With the application and development of high-throughput sequencing technology in life and health sciences, massive multi-omics data brings the problem of efficient management and utilization. Database development and biocuration are the prerequisites for the reuse of these big data. Here, relying on China National GeneBank (CNGB), we present CNGB Sequence Archive (CNSA) for archiving omics data, including raw sequencing data and its further analyzed results which are organized into six objects, namely Project, Sample, Experiment, Run, Assembly and Variation at present. Moreover, CNSA has created a correlation model of living samples, sample information and analytical data on some projects. Both living samples and analytical data are directly correlated with the sample information. From either one, information or data of the other two can be obtained, so that all data can be traced throughout the life cycle from the living sample to the sample information to the analytical data. Complying with the data standards commonly used in the life sciences, CNSA is committed to building a comprehensive and curated data repository for storing, managing and sharing of omics data. We will continue to improve the data standards and provide free access to open-data resources for worldwide scientific communities to support academic research and the bio-industry. Database URL: https://db.cngb.org/cnsa/.

Artemisinin is a type of sesquiterpene lactone well known as an antimalarial drug, and is specifically produced in glandular trichomes of Artemisia annua. However, the regulatory network for the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway remains poorly understood. Exploration of trichome-specific transcription factors would facilitate the elucidation of regulatory mechanism of artemisinin biosynthesis. The WRKY transcription factor GLANDULAR TRICHOME-SPECIFIC WRKY 1 (AaGSW1) was cloned and analysed in A. annua. AaGSW1 exhibited similar expression patterns to the trichome-specific genes of the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway and AP2/ERF transcription factor AaORA. A β-glucuronidase (GUS) staining assay further demonstrated that AaGSW1 is a glandular trichome-specific transcription factor. AaGSW1 positively regulates CYP71AV1 and AaORA expression by directly binding to the W-box motifs in their promoters. Overexpression of AaGSW1 in A. annua significantly improves artemisinin and dihydroartemisinic acid contents; moreover, AaGSW1 can be directly regulated by AaMYC2 and AabZIP1, which are positive regulators of jasmonate (JA)- and abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated artemisinin biosynthetic pathways, respectively. These results demonstrate that AaGSW1 is a glandular trichome-specific WRKY transcription factor and a positive regulator in the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway. Moreover, we propose that two trifurcate feed-forward pathways involving AaGSW1, CYP71AV1 and AaMYC2/AabZIP1 function in the JA/ABA response in A. annua.

SummaryThe glandular secretory trichomes (GSTs) on Artemisia annua leaves have the capacity to secrete and store artemisinin, a compound which is the most effective treatment for uncomplicated malaria. An effective strategy to improve artemisinin content is therefore to increase the density of GSTs in A. annua. However, the formation mechanism of GSTs remains poorly understood.To explore the mechanisms of GST initiation in A. annua, we screened myeloblastosis (MYB) transcription factor genes from a GST transcriptome database and identified a MIXTA transcription factor, AaMIXTA1, which is expressed predominantly in the basal cells of GST in A. annua. Overexpression and repression of AaMIXTA1 resulted in an increase and decrease, respectively, in the number of GSTs as well as the artemisinin content in transgenic plants.Transcriptome analysis and cuticular lipid profiling showed that AaMIXTA1 is likely to be responsible for activating cuticle biosynthesis. In addition, dual-luciferase reporter assays further demonstrated that AaMIXTA1 could directly activate the expression of genes related to cuticle biosynthesis.Taken together, AaMIXTA1 regulated cuticle biosynthesis and prompted GST initiation without any abnormal impact on the morphological structure of the GSTs and so provides a new way to improve artemisinin content in this important medicinal plant.

Plants, as sessile organisms, must coordinate various physiological processes to adapt to ever-changing surrounding environments. Stomata, the epidermal pores facilitating gas and water exchange, play important roles in optimizing photosynthetic efficiency and adaptability. Stomatal development is under the control of an intrinsic program mediated by a secretory peptide gene familynamely, EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR, including positively acting STOMAGEN/EPFL9. The phytohormone brassinosteroids and environment factor light also control stomatal production. However, whether auxin regulates stomatal development and whether peptide signaling is coordinated with auxin signaling in the regulation of stomatal development remain largely unknown. Here we show that auxin negatively regulates stomatal development through MONOPTEROS (also known as ARF5) repression of the mobile peptide gene STOMAGEN in mesophyll. Through physiological, genetic, transgenic, biochemical, and molecular analyses, we demonstrate that auxin inhibits stomatal development through the nuclear receptor TIR1/AFB-mediated signaling, and that MONOPTEROS directly binds to the STOMAGEN promoter to suppress its expression in mesophyll and inhibit stomatal development. Our results provide a paradigm of cross-talk between phytohormone auxin and peptide signaling in the regulation of stomatal production.A uxin is the first identified phytohormone, which exerts multifaceted influences on plant growth and development, such as embryonic root initiation (1, 2), shoot apical meristem function (3), and floral primordia initiation (4). As a "molecular glue," auxin facilitates the formation of its coreceptor complexes comprising F-box proteins (TIR1/AFBs) and AUXIN/INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID proteins (AUX/IAAs), and subsequent AUX/ IAAs ubiquitination and degradation by 26S proteasome, thus releasing auxin response factors (ARFs) from AUX/IAAs repression to regulate auxin-responsive gene expression by either activation or repression (2, 3, 5-11). Although many physiologic processes are reported to be regulated by auxin (1-4, 6, 12), the full understanding of the functions of this versatile phytohormone has not been reached.Stomata, the pores flanked by a pair of guard cells, mainly constitute the epidermis of plant leaves together with trichomes and neighboring pavement cells that separate stomata to maintain the one-cell spacing rule (13,14). As a gas and water passage between external environment and internal plant tissue, stomata play important roles in photosynthesis and global carbon and water circulation (15). Stomatal generation undergoes several stages, including meristemoid mother cell, meristemoid, guard mother cell, and guard cells, which is modulated by an intrinsic program (14) mainly involving putative peptide ligands [EPI-DERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF) family] (16-20), membrane proteins (receptor-like protein TMM and receptorlike kinase ERECTA family) (21-23), MAPK cascades (protein kinase YDA, MKK4/5/7/9, and MPK3/6) (24-26), and transcription factors (bHLH...

This study examined the characteristics associated with popularity and social preference in 769 14-year-old adolescents (54 percent boys) from mainland China. Consistent with findings from other countries, popularity and social preference were moderately correlated and overt aggression was positively correlated with popularity but negatively correlated with social preference. Prosocial behavior, athletic skill, dating, academic achievement, and mutual friends were positively associated with both popularity and social preference, with the effects for prosocial behavior, athletic skill, and dating greater for popularity than for social preference. The strong correlations between popularity and prosocial behavior are consistent with Confucian ideas of moral leadership and the obligations of high status individuals toward others. Cultural values are also reflected in the association of popularity with academic achievement. The inconsistent findings from China regarding the relation between aggression and popularity may stem from multiple factors including the absence of a suitable Chinese translation for popularity.