Chao Zhou

Summary: Polycomb group (PcG) proteins serve as pivotal epigenetic repressors that govern the transcriptional programs underlying cell growth and differentiation. However, their functional roles in maize endosperm remain largely unexplored. Here, we characterize the recessive maize small‐kernel mutant sks1 , which exhibits persistent endosperm cell hyperproliferation and compromised cell expansion during grain filling. Map‐based cloning reveals that SKS1 encodes ZmEMF1a, a PcG protein that physically interacts with subunits of both PRC1 and PRC2. Integrated ChIP‐seq and RNA‐seq analyses were performed to investigate its epigenetic regulatory functions. ZmEMF1a orchestrates a stage‐specific epigenetic regulatory program: it predominantly mediates H3K27me3 deposition at 6 d after pollination (DAP), while coordinately regulating the deposition of both H3K27me3 and H2Aub1 at 10 DAP. Loss of ZmEMF1a leads to ectopic hyperproliferation of differentiated endosperm tissues, specifically the basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) and aleurone (AL), as well as elevated vitamin B content in the endosperm. Collectively, these findings establish ZmEMF1a as an epigenetic regulator that balances endosperm proliferation, cell fate specification, and nutrient accumulation through stage‐specific histone modifications, thereby offering promising targets for enhancing maize yield and nutritional quality.

A systematic evaluation of salt tolerance at the seedling stage was conducted using 143 maize inbred lines under a 150 mM mixed-salt solution (NaCl:Na₂SO₄ = 9:1, EC = 16.78 dS/m) that mirrors the ionic composition of saline groundwater in the Yellow River Delta. The comprehensive salt tolerance index (D value) ranged from 0.15 to 0.85 across the population, with the elite line B114 exhibiting the highest D value (0.835) and the sensitive line PHT55 ranking near the bottom. Under salt stress, B114 displayed remarkable growth stability, with plant height decreasing by only 25.9%, fresh weight by 13.3%, and dry weight remaining unchanged, whereas PHT55 suffered severe growth inhibition (plant height: 61.5% decrease; fresh weight: 63.2% decrease; dry weight: 33.3% decrease). Time-series RNA-seq of root tissues across four time points (5, 8, 11, and 14 days) revealed markedly distinct transcriptional dynamics: B114 exhibited relatively stable temporal regulation (2261–9124 DEGs), whereas PHT55 showed a pronounced early transcriptional burst that progressively intensified (3728–10,108 DEGs). Using random forest-based machine learning, 50 core salt tolerance-related genes were unbiasedly identified from 16,194 significantly differentially expressed genes. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were primarily involved in redox regulation, ion homeostasis maintenance, and stress signal transduction pathways. qRT-PCR validation confirmed biphasic expression patterns, with Zm00001d024160 showing the strongest early induction (48-fold at 5 h). This study established a maize salt tolerance evaluation system closely aligned with field conditions and demonstrated that coordinated temporal transcriptional regulation represents a core molecular mechanism underlying high salt tolerance in maize. The elite salt-tolerant germplasm and key candidate genes identified here provide valuable genetic resources and a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding of salt-tolerant maize adapted to saline-alkaline soils.

A systematic evaluation of salt tolerance at the seedling stage was conducted using 143 maize inbred lines in this study. The results showed that salt stress significantly inhibited seedling growth and enabled the identification of several elite salt-tolerant inbred lines, including B114. Salt tolerance was significantly positively correlated with anti-oxidant capacity. Under salt stress, the highly salt-tolerant line B114 exhibited lower membrane damage, stronger reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity, and a significantly higher survival rate than the salt-sensitive line PHT55. Using random for-est-based machine learning, 50 core salt tolerance-related genes were unbiasedly identified from high-dimensional transcriptomic data. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes were primarily involved in redox regulation, ion homeostasis maintenance, and stress signal transduction pathways. This study established a maize salt tolerance evaluation system closely aligned with field conditions and demonstrated that coordi-nated temporal transcriptional regulation represents a core molecular mechanism under-lying high salt tolerance in maize. The elite salt-tolerant germplasm and key candidate genes identified in this study provide valuable genetic resources and a theoretical founda-tion for molecular breeding of salt-tolerant maize adapted to saline-alkaline soils.

The FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex, comprising structure-specific recognition protein 1 (SSRP1) and suppressor of Ty 16 (SPT16), plays a key role in regulating gene transcription by facilitating ATP-independent nucleosome assembly. SSRP1 contains an HMG domain that binds to DNA and regulates cell proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. However, its role in plant development remains poorly understood. In this study, we identified a mutant, small kernel 301 (smk301), characterized by reduced kernel size and semi-dwarfism. Map-based cloning revealed that the mutation affects ZmSSRP1 on chromosome 8, which is expressed throughout maize (Zea mays L.) tissues. ZmSSRP1 localizes to the nucleus and interacts with ZmSPT16 to form the FACT complex. Using RNA-seq and ATAC-seq analyses, we identified 3 candidate target genes involved in hormone pathways, all of which show a significant positive correlation with ZmSSRP1 expression. Notably, ZmSSRP1 was enriched in the chromatin open region of brassinosteroid-deficient dwarf 1 (ZmBRD1), which encodes a Brassinosteroid C-6 Oxidase. This indicates that ZmSSRP1 affects maize development by regulating the transcription of ZmBRD1, thereby influencing the brassinosteroid content in maize. Our findings shed light on how the FACT complex influences maize development by modulating the expression of brassinosteroid-related genes, offering insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant growth.

With the continuous expansion of saline-alkaline land worldwide, salt stress has emerged as one of the most severe abiotic constraints on plant growth and development. However, maize (Zea mays L.), one of the most important staple crops globally, exhibits inherently low salt tolerance. In this study, we identified ZmHB127, which encodes a member of the maize HD-ZIP I transcription factor subfamily, as a key regulator of salt stress responses. Under salt stress conditions, overexpression of ZmHB127 significantly enhanced salt tolerance, whereas ZmHB127 knockout lines exhibited pronounced sensitivity. Analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in leaves demonstrated that overexpression of ZmHB127 markedly enhanced the ROS-scavenging capacity of maize plants. By integrating DAP-seq and RNA-seq analyses, ZmNQO1 was identified as a putative downstream target of ZmHB127. Functional analyses further demonstrated that the activity of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 was markedly enhanced, thereby promoting ROS detoxification in maize, in response to ZmHB127. Furthermore, the overexpression of ZmHB127 or ZmNQO1 significantly enhanced grain yield under salt stress conditions, highlighting their promise as candidate genes for salt-tolerant maize germplasm improvement.

Despite significant advancements in chemotherapy, treatment efficacy remains limited by drug resistance and toxicity. Anticancer agents from natural sources have been proven in terms of potency, efficiency, and safety. Among them, fungi have emerged as the largest contributor to the field of medicine. However, many fungal bioactive compounds remain underexplored due to their structural and ecological diversity. This review highlights the research progress on products, functions, and therapeutic mechanisms of anticancer fungi identified during 2015–2025. Furthermore, this review provides a novel integrative perspective by comprehensively comparing three diverse categories of fungi, including endophytic, marine and edible fungi. Although various anticancer metabolites have been reported from edible and marine fungi, only a few have reached the market primarily due to low metabolite yields and limited clinical, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic data. This review focused on the most potent anticancerous metabolites, fungal extracts and their biological activities from 3 categories of fungi against the common cancer cell lines, indicating endophytic fungi as the biggest source of anticancerous metabolites. Anticancer mechanisms involved are the production of ROS, damage to mitochondrial membrane, inhibition of microtubule formation, caspase 3/9 pathway activation, and macrophage-based actions.

SUMMARY: The early development of maize kernels plays a crucial role in determining yield and grain quality. Deciphering chromatin accessibility dynamics can further advance our understanding of tissue‐specific regulatory networks. In this study, we performed an integrated multiomics analysis to explore chromatin accessibility dynamics during cell fate transitions in early kernel development. Endosperm and seed coat samples collected at 4–10 days after pollination (DAP) are chosen for the assay for transposase‐accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC‐seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA‐seq) data, which reveal that chromatin accessibility undergoes stage‐specific remodeling during early endosperm differentiation (4–10 DAP). Differences in distal accessible chromatin regions (dACRs) and expression patterns highlight distinct regulatory mechanisms for the zein and starch synthesis pathways, differing from recognized transcriptional co‐regulation. Novel transcription factors (TF) and downstream genes were identified and validated, including DOF36, ZmNAC128, and ZmbZIP3. Notably, similar accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) patterns and expression profiles were observed for the marker genes between maternal placenta chalaza (PC) fusion zone and basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) region of the offspring, suggesting potential co‐regulatory modules. In conclusion, we generated a time‐course atlas of ACRs and transcriptome to analyze specific expression regulation, construct cell differentiation trajectories, and develop cell‐type‐specific gene regulatory networks.

