Biology subjects

guo, l.

Publications and source records attributed to guo, l..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Complex genetic architecture underlying the plasticity of tobacco leaf width provides insight into across-environment genomic prediction

Phenotypic plasticity refers to the ability of a given genotype to produce multiple phenotypes in response to changing environmental conditions. Understanding the genetic basis of phenotypic plasticity and developing predictive models for agronomic traits are crucial for future agricultural adaptation to climate change. In this study, we investigated the genetic basis of leaf width mean (LWm) and plasticity (LWp) in a tobacco multiparent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population which consisting of 594 individuals. We identified 14 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) significantly associated with LWm, 43 with LWp. Our findings suggest that dynamic changes in QTL effects across environments, along with polygenic effects, may underlie the genetic basis of leaf width plasticity. Among them, qLW14 was narrowed down to a 3 Mb structural variation region. When this fragment was deleted in tobacco, plants exhibited increased leaf width, but only under specific environmental conditions. This finding suggests that the key gene within qLW14 may act as a negative regulator of leaf width through interactions with specific environmental factors. By integrating genetic diversity, environments variation, and their interactions into a GEAI model, we were able to build a framework for cross-environment prediction, improving prediction accuracy by 8.7% when compared to traditional model. Overall, this study highlights the complex genetic basis underlying LWp, involving multiple alleles and genotype-environment interactions. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of phenotypic plasticity in plant adaptation to environmental changes.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2023

A cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) like enzyme leads to a branch in the shikonin biosynthetic pathway in Arnebia euchroma

Shikonin derivatives are natural naphthoquinone compounds and the main bioactive components produced by several boraginaceous plants, such as Lithospermum erythrorhizon and Arnebia euchroma. Phytochemical researches utilizing L. erythrorhizon and A. euchroma cultured cells both indicate the existence of a competing route branching out from the shikonin biosynthetic pathway toward benzo/hydroquinones. A previous study has shown that the branch point is a putative alcohol dehydrogenase converting (Z)-3-hydroxygeranylhydroquinone [(Z)-3-OH-GHQ] to an aldehyde intermediate (E)-3-oxo-GHQ. However, the enzyme involved in the branch reaction is not characterized at the molecular level yet. In this study, we clone a candidate gene belonging to the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) family, AeHGO, through coexpression analysis of transcriptome data sets of shikonin-proficient and shikonin-deficient cell lines of A. euchroma. In biochemical assays, purified AeHGO protein reversibly oxidizes (Z)-3-OH-GHQ to produce (E)-3-oxo-GHQ followed by reversibly reducing (E)-3-oxo-GHQ to (E)-3-OH-GHQ, resulting in an equilibrium mixture of the three compounds. Time course analysis and kinetic parameters show that the reaction with (Z)-3-OH-GHQ is about twice as efficient as with (E)-3-OH-GHQ, which leads to the predominance of (E)-3-OH-GHQ and (E)-3-oxo-GHQ in the equilibrium mixture. According to a previous report, (E)-3-oxo-GHQ can be converted to deoxyshikonofuran, a hydroquinone metabolite produced by boraginaceous plants. Considering there is a competition for accumulation between shikonin derivatives and benzo/hydroquinones in both L. erythrorhizon and A. euchroma cultured cells, AeHGO is supposed to play an important role in the metabolic regulation of shikonin biosynthetic pathway.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2021

Effects of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on flowering and Fruiting of Glycyrrhiza uralensis

AbstractCarbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) play an important role in flower bud differentiation and seed-filling; however, the effects of these elements on the flowering and fruiting of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. are not known. In this study, we evaluated the differences in the C, N, P, and K levels between the fruiting and nonfruiting plants of G. uralensis at different growth stages. The correlations between the elements C, N, P, and K and the flower and fruit falling rates, rate of empty seeds, rate of shrunken grains, and thousand kernel weight (TKW) were also determined. The results show that the P and K levels and C:N, P:N, and K:N ratios of flowering plants are significantly higher than those of nonflowering plants; N level of flowering plants is significantly lower than that of nonflowering plants at the flower bud differentiation stage. The number of inflorescences was positively correlated with C and K levels and C:N and K:N ratios. A low level of C, P, and K and high level of N in flowering and pod setting stage may lead to the flower and fruit drop of G. uralensis. The K level is significantly negatively correlated with the rates of empty and shrunken seeds. The N level is significantly positively correlated with TKW. Thus, high levels of C, P, and K might be beneficial to flower bud differentiation, while higher levels of N is not beneficial to the flower bud formation of G. uralensis. Higher levels of N and K at the filling stage were beneficial to the seed setting and seed-filling of G. uralensis. HighlightHigh levels of C, P, and K might be beneficial to flower bud differentiation, while higher levels of N is not beneficial to the flower bud formation of G. uralensis. Higher levels of N and K at the filling stage were beneficial to the seed setting and seed-filling of G. uralensis.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2018

IQGAP3 Overexpression Correlates with Poor Prognosis and Radiation Therapy Resistance in Breast Cancer

Background: IQ motif-containing GTPase activating protein 3 (IQGAP3), the latest found protein of IQGAP family, may act as a crucial factor in the process of cancer development and progression; however, its clinical value in breast cancer remains unestablished so far. Our team explored the correlation between IQGAP3 expression profile and the clinicopathological features in breast cancer. Methods: IQGAP3 levels in breast cancer cell lines and tumor tissues were detected by real-time PCR and western blotting and compared to the normal control groups. Protein expression of IQGAP3 was evaluated immunohistochemically in specimens (archived paraffin embedded) of 257 breast cancer patients. We also analyze the association between IQGAP3 expression and the clinical characters and prognosis. The relationship between IQGAP3 expression and sensitivity to radiation therapy was determined by subgroup analysis. Results: There was significant upregulation of IQGAP3 in breast cancer cell lines and human tumor tissues at both the mRNA and protein level compared to the normal ones. In addition, 110/257 (42.8%) of archived paraffin embedded breast cancer specimens had high protein expression of IQGAP3. High expression of IQGAP3 was significantly related to clinical stage (P=0.001), T category (P=0.002), N category (P=0.001), locoregional recurrence(P=0.002), distant metastasis (P=0.001), and vital status (P=0.001). Univariate and multivariate statistical analysis showed that IQGAP3 was an independent prognostic factor of the whole cohort breast cancer patients (P=0.003, P=0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed IQGAP3 expression correlates with radiation therapy resistance and was also an independent predictor for radiation therapy outcome. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that high IQGAP3 expression predicts poor prognosis and radiation therapy resistance in breast cancer. In addition, IQGAP3 may be a reliable novel biomarker to provide personalized prognostication and identify patients who can profit from more aggressive RT regimen for improving the survival of breast cancer patients.

cancer biology↗