Fifteen SPL (SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE) genes were identified and characterized in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Qinyan95. The exon-intron structures of these genes were determined according to the coding sequences confirmed by RT-PCR and the genomic DNA sequences downloaded from the databases in Sol Genomics Network, and thirteen of them were found to carry the response element of miR156. To elucidate the origin of the validated NtabSPL genes, multiple alignments of the nucleotide sequences encompassing the open reading frames were conducted by using the orthologs in N. tabacum, Nicotiana sylvestris, Nicotiana tomentosiformis, and Nicotiana otophora. The results showed that six NtabSPL genes were derived from a progenitor of N. sylvestris, and nine NtabSPL genes were derived from a progenitor of N. tomentosiformis, further corroborating that N. tabacum came from the interspecific hybridization between the ancestors of N. sylvestris and N. tomentosiformis. In contrast to previous statements about highly repetitive sequences, the genome of N. tabacum mainly retained the paternal-derived SPL genes in diploidization process. Phylogenetic analyses based on the highly conserved SBP (SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN) domains and the full-length amino acid sequences reveal that the SPL proteins of tobacco, tomato, and Arabidopsis can be categorized into eight groups. It is worth noting that N. tabacum contains seven NtabSPL6 genes originated from two parental genomes and NtabSPL6-2 possesses a GC-AG intron. In addition, transgenic tobacco plants harboring Arabidopsis Pri-miR156A were generated by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method, and the constitutive expression of miR156 could obviously inhibit the activity of the NtabSPL genes containing its target site, suggesting the function of miR156 is conservative in tobacco and Arabidopsis.

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Background Disordered inflammation and immune response is an acknowledged risk factor for cervical cancer development. Interleukin‐1 receptor type 2 (IL1R2) is a decoy receptor for IL‐1 cytokines and involved in host inflammatory and immune progression which could lead to the lesion and neoplasia of cervix. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationships between IL1R2 polymorphisms and cervical cancer risk in Uygur females from China. Methods In this case–control study, genotypes of six selected variants (rs11674595, rs4851527, rs719250, rs3218896, rs3218977, and rs2072472) distributed in IL1R2 were detected among 247 cervical cancer patients and 286 healthy controls with the usage of an Agena MassARRY method. Furthermore, Genetic models and haplotype analyses were conducted to estimate the associations of IL1R2 polymorphisms with cervical cancer risk. Results After statistical analyses, rs719250 (odd ratio [OR] = 1.436, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.079–1.911, p = 0.013) and rs3218896 (OR = 1.552, 95% CI = 1.080–2.229, p = 0.017) showed obvious evidence in correlation to cervical cancer susceptibility owing to the surviving significant differences between cases and controls in allele model. Genetic model analyses also revealed significant associations of rs719250 and rs3218896 with cervical cancer risk in the codominant model, the dominant model and the log‐additive model even after adjustment for age (p < 0.05). Moreover, haplotype “T/A” of rs11674595/rs4851527 (adjusted OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.54–0.98, p = 0.037) and “T/C” of rs719250/rs3218896 (adjusted OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.10–2.36, p = 0.015) exhibited protective and risky effects for Uygur individuals on cervical cancer development, respectively. Conclusion Our data first shed the new light on the associations of IL1R2 polymorphisms with cervical cancer susceptibility among Uygur females. These results are supposed to facilitate the tumorigenesis genetic research among Chinese minorities.