Biology subjects

Yu, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Yu, J..

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Inflammatory Signaling and Fibroblast-Cancer Cell Interactions Transfer from a Harmonized Human Single-cell RNA Sequencing Atlas of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma to Organoid Co-Culture

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy characterized by a heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) that is enriched with cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs)1. Cell-cell interactions involving these CAFs promote an immunosuppressive phenotype with altered inflammatory gene expression. While single-cell transcriptomics provides a tool to dissect the complex intercellular pathways that regulate cancer-associated inflammation in human tumors, complementary experimental systems for mechanistic validation remain limited. This study integrated single-cell data from human tumors and novel organoid co-cultures to study the PDAC TME. We derived a comprehensive atlas of PDAC gene expression from six published human single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets2-7 to characterize intercellular signaling pathways between epithelial tumor cells and CAFs that regulate the inflammatory TME. Analysis of the epithelial cell compartment identified global gene expression pathways that modulate inflammatory signaling and are correlated with CAF composition. We then generated patient-derived organoid-CAF co-cultures to serve as a biological model of the cellular interactions learned from human tissue in the atlas. Transfer learning analysis to additional scRNA-seq data of this co-culture system and mechanistic experiments confirmed the epithelial response to fibroblast signaling. This bidirectional approach of complementary computational and in vitro applications provides a framework for future studies identifying important mechanisms of intercellular interactions in PDAC.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Efficient End-to-end Learning for Cell Segmentation with Machine Generated Incomplete Annotations

Automated cell segmentation from optical microscopy images is usually the first step in the pipeline of single-cell analysis. Recently, deep-learning based algorithms have shown superior performances for the cell segmentation tasks. However, a disadvantage of deep-learning is the requirement for a large amount of fully-annotated training data, which is costly to generate. Weakly-supervised and self-supervised learning is an active research area, but often the model accuracy is inversely correlated with the amount of annotation information provided. Here we focus on a specific subtype of incomplete annotations, which can be generated programmably from experimental data, thus allowing for more annotation information content without sacrificing the annotation speed. We designed a new model architecture for end-to-end training using such incomplete annotations. We benchmarked our method on a variety of publicly available dataset, covering both fluorescence and bright-field imaging modality. We additionally tested our method on a microscopy dataset generated by us, using machine generated annotations. The results demonstrated that our model trained under weak-supervision can achieve segmentation accuracy competitive to, and in some cases surpassing, state-of-the-art models trained under full supervision. Therefore, our method can be a practical alternative to the established full-supervision methods.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

scHumanNet: a single-cell network analysis platform for the study of cell-type specificity of disease genes

A major challenge in single-cell biology is identifying cell-type-specific gene functions, which may substantially improve precision medicine. Differential expression analysis of genes is a popular, yet insufficient approach, and complementary methods that associate function with cell type are required. Here, we describe scHumanNet (https://github.com/netbiolab/scHumanNet), a single-cell network analysis platform for resolving cellular heterogeneity across gene functions in humans. Based on cell-type-specific networks (CSNs) constructed under the guidance of the HumanNet reference interactome, scHumanNet displayed higher functional relevance to the cellular context than CSNs built by other methods on single-cell transcriptome data. Cellular deconvolution of gene signatures based on network compactness across cell types revealed breast cancer prognostic markers associated with T cells. scHumanNet could also prioritize genes associated with particular cell types using CSN centrality and identified the differential hubness of CSNs between disease and healthy conditions. We demonstrated the usefulness of scHumanNet by uncovering T-cell-specific functional effects of GITR, a prognostic gene for breast cancer, and functional defects in autism spectrum disorder genes specific for inhibitory neurons. These results suggest that scHumanNet will advance our understanding of cell-type specificity across human disease genes.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2022

Structural basis of a two-antibody cocktail exhibiting highly potent and broadly neutralizing activities against SARS-CoV-2 variants including diverse Omicron sublineages

