Structural basis for hormone recognition and distinctive Gq protein coupling by the kisspeptin receptor.

Kisspeptin signaling through its G protein-coupled receptor, KISS1R, plays an indispensable role in regulating reproduction via the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Dysregulation of this pathway underlies severe disorders like infertility and precocious puberty. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of KISS1R bound to the endogenous agonist kisspeptin-10 and a synthetic analog TAK-448.

Whole-genome sequence of (mulberry Sanghuang) reveals its unique medicinal values.

(Schwein.) Pat, a species of 'Sanghuang', has been well-documented for various medicinal uses, but the genome information and active constituents are largely unknown. Here, we sequenced the whole-genome of , identified phenylpropanoids as its key anti-cancer components, and deduced their biosynthesis pathways.

A Cytosolic Triosephosphate Isomerase Is a Key Component in XA3/XA26-Mediated Resistance.

Bacterial blight caused by pv () causes severe damage to rice () production worldwide. The major disease resistance gene, , confers broad-spectrum and durable resistance to at both seedling and adult stages. However, the molecular mechanism of the -initiated defense pathway against is still largely unknown.

Improvement of multiple agronomic traits by a disease resistance gene via cell wall reinforcement.

The major disease resistance gene Xa4 confers race-specific durable resistance against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, which causes the most damaging bacterial disease in rice worldwide. Although Xa4 has been one of the most widely exploited resistance genes in rice production worldwide, its molecular nature remains unknown.

Successful detection of foreign inserts in transgenic rice TT51-1 (BT63) by RNA-sequencing combined with PCR.

Background: As event-specific sequence information for most unauthorised genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is currently still unavailable, detecting unauthorised GMOs remains challenging. Here, we used insect-resistant rice TT51-1 as an example to develop a novel approach via detecting GMOs by RNA-seq (sequencing) and PCR. RNA-seq of TT51-1 generated 4.

BraLTP1, a lipid transfer protein gene involved in epicuticular wax deposition, cell proliferation and flower development in Brassica napus.

Plant non-specific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) constitute large multigene families that possess complex physiological functions, many of which remain unclear. This study isolated and characterized the function of a lipid transfer protein gene, BraLTP1 from Brassica rapa, in the important oilseed crops Brassica napus. BraLTP1 encodes a predicted secretory protein, in the little known VI Class of nsLTP families.

Correction of the lack of commutability between plasmid DNA and genomic DNA for quantification of genetically modified organisms using pBSTopas as a model.

Plasmid calibrators are increasingly applied for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). To evaluate the commutability between plasmid DNA (pDNA) and genomic DNA (gDNA) as calibrators, a plasmid molecule, pBSTopas, was constructed, harboring a Topas 19/2 event-specific sequence and a partial sequence of the rapeseed reference gene CruA. Assays of the pDNA showed similar limits of detection (five copies for Topas 19/2 and CruA) and quantification (40 copies for Topas 19/2 and 20 for CruA) as those for the gDNA.

Fine mapping of a dominant thermo-sensitive genic male sterility gene (BntsMs) in rapeseed (Brassica napus) with AFLP- and Brassica rapa-derived PCR markers.

A new thermo-sensitive dominant genic male sterility (TSDGMS) line of Brassica napus was found and mapped in this paper. Our result will greatly accelerate the map-based cloning of the BntsMs gene. TE5A is a thermo-sensitive dominant genic male sterility line originating from spontaneous mutation of the inbred line TE5 in Brassica napus and provides a promising system for the development of hybrid cultivars.

Comparison of three common DNA concentration measurement methods.

Accurate measurement of DNA concentration is important for DNA-based biological applications. DNA concentration is usually determined by the ultraviolet (UV) absorption, fluorescence staining, and diphenylamine reaction methods. However, the best method for quality assurance of measurements is unknown.

Collaborative validation of an event-specific quantitative real-time PCR method for genetically modified rice event TT51-1 detection.

In this study, a collaborative trial of validating a real-time PCR method for the TT51-1 rice event was organized, including six participating laboratories. In this validation, serially diluted solutions from homogeneous genomic DNA of the TT51-1 event were used to construct standard curves of the TT51-1 event and phospholipase D (PLD) assays. The PCR efficiency was 95%, and the R(2) coefficient was 0.

A pair of orthologs of a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase-like disease resistance gene family regulates rice response to raised temperature.

Background: Rice Xa3/Xa26 disease-resistance gene encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase-type protein against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and belongs to a multigene family. However, the functions of most genes in this family are unknown.

Characterization of the transgenic rice event TT51-1 and construction of a reference plasmid.

Transgenic rice TT51-1 (BT63) is an insect resistant strain that was granted for safety certificate in China in 2009. This study characterizes the transgenic event TT51-1 using a GenomeWalker strategy. The organization of the transgenes indicated that the transgenes on two plasmids, pFHBT1 and pGL2RC7, had been integrated at the same locus.

A novel approach for the construction of plant amiRNA expression vectors.

