Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is the first key enzyme of the phenypropanoid pathway. A full-length cDNA of PAL gene was isolated from Juglans regia for the first time, and designated as JrPAL. The full-length cDNA of the JrPAL gene contained a 1935bp open reading frame encoding a 645-amino-acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of about 70.4 kD and isoelectric point (pI) of 6.7. The deduced JrPAL protein showed high identities with other plant PALs. Molecular modeling of JrPAL showed that the 3D model of JrPAL was similar to that of PAL protein from Petroselinum crispum (PcPAL), implying that JrPAL may have similar functions with PcPAL. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that JrPAL shared the same evolutionary ancestor of other PALs and had a closer relationship with other angiosperm species. Transcription analysis revealed that JrPAL was expressed in all tested tissues including roots, stems, and leaves, with the highest transcription level being found in roots. Expression profiling analyses by real-time PCR revealed that JrPAL expression was induced by a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses, including UV-B, wounding, cold, abscisic acid and salicylic acid.

Our previous studies revealed RBM8A may play a role in various progressive neurological diseases. The present study aimed to explore the role of RBM8A in Alzheimer's disease (AD). RBM8A is significantly down-regulated in AD. Interestingly, 9186 differentially expressed genes are overlapped from comparisons of AD versus control and RBM8A-low versus RBM8A-high. Weight gene correlation analysis was performed and 9 functional modules were identified. Modules positively correlated with AD and RBM8A-low are significantly involved in the RAP1 signaling pathway, PI3K−AKT signaling pathway, hematopoietic cell lineage, autophagy and APELIN signaling pathway. Fifteen genes (RBM8A, RHBDF2, TNFRSF10B, ACP1, ANKRD39, CA10, CAMK4, CBLN4, LOC284214, NOVA1, PAK1, PPEF1, RGS4, TCEB1 and TMEM118) are identified as hub genes, and the hub gene-based LASSO model can accurately predict the occurrence of AD (AUC = 0.948). Moreover, the RBM8A-module-pathway network was constructed, and low expression of RBM8A down-regulates multiple module genes, including FIP200, Beclin 1, NRBF2, VPS15 and ATG12, which composes key complexes of autophagy. Thus, our study supports that low expression of RBM8A correlates with the decrease of the components of key complexes in autophagy, which could potentially contribute to pathophysiological changes of AD.

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Flowering Locus T (FT) can promote flowering in the plant photoperiod pathway and also facilitates vernalization flowering pathways and other ways to promote flowering. The expression of products of the FT gene is recognized as important parts of the flowering hormone and can induce flowering by long-distance transportation. In the present study, many FT-like genes were isolated, and the transgenic results show that FT gene can promote flowering in plants. This paper reviews the progress of the FT gene and its expression products to provide meaningful information for further studies of the functions of FT genes.

A graphitic ordered mesoporous carbon (G-OMC) has been synthesized for the first time using mesoporous nickel oxide as a template and catalyst and dopamine as a carbon source. The probable formation mechanism for the preparation of G-OMC is also proposed. Characterization by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy indicate that the asprepared mesoporous carbon has a high degree of graphitization. The electrochemical performance of G-OMC is visibly superior to typical CMK-3D in alkalic media, involving fast kinetic transfer, anti-corrosion, a capacitance of 68 mF cm 22 at 0.1 A g 21 and a light increase of the 6000th-cycle capacitance compared to the initial capacitance. In organic electrolyte, a wider potential window of 2.5 V is presented. The fast charge transfer, quick response and anti-corrosion properties promise that G-OMC will have a great prospect as a supercapacitor for energy storage applications.

Mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase (GbMVD) of Ginkgo biloba catalyzes the final step of mevalonic acid pathway by converting the six-carbon mevalonate diphosphate into isopentenyl diphosphate, a precursor of ginkgolides and bilobalide collectively termed terpene trilactones (TTLs). This paper presents the isolation of a 1.2-kb fragment (designated as GbMVDpro) of the 5′-flanking region of GbMVD. Extensive sequence analysis revealed the presence of evolutionarily conserved putative cis-acting elements in lightregulated transcription, hormone signaling (abscisic acid, jasmonate, and salicylic acid), and plant defense (W-box/ WRKY) in the GbMVD promoter region. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis suggested possible involvement of W-box in GbMVD promoter function. To assess the organ-specific and environmentally responsive characteristics of GbMVD expression, GbMVDpro was fused to GUS reporter gene. GbMVDpro::GUS was introduced into tobacco. Histological analysis of the transgenic tobacco showed that GUS mainly localized in the leaf epidermis, stem secondary xylem, and root vasculature. These observations closely correlated with the previously reported presence of GbMVD transcripts in the roots, stems, and leaves. Further functional characterizations in transiently transformed tobacco leaves allowed us to identify the region that can be considered as the minimal promoter. Light and hormonal signals (i.e., ethephon, salicylic acid, and methyl jasmonate) induced the activity of GbMVDpro-driven GUS in transgenic tobacco and enhanced the transcription of GbMVD as well as TTL production in ginkgo seedlings. These results, together with the bioinformatic analysis of GbMVDpro, suggest that the GbMVD promoter harbored a numerous TTL biosynthesis-related cis-elements that regulate the flux of terpenoid precursors.

Graphitic mesoporous carbon (GMC) has been prepared with non-toxic and economical sucrose as the carbon precursor and mesoporous iron oxide as a catalyst at a relatively low carbonization temperature. XRD patterns suggest that GMC is formed by a carbide intermediate. The data of nitrogen sorption exhibit that the GMC possesses a mesoporous structure. Pt nanoparticles are uniformly loaded on the graphitic mesoporous carbon by a facile and effective microwave assisted ethylene glycol process. All the results show that the graphitic mesoporous carbon-supported Pt nanoparticles have superior electrocatalytic properties compared to Vulcan XC-72 and CMK-3 catalyst supports, suggesting this novel and general method will have a bright future in fuel cell applications.

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