Sociability genetically separable from social hierarchy in amniotes.

Sociability and social hierarchy are two essential features to form a social group. However, it remains unknown whether sociability and social hierarchy are genetically separable. In this study, we examined the social hierarchy, social and social novelty preference of PAS1 knock-out and knock-in mice.

Histone deacetylase 9 modulates the acetylation dynamics of phototropin 1 to fine-tune phototropic responses in plants.

Phototropism is essential for optimizing plant growth and development, with the blue light receptor phototropin 1 (phot1) acting as the primary photoreceptor. Although downstream components of phot1-mediated phototropic signaling have been studied extensively, the upstream regulatory mechanisms that control phot1 activity remain to be clarified. Here, we demonstrate that lysine acetylation dynamically modifies phot1 under both dark and light conditions.

Sphingolipid remodeling in the plasma membrane is essential for osmotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Osmotic stress caused by drought, salinity, or cold conditions is an important abiotic factor that decreases membrane integrity and causes cell death, thus decreasing plant growth and productivity. Remodeling cell membrane composition via lipid turnover can counter the loss of membrane integrity and cell death caused by osmotic stress. Sphingolipids are important components of eukaryotic membrane systems; however, how sphingolipids participate in plant responses to osmotic stress remains unclear.

Imaging Plant Lipids with Fluorescent Reporters.

In plants, lipids function as structural elements and signaling molecules. Understanding lipid composition and dynamics is essential for unraveling their biological functions and metabolism. Mapping the spatiotemporal distribution of lipids in plants holds great potential for elucidating lipid biosynthetic pathways and gaining insights to guide crop genetic engineering.

Robust and adaptive star identification algorithm based on linear assignment for multiple large field of view visual imaging systems.

The integration of the visual imaging system and the self-attitude determination system in on-orbit space projects necessitates robust star identification algorithms. However, disturbances in the on-orbit environment pose a challenge to the accuracy and efficiency of star identification algorithms. This paper introduces a novel star identification algorithm, to the best of our knowledge, designed for multiple large field of view (FOV) visual imaging systems, providing stability in the presence of the noise types, including position noise, lost-star noise, and fake-star noise.

Camera optimal projection model identification and calibration method based on the NGO-BA architecture.

In order to bridge the fundamental commonalities between imaging models of camera lenses with different principles and structures, allowing for an accurate description of imaging characteristics across a wide range of field-of-view (FOV), we have proposed a generic camera calibration method on the basis of the projection model optimization strategy. First, in order to cover the current mainstream projection models, piecewise functions for geometric projection models and a polynomial function for the fitting projection model are designed. Then, the corresponding camera multistation self-calibration bundle adjustment (BA) module is developed for various projection models.

A Noncoding A-to-U Kozak Site Change Related to the High Transmissibility of Alpha, Delta, and Omicron VOCs.

Three prevalent SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) emerged and caused epidemic waves. It is essential to uncover advantageous mutations that cause the high transmissibility of VOCs. However, viral mutations are tightly linked, so traditional population genetic methods, including machine learning-based methods, cannot reliably detect mutations conferring a fitness advantage.

Integrating Genomics and Metabolomics for the Targeted Discovery of New Cyclopeptides with Antifungal Activity from a Marine-Derived Fungus .

Sour rot, caused by , is a major postharvest disease in citrus and results in significant economic losses. The genus Beauveria is recognized as a promising source of biocontrol agents for agricultural applications. Herein, we established a targeted strategy by integrating genomics and metabolomics to accelerate the discovery of new cyclopeptides from antagonistic metabolites produced by the marine-derived fungus SYSU-MS7908.

Regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis by light-dependent acetylation of NADPH:protochlorophyll oxidoreductase A in Arabidopsis.

Chlorophylls are the major pigments that harvest light energy during photosynthesis in plants. Although reactions in chlorophyll biogenesis have been largely known, little attention has been paid to the post-translational regulation mechanism of this process. In this study, we found that four lysine sites (K128/340/350/390) of NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase A (PORA), which catalyzes the only light-triggered step in chlorophyll biosynthesis, were acetylated after dark-grown seedlings transferred to light via acetylomics analysis.

Effects of 12-Year Nitrogen Addition and Mowing on Plant-Soil Micronutrients in a Typical Steppe.

Changes in soil micronutrient availability may have adverse consequences on grassland productivity, yet it’s still largely unclear how concurrent human practices, such as fertilization and mowing, affect micronutrient cycling in the plant-soil systems. Here, we measured six essential micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Co and Mo) contents in both plant pool (separated as aboveground plant parts, litter, and belowground roots) at the community level and soil pool (0−10 cm depth) after 12-year consecutive nitrogen (N) addition (0, 2, 10, and 50 g N m−2 year−1) and mowing in a typical steppe of the Mongolian Plateau. The results show that (i) medium-N (10 g m−2 year−1) and high-N (50 g m−2 year−1) addition rates significantly increased contents of soil-available Fe (+310.

Characterization of YABBY genes in Dendrobium officinale reveals their potential roles in flower development.

