1.Study on the traditional Chinese medicine syndromes in 757 cases of children with hepatolenticular degeneration based on factor analysis and cluster analysis
Daiping HUA ; Han WANG ; Qiaoyu XUAN ; Lanting SUN ; Ling XIN ; Xin YIN ; Wenming YANG
Journal of Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;48(3):303-311
Objective:
To explore the distribution of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes in children with hepatolenticular degeneration (Wilson disease, WD) based on factor analysis and cluster analysis.
Methods:
From November 2018 to November 2023, general information (gender, age of admission, age of onset, course of disease, clinical staging, Western medicine clinical symptoms, and family history) and TCM four-examination informations (symptoms and signs) were retrospectively collected from 757 cases of children with WD at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, and factor analysis and cluster analysis were used to investigate TCM syndromes in children with WD.
Results:
A total of 757 children with WD were included, of which 483 were male and 274 were female; the median age at admission was 12.58 years, the median age at onset was 8.33 years, and the median course of disease was 24.37 months; clinical typing result indicated 506 cases of hepatic type, 133 cases of brain type, 99 cases of mixed-type, and 19 cases of other type; 36.46% of the children had no clinical symptoms (elevated aminotransferases or abnormalities in copper biochemistry); a total of 177 cases had a definite family history, and 10 cases had a suspected family history. Forty-three TCM four-examination information were obtained, with the top 10 in descending order being feeling listless and weak, brown urine, slow action, inappetence, dim complexion, slurred speech, angular salivation, body weight loss, hand and foot tremors, and abdominal fullness. In children with WD, the syndrome element of disease location was primarily characterized by the liver, involving the spleen and kidney, and the syndrome elements of disease nature were characterized by dampness, heat, and yin deficiency. Based on factor analysis and cluster analysis, five TCM syndromes were derived, which were, in order, syndrome of dampness-heat accumulation (265 cases, 35.01%), syndrome of yin deficiency of the liver and kidney (202 cases, 26.68%), syndrome of liver hyperactivity with spleen deficiency (185 cases, 24.44%), syndrome of qi and blood deficiency (79 cases, 10.44%), and syndrome of yang deficiency of the spleen and kidney (26 cases, 3.43%).
Conclusion
The TCM syndromes of children with WD were primarily syndromes of dampness-heat accumulation, yin deficiency of the liver and kidney, and liver hyperactivity with spleen deficiency. The liver was the main disease location, and the disease nature was characterized by deficiency in origin and excess in superficiality, excess and deficiency mixed. These findings suggest that treating children with WD should be based on the liver while also considering the spleen and kidney.
2.Gandouling Regulates PI3K/Akt/mTOR Autophagy Signaling Pathway via LncRNA H19 for Treatment of Wilson Disease Liver Fibrosis
Xin YIN ; Han WANG ; Daiping HUA ; Lanting SUN ; Yunyun XU ; Wenming YANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(1):131-138
ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanisms and pathways through which Gandouling (GDL) exerts its effects in the treatment of liver fibrosis in Wilson disease. MethodsSixty male SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the GDL low-, medium-, and high-dose groups (0.24, 0.48, 0.96 g·kg-1), and the penicillamine group (90 mg·kg-1), with 10 rats in each group. A copper-loaded Wilson disease rat model was established by gavage administration of 300 mg·kg-1 copper sulfate pentahydrate to all groups except the normal group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were used to observe the pathomorphological changes in the liver. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to measure the levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen type-Ⅲ peptide (PC-Ⅲ), and collagen type-Ⅳ (C-Ⅳ). Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the ultrastructure of liver tissues. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of liver tissues and serum exosomal long noncoding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and their phosphorylated forms, as well as autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ) in liver tissues. Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ fluorescence signal intensity was observed by immunofluorescence. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the model group exhibited inflammatory cell infiltration in hepatocytes, unclear nuclear boundaries with cell cleavage and necrosis, and collagen fiber deposition around confluent areas. The levels of HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, and C-Ⅳ were significantly elevated (P<0.01). Transmission electron microscopy revealed an increased number of autophagic vesicles, with autophagic lysosomes exhibiting a single-layer membrane structure following degradation of most envelopes. Expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ were significantly increased (P<0.01), and fluorescence signals of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ were markedly enhanced. The protein expression levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were reduced (P<0.01), while LncRNA H19 expression was increased (P<0.01), and mRNA expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR were decreased (P<0.01). After treatment with GDL, the degree of liver fibrosis was significantly improved, with decreased levels of HA, LN, PC-Ⅲ, and C-Ⅳ. The number of autophagic vesicles was significantly reduced, and expression levels of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ proteins were lower (P<0.01). The fluorescence signals of Beclin1 and LC3-Ⅱ weakened dose-dependently. The protein levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-mTOR were elevated (P<0.01), while the expression level of LncRNA H19 was reduced (P<0.01). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionGDL may alleviate liver fibrosis and reduce liver injury by regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR autophagy signaling pathway via LncRNA H19.
