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NFS1 activates PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling to upregulate GPX4 expression and enhance ferroptosis resistance in osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma continues to exhibit poor survival outcomes due to chemoresistance and metastasis, with metabolic reprogramming and ferroptosis resistance being key features of tumor heterogeneity, yet their upstream regulators remain poorly defined. NFS1, a cysteine desulfurase essential for iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis, protects multiple cancers from ferroptosis, but its role in osteosarcoma is unknown. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic meta-analysis and found that NFS1 expression was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues, with further elevation in metastatic lesions, and high NFS1 expression correlated with poor overall survival. Genome‑wide CRISPR screening data revealed a marked NFS1 dependency in osteosarcoma cell lines. Functionally, NFS1 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas its knockdown suppressed these phenotypes. Using single‑cell RNA sequencing data from 27 osteosarcoma specimens, we applied a multi‑algorithm glycolytic scoring framework and observed NFS1 enrichment in highly glycolytic malignant cells, along with an association with PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation. Mechanistically, NFS1 selectively enhanced PI3K, AKT, and mTOR phosphorylation without altering total protein levels, and upregulated GPX4, a central ferroptosis suppressor, leading to elevated ferroptosis resistance scores in NFS1‑high malignant cells. Collectively, these findings identify a previously unrecognized NFS1-PI3K/AKT/mTOR-GPX4 regulatory axis in osteosarcoma, linking metabolic reprogramming to ferroptosis resistance, and suggest that NFS1 functions as an oncogenic driver, as well as a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in osteosarcoma.

Humans↗

Transcriptome meets metabolome: hierarchical and metabolic regulation of the glycolytic pathway.

The fact that information flows from DNA to RNA to protein to function suggests that regulation is 'hierarchical', i.e. dominated by regulation of gene expression. In the case of dominant regulation at the metabolic level, however, there is no quantitative relationship between mRNA levels and function. We here develop a method to quantitate the relative contributions of metabolic and hierarchical regulation. Applying this method to the glycolytic flux in three species of parasitic protists, we conclude that it is rarely regulated by gene expression alone. This casts strong doubts on whether transcriptome and proteome analysis suffices to assess biological function.

Animals↗

Characterization of the yeast transcriptome.

We have analyzed the set of genes expressed from the yeast genome, herein called the transcriptome, using serial analysis of gene expression. Analysis of 60,633 transcripts revealed 4,665 genes, with expression levels ranging from 0.3 to over 200 transcripts per cell. Of these genes, 1981 had known functions, while 2684 were previously uncharacterized. The integration of positional information with gene expression data allowed for the generation of chromosomal expression maps identifying physical regions of transcriptional activity and identified genes that had not been predicted by sequence information alone. These studies provide insight into global patterns of gene expression in yeast and demonstrate the feasibility of genome-wide expression studies in eukaryotes.

Cell Cycle↗

Towards a truly integrative biology through the functional genomics of yeast.

A complete library of mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, each deleted for a single representative of yeast's 6000 protein-encoding genes, has been constructed. This represents a major biological resource for the study of eukaryotic functional genomics. However, yeast is also being used as a test-bed for the development of functional genomic technologies at all levels of analysis, including the transcriptome, proteome and metabolome.

Fungal Proteins↗

A-to-I RNA editing remodels 5'-UTR initiation codons to tune translational output.

