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Biomedical subjects

Ying Gu

Publications and source records attributed to Ying Gu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Spatially resolved single-cell atlas reveals the macroevolutionary trajectory of animal hearts.

Animal hearts display diverse anatomical structures during adaptive evolution. Here, we present a multiomics atlas of adult hearts from 27 species across chordates, arthropods, and mollusks. Joint analysis indicates that Bilateria hearts share a core gene repertoire, taking a stepwise "add-on" approach as a universal evolutionary strategy. The "proto-heart" is populated by key cell types, including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and neural cells, which maintained core signatures while evolving with shifts in living environments and corresponding adaptations in the cardiovascular system. Additionally, we reveal an evolutionarily conserved cardiomyocyte state dynamic potentially linked to cardiac development and stress responses. Finally, we identify a common molecular program underpinning chamber evolution from a ventricular foundation. This work establishes a resource for understanding the intrinsic mechanisms of heart evolution.

Animals

Genome-wide association study reveals candidate genes associated with body weight and wool traits in Ordos fine-wool sheep.

BACKGROUND: The Ordos fine-wool sheep is a high-quality fine-wool breed in China, renowned for its excellent wool quality, meat production, and adaptability to the arid and semi-arid regions of Inner Mongolia. Body weight and wool traits are important economic characteristics in sheep breeding. This study aimed to identify genetic loci associated with body weight (BW), wool length (WL), and wool fineness (WF) in Ordos fine-wool sheep. METHODS: A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted in 388 Ordos fine-wool sheep genotyped using the GenoBaits® Ovine 40K SNP panel. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BW, WL, and WF were identified, and candidate genes located near the SNPs reaching the suggestive threshold were subjected to functional annotation and enrichment analysis. RESULTS: A total of 22 SNPs were identified as potentially associated with BW, WL, and WF traits, corresponding to 27 annotated genes. Functional annotation highlighted six potential candidate genes, including LAMA2, ARHGAP18, IGFBP2, IGFBP5, CA10, and AXIN1, which may play important roles in regulating body weight and wool growth in sheep. CONCLUSIONS: The identified genes provide valuable candidate loci for BW, WL, and WF traits in Ordos fine-wool sheep. The results of this study provide preliminary references for further exploration of the genetic mechanisms of wool traits in Ordos fine-wool sheep and the development of molecular breeding markers.

GWAS

Hologenomic insights into the molecular adaptation of deep-sea coral Bathypathes pseudoalternata.

Deep-sea coral ecosystems support biodiversity and nutrient cycling through interactions with symbionts. However, their molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, hologenomic analyses of Bathypathes pseudoalternata are applied to uncover molecular adaptations underpinning host-symbiont interactions. Genomic evidence reveals that B. pseudoalternata exhibits adaptations in nutrient transport, immune response, and lysosomal digestion, reflecting its genomic adjustments for a stable symbiosis. Candidatus Nitrosopumilus bathypathes (78.43% ± 3.65%) is inferred to oxidize host-derived ammonia to synthesize amino acids and vitamins to provision the host. The presence of CRISPR-Cas and restriction-modification (R-M) systems suggests that Ca. Bathyplasma bathypathes and Ca. Thalassoplasma bathypathes (10.68% ± 2.99%) may protect the host from viral infections. Ca. Bathybacter bathypathes (8.39% ± 1.53%) is hypothesized to synthesize heme, lipoic acid, and glutathione, which serve dual functions as antioxidants and nutrients. These findings collectively provide insights into how the hologenome contributes to the survival of B. pseudoalternata in the extreme environment.

Animals

Stereo-cell: Spatial enhanced-resolution single-cell sequencing with high-density DNA nanoball-patterned arrays.

Single-cell sequencing technologies have advanced our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and biological complexity. However, existing methods face limitations in throughput, capture uniformity, cell size flexibility, and technical extensibility. We present Stereo-cell, a spatial enhanced-resolution single-cell sequencing platform based on high-density DNA nanoball (DNB)-patterned arrays, which enables scalable and unbiased cell capture at a wide input range and supports high-fidelity transcriptome profiling. Stereo-cell further allows integration with imaging-based modalities and multiomics strategies, including immunofluorescence and epitope profiling. This platform is also compatible with profiling extracellular vesicles, microstructures, and large cells, whereas its spatial resolution facilitates in situ analysis of cell-cell interactions, cellular microenvironments, and subcellular transcript localization. Together, Stereo-cell provides a flexible framework for expanding single-cell research applications.

Animals

SAIBR: a simple, platform-independent method for spectral autofluorescence correction.

Biological systems are increasingly viewed through a quantitative lens that demands accurate measures of gene expression and local protein concentrations. CRISPR/Cas9 gene tagging has enabled increased use of fluorescence to monitor proteins at or near endogenous levels under native regulatory control. However, owing to typically lower expression levels, experiments using endogenously tagged genes run into limits imposed by autofluorescence (AF). AF is often a particular challenge in wavelengths occupied by commonly used fluorescent proteins (GFP, mNeonGreen). Stimulated by our work in C. elegans, we describe and validate Spectral Autofluorescence Image Correction By Regression (SAIBR), a simple platform-independent protocol and FIJI plug-in to correct for autofluorescence using standard filter sets and illumination conditions. Validated for use in C. elegans embryos, starfish oocytes and fission yeast, SAIBR is ideal for samples with a single dominant AF source; it achieves accurate quantitation of fluorophore signal, and enables reliable detection and quantification of even weakly expressed proteins. Thus, SAIBR provides a highly accessible low-barrier way to incorporate AF correction as standard for researchers working on a broad variety of cell and developmental systems.

Animals