3.Controllability Analysis of Structural Brain Networks in Young Smokers
Jing-Jing DING ; Fang DONG ; Hong-De WANG ; Kai YUAN ; Yong-Xin CHENG ; Juan WANG ; Yu-Xin MA ; Ting XUE ; Da-Hua YU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(1):182-193
ObjectiveThe controllability changes of structural brain network were explored based on the control and brain network theory in young smokers, this may reveal that the controllability indicators can serve as a powerful factor to predict the sleep status in young smokers. MethodsFifty young smokers and 51 healthy controls from Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology were enrolled. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to construct structural brain network based on fractional anisotropy (FA) weight matrix. According to the control and brain network theory, the average controllability and the modal controllability were calculated. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups and Pearson correlation analysis to examine the correlation between significant average controllability and modal controllability with Fagerström Test of Nicotine Dependence (FTND) in young smokers. The nodes with the controllability score in the top 10% were selected as the super-controllers. Finally, we used BP neural network to predict the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in young smokers. ResultsThe average controllability of dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, lenticular nucleus putamen, and lenticular nucleus pallidum, and the modal controllability of orbital inferior frontal gyrus, supplementary motor area, gyrus rectus, and posterior cingulate gyrus in the young smokers’ group, were all significantly different from those of the healthy controls group (P<0.05). The average controllability of the right supplementary motor area (SMA.R) in the young smokers group was positively correlated with FTND (r=0.393 0, P=0.004 8), while modal controllability was negatively correlated with FTND (r=-0.330 1, P=0.019 2). ConclusionThe controllability of structural brain network in young smokers is abnormal. which may serve as an indicator to predict sleep condition. It may provide the imaging evidence for evaluating the cognitive function impairment in young smokers.
4.Correlations Between Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes and Lipid Metabolism in 341 Children with Wilson Disease
Han WANG ; Wenming YANG ; Daiping HUA ; Lanting SUN ; Qiaoyu XUAN ; Wei DONG ; Xin YIN
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(15):140-146
ObjectiveTo study the correlations between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes and lipid metabolism in children with Wilson disease (WD). MethodsClinical data and lipid metabolism indicators [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and lipoprotein a (Lpa)] were retrospectively collected from 341 children with WD. The clinical data were compared among WD children with different syndromes, and the correlations between TCM syndromes and lipid metabolism in children with WD were analyzed. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used for variable screening, and unordered multinomial Logistic regression was employed to analyze the effects of lipid metabolism indicators on TCM syndromes. ResultsThe 341 children with WD included 121 (35.5%) children with the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome, 103 (30.2%) children with the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome, 68 children with the combined phlegm and stasis syndrome, 29 children with the spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome, and 20 children with the liver qi stagnation syndrome. The liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome, combined phlegm and stasis syndrome, and spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome had correlations with the levels of lipid metabolism indicators (P<0.05). Lipid metabolism abnormalities occurred in 232 (68.0%) children, including hypertriglyceridemia (108), hypercholesterolemia (23), mixed hyperlipidemia (67), lipoprotein a-hyperlipoproteinemia (12), and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia (22). The percentages of hypertriglyceridemia and hypo-HDL-cholesterolemia varied among children with different TCM syndromes (P<0.05). Correlations existed for the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome with TG, TC, and HDL-C, the combined phlegm and stasis syndrome with TG, the spleen-kidney Yang deficiency syndrome with TG, TC, and LDL-C, and the liver Qi stagnation syndrome with TC and LDL-C (P<0.05, P<0.01). ConclusionThe TCM syndromes of children with WD are dominated by the dampness-heat accumulation syndrome and the liver-kidney Yin deficiency syndrome, and dyslipidemia in the children with WD is dominated by hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia. There are different correlations between TCM syndromes and lipid metabolism indicators, among which TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C could assist in identifying TCM syndromes in children with WD.
