Biology subjects

Hou, X.

Publications and source records attributed to Hou, X..

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Neonatal sensitivity to vocal emotions: A milestone at 37 weeks of gestational age

Emotional responsiveness in neonates, particularly their ability to discern vocal emotions, plays an evolutionarily adaptive role in human communication and adaptive behaviors. The developmental trajectory of emotional sensitivity in neonates is crucial for understanding the foundations of early social-emotional functioning. However, the precise onset of this sensitivity and its relationship with gestational age (GA) remain subjects of investigation. In a study involving 120 healthy neonates categorized into six groups based on their GA (ranging from 35 and 40 weeks), we explored their emotional responses to vocal stimuli. These stimuli encompassed disyllables with happy and neutral prosodies, alongside acoustically matched nonvocal control sounds. The assessments occurred during natural sleep states using the odd-ball paradigm and event-related potentials. The results reveal a distinct developmental change at 37 weeks GA, marking the point at which neonates exhibit heightened perceptual acuity for emotional vocal expressions. This newfound ability is substantiated by the presence of the mismatch response, akin to an initial form of adult mismatch negativity, elicited in response to positive emotional vocal prosody. Notably, this perceptual shifts specificity becomes evident when no such discrimination is observed in acoustically matched control sounds. Neonates born before 37 weeks GA do not display this level of discrimination ability. This developmental change has important implications for our understanding of early social-emotional development, highlighting the role of gestational age in shaping early perceptual abilities. Moreover, while these findings introduce the potential for a valuable screening tool for conditions like autism, characterized by atypical social-emotional functions, it is important to note that the current data are not yet robust enough to fully support this application. This study makes a substantial contribution to the broader field of developmental neuroscience and holds promise for future research on early intervention in neurodevelopmental disorders. Significance statementThis study illuminates a key developmental change, pinpointing the emergence of heightened emotional perceptual acuity at 37 weeks of gestational age. Employing rigorous methods, we reveal that neonates at this stage exhibit remarkable discrimination abilities for emotional vocal prosody, a vital turning point in early social-emotional functioning. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of gestational age in shaping neonatal perception and provides a potential pathway for early screening of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism. This insight holds profound implications for understanding the foundations of early social-emotional development in humans, offering a potential tool for early intervention in neurodevelopmental disorders, thereby enhancing child health and well-being.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Endoplasmic reticulum stress delays choroid development in the HCAR1 knock-out mouse

The sub-retina, composed of the choroid and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), bears a critical role in proper vision. In addition to phagocytosis of photoreceptor debris, the RPE shuttles oxygen and nutrients to the neuroretina. For their own energy production, RPE cells mainly rely on lactate, a major by-product of glycolysis. Lactate in turn is believed to convey most of its biological effects via the HCAR1 receptor. Here, we show that the lactate-specific receptor, HCAR1, is exclusively expressed in the RPE cells and that Hcar1-/- mice exhibit a substantially thinner choroid vasculature during development. Notably, the angiogenic properties of lactate on the choroid are impacted by the absence of Hcar1. Hcar1-deficient mice exhibit elevated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress along with eIF2 phosphorylation, a significant decrease in the global protein translation rate, and a lower proliferation rate of choroidal vasculature. Strikingly, inhibition of the Integrated Stress Response using an inhibitor of eIF2 phosphorylation (ISRIB) restores protein translation and rescues choroidal thinning. These results provide evidence that lactate signalling via HCAR1 is important for choroidal development/angiogenesis and highlight the importance of this receptor in establishing mature vision.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Deep learning-based aberration compensation improves contrast and resolution in fluorescence microscopy

Optical aberrations hinder fluorescence microscopy of thick samples, reducing image signal, contrast, and resolution. Here we introduce a deep learning-based strategy for aberration compensation, improving image quality without slowing image acquisition, applying additional dose, or introducing more optics into the imaging path. Our method (i) introduces synthetic aberrations to images acquired on the shallow side of image stacks, making them resemble those acquired deeper into the volume and (ii) trains neural networks to reverse the effect of these aberrations. We use simulations and experiments to show that applying the trained de-aberration networks outperforms alternative methods, providing restoration on par with adaptive optics techniques; and subsequently apply the networks to diverse datasets captured with confocal, light-sheet, multi-photon, and super-resolution microscopy. In all cases, the improved quality of the restored data facilitates qualitative image inspection and improves downstream image quantitation, including orientational analysis of blood vessels in mouse tissue and improved membrane and nuclear segmentation in C. elegans embryos.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Spotted fever group rickettsiae were the dominant pathogens in parasitic Rhipicephalus microplus in Yunnan Province, China*

