Chapter 1: Genomics and Molecular Biology Summit (GMB-2021 ...

Chapter 1: Genomics and Molecular

Biology Summit (GMB-2021)

September 28th, 2021

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KeynotePresentations

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Light mediated response of glutathione metabolism at the subcellular level in plantsGasperl Annaa*, Balogh Eszterb, Boldizsar Ákosb, Zellnig Günthera, Kocsy Gáborb, Müller Mariaa

aInstitute of Biology, University of Graz, NAWI Graz, Austriab Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, ELKH, Hungary

AbstractBackground and Goals

Antioxidants such as glutathione enhance stress tolerance in numerous organisms. In traditional wheat production areas, the crop faces increasingstress particularly from drought events. We set out to test whether light treatment enables us to priming wheat seedlings against drought stress byincreasing their glutathione level prior to the stress.

Methods

We use immunohistochemical labeling and transmission electron microscopy to localize glutathione within cell compartments and we monitor theexpression of glutathione metabolism associated genes by qRT-PCR and analyze leaf glutathione content via HPLC.

Results

Oxidative damage starts at subcellular membranes, due to overstrained electron transport chains (photosynthesis, respiration), eventually resulting inDNA damage and organelle disfunction. Since glutathione is distributed differently across cell compartments our approach allows for monitoringdynamic processes of change in glutathione homeostasis and hence stress tolerance. We found that excess light may damage plants, however below acertain threshold, it can be used to prime wheat seedlings, so that they recover better from drought stress due to an increased amino acid andglutathione level which results from high or increased expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes [1]. At the subcellular level we confirmedresults for glutathione from whole leaf extracts in that excess light and far-red light increased glutathione in wheat and Arabidopsis organelles,respectively [2], resulting in cells well prepared for fighting oxidative stress even before it occurs.

Keywords: light, subcellular glutathione content, oxidative stress, wheat, Arabidopsis, transmission electron microscopy

Acknowledgement: This research is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Hungarian National Research, Development and InnovationOffice (NKFIH); expert technical assistance by Karina Hauer, Nadine Kemeter, Stefan Möstl and Richard Pirklbauer is greatly acknowledged

References:[1] Guygos et al. J Agro Crop Sci 16, 2019[2] Gasperl et al. IJMS 22, 2021

Biography:Anna Gasperl has completed her PhD on physiological phenotyping in perennial ryegrass’ fructan metabolism, including research stays at theUniversity of Caen (France), at the University of Graz (Austria) in 2017. She is a junior post-Doc in the research group Stress- and Cellbiology of Plantsat the University of Graz, focusing on abiotic and biotic stress induced changes in plant antioxidants and secondary metabolites at organ, tissue andsubcellular level. She has published four first authored papers in reputed journals and is also teaching and co-supervising bachelor- master- and PhD-students during lab work and thesis preparation process.

Presenting Author Information

Full name: Anna GasperlOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country:University of Graz / Institute of Biology – Stress- & Cellbiology of Plants / Austria

STEMIO’s Genomics and Molecular Biology Summit SEPTEMBER 28, 2021

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Interspecific polymorphism at non-coding regions of chloroplast DNA in Secale speciesSkuza L.a,b, Szućko-Kociuba I. a,b, Filip E. a,b

a Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin 71-415, Polandb Centre for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin 71-415, Poland


Background/ Objectives and GoalsSecale is a small but very diverse genus from the tribe Triticeae (family Poaceae). It includes annual, perennial, self-pollinating and open-pollinating,cultivated, weedy and wild species of various morphologies. The genus Secale includes for now four species whose phylogenetic relationships havenot been fully determined. This causes a significantly reduction of progress in rye breeding that can be enriched with functional traits derived fromwild rye species.We decided to check the usefulness of non-coding regions as markers distinguished Secale species, because this regions have been described as highlyvariable. Moreover, to draw comparisons between species based on molecular features, we provided the complete chloroplast genomes of wildSecale species. We presume that analysis of the complete chloroplast genome sequences will be useful and cost-effective for breeding, evolutionaryand phylogenetic studies.

MethodsOur analyses were performed using ‘universal’ primers for amplifying noncoding spacers of the chloroplast genome. Most of the primers weredesigned for amplifying spacers between tRNA genes, which proved variety among species or populations. Sequencing of chloroplast genomes tookplace in BGI Shenzhen’s facilities on a DNBSEQ platform.

