Rice GA3ox1 modulates pollen starch granule accumulation and pollen wall development.

The rice GA biosynthetic gene OsGA3ox1 has been proposed to regulate pollen development through the gametophytic manner, but cellular characterization of its mutant pollen is lacking. In this study, three heterozygotic biallelic variants, "-3/-19", "-3/-2" and "-3/-10", each containing one null and one 3bp-deletion allele, were obtained by the CRISPR/Cas9 technique for the functional study of OsGA3ox1. The three homozygotes, "-19/-19", "-2/-2" and "-10/-10", derived from heterozygotic variants, did not affect the development of most vegetative and floral organs but showed a significant reduction in seed-setting rate and in pollen viability.

Comparisons within the Rice GA 2-Oxidase Gene Family Revealed Three Dominant Paralogs and a Functional Attenuated Gene that Led to the Identification of Four Amino Acid Variants Associated with GA Deactivation Capability.

Background: GA 2-oxidases (GA2oxs) are involved in regulating GA homeostasis in plants by inactivating bioactive GAs through 2β-hydroxylation. Rice GA2oxs are encoded by a family of 10 genes; some of them have been characterized, but no comprehensive comparisons for all these genes have been conducted.

Results: Rice plants with nine functional GA2oxs were demonstrated in the present study, and these genes not only were differentially expressed but also revealed various capabilities for GA deactivation based on their height-reducing effects in transgenic plants.

Decision-Making in People With Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Narrative Review of Decision-Making Tools.

Objectives: This review summarized the applicability of various decision-making tools for helping people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their families make decisions.

Design: This study was a narrative literature review. The protocol of this review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO ID: CRD42020182259).

Phalaenopsis orchid miniaturization by overexpression of OsGA2ox6, a rice GA2-oxidase gene.

Background: Phalaenopsis orchids are one of the most common potted orchids sold worldwide. Most Phalaenopsis cultivars have long inflorescences that cause shipping problems and increase handling costs. Miniaturization of Phalaenopsis orchids not only reduces overall production costs but also can expand the appeal of the orchids to a different group of consumers who prefer to keep flowers on desks or tabletops.

A Novel Role for Pyruvate Kinase M2 as a Corepressor for P53 during the DNA Damage Response in Human Tumor Cells.

The pyruvate kinase (PK) is a rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme catalyzing the dephosphorylation of phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate, yielding one molecule of ATP. The M2 isoform of PK (PKM2) is predominantly expressed in normal proliferating cells and tumors, and both metabolic and non-metabolic activities for the enzyme in promoting tumor cell proliferation have been identified. However, the exact roles of PKM2 in tumor initiation, growth and maintenance are not yet fully understood.

[Effects of grafting on cucumber rhizospheric soil microbial characteristics and enzyme activities under copper stress].

A pot experiment with cucumber (taking Cucurbita ficifoblia B. as the rootstock) was conducted to study the effects of grafting on the microbial population, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in rhizospheric soil under copper stress. Under the stress of copper, the microbial biomass C and N in grafted and self-rooted cucumber rhizospheric soils all decreased significantly, while the basal respiration and metabolic quotient were in adverse.

[Effects of grafting on root polyamine metabolism of cucumber seedlings under copper stress].

By the method of hydroponic culture, and taking Cucurbita ficifolia B. as rootstock, this paper studied the effects of grafting on the root polyamine metabolism of cucumber seedlings under copper stress. The results showed that under copper stress, the root activities of cucumber seedlings were inhibited, and electrolyte leakage increased, with these changes being significantly lower for grafted than for ungrafted cucumber seedlings.

[Microflora on mucosa under different pontics of fixed partial bridge].

Objective: To investigate the influence of three pontic types on alveolar ridge mucosal microecosystem.

Methods: Sixty patients ready to accept three unit metal ceramic bridges were selected. The bacterial type and the cultivable flora were counted and the proportions of bacteria detected on the top of alveolar ridge mucosal contact area before tooth preparation and three months after bridge insertion.