A-to-I RNA editing is a prevalent post-transcriptional modification in higher eukaryotes that converts adenosine to inosine within RNA molecules. Because inosine is interpreted as guanosine during translation, editing can alter codon identity and potentially influence translation initiation signals. Here, we examined whether A-to-I editing within the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR) can remodel upstream initiation codons and thereby tune downstream translation. Using luciferase-based reporter systems, we show that AUA-to-AUI editing generates an initiation-competent inosine-containing codon, whereas AUG-to-IUG editing markedly attenuates initiation and can relieve uORF-mediated repression. Quantitative in vitro and cellular assays establish the initiation hierarchy AUA&#x2009;<&#x2009;AUI&#x2009;<&#x2009;AUG, with IUG exhibiting strongly reduced initiation efficiency. Importantly, AUI-mediated upstream initiation did not behave like a canonical AUG-initiated uORF in the tested contexts; its effect on downstream ORF translation was modest and context-dependent. Transcriptome-wide bioinformatic analysis identified endogenous human transcripts whose 5'-UTRs harbor editing sites compatible with initiation-codon gain or attenuation. Reporter validation using native 5'-UTR sequences supports the possibility that editing-dependent initiation-codon remodeling can tune translational output in living cells, particularly through AUG-to-IUG-mediated derepression. Together, these findings establish a reporter-based framework in which A-to-I editing can remodel 5'-UTR initiation codons, while highlighting the need for endogenous protein-level and native-locus validation to determine physiological relevance.

RNA Editing↗

Premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are present in the Zea genus and unique in biogenesis mechanism and molecular function.

Reproductive phasiRNAs are broadly present in angiosperms and play crucial roles in sustaining male fertility. While the premeiotic 21-nt phasiRNAs and meiotic 24-nt phasiRNA pathways have been extensively studied in maize (Zea mays) and rice (Oryza sativa), a third putative category of reproductive phasiRNAs-named premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs-have recently been reported in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). To determine whether premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are also present in maize and related species and begin to characterize their biogenesis and function, we performed a comparative transcriptome and degradome analysis of premeiotic and meiotic anthers from five maize inbred lines and three teosinte species/subspecies. Our data indicate that a substantial subset of the 24-nt phasiRNA loci in maize and teosinte are already highly expressed at premeiotic phase. The premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are similar to meiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in genomic origin and dependence on DCL5 for biogenesis, however, premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs are unique in that they are likely (i) not triggered by microRNAs, (ii) not loaded by AGO18 proteins, and (iii) not capable of mediating cis-cleavage. In addition, we also observed a group of premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs in rice using previously published data. Together, our results indicate that the premeiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs constitute a unique class of reproductive phasiRNAs and are present more broadly in the grass family (Poaceae) than previously known.

Maize↗

Functional characterization of the MED12 p.Arg1138Trp variant in females: implications for neural development and disease mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Seven female individuals with multiple congenital anomalies, developmental delay and/or intellectual disability have been found to have a genetic variant of uncertain significance in the mediator complex subunit 12 gene (MED12 c.3412C>T, p.Arg1138Trp). The functional consequence of this genetic variant in disease is undetermined, and insight into disease mechanism is required. METHODS: We identified a de novo MED12 p.Arg1138Trp variant in a female patient and compared disease phenotypes with six female individuals identified in the literature. To investigate affected biological pathways, we derived two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from the patient: one expressing wildtype MED12 and the other expressing the MED12 p.Arg1138Trp variant. We performed neural disease modelling, transcriptomics and protein analysis, comparing healthy and variant cells. RESULTS: When comparing the two cell lines, we identified altered gene expression in neural cells expressing the variant, including genes regulating RNA polymerase II activity, transcription, pre-mRNA processing, and neural development. We also noted a decrease in MED12L expression. Pathway analysis indicated temporal delays in axon development, forebrain differentiation, and neural cell specification with significant upregulation of pre-ribosome complex gene pathways. CONCLUSION: In a human neural model, expression of MED12 p.Arg1138Trp altered neural cell development and dysregulated the pre-ribosome complex providing functional evidence of disease aetiology and mechanism in MED12-related disorders.

Humans↗

Fetal hypoxia causes oocyte oxidative stress damage via the Sirt3/Sod2 pathway and can be alleviated by nicotinamide mononucleotide.