Expected Results/ Conclusion/ ContributionThe results showed that the investigated regions of chloroplast genome are variable in most of the tested taxa and contain multiple variable regions.These regions should serve as useful molecular markers in phylogenetic studies of closely related species, at least at the interspecific level in Secale.As a results we provide also the first complete chloroplast genome that can be used as a reference genome for further analysis.Conclusion: some widely used plastid intergenic spacers can be very conservative in related species, our data reflects the difficulty of finding theappropriate molecular markers for intra-and interspecific studies in closely related plant species; some non-coding regions used in this study havepotential as a molecular markers in rye genetics and breeding programs.

Keywords: cpDNA non-coding regions, chloroplast genome, Secale

Biography (up to 100 words):Lidia Skuza, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof., Professor of the University of Szczecin, Poland. Principal researcher at the Biology Institute. Head of the Centre forMolecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Szczecin. President of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Biology. Research Group Leader(Molecular Biology Research Group) at the Biology Institute. She has published more than 70 papers in reputed journals and serving as an editorialboard member of repute.

Presenting author details that will be used for Certificates and Id cardsFull name: Lidia SkuzaOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Institute of Biology/University of Szczecin/ Poland


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Invited SpeakersPresentations

The AIPL1 chaperone could modulate the assembly of BBSome in retinal cellsLuigi Donatoa,b, Concetta Scimonea,b, Simona Alibrandia,c , Carmela Rinaldia , Rosalia D’Angeloa , Antonina Sidotia

aDepartment of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, Division of Medical Biotechnologies and Preventive Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy;bDepartment of Biomolecular strategies, genetics, cutting-edge therapies, I.E.ME.S.T., Palermo, ItalycDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy


Molecular chaperones act as main actors of several essential cellular processes like assembly of multimeric protein complexes. Retinal photoreceptorspresent a high demand of this activities and, thus, require a robust and specialized chaperone machinery to ensure the fidelity of sensing andtransmission of visual signals. However, little is still known about the possible interaction between main retinal chaperones, as the aryl hydrocarbonreceptor (AhR)-interacting protein-like 1 (AIPL1), and its putative targets, like the BBSome protein complex, involved in ciliary trafficking of primarycilia.

Methods

Mutational analysis of a patient affected by suspected retinitis pigmentosa was realized by targeted sequencing of a panel of 137 genes known to becausative of inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). Detected variants in AIPL1 and BBS2 were, subsequently, Sanger validated and deeply in-silicocharacterized to determine their possible effects on possible AIPL1 chaperone activity towards BBS2. To achieve this goal, we performed an analytic 2pipeline made of: 1) Pathway analysis by Cytoscape tool, 2) a docking prediction for AIPL1/BBS2 and 3) an unbinding pathway evaluation for the sameproteins by the SAMSON-Connect platform and its plugins. The use of computational methods based on artificial intelligence (more precisely machinelearning) and molecular dynamics approaches, complementary to chemical-biological-based experimental methods, permitted to better understandAIPL1/BBSome alteration consequences

Results

The data analyses identified the BBS2 c.401C>G (p.Pro134Arg), in homozygous condition, and AIPL1 c.905G>T (p.Arg302Leu), in heterozygouscondition. Even if the genotype/phenotype association seems to belong to non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa, the biological and molecularmechanisms were not fully elucidated. The pathway and the docking analyses of wild-type and mutated AIPL1/BBS2 showed that the two proteinscould interact indirectly, by the involvement of other two BBSome proteins, BBS4 and BBS9. Further experiments will confirm our exploratoryinvestigation and lead to new possible personalized diagnosis..

Keywords: Chaperone, BBSome, IRDs, In-silico analyses

Biography

Luigi Donato, PhD in “Applied Biology and Experimental Medicine”, frequents the Labs of Molecular Genetics of University of Messina, Italy. He is aresearcher of the IEMEST institute in Palermo, Italy, too. He published more than 60 papers in reputed journals and participated in more than 40national and international congresses, also being in the Organizing Committee in several of them. He was a member of ARVO and he is a member ofAIBG. He joined the Editorial Board of several journals, such as “Cell Cycle”, “BMC Bioinformatics” and “Antioxidants”. His main research fields areretinal dystrophies and omics approaches.


Full name: Dr. Luigi DonatoOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: University of Messina, Italy


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Transcriptome and Co-Expression Network Analyses Identify the Molecular Signatures Underlying Drought Resistance in YellowhornXiaojuan Liu, Yifan Cui, Zhiyan Wu, Yang Zhao, Xiaoyu Hu, Quanxin Bi, Suzhi Yang, LibingWang

aResearch Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy Forestry, Beijing, China bResearch Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy Forestry, Beijing, China


Drought is a key factor that limits plant growth and yield. Yellowhorn is an important and vigorously promoted oil tree in China. It can survive undercertain drought conditions, but a lack of water severely restricts its growth and results in yield losses in arid and semi-arid areas. Therefore, it isimportant to identify the key pathways and genes to understand the mechanisms of its drought resistance. In this study, we evaluated droughtresistance in four types of yellowhorn, and obtained 2669 and 2451 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via the transcriptome analysis of thecomparison of water-saving/water-consuming and fast-growing/slow-growing yellowhorn, respectively, under long-term drought conditions.

The gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs showed the key biological processes and metabolicpathways involved in drought resistance, which demonstrated that there are both the same and different biological processes involved in regulatingwater use efficiency (WUE) and growth in response to drought stress. Furthermore, the network analysis indicated hub genes (especially sevenprotein kinases) and potential co-expressed gene clusters in a greenyellow module associated with WUE and a blue module associated with growth.These identified hub genes and key biological processes can significantly enhance our knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of droughtresistance in yellowhorn.


Full name: Xiaojuan LiuOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy Forestry, Beijing, China


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Identification of Quantitative Trait Nucleotides and Candidate Gene for Tuber Yield and Mosaic Virus Tolerance in an Elite Population of White Guinea Yam (Dioscorearotundata) using Genome-wide Association ScanPaterne A. Agrea, Prince E. Norman a, b, c,*, Asrat Asfawa, and Robert Asiedua

a International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan PMB 5320, Nigeriab Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute, Tower Hill, Freetown PMB 1313, Sierra Leonec West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 30, Legon, Accra, Greater Accra, Ghana


Improvement of tuber yield and tolerance to viruses are priority objectives in white Guinea yam breeding programs. However, phenotypic selection for these traits is quite challenging due to phenotypic plasticity and cumbersome screening of phenotypic induced variations.

Methods

This study assessed quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) and the underlying candidate genes related to tuber yield per plant (TYP) and yam mosaicvirus (YMV) tolerance in a panel of 406 white Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata) breeding lines using a genome-wide association study (GWAS).

Results

Genetic diversity analysis based on Bayesian information criteria, discriminant analysis of the principal component, kinship relationship matrix andSTRUCTURE analysis using 5,581 SNPs placed the 406 genotypes into four distinct sub-groups (K = 4). Of the 5,581 SNPs mapped across 20chromosomes, chromosomes 5 and 11 exhibited the highest (637) and lowest (123) SNPs, respectively. Transition SNPs (60.13%) were higher thantransversion SNPs (39.87%). Marker-trait association (MTA) analysis using the generalized linear model approach revealed 10 and five significantMTAs for TYP and YMV resistance, respectively. We identified alleles CC and CT on chromosome 6, alleles TT and AT on chromosome 8 and allele AAon chromosomes 14, 15 and 19 to be responsible for high TYP, while alleles AG and AA on chromosome 4 and alleles GA and GG on chromosome 10are responsible for low YMV. Gene annotation for the significant SNP loci identified several essential putative genes associated with the growth anddevelopment of tuber yield and those that code for tolerance to mosaic virus resistance. Our results provided valuable insight that could be useful formarker validation and deployment in white yam breeding. The information on SNP variants and genes from the present study would fast-track theapplication of genomics-informed selection decisions in breeding white Guinea yam for rapid introgression of the targeted traits.

Keywords: Genetic diversity, population structure, GWAS, SNP markers, white Guinea yam

Biography (up to 100 words):Dr. Prince E. Norman holds a Bachelor of Science in Crop Science from Njala University College (University of Sierra Leone), a Master of Science in CropScience from Njala University, Sierra Leone; a Master of Science in Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa; and aDoctor of Philosophy degree in Plant Breeding from University of Ghana (UG), Ghana. He is a Research Scientist at the Sierra Leone AgriculturalResearch Institute (SLARI). He works on yams, cocoyam and collaborates on maize, sweetpotato and other crops. He has published more than 25papers in reputed journals and serves as a reviewer and an editorial board member of repute.

Acknowledgements This work was financially supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through the AfricaYam project (OPP1052998).

Presenting author details that will be used for Certificates and Id cardsFull name: Dr. Prince Emmanuel NormanOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI), PMB 1313, Tower Hill, Freetown, Sierra Leone


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Synthetic hair dye pigment 4-chloro-orthophenylenediamine (4-cl-OPD) interacts and modifies DNA molecule: A possibility for pro inflammatory carcinogenic trigger Safia Habib a, Shifa Khan a, Asif Ali band Shahid Ali Siddiqui

a Department of Biochemistry J.N.Medical College A.M.U Aligarh


To analyze the:Interaction between a dark-coloured hair dye pigment 4-chloro-orthophenylenediamine (4-clOPD) and commercially available calf thymus DNA.Identify the possible sites of interaction.Quantify the changes incurred on the DNA molecule. Interaction of peripheral circulating cancer (breast, hepatocellular and urinary bladder cancer) antibodies with 4-clOPD-DNA.Inhibition ELISA to access binding specificity of the isolated human cancer IgG.

