IntroductionCadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that severely threatens safe food production. Zhe-Maidong, a well-known Chinese traditional herbal medicine, is susceptible to Cd stress. However, the characteristics of Cd transformation and migration, as well as the regulatory system for genes conferring Cd accumulation of Zhe-Maidong, remains an essential issue to be addressed.MethodsZhe-Maidong seedling growth in Cd-contaminated and uncontaminated soil was conducted for 90 days. The Cd concentration was determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, and the Cd2+ fluorescence probe detected Cd distributions. The root transcriptome of Zhe-Maidong was then evaluated using various Cd stress hydroponic treatments designated Cd-0, Cd-M, and Cd-H.Results and discussionThe enrichment factor (EF) value in the root was four times that of the leaves, indicating that the root has a high ability to absorb and accumulate Cd. The Cd2+ were mainly distributed in the root hair and the epidermis in both roots and leaves, revealing that the epidermal cells of roots may collect Cd2+ and also have an outstanding role in Cd2+ uptake. A total of 50 DEGs involved in Cd translocation and accumulation were identified. Among these DEGs, ANN, ABCC2/4, HMA1- 5, and CCX gene expression were positively correlated with EF-root, EF-leaf, EF-total, Cd-leaf, Cd-root, and Cd-plant, indicating their role in Cd transport and accumulation under Cd-stress. These data could be helpful in uncovering the Cd accumulation characteristics in Zhe-Maidong, as well as provide a bioinformatic foundation for investigations on finding gene functions and the screening of candidate genes related to Cd accumulation.

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To study the influence of drug cocrystal on the solubility of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The ETZ·2TMA·MeOH cocrystal was obtained by the solution evaporation crystallization method. The cocrystal structure was characterized by Single Crystal X-ray Diffractometer. The single crystal belongs to orthorhombic crystal system with space group P212121(no.19), a = 12.9863(9) Å, b = 16.6603(11) Å, c = 25.9260(16) Å, V = 5609.2(6) Å3, Z = 8, T = 170.00 K. The main forces are the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the amide groups on ETZ and the carboxyl groups on TMA and the hydroxyl group on methanol. In addition, the solubility of ETZ and ETZ·2TMA·MeOH cocrystal was determined. The results show that, in contrast to most cocrystal systems that improve solubility, the solubility of ETZ·2TMA·MeOH decreased to 19.30 % of pure ETZ.

C13H10N4O7, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 10.7017(7) Å, b = 7.1240(5) Å, c = 19.0878(13) Å, β = 99.280(3)°, V = 1436.19(17) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt (F) = 0.0586, wRref (F 2) = 0.1746, T = 296.15 K.

Pepper is an important condiment, and its aroma affects its commercial value. In this study, transcriptome sequencing and combined headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were used to analyze the differentially expressed genes and volatile organic compounds in spicy and non-spicy pepper fruits. Compared with non-spicy fruits, there were 27 up-regulated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 3353 up-regulated genes (Up-DEGs) in spicy fruits. The results of KEGG enrichment analysis of the Up-DEGs combined with differential VOCs analysis showed that fatty acid biosynthesis and terpenoid biosynthesis may be the main metabolic pathways for aroma differences between non-spicy and spicy pepper fruits. The expression levels of the fatty acid biosynthesis-related genes FAD, LOX1, LOX5, HPL, and ADH and the key terpene synthesis gene TPS in spicy pepper fruits were significantly higher than those in non-spicy pepper fruits. The differential expression of these genes may be the reason for the different aroma. The results can provide reference for the development and utilization of high-aroma pepper germplasm resources and the breeding of new varieties.