A defensin-like protein drives cadmium efflux and allocation in rice.

Pollution by heavy metals limits the area of land available for cultivation of food crops. A potential solution to this problem might lie in the molecular breeding of food crops for phytoremediation that accumulate toxic metals in straw while producing safe and nutritious grains. Here, we identify a rice quantitative trait locus we name cadmium (Cd) accumulation in leaf 1 (CAL1), which encodes a defensin-like protein.

Molecular and functional characterization of a novel CD302 gene from ayu (Plecoglossus altivelis).

Recognizing the presence of invading pathogens by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is key to mounting an effective innate immune response. Mammalian CD302 is an unconventional C-type lectin like receptor (CTLR) involved in the functional regulation of immune cells. However, the role of CD302 in fish remains unclear.

A transmembrane C-type lectin receptor mediates LECT2 effects on head kidney-derived monocytes/macrophages in a teleost, Plecoglossus altivelis.

Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) is a multifunctional cytokine involved in many diseases in which immune dysfunction is present. Ayu LECT2 (PaLECT2), which interacts with a C-type lectin receptor (PaCLR), was shown to activate ayu head kidney-derived monocytes/macrophages (MO/MΦ) to improve the outcomes of fish upon bacterial infections. However, it is not known if PaCLR mediates PaLECT2 effects on ayu MO/MΦ.

[Effects of planting density and nitrogen application rate on soil microbial activity under wheat/forage rape multiple cropping].

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of planting density and nitrogen application rate on the topsoil (0-15 cm) microbial activity under wheat/forage rape multiple cropping. The results showed that multiple-cropping forage rape with wheat could significantly increase soil microbial biomass C (Cmic), soil microbial biomass N (Nmic), soil bacteria number (SBN), soil fungi number (SFN) and soil actinomyces number (SAN), but decrease soil microbial biomass C/N (Cmic/Nmic). The Cmic/Nmic and SBN increased with increasing planting density of forage rape, while Nmic and SAN were in adverse.