Methods

Molecular docking was performed to check ligand and macromolecule interaction. Structural alterations were analyzed through spectroscopy, electrophoresis, microscopy and free radical assays.Direct binding and inhibition ELISAs were performed to access cross-reactivity of antibodies in the peripheral blood of high binding cancer IgG with 4-cl-OPD-DNA.

Results

4-cl-OPD preferably interacted at the minor groove, no back bone interaction was observed.Caused oxidative structural damage of DNA at concentration ranging from 50-100 μM.Hyperchromicity 16.07- 45.5%; 1.5° decrease in Tm were observed. Hydroxy radical formation was not detected in the sample.

Cross reactive antibodies were detected in case of hepatocellular and urinary bladder cancer patients against 4-cl-OPD-DNA (p<0.05).Synthetic hair dying formulations may be pose a danger to general public health. Continuous assault on DNA may result in irreversible structural changes that could lead to pro-inflammatory immune responses. Long term personal use of hair dye may be one of the causes for increasing incidence of different cancers.

Presenting author details that will be used for Certificates and Id cardsFull name: Dr. Safia HabibOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Department of Biochemistry J.N.Medical College A.M.U Aligarh, India


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Physico-chemical studies on albumin isolated from sera of systemic lupus erythematosus patientsZarina Arif a

a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, J.N Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh, India


Production of autoantibodies as a result of loss of tolerance to self antigens is an important characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) thatresults in inflammation and subsequent multi system involvement. The role of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, important free radicals is nowgarnering attention in the pathogenesis of SLE, as free radical induced damage to macromolecules leads to structural changes in them causing them tobehave as auto antigens. The current study was designed to explore the impact of in vivo stress on human serum albumin. Albumin was isolatedfrom the sera of SLE patients and that from healthy subjects was used as a control. Physico-chemical techniques were used to detect changes in thestructure of HSA. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the albumin of SLE patients was confirmed by spectroflourometry in which anenhancement of fluorescence at 425 nm was observed. Tryptophan, tyrosine fluorescence and surface protein hydrophobicity was substantiallyreduced in SLE albumin. Protein bound carbonyls was raised while free thiol group, lysine, arginine and alpha helicity was decreased in SLE albumin.Attachment of group to albumin isolated from SLE patients was supported by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization. Transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM) confirms aggregation in SLE albumin. It could be inferred from the study that oxidative stress may have a role in the diseasepathogenesis as well as in it’s the progression

Full name: Dr. Zarina Arif a

Organization/Institute/ Company, Country: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, J.N Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh, India


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Brucella Variability and Host Specificity: the Needle in the HayMarcela Suárez-Esquivela

a Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica


Brucella organisms are Gram negative bacteria responsible for the worldwide disease named brucellosis, that affects several mammal speciesincluding humans. The infected animals suffer reproductive system diseases, but some also develop osteoarthritis, meningitis ormeningoencephalomyelitis. One of the most intriguing aspects of these bacteria is that, in spite of their 97% similarity at genome level, the variousBrucella species show different host preference, different zoonotic risk and different virulence levels.

In spite of being discovered 134 years ago, Brucella organisms are still relatively poorly understood, and their evolutionary adaptation, mechanisms ofvirulence and preferred host range have been only partially unveiled. From the genomic point of view, that 3% difference may encode thoseparticularities that may reveal the bases of their particular biological behavior associated with each one of the recognized species.

Whole genome sequence analysis commonly bases on finding similarities with better known organisms, however, the high genomic identity sharedamong Brucella species forces the analysis to be focused on differences, that may reside in that 3%. This results as challenging as looking for a needlein the hay.

Based on our research on the species reported in Costa Rica: Brucella abortus, Brucella canis, Brucella ceti, and Brucella neotomae, we have identifiedso far, some mechanisms that could be related to the bacterial diversity and host adaptation that could help to the understanding of Brucellaevolution, in the context of genomic signatures and traits, emphasizing the psedugenization, genome reduction, differential SNPs patterns, tandemrepeats and genetic mobile elements.

Furthermore, though our findings provide some insights from the genomic code, some other characteristics associated with epigenomics must bedeterminant, as the pure code analysis seems to be insufficient for the whole understanding of the so specific biological behavior in spite of theirmolecular identity.

Full name: Dr. Marcela Suárez-EsquivelOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica


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ATF3 Is a Specific Molecular Marker for Injured Neurons in Spinal Cord Injury Wei Lia, Wei Suna, Yongtao Suna, Shoulin Chena, Amity Lina, Jonathan Pana

a Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA


Injuries to spinal cord can lead to permanent neurological dysfunctions. However, currently there is no reliable and specific molecular marker that canevaluate and differentiate the degree of neuronal injury, and thus how neurons respond to the injuries induced by traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) isstill not fully understood.