Environmental hypoxia exerts detrimental effects on the reproductive capabilities of both humans and animals. A fetal hypoxia model was established in which fetal mice were kept in a high-plateau hypoxic setting from embryonic day (E) 0 to 16.5. In our previous research, we found that fetal hypoxia exposure perturbs the methylation of imprinted genes in adult sperm and causes intergenerational placental impairments in male offspring. However, the specific impacts of fetal hypoxia on the female reproductive system, particularly regarding oocyte maturation, remain poorly understood. First, we found that fetal hypoxia mice exhibited a significant reduction in the average number of pups per litter. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptome in oocytes from the hypoxic group and investigated the metabolic alterations within the follicular microenvironment. Fetal hypoxic stress contributed to cleavage and blastocyst rate reduction and induced early apoptosis and DNA damage triggered by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress aggravation and Sirt3/Sod2 downregulation. Additionally, administration of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) has been shown to prevent oocytes from mitochondrial dysfunction and developmental impairment by increasing the expression of Sirt3/Sod2 and autophagy. The number of pups per litter in fetal hypoxia mice was reduced by 57.7% compared to the control group, while NMN intervention could restore it to 73.1% of the control group. These results indicate that fetal hypoxia exposure exerts multiple potential damages to adult female reproduction, while highlighting the clinical potential of NMN supplementation as a targeted intervention to alleviate such hypoxia-associated female reproductive impairment.

Animals↗

Identification of potential key genes involved in iron deficiency for sepsis: A retrospective cohort and transcriptomic study.

Iron overload has been associated with sepsis, but the role of iron deficiency and its molecular links remain unclear. We investigated the association between iron deficiency and sepsis and identified candidate genes potentially linking these conditions. MIMIC-IV data were used to assess the association between serum iron and sepsis status. Transcriptomic datasets from dietary iron-deficient mice (GSE10421), LPS-induced septic mice (GSE267388), and a human blood sepsis cohort (GSE137340) were sequentially analyzed to identify and externally evaluate candidate genes. IEU Open GWAS summary statistics were used for exploratory Mendelian randomization (MR). Exploratory drug prediction was performed using L1000FWD, followed by molecular docking analysis. Patients with sepsis had significantly lower serum iron levels, and restricted cubic spline analysis showed a nonlinear association between serum iron and the odds of sepsis. Cross-tissue transcriptomic analysis identified Sqle, Lss, and Rdh11 as candidate genes. In the human blood cohort, SQLE and RDH11 were significantly increased, whereas LSS was not significantly altered. Exploratory MR showed that genetically proxied SQLE expression was associated with higher odds of sepsis (odds ratio [OR]&#x2005;=&#x2005;1.23, P&#x2005;=&#x2005;1.67&#x2005;&#xd7;&#x2005;10-3), whereas LSS expression was associated with lower odds (OR&#x2005;=&#x2005;0.97, P&#x2005;=&#x2005;8.90&#x2005;&#xd7;&#x2005;10-4); RDH11 showed no significant association (OR&#x2005;=&#x2005;1.01, P&#x2005;=&#x2005;.90). Drug prediction identified ML106 as the top-ranked candidate drug, and molecular docking predicted potential binding poses with SQLE and LSS. Serum iron showed a nonlinear association with sepsis status. SQLE, LSS, and RDH11 emerged as candidate genes, with concordant expression changes of SQLE and RDH11 observed in human blood. MR findings for SQLE and LSS were exploratory and require further validation. ML106 was identified through exploratory drug prediction and requires experimental validation before its therapeutic relevance can be established.

Sepsis↗

EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer With Small Cell Transformation: Clinicopathological Features, Treatment Landscape, and Biomarker Profiles.

