ZmDnaJ-ZmNCED6 module positively regulates drought tolerance via modulating stomatal closure in maize.

Heat Shock Protein plays a vital role in maintaining protein homeostasis and protecting cells from stress stimulation. As one of the HSP40 proteins, DnaJ is a stress response protein widely existing in plant cells. The function and regulatory mechanism of ZmDnaJ, a novel chloroplast-localized type-III HSP40, in maize drought tolerance were characterized.

Identification and validation of seed dormancy loci and candidate genes and construction of regulatory networks by WGCNA in maize introgression lines.

Seventeen PHS-QTLs and candidate genes were obtained, including eleven major loci, three under multiple environments and two with co-localization by the other mapping methods; The functions of three candidate genes were validated using mutants; nine target proteins and five networks were filtered by joint analysis of GWAS and WGCNA. Seed dormancy (SD) and pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) affect yield, as well as grain and hybrid quality in seed production. Therefore, identification of genetic and regulatory pathways underlying PHS and SD is key to gene function analysis, allelic variation mining and genetic improvement.

Integrated Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses of Low-Nitrogen-Stress Tolerance and Function Analysis of ZmGST42 Gene in Maize.

Maize ( L.) is one of the major staple crops providing human food, animal feed, and raw material support for biofuel production. For its growth and development, maize requires essential macronutrients.

NQO1 alleviates renal fibrosis by inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways in diabetic nephropathy.

Objective: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes, and inflammation and fibrosis play an important role in its progression. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) protects cells from oxidative stress and damage caused by toxic quinones. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of NQO1 against diabetes-induced renal inflammation and fibrosis and the underlying mechanisms.

Sestrin2 remedies podocyte injury via orchestrating TSP-1/TGF-β1/Smad3 axis in diabetic kidney disease.

Sestrin2 is identified as a stress-induced protein and could functionate in many aspects. In our study, we investigated the latent impact of Sestrin2 on podocyte injury and its molecular mechanism in vivo and in vitro in diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Sestrin2 was low-expressed in renal biopsies from individuals with DKD, the glomeruli from diabetic mice, and mouse podocytes exposed to high glucose (HG).

Reproductive-Stage Heat Stress in Cereals: Impact, Plant Responses and Strategies for Tolerance Improvement.

Reproductive-stage heat stress (RSHS) poses a major constraint to cereal crop production by damaging main plant reproductive structures and hampering reproductive processes, including pollen and stigma viability, pollination, fertilization, grain setting and grain filling. Despite this well-recognized fact, research on crop heat stress (HS) is relatively recent compared to other abiotic stresses, such as drought and salinity, and in particular, RSHS studies in cereals are considerably few in comparison with seedling-stage and vegetative-stage-centered studies. Meanwhile, climate change-exacerbated HS, independently or synergistically with drought, will have huge implications on crop performance and future global food security.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Two Contrasting Maize Hybrids' Responses to Low Nitrogen Stress at the Twelve Leaf Stage and Function Verification of Gene.

Nitrogen is one of the essential nutrients for plant growth and development. However, large amounts of nitrogen fertilizer not only increase the production costs, but also lead to serious environmental problems. Therefore, it is particularly important to reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer and develop maize varieties with low nitrogen tolerance.

Effects of transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) on apoptosis of HK-2 cells in the high glucose environment.

To observe the role of transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)/p38 MAPK/TGF-β1 signal pathway plays in oxidative stress and apoptosis in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) under high glucose induction. HK-2 cells were cultured in high glucose medium with and without TAK1 inhibitor 5Z-7-oxozeaenol. TUNEL and flow cytometry were used to detect cell apoptosis.

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 attenuates oxidative stress and apoptosis by regulating Sirt1 in diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main complications of diabetes, and oxidative stress plays an important role in its progression. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) protects cells from oxidative stress and toxic quinone damage. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of NQO1 on diabetes-induced renal tubular epithelial cell oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Omics-Facilitated Crop Improvement for Climate Resilience and Superior Nutritive Value.

Novel crop improvement approaches, including those that facilitate for the exploitation of crop wild relatives and underutilized species harboring the much-needed natural allelic variation are indispensable if we are to develop climate-smart crops with enhanced abiotic and biotic stress tolerance, higher nutritive value, and superior traits of agronomic importance. Top among these approaches are the "omics" technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, phenomics, and their integration, whose deployment has been vital in revealing several key genes, proteins and metabolic pathways underlying numerous traits of agronomic importance, and aiding marker-assisted breeding in major crop species. Here, citing several relevant examples, we appraise our understanding on the recent developments in omics technologies and how they are driving our quest to breed climate resilient crops.

