Comparative proteomic analysis of parasitic loranthus seeds exposed to dehydration stress

Limei Pan,Lingyun Wan,Lili He,Lisha Song,Hairong Long,Xiaowen Ji,Ni Jiang,Juan Huo,Shugen Wei,Jine Fu 한국식물생명공학회 2021 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.15 No.1

Parasitic loranthus [Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser] is an important medicinal plant that produces recalcitrant seeds that are sensitive to dehydration. Desiccation tolerance is critical for the survival of recalcitrant seeds in low-moisture environments. Clarifying how these seeds respond to desiccation is important for long-term conservation. Thus, the viability, germination, microstructure, and antioxidant enzyme activities of dehydrated parasitic loranthus seeds were investigated. Diverse organelles were degraded or deformed during dehydration treatments. Additionally, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities gradually decreased in response to desiccation stress. A proteomic analysis involving TMT-labeling and LC–MS/ MS were performed. A total of 1479 proteins were identifed, of which 141 were diferentially expressed proteins (DEPs) at 16 and 36 h after initiating the dehydration treatments. A functional annotation based on gene ontology revealed that the DEPs were mainly localized in chloroplasts and were related to energy metabolism, responses to stimuli, and the regulation of biological processes. A KEGG pathway enrichment analysis determined that several of the identifed proteins were associated with signal transductions, photosynthesis, and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. The results suggest that the efcient removal of excessive ROS amounts may be crucial for promoting parasitic loranthus seed germination under dehydration stress conditions. A series of candidate dehydration stress-related proteins were identifed and may be relevant for enhancing the dehydration tolerance of the recalcitrant seeds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the frst study to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms underlying the sensitivity of recalcitrant parasitic loranthus seeds to dehydration via a proteomic analysis involving TMT-labeling.

Comparative proteomic analysis of the fungal pathogen Neoscytalidium dimidiatum infection in the pitaya

Limei Pan,Rong Zhang,Fang Lu,Chengming Liu,Jiaxin Fu 한국원예학회 2021 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.62 No.4

The pathogenic fungus Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Nd) is the causal agent of pitaya canker and causes significant yield losses. The mechanism by which Nd invades pitaya stems remains largely unknown. Here, quantitative proteomic analysis was employed to investigate pitaya immune responses against Nd infection. A total of 2766 proteins including 244 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified during infection. Nearly half of the upregulated proteins were predicted to be located in the chloroplast and mitochondrion, implying that these organelles are most affected by fungal infection. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the DEPs were associated with photosynthesis, phytohormone activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, and pathogenic defense responses. Notably, the phytohormones auxin and abscisic acid were accumulated for defense against Nd invasion. qRT-PCR validation showed that the mRNA expression levels of auxin binding protein (ABP), auxin response 4 protein (ARP4), and aspartic protease 2 (ASP2) were not consistent with the protein variation, suggesting that these proteins were regulated post-transcriptionally. Additionally, DEPs associated with ROS metabolism changed markedly, indicating that ROS homeostasis in pitaya is important for defense against Nd invasion. In summary, the results revealed the involvement of many essential proteins in the response to Nd infection and provide a basis for studying other biotic stresses of pitaya.

Transcriptional analysis reveals formation of axillary solitary hook in vine plant Uncaria rhynchophylla

Wan Lingyun,Pan Limei,Song Lisha,Fu Jine,Huang Qiulan,Ji Xiaowen,Wei Shugen,Zhang Zhanjiang 한국식물생명공학회 2023 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.17 No.5

The hook of Uncaria rhynchophylla is an important external phenotype representing the quality of Gou-Teng. The hook formation pattern of U. rhynchophylla displays a unique feature that solitary hook and opposite hooks alternately occur in the leaf axils forming a liner series. The solitary hook only grows on the lower side of the leaf axil, resulting from the decline in the total yield of hooks. However, the reasons for solitary hook formation in U. rhynchophylla are not clear. Therefore, a survey on the molecular mechanisms of solitary hook formation needs to be performed urgently. We obtained 250.67 million high-quality clean reads from the lower side of axillary stem segments (HS) and the upper side of axillary stem segments (HSCK) libraries. We detected 42 DEGs (differentially expressed genes) between HS and HSCK libraries; 11 were down-regulated, and 31 were up-regulated. Gene ontology functional classification of the DEGs indicated that they included two genes that encoded LAZY1 related to the regulation of polar auxin transport, two genes that encoded AUX/IAA and AP2/ERF related to plant hormone signaling transduction, and two genes that encoded F3H related to the flavone synthase activity. These six genes were associated with lateral polar auxin transport (PAT) regulation, and their expression level had a high correlation with the pattern of IAA distribution upon gravity stimulation. And the inhibition of solitary hook development was observed after treatment with N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) or quercetin, which was known as the polar auxin inhibitor. The above findings might provide new information about the molecular mechanisms of regulation of lateral PAT in the axillary bud development process under gravity.

