Abstract Background: Histone acetylation is an important epigenetic modification that regulates gene activity in response to stress. Histone acetylation levels are reversibly regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). The imperative roles of HDACs in gene transcription, transcriptional regulation, growth and responses to stressful environment have been widely investigated in Arabidopsis. However, data regarding HDACs in kenaf crop has not been disclosed yet. Results: In this study, six HDACs genes (HcHDA2, HcHDA6, HcHDA8, HcHDA9, HcHDA19, and HcSRT2) were isolated and characterized. Phylogenetic tree revealed that these HcHDACs shared high degree of sequence homology with those of Gossypium arboreum. Subcellular localization analysis showed that GFP-tagged HcHDA2 and HcHDA8 were predominantly localized in the nucleus, HcHDA6 and HcHDA19 in nucleus and cytosol. The HcHDA9 was found in both nucleus and plasma membranes. Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the six HcHDACs genes were expressed with distinct expression patterns across plant tissues. Furthermore, we determined differential accumulation of HcHDACs transcripts under salt and drought treatments, indicating that these enzymes may participate in the biological process under stress in kenaf. Finally, we showed that the levels of histone H3 and H4 acetylation were modulated by salt and drought stress in kenaf. Conclusions: We have isolated and characterized six HDACs genes from kenaf. These data showed that HDACs are imperative players for growth and development as well abiotic stress responses in kenaf.

ABSTRACT Objective In the present study, we aimed to assess the associations of C1q gene polymorphisms with autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) susceptibility. Subjects and methods A set of 1,003 AITD patients (661 with Graves’ disease and 342 with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis) and 880 ethnically- and geographically-matched controls from Chinese Han population were included. Five common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs294185, rs292001, rs682658, rs665691 and rs294179) in C1q gene locus were genotyped. Frequencies of genotypes and alleles were compared between patients and controls, and haplotype analysis was also performed. Results There was no statistically significant difference between AITD patients and controls in the frequencies of alleles of rs294185 (P = 0.41), rs292001 (P = 0.71), rs682658 (P = 0.68), rs665691 (P = 0.68) and rs294179 (P = 0.69). There was also no statistically significant difference between AITD patients and controls in the frequencies of genotypes of rs294185 (P = 0.72), rs292001 (P = 0.89), rs682658 (P = 0.83), rs665691 (P = 0.90) and rs294179 (P = 0.43). Stratified analyses showed that none of those five SNPs in C1q gene were associated with Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (all P values > 0.05). Haplotype analysis revealed that there were no obvious genetic associations of C1q gene polymorphisms with AITD susceptibility. Conclusions We, for the first time, identified the associations between C1q gene SNPs and AITD, and our findings suggested that five common SNPs in C1q gene were not associated with AITD susceptibility in Chinese Han population.

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a variação no gene UBASH3A com a doença tiroidiana autoimune e características clínicas na população chinesa Han. Sujeitos e métodos: Um total de 667 pacientes com DTAI (417 com DG e 250 com TH) e 301 controles saudáveis foi genotipado para dois polimorfismos de nucleotídeo simples (SNPs) rs11203203, rs3788013 do gene UBASH3A, usando-se a plataforma MALDI-TOF-MS (Ionização/Dessorção de Matriz Assistida por Laser – Tempo de Voo/Espectrômetro de Massa). Resultados: Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as frequências genotípicas e alélicas dos dois SNPs nos grupos controle e DTAI, DG e TH. Não houve diferenças significativas entre as frequências alélicas dos dois SNPs em pacientes com DG com ou sem olftalmopatia. Não houve diferenças significativas nas distribuições de haplótipos no grupo controle e nos grupos DTAI, DG e TH. Conclusão: Os SNPs rs11203203 e rs3788013 do gene UBASH3A podem não estar associados a pacientes com DTAI na população chinesa Han.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate UBASH3A gene variation association with autoimmune thyroid disease and clinical features in a Chinese Han population. Subjects and methods: A total of 667 AITD patients (417 GD and 250 HT) and 301 healthy controls were genotyped for two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs11203203, rs3788013 of UBASH3A gene, utilizing the Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS) Platform. Results: Between the control group and AITD, GD and HT group, no statistically significant difference was observed in the genotypic and allelic frequencies of the two SNPs. There was no significant difference in allelic frequencies of the two SNPs between GD with and without ophthalmopathy. There was no significant difference in haplotype distributions between the control group and AITD, GD or HT group. Conclusion: Rs11203203 and rs3788013 in UBASH3A gene may not be associated with AITD patients in Chinese Han population.