ObjectiveTicks as ectoparasites might carry many pathogens and transmitted to their hosts through blood feeding. Human might have the opportunity to be bite by ticks, therefore getting various tick-borne pathogens. Distribution of bacterium flora in ticks plays an essential role in mapping and preventing local tick-borne diseases. Our aim is to map the distribution of bacterium flora and identify the main tick-borne pathogens in dominant tick species in grazing areas of Yunnan province. MethodsV3-V4 region of 16S rRNA amplifier sequencing was used to analyze and study the tick-borne pathogens in Rh. Microplus. The prevalence survey on B.burgdorferi s.l., B. miyamotoi, E. chaffeensis, A. phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii and Spotted fever group rickettsiae was carried out via PCR. ResultsThe results showed 105 genus and 117 species were detected in 50 (24 in Yunpan, 26 in Menghun) ticks. Pathogen prevalence testing showed the ticks were positive for B.burgdorferi s.l.(9/50, 18%), Spotted fever group rickettsiae (35/50, 70%), and A.phagocytophilum (1/50, 2%). ConclusionIn our analysis, Spotted fever group rickettsiae were the dominant pathogens in these areas. At the same time, we found that v3-v4 high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene is not sensitive to identify species for certain bacteria(such as B. burgdorferi s.l.). More accurate and comprehensive analysis would be necessary for detecting tick bacterium flora.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Forsythoside A blocks the infection of Avian Infectious Bronchitis Virus through binding S1 subunit

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute highly contagious respiratory infectious disease caused by avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), causing serious economic losses to poultry industry. Forsythiaside A (FTA) is a phenylethanol glycoside compound in the fruit of Forsythia suspensa, which is widely used for inflammatory respiratory tract disease, including viral infected inflammation. In this study, the mechanism of FTA against IBV was researched. To determine the inhibitory effect of FTA on IBV infection and the interaction between FTA and IBV particles, immunofluorescence assay, plaque assay, RT-qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed and it was discovered that FTA inhibited IBV infection and viral attachment to host receptor under non-cytotoxic concentrations, and FTA may bind to virus particles. Then ELISA and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) were employed to further study the interaction between FTA and S protein. The results indicated that FTA bound to S1 subunit rather S2 subunit. Besides, the molecular docking showed that FTA form hydrogen bonds with eight amino acids in the S1 subunit. When these amino acids were mutated. the affinity disappeared between the S1 mutant and FTA. In conclusion, FTA prevents IBV infection by blocking viral attachment and contacts with the S1, but not the S2 subunit of IBV. At last, the bind sites were identified by comparing the affinity of wild S1 and mutant S1.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2023

Metagenomic analysis of individual mosquitos reveals the ecology of insect viruses

Mosquito transmitted viruses are responsible for an increasing burden of human disease. Despite this, little is known about the diversity and ecology of viruses within individual mosquito hosts. Using a meta-transcriptomic approach, we analysed the virome of 2,438 individual mosquitos (79 species), spanning [~]4000 km along latitudes and longitudes in China. From these data we identified 393 core viral species associated with mosquitos, including seven (putative) arbovirus species. We identified potential species and geographic hotspots of viral richness and arbovirus occurrence, and demonstrated that host phylogeny had a strong impact on the composition of individual mosquito viromes. Our data revealed a large number of viruses shared among mosquito species or genera, expanding our knowledge of host specificity of insect-associated viruses. We also detected multiple virus species that were widespread throughout the country, possibly facilitated by long-distance mosquito migrations. Together, our results greatly expand the known mosquito virome, linked the viral diversity at the scale of individual insects to that at a country-wide scale, and offered unique insights into the ecology of viruses of insect vectors.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2023

