Profiling of transcriptional regulators associated with starch biosynthesis in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.).

Starch presents as the major component of grain endosperm of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and other cereals, serving as the main energy supplier for both plants and animals, as well as important industrial raw materials of human beings, and was intensively concerned world widely. However, few documents focused on the pathway and transcriptional regulations of starch biosynthesis in sorghum. Here we presented the RNA-sequencing profiles of 20 sorghum tissues at different developmental stages to dissect key genes associated with sorghum starch biosynthesis and potential transcriptional regulations. A total of 1,708 highly expressed genes were detected, namely, 416 in grains, 736 in inflorescence, 73 in the stalk, 215 in the root, and 268 genes in the leaf. Besides, 27 genes encoded key enzymes associated with starch biosynthesis in sorghum were identified, namely, six for ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), 10 for starch synthases (SSs), four for both starch-branching enzymes (SBE) and starch-debranching enzymes (DBEs), two for starch phosphorylases (SPs), and one for Brittle-1 (BT1). In addition, 65 transcription factors (TFs) that are highly expressed in endosperm were detected to co-express with 16 out of 27 genes, and 90 cis-elements were possessed by all 27 identified genes. Four NAC TFs were cloned, and the further assay results showed that three of them could in vitro bind to the CACGCAA motif within the promoters of SbBt1 and SbGBSSI, two key genes associated with starch biosynthesis in sorghum, functioning in similar ways that reported in other cereals. These results confirmed that sorghum starch biosynthesis might share the same or similar transcriptional regulations documented in other cereals, and provided informative references for further regulatory mechanism dissection of TFs involved in starch biosynthesis in sorghum.

Three-Dimensional Heterogeneity of Cerebellar Interposed Nucleus-Recipient Zones in the Thalamic Nuclei.

The cerebellum is conceptualized as a processor of complex movements and is also endowed with roles in cognitive and emotional behaviors. Although the axons of deep cerebellar nuclei are known to project to primary thalamic nuclei, macroscopic investigation of the characteristics of these projections, such as the spatial distribution of recipient zones, is lacking. Here, we studied the output of the cerebellar interposed nucleus (IpN) to the ventrolateral (VL) and centrolateral (CL) thalamic nuclei using electrophysiological recording in vivo and trans-synaptic viral tracing. We found that IpN stimulation induced mono-synaptic evoked potentials (EPs) in the VL but not the CL region. Furthermore, both the EPs induced by the IpN and the innervation of IpN projections displayed substantial heterogeneity across the VL region in three-dimensional space. These findings indicate that the recipient zones of IpN inputs vary between and within thalamic nuclei and may differentially control thalamo-cortical networks.

Magneto is ineffective in controlling electrical properties of cerebellar Purkinje cells.

It was recently reported that a magnetic actuator, Magneto, can control neuronal firings at magnetic strength as low as 50 mT (ref. 1), offering an exciting non-invasive approach to manipulating neuronal activity in a variety of research and clinical applications. We investigated whether Magneto can be used to manipulate electric properties of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum, which play critical roles in motor learning and emotional behaviors2. Surprisingly, we found that the application of a magnetic field did not change any electrical properties of Purkinje cells expressing Magneto, raising serious doubt about the previous claim that Magneto can readily be used as a magnetic actuator1.

MEA6 Deficiency Impairs Cerebellar Development and Motor Performance by Tethering Protein Trafficking.

Meningioma expressed antigen 6 (MEA6), also called cutaneous T cell lymphoma-associated antigen 5 (cTAGE5), was initially found in tumor tissues. MEA6 is located in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites and regulates the transport of collagen, very low density lipoprotein, and insulin. It is also reported that MEA6 might be related to Fahr's syndrome, which comprises neurological, movement, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we show that MEA6 is critical to cerebellar development and motor performance. Mice with conditional knockout of MEA6 (Nestin-Cre;MEA6F/F) display smaller sizes of body and brain compared to control animals, and survive maximal 28 days after birth. Immunohistochemical and behavioral studies demonstrate that these mutant mice have defects in cerebellar development and motor performance. In contrast, PC deletion of MEA6 (pCP2-Cre;MEA6F/F) causes milder phenotypes in cerebellar morphology and motor behaviors. While pCP2-Cre;MEA6F/F mice have normal lobular formation and gait, they present the extensive self-crossing of PC dendrites and damaged motor learning. Interestingly, the expression of key molecules that participates in cerebellar development, including Slit2 and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is significantly increased in ER, suggesting that MEA6 ablation impairs ER function and thus these proteins are arrested in ER. Our study provides insight into the roles of MEA6 in the brain and the pathogenesis of Fahr's syndrome.

[Simultaneous determination of platinum (IV) and palladium (II) using spectrophotometry method].

The N-(m-methylphenyl)-N'-(sodium p-aminobenzenesulfonate)-thiourea (MMPT) was good reagent of water solubility. In the medium of an HAc-NaAc buffer solution and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMAB), MMPT can react with platinum (IV) and palladium (II) to form green and brown soluble complex. The maximum absorbance of the complex was at lambdaPt(max) = 754.4 nm and lambdaPD(max) = 304.6 nm. Beer's law was obeyed with the concentration in the range of 0-32.0 microg Pt(IV)/25 mL and 0-25.0 microg Pd(II)/25 mL for platinum (IV) and palladium(II) respectively. The correlated coefficient was r754.4 = 0.999 5 for platinum (IV); and r304.6 = 0.999 9 for palladium (II). Their molar absorption coefficients were epsilonPT(754.4 = 8.6 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) x cm(-1) and epsilonPd(304.6) = 7.4 x 10(4) L x mol(-1) x cm(-1) respectively. The contents of platinum (IV) and palladium (II) were converted by determination of the absorbency of mix solution of platinum (IV) and palladium (II) at 754.4 and 304.6 nm. Only Cu2+ and Co2+ interfered with the determination of palladium (II) among 50 coexistent ions, so the selectivity was good. It can be used for the determination of content of synthesis samples. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 2.0%, and the recovery (%) was in the range of 96%-104%. The results are satisfactory. Because the reagent reacts with platinum (IV) and palladium (II) to form water soluble complex and does not require pre-separation for simultaneous determination of platinum (IV) and palladium (II), the method is easy to operate, rapid and environment-friendly.