5.The Regulatory Mechanisms of Dopamine Homeostasis in Behavioral Functions Under Microgravity
Xin YANG ; Ke LI ; Ran LIU ; Xu-Dong ZHAO ; Hua-Lin WANG ; Lan-Qun MAO ; Li-Juan HOU
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(8):2087-2102
As China accelerates its efforts in deep space exploration and long-duration space missions, including the operationalization of the Tiangong Space Station and the development of manned lunar missions, safeguarding astronauts’ physiological and cognitive functions under extreme space conditions becomes a pressing scientific imperative. Among the multifactorial stressors of spaceflight, microgravity emerges as a particularly potent disruptor of neurobehavioral homeostasis. Dopamine (DA) plays a central role in regulating behavior under space microgravity by influencing reward processing, motivation, executive function and sensorimotor integration. Changes in gravity disrupt dopaminergic signaling at multiple levels, leading to impairments in motor coordination, cognitive flexibility, and emotional stability. Microgravity exposure induces a cascade of neurobiological changes that challenge dopaminergic stability at multiple levels: from the transcriptional regulation of DA synthesis enzymes and the excitability of DA neurons, to receptor distribution dynamics and the efficiency of downstream signaling pathways. These changes involve downregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the substantia nigra, reduced phosphorylation of DA receptors, and alterations in vesicular monoamine transporter expression, all of which compromise synaptic DA availability. Experimental findings from space analog studies and simulated microgravity models suggest that gravitational unloading alters striatal and mesocorticolimbic DA circuitry, resulting in diminished motor coordination, impaired vestibular compensation, and decreased cognitive flexibility. These alterations not only compromise astronauts’ operational performance but also elevate the risk of mood disturbances and motivational deficits during prolonged missions. The review systematically synthesizes current findings across multiple domains: molecular neurobiology, behavioral neuroscience, and gravitational physiology. It highlights that maintaining DA homeostasis is pivotal in preserving neuroplasticity, particularly within brain regions critical to adaptation, such as the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and cerebellum. The paper also discusses the dual-edged nature of DA plasticity: while adaptive remodeling of synapses and receptor sensitivity can serve as compensatory mechanisms under stress, chronic dopaminergic imbalance may lead to maladaptive outcomes, such as cognitive rigidity and motor dysregulation. Furthermore, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates homeostatic neuroregulation with the demands of space environmental adaptation. By drawing from interdisciplinary research, the review underscores the potential of multiple intervention strategies including pharmacological treatment, nutritional support, neural stimulation techniques, and most importantly, structured physical exercise. Recent rodent studies demonstrate that treadmill exercise upregulates DA transporter expression in the dorsal striatum, enhances tyrosine hydroxylase activity, and increases DA release during cognitive tasks, indicating both protective and restorative effects on dopaminergic networks. Thus, exercise is highlighted as a key approach because of its sustained effects on DA production, receptor function, and brain plasticity, making it a strong candidate for developing effective measures to support astronauts in maintaining cognitive and emotional stability during space missions. In conclusion, the paper not only underscores the centrality of DA homeostasis in space neuroscience but also reflects the authors’ broader academic viewpoint: understanding the neurochemical substrates of behavior under microgravity is fundamental to both space health and terrestrial neuroscience. By bridging basic neurobiology with applied space medicine, this work contributes to the emerging field of gravitational neurobiology and provides a foundation for future research into individualized performance optimization in extreme environments.