Artificial microRNA (amiRNA) technology has been applied in Arabidopsis thaliana and other plants to efficiently silence target genes of interest. Here we described a novel approach to construct plant amiRNA expression vectors with seamless enzyme-free cloning (SEFC) and mating-assisted genetically integrated cloning (MAGIC). Two pairs of primers were designed when the loop of amiRNA precursor was longer than 60 bp while three oligonucleotides were used to amplify the linearized vector containing the amiRNA precursor whose loop was smaller than 60 bp.

Comparison of five endogenous reference genes for specific PCR detection and quantification of Brassica napus.

Five previously reported Brassica napus endogenous reference genes, including acetyl-CoA carboxylase gene (BnACCg8), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEP), oleoyl hydrolase gene (FatA), high-mobility-group protein I/Y gene (HMG-I/Y) and cruciferin A gene (CruA), were analyzed for their PCR specificity between B. napus and other species and the quantification stability among different B. napus cultivars.

Multiple gene loci affecting genetic background-controlled disease resistance conferred by R gene Xa3/Xa26 in rice.

The function of bacterial-blight resistance gene Xa3/Xa26 in rice is influenced by genetic background; the Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica background can increase Xa3/Xa26 expression, resulting in an enhanced resistance.

The gene MT3-B can differentiate palm oil from other oil samples.

The practice of blending cheap palm oil with more expensive oils is currently rampant owing to the increased global price of oil and the price gap between types of oils. This adulteration poses a serious threat to the trade of edible oil and negatively affects consumers. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of palm oil as an additive in more expensive oils using a PCR-based technique.

Breeding response of transcript profiling in developing seeds of Brassica napus.

Background: The upgrading of rapeseed cultivars has resulted in a substantial improvement in yield and quality in China over the past 30 years. With the selective pressure against fatty acid composition and oil content, high erucic acid- and low oil-content cultivars have been replaced by low erucic acid- and high oil-content cultivars. The high erucic acid cultivar Zhongyou 821 and its descendent, low erucic acid cultivar Zhongshuang 9, are representatives of two generations of the most outstanding Chinese rapeseed cultivars (B.

Gene transferability from transgenic Brassica napus L. to various subspecies and varieties of Brassica rapa.

Gene transferability from transgenic rapeseed to various subspecies and varieties of Brassica rapa was assessed in this study. Artificial crossability was studied in 118 cultivars of 7 B. rapa subspecies and varieties with the transgenic rapeseed GT73 (Brassica napus) as the pollen donor.

Activation of the indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase GH3-8 suppresses expansin expression and promotes salicylate- and jasmonate-independent basal immunity in rice.

New evidence suggests a role for the plant growth hormone auxin in pathogenesis and disease resistance. Bacterial infection induces the accumulation of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), the major type of auxin, in rice (Oryza sativa). IAA induces the expression of expansins, proteins that loosen the cell wall.

The expression pattern of a rice disease resistance gene xa3/xa26 is differentially regulated by the genetic backgrounds and developmental stages that influence its function.

Genetic background and developmental stage influence the function of some disease resistance (R) genes. The molecular mechanisms of these modifications remain elusive. Our results show that the two factors are associated with the expression of the R gene in rice Xa3 (also known as Xa26)-mediated resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv.

Functional analysis of Xa3/Xa26 family members in rice resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Plant disease resistant (R) genes are frequently clustered in the genome. The diversity of members in a complex R-gene family may provide variation in resistance specificity. Rice Xa3/Xa26, conferring resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv.

OsWRKY13 mediates rice disease resistance by regulating defense-related genes in salicylate- and jasmonate-dependent signaling.

Although 109 WRKY genes have been identified in the rice genome, the functions of most are unknown. Here, we show that OsWRKY13 plays a pivotal role in rice disease resistance. Overexpression of OsWRKY13 can enhance rice resistance to bacterial blight and fungal blast, two of the most devastating diseases of rice worldwide, at both the seedling and adult stages, and shows no influence on the fertility.

Xa3, conferring resistance for rice bacterial blight and encoding a receptor kinase-like protein, is the same as Xa26.

Xa3-mediated resistance for rice bacterial blight, one of the most devastating rice diseases worldwide, is influenced by genetic background. Xa3 is genetically tightly linked to Xa26, another gene for bacterial blight resistance. Xa26 belongs to a clustered multigene family encoding leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase-like proteins.

Point mutations with positive selection were a major force during the evolution of a receptor-kinase resistance gene family of rice.

The rice (Oryza sativa) Xa26 gene, which confers resistance to bacterial blight disease and encodes a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) receptor kinase, resides at a locus clustered with tandem homologous genes. To investigate the evolution of this family, four haplotypes from the two subspecies of rice, indica and japonica, were analyzed. Comparative sequence analysis of 34 genes of 10 types of paralogs of the family revealed haplotype polymorphisms and pronounced paralog diversity.

Xa26, a gene conferring resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice, encodes an LRR receptor kinase-like protein.

Rice bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is one of the most serious rice diseases worldwide. A rice gene, Xa26, conferring resistance against Xoo at both seedling and adult stages was isolated by map-based cloning strategies from the rice cultivar Minghui 63.