Xin Zhao

Dr. Xin Zhao

Yibin University, Yibin, Sichuan, China
orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

8Years (2019-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
18 May 2022 in BMC Plant Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XZXin Zhao
Xin Zhao
YYYue Yan
Yue Yan
WZWan-Hai Zhou
Wan-Hai Zhou
FRFeng Ruizhang
Feng Ruizhang
YSYong-Kang Shuai
Yong-Kang Shuai
QWQin Wei
Qin Wei
Background: Cinnamomum longepaniculatum (Gamble) N. Chao ex H. W. Li, whose leaves produce essential oils, is a traditional Chinese medicine and economically important tree species. In our study, two C. longepaniculatum varieties that have significantly different essential oil contents and leaf phenotypes were selected as the materials to investigate secondary metabolism. Result: The essential oil content and leaf phenotypes were different between the two varieties. When the results of both transcriptome and metabolomic analyses were combined, it was found that the differences were related to phenylalanine metabolic pathways, particularly the metabolism of flavonoids and terpenoids. The transcriptome results based on KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that pathways involving phenylpropanoids, tryptophan biosynthesis and terpenoids significantly differed between the two varieties; 11 DEGs (2 upregulated and 9 downregulated) were associated with the biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites, and 12 DEGs (2 upregulated and 10 downregulated) were related to the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides. Through further analysis of the leaves, we detected 196 metabolites in C. longepaniculatum. The abundance of 49 (26 downregulated and 23 upregulated) metabolites differed between the two varieties, which is likely related to the differences in the accumulation of these metabolites. We identified 12 flavonoids, 8 terpenoids and 8 alkaloids and identified 4 kinds of PMFs from the leaves of C. longepaniculatum. Conclusions: The combined results of transcriptome and metabolomic analyses revealed a strong correlation between metabolite contents and gene expression. We speculate that light leads to differences in the secondary metabolism and phenotypes of leaves of different varieties of C. longepaniculatum. This research provides data for secondary metabolite studies and lays a solid foundation for breeding ideal C. longepaniculatum plants.

31 March 2023 in Frontiers in Plant Science
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
MIMuhammad Ihtisham
Muhammad Ihtisham
MHMirza Hasanuzzaman
Mirza Hasanuzzaman
AEAhmed H. El-Sappah
Ahmed H. El-Sappah
FZFawad Zaman
Fawad Zaman
NKNawab Khan
Nawab Khan
XZXin Zhao
Xin Zhao
Overseeded perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) turf on dormant bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon Pers. L) in transitional climatic zones (TCZ) experience a severe reduction in its growth due to cold stress. Primary plant nutrients play an important role in the cold stress tolerance of plants. To better understand the cold stress tolerance of overseeded perennial ryegrass under TCZ, a three-factor and five-level central composite rotatable design (CCRD) with a regression model was used to study the interactive effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization on lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and their detoxification by the photosynthetic pigments, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. The study demonstrated substantial effects of N, P, and K fertilization on ROS production and their detoxification through enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways in overseeded perennial ryegrass under cold stress. Our results demonstrated that the cold stress significantly enhanced malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage, and hydrogen peroxide contents, while simultaneously decreasing ROS-scavenging enzymes, antioxidants, and photosynthetic pigments in overseeded perennial ryegrass. However, N, P, and K application mitigated cold stress-provoked adversities by enhancing soluble protein, superoxide dismutase, peroxide dismutase, catalase, and proline contents as compared to the control conditions. Moreover, N, P, and, K application enhanced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids in overseeded perennial ryegrass under cold stress as compared to the control treatments. Collectively, this 2−years study indicated that N, P, and K fertilization mitigated cold stress by activating enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants defense systems, thereby concluding that efficient nutrient management is the key to enhanced cold stress tolerance of overseeded perennial ryegrass in a transitional climate. These findings revealed that turfgrass management will not only rely on breeding new varieties but also on the development of nutrient management strategies for coping cold stress.

29 January 2019 in BMC Plant Biology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
XZXin Zhao
Xin Zhao
WLWen-Fang Li
Wen-Fang Li
YWYing Wang
Ying Wang
ZMZonghuan Ma
Zonghuan Ma
SYShi-Jin Yang
Shi-Jin Yang
BCBai-Hong Chen
Bai-Hong Chen
Plant photosynthesis can be improved by elevated CO2 concentration (eCO2). In vitro growth under CO2 enriched environment can lead to greater biomass accumulation than the conventional in micropropagation. However, little is know about how eCO2 promotes transformation of grape plantlets in vitro from heterotrophic to autotrophic. In addition, how photosynthesis-related genes and their proteins are expressed under eCO2 and the mechanisms of how eCO2 regulates RbcS, Rca and their proteins have not been reported. Grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Pinot Noir’) plantlets in vitro were cultured with 2% sucrose designated as control (CK), with eCO2 (1000 μmol·mol− 1) as C0, with both 2% sucrose and eCO2 as Cs. Here, transcriptomic and proteomic profiles associated with photosynthesis and growth in leaves of V. vinifera at different CO2 concentration were analyzed. A total of 1814 genes (465 up-regulated and 1349 down-regulated) and 172 proteins (80 up-regulated and 97 down-regulated) were significantly differentially expressed in eCO2 compared to CK. Photosynthesis-antenna, photosynthesis and metabolism pathways were enriched based on GO and KEGG. Simultaneously, 9, 6 and 48 proteins were involved in the three pathways, respectively. The leaf area, plantlet height, qP, ΦPSII and ETR increased under eCO2, whereas Fv/Fm and NPQ decreased. Changes of these physiological indexes are related to the function of DEPs. After combined analysis of proteomic and transcriptomic, the results make clear that eCO2 have different effects on gene transcription and translation. RbcS was not correlated with its mRNA level, suggesting that the change in the amount of RbcS is regulated at their transcript levels by eCO2. However, Rca was negatively correlated with its mRNA level, it is suggested that the change in the amount of its corresponding protein is regulated at their translation levels by eCO2. Transcriptomic, proteomic and physiological analysis were used to evaluate eCO2 effects on photosynthesis. The eCO2 triggered the RbcS and Rca up-regulated, thus promoting photosynthesis and then advancing transformation of grape plantlets from heterotrophic to autotrophic. This research will helpful to understand the influence of eCO2 on plant growth and promote reveal the mechanism of plant transformation from heterotrophic to autotrophic.

