Search Results (2,779)

Alhagi camelorum is a dominant leguminous shrub distributed in the Taklamakan Desert, an area characterized by extreme drought and high soil salinization, which can complete its life cycle normally in salt-affected soils. However, the underlying molecular regulatory mechanism of its salt tolerance remains largely unclear. The AcABI5 gene was successfully cloned and characterized, and it encodes a typical nuclear-localized bZIP transcription factor. Functional characterization demonstrated that overexpression of AcABI5 markedly improved the salt stress tolerance of A. camelorum calli, whereas silencing of AcABI5 via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) rendered the plant more sensitive to salt stress. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that AcABI5 enhanced salt tolerance by regulating the expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD)- and peroxidase (POD)-related antioxidant genes. Compared with the wild type, AcABI5-overexpressing calli exhibited significantly increased SOD and POD activities and remarkably reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content under salt treatment, whereas AcABI5-silenced lines exhibited the opposite physiological phenotypes. Furthermore, heterologous silencing of AcABI5 in Nicotiana benthamiana via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) produced comparable salt-sensitive phenotypes, similar to those observed in A. camelorum AcABI5-silenced lines. Collectively, these results provide insights into the molecular mechanism by which AcABI5 enhances salt tolerance in A. camelorum, and lay a solid theoretical foundation for the optimization of the A. camelorum genetic transformation system and the expansion of related salt-tolerant crop research. Full article

Background/Objectives: Although clinically distinct, bipolar disorder (BP), schizophrenia (SZ), major depressive disorder (MDD), and social anxiety disorder (SAD) share fundamental biology. We mapped these transdiagnostic systemic mechanisms. Methods: Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) of peripheral blood RNA-Seq datasets evaluated module preservation, hub gene disruption, and microRNA (miRNA) networks. Results: Seven modules showed robust cross-disease preservation. Overall, 56 of 105 candidate hub genes exhibited altered expression, with 22 passing the false discovery rate (FDR) correction. Hubs like IL1B, TLR2, and MMP9 dominated networks linked to altered inflammatory signaling and structural remodeling. Downregulated ribosomal hubs characterized systemic metabolic stress. Discussion: These signatures capture extensive systemic dysregulation. Inflammation and metabolic shifts correlate strongly with pathways regulating chronic neuroinflammation, epigenetic control, and dendritic pruning. Computational models suggest these cascades evade miRNA controls, potentially compromising structural neural plasticity. Conclusions: This shared transcriptomic architecture challenges rigid diagnostic boundaries. Identifying systemic immune dysregulation and translational alterations as core pathogenic denominators provides a rationale for transdiagnostic therapies targeting upstream systemic networks to mitigate neural vulnerabilities. Full article

This work solves the problem associated with the lack of analytical models capable of describing the nonlinear vibration behavior of re-entrant hexagonal units when geometric nonlinearity and structural modifications, such as soft filling, are taken into account. The purpose of this study is to develop an analytical framework that enables prediction and control of vibration characteristics, with particular emphasis on achieving low-frequency response and enhanced energy storage and redistribution within the structure. The proposed approach is based on Lagrangian modeling of the unit cell, leading to a nonlinear equation of motion of the Liénard type that admits a first integral. By exploiting the existence of this integral, an approximate analytical expression for the oscillation period is derived using energy-based methods. The analysis is performed for two configurations: an empty unit and a unit filled with a soft material, allowing direct comparison of their dynamic responses. The analytical results are validated through comparison with numerical simulations and available experimental data. A parametric study is conducted to evaluate the influence of the mass ratio and the re-entrant angle on the oscillation period and frequency. Furthermore, the effects of filling mass, stiffness, and degree of filling are systematically investigated, revealing distinct inertia-dominated and stiffness-dominated regimes. The obtained results provide clear design guidelines for tailoring the dynamic response of re-entrant hexagonal units. It is shown that low-frequency vibration and increased capacity for energy storage can be achieved through appropriate selection of geometric parameters and filling properties, with potential applications in vibration control and structural design. Full article

