Transcriptome analysis and functional identification of transfer RNA-derived fragments in grape leaves exposed to UV-C radiation.

Transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are noncoding small RNAs derived from transfer RNAs (tRNAs) in microorganisms, animals and plants. In plants, tRFs are known to respond to environmental stimuli, including heat, oxidative stress and UV radiation; however, their specific functions in horticultural plants, such as grapevine, remain poorly understood. In this study, we used RNA-seq to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in grape leaves exposed to UV-C radiation.

The downregulation of PpPG21 and PpPG22 influences peach fruit texture and softening.

The downregulation of PpPG21 and PpPG22 expression in melting-flesh peach delays fruit softening and hinders texture changes by influencing pectin solubilization and depolymerization. The polygalacturonase (PG)-catalyzed solubilization and depolymerization of pectin plays a central role in the softening and texture formation processes in peach fruit. In this study, the expression characteristics of 15 PpPG members in peach fruits belonging to the melting flesh (MF) and non-melting flesh (NMF) types were analyzed, and virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology was used to identify the roles of PpPG21 (ppa006839m) and PpPG22 (ppa006857m) in peach fruit softening and texture changes.

Identification and Expression Analysis of Polygalacturonase Family Members during Peach Fruit Softening.

Polygalacturonase (PG) is an important hydrolytic enzyme involved in pectin degradation during fruit softening. However, the roles of family members in fruit softening remain unclear. We identified 45 genes in the peach genome which are clustered into six subclasses.

Near-field interference of slit doublet.

We study the physical mechanism of near-field interference of slit doublet and explore the distinctive phenomena in near-field interference of slit doublet. The average electric field and average energy-flow density are chosen to describe the near-field distribution rules of the electromagnetic field. The numerical calculations for near-field interference of slit doublet under different illumination conditions are performed according to the finite-difference time-domain method, and the distinctive characteristics of the near-field interference of slit doublet are provided.

(-)-Arctigenin as a lead compound for anticancer agent.

(-)-Arctigenin, an important active constituent of the traditional Chinese herb Fructus Arctii, was found to exhibit various bioactivities, so it can be used as a good lead compound for further structure modification in order to find a safer and more potent medicine. (-)-Arctigenin derivatives 1-5 of (-)-arctingen were obtained by modifying with ammonolysis at the lactone ring and sulphonylation at C (6') and C (6″) and O-demethylation at CH3O-C (3'), CH3O-C (3″) and CH3O-C (4″), and their anticancer bioactivities were examined.

Talbot effect of quasi-periodic grating.

Theoretic and experimental studies of the Talbot effect of quasi-periodic gratings are performed in this paper. The diffractions of periodic and quasi-periodic square aperture arrays in Fresnel fields are analyzed according to the scalar diffraction theory. The expressions of the diffraction intensities of two types of quasi-periodic gratings are deduced.

Synthesis of (-)-arctigenin derivatives and their anticancer activity.

The natural dibenzylbutyrolactone type lignanolide (-)-arctigenin, which was prepared from fructus arctii, showed obvious anticancer activity. The synthesis of four new (-)-arctigenin derivatives and their anticancer bioactivities were examined. The structures of the four new synthetic derivatives were elucidated.