No abstract

The growth regulating factor (GRF) family is a conserved class of transcription factors involved in various biological processes in plants. However, there have been only a few studies of the GRF family genes in cucumber, Cucumis sativus (Cs). In this study, we identified and characterized 8 CsGRF genes in cucumber. Two highly conserved domains, QLQ and WRC, were identified to be present in all CsGRF proteins. In addition, three less conserved domains (FFD, TQL, and GGPL) were also detected in some CsGRF members. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the GRF genes from cucumber, Arabidopsis, tomato, rice and maize could be classified into 10 groups, and CsGRFs were clustered closer with the GRF genes from dicots (Arabidopsis and tomato) than with those from monocots (rice and maize). Promoter analysis revealed that the CsGRF genes were involved in cucumber growth and development as well as in responses to various hormones and stresses. Transcriptome data showed that the CsGRF genes have distinct expression patterns in different tissues, especially in ovaries and leaves. Expression profiling analysis indicated that all CsGRF genes were responsive to salt and drought stress treatments. These results demonstrate that the cucumber GRF gene family may function in organ development and plant stress responses.

MADS-box proteins play vital roles in plant growth and development. However, few studies have addressed the biological functions of MADS-box genes in cucumber. In this study, a MADS-box gene, CsMADS25, was cloned from cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The open reading frame (ORF) of CsMADS25 was 810 bp in length and encoded a deduced protein consisting of 269 amino acids with a calculated MW of 30.53 kDa and a theoretical pI of 5.38. Sequence alignment showed that CsMADS25 shared the highest amino acid identity with CmMADS09 from Cucumis melo. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that CsMADS25 was clustered with AGL18 proteins with high bootstrap values. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of CsMADS25 was observably regulated by various abiotic stresses and GAtreatments. Overexpression of CsMADS25 resulted in dwarf and small-leaf phenotypes in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, and the leaf index value (leaf length/width ratio) of transgenic plants was dramatically increased compared with that of wild-type (WT) plants. These findings suggest that CsMADS25 might play important roles in various developmental processes and in response to abiotic stress of cucumber.

The floral homeotic C-function MADS gene AGAMOUS (AG) in Arabidopsis plays crucial roles in specifying stamen and carpel identities as well as determining floral meristem. However, there have been only a few studies of floral homeotic C-function genes in cucumber thus far. In the present study, CsMADS24, a putative AG ortholog from cucumber, was isolated and characterized. Sequence analysis and protein sequence alignment revealed that the deduced CsMADS24 protein contained the typical MIKC structure and the N-terminal extension, as well as two highly conserved AG motifs (I and II). Phylogenetic analysis showed that CsMADS24 fell into the clade of core eudicots, while being distant from the AG orthologs of basal eudicots, monocots and gymnosperms. Expression analysis by RT-PCR showed that CsMADS24 was exclusively expressed in female flower buds. In situ hybridization revealed that CsMADS24 expression was only detected in the carpels. Functional analyses indicated that the sepals were partly converted into carpelloid-like structures in 35S::35S::CsMADS24 transgenic plants. In addition, earlier flowering and delayed floral organ abscission during the development of siliques were also observed in transgenic Arabidopsis. Our findings demonstrate that the AG ortholog plays an exclusive role in carpel specification of cucumber, providing a basis for revealing the mechanisms of reproductive development in cucumber.

The aim of this study was to identify the predictors of postoperative hydrocephalus in patients with lateral ventricular tumors (LVTs) and to guide the management of perioperative hydrocephalus. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients who received LVT resection at the Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2011 and March 2021. Patients were divided between a prophylactic external ventricular drainage (EVD) group and a non-prophylactic EVD group. We analyzed the non-prophylactic EVD group to identify predictors of acute postoperative hydrocephalus. We analyzed all enrolled patients to determine predictors of postoperative ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. A total of 97 patients were included in this study. EVD was performed in 23 patients with postoperative acute obstructive hydrocephalus, nine patients with communicative hydrocephalus, and two patients with isolated hydrocephalus. Logistic regression analysis showed that tumor anterior invasion of the ventricle (P = 0.020) and postoperative hemorrhage (P = 0.004) were independent risk factors for postoperative acute obstructive hydrocephalus, while a malignant tumor (P = 0.004) was an independent risk factor for a postoperative ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In conclusion, anterior invasion of the lateral ventricle and postoperative hemorrhage are independent risk factors for acute obstructive hydrocephalus after LVT resection. Patients with malignant tumors have a greater risk of shunt dependence after LVT resection.