A respiratory burst oxidase homolog protein in Pyrus regulates stigmatic ROS production to control pollen tube growth.

Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the stigma is crucial for the sexual reproduction of flowering plants. However, the derivation of stigmatic production of ROS in pear is still largely unknown. Here, we identified a respiratory burst oxidase homolog (Rboh) protein in pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), PbRbohD1, which is required for ROS accumulation in the stigma.

Comprehensive identification and analysis of clusters of tandemly duplicated genes reveal their contributions to adaptive evolution of green plants.

Tandem gene duplication occurred more frequently compared with the episodic whole-genome duplication (WGD), providing a continuous supply of genetic material for evolutionary innovation and adaptation to changing environments. The rising roles of clusters of tandemly duplicated genes (CTDGs) in the evolution of phenotypic diversity have been unraveled in mammals. However, the content and biological roles of CTDGs remain largely unknown in plants.

OrchardQuant-3D: combining drone and LiDAR to perform scalable 3D phenotyping for characterising key canopy and floral traits in fruit orchards.

Orchard fruits such as pear and apple are important for ensuring global food security and agricultural economy as they not only provide essential nutrients, but also support biodiversity and ecosystem services. Breeders, growers and plant researchers constantly study desirable tree morphological features and floral characteristics to ensure fruit production and quality. Still, traditional orchard phenotyping is often laborious, limited in scale and prone-to-error, resulting in many attempts to develop reliable and scalable toolkits to address this challenge.

Cardiovascular Health Metrics, Genetic Susceptibility, and Incident Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Prospective Cohort Analysis.

Background: Evidence on the prospective relationship between cardiovascular health (CVH) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk is limited, particularly regarding genetic susceptibility as an effect modifier.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between CVH levels and COPD risk and to determine whether genetic susceptibility influences this relationship.

Methods: We included 293,342 participants free of COPD from the UK Biobank cohort.

Genome-wide identification of the C2-domain abscisic acid-related (CAR) protein family in Rosaceae and functional characterization of PbrCAR1 in pear pollen tube growth.

This study identified a PbrCAR1 gene in pear, which promotes pollen tube growth by mediating vesicle transport, and Ca treatment enhances PbrCAR1 expression and promotes its plasma membrane accumulation. The C2-domain abscisic acid-related (CAR) proteins bind to diverse signaling protein complexes and play essential roles in numerous biological processes, including blue light tropism, gravitropism, iron nutrition, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the functions of CAR gene family members in pear pollen development within the Rosaceae family remain inadequately explored.

Apoplastic proteomic reveals Colletotrichum fructicola effector CfXyn11A recognized by tobacco and suppressed by pear in the apoplast.

Colletotrichum fructicola is a hemibiotrophic fungal plant pathogen that transitions from biotrophic growth on living host tissue to necrotrophic tissue destruction. During the hemibiotrophic phase, numerous proteins are secreted into the apoplast, mediating host‒pathogen interactions. In this study, we employed apoplastic proteomics and RNA-seq to analyse the proteins secreted during the interaction between C.

Interplay of Acquired Risk Factors, Age, and Genetic Predisposition in Incident Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of disability and death worldwide, and its pathogenesis involves various risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the associations between acquired risk factors, age, and genetic predisposition in the incidence of stroke.

Methods And Results: We analyzed 404 873 participants (age, mean±SD, 56.

Genome-wide annotation and comparative analysis of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) in six pear species.

Through multi-faceted comparative analysis of MITEs across six pear genomes, we revealed their distribution patterns, functional impacts and their significant role as genomic origins for miRNAs, with copy number being the most critical factor for MITE-miRNA transformation, providing valuable insights for future research. Miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) are prevalent in plant genomes and play a significant role in genome evolution and diversity. The availability of high-quality genome sequences for six pear species-Pyrus bretschneideri Rehd cv.

Dapagliflozin, in addition to ramipril, ameliorates kidney disease progression in mice with Alport syndrome.

