Two soybean recombinant inbred line populations, Jinpumkong 2 x SS2-2 (J x S) and Iksannamulkong x SS2-2 (I x S) showed population-specific quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for days to flowering (DF) and days to maturity (DM) and these were closely correlated within population. In the present study, we identified QTLs for six yield-related traits with simple sequence repeat markers, and biological correlations between flowering traits and yield-related traits. The yield-related traits included plant height (PH), node numbers of main stem (NNMS), pod numbers per plant (PNPP), seed numbers per pod (SNPP), 100-seed weight (SW), and seed yield per plant (SYPP). Eighteen QTLs for six yield-related traits were detected on nine chromosomes (Chrs), containing four QTLs for PH, two for NNMS, two for PNPP, three for SNPP, five for SW, and two for SYPP. Two highly significant QTLs for PH and NNMS were identified on Chr 6 (LG C2) in both populations where the major flowering gene, E1, and two DF and DM QTLs were located. One other PNPP QTL was also located on this region, explaining 12.9% of phenotypic variation. Other QTLs for yield-related traits showed population-specificity. Two significant SYPP QTLs potentially related with QTLs for SNPP and PNPP were found on the same loci of Chrs 8 (Satt390) and 10 (Sat_108). Also, highly significant positive phenotypic correlations (P < 0.01) were found between DF with PH, NNMS, PNPP, and SYPP in both populations, while flowering was negatively correlated with SNPP and SW in the J x S (P < 0.05) and I x S (P < 0.01) populations. Similar results were also shown between DM and yield-related traits, except for one SW. These QTLs identified may be useful for marker-assisted selection by soybean breeders.

Since the genetic control of flowering time is very important in photoperiod-sensitive soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), genes affecting flowering under different environment conditions have been identified and described. The objectives were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for flowering time in different latitudinal and climatic regions, and to understand how chromosomal rearrangement and genome organization contribute to flowering time in soybean. Recombinant inbred lines from a cross between late-flowering 'Jinpumkong 2' and early-flowering 'SS2-2' were used to evaluate the phenotypic data for days to flowering (DF) collected from Kamphaeng Saen, Thailand (14°01'N), Suwon, Korea (37°15'N), and Longjing, China (42°46'N). A weakly positive phenotypic correlation (r = 0.36) was found between DF in Korea and Thailand; however, a strong correlation (r = 0.74) was shown between Korea and China. After 178 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were placed on a genetic map spanning 2,551.7 cM, four independent DF QTLs were identified on different chromosomes (Chrs). Among them, three QTLs on Chrs 9, 13 and 16 were either Thailand- or Korea-specific. The DF QTL on Chr 6 was identified in both Korea and China, suggesting it is less environment-sensitive. Comparative analysis of four DF QTL regions revealed a syntenic relationship between two QTLs on Chrs 6 and 13. All five duplicated gene pairs clustered in the homeologous genomic regions were found to be involved in the flowering. Identification and comparative analysis of multiple DF QTLs from different environments will facilitate the significant improvement in soybean breeding programs with respect to control of flowering time.

Background: Recent studies have shown that USP13 a deubiquitinase, serves as an important regulator of tumorigenesis. However, the biological role of USP13 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains enigmatic.Materials and methods: We examined USP13 expression in OSCC and adjacent normal tissues by immunohistochemical staining. The biological functions of USP13 in OSCC cells and the possible underlying mechanisms were investigated.Results: In this study, we showed that USP13 expression was frequently reduced in human OSCC specimens and that the reduction was correlated with the clinical stage. Functional studies demonstrated that overexpression of USP13 suppressed OSCC cell proliferation, glucose uptake and lactate production in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, USP13 overexpression induced phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) expression and repressed the activation of AKT as well as the expression of the downstream effectors glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase-2 (HK2). Overexpression of PTEN reversed the USP13-knockdown-induced glucose uptake, lactate production, AKT activation, and expression of GLUT1 and HK2.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that USP13 serves as a tumor suppressor by regulating the PTEN/AKT signaling pathway in OSCC cells, improving our understanding of OSCC progression and providing a clue for the development of a novel cancer therapy.

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Objective Squalene epoxidase (SQLE) is considered a metabolic oncogene, but its biological function and prognostic value in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the role of SQLE in the occurrence and development of HNSCC through bioinformatics analysis, and validation experiments. Methods Transcriptomic, genomic, and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were used for pan-cancer analysis. SQLE expression in HNSCC was evaluated using Gene Expression Omnibus datasets and immunohistochemistry. The biological significance of SQLE in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNSCC was determined using TISCH, HuRI, LinkedOmics, and TIMER 2.0. The prognostic value of SQLE in HNSCC was analyzed using univariate Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Effect of SQLE on the Cal27 HNSCC cell line was evaluated using cell counting kit 8, wound healing, and EdU assays. Results SQLE was overexpressed and amplified in various cancers, including HNSCC. High SQLE expression promoted cell proliferation, associated with T stage in HNSCC patients. Copy number amplification and DNA demethylation contributed to high SQLE expression in HNSCC, which was associated with poor prognosis. SQLE was related to HNSCC TME, and its mRNA expression/copy number alterations were negatively correlated with the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, follicular helper T cells, and regulatory T cell infiltration and mast cell activation and positively correlated with the infiltration of M0 macrophages and resting mast cells in HNSCC. Conclusion SQLE was identified as a prognostic biomarker and a potential pharmaceutical target for HNSCC.