Recent advances in molecular studies on plant lipids have revealed novel functions, increasing interest in their roles in plant metabolic processes and food functionality. With evolving living standards, the demand for crop-derived polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) oil is increasing due to their benefits for cardiovascular health, brain function, and anti-inflammatory properties. Despite these benefits, there are gaps in comprehensive, integrated, and consolidated documents on recent advancements in crop biotechlogy, particularly concerning the biosynthesis of essential lipids. Such a document could provide valuable insights for researchers, breeders, and industry professionals seeking to enhance crop oil profiles and optimize the nutritional and functional qualities of plant-based foods. Therefore, this study aims to: (1) provide an updated review of crop lipid biosynthesis and (2) identify trending topics, key contributors, and institutions contributing to research on crop PUFAs, their health benefits, and genes associated with these functions. Methods: Systematic and mixed-method review approaches were used to gather the most recent evidence by identifying all relevant primary research studies on the specific review topic. Five databases were used in the process. Result and conclusion: 366 papers were identified, with 73 highly cited and recent ones focusing on crop PUFA biosynthesis and genetic engineering. Key genes involved in lipid biosynthesis include FAD, TMT, HGG, GhKAR, GhHAD, and transcription factors like MYB89, MYB96, WRI, LEC, GL2, FUS3, and HB2 all critical for enhancing PUFA biosynthesis. However, challenges such as poor transgene expression, reduced seed germination, and metabolic toxicity must be addressed to develop crops with improved oil profiles.

Summary: Maize is a key biomass resource with wide agricultural applications. Anthocyanins, potent antioxidants, offer health benefits like reducing oxidative stress. The biosynthesis of anthocyanins competes with that of lignin for shared metabolic precursors, which can lead to trade‐offs in plant growth and feed quality. Higher lignin content can decrease silage digestibility, posing challenges for livestock feed. The maize brown midrib 6 (bm6) mutant, known for reduced lignin, has an unclear genetic basis. Here, we identify ZmGCH1 as the candidate gene for bm6 through fine mapping. Mutations in ZmGCH1 shift precursors from lignin to anthocyanin biosynthesis. Furthermore, we show that ZmGCH1 interacts with ZmPEBP15 to modulate chalcone synthase activity, thereby stabilizing the allocation of precursors between lignin and anthocyanin pathways. To evaluate the practical implications of our findings, we introduced the bm6 mutation into Zhengdan958 and Xianyu335. In vitro rumen digestion assays confirmed that the introduction of the bm6 mutation significantly improved silage digestibility. This discovery not only holds great potential for enhancing silage digestibility but also provides a broader strategy for optimizing maize production to better meet the increasing demands of both the food and livestock feed.

SUMMARY: Cis ‐regulatory elements (CREs) are enriched in accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) of eukaryotes. Despite extensive research on genome‐wide ACRs in various plant tissues, the global impact of these changes on developmental processes in maize seeds remains poorly understood. In this study, we employed the assay for transposase‐accessible chromatin sequencing (ATAC‐seq) to reveal the chromatin accessibility profile throughout the genome during the early stages of maize seed development. We identified a total of 37 952 to 59 887 high‐quality ACRs in maize seeds at 0 to 8 days after pollination (DAP). Furthermore, we examined the correlation between the identified ACRs and gene expression. We observed a positive correlation between the open degree of promoter‐ACRs and the expression of most genes. Moreover, we identified binding footprints of numerous transcription factors (TFs) within chromatin accessibility regions and revealed key TF families involved in different stages. Through the footprints of accessible chromatin regions, we predicted transcription factor regulatory networks during early maize embryo development. Additionally, we discovered that DNA sequence diversity was notably reduced at ACRs, yet trait‐associated SNPs were more likely to be located within ACRs. We edited the ACR containing the trait‐associated SNP of NKD1 . Both NKD1 ^pro ‐1 and NKD1 ^pro ‐2 showed phenotypes corresponding to the trait‐associated SNP. Our results suggest that alterations in chromatin accessibility play a crucial role in maize seed development and highlight the potential contribution of open chromatin regions to advancements in maize breeding.