6.Adolescent Smoking Addiction Diagnosis Based on TI-GNN
Xu-Wen WANG ; Da-Hua YU ; Ting XUE ; Xiao-Jiao LI ; Zhen-Zhen MAI ; Fang DONG ; Yu-Xin MA ; Juan WANG ; Kai YUAN
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2025;52(9):2393-2405
ObjectiveTobacco-related diseases remain one of the leading preventable public health challenges worldwide and are among the primary causes of premature death. In recent years, accumulating evidence has supported the classification of nicotine addiction as a chronic brain disease, profoundly affecting both brain structure and function. Despite the urgency, effective diagnostic methods for smoking addiction remain lacking, posing significant challenges for early intervention and treatment. To address this issue and gain deeper insights into the neural mechanisms underlying nicotine dependence, this study proposes a novel graph neural network framework, termed TI-GNN. This model leverages functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to identify complex and subtle abnormalities in brain connectivity patterns associated with smoking addiction. MethodsThe study utilizes fMRI data to construct functional connectivity matrices that represent interaction patterns among brain regions. These matrices are interpreted as graphs, where brain regions are nodes and the strength of functional connectivity between them serves as edges. The proposed TI-GNN model integrates a Transformer module to effectively capture global interactions across the entire brain network, enabling a comprehensive understanding of high-level connectivity patterns. Additionally, a spatial attention mechanism is employed to selectively focus on informative inter-regional connections while filtering out irrelevant or noisy features. This design enhances the model’s ability to learn meaningful neural representations crucial for classification tasks. A key innovation of TI-GNN lies in its built-in causal interpretation module, which aims to infer directional and potentially causal relationships among brain regions. This not only improves predictive performance but also enhances model interpretability—an essential attribute for clinical applications. The identification of causal links provides valuable insights into the neuropathological basis of addiction and contributes to the development of biologically plausible and trustworthy diagnostic tools. ResultsExperimental results demonstrate that the TI-GNN model achieves superior classification performance on the smoking addiction dataset, outperforming several state-of-the-art baseline models. Specifically, TI-GNN attains an accuracy of 0.91, an F1-score of 0.91, and a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.83, indicating strong robustness and reliability. Beyond performance metrics, TI-GNN identifies critical abnormal connectivity patterns in several brain regions implicated in addiction. Notably, it highlights dysregulations in the amygdala and the anterior cingulate cortex, consistent with prior clinical and neuroimaging findings. These regions are well known for their roles in emotional regulation, reward processing, and impulse control—functions that are frequently disrupted in nicotine dependence. ConclusionThe TI-GNN framework offers a powerful and interpretable tool for the objective diagnosis of smoking addiction. By integrating advanced graph learning techniques with causal inference capabilities, the model not only achieves high diagnostic accuracy but also elucidates the neurobiological underpinnings of addiction. The identification of specific abnormal brain networks and their causal interactions deepens our understanding of addiction pathophysiology and lays the groundwork for developing targeted intervention strategies and personalized treatment approaches in the future.