Low temperatures severely restrict tea plant (Camellia sinensis) growth and yield stability, yet how brassinosteroid (BR) signaling modulates cold acclimation at a systems level remains insufficiently defined. Here, we integrated transcriptomic and UHPLC–MS metabolomic profiling of tea leaves under Control, 24-epibrassinolide (EBR), Cold, and Cold + EBR treatments to delineate BR-potentiated cold responses. Principal component analyses revealed clear treatment-specific separation and tight clustering of biological replicates at both omics levels. Quantitatively, cold stress induced extensive reprogramming (4075 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 298 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs)), whereas EBR alone exerted relatively modest effects (231 DEGs and 50 DAMs). Notably, EBR under cold conditions further reshaped cold-responsive networks (371 BR-modulated DEGs and 17 BR-modulated DAMs), consistent with a potentiating role for BR signaling. Functional enrichment analyses highlighted phenylpropanoid metabolism and hormone signal transduction as core responsive modules, with coordinated activation of key gateway genes (PAL, C4H, and 4CL) and concurrent engagement of lignin-, flavonoid-, and catechin-associated branches under Cold + EBR. Metabolomic analyses identified flavonoids as the dominant responsive metabolite class (49.31%), particularly anthocyanins and flavonol glycosides. Integrative TF–metabolite–gene correlation networks prioritized WRKY transcription factors (TEA001162, TEA027058) and a UDP-glycosyltransferase gene (TEA025792) as candidate hub genes linking hormone signaling to phenylpropanoid outputs. Collectively, this work provides a systems-level framework of co-regulated transcript–metabolite modules and candidate molecular targets, offering a foundation for functional validation and practical improvement of cold resilience in tea production. Full article

The first female flower node (FFFN) is a crucial trait affecting earliness and yield in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). To identify the genetic locus and candidate gene controlling FFFN, we performed phenotypic and genetic analyses using two parental lines, ‘M144’ (average FFFN: 6.3 ± 2.0) and ‘K55’ (average FFFN: 22.0 ± 4.5), along with their F₁ hybrid and an F₂ population consisting of 317 individuals. The results show that the low FFFN trait was incompletely dominant over the high FFFN trait. Using BSA-seq, we mapped a FFFN locus to an interval of 18.8–22.5 Mb on chromosome 4. Fine mapping with KASP markers narrowed the McFFFN4.1 to a 73.05 kb interval between markers 25QP334 and 26QP20, which contained seven predicted genes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that only Moc04g29650, which is annotated as cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit Rieske, was differentially expressed between the parents within this mapping interval. Sequence comparison identified a single SNP (C > A) in the promoter region of Moc04g29650, which was located within a putative YAB1/FIL-binding motif. Given the known role of FILAMENTOUS FLOWER (FIL) in regulating floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana, Moc04g29650 is proposed as the most likely candidate gene for McFFFN4.1. The KASP marker 26QP20, located near Moc04g29650, showed the strongest association with FFFN in the F₂ population, with a maximum LOD score of 5.45, and thus represents a valuable tool for marker-assisted selection (MAS) breeding in bitter gourd. This study lays a foundation for cloning McFFFN4.1 and genetically improving early maturity in bitter gourd. Full article

Honeycomb composites are extensively utilized in critical applications where weight is a concern in a structure, due to their high efficiency in stiffness-to-weight ratio. In this study, the effective elastic orthotropic behavior of honeycomb composites is analytically expressed as a function of the elastic properties of the constituent sheet material and the geometric parameters of the representative unit cell. Closed-form expressions based on classical beam theory and plate theory are evaluated and systematically validated against a high-fidelity finite element analysis FE-based homogenization benchmark constructed from a representative unit cell with in-plane periodic kinematic constraints. The analytical predictions exhibit generally good agreement with the FE results, with plate-theory-based formulations capturing most elastic constants with higher accuracy. To further support the fidelity of the numerical benchmark, the predicted normalized in-plane moduli are additionally compared with published experimental measurements for aluminum honeycombs, demonstrating close agreement for representative specimens. To quantify the influence of the geometric parameters, a Taguchi-style design-of-experiments (DOE) study reveals that relative density and internal cell angle jointly govern the majority of elastic moduli and Poisson’s ratios, while cell height plays a minor role. Furthermore, dedicated parametric studies confirm the cubic thickness-scaling of in-plane moduli (E₁, E₂, G₁₂), demonstrating the dominant role of bending-controlled deformation. Together, these results establish a validated, high-fidelity FE homogenization benchmark for assessing analytical formulations and providing design-level constitutive data for optimizing honeycomb core sandwich structures. Full article