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs), especially the latest Omicron, have exhibited severe antibody evasion. Broadly neutralizing antibodies with high potency against Omicron are urgently needed for understanding working mechanisms and developing therapeutic agents. In this study, we characterized previously reported F61, which was isolated from convalescent patients infected with prototype SARS-CoV-2, as a broadly neutralizing antibody against all VOCs including Omicron BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2, BA.3 and BA.4 sublineages by utilizing antigen binding and cell infection assays. We also identified and characterized another broadly neutralizing antibody D2 with epitope distinct from that of F61. More importantly, we showed that a combination of F61 with D2 exhibited synergy in neutralization and protecting mice from SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron BA.1 variants. Cryo-EM structures of the spike-F61 and spike-D2 binary complexes revealed the distinct epitopes of F61 and D2 at atomic level and the structural basis for neutralization. Cryo-EM structure of the Omicron-spike-F61-D2 ternary complex provides further structural insights into the synergy between F61 and D2. These results collectively indicated F61 and F61-D2 cocktail as promising therapeutic antibodies for combating SARS-CoV-2 variants including diverse Omicron sublineages.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2022

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants evolved to extend antibody evasion

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 have surged dramatically to become dominant in the United States and South Africa, respectively1,2. These novel subvariants carrying additional mutations in their spike proteins raise concerns that they may further evade neutralizing antibodies, thereby further compromising the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutic monoclonals. We now report findings from a systematic antigenic analysis of these surging Omicron subvariants. BA.2.12.1 is only modestly (1.8-fold) more resistant to sera from vaccinated and boosted individuals than BA.2. However, BA.4/5 is substantially (4.2-fold) more resistant and thus more likely to lead to vaccine breakthrough infections. Mutation at spike residue L452 found in both BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5 facilitates escape from some antibodies directed to the so-called class 2 and 3 regions of the receptor-binding domain3. The F486V mutation found in BA.4/5 facilitates escape from certain class 1 and 2 antibodies but compromises the spike affinity for the viral receptor. The R493Q reversion mutation, however, restores receptor affinity and consequently the fitness of BA.4/5. Among therapeutic antibodies authorized for clinical use, only bebtelovimab retains full potency against both BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/5. The Omicron lineage of SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, successively yielding subvariants that are not only more transmissible but also more evasive to antibodies.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Structure of nucleosome-bound human PBAF complex

BAF and PBAF are mammalian SWI/SNF family chromatin remodeling complexes that possess multiple histone/DNA-binding subunits and create nucleosome-depleted/free regions for transcription activation. Despite structural studies of nucleosome-bound human BAF and yeast SWI/SNF family complexes, it remains elusive how PBAF-nucleosome complex is organized. Here we determined structure of 13-subunit human PBAF in complex with acetylated nucleosome in ADP-BeF3-bound state. Four PBAF-specific subunits work together with nine BAF/PBAF-shared subunits to generate PBAF-specific modular organization, distinct from that of BAF at various regions. PBAF-nucleosome structure reveals six histone-binding domains and four DNA-binding domains/modules, the majority of which directly bind histone/DNA. This multivalent nucleosome-binding pattern, not observed in previous studies, suggests that PBAF may integrate comprehensive chromatin information to target genomic loci for function. Our study reveals molecular organization of subunits and histone/DNA-binding domains/modules in PBAF-nucleosome complex and provides a framework to understand chromatin targeting of SWI/SNF family complexes.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Genome dynamics in mosses: Extensive synteny coexists with a highly dynamic gene space

