO ABA (DWA)s and KEEP ON GOING (KEG), were analyzed by yeast two-hybrid, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, and genetic assays. Although the AFPs and E3 ligases showed weak direct interactions, loss of function for the E3 ligases did not impair ABA-resistance conferred by overexpression of the YFP-AFP2 fusion. Comparison of ABI5 and AFP2 levels in these lines showed that AFP2 accumulation increased during germination, but that ABI5 degradation followed germination, demonstrating that AFP2 controls ABA sensitivity during germination independently of ABI5 degradation. Surprisingly, AFP2 overexpression in the dwa1 dwa2 mutant background produced the unusual combination of extreme ABA resistance and desiccation tolerance, creating an opportunity to separate the underlying biochemical characteristics of ABA sensitivity and desiccation tolerance that we investigated by quantitative proteomics. Our analysis identified at least three-fold more differentially accumulated seed proteins than previous studies. Comparison of dry seed proteomes of the different genotypes allowed us to separate and refine the changes in protein accumulation patterns correlating with desiccation tolerance independently of ABA sensitivity, or vice versa, to a subset of cold-induced and defense stress-responsive proteins and signaling regulators.

Functional Conservation and Divergence of Five AP1/FUL-like Genes in Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Members of AP1/FUL subfamily genes play an essential role in the regulation of floral meristem transition, floral organ identity, and fruit ripping. At present, there have been insufficient studies to explain the function of the AP1/FUL-like subfamily genes in Asteraceae. Here, we cloned two euAP1 clade genes TeAP1-1 and TeAP1-2, and three euFUL clade genes TeFUL1, TeFUL2, and TeFUL3 from marigold (Tagetes erecta L.). Expression profile analysis demonstrated that TeAP1-1 and TeAP1-2 were mainly expressed in receptacles, sepals, petals, and ovules. TeFUL1 and TeFUL3 were expressed in flower buds, stems, and leaves, as well as reproductive tissues, while TeFUL2 was mainly expressed in flower buds and vegetative tissues. Overexpression of TeAP1-2 or TeFUL2 in Arabidopsis resulted in early flowering, implying that these two genes might regulate the floral transition. Yeast two-hybrid analysis indicated that TeAP1/FUL proteins only interacted with TeSEP proteins to form heterodimers and that TeFUL2 could also form a homodimer. In general, TeAP1-1 and TeAP1-2 might play a conserved role in regulating sepal and petal identity, similar to the functions of MADS-box class A genes, while TeFUL genes might display divergent functions. This study provides a theoretical basis for the study of AP1/FUL-like genes in Asteraceae species.

Optimization of cylindrical wall domes via metaheuristic algorithms

Optimization is a widely used phenomenon in various problems and fields. Because time and resources are very limited in today's world, it can be said that the usage area of the optimization process will be expanded and spread in all areas of life. Although different methods are used in the realization of the optimization process, the performance of metaheuristic algorithms in solving problems has led to an increase in research on these methods. As in other fields, the application examples of these algorithms are diversifying and increasing in the field of structural engineering. In this study, the performance comparison of five different algorithms for the optimum design of an axisymmetric cylindrical wall with a dome is investigated. These algorithms are Jaya (JA), Flower pollination (FPA), teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithms and two hybrid versions of these algorithms. ACI 318 regulation was used in reinforced concrete design with a flexibility method-based approach in the analyses. In the analyzes with five different situations of the wall height, some statistical values , and data of analysis numbers were obtained by running the algorithms a large number of times. According to the analysis results, Jaya algorithm is slightly better in terms of the speed of reaching the optimum result, but also all algorithms are quite effective and reliable in solving the problem.

Hormonal Regulatory Patterns of LaKNOXs and LaBEL1 Transcription Factors Reveal Their Potential Role in Stem Bulblet Formation in LA Hybrid Lily

In lily reproduction, the mechanism of formation of bulbs has been a hot topic. However, studies on stem bulblet formation are limited. Stem bulblets, formed in the leaf axils of under- and above-ground stems, provide lilies with a strong capacity for self-propagation. First, we showed that above-ground stem bulblets can be induced by spraying 100 mg/L 6-BA on the LA hybrid lily ‘Aladdin’, with reduced endogenous IAA and GA4 and a higher relative content of cytokinins. Then, expression patterns of three potential genes (two KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) and one partial BEL1-like homeobox (BELL)), during stem bulblet formation from our previous study, were determined by RT-qPCR, presenting a down-up trend in KNOXs and a rising tendency in BELL. The partial BELL gene was cloned by RACE from L. ‘Aladdin’ and denoted LaBEL1. Physical interactions of LaKNOX1-LaBEL1 and LaKNOX1-LaKNOX2 were confirmed by yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Furthermore, hormonal regulatory patterns of single LaKNOX1, LaKNOX2, LaBEL1, and their heterodimers, were revealed in transgenic Arabidopsis, suggesting that the massive mRNA accumulations of LaKNOX1, LaKNOX2 and LaBEL1 genes during stem bulblet formation could cause the dramatic relative increase of cytokinins and the decline of GAs and IAA. Taken together, a putative model was proposed that LaKNOX1 interacts with LaKNOX2 and LaBEL1 to regulate multiple phytohormones simultaneously for an appropriate hormonal homeostasis, which suggests their potential role in stem bulblet formation in L. ‘Aladdin’.

PXR Suppresses PPARα-Dependent HMGCS2 Gene Transcription by Inhibiting the Interaction between PPARα and PGC1α

Background: PXR is a xenobiotic-responsive nuclear receptor that controls the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Drug-induced activation of PXR sometimes causes drug–drug interactions due to the induced metabolism of co-administered drugs. Our group recently reported a possible drug–drug interaction mechanism via an interaction between the nuclear receptors CAR and PPARα. As CAR and PXR are structurally and functionally related receptors, we investigated possible crosstalk between PXR and PPARα. Methods: Human hepatocyte-like HepaRG cells were treated with various PXR ligands, and mRNA levels were determined by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Reporter assays using the HMGCS2 promoter containing a PPARα-binding motif and mammalian two-hybrid assays were performed in HepG2 or COS-1 cells. Results: Treatment with PXR activators reduced the mRNA levels of PPARα target genes in HepaRG cells. In reporter assays, PXR suppressed PPARα-dependent gene expression in HepG2 cells. In COS-1 cells, co-expression of PGC1α, a common coactivator of PPARα and PXR, enhanced PPARα-dependent gene transcription, which was clearly suppressed by PXR. Consistently, in mammalian two-hybrid assays, the interaction between PGC1α and PPARα was attenuated by ligand-activated PXR. Conclusion: The present results suggest that ligand-activated PXR suppresses PPARα-dependent gene expression by inhibiting PGC1α recruitment.