Methods

Behavioral tests and spinal tissue histology were performed to assess the outcomes following SCI. RNA sequencing, qRT-PCR and Western blot wereconducted to determine the role of ATF3 as a molecular marker for injured neurons after SCI

Results

In an effort to identify markers for injured neural tissue, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in SCI mouse model and found that activatingtranscription factor 3 (Atf3) was one of the most significantly upregulated genes 4 hours after SCI. Interestingly, ATF3 is widely considered as a markerof the injured sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglion after peripheral nerve injury. Our quantitative RT-PCR confirmed that Atf3 gene wasupregulated in the injured spinal cord tissues shortly after SCI. Our western blot showed that ATF3 protein level was increased as well after injury. Ourimmunohistochemical study revealed that ATF3 was expressed specifically in neurons early after rodent SCI. Further, we also found that, compared toWT mice, Atf3 KO mice had worse functional recovery, enlarged injury areas, increased damaged neurons and reduced regenerative responses in SCI,which suggests that ATF3 is neuroprotective. Thus as a molecular marker for injured spinal neurons, ATF3 can be a potential biomarker for detectingacute SCI and has neuroprotective function.

Keywords: Activating transcription factor 3, Molecular marker, Neuronal injury, Neuroprotection

Biography (up to 100 words):Dr. Jonathan Pan is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesia at University of California San Francisco. He practices clinicalanesthesia in the operating room and is also a neuroscientist who has published more than 30 peer-reviewed research papers and multiple bookchapters. He has been invited as reviewers for many prestigious journals and served as an editorial board member. Dr. Pan is interested inunderstanding the mechanism of neuronal injury and neuroinflammation following traumatic CNS injury.

Presenting authorFull name: Jonathan PanOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Department of Anesthesia, UCSF, CA, USA


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Novel Aspects of Fibrillarin and PhosphoinositidesEnrique Castanoa

a Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Mexico


Fibrillarin is a highly conserved nucleolar methyltransferase known to be in charge of methylation of ribosomal RNAs across evolution from Archaea tohumans. Recently, this essential protein was involved in the methylation of H2A in nucleoli as well as in other processes, including viral progression,cellular stress, nuclear shape, and cell cycle progression. We show that fibrillarin has an additional activity as a ribonuclease.

The activity is affected by phosphoinositides and phosphatidic acid. Furthermore, the presence of phosphatic acid releases the fibrillarin-U3 snoRNAcomplex. We show that the ribonuclease activity localizes to the GAR domain that is conserved in a small group of RNA interacting proteins. Theintroduction of the GAR domain occurred in evolution in the transition from Archaea to Eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, nuclear localization of fibrillarinand phosphoinositides provide evidence of nuclear organization dependent on phase separation.

Presenting authorFull name: Dr. Enrique CastanoOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Mexico


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Bayesian Network Analysis of Lysine Biosynthesis Pathway in RiceAditya Lahiri a

aTexas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA


Lysine is the first limiting essential amino acid in rice because it is present in the lowest quantity compared to all the other amino acids. Amino acidsare the building block of proteins and play an essential role in maintaining the human body’s healthy functioning. Rice is a staple food for more thanhalf of the global population; thus, increasing the lysine content in rice will help improve global health. In this paper, we studied the lysinebiosynthesis pathway in rice (Oryza sativa) to identify the regulators of the lysine reporter gene LYSA (LOC_Os02g24354).

Genetically intervening at the regulators has the potential to increase the overall lysine content in rice. We modeled the lysine biosynthesis pathwayin rice seedlings under normal and saline (NaCl) stress conditions using Bayesian networks.

We estimated the model parameters using experimental data and identified the gene DAPF(LOC_Os12g37960) as a positive regulator of the lysinereporter gene LYSA under both normal and saline stress conditions.

Based on this analysis, we conclude that the gene DAPF is a potent candidate for genetic intervention. Upregulating DAPF using methods such asCRISPR-Cas9 gene editing strategy has the potential to upregulate the lysine reporter gene LYSA and increase the overall lysine content in rice.


Full name: Aditya LahiriOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA


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S100A7 drives cPLA2 expression to modulate the immune tumor microenvironment1Manish Charan, 1Sanjay Mishra, 1Ramesh K. Ganju

1Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 43210.