Chemotherapy-induced gonadotoxicity severely compromises male fertility, yet effective interventions remain limited. Building on our previous finding that yam protein (YP) modulates the gut-microbiota axis, this study investigated its direct protective role against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced testicular injury. Spectral analysis revealed a protein fraction (L-YP) with strong intrinsic fluorescence and optimal cytoprotection against oxidative stress. Proteomic characterization revealed six dominant proteins (YP1–YP6). In vivo experiments demonstrated that L-YP upregulates the expression of tight junction proteins Occludin and ZO-1, restores hormone levels, and modulates inflammatory factors, thereby enhancing the integrity of the blood–testis barrier. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking predicted a potential binding affinity between key components such as YP2 and NF-κB p65, which may provide a structural basis for their regulatory role. Further validation at the gene level indicated that YP can improve the local testicular immune microenvironment by modulating the classical TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway. These findings suggest that yam protein alleviates chemotherapy-induced testicular damage, potentially through barrier protection and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, indicating its promise as a dietary protective agent. Full article

The prized wild mushroom Tricholoma matsutake maintains distinctive microbiota within its dominant zone; however, the spatial and seasonal reorganization of microbiota from taxonomic and functional perspectives remain poorly understood. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was performed in warming (March–June) and cooling (September–December) seasons to compare microbial communities among T. matsutake-dominant (present, visible mycelium) and -nondominant soils (transition, adjacent with present; control, distant from fairy ring). Fungal and bacterial community structures in T. matsutake-dominant soils were obviously distinct (ANOSIM, R > 0.6, p = 0.001), and bacterial communities exhibited clear seasonal separation. The relative abundances of Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota significantly reduced, whereas mycorrhiza-helper bacteria, including Paenibacillus, Bacillus, and Cohnella, were enriched. Functional predictions suggested that the potential expression of cofactor and vitamin biosynthesis, nutrient degradation, and inorganic nutrient metabolism pathways may be enriched in T. matsutake-dominant soil. During the fruiting period, the expression of the predicted amino acid biosynthesis pathway may be reduced, whereas that of the cofactor/carrier/vitamin biosynthesis pathway may be enriched. Our findings suggest that T. matsutake dominance could be associated with the spatial and seasonal restructuring of soil microbial communities, potentially leading to the formation of functionally interconnected microbial networks. Therefore, this study predicts hidden ecological insights that, once biochemically validated, may be used to develop important strategies for the sustainable conservation and artificial cultivation of T. matsutake. Full article

The rapid accumulation of genome-scale data has transformed plant biology from descriptive genetics to predictive and increasingly mechanistic genomics. Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is an economically important subtropical fruit tree in China and Southeast Asia, but compared with model plants and major temperate fruit crops, its genomic resources and functional studies have developed relatively late. Here, we review recent progress in longan genomics with emphasis on three interrelated areas: genome assembly and annotation, transcriptomic resources, and representative gene family studies associated with flowering, somatic embryogenesis, and transporter-mediated stress tolerance. The progression from the first draft genome of ‘Honghezi’ to the chromosome-scale assemblies of ‘Jidanben’ and ‘Shixia’ has substantially improved contiguity and gene annotation, thereby enabling population-genomic analysis, genome-wide gene family identification, and candidate-gene discovery. Available transcriptomic datasets further support studies of reproductive development, stress responses, and embryogenic competence, although cross-study integration remains limited. We also summarize how gene family analyses have advanced the current understanding of floral induction, continuous flowering, somatic embryogenesis, mineral transport, and sugar transport in longan. Importantly, the field is still dominated by cataloguing and expression-based inference, whereas causal validation, pan-genomic analysis, and multi-omics integration remain insufficient. We therefore argue that future progress in longan molecular breeding will depend on integrating high-quality genomic resources with functional validation, standardized comparative annotation, and improved transformation or regeneration systems. Full article