INTRODUCTION: Transformed small-cell lung cancer (tSCLC) is a clinically important resistance mechanism to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. This study characterizes clinical features, treatment outcomes, and biomarker profiles in patients with tSCLC. METHODS: Data from 45 patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC who developed tSCLC between 2014 and 2023 were analyzed. Demographic characteristics, treatment histories, and delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) and B7-H3 expression were collected. Objective response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and posttransformation survival (PTS) were assessed. Spatial transcriptomic profiling was performed in selected cases. RESULTS: Most patients were women (60%) and never-smokers (75.6%). Exon 19 deletion was the predominant EGFR mutation (57.8%). Median PFS and PTS were 3.3 and 9.2 months, respectively. Etoposide plus platinum (EP) was the predominant first-line regimen (69.8%), with 23.2% of the patients receiving EP plus immune checkpoint or tyrosine kinase inhibitors. EP-based combination regimens yielded a numerically higher objective response rate and a significantly longer PFS than EP alone (7.5 versus 2.8 months, p = 0.002). PTS was longer with EP-based regimens than with other regimens (10.4 versus 6.4 months, p = 0.035). DLL3 and B7-H3 were expressed in 87.5% and 66.7% of tumors, respectively, without prognostic significance. Multivariable analysis identified brain metastasis and liver progression at transformation as adverse prognostic factors. Spatial transcriptomic analysis revealed neuroendocrine lineage reprogramming, stromal depletion, and immune exclusion. CONCLUSIONS: tSCLC remains an aggressive resistance phenotype with poor outcomes. EP-based combination strategies may provide clinical benefit, whereas frequent DLL3 expression supports further evaluation of targeted therapies.

Delta-like ligand 3↗

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses provide new insights into the response of black rockfish (Sebastes schlegelii) larvae to temperature fluctuations.

Sebastes schlegelii usually encounter elevated and fluctuating water temperatures near its upper thermal limit in summer, yet the hepatic responses of larvae to repeated temperature fluctuation regimes remain unclear. To address this question, S. schlegelii larvae were exposed for 8&#xa0;days to four thermal regimes: constant 18&#xa0;&#xb0;C (CT), constant 28&#xa0;&#xb0;C (HT), intermittent cooling from 18 to 8&#xa0;&#xb0;C followed by recovery to 18&#xa0;&#xb0;C (FL), and intermittent warming from 18 to 28&#xa0;&#xb0;C followed by recovery to 18&#xa0;&#xb0;C (FH). Survival rate was evaluated, and integrated liver transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were performed. Final survival rates were 96.67% in the CT group, 97.78% in the FL group, and 77.78% in the FH group. Survival rate in the HT group (38.89%) was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (P&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). HTvsCT, FLvsCT, FHvsCT, and FHvsHT comparisons identified 2598, 1207, 622, and 2404 differentially expressed genes and 627, 606, 690, and 610 differential metabolites, respectively. KEGG enrichment analyses of DEGs and SDMs in HTvsCT highlighted HSP-mediated proteostasis, endoplasmic-reticulum protein processing, branched-chain and sulfur amino acid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and central carbon metabolism, with upregulated hsp90aa1, bckdha, gclc, and pfkp and reduced levels of branched-chain amino acids and methionine. Compared with HT, FH showed attenuated disturbances in proteostasis, amino acid and redox regulation, and central carbon metabolism, together with recovery-associated glycerophospholipid turnover. FL primarily induced polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)-related membrane lipid remodeling. These findings indicate that hepatic responses differed between continuous high-temperature exposure and temperature fluctuations and between fluctuation regimes.