BackgroundWhile genome evolutionary processes of seed plants are intensively investigated, very little is known about seed-free plants in this respect. Here, we use one of the largest groups of seed-free plants, the mosses, and newly generated chromosome-scale genome assemblies to investigate three poorly known aspects of genome dynamics and their underlying processes in seed-free plants: (i) genome size variation, (ii) genomic collinearity/synteny, and (iii) gene set differentiation. ResultsComparative genomic analyses on the model moss Physcomitrium (Physcomitrella) patens and two genomes of Funaria hygrometrica reveal that, like in seed plants, genome size change (approx. 140 Mbp) is primarily due to transposable element expansion/contraction. Despite 60 million years of divergence, the genomes of P. patens and F. hygrometrica show remarkable chromosomal stability with the majority of homologous genes located in conserved collinear blocks. In addition, both genomes contain a relatively large set of lineage-specific genes with no detectible homologs in the other species genome, suggesting a highly dynamic gene space fueled by the process of de novo gene birth and loss rather than by gene family diversification/duplication. ConclusionsThese, combined with previous observations suggest that genome dynamics in mosses involves the coexistence of a collinear homologous and a highly dynamic species-specific gene sets. Besides its significance for understanding genome evolution, the presented chromosome-scale genome assemblies will provide a foundation for comparative genomic and functional studies in the Funariaceae, a family holding historical and contemporary model taxa in the evolutionary biology of mosses.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Genome-wide data from medieval German Jews show that the Ashkenazi founder event pre-dated the 14th century

We report genome-wide data for 33 Ashkenazi Jews (AJ), dated to the 14th century, following a salvage excavation at the medieval Jewish cemetery of Erfurt, Germany. The Erfurt individuals are genetically similar to modern AJ and have substantial Southern European ancestry, but they show more variability in Eastern European-related ancestry than modern AJ. A third of the Erfurt individuals carried the same nearly-AJ-specific mitochondrial haplogroup and eight carried pathogenic variants known to affect AJ today. These observations, together with high levels of runs of homozygosity, suggest that the Erfurt community had already experienced the major reduction in size that affected modern AJ. However, the Erfurt bottleneck was more severe, implying substructure in medieval AJ. Together, our results suggest that the AJ founder event and the acquisition of the main sources of ancestry pre-dated the 14th century and highlight late medieval genetic heterogeneity no longer present in modern AJ.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2022

Human anelloviruses produced by recombinant expression of synthetic genomes.

Human anelloviruses are acquired universally in infancy, highly prevalent, abundant in blood, and extremely diverse. Their apparent lack of pathogenicity indicates that they are a major component of the commensal human virome. Despite their being extensively intertwined with human biology, these viruses are poorly understood. A major impediment in studying anelloviruses is the lack of an in vitro system for their production and/ or propagation. Here we show that the T cell-derived human cell line MOLT-4 can be transfected with plasmids comprising tandem anellovirus genomes to produce viral particles visualized by electron microscopy. We found that a previously described human anellovirus of the Betatorquevirus genus (LY2), as well as a second Betatorquevirus detected by sequencing DNA extracted from a human retinal pigmental epithelium (nrVL4619), can be synthesized and produced by these means, enabling further molecular virology studies. Southern blot was used to demonstrate replication, and site-directed mutagenesis of the viral genome was performed to show that the production of anellovirus in this cell line is dependent on the expression of certain viral proteins. Finally, experiments performed in mice using purified nrVL4619 particles produced in MOLT-4 cells demonstrated infectivity in vivo in the tissue of origin. These results indicate that anelloviruses can be produced in vitro and manipulated to improve our understanding of this viral family which is ubiquitous in humans and many other mammals. Applications of this work to gene therapy and other therapeutic modalities are currently under investigation. IMPORTANCEAnelloviruses are a major component of the human virome. However, their biology is not well understood mainly due to the lack of an in vitro system for anellovirus production and/or propagation. In this study, we used multiple orthogonal measures to show that two different anelloviruses belonging to the Betatorquevirus genus can be produced in a T-cell-derived human cell line, MOLT-4, via recombinant expression of synthetic genomes. Additionally, we show that anellovirus particles generated in this in vitro system demonstrate infectivity in vivo. Our findings enable new molecular virology studies of this highly prevalent, non-pathogenic, and weakly immunogenic family of viruses, potentially leading to therapeutic applications.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Combining GWAS and TWAS to identify candidate causal genes for tocochromanol levels in maize grain

