Biology subjects

Wang, G.-L.

Publications and source records attributed to Wang, G.-L..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

HMA proteins produce 2',3'-cNMP signaling molecules and activate CNL-mediated immunity in rice

Plants deploy a sensor repertoire, usually NLRs, to perceive pathogen effectors and activate executor NLR-triggered immunity. Here we reveal that rice HMA proteins function as sensors detecting the Magnaporthe oryzae MAX effector AvrPigm to trigger broad-spectrum blast resistance mediated by the CNL PigmR. AvrPigm is conserved with multiple copies in blast genomes and targets HMA proteins, facilitating HMA translocation into the cytoplasm. Cryo-EM structure of the HPP04HMA reveals a filament-like oligomer with ssDNA/RNA bound inside the filament, which display cyclic nucleotide synthase activity to generate 2',3'-cNMP in a CNL-dependent manner. We further discovered that the LRR domains of the executor CNLs perceive 2',3'-cNMP to mount immunity. Our study thus establishes an unrecognized immunity mode with a distinct repertoire of sensor receptors that produce signaling molecules that are perceived by the LRR domains of executor NLRs to mediate immunity, shedding new light on the sensor-executor conception and immune activation in plants. HighlightsO_LIHMA proteins and CNL receptors form a new sensor-executor mode in plant immunity C_LIO_LICryo-EM reveals the filament-like structure of HMA-ssRNA/ssDNA C_LIO_LIHMA proteins are cyclic nucleotide synthetases to generate 2',3'-cNMP C_LIO_LILRR domains of CNLs perceive 2',3'-cNMP to mediate immunity C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

In vivo Calcium Imaging in the Near-Infrared II Window

Non-invasive deep-tissue calcium imaging of live mammals with high sensitivity and resolution is challenging owing to light scattering experienced by traditional calcium ion (Ca2+) indicators with excitation and emission wavelengths within 400-750 nm. Here, we report near-infrared II (NIR-II) calcium imaging beyond 1000 nm by exploring a natural protein derived from a bacterium (Thermochromatium tepidum) living in a calcium carbonate-rich environment. This highly photostable fluorescent protein enables NIR-II imaging of intracellular Ca2+ responses to stimulant drugs in cultured mammalian cells with sensitivity comparable to that of visible Ca2+ indicators. We achieve in vivo NIR-II imaging of Ca2+ transients in response to two different tumor treatment strategies in intact tumors with high sensitivity, resolution, and contrast, opening the possibility of non-invasive deep-tissue calcium imaging for assessing treatment efficacy longitudinally. TOC Graphic O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=105 SRC="FIGDIR/small/661443v2_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (24K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@149504eorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@37722borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2878a7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1091d0c_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2022

A longitudinal CA2/3 to CA1 circuit for initiating context-dependent associative learning

Associating environmental context with emotional experience is a vital brain function that requires the activity in both dorsal and ventral hippocampus. While only ventral hippocampus connects with the amygdala, a hub for fear learning, it remains unclear how the two hippocampal areas interact during contextual fear conditioning (CFC). We found that projections from dorsal CA2/CA3 (dCA2/3) to the dorsal part of ventral CA1 (vCA1d) contributed significantly to CFC. Deep-brain Ca2+ imaging revealed a CFC-enhanced difference in neuronal activities evoked by conditioned vs. neutral environmental context in both dCA2/3 and vCA1d areas. Notably, contextual fear retrieval correlated with changes in conditioned context-evoked activity in vCA1d, but not in dCA2/3. Furthermore, slice recordings showed that CFC potentiated dCA2/3-to-vCA1d projection strength, in line with coordinated elevation of monosynaptic excitation and reduction of disynaptic inhibition mediated by somatostatin-expressing interneurons. Thus, vCA1d represents a critical site for initiating emotional association with contextual information from dCA2/3.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

An intein-split transactivator for intersectional neural imaging and optogenetic manipulation

The complexity of brain circuitry is manifested by numerous cell types based on genetic marker, location and neural connectivity. Cell-type specific recording and manipulation is essential to disentangle causal neural mechanisms in physiology and behavior; however, many current approaches are largely limited by number of intersectional features, incompatibility of common effectors and insufficient gene expression. To tackle these limitations, we devise an intein-based intersectional synthesis of transactivator (IBIST) to selectively control gene expression of common effectors in specific cell types defined by a combination of multiple features. We validate the specificity and sufficiency of IBIST to control common effectors including fluorophores, optogenetic opsins and Ca2+ indicators in various intersectional conditions in vivo. Using IBIST-based Ca2+ imaging, we show that the IBIST can intersect up to five features, and that hippocampal cells tune differently to distinct emotional valences depending on the pattern of projection targets. Collectively, the IBIST multiplexes the capability to intersect cell-type features and is compatible with common effectors to effectively control gene expression, monitor and manipulate neural activities.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Longitudinal single-cell immune profiling revealed distinct innate immune response in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients

Recent studies have characterized the single-cell immune landscape of host immune response of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), specifically focus on the severe condition. However, the immune response in mild or even asymptomatic patients remains unclear. Here, we performed longitudinal single-cell transcriptome sequencing and T cell/B cell receptor sequencing on 3 healthy donors and 10 COVID-19 patients with asymptomatic, moderate, and severe conditions. We found asymptomatic patients displayed distinct innate immune responses, including increased CD56briCD16- NK subset, which was nearly missing in severe condition and enrichment of a new Th2-like cell type/state expressing a ciliated cell marker. Unlike that in moderate condition, asymptomatic patients lacked clonal expansion of effector CD8+ T cells but had a robust effector CD4+ T cell clonal expansion, coincide with previously detected SARS-CoV-2-reactive CD4+ T cells in unexposed individuals. Moreover, NK and effector T cells in asymptomatic patients have upregulated cytokine related genes, such as IFNG and XCL2. Our data suggest early innate immune response and type I immunity may contribute to the asymptomatic phenotype in COVID-19 disease, which could in turn deepen our understanding of severe COVID-19 and guide early prediction and therapeutics.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2018

A Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies SNP Markers for Virulence in Magnaporthe oryzae Isolates from Sub-Saharan Africa

The fungal phytopathogen Magnaporthe oryzae causes blast disease in cereals such as rice and finger millet worldwide. In this study, we assessed genetic diversity of 160 isolates from nine sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other principal rice producing countries and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify the genomic regions associated with virulence of M. oryzae. GBS of isolates provided a large and high-quality 617K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset. Disease ratings for each isolate was obtained by inoculating them onto differential lines and locally-adapted rice cultivars. Genome-wide association studies were conducted using the GBS dataset and sixteen disease rating datasets. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used an alternative to population structure analysis for studying population stratification from genotypic data. A significant association between disease phenotype and 528 SNPs was observed in six GWA analyses. Homology of sequences encompassing the significant SNPs was determined to predict gene identities and functions. Seventeen genes recurred in six GWA analyses, suggesting a strong association with virulence. Here, the putative genes/genomic regions associated with the significant SNPs are presented.

genetics↗