Metastatic breast cancer correlates with poor prognosis and decreased recurrence-free survival. The molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation-associated breast tumor growth and metastasis are poorly understood. Here, we report that S100A7 upregulates the expression of cytosolicphospholipase A2-α (cPLA2), which enhances tumor burden and metastasis. Furthermore, we have shown that pharmacological inhibition of cPLA2suppresses S100A7-mediated triple-negative tumor growth and distant metastasis using multiple pre-clinical orthotopic, spontaneous and humanizedmouse models. Mechanistically, we report that overexpression of S100A7 enhances cPLA2/SLC9A3R2 signaling and modulates the GSK-3/β-cateninaxis for enhanced cancer cell survival and proliferation.

In addition, we have shown that cPLA2 inhibition reduced S100A7-mediated recruitment of immune-suppressive myeloid cells in the tumormicroenvironment (TME). We discovered that S100A7/cPLA2 axis enhances immunosuppressive TME by increasing Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to fuelbreast cancer growth and its secondary spread. Analysis of patient samples highlighted a positive correlation between S100A7 and cPLA2 expressionin invasive breast cancer patients. CD163+ tumor associated-macrophages were positively correlated with S100A7 and cPLA2 expression in malignantbreast cancer patients. Our studies define the role of S100A7/cPLA2 signaling cascade in enhancing breast tumor growth and metastasis.

Overall, these studies, strongly suggest that the S100A7/cPLA2 signaling axis could be developed as a novel prognostic marker and molecular target against highly aggressive breast cancers especially metastatic breast cancer.


Full name: Manish Charan,

Organization/Institute/ Company, Country: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 43210


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The Role of Bone in Muscle Atrophy Gordon L Klein 1

1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Texas USA


Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) in cancer patients with bone metastases demonstrated metastasis-induced bony inflammation releasedTGF-β with a paracrine effect on skeletal muscle including induction of reactive oxygen species with damage to the ryanodine receptor resulting in acalcium leak from muscle. Our aim was to determine if a similar mechanism occurred in children who lost muscle and bone following severe burninjury. We undertook a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of single-dose bisphosphonate administered intravenously within ten days of burn and byuse of serial dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans measured the rate of bone loss.

We then retrieved data from stable isotope studies of muscle protein balance and obtained stored serum from study subjects, performing culturesadding serum from bisphosphonate or placebo treated patients to mouse myoblasts, observing differences in myotube size and performing Westernblots to measure ubiquitin catabolic pathway and phosphorylation of the anabolic Akt/mTor pathway.

The RCT demonstrated a single dose of bisphosphonate prevented bone resorption in burns. Review of the data from stable isotope studies showedthat bisphosphonate treatment reduced muscle protein synthesis but also muscle protein breakdown, resulting in a positive net muscle proteinbalance, meaning that bisphosphonates had an overall anabolic effect on muscle in a condition known to be catabolic. Finally, the in vitro studiesfound that serum from bisphosphonate-treated subjects suppressed ubiquitin production and stimulated phosphorylation of the anabolic pathwayAkt/mTor.

Moreover, bisphosphonate-treated serum rescued myotube size suppressed by placebo treatment and culture of the myoblasts with serum fromplacebo-treated subjects with anti-TGF-β rescued myotube size comparable to cultures containing bisphosphonate-treated serum. These results arecompatible with release of TGF-β by bone resorption in mature adults with bone metastases and in burned children, indicating that this mechanismmay be basic and that bisphosphonate treatment may prevent this type of muscle wasting.


Full name: Gordon L KleinOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston Texas USA


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Invited SpeakersAbstracts Submitted but not Presented

Chromosome-scale assembly of the Sparassis latifolia genome obtained using long-read and Hi-C sequencingChi Yang a, Lu Ma a , Donglai Xiao a , Xiaoyu Liu a , Xiaoling Jiang a , Zhenghe Ying a , Yanquan Lin a ,*

a Institute of Edible Mushroom, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350014, China; National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Breeding & Cultivation of Featured Edible Mushroom, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou 350014, China


Background/ Objectives and GoalsSparassis latifolia is a valuable edible mushroom cultivated in China. In 2018, our research group reported an incomplete and low-quality genome ofS. latifolia was obtained by Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing. These limitations in the available genome have constrained genetic and genomic studiesin this mushroom resource.

MethodsHerein, an updated draft genome sequence of S. latifolia was generated by Oxford Nanopore sequencing and the Hi-C technique.