7.Identification of key genes and functions in lung metastasis of osteosarcoma based on bioinformatics
Xin WANG ; Li-Hua PENG ; Xing-Wang CHEN
China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology 2024;37(7):718-724
Objective To screen the differentially expressed genes of lung metastasis of osteosarcoma by bioinformatics,and explore their functions and regulatory networks.Methods The data set of GSE14359 was screened from GEO database(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gds)and the differentially expressed gene(DEG)was identified using GEO2R online tool.Download osteosarcoma disease related miRNAs from the online HMMD database(http://www.cuilab.cn/hmdd)and then FunRich software was used to predict the target gene,intersects with DEG to obtains the target gene.The miRNA-mRNA rela-tionship pairs were formed according to the targeted joints,then the data was imported into Cytoscape for visualization,DAVID was used to performe GO and KEGG analysis on target genes,STRING was used to construct PPI network,Cytoscape visualiza-tion,CytoHubba plug-in screening central genes and online website for expression and survival analysis.Results Total 704 DEGs were identified,consisting of 477 up-regulated genes and 227 down regulated genes.FunRich predicted 7 888 mRNAs and 343 target genes were obtained through intersection of the two.KEGG analysis showed that it was mainly involved in focal adhesion,ECM receptor interaction,TNF signal pathway,PI3K-Akt signal pathway,IL-17 signal pathway and MAPK signal pathway.Ten central genes(CCNB1,CHEK1,AURKA,DTL,RRM2,MELK,CEP55,FEN1,KPNA2,TYMS)were identified as potential key genes.Among them,CCNB1,DTL,MELK were highly correlated with poor prognosis.Conclusion The key genes and functional pathways identified in this study may be helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and progression of lung metastases from osteosarcoma,and provide potential therapeutic targets.
8.Risk factors for short-term re-obstruction following ERCP plastic stent placement in patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction
Jingyi YIN ; Mingyang FAN ; Jianhui LI ; Xin HAO ; Haiyang HUA ; Aimin WANG
China Journal of Endoscopy 2024;30(10):44-52
Objective To analyze the risk factors of short-term re-obstruction after plastic stent placement by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)in patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction.Methods A retrospective study was performed on clinical data of 93 patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction who underwent ERCP biliary plastic stent placement from January 2015 to January 2024.Understanding the effects of general information,clinical characteristics,operative-related factors,and laboratory-related indicators on postoperative short-term re-obstruction.The dependent variable was whether biliary stent re-obstruction in short-term after operation,univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the risk factors for the patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction occurred re-obstruction in short-term after ERCP plastic stent placement.Results Among the 93 patients,49 patients had short-term recurrent biliary stent obstruction after plastic stent placement by ERCP and the recurrence rate was 52.7%.Univariate analysis showed that gender,types of malignant biliary strictures,preoperative cholangitis,no drainage before operation and endoscopic sphincterotomy(EST)during ERCP plastic stent placement,location of stent placement,fever within 24 h after ERCP plastic stent placement,the decrease less than 50%of total bilirubin(TBiL)at 2 weeks after operation,the decrease less than<50%of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT)at 2 weeks after operation,GGT and alkaline phosphatase(ALP)by less than 50%at 2 weeks after operation were potential risk factors affecting for short-term re-obstruction after ERCP plastic stent placement in patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction.Multivariate analysis showed that,no drainage before operation(O^R=5.738,P=0.013),preoperative cholangitis(O^R=5.347,P=0.025)and place stents on the left or on the right(O^R=6.739,P=0.014;O^R=9.719,P=0.005)were independent risk factors for short-term re-obstruction after ERCP plastic stent placement.Conclusion No drainage before operation,preoperative cholangitis,place stents on the left or on the right are independent risk factors for short-term re-obstruction after ERCP plastic stent placement in patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction.Early identification of risk groups and timely intervention of risk factors in clinical practice are of great significance for the prevention of short-term re-obstruction after ERCP plastic stent placement in such patients.