BRAND: A platform for closed-loop experiments with deep network models

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are state-of-the-art tools for modeling and decoding neural activity, but deploying them in closed-loop experiments with tight timing constraints is challenging due to their limited support in existing real-time frameworks. Researchers need a platform that fully supports high-level languages for running ANNs (e.g., Python and Julia) while maintaining support for languages that are critical for low-latency data acquisition and processing (e.g., C and C++). To address these needs, we introduce the Backend for Realtime Asynchronous Neural Decoding (BRAND). BRAND comprises Linux processes, termed nodes, which communicate with each other in a graph via streams of data. Its asynchronous design allows for acquisition, control, and analysis to be executed in parallel on streams of data that may operate at different timescales. BRAND uses Redis to send data between nodes, which enables fast inter-process communication and supports 54 different programming languages. Thus, developers can easily deploy existing ANN models in BRAND with minimal implementation changes. In our tests, BRAND achieved <600 microsecond latency between processes when sending large quantities of data (1024 channels of 30 kHz neural data in 1-millisecond chunks). BRAND runs a brain-computer interface with a recurrent neural network (RNN) decoder with less than 8 milliseconds of latency from neural data input to decoder prediction. In a real-world demonstration of the system, participant T11 in the BrainGate2 clinical trial performed a standard cursor control task, in which 30 kHz signal processing, RNN decoding, task control, and graphics were all executed in BRAND. This system also supports real-time inference with complex latent variable models like Latent Factor Analysis via Dynamical Systems. By providing a framework that is fast, modular, and language-agnostic, BRAND lowers the barriers to integrating the latest tools in neuroscience and machine learning into closed-loop experiments.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Reducing PSY activity fine tunes threshold levels of a cis-carotene-derived signal that regulates the PIF3/HY5 module and plastid biogenesis

PHYTOENE SYNTHASE (PSY) is a rate-limiting enzyme catalysing the first committed step of carotenoid biosynthesis, and changes in PSY gene expression and/or protein activity alter carotenoid composition and plastid differentiation in plants. Here we identified four genetic variants of PSY (psy-4, psy-90, psy-130 and psy-145) using a forward genetics approach that rescued leaf virescence phenotypes displayed by the Arabidopsis CAROTENOID ISOMERASE (CRTISO) mutant ccr2 (carotenoid and chloroplast regulation 2) when grown under a shorter photoperiod. The four non-lethal mutations affected alternative splicing, enzyme-substrate interactions, and PSY:ORANGE multi-enzyme complex binding, constituting the dynamic posttranscriptional fine-tuning of PSY levels and activity without changing localization to the stroma and protothylakoid membranes. psy genetic variants did not alter overall total xanthophyll or cis-carotene accumulation in ccr2 yet reduced specific acyclic linear cis-carotenes linked to the biosynthesis of a yet-to-be-identified apocarotenoid signal. ccr2 psy variants modulated the ratio of PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 3/ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (PIF3/HY5), displayed a normal PLB formation in etioplasts, and chlorophyll accumulation during seedling photomorphogenesis. Thus, suppressing PSY activity and impairing PSY:ORANGE protein interactions reveals how threshold specific cis-carotene levels can be fine-tuned through holoenzyme-metabolon interactions to control plastid development. HighlightsManipulation of the PHYTOENE SYNTHASE catalytic activity in concert with its regulatory protein, ORANGE, reduces threshold levels of acyclic linear cis-carotenes that signal control over plastid biogenesis in dark and light grown Arabidopsis seedlings

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Diffusion model of delipidation in biological sample clearing

Biological sample clearing techniques are a potent tool for three-dimensional biological imaging, among which delipidation is an essential step in achieving high-quality biological sample transparency. Detergents and organic solvents can both be used for lipids removal. The former has been extensively investigated in biological sample clearing, while the delipidation process based on organic solvents remains to be further elucidated. Recently, organic solvents also served as a delipidation reagent in aqueous-based clearing methods and exhibited very fast clearing speed. To explain the high efficiency of organic solvents, we described the delipidation process of both detergents and organic solvents with a simple diffusion model, we proposed a possible mechanism of the delipidation process of water-miscible polar organic solvents based on the clearing results of brain samples. Both our results and model revealed that polar or non-polar organic solvents with a certain molecular structure could achieve a much faster clearing speed than detergents which could be a guide for establishing a rapid clearing protocol for biological samples with large volumes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