Expected Results/ Conclusion/ ContributionA total of 8.24 Gb of Oxford Nanopore long reads representing ~198.08X coverage of the S. latifolia genome were generated. Subsequently, a high-quality genome of 41.41 Mb, with scaffold and contig N50 sizes of 3.31 Mb and 1.51 Mb, respectively, was assembled. Hi-C scaffolding of the genomeresulted in 12 pseudochromosomes containing 93.56% of the bases in the assembled genome. Genome annotation further revealed that 17.47% ofthe genome was composed of repetitive sequences. In addition, 13,103 protein-coding genes were predicted, among which 98.72% were functionallyannotated. BUSCO assay results further revealed that there were 92.07% complete BUSCOs. The improved chromosome-scale assembly and genomefeatures described here will aid further molecular elucidation of various traits, breeding of S. latifolia, and evolutionary studies with related taxa.

Keywords: Sparassis latifolia, genome, Hi-C sequencing, Oxford Nanopore sequencing.

Biography (up to 100 words):Chi Yang currently works at the Institute of Edible Mushroom, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Chi is mainly engaged in the physiology andcultivation of edible mushroom, especially Sparassis latifolia.

Presenting author detailsFull name: Chi YangOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Institute of Edible Mushroom, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China


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BioEcological risks of Great Silk Road on the territory of the Kyrgyz RepublicZhunushev A.T a., Tynybekov A.K.**

a Director of the institute of biotechnology of National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic


Information about Kyrgyz Republic in the framework of environmental issues and safety in the Central Asia region. At present, the region of theCentral Asia has collided with ecological disasters of huge scales or with threats of their occurrence. Thus the centers of infringement naturalecosystems were able to, close to crisis. Anthropogenic factors of influence on an environment result in its scale degradation. Position is aggravatedwith that the geography of zones of ecological threats covers extensive territory, switching and the adjacent states. The number especially problem byway of ecological danger includes regions of Tien-Shan mountains. Scientific investigations in divers’ directions: water ecosystems, glaciersdegradation, radioactive wastes, tailing dumps, slags impact on environment, biological pollution.

Keywords: environmental issues, safety, anthropogenic, scientific, investigations biological pollutions, Great Silk Road

The Central Asia in which territory are located Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, reaches from Caspian sea in theWest up to Mongolia and China in the east, and from the south of Ural, Siberia in the north up to borders with Iran and Afghanistan in the south. 4million sq. km of its area are occupied basically with steppes, deserts and mountains (Fig. 1.).

The common environmental issues of the Central Asia countries. Now the region of the Central Asia has collided with ecological disasters of hugescales or with threats of their occurrence. Thus the centers of infringement natural ecosystems were able to, close to crisis. Anthropogenic factors ofinfluence on an environment result in its scale degradation. Position is aggravated with that the geography of zones of ecological threats coversextensive territory, switching and the adjacent states Potential threat of radioactive pollution of the natural environment in region Central Asia,including water pools and underground waters, objects and represent territory on which it was carried out and the activity connected todevelopment, manufacture, test, storage of nuclear and other radioactive materials continues to be carried out. Among such objects – Tailing dump ofmountain extraction of uranium (Mailuu-Suu in Kyrgyz Republic, Chkalovsk, Taboshar in Tadjikistan and a number of the closed uranium mines interritory of Fergana valley) which are Radioactive, chemical and biological hazards in Central Asia (Fig.2). Potentially dangerous complex in theecological plan tailing dump mines and mines of uranium development, including places of a burial place of radioactive waste products in river basinMailuu-Suu, settle down in mountain district and are subject of landslides to the phenomena during high waters or probable earthquakes.

On border of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic, on hillsides of Tien-Shan, near the rivers Mailuu-Suu, in the produced pits of uranium mine since 1946waste products of nuclear manufactures of Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and East Germany were stored. The general area of a surface of a nuclearburial ground makes 1000 hectares. On the rough estimates, more than for 50 years of accumulation of radioactive substances here has accumulatedabout 2 million cube meter of fatally dangerous waste products. 50th years of the last century hastily buried on technologies radiate nuclear wasteproducts up to 4 thousand microroentgen in an hour that exceeds all maximum permissible norms.

Presenting author detailsFull name: Dr. Zhunushev A.TOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Director of the institute of biotechnology of National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic


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The Evaluation of Agronomic Traits of Wild Soybean Accessions (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.) in Heilongjiang Province, China Wei Li 1,2, Mu Peng 3 , Zhen Wang 1 , Yingdong Bi 2 , Miao Liu 2 , Ling Wang 2 , Shufeng Di 2 , Jianxin Liu 2 , Chao Fan 2 , Guang Yang 2 and Deyue Yu 1,*1 National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China2 Crop Tillage and Cultivation, Institute of Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences (HAAS), Harbin 150086, China3 College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China