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis) have been the most extensively studied treatment for Alport syndrome, demonstrating established benefits for renal function and survival in both animals and humans. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) slow chronic kidney disease progression, but their renoprotective mechanisms in nondiabetic glomerular diseases remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether combining dapagliflozin (an SGLT2i) with ramipril (an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) enhances kidney protection compared with ramipril alone in Col4α3 knockout (KO) mice, a murine model of Alport syndrome.

PbrSYP71 regulates pollen tube growth by maintaining polar distribution of the endoplasmic reticulum in Pyrus.

The polar distribution of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) underlies the rapid polar growth of pollen tubes. However, the mechanism governing ER distribution remains elusive. In this study, we have identified a pollen tube-specific syntaxin protein, PbrSYP71.

Combined impact of depressive and anxiety symptoms and cardiovascular health metrics on major adverse cardiovascular events: A prospective cohort study.

Background: The interplay between psychological health and traditional cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, and their joint impact on the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), remain unclear.

Methods: This study investigated the prospective association of depressive and anxiety symptoms, assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) scores, and traditional CVH, measured by Life's Essential 8 (LE8) scores, with MACE risk in the UK Biobank cohort. MACE was defined as a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, and cardiovascular mortality.

Dynamic Cell Division and Growth During de Novo Meristem Formation in Epiphytic Fern Gametophytes.

Meristems in land plants serve conserved functions, maintaining undifferentiated cells and continuously producing new cells to support organ development and body formation. In seed plants, de novo meristem formation involves the initiation and assembly of new stem cell niches, promoting organogenesis and shaping plant architecture. However, the function and regulation of de novo meristem formation in seed-free vascular plants remains largely unknown.

Cryptochrome-mediated blue light regulates cell lignification via PbbHLH195 activation of the PbNSC in pear fruits.

The presence of stone cells in pear fruit, caused by lignified secondary cell walls (SCWs), leads to a grainy texture in the fruit flesh, thereby compromising its overall quality. Lignification is influenced by various environmental signals, including light, however the underlying mechanism are poorly understood. This study reveals that SCW thickening and lignin accumulation in stone cells were regulated by a blue light signal, mediated through the activation of PbNSC by PbbHLH195.

PbNAC3 coordinates AsA generation and ABA biosynthesis to improve salt tolerance in pear.

In plants, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) is one of the key enzymes in AsA generation during the AsA-GSH cycle, which helps maintain the normal metabolic level of AsA. However, the molecular mechanism of DHAR's response to salt stress is still unknown. Our experiments show a ping-pong mechanism, in which DHA is combined with free reductase DHAR, and free reductase DHAR is combined with GSH in the form of sulfenylation to promote AsA generation in response to salt stress.

Sulfhydrated albumin transmits HS signaling and ameliorates DOX-induced multiorgan injuries.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is a vital signaling molecule involved in various physiological processes; however, the mechanisms underlying its systemic signaling remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that albumin, the predominant plasma protein and a vital sulfhydryl carrier, mediated systemic HS signaling, which could potentially treat HS-deficient diseases. This study aimed to investigate this hypothesis.

Pyrus pyrifolia WRKY31 activates the ribosomal protein gene RPL12 to confer black spot resistance.

Ribosomal proteins (RPs) are essential for genetic transcription and translation, playing a key role in plant growth, development, and stress responses, including disease resistance. However, the function and transcriptional regulation of RPL12 remain poorly understood. Investigating the gene function and the transcription factors that govern its expression is crucial to understanding its mechanism.

Genome-wide identification of glyoxalase (PbrGLY) gene family and functional analysis of PbrGLYI-28 in response to Botryosphaeria dothidea in pear.

Background: Glyoxalase (GLY) played a role in plant resistance to stress. However, little is known about the GLY in pear.

Results: Here, a total of 57 PbrGLY genes were identified through homologous comparison and analysis of conserved structural domains, which are unevenly distributed across pear chromosomes.

Long-read genome sequencing reveals the sequence characteristics of pear self-incompatibility locus.