An Interleukin 9-Zbtb18 axis promotes germinal center development of memory B cells

Germinal centers (GCs) generate humoral memory in the form of long-lived plasma cells and memory B cells (MBCs). MBC development in GCs entail profound changes in states of cell cycle, localization and survival. Whether and how these changes are extrinsically instructed and intrinsically programmed in GC B cells are not well understood. Here we demonstrate that Il-9 instructs MBC development from GCs during the primary response. Il-9 induces expression of Zbtb18, a transcription repressor that is repressed in the bulk of GC cells but highly expressed in GC memory precursor cells and MBCs. While Zbtb18 is dispensable for activation of naive B cells and for GC formation, it is essential for normal development of GC-derived MBCs. Zbtb18 directly binds to and represses a suite of cyclin and CDK genes to promote quiescence, pro-apoptotic genes Bid and Casp3 to promote survival, and GC-retaining gene S1pr2 to promote GC departure. In the absence of Zbtb18, GCMP cells do not efficiently quit cell cycle to achieve quiescence, do not efficiently downregulate S1pr2 to exit, and they become more prone to die. Our results support that an Il-9-Zbtb18 axis instructs development of functional B-cell memory from GCs.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Telomere-to-telomere genome of the model plant Physcomitrium patens

The model plant Physcomitrium patens (P. patens) has played a pivotal role in enhancing our comprehension of plant evolution, growth, and development. However, the current genome harbors numerous intricate regions that remain unfinished and erroneous. To address these issues, we present an exemplary assembly of the P. patens nuclear genome, which incorporates telomeres and centromere regions, thereby establishing it as the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genome in a non-seed plant. This T2T genome not only dispels the prevailing misconception regarding chromosome number in P. patens but also provides indispensable resources for conducting in-depth studies in moss genomics and biology.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

Artificial intelligence redefines RNA virus discovery

Current metagenomic tools can fail to identify highly divergent RNA viruses. We developed a deep learning algorithm, termed LucaProt, to discover highly divergent RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) sequences in 10,487 metatranscriptomes generated from diverse global ecosystems. LucaProt integrates both sequence and predicted structural information, enabling the accurate detection of RdRP sequences. Using this approach we identified 161,979 potential RNA virus species and 180 RNA virus supergroups, including many previously poorly studied groups, as well as RNA virus genomes of exceptional length (up to 47,250 nucleotides) and genomic complexity. A subset of these novel RNA viruses were confirmed by RT-PCR and RNA/DNA sequencing. Newly discovered RNA viruses were present in diverse environments, including air, hot springs and hydrothermal vents, and both virus diversity and abundance varied substantially among ecosystems. This study advances virus discovery, highlights the scale of the virosphere, and provides computational tools to better document the global RNA virome. In briefA deep learning algorithm (LucaProt) that integrates both sequence and predicted structural information was employed to identify highly divergent RNA viral "dark matter" in 10,487 metatranscriptomes from diverse global ecosystems. A total of 161,979 potential RNA virus species and 180 RNA virus supergroups was unveiled using this AI approach, including many understudied groups.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2023

A longitudinal resource for population neuroscience of school-age children and adolescents in China

During the past decade, cognitive neuroscience has been calling for population diversity to address the challenge of validity and generalizability, ushering in a new era of population neuroscience. The developing Chinese Color Nest Project (devCCNP, 2013-2022), a ten-year pilot stage of the lifespan CCNP (2013-2032), is an ongoing project focusing on brain-mind development. The project aims to create and share a large-scale, longitudinal and multimodal dataset of typically developing children and adolescents (ages 6.0-17.9 at enrolment) in the Chinese population. The devCCNP houses not only phenotypes measured by demographic, biophysical, psychological and behavioural, cognitive, affective, and ocular-tracking assessments but also neurotypes measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain morphometry, resting-state function, naturalistic viewing function and diffusion structure. This Data Descriptor introduces the first data release of devCCNP including a total of 864 visits from 479 participants. Herein, we provided details of the experimental design, sampling strategies, and technical validation of the devCCNP resource. We demonstrate and discuss the potential of a multicohort longitudinal design to depict normative brain growth curves from the perspective of developmental population neuroscience. The devCCNP resource is shared as part of the "Chinese Data-sharing Warehouse for In-vivo Imaging Brain" in the Chinese Color Nest Project (CCNP) - Lifespan Brain-Mind Development Data Community (https://www.scidb.cn/en/c/ccnp) at the Science Data Bank. Design TypesO_LIAccelerated longitudinal design C_LIO_LIBrain-mind development C_LIO_LIPopulation imaging C_LIO_LIBrain chart C_LIO_LIRepeated measure C_LI MeasurementsO_LIPsychological behaviours C_LIO_LIBiophysical and physical measures C_LIO_LIIntelligence quotient measure C_LIO_LINeuroimaging C_LI Sample Characteristic - OrganismO_LIHomo sapiens C_LI Sample Characteristic - EnvironmentO_LISchool- and community-based sample C_LI Sample Characteristic - LocationO_LIChongqing and Beijing, China C_LI DurationO_LI10 years (2013-2022) C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Growth-inhibiting effects of the unconventional plant APYRASE 7 of Arabidopsis thaliana influences the LRX1/FER/RALF growth regulatory module