PP2 Ameliorates Renal Fibrosis by Regulating the NF-B/COX-2 and PPAR/UCP2 Pathway in Diabetic Mice.

Renal fibrosis is characterized by glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN). We aimed to evaluate the effects of PP2 on renal fibrosis of DN. GSE33744 and GSE86300 were downloaded from the GEO database.

Is it beneficial for patients with pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer to receive postmastectomy radiotherapy? An analysis based on RecurIndex assay.

The benefit of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) for pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer patients currently remains controversial. This study was conducted to investigate whether pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer patients could benefit from PMRT based on RecurIndex assay. The clinical data of 213 pT1-2N1M0 breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Cotton GhSSI2 isoforms from the stearoyl acyl carrier protein fatty acid desaturase family regulate Verticillium wilt resistance.

Lipids are major and essential constituents of plant cells and provide energy for various metabolic processes. However, the function of the lipid signal in defence against Verticillium dahliae, a hemibiotrophic pathogen, remains unknown. Here, we characterized 19 conserved stearoyl-ACP desaturase family proteins from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).

Advances in Cereal Crop Genomics for Resilience under Climate Change.

Adapting to climate change, providing sufficient human food and nutritional needs, and securing sufficient energy supplies will call for a radical transformation from the current conventional adaptation approaches to more broad-based and transformative alternatives. This entails diversifying the agricultural system and boosting productivity of major cereal crops through development of climate-resilient cultivars that can sustainably maintain higher yields under climate change conditions, expanding our focus to crop wild relatives, and better exploitation of underutilized crop species. This is facilitated by the recent developments in plant genomics, such as advances in genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation, as well as gene editing technologies, which have increased the availability of high-quality reference genomes for various model and non-model plant species.

Global Transcriptome and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analyses of Growth-Stage-Specific Drought Stress Responses in Maize.

Drought is the major abiotic stress threatening maize ( L.) production globally. Despite recent scientific headway in deciphering maize drought stress responses, the overall picture of key genes, pathways, and co-expression networks regulating maize drought tolerance is still fragmented.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of contrasting hybrid cultivars reveal key drought-responsive genes and metabolic pathways regulating drought stress tolerance in maize at various stages.

Drought stress is the primary environmental factor that negatively influences plant growth and yield in cereal grain crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). Crop breeding efforts for enhanced drought resistance require improved knowledge of plant drought stress responses.

Cdk5-Mediated Phosphorylation of Sirt1 Contributes to Podocyte Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to podocyte injury, which is the leading cause of proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy (DN). In this study, we explored the role of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) in mitochondrial dysfunction of podocytes under diabetic conditions. Our results showed that the expression and activity of Cdk5 were significantly upregulated and under diabetic conditions, accompanied by the downregulation of synaptopodin and nephrin, as well as structural and functional mitochondrial dysfunction.

Comparative transcriptomic and physiological analyses of contrasting hybrid cultivars ND476 and ZX978 identify important differentially expressed genes and pathways regulating drought stress tolerance in maize.

Background: Drought is the major abiotic stress factor that negatively influences growth and yield in cereal grain crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). A multitude of genes and pathways tightly modulate plant growth, development and responses to environmental stresses including drought.

TXNIP deficiency mitigates podocyte apoptosis via restraining the activation of mTOR or p38 MAPK signaling in diabetic nephropathy.

Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), is identified as an inhibitor of the thiol oxidoreductase thioredoxin that acts endogenously, and is increased by high glucose (HG). In this study, we investigated the potential function of TXNIP on apoptosis of podocytes and its potential mechanism in vivo and in vitro in diabetic nephropathy (DN). TXNIP silencing attenuated HG-induced apoptosis and obliterated the activation of signaling pathways of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in conditionally immortalized mouse podocytes.

Upregulation of ERp57 promotes clear cell renal cell carcinoma progression by initiating a STAT3/ILF3 feedback loop.

Background: ERp57 dysfunction has been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis in multiple malignances. However, the role of ERp57 in clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear.

Methods: Cell proliferation ability was measured by MTT and colony forming assays.

Comparative Proteomic and Morpho-Physiological Analyses of Maize Wild-Type Vp16 and Mutant vp16 Germinating Seed Responses to PEG-Induced Drought Stress.

Drought stress is a major abiotic factor compromising plant cell physiological and molecular events, consequently limiting crop growth and productivity. Maize ( L.) is among the most drought-susceptible food crops.