The S-RNase-based self-incompatibility locus (S-locus) in Petunia species contains 16-20 F-box genes, which collaboratively function in the recognition and subsequent degradation of non-self S-RNases, while distinguishing them from self S-RNase. However, the number of S-locus F-box genes (SFBBs) physically interacted with non-self S-RNases remains uncertain in Pyrus species. Utilizing Pacbio long-read sequencing, we successfully assembled the genome of pear cultivar 'Yali' (Pyrus bretschneideri), and identified 19 SFBBs from the Pyrus S-locus spanning approximately 1.

Methionine adenosyltransferase MAT3 positively regulates pear pollen tube growth, possibly through interaction with pectin lyase-like protein PLL1.

Methionine adenosyltransferase (MAT) is the only enzyme that synthesises S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) from ATP and methionine in organisms. While MAT has been extensively studied in plant development and responses to abiotic stress, its role in plant fertilization, particularly in pear pollen tube growth, has been scarcely researched. Here, we demonstrate that the homologous gene of AtMAT3 in pear, PbrMAT3, is positively involved in pear pollen tube elongation.

More than meets the eye: predicting adrenocortical carcinoma outcomes with pathomics.

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with high recurrence rates and poor prognosis. Current prognostic models are inadequate, highlighting the need for innovative diagnostic tools. Pathomics, which utilizes computer algorithms to analyze whole-slide images, offers a promising approach to enhance prognostic models for ACC.

An involvement of a new zinc finger protein PbrZFP719 into pear self-incompatibility reaction.

This study indicated that the CCHC-type zinc finger protein PbrZFP719 involves into self-incompatibility by affecting the levels of reactive oxygen species and cellulose content at the tips of pollen tubes. S-RNase-based self-incompatibility (SI) facilitates cross-pollination and prevents self-pollination, which in turn increases the costs associated with artificial pollination in fruit crops. Self S-RNase exerts its inhibitory effects on pollen tube growth by altering cell structures and components, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and cellulose content.

Canagliflozin inhibits hedgehog interacting protein (Hhip) induction of tubulopathy in diabetic Akita mice.

Renal hedgehog interacting protein (Hhip) activates sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (Sglt2) expression and promotes tubular senescence in murine diabetic kidney disease (DKD), yet its underlying mechanism(s) are poorly understood. Here we study the effect of the SGLT2 inhibitor, canagliflozin on tubulopathy (fibrosis and apoptosis) in Akita/Hhip-transgenic (Tg) mice with overexpression of Hhip in their renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs) and its relevant mechanisms. The DKD-tubulopathy with pronounced Sglt2 expression was aggravated in the kidney of Akita/Hhip-Tg cf.

Renal Tubule-Specific Angiotensinogen Deletion Attenuates SGLT2 Expression and Ameliorates Diabetic Kidney Disease in Murine Models of Type 1 Diabetes.

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation plays an important role in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, systemic RAS blockade alone is insufficient to reverse DKD progression. We hypothesized that intrarenal renin-angiotensin system (iRAS) activation plays a crucial role in the progression of DKD.

Dual roles of pear EARLY FLOWERING 4 -like genes in regulating flowering and leaf senescence.

Background: Flowering is a critical agronomic trait in fruit tree cultivation, essential for sexual reproduction and fruit yield. Circadian clock system, governing processes such as flowering, growth, and hormone signaling, plays a key role in plant adaptability. While some clock-related genes influencing pear flowering have been studied, the role of the PbELF4 (EARLY FLOWERING 4) family remains largely unexplored.

Transcription factor PbrERF114 is involved in the regulation of ethylene synthesis during pear fruit ripening.

The plant hormone ethylene is indispensable to the ripening of climacteric fruits. Although extensive studies have been conducted on ethylene signaling, the ethylene response factor (ERF)-mediated transcriptional regulation of ethylene biosynthesis in pear fruits remains to be fully elucidated. We here constructed, sequenced, and analyzed transcriptome libraries in ethephon-treated and 1-MCP-treated Cuiguan pear fruits.