Plant cell growth involves coordination of numerous processes and signaling cascades among the different cellular compartments to concomitantly enlarge the protoplast and the surrounding cell wall. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the cell wall integrity-sensing process involves the extracellular LRX (LRR-Extensin) proteins that bind RALF (Rapid ALkalinization Factor) peptide hormones and, in vegetative tissues, interact with the transmembrane receptor kinase FERONIA (FER). This LRX/RALF/FER signaling module influences cell wall composition and regulates cell growth. The numerous proteins involved in or influenced by this module are beginning to be characterized. In a genetic screen, mutations in Apyrase 7 (APY7) were identified to suppress growth defects observed in lrx1 and fer mutants. APY7 encodes a Golgi-localized NTP-diphosphohydrolase, but opposed to other apyrases of Arabidopsis, APY7 revealed to be a negative regulator of cell growth. APY7 modulates the growth-inhibiting effect of RALF1, influences the cell wall architecture, and alters the pH of the extracellular matrix, all of which affect cell growth. Together, this study reveals a function of APY7 in cell wall formation and cell growth that is connected to growth processes influenced by the LRX/FER/RALF signaling module.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

Cognitive reappraisal and corresponding neural basis mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and depression

BackgroundChildhood maltreatment is considered as a robust predictor of depression. However, the underlying psychological and neurological mechanisms linking childhood maltreatment and depression remain poorly understood. Sufficient evidence demonstrates emotion dysregulation in individuals who have experienced childhood maltreatment, but it is unknown whether these changes represent vulnerability for depression. Here we speculated that decreased cognitive reappraisal and its corresponding neural basis might explain the relationship between childhood maltreatment and follow-up depression. MethodsFirst, we investigated whether cognitive reappraisal can explain the relationship between childhood maltreatment and depression, with a cross-sectional (n = 657) behavioral sample. Then we recruit 38 maltreated participants and 27 controls to complete the cognitive reappraisal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) task. The between-group difference in brain activation and functional connectivity (FC) were tested using independent t-tests. Finally, we investigated the relationship between childhood maltreatment, task-based brain activity and depression. ResultsThe behavior results suggested that cognitive reappraisal mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and depression. Specifically, participants with higher level of childhood maltreatment tend to have deficit in cognitive reappraisal, which ultimately predict higher level of depression when facing stressful life event. In addition, the maltreated group exhibited lower activation of orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and higher FC of between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), OFC, and amygdala during cognitive reappraisal, compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, the FC of DLPFC-amygdala mediates the association between childhood maltreatment and depression. ConclusionIn summary, childhood maltreatment is associated with inefficient cognitive reappraisal ability, manifesting as aberrant modulation of cortical areas on amygdala. These cognitive and neural deficits might explain the relationship between childhood maltreatment and risk of depression in later life. On the other side, cognitive reappraisal might also be a potential resilient factor for the prevention of maltreatment related emotional problems.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

A compact model for cold tolerance entrainment based on the ICE1-CBF-COR pathway in plants

