RNA-Seq transcriptome profiling of immature grain wheat is a technique for understanding comparative modeling of baking quality.

Improving the baking quality is a primary challenge in the wheat flour production value chain, as baking quality represents a crucial factor in determining its overall value. In the present study, we conducted a comparative RNA-Seq analysis on the high baking quality mutant "O-64.1.10" genotype and its low baking quality wild type "Omid" cultivar to recognize potential genes associated with bread quality. The cDNA libraries were constructed from immature grains that were 15 days post-anthesis, with an average of 16.24 and 18.97 million paired-end short-read sequences in the mutant and wild-type, respectively. A total number of 733 transcripts with differential expression were identified, 585 genes up-regulated and 188 genes down-regulated in the "O-64.1.10" genotype compared to the "Omid". In addition, the families of HSF, bZIP, C2C2-Dof, B3-ARF, BES1, C3H, GRF, HB-HD-ZIP, PLATZ, MADS-MIKC, GARP-G2-like, NAC, OFP and TUB were appeared as the key transcription factors with specific expression in the "O-64.1.10" genotype. At the same time, pathways related to baking quality were identified through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Collectively, we found that the endoplasmic network, metabolic pathways, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, hormone signaling pathway, B group vitamins, protein pathways, pathways associated with carbohydrate and fat metabolism, as well as the biosynthesis and metabolism of various amino acids, have a great deal of potential to play a significant role in the baking quality. Ultimately, the RNA-seq results were confirmed using quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR for some hub genes such as alpha-gliadin, low molecular weight glutenin subunit and terpene synthase (gibberellin) and as a resource for future study, 127 EST-SSR primers were generated using RNA-seq data.

The effects of galactooligosaccharide on systemic and mucosal immune response, growth performance and appetite related gene transcript in goldfish (Carassius auratus gibelio).

The present study investigates the effects of supplementation of goldfish (Carassius auratus gibelio) diet with galactooligosaccharide (GOS) on serum immune response, mucosal immune parameters as well as appetite-related (Ghrelin) and immune-related (TNF-1α and TNF-2α) genes expression. One hundred and eighty fish with an average weight of 4.88 ± 0.28 g were stocked in twelve 500-L fiberglass tank assigned to four treatments repeated in triplicates. Fish were fed on experimental diets contain 0.5, 1 and 2% GOS for 6 weeks. Supplementation of diet with GOS had no remarkable effect on goldfish growth performance (P > 0.05). Evaluation of serum innate immune parameters revealed that supplementation of diet with GOS significantly elevated total protein, Albumin, Globulins, Lysozyme and Alkaline phosphatase activity as well as agglutination compared to control group in a dose dependent manner (P < 0.0.5). Also, Fish fed 2% GOS supplemented diet showed increased skin mucus immune response (total protein and lysozyme activity) compared other groups (P < 0.0.5); except in case of ALP activity. Molecular studies on appetite (ghrelin) and inflammatory cytokine (TNF-1α and TNF-2α) genes expression revealed remarkably decrease and increase, respectively in GOS fed fish (P < 0.0.5). These results showed immunomodulatory effects of dietary GOS on serum and skin mucus response as well as expression of inflammatory cytokines in goldfish, though this supplement decreased appetite gene expression and had no effect on growth performance.

Change in membrane fatty acid compositions and cold-induced responses in chickpea.

Plant cells often increase cold tolerance by reprogramming their genes expression which results in adjusted metabolic alternations, a process enhanced under cold acclimation (CA) phase. In present study, we assessed the changes of membrane fatty acid compositions and defense machine (like antioxidative enzymes) along with damage indexes like electrolyte leakage index (ELI) and malondialdehyde (MDA) during CA, cold stress (CS) and recovery (R) phases in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Results showed an increase in unsaturated fatty acids ratio compare to saturated ones which is a sign of cold tolerance especially after CA phase. Antioxidant enzymes had an important role during CA and R phases while CS affected their activity which can be a sign for associating other metabolites or enzymes activities to create cold tolerance in plants. To investigation of enzymes assay under experimental treatments, the expression pattern of some enzymes including superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat) and lipoxygenase (lox) was studied using quantitative real time PCR. LOX activity has shown a bilateral behavior: a positive relation with membrane damage index in CA and an interesting link with double bond index (DBI) in CS indicating probably its role in secondary metabolites like jasmonic acid signaling pathway. It was suggested that increased DBI and low LOX activity under CS could be a reason for plant cold tolerance.