Hormonal fluctuations across female life stages drive numerous transcriptomic and epigenetic changes, yet the effects of sex hormones on mucosal immunity, particularly in the vaginal epithelium, remain poorly understood. The vaginal mucosa undergoes cyclical remodeling during the ovulatory cycle under the influence of estrogens and progesterone produced mainly in the ovary. The ovary can also be a source of testosterone, and in postmenopausal women, as well as transgender men receiving hormone therapy, phenotypic changes in the vagina due to increased testosterone have been observed. However, the consequences of testosterone dominance in this tissue in terms of resilience and inflammation have not been well characterized. The goal of this study was to identify the histological and immunological changes within the vaginal epithelial cell barrier in an estrogen- vs. testosterone-dominant environment using an established in vitro reconstructed vaginal epithelial tissue model. Compared to estradiol, exposure to testosterone resulted in a thinner tissue with alterations in the cornification, although no impairment in the epithelial barrier was detected. Each hormone also resulted in a unique RNA expression profile, including increased expression of tight junction genes and decreased expression of chemokines and their receptors in testosterone compared to estradiol exposure. These data have implications for women’s health, including menopause, transgender men using gender-affirming hormone therapy, and other conditions associated with high testosterone in the vaginal compartment. Full article

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, obstruction, and persistent inflammation, arising from complex interactions among genetic, epigenetic, immune, and environmental factors. To elucidate the stage-specific molecular mechanisms underlying asthma progression, we constructed candidate genome-wide genetic and epigenetic networks (GWGENs) of human cells through large-scale biological database mining. Using a system order detection scheme, false-positive interactions were pruned to identify real GWGENs corresponding to three clinical stages of asthma: quiet, exacerbation, and follow-up. Core GWGENs were subsequently extracted from each real network using the principal network projection (PNP) method to highlight dominant regulatory structures and pathogenic pathways. Based on the inferred core networks, key stage-specific biomarkers were identified and further explored as potential drug targets. Drug–target relationships were investigated by integrating gene expression perturbation profiles from the Connectivity Map (cMap), comprising microarray data for 14,207 genes across 1327 compounds. This network-guided analysis enabled the qualitative design of multi-molecule drug combinations tailored to each disease stage. Our results suggest that asthma onset is associated with reduced innate immunity, increased disease susceptibility, and impaired endothelial barrier recovery influenced by microenvironmental factors such as cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharides, together with genetic and epigenetic alterations. During the exacerbation stage, enhanced differentiation of T cells toward the T helper 2 lineage contributes to airway inflammation and tissue injury. In the follow-up stage, T helper 1–mediated responses are linked to mucus hypersecretion, airway obstruction, and sustained inflammation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that a systems-level, network-based framework can uncover stage-specific pathogenic mechanisms of asthma and provide hypothesis-generating insights for network-informed drug repurposing strategies. Full article

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become an important component of multi-sensor remote sensing frameworks for post-fire forest monitoring because they provide ultra-high-resolution imagery for evaluating fine-scale vegetation response. This study assessed early-stage post-fire burn severity and forest health condition in a natural mixed forest affected by the 2024 wildfire in Nanyo, Yamagata, northeastern Japan. Burn severity was quantified using the differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) derived from Sentinel-2 imagery acquired five months after the fire (October 2024). High-resolution UAV RGB orthomosaics and field surveys were used to classify trees into healthy, damaged, and dead categories. Mean plot-level burn severity was estimated using a weighted midpoint dNBR approach, and the tree mortality rate was calculated from plot-based tree counts. The results showed that low and moderate–low burn severity classes dominated most plots, with mean dNBR values ranging from 0.085 to 0.386. UAV-based interpretation revealed substantial variability in tree health condition among plots. In 2024, fire effects were expressed mainly as canopy damage rather than immediate stand-level mortality. Mortality rates ranged from 14.9% to 58.6%, and some higher-severity plots contained greater damage. Overall, Sentinel-2 dNBR captured landscape-scale burn severity patterns, whereas UAV imagery improved interpretation of fine-scale health variability in heterogeneous burned forests. Full article

