No abstract

To align the dynamic protein-protein interaction networks (DPINs) might help to better understand the molecular network genetic mechanisms of flower development in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this paper, the microarray data of flower development in Arabidopsis were obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The active expressed genes at each time point were screened using sigma method. The DPIN at each time point were reconstructed using search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) and then visualized with Cytoscape, and enrichment analysis implemented using clusterProfiler package of the R language. We improved NetCoffee 2, a multi-time, multi-dimensional, and multi-level network alignment algorithm, NetCoffee 2+, was developed for floral development of A. thaliana. In this paper, a network alignment algorithm applied to A. thaliana, NetCoffee 2+, was developed, and the key proteins and protein complexes during floral development in A. thaliana were mined, with new potential ABCDE-like genes discovered.

Natural forests of Cyclocarya paliurus have been seriously damaged because of the extreme demand for leaf medicinal uses, making conservation of this valuable, medicinal woody species necessary. Because of geographical differentiation and diverse adaptability, in this study we analysed the variations in plant growth and physiological response to environmental factors at a resource plantation of ex situ conservation and determined the homological relationships between local provenance (from Fujian Province, FJ) and introduced provenances showing high-survival rate and better growth (from Zhejiang, Hubei, Guizhou and Jiangxi Province). Our results suggested the following: (i) Plant growth: FJ had the highest plant height but not the largest basal diameter in comparison to that of other provenances. (ii) Physiological responses during the growth periods: water content in leaf of FJ had similar change with that of other provenances, except for the provenance from Guizhou Province; total soluble sugar content in leaf of FJ was more than that of other provenances; calcium content in leaf of all provenances was higher as compared to K, Mg and Na; the highest activity among four kinds of antioxidant enzymes in all provenances was superoxide dismutase, then was polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase, finally was catalase; and total flavonoid among three kinds of secondary metabolites in all provenances showed the greatest content, followed by polysaccharides and total triterpenoid. (iii) Relation analysis: plant growth and physiological responses related with environmental factors, especially temperature and precipitation. (iv) Homological relationships: leaf characteristics among six provenances varied in colour, area and common petiole length, but not the shape of leaf base or apex. Cyclocarya paliurus distributed in Fujian Province showed a very close homological relationship with that distributed in Zhejiang Province by simple sequence repeat. These findings will provide knowledge on physiological response to environmental factors and aid to select suitable provenances for Cyclocarya cultivation.