Animals↗

Overexpression of TCF7L2 promotes the viability and migration of MHCC-97H human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by upregulating MT-ND4L.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive cancer with high metabolic adaptability. TCF7L2, a transcription factor implicated in type 2 diabetes and cancer, is overexpressed in HCC. However, its specific role in HCC metabolic reprogramming is not well defined. We aimed to elucidate the previously unrecognized molecular mechanisms through which TCF7L2 impacts HCC progression. METHODS: To investigate the function of TCF7L2, a stable MHCC-97H cell line with TCF7L2 overexpression was established via lentiviral transduction. Cell viability and migration were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and Transwell assays. Transcriptomic profiling [RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)] was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional enrichment analysis [Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA)] and bioinformatics promoter analysis (the JASPAR CORE database) were conducted. Clinical correlations, survival analysis, and tumor microenvironment (TME) interrogation were performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) cohort and single-cell datasets [Human Protein Atlas (HPA), CellChat]. Drug sensitivity was predicted via the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database. RESULTS: TCF7L2 overexpression significantly promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that TCF7L2 drives a profound metabolic shift, with key enrichments in lipid homeostasis, fatty acid &#x3b2;-oxidation, and the PI3K/Akt pathway. Mechanistically, TCF7L2 directly binds to the promoter of CPT1A, the rate-limiting enzyme of fatty acid oxidation, and indirectly upregulates the mitochondrial gene MT-ND4Lvia a strong positive correlation with the mitochondrial transcription factor TFAM. In clinical cohorts, TCF7L2 was overexpressed in HCC and its expression correlated positively with MT-ND4L, MKI67, and SNAI1, and served as a predictor of poor overall survival (OS). Furthermore, TCF7L2-high tumors were enriched in hepatic progenitor cell (HPC)-like niches, mediated by enhanced ANGPTL4 signaling. High TCF7L2 expression predicted increased sensitivity to PI3K/mTOR pathway inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS: TCF7L2 acts as a master metabolic regulator in HCC, coordinating lipid catabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis to drive aggressive tumor behavior. It further remodels the TME towards an HPC-like state and predicts sensitivity to metabolic-targeted therapies. These findings identify TCF7L2 as a key prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target.

MHCC-97H hepatocellular carcinoma cells (MHCC-97H ↗

Insights into dill (Anethum graveolens) flavor formation via integrative analysis of chromosomal-scale genome, metabolome and transcriptome.

INTRODUCTION: Dill (Anethum graveolens) is a significant medicinal herb belonging to the Apiaceae family. Owing to its high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dill is commonly utilized for essential oil extraction and medicine purpose. However, the biosynthesis of the crucial VOC in dill remains obscure. OBJECTIVES: Identify the key VOCs related to the flavor formation in dill and dissect the regulatory mechanism of their synthesis. METHODS: The dill chromosomal-level genome was constructed by PacBio HiFi, Hi-C, and BGISEQ second generation sequencing and assembly. The VOCs in dill leaves were identified through GC-MS. The potential mechanism involved in regulating the VOC accumulation in dill flavor formation was analyzed by multi-omics analysis. RESULTS: A 1.17&#xa0;Gb chromosome-scale genome of dill with a contig N50 of 10.78&#xa0;Mb was constructed. A total of 46,538 genes were annotated across 11 assembled chromosomes. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that transposable element insertions, especially LTR-Gypsy, have contributed to the evolution and expansion of the dill genome. The flavor formation of dill was mainly attributed to terpenoids, especially &#x3b1;-phellandrene, &#x3b2;-ocimene, and o-cymene. The contribution of expansion and replication of terpenoid synthesis pathway genes, especially terpene synthase (TPS), to the abundant terpenoid production of dill was identified. Differential gene expression patterns observed at various developmental stages and tissues provided key candidate genes for the regulation of terpenoid synthesis, as well as transcription factors. The different accumulation of esters and aromatics also affected the flavor formation of dill. The key genes implicated in the synthesis of anethole, namely AIS and AMT were further identified. CONCLUSION: This study constructed the chromosome level genome and identified the main VOCs and related key genes in flavor formation of dill, shedding lights on our understanding of terpenoid biosynthesis but also offered guidance for future genetic research on molecular breeding in Anethum graveolens.