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a paradigmatic example of a malignancy in which the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a dominant role in disease biology. Malignant Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells typically constitute only a small minority of the tumor mass (approximately 1–5%). HRS cells are embedded within a complex, highly structured immune and stromal milieu that drives survival, immune evasion, and therapy response. Over the past decade, transcriptomic approaches, particularly single-cell RNA sequencing, have reshaped our understanding of cellular heterogeneity within cHL. However, these approaches lack spatial context, a limitation that is especially relevant in cHL, where cell–cell interactions and physical proximity are central to immune evasion and tumor support. Recent advances in spatial transcriptomics now enable genome-scale, spatially resolved interrogation of gene expression in situ. In this review, we summarize spatially resolved studies of the cHL microenvironment, discuss what they reveal about HRS-centered cellular niches and immune evasion, and highlight how these findings may inform risk stratification, biomarker discovery and microenvironment-directed therapies. Full article

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a fundamental process essential for tissue homeostasis, development, and the elimination of damaged or potentially cancerous cells. Here, we identify the E3/E4 ubiquitin ligase UBE4B as a critical suppressor of apoptosis in p53-proficient tumor cells, functioning through a previously uncharacterized dual mechanism. Initially, an orthogonal ubiquitin transfer screening approach identified CCAR2 as a UBE4B substrate. We demonstrate that UBE4B interacts with and ubiquitinates CCAR2, promoting its proteasomal degradation. Furthermore, we found that UBE4B concurrently targets p53 itself for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Functionally, UBE4B overexpression suppresses apoptosis, whereas rescue experiments indicate that restoring p53 expression reverses this suppression more effectively than restoring CCAR2, highlighting the dominance of the direct p53 degradation pathway. Mechanistically, UBE4B deficiency leads to CCAR2 accumulation, which inhibits SIRT1 activity, thereby enhancing p53 acetylation and stability; this effect is reversed upon CCAR2 co-depletion. Consistently, transcriptional profiling confirms that UBE4B downregulates key p53 target genes (e.g., BAX, PUMA) through this dual-pathway regulation. In summary, our study establishes that UBE4B acts as a key apoptosis suppressor by coordinately degrading both p53 and its positive regulator CCAR2, revealing a targetable vulnerability in p53-wild-type tumors. Full article

Toxic environmental contaminants, such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) occur differentially in animal tissues. This study examined paired liver and muscle tissues from the same animals, reducing the uncertainty inherent in other studies that source tissues from different animals. Investigations were carried out on cattle and sheep from two separate herds in Southern Italy. As all animals experienced the same environmental impacts, husbandry, and feed regimes, contaminant distribution between tissues would result from physiological considerations, which would also allow for better examination of the effects of age. In both investigations, PCDD/F and PCB concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the liver relative to muscle. A characteristic occurrence pattern showed PCBs dominating the combined toxic equivalence (TEQ) by >95% in cattle tissues and 78% and 67% in sheep muscle and liver, respectively. A majority of liver samples exceeded regulated maximum limits, and the herds were excluded from the food supply. Subsequent regional monitoring showed regulatory compliance of cattle/sheep meat and liver, but prominence of PCB-TEQ persisted. Concentrations of both contaminants declined strongly in the tissues of both species with increasing age of juveniles but stabilized in older animals (>one year in sheep; 2/3 years in cattle). Although weight gain might partly account for this pattern, the initial decline may also relate to inadequate levels of CYP enzymes in the youngest juveniles, but this would need to be confirmed in both species by targeted toxicokinetic studies during this perinatal period. The expression of these detoxifying enzymes is reported to rise rapidly with increasing postnatal age in many animal species, including sheep. Full article