Most temperate plants can tolerate both chilling and freezing temperatures. Plants have developed self-defense mechanisms to perceive cold signal, trigger the cold tolerance for the cold response ICE1-CBF-COR pathway by packing a cascade of kinase phosphorylation/dephosphorylation events into a functional module. Linked to the central ICE1-CBF-COR model, two sub-models were adopted for the second messenSger Ca2+ -- a one-compartment model for Ca2+ transient and a two-compartment model for a train of Ca2+ spikes. Numerical simulation verified the expression patterns of the cold-induced genes as observed in Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica napa and Solanum lycopersicum, including wild types and mutants. Moreover, the desensitization and resensitization of CBF3 and COR15A were displayed as well as the dynamics in the gradually decreasing temperature response to cold stress. The duration of cold tolerance was predicted for approximate 10 days. Interpreting and predicting the dynamical behaviors of the cold signaling pathway are valuable and time-saving for understanding mechanisms of cold acclimation. Author summaryIn higher organisms, CBF3 transcriptional level are output in a pulse and COR15A transcriptional level are maintained at a high homeostatic level to respond cold stress, which is determined by a complex set of regulatory mechanisms. Feedback loops from Ca2+ perception onto CaM, kinases, cold-acclimated genes in sequence, which have been experimentally reported, are thought to induce COR15A transcript accumulation under cold temperature exposure. The cold response pathway has been modeled based on a computational model. However, protein kinase cascades made the model relatively complicated and the cold-response gene COR15A was absent. Here, we develop a compact model with cold tolerance target gene COR15A. We show that this model could reproduce the temporal dynamics and characteristics of the core gene variables in different plants with wild type and mutant. Reduction of CaM proportion and augment of negative feedback control by ZAT12 in the model results in the desensitization of CBF3 and COR15A. Less than 24-hr warm treatment loses the ability of resensitization of CBF3 and COR15A after 14-day cold exposure. We further predict that the duration of cold tolerance is maintained at about 10 days in our model.

systems biology↗

bioRxiv2023

The mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 contributes to ultrasound neuromodulation

Transcranial low-intensity ultrasound is a promising neuromodulation modality, with the advantages of non-invasiveness, deep penetration, and high spatiotemporal accuracy. However, the underlying biological mechanism of ultrasonic neuromodulation remains unclear, hindering the development of efficacious treatments. Here, the well-known Piezo1, was studied through a conditional knockout mouse model as a major molecule for ultrasound neuromodulation ex vivo and in vivo. We showed that Piezo1 knockout in the right motor cortex of mice significantly reduced ultrasound-induced neuronal calcium responses, limb movement and muscle EMG responses. We also detected higher Piezo1 in the central amygdala (CEA) which were found more sensitive to ultrasound stimulation than that of cortex. Knocking out the Piezo1 in CEA neurons showed a significant reduction of response under ultrasound stimulation while knocking out astrocytic Piezo1 showed no obvious changes in neuronal responses. Additionally, we excluded an auditory confound by monitoring auditory cortical activation and using smooth waveform ultrasound with randomized parameters to stimulate P1KO ipsilateral and contralateral regions of the same brain and recording evoked movement in the corresponding limb. Thus, we demonstrate that Piezo1 is functionally expressed in different brain regions, and that it is an important mediator of ultrasound neuromodulation in the brain, laying the ground for further mechanistic studies of ultrasound.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

A simple and efficient in planta transformation method based on the active regeneration capacity of plants

Plant genetic transformation strategies serve as essential tools for the genetic engineering and advanced molecular breeding of plants. However, the complicated operational protocol and low efficiency of the current transformation strategies restrict the genetic modification of most plant species. This paper describes the development of a Regenerative Activity-dependent in Planta Injection Delivery (RAPID) method based on the active regeneration capacity of plants. In this method, Agrobacterium tumefaciens was delivered to plant meristems via injection for inducing transfected renascent tissues. Stable transgenic plants were obtained by subsequent vegetative propagation of the positive renascent tissues. The method was successfully applied for the transformation of plants with strong regeneration capacity, including different genotypes of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), potato (Solanum tuberosum), and bayhops (I. pes-caprae). Compared to the traditional transformation methods, RAPID has a markedly high transformation efficiency (up to ~ 40%), shorter duration (less than 4 weeks), and does not require tissue culture procedures. The RAPID method therefore overcomes the limitations of traditional methods for achieving rapid in planta transformation, and can be potentially applied to a wide range of plant species that are capable of active regeneration.

plant biology↗