Tocochromanols (tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively vitamin E) are lipid-soluble antioxidants important for both plant fitness and human health. The main dietary sources of vitamin E are seed oils that often accumulate high levels of tocopherol isoforms with lower vitamin E activity. The tocochromanol biosynthetic pathway is conserved across plant species but an integrated view of the genes and mechanisms underlying natural variation of tocochromanol levels in seed of most cereal crops remains limited. To address this issue, we utilized the high mapping resolution of the maize Ames panel of [~]1,500 inbred lines scored with 12.2 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms to generate metabolomic (mature grain tocochromanols) and transcriptomic (developing grain) data sets for genetic mapping. By combining results from genome- and transcriptome-wide association studies, we identified a total of 13 candidate causal gene loci, including five that had not been previously associated with maize grain tocochromanols: four biosynthetic genes (arodeH2 paralog, dxs1, vte5, and vte7) and a plastid S-adenosyl methionine transporter (samt1). Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) mapping of these 13 gene loci revealed that they are predominantly regulated by cis-eQTL. Through a joint statistical analysis, we implicated cis-acting variants as responsible for co-localized eQTL and GWAS association signals. Our multi-omics approach provided increased statistical power and mapping resolution to enable a detailed characterization of the genetic and regulatory architecture underlying tocochromanol accumulation in maize grain and provided insights for ongoing biofortification efforts to breed and/or engineer vitamin E and antioxidant levels in maize and other cereals.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2022

Glucocorticoids Mediate Transcriptome-wide Alternative Polyadenylation: Mechanisms and Functional Implications

Alternative polyadenylation (APA) is a common genetic regulatory mechanism that generates distinct 3' ends for RNA transcripts. Changes in APA have been associated with multiple biological processes and disease phenotypes. However, the role of hormones and their drug analogs in APA remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated transcriptome-wide the impact of glucocorticoids on APA in 30 human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines. We found that glucocorticoids could regulate APA of a subset of genes, possibly by changing the expression of 142 RNA-binding proteins, some with known APA-regulating properties. Interestingly, genes with glucocorticoid-mediated APA were enriched in viral translation-related pathways, while genes with glucocorticoid-mediated expression were enriched in interferon and interleukin pathways, suggesting that glucocorticoid-mediated APA might result in functional consequences distinct from gene expression. Glucocorticoid-mediated APA was also cell-type-specific, suggesting an action of glucocorticoids that may be unique to immune regulation. We also observed evidence for genotype-dependent glucocorticoid-mediated APA, providing potential functional mechanisms for a series of common genetic variants that had previously been associated with immune disorders, but without a clear mechanism. In summary, this study reports a series of novel observations regarding the impact of glucocorticoids on APA, suggesting novel avenues for mechanistic studies of hormonal biology.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2022

Characterizing brain imaging features associated with ADAS-Cog13 sub-scores with 3D convolutional neural networks

To date, few advanced machine learning models have been developed for investigating the associations between features from brain imaging and individual Alzheimers disease (AD) related cognitive functional changes. Additionally, how these associations differ among different imaging modalities is unclear. Here we investigated 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) models which were trained to predict sub-scores in 13-item Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale - Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog13) based on MRI and FDG-PET brain imaging data obtained from the ADNI database. We found that each key ADAS-Cog13 sub-score was associated with a specific set of brain features within an imaging modality. Overall, sub-scores were strongly associated with structural changes of subcortical regions including amygdala, hippocampus, and putamen, and were associated with metabolic changes of cortical regions including the cingulated gyrus, occipital cortex, middle front gyrus, precuneus cortex, and the cerebellum. Our findings provided insights into complex AD etiology. Our analytical pipeline can also be utilized to study other brain diseases.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Crumbs complex-directed apical membrane dynamics in epithelial cell ingression

