DNA transfection is often the bottleneck of research and gene therapy practices. To explore the mechanism regulating transgene expression, we investigated the role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway, which induces type-I interferons in response to DNA. We confirmed that deletion of cGAS enhances transgene expression at the protein level by~2-to 3-fold. This enhancement is inversely correlated with the expression of interferons and interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), which suppress expression of transfected genes at the mRNA level. Mechanistically, DNA transfection activates the cGAS-STING pathway and induces the expression of the OAS family proteins, leading to the activation of RNaseL and degradation of mRNA derived from transgenes. Administration of chemical inhibitors that block cGAS-mediated signaling cascades improves the expression of transgenes by~1.5-to 3-fold in multiple cell lines and primary cells, including T cells. These data suggest that targeting the cGAS-STING pathway can improve transgene expression, and this strategy may be applied to gene therapy.

A series of spinel-doped lithium manganese oxides, Li x Mn y Ti z O 4.00 ͑0.973 Յ x Յ 1.018, 1.893 Յ y Յ 1.959, z Ϸ 0.050͒, Li x Mn y Ti z Ni m O 4.00 ͑0.981 Յ x Յ 1.010, 1.903 Յ y Յ 1.951, z Ϸ 0.050, m Ϸ 0.030͒, Li x Mn y Ti z Co m O 4.00 ͑0.953 Յ x Յ 1.004, 1.912 Յ y Յ 1.968, z Ϸ 0.050, m Ϸ 0.009͒, have been prepared using the solid-state reaction of a titanium-doped electrolytic manganese dioxide, lithium hydroxide, and doping agents. The oxides have been characterized using several advanced techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared analysis, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, cyclic voltammograms and charge/discharge cycles. The experimental results show that the Li 0.973 Mn 1.893 Ti 0.048 O 4.00 sample, prepared at 600°C, showed the best electrochemical performance during the charge/discharge tests and storage process in all samples. In the voltage region of 4.6-2.5 V, the initial capacities of the fresh, discharge-storage, and charge-storage cell for the Li 0.973 Mn 1.893 Ti 0.048 O 4.00 sample are 206, 144, and 175 mA h g −1 , respectively. In the voltage region of 4.3-3.4 V, the capacity fade of the sample was 5.3% in 150 cycles. After being doped by titanium ions, the spinel Li 0.973 Mn 1.893 Ti 0.048 O 4.00 exhibits a lower lattice constant and stronger Mn-O bond than a pure spinel does.

Background Osmanthus fragrans (Oleaceae) is one of the most important ornamental plant species in China. Many cultivars with different leaf color phenotypes and good ornamental value have recently been developed. For example, a new cultivar ‘Qiannan Guifei’, presents a rich variety of leaf colors, which change from red to yellow-green and ultimately to green as leaves develop, making this cultivar valuable for landscaping. However, the biochemical characteristics and molecular mechanisms underlying leaf color changes of these phenotypes have not been elucidated. It has been hypothesized that the biosynthesis of different pigments in O. fragrans might change during leaf coloration. Here, we analyzed transcriptional changes in genes involved in chlorophyll (Chl), flavonoid, and carotenoid metabolic pathways and identified candidate genes responsible for leaf coloration in the new cultivar ‘Qiannan Guifei’. Methods Leaf samples were collected from ‘Qiannan Guifei’ plants at the red (R), yellow-green (YG) and green (G) leaf stages. We compared the different-colored leaves via leaf pigment concentrations, chloroplast ultrastructure, and transcriptomic data. We further analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in the Chl, flavonoid, and carotenoid metabolic pathways. In addition, we used qRT-PCR to validate expression patterns of the DEGs at the three stages. Results We found that, compared with those at the G stage, chloroplasts at the R and YG stages were less abundant and presented abnormal morphologies. Pigment analyses revealed that the leaves had higher flavonoid and anthocyanin levels at the R stage but lower Chl and carotenoid concentrations. Similarly, Chl and carotenoid concentrations were lower at the YG stage than at the G stage. By using transcriptomic sequencing, we further identified 61 DEGs involved in the three pigment metabolic pathways. Among these DEGs, seven structural genes (OfCHS, OfCHI, OfF3H, OfDFR, OfANS, OfUGT andOf3AT) involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway were expressed at the highest level at the R stage, thereby increasing the biosynthesis of flavonoids, especially anthocyanins. Six putativeOfMYB genes, including three flavonoid-related activators and three repressors, were also highly expressed at the R stage, suggesting that they might coordinately regulate the accumulation of flavonoids, including anthocyanins. Additionally, expressions of the Chl biosynthesis-related genes OfHEMA, OfCHLG and OfCAO and the carotenoid biosynthesis-related genes OfHYB and OfZEP were upregulated from the R stage to the G stage, which increased the accumulation of Chl and carotenoids throughout leaf development. In summary, we screened the candidate genes responsible for the leaf color changes of ‘Qiannan Guifei’, improved current understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying leaf coloration and provided potential targets for future leaf color improvement in O. fragrans.

In the title compound, C20H14FN3, the pyrimidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation. The dihedral angle between the benzimidazole ring system and the fluoro­phenyl ring is 84.18 (10)°. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked into a two-dimensional network parallel to the bc plane by N—H⋯N and C—H⋯F hydrogen bonds.

Scaling is the most commonly used technique to artificially propagate lilies. Scales from different positions of the donor bulb vary in regeneration efficiency; however, the mechanism underlying bulblet formation remains unclear. To investigate the relationship between scale morphological characteristics, initial nutrient status and bulblet regeneration capacities during scale propagation of Lilium, we performed comprehensive morphological and correlation analyses using scales from three lily cultivars. Principal component analysis clearly distinguished middle scale (MS) from outer scale (OS) by morphological characteristics alone. Morphological results indicated that MS and OS differ significantly in terms of scale width, facial area, basal area, volume, length-to-width ratio and width-to-thickness ratio. Correlation analysis showed that scale width was significantly positively correlated with both the quantity and quality of regenerated bulblets. Among the cultivars, starch and soluble sugars accounted for 50–80% of scale DW. And a higher initial ratio of sucrose to starch in scales was more conducive to the bulblets formation. Although light had no effect on the incidence of bulblets, the formation of bulblets was positively enhanced, and better morphological consistency was obtained. This present study achieved a comprehensive morphological and nutritional analysis focused on bulblet formation capacities of scales from different positions of lily bulbs via scaling propagation, laying a foundation for future molecular studies on bulblet formation.