Transcriptome↗

Integrated single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses reveal malignant epithelial glycolytic heterogeneity and spatial niche remodeling during colorectal cancer progression.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is shaped by metabolic reprogramming and complex interactions within the tumor microenvironment. However, the cellular heterogeneity, spatial organization, and clinical relevance of glycolytic activity in CRC remain incompletely understood. In this study, we integrated single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk transcriptomics, and spatial transcriptomics data to systematically characterize glycolytic heterogeneity in CRC. Glycolytic activity was quantified using five independent scoring methods, consistently showing that epithelial cells exhibited the highest glycolytic activity across the two single-cell cohorts. Stratification of CopyKAT-verified aneuploid malignant epithelial cells into high-glycolysis (HG) and low-glycolysis (LG) subgroups by glycolysis scores revealed that HG cells exhibited higher stemness scores and chromosomal copy number variations. Cell-cell communication analysis revealed that, compared with LG cells, HG cells exhibited increased interaction frequency and strength with immune and stromal populations, indicating enhanced malignant epithelial-microenvironment crosstalk. Spatial transcriptomics analyses further revealed that glycolytic activity varied across normal colorectal tissue, primary CRC, and colorectal liver metastases, accompanied by progressive remodeling of epithelial-associated spatial niches and MIF-mediated intercellular communication. Bulk transcriptomic analysis identified a glycolysis-related prognostic signature with robust predictive performance, which served as an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in CRC cohorts. Collectively, these findings indicate that glycolytic heterogeneity is a key feature of CRC malignant epithelial cells and is closely associated with tumor progression, microenvironmental remodeling, and clinical outcomes.

Humans↗

Association Between Ticagrelor and Glucose Homeostasis Regulation: Insights from Genetic and Transcriptomic Analyses.

Emerging evidence has demonstrated the additional therapeutic benefits of ticagrelor in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms of this association remain elusive. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data on ticagrelor, plasma proteomics and type 2 diabetes was employed to identify causal mediator proteins. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of ticagrelor-treated HepG2 cells revealed the molecular pathways regulating glucose metabolism. Genetically proxied ticagrelor was significantly associated with a reduced risk of diabetes (OR&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.859, 95% CI: 0.783-0.934, P&#x2009;=&#x2009;7.98E-05), and 24.41% of this effect was mediated by upregulation of BDH2 protein. In vitro experiments confirmed the enhanced effect of ticagrelor on glucose consumption. Transcriptome analysis revealed that mitochondrial respiratory chain transfer and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were significantly enriched, and genes related to ATP biosynthesis were significantly upregulated. These findings highlight the non-platelet function of ticagrelor in maintaining glucose homeostasis, providing insights into potential drug repurposing in the future.

Humans↗

Multi-omics analysis of ubiquitin E2 genes in Setaria: evidence for the roles of E2 genes in various aspects of plant development, stress tolerance, and domestication.

Ubiquitin E2 enzymes (E2s) are critical mediators in the ubiquitination cascade, a post-translational modification process that regulates protein stability, activity, localization, and degradation. Here, we analyzed the E2 gene family in foxtail millet (Setaria italica), integrating comparative genomics, transcriptomics, and functional studies. A total of 52 E2 genes were identified and classified into four subfamilies (UBC, UEV, SCE, and RCE) based on phylogenetic analysis across 49 species. Notably, foxtail millet exhibited significant gene expansion. Tissue-specific expression profiling revealed distinct roles of E2 genes in growth and development. Haplotype and quantitative trait loci analyses demonstrated that several E2 genes, including SiUBC39, are associated with key agronomic traits, such as plant height, flowering time, and stress tolerance. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we validated the functional role of SiUBC39, finding that its disruption led to phenotypes resembling wild species (Setaria viridis), such as early flowering and reduced plant height and grain yield. IP-MS and transcriptome analysis revealed SiUBC39's involvement in growth and development regulation, drought stress response, and immune response. SiPIP2;1 and SiEhd2 were identified as interactors of SiUBC39, explaining its roles in blast resistance and flowering time control. Furthermore, domestication analysis identified an A/G mutation in the SiUBC39 promoter TATA box, distinguishing domesticated and wild haplotypes and highlighting its role in domestication selection. This study underscores the essential roles of E2 genes in regulating crop agronomic traits and stress responses, providing valuable insights for genetic improvement in foxtail millet and other cereals.