Epithelial cells often leave their tissue context and ingress to form new cell types or acquire migratory ability to move to distant sites during development and tumor progression. Cell lose their apical membrane and epithelial adherens junctions during ingression. However, how factors that organize apical-basal polarity contribute to ingression is unknown. Here, we show that the dynamic regulation of the apical Crumbs polarity complex is crucial for normal neural stem cell ingression. Crumbs endocytosis and recycling allow ingression to occur in a normal timeframe. During early ingression, Crumbs and its complex partner the RhoGEF Cysts support myosin and apical constriction to ensure robust ingression dynamics. During late ingression, the E3-ubiquitin ligase Neuralized facilitates the disassembly of the Crumbs complex and the rapid endocytic removal of the apical cell domain. Our findings reveal a mechanism integrating cell fate, apical polarity, endocytosis, vesicle trafficking, and actomyosin contractility to promote cell ingression, a fundamental morphogenetic process observed in animal development and cancer.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Fertilizer reduction with bio-organic fertilizer to regulate the root soil microbial community structure to improve Baby Chinese cabbage yield

Using high-throughput sequencing, this study aimed to explore the response of soil microbial community and Baby Chinese cabbage yield to the reduction of chemical fertilizers combined with bio-organic fertilizer in the Gansu plateau, China. Our experiments consisted of conventional fertilizer (CK), 30% chemical fertilizer reduction + 6,000 kg bio-organic fertilizer (T1), 30% chemical fertilizer reduction + 9,000 kg bio-organic fertilizer (T2), 40% chemical fertilizer reduction + 6,000 kg bio-organic fertilizer (T3), and 40% chemical fertilizer reduction + 9,000 kg bio-organic fertilizer (T4). Compared with CK, soil microbial diversity and richness were higher for all treatments with added bio-organic fertilizer. PCoA showed that the bacterial and fungal communities in T2 and T4 were similar to each other. Redundancy and Spearmans correlation analyses of microbial communities and soil physicochemical properties revealed that reductions in chemical fertilizer rate combined with bio-organic fertilizer had a stronger impact on the fungal than the bacterial community. They also increased the relative abundance of the dominant bacterial and fungal phyla. Baby Chinese cabbage yield was relatively higher under the combined bio-organic fertilizer plus reduced chemical fertilizer rate with T2 showing the highest yield. Therefore, this approach is feasible for sustainable agricultural, cost-effective and profitable crop production. ImportanceO_LIBio-organic + moderately reduced chemical fertilizer raised Chinese cabbage yield C_LIO_LIBio-organic + chemical fertilizer was more efficacious than either one alone C_LIO_LIPresence of bio-organic fertilizer enhanced overall rhizosphere physicochemistry C_LIO_LIBio-organic fertilizer improved beneficial bacterial & fungal abundance & diversity C_LIO_LIFertilizer combination sustainably & cost-effectively improves crop & soil quality C_LI

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Antibody Evasion Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Sublineages

The identification of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529.1 or BA.1) of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) in Botswana in November 20211 immediately raised alarms due to the sheer number of mutations in the spike glycoprotein that could lead to striking antibody evasion. We2 and others3-6 recently reported results in this Journal confirming such a concern. Continuing surveillance of Omicron evolution has since revealed the rise in prevalence of two sublineages, BA.1 with an R346K mutation (BA.1+R346K) and B.1.1.529.2 (BA.2), with the latter containing 8 unique spike mutations while lacking 13 spike mutations found in BA.1. We therefore extended our studies to include antigenic characterization of these new sublineages. Polyclonal sera from patients infected by wild-type SARS-CoV-2 or recipients of current mRNA vaccines showed a substantial loss in neutralizing activity against both BA.1+R346K and BA.2, with drops comparable to that already reported for BA.12,3,5,6. These findings indicate that these three sublineages of Omicron are antigenically equidistant from the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and thus similarly threaten the efficacies of current vaccines. BA.2 also exhibited marked resistance to 17 of 19 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies tested, including S309 (sotrovimab)7, which had retained appreciable activity against BA.1 and BA.1+R346K2-4,6. This new finding shows that no presently approved or authorized monoclonal antibody therapy could adequately cover all sublineages of the Omicron variant.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Vaccine Protection Against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in Macaques