These YABBY genes are transcription factors (TFs) that play crucial roles in various developmental processes in plants. There is no comprehensive characterization of YABBY genes in a valuable Chinese orchid herb, Dendrobium officinale. In this study, a total of nine YABBY genes were identified in the D.

Mechanism underlying the carotenoid accumulation in shaded tea leaves.

Carotenoids contribute to tea leaf coloration and are the precursors of important aromatic compounds. Shading can promote the accumulation of carotenoids in tea leaves, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In the study, we analyzed the content and composition of carotenoids, and transcript levels and functions of related genes in carotenoid biosynthesis using HPLC, qRT-PCR, and heterologous expression system.

Elucidation of the Regular Emission Mechanism of Volatile β-Ocimene with Anti-insect Function from Tea Plants () Exposed to Herbivore Attack.

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) play an important role in insect resistance. As a common HIPV in tea plants (), β-ocimene has shown anti-insect function in other plants. However, whether β-ocimene in tea plants also provides insect resistance, and its mechanism of synthesis and emission are unknown.

New exon and accelerated evolution of placental gene Nrk occurred in the ancestral lineage of placental mammals.

Introduction: The chorioallantoic placenta is a specific organ for placental mammals. However, the adaptive events during its emergence are still poorly investigated.

Methods: We scanned the chromosome X to detect the accelerated evolution in the ancestral lineage of placental mammals, and constructed 3D protein structure models of a candidate by homology modeling.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the APETALA2 (AP2) Transcription Factor in .

The APETALA2 (AP2) transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in regulating development in plants. However, a comprehensive analysis of the AP2 family members in a valuable Chinese herbal orchid, , or in other orchids, is limited. In this study, the 14 DoAP2 TFs that were identified from the genome and named DoAP2-1 to DoAP2-14 were divided into three clades: euAP2, euANT, and basalANT.

The Arabidopsis KH-domain protein FLOWERING LOCUS Y delays flowering by upregulating FLOWERING LOCUS C family members.

We identified FLY as a previously uncharacterized RNA-binding-family protein that controls flowering time by positively regulating the expression of FLC clade members. The ability of flowering plants to adjust the timing of the floral transition based on endogenous and environmental signals contributes to their adaptive success. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the MADS-domain protein FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) and the FLC clade members FLOWERING LOCUS M/MADS AFFECTING FLOWERING1 (FLM/MAF1), MAF2, MAF3, MAF4, and MAF5 form nuclear complexes that repress flowering under noninductive conditions.

A Pyrimidin-Like Plant Activator Stimulates Plant Disease Resistance and Promotes the Synthesis of Primary Metabolites.

Plant activators are chemicals that induce plant defense responses to various pathogens. Here, we reported a new potential plant activator, 6-(methoxymethyl)-2-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridyl] pyrimidin-4-ol, named PPA2 (pyrimidin-type plant activator 2). Unlike the traditional commercial plant activator benzothiadiazole -methyl ester (BTH), PPA2 was fully soluble in water, and it did not inhibit plant growth or root system development in rice ().

Accelerated evolution of an Lhx2 enhancer shapes mammalian social hierarchies.

Social hierarchies emerged during evolution, and social rank influences behavior and health of individuals. However, the evolutionary mechanisms of social hierarchy are still unknown in amniotes. Here we developed a new method and performed a genome-wide screening for identifying regions with accelerated evolution in the ancestral lineage of placental mammals, where mammalian social hierarchies might have initially evolved.

The GCD3 protein is a glucosylceramidase that preferentially hydrolyzes long-acyl-chain glucosylceramides.

Cellular membranes contain many lipids, some of which, such as sphingolipids, have important structural and signaling functions. The common sphingolipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is present in plants, fungi, and animals. As a major plant sphingolipid, GlcCer is involved in the formation of lipid microdomains, and the regulation of GlcCer is key for acclimation to stress.

The Ralstonia solanacearum effector RipAK suppresses plant hypersensitive response by inhibiting the activity of host catalases.

The destructive bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum delivers effector proteins via a type-III secretion system for its pathogenesis of plant hosts. However, the biochemical functions of most of these effectors remain unclear. RipAK of R.

Large numbers of vertebrates began rapid population decline in the late 19th century.

Accelerated losses of biodiversity are a hallmark of the current era. Large declines of population size have been widely observed and currently 22,176 species are threatened by extinction. The time at which a threatened species began rapid population decline (RPD) and the rate of RPD provide important clues about the driving forces of population decline and anticipated extinction time.

Loss of ceramide kinase in Arabidopsis impairs defenses and promotes ceramide accumulation and mitochondrial H2O2 bursts.

Arabidopsis thaliana plants that lack ceramide kinase, encoded by ACCELERATED CELL DEATH5 (ACD5), display spontaneous programmed cell death late in development and accumulate substrates of ACD5. Here, we compared ceramide accumulation kinetics, defense responses, ultrastructural features, and sites of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in wild-type and acd5 plants during development and/or Botrytis cinerea infection. Quantitative sphingolipid profiling indicated that ceramide accumulation in acd5 paralleled the appearance of spontaneous cell death, and it was accompanied by autophagy and mitochondrial ROS accumulation.