Biomedical subjects

Xiaomeng Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Xiaomeng Zhang.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2026

A muskrat tissue atlas of small non-coding RNAs and their regulatory roles in muskrat musk secretion.

Muskrat musk, secreted by the male muskrat scent gland during the secretion period, is a valuable natural product with promising pharmacological activities. Its synthesis is regulated not only by coding genes but also by small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). However, a comprehensive tissue atlas of sncRNAs in muskrats has been lacking. To address this issue, we systematically profiled the expression levels of 6 sncRNA categories (piRNA [PIWI-interacting RNA], miRNA [microRNA], snoRNA [small nucleolar RNA], snRNA [small nuclear RNA], tRNA [transfer RNA], and other RNAs) across 13 tissues of the muskrat via deep sequencing. We identified 23,957 sncRNAs (∼ 65%) exhibiting tissue-specific expression patterns throughout the body. The results show that miRNA is the main contributor to tissue specificity. Eleven tissues showed a significantly higher number of miRNA-5p arm expressions compared to the 3p arm, although the brain was an exception. Quantitative results imply that miR-477-3p/5p and miR-794-3p are potentially involved in the regulation of muskrat musk synthesis and secretion in the muskrat scent glands. Their target genes were enriched in pathways related to energy supply, lipid metabolism, and cyclic morphological changes of the scent gland. Furthermore, we constructed a set of co-expressed miRNAs based on the hormone-dominated "brain-testis-scent gland" axis and the energy metabolism-dominated "brain-liver-scent gland" axis. These results provide the most comprehensive description to date of tissue-specific and ubiquitous sncRNAs in individual muskrat tissues. We anticipate that these data will enhance the understanding of the molecular regulation underlying muskrat musk synthesis and secretion.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Cell-type-specific defense priming and NHP-dependent systemic immunity against Pectobacterium in Chinese cabbage.

Defense priming is an effective strategy for mounting the defensive capacity of plants. Primed plants undergo minimal changes, enabling rapid, robust responses to subsequent pathogen attack. The cell-type-specific mechanisms underlying priming and systemic immunity remain unclear. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq), we reveal how primed Chinese cabbage coordinates N-hydroxypipecolic acid (NHP)-dependent systemic immunity against Pectobacterium carotovorum. NHP accumulates as a phloem-mobile priming signal. snRNA-seq identified a priming-specific epidermal cell state transition and transcriptional cascade: BrWRKY18-1 activates BrWRKY33-1 expression during priming, initiating NHP-dependent systemic immunity. At post-challenge primed state, pathogenesis-related genes (PRs), such as BrPR3, BrPR4-1, and BrPR4-2, are predominantly expressed in systemic tissues to inhibit infection. Notably, the functionality of these PR genes in immunity necessitates their expression in all cells to effectively enhance defensive resistance. This NHP-transcription factor-PR axis couples mobile signaling to systemic immunity, elucidating cell-type-specific defense priming.

Plant Immunity↗

PubMed2025

The chloroplast 16S rRNA dimethyltransferase BrPFC1 is required for Brassica rapa development under chilling stress.

Chloroplast ribosomal RNA (Ch-rRNA) methylation is critical for plant development and response to low temperatures. Several Ch-rRNA methyltransferases and their catalytic modes, as well as biological relevance, have been reported in model plant species. However, Ch-rRNA methyltransferases and their functional significance remain poorly characterized in crops, including leafy vegetables such as Chinese cabbage. In this study, we screened an EMS-mutagenized Chinese cabbage population and identified a yellow inner leaf (yif) mutant. This mutant develops yellowing inner leaves with reduced chlorophyll accumulation and ultrastructure-impaired chloroplasts under low-temperature conditions. Genetic analysis revealed a premature termination mutation in BrPFC1, encoding the chloroplast-localized 16S rRNA dimethyltransferase. The BrPFC1 mutation (yif) disrupts the dimethylation of 16S rRNA. The cold-sensitive phenotype of the yif mutant can be explained by temperature-dependent defects in the maturation and assembly of chloroplast ribosomes at 4°C. Through integrated analysis of chloroplast and nuclear transcriptomes coupled with translational profiling at 25°C and 4°C, we established that low temperature preferentially upregulates transcripts encoding nuclear-derived ribosomal proteins, while defective 16S rRNA specifically compromises the translational efficiency of chloroplast-encoded photosynthetic complex and ribosomal protein at 4°C. These findings establish rRNA modification by BrPFC1 as a critical regulatory layer for optimizing chloroplast translational efficiency at 4°C, providing mechanistic insights into post-translational adaptation strategies in Chinese cabbage.

Chloroplasts↗