BackgroundThe rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant, including in highly vaccinated populations, has raised important questions about the efficacy of current vaccines. Immune correlates of vaccine protection against Omicron are not known. Methods30 cynomolgus macaques were immunized with homologous and heterologous prime-boost regimens with the mRNA-based BNT162b2 vaccine and the adenovirus vector-based Ad26.COV2.S vaccine. Following vaccination, animals were challenged with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant by the intranasal and intratracheal routes. ResultsOmicron neutralizing antibodies were observed following the boost immunization and were higher in animals that received BNT162b2, whereas Omicron CD8+ T cell responses were higher in animals that received Ad26.COV2.S. Following Omicron challenge, sham controls showed more prolonged virus in nasal swabs than in bronchoalveolar lavage. Vaccinated macaques demonstrated rapid control of virus in bronchoalveolar lavage, and most vaccinated animals also controlled virus in nasal swabs, showing that current vaccines provide substantial protection against Omicron in this model. However, vaccinated animals that had moderate levels of Omicron neutralizing antibodies but negligible Omicron CD8+ T cell responses failed to control virus in the upper respiratory tract. Virologic control correlated with both antibody and T cell responses. ConclusionsBNT162b2 and Ad26.COV2.S provided robust protection against high-dose challenge with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in macaques. Protection against this highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant correlated with both humoral and cellular immune responses.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

Nasally-delivered interferon-{lambda} protects mice against upper and lower respiratory tract infection of SARS-CoV-2 variants including Omicron

Although vaccines and monoclonal antibody countermeasures have reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, variants with constellations of mutations in the spike gene threaten their efficacy. Accordingly, antiviral interventions that are resistant to further virus evolution are needed. The host-derived cytokine IFN-{lambda} has been proposed as a possible treatment based on correlative studies in human COVID-19 patients. Here, we show IFN-{lambda} protects against SARS-CoV-2 B.1.351 (Beta) and B.1.1.529 (Omicron)variants in three strains of conventional and human ACE2 transgenic mice. Prophylaxis or therapy with nasally-delivered IFN-{lambda}2 limited infection of historical or variant (B.1.351 and B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 strains in the upper and lower respiratory tracts without causing excessive inflammation. In the lung, IFN-{lambda} was produced preferentially in epithelial cells and acted on radio-resistant cells to protect against of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, inhaled IFN-{lambda} may have promise as a treatment for evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants that develop resistance to antibody-based countermeasures.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2022

A new demethylase gene OsDML4 involved in high temperature induced floury endosperm formation in rice

High temperature (HT) can affect the accumulation of seed storage materials and cause adverse effects on the yield and quality in rice. DNA methylation plays an important role in plant growth and development. However, the temperature and DNA methylation interaction on rice seed development has not been studied yet. Here, we identified a new demethylase gene OsDML4 and discovered its function on cytosine demethylation to affect the endosperm formation during the grain filling. Knockout of OsDML4 induced floury endosperm only under HT, which resulted from dramatically reduced the transcription and accumulation of glutelins and 16-kDa prolamin. The expression of two important transcription factors RISBZ1 and RPBF was significantly declined in the osdml4 mutants. The absence of OsDML4 also caused adverse effects on the formation of protein bodies (PBs), the number of PB-II was greatly decreased and incomplete PB-II with empty space and abnormally shaped PB-II were observed in the osdml4 mutants. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis of seeds at 15 days after pollination revealed much higher global methylation levels of CG, CHG and CHH contexts in the osdml4 mutants compared to wild type (WT). Moreover, the methylation status of RISBZ1 promoter was hypermethylated but RPBF promoter was nearly unchanged. No significant difference was detected between WT and the osdml4 mutants under room temperature. In conclusion, our study demonstrates a novel OsDML4-mediated epigenetic regulatory mechanism involving in the formation of floury endosperm, which will provide a new perspective in regulating endosperm development and the accumulation of SSPs in rice.

plant biology↗