Isolation, Screening, and Identification of Actinomycetes with Antifungal and Enzyme Activity Assays against Colletotrichum dematium of Sarcandra glabra

( Lisha Song ),( Ni Jiang ),( Shugen Wei ),( Zuzai Lan ),( Limei Pan ) 한국균학회 2020 Mycobiology Vol.48 No.1

A serious leaf disease caused by Colletotrichum dematium was found during the cultivation of Sarcandra glabra in Jingxi, Rong’an, and Donglan Counties in Guangxi Province, which inflicted huge losses to plant productivity. Biological control gradually became an effective control method for plant pathogens. Many studies showed that the application of actinomycetes in biological control has been effective. Therefore, it may be of great significance to study the application of actinomycetes on controlling the diseases caused by S. glabra. Strains of antifungal actinomycetes capable of inhibiting C. dematium were identified, isolated and screened from healthy plants tissues and the rhizospheres in soils containing S. glabra. In this study, 15 actinomycetes strains were isolated and among these, strains JT-2F, DT-3F, and JJ-3F, appeared to show antagonistic effects against anthracnose of S. glabra. The strains JT-2F and DT-3F were isolated from soil, while JJ-3F was isolated from plant stems. The antagonism rate of strain JT-2F was 86.75%, which was the highest value among the three strains. Additionally, the JT-2F strain also had the strongest antagonistic activity when the antagonistic activities were tested against seven plant pathogens. Strain JT-2F is able to produce proteases and cellulase to degrade the protein and cellulose components of cell walls of C. dematium, respectively. This results in mycelia damage which leads to inhibition of the growth of C. dematium. Strain JT-2F was identified as Streptomyces tsukiyonensis based on morphological traits and 16S rDNA sequence analysis.

Detection and quantification of phenol in liquid and gas phases using a clay/dye composite

Guocheng Lv,Shiyuan Liu,Meng Liu,Libing Liao,Limei Wu,Lefu Mei,Zhaohui Li,Caofeng Pan 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.62 No.-

In this study, an organic dye lucigenin (BNMA) was successfully intercalated into the interlayer of montmorillonite (MMT) to prevent fluorescence quenching. With its enhanced fluorescent property, the composite was fabricated into solid strips for it fast and sensitive phenol detection in both liquid and gas phases. Under proper optimizations it is anticipated that the composite would show great potential for phenol determination in real world environment such as wastewater treatment industry.

Inactivation of epithelial sodium ion channel molecules serves as effective diagnostic biomarkers in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Zheng Qian,Wang Yifang,Zhao Ran,Han Peipei,Zhao Jun,Li Limei,Zhou Xiaohui,Li Ping,Mo Yingxi,Pan Xinli,Luo Wenqi,Zhou Xiaoying 한국유전학회 2023 Genes & Genomics Vol.45 No.7

Background Non-voltage-gated sodium channel, also known as the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), formed by heteromeric complexes consisting of SCNN1A, SCNN1B, and SCNN1G, is responsible for maintaining sodium ion and body fluid homeostasis in epithelial cells. However, no systematic study of SCNN1 family members has been conducted in renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) to date. Objective To investigate the abnormal expression of SCNN1 family in ccRCC and its potential correlation with clinical parameters. Methods The transcription and protein expression levels of SCNN1 family members in ccRCC were analyzed based on the TCGA database, and were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining assays, respectively. The area under curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of SCNN1 family members for ccRCC patients. Results The mRNA and protein expression of SCNN1 family members was significantly downregulated in ccRCC compared with normal kidney tissues, which might be due to DNA hypermethylation in the promoter region. It is worth noting that the AUC of SCNN1A, SCNN1B, and SCNN1G were 0.965, 0.979, and 0.988 based on the TCGA database (p < 0.0001), respectively. The diagnostic value was even higher when combing these three members together (AUC = 0.997, p < 0.0001). Intriguingly, the mRNA level of SCNN1A was significantly lower in females compared with males, while SCNN1B and SCNN1G were increased with the progression of ccRCC and remarkably associated with a worse outcome for patients. Conclusion The aberrantly decrease of SCNN1 family members might serve as valuable biomarkers for the diagnosis of ccRCC.