Wild soybean germplasm is distributed widely in China, particularly in Heilongjiang Province. In this study, 242 wild soybean accessions from fouragricultural divisions in Heilongjiang Province were evaluated based on six qualitative and eight quantitative traits. Results showed that a largeamount of variation occurred in these evaluated traits. Abundant qualitative traits included the wild type (78.51%), purple flowers (90.50%), needleleaf (39.26%), black seed (83.88%), brown hilum (52.07%), and mud film (87.60). Results of multivariate analysis based on quantitative traits showedthat 100-seed weight, seeds weight per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of effective pods, and number of invalid pods were significantlydifferent among samples (p < 0.05). A total of 27 germplasms were screened. Cluster analysis identified the 242 accessions into two groups, notfollowing the geographical distribution pattern, with rich wild soybean resources revealed in the northern site. The present study indicated that wildsoybean in Heilongjiang Province should be conserved in situ. The rich genetic diversity revealed in soybeans of different sites in Heilongjiang Provincesuggested its significant potential utilization in genetic improvement and breakthrough for soybean breeding. This information will help to exploit andconserve wild soybean accessions in Heilongjiang Province.

Keywords: Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.; morphological traits; agronomic traits; diversity; gene�tic differentiatio

Presenting author detailsFull name: Dr. Yingdong Bi Organization/Institute/ Company, Country: National Center for Soybean Improvement, State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and GermplasmEnhancement, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China


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Genomic study showed insight to the high oil content and the black coat color of sesameLinhai Wang1*, Senouwa Segla Koffi Dossou1

1Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430062, China

AbstractSesame is high in oil content and quality. sesame seed coat color is is strongly linked to seed oil, proteins, and lignan content, and also influencesconsumer preferences. Sesame genome was predicted to contain 708 lipid-related genes. The number was lower than other oil crops such assoybean, in spite of the higher oil content, but it has more lipid transfer protein genes. Whole genome screening identified 54, 42, 35, 44 and 34 LTPgenes in cultivars Zhongzhi 13, Baizhima, Mishuozhima, Swetha and Yuzhi11 respectively. They shared 19 LTP genes, and Swetha,Yuzhi11,Zhongzhi13have 2, 1, 6 special LTP respectively. It suggested LTP genes are active in evolution and varied in different sesames.

Genome-wide association study located 13 significant associated peaks including 4 LTP genes. Comparative transcriptome profiling of developingsesame seeds and capsules showed a list of lipid-related genes including 11 encoding LTP. By comparing of the developing seeds transcriptome of twovarieties of sesame “Zhongfengzhi No.1” (white seed) and “Zhongzhi No.33” (black seed), it showed the black sesame seed turned to yellow between9 and 11 DPA and then black between 12 and 14 DPA. Annotation of the DEGs between the black and white sesame showed flavonoid biosynthesisand biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were dominants in shaping black sesame. Furthermore, we identified 20 candidate genes associated withpigment biosynthesis in black sesame seed. The study showed molecular basis of the high oil content and black sesame.

Presenting author detailsFull name: Dr. Linhai WangOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430062, China


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Genomic study showed insight to the high oil content and the black coat color of sesameLinhai Wang1*, Senouwa Segla Koffi Dossou1

1Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430062, China

AbstractSesame is high in oil content and quality. sesame seed coat color is is strongly linked to seed oil, proteins, and lignan content, and also influencesconsumer preferences. Sesame genome was predicted to contain 708 lipid-related genes. The number was lower than other oil crops such assoybean, in spite of the higher oil content, but it has more lipid transfer protein genes. Whole genome screening identified 54, 42, 35, 44 and 34 LTPgenes in cultivars Zhongzhi 13, Baizhima, Mishuozhima, Swetha and Yuzhi11 respectively. They shared 19 LTP genes, and Swetha,Yuzhi11,Zhongzhi13have 2, 1, 6 special LTP respectively. It suggested LTP genes are active in evolution and varied in different sesames.

Genome-wide association study located 13 significant associated peaks including 4 LTP genes. Comparative transcriptome profiling of developingsesame seeds and capsules showed a list of lipid-related genes including 11 encoding LTP. By comparing of the developing seeds transcriptome of twovarieties of sesame “Zhongfengzhi No.1” (white seed) and “Zhongzhi No.33” (black seed), it showed the black sesame seed turned to yellow between9 and 11 DPA and then black between 12 and 14 DPA. Annotation of the DEGs between the black and white sesame showed flavonoid biosynthesisand biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were dominants in shaping black sesame. Furthermore, we identified 20 candidate genes associated withpigment biosynthesis in black sesame seed. The study showed molecular basis of the high oil content and black sesame.

Presenting author detailsFull name: Dr. Linhai WangOrganization/Institute/ Company, Country: Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops of the Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, 430062, China


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Day 1 : February 13, 2020THANK YOU

Day 1 : February 13, 2020

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Chapter 1: Genomics and Molecular Biology Summit (GMB-2021 ...

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