14 April 2023 in Frontiers in Plant Science
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AEAhmed H. El-Sappah
Ahmed H. El-Sappah
MMMohamed A. S. Metwally
Mohamed A. S. Metwally
MRMostafa M. Rady
Mostafa M. Rady
HAHayssam M. Ali
Hayssam M. Ali
LWLinghui Wang
Linghui Wang
El-Sayed M. DesokyEl-Sayed M. Desoky
El-Sayed M. Desoky
Introduction: Osmoprotectant supplementation can be used as a useful approach to enhance plant stress tolerance. However, the effect of silymarin and clove fruit extract (CFE) on wheat plants grown under cadmium (Cd) stress has not been studied.Methods: Wheat seeds were planted in plastic pots filled with ions-free sand. A ½-strength Hoagland’s nutrient solution was used for irrigation. Pots were treated with eight treatments thirteen days after sowing: 1) Control, 2) 0.5 mM silymarin foliar application [silymarin], 3) 2% CFE foliar application [CFE], 4) CFE enriched with silymarin (0.24 g silymarin L-1 of CFE) [CFE-silymarin], 5) Watering wheat seedlings with a nutritious solution of 2 mM Cd [Cd]. 6) Cadmium + silymarin, 7) Cadmium + CFE, and 8) Cadmium + CFE-silymarin. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with nine replicates.Results and discussion: The Cd stress decreased grain yield, shoot dry weight, leaf area, carotenoids, chlorophylls, stomatal conductance, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, membrane stability index, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content by 66.9, 60.6, 56.7, 23.8, 33.5, 48.1, 41.2, 48.7, 42.5, 24.1, 39.9, and 24.1%, respectively. On the other hand, Cd has an Application of CFE, silymarin, or CEF-silymarin for wheat plants grown under Cd stress, significantly improved all investigated biochemical, morphological, and physiological variables and enhanced the antioxidant enzyme activities. Applying CFE and/or silymarin enhanced plant tolerance to Cd stress more efficiently. Our findings suggest using CFE-silymarin as a meaningful biostimulator for wheat plants to increase wheat plants’ tolerance to Cd stressviaenhancing various metabolic and physiological processes.

1 November 2022 in International Journal of Nanomedicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
WSWei Shang
Wei Shang
XZXin Zhao
Xin Zhao
FYFan Yang
Fan Yang
Dongyi WangDongyi Wang
Dongyi Wang
LLLe Lu
Le Lu
JSJunyi Shen
Junyi Shen
Background: Compared with traditional drugs, nanomaterial drugs have the benefits of improving the solubility, bioavailability, and absorption rate of insoluble drugs. Nanoporous complexes can increase the efficiency with which drugs can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and reach target organs. Ginsenoside Rg1 is an effective drug that promotes angiogenesis. Ginsenoside Rg1 composite nanoparticles were employed to induce the expression of several key epigenetic enzymes and then activate the VEGF and Notch pathways after the onset of ischemic brain lesions. Methods: We constructed nanoparticles to fully encapsulate the therapeutic drug (ginsenoside Rg1), which can be transferred into brain tissue via the receptor-mediated transfer of drug-encapsulated nanoparticles. Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of ginsenoside Rg1 complex nanovesicles (CNV) was performed by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR), Western blot, immunohistochemistry staining (IHC), and Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) were employed to screen for epigenetic enzymes with an up-regulated expression post ginsenoside Rg1-CNV intervention. RNA sequencing, shRNA knockdown, and chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing were performed to detect the target genes of ginsenoside Rg1-CNV that regulate angiogenesis. Then, bioinformatic analysis was performed to investigate the mechanism of action of epigenetic modifying enzymes in regulating target genes. Results: The average of the synthesized ginsenoside Rg1-CNV was 203.78± 6.83 nm, the polydispersion index was 0.135± 0.007, and the Zeta potential was 23.13± 1.65 mV. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we found that it promotes the proliferation, migration, and tubular formation of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs). Meanwhile, the intervention of ginsenoside Rg1-CNV promoted the demethylation of H3K27me3 within the promoter region of VEGF-A and Jagged1 genes and reduced the H3K27me3 modification within this region. Conclusion: The ginsenoside Rg1 nanoparticles may be an available blood-brain barrier penetrating agent for ischemic stroke.

21 December 2022 in Industrial Crops and Products
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
XZXin Zhao
Xin Zhao
QWQin Wei
Qin Wei
HWHui Wu
Hui Wu
WZWan-Hai Zhou
Wan-Hai Zhou
MLMeng-Jie Liu
Meng-Jie Liu
MLMeng-Fei Li
Meng-Fei Li