Setaria Plant↗

A weakly supervised deep learning-based recurrence prediction and risk stratification of lung adenocarcinoma from pathology whole-slide images.

BACKGROUND: Accurate prediction of postoperative recurrence in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is essential for guiding clinical decision-making and improving patient outcomes. Although various predictive models have been developed, most rely on complex genomic analyses and high-dimensional clinical data. The complexity of these approaches substantially limits their feasibility for routine clinical use. To address this clinical challenge, this study aims to predict postoperative recurrence using routinely available hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained images and characterize the associated biological features. METHODS: A total of 329 patients who underwent curative resection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (FHWMU) were retrospectively enrolled and randomly assigned to training and internal validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio. An independent external validation cohort comprising 70 patients from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) was included. Three patch-level feature extractors (Inception_V3, ResNet18, and DenseNet121) were evaluated within a weakly supervised multiple-instance learning (MIL) framework incorporating automated region-of-interest (ROI) detection on segmented whole-slide images (WSIs). Model performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis, and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Transcriptomic profiling and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were conducted to investigate biological differences between risk groups. RESULTS: The model achieved AUCs of 0.923 in the training cohort, 0.891 in the internal validation cohort, and 0.847 in the external validation cohort. The model effectively stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups with significantly different recurrence-free survival (RFS) across all cohorts (all P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and retained prognostic value within AJCC stages I-III. Transcriptomic analyses revealed consistent enrichment of cell cycle-related pathways and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in high-risk patients across both institutional and CPTAC cohorts, aligning with distinct biological profiles of the model-derived risk stratification. CONCLUSIONS: This weakly supervised deep learning framework enables accurate and externally validated prediction of postoperative recurrence in LUAD using routinely available histopathological images, and integration of histopathological features with molecular analyses enhances biological interpretability. This work provides a clinically accessible and cost-effective tool for postoperative risk assessment in LUAD patients.

Humans↗

Integrated dual transcriptome sequencing and experimental validation reveal potential mechanisms of baicalin against pneumocystis pneumonia in immunosuppressed rats.

BACKGROUND: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals. Although baicalin (Ba), a natural bioactive flavonoid, has demonstrated protective and therapeutic effects against PCP, its molecular mechanisms remain undefined. We employed dual RNA sequencing (dual RNA-seq) to characterize host and pathogen transcriptional responses to Ba treatment in an immunosuppressed rat model of PCP. METHODS: Comparative transcriptomic analyses identified differentially expressed genes in both the host and Pneumocystis, followed by Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and gene set enrichment analyses. Candidate targets were further investigated using network pharmacology, protein-protein interaction analysis, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Key findings were validated by immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and quantitative PCR. RESULTS: Ba markedly remodeled host and pathogen transcriptomes. Host transcriptomic analyses showed that Ba attenuated inflammatory and oxidative stress responses by modulating immune-related pathways, including Toll-like receptor, NF-&#x3ba;B, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling, Th17 cell differentiation, and antigen processing and presentation. Experimental validation demonstrated that Ba reduced pulmonary expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and TLR4 while increasing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Pathogen transcriptomic analysis identified Pneumocystis Rtt109 (PcRtt109), a fungal histone acetyltransferase, as a potential pathogen-specific target that was significantly downregulated after Ba treatment. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations supported stable interactions between Ba and IDO1, Nrf2, TLR2, TLR4, and PcRtt109, with the strongest predicted binding observed for PcRtt109. CONCLUSION: Dual RNA-seq revealed that Ba exerts anti-PCP activity through coordinated modulation of host and pathogen molecular networks. Its therapeutic effects are associated with suppression of inflammatory signaling, enhancement of antioxidant defenses, and inhibition of a fungal virulence-associated target. These findings provide mechanistic insights into host-pathogen interactions during PCP and support Ba as a potential therapeutic candidate for PCP.

Nrf2↗