9.Efficacy and survival analysis of different stents placement under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in patients with malignant biliary obstruction
Jing QI ; Jingyi YIN ; Mingyang FAN ; Aimin WANG ; Xin HAO ; Haiyang HUA ; Jianhui LI
China Journal of Endoscopy 2024;30(11):31-38
Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of different stents placement under endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)in patients with malignant biliary obstruction(MBO)and the effect on patient survival time.Methods Clinical data of MBO patients treated with ERCP stent placement between January 2020 and March 2024 were collected,divided into recyclable stent group(33 cases),metal stent group(42 cases),and ordinary stent group(34 cases).Comparation of the three groups of preoperative and postoperative changes in liver function,complications of long-term cholangitis and pancreatitis,stent patency time,success rate of stent removal with a single clamping,survival time,monitoring follow-up situation.Results There was no statistically significant difference in the liver function of the three groups of patients before stent placement(P>0.05);One week after stent placement,the difference compared with preoperative between direct bilirubin(DBiL)and total bilirubin(TBiL)in the recyclable stent group and the metal stent group was significantly higher than that in the ordinary stent group,and the difference between the ordinary stent group and other two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The incidence of cholangitis in the recyclable stent group was the lowest,followed by the ordinary plastic biliary stent,and the metal biliary stent had the highest incidence of cholangitis,the incidence of cholangitis in the long term after stent placement was compared among the three groups of patients with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative pancreatitis in the three groups was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The success rate of stent removal with a single clamping was higher in the recyclable stent group than the ordinary stent group.Comparison of median stent patency time among the three groups,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The metal stent group had the longest median patency time of 194.0 d,recyclable plastic stent had the second longest median patency time of 126.0 d,and ordinary plastic biliary stent had the shortest median patency time of 92.0 d.Median survival time among the three groups was statistically significant(P<0.05).The recyclable plastic biliary stent had the longest median survival time of 590.0 d,metal biliary stent had the second longest median survival time of 476.0 d,and ordinary plastic biliary stent had the shortest median survival time of 453.0 d.Conclusion Recyclable plastic biliary stent has a faster decrease in bilirubin index compared with the ordinary stent group after operation.And the recyclable plastic stent group has lower incidence of long-term cholangitis,higher success rate of one-time clamping of the stent,and more advantages in time to stent patency and survival time compared with ordinary plastic biliary stent,which is an effective choice of stenting modality for ERCP stent placement in patients with MBO.
10.Perilla AP2 Gene Family PfWRI1 Promotes Oil Accumulation in Plant Seeds
Xiao-Yan FENG ; Qi-Feng WANG ; Ke-Xin YUE ; Fu-Peng HOU ; Hua-Xiang XU ; Jun-Xing LU ; Jian HU ; Tao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 2024;40(8):1161-1172
AP2 transcription factors belong to the AP2/ERF superfamily and are involved in the regula-tion of various biological processes in plant growth and development,as well as in response to biotic and abiotic stresses.However,studies on the AP2 transcription factor family of Perilla frutescens have not been reported.In this study,totally 18 AP2 family members were identified from the Perilla frutescens ge-nome and analyzed for gene structure,conserved motifs,and cis-acting elements using bioinformatics.WRINKLED1(WRI1)is a key regulator of lipid biosynthesis in many plant species and plays an impor-tant role in the regulation of lipid synthesis.Sequence comparison revealed that one member of WRI1 is highly homologous to AtWRI1 and contains two conserved AP2 domains,named PfWRI1.The expression levels of PfAP2 family genes were analyzed in different tissues of Perilla frutescens and at different stages of seed development in conjunction with the transcriptome data,and the results showed that PfWRI1 is highly expressed only in the seeds of Perilla frutescens,suggesting that PfWRI1 may be related to the de-velopmental process of the seeds.The overexpression vector of plant pCAMBIA1303-PfWRI1 was con-structed,and wild-type(Col)and mutant(wri1-1)Arabidopsis thaliana were transformed by Agrobacte-rium tumefaciens to obtain overexpression and complementation lines,respectively.The results showed that the expression of P fWRI1 led to an increase in oil content of Arabidopsis seeds by 8.90%-13.57%compared with Col,and promoted the accumulation of oleic acid(C18:1)and linoleic acid(18:2)and reduced the accumulation of palmitic acid(C16:0),arachidonic acid(C20:0),and cis-11-Eicosenoic acid(C20:1)in transgenic Arabidopsis seeds.In addition,PfWRI1 gene expression increased the ex-pression of glycolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis-related genes AtPKP-α,AtPKP-β1,AtBCCP2,AtSUS2,and AtLIP1.Taken together,PfWRI1 may promote lipid accumulation by increasing unsaturated fatty acid content through interaction with the above genes.


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