Soil contaminated with the heavy metal Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread problem in many parts of the world. Based on metagenomic analysis, we investigated the functional potential and structural diversity of the microbial community in Cd-contaminated and non-contaminated soil samples and we explored the associated metabolic pathway network in cluster of orthologous groups (COG) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The results showed that microorganisms in these soils were quite abundant, and many of them possessed numerous physiological functions. However, Cd-contamination has the potential to reduce the microbial diversity and further alter the community structure in the soil. Notably, function analysis of the crucial microorganisms (e. g. Proteobacteria, Sulfuricella and Thiobacillus) indicated that these bacteria and their corresponding physiological functions were important for the community to cope with Cd pollution. The COG annotation demonstrated that the predominant category was the microbial metabolism cluster in both soil samples, while the relative abundance of metabolic genes was increased in the Cd-contaminated soil. The KEGG annotation results exhibited that the non-contaminated soil had more genes, pathways, modules, orthologies and enzymes involved in metabolic pathways of microbial communities than the Cd-contaminated soil. The relative abundance of some dominant KEGG pathways increased in the Cd contaminated soil, and they were mostly enriched to the metabolism, biosynthesis and degradation of amino acids, fatty acids and nucleotides, which was related to Cd tolerance of the microorganisms. Cd-contamination can decrease the taxonomic species of microbes in soil and change the soil microbial composition. The functional pathways involved in the soil change with microbial structure variation, many of which are related to the heavy metal tolerance of soil microbes. The Cd-contaminated soil microbes is a potential resource for exploring cadmium resistant or tolerant bacteria.

Graphene oxide-supported chitosan (GO-Ch) composites were synthesized using a covalent method for U(VI) adsorption and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The characteristic results indicated that Ch was successfully grafted onto GO. The adsorption of U(VI) on GO-Ch was investigated under different environmental conditions. The adsorption kinetics showed that the adsorption of U(VI) on GO-Ch followed the pseudo-second-order equation. The maximum adsorption capacity of U(VI) on GO-Ch at pH 4.0 and T = 303 K calculated from the Langmuir model was 225.78 mg g⁻¹. Thermodynamic parameters calculated from temperature-dependent adsorption isotherms suggested that U(VI) adsorption on GO-Ch was an endothermic and spontaneous process. The batch desorption indicated U(VI) cannot be completely desorbed from GO-Ch without intervention, suggesting the irreversible adsorption of U(VI) on GO-Ch. The analysis of FT-IR spectra suggested that the interaction mechanism of U(VI) on GO-Ch was mainly chemical adsorption by –NH₂ and –COOH groups. According to EXAFS analysis, the peaks at ∼2.9 Å can be satisfactorily fitted by the U–C/N shell, revealing the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes. It is demonstrated that the GO-Ch nanocomposite can be a promising material for the preconcentration and solidification of U(VI) from large volumes of aqueous solution.

Plant height is one of the most important agronomic traits of rapeseeds. In this study, we characterized a dwarf Brassica napus mutant, named ndf-2, obtained from fast neutrons and DES mutagenesis. Based on BSA-Seq and genetic properties, we identified causal mutations with a time-saving approach. The ndf-2 mutation was identified on chromosome A03 and can result in an amino acid substitution in the conserved degron motif (GWPPV to EWPPV) of the Auxin/indole-3-acetic acid protein 7 (BnaA03.IAA7) encoded by the causative gene. Aux/IAA protein is one of the core components of the auxin signaling pathway, which regulates many growth and development processes. However, the molecular mechanism of auxin signal regulating plant height is still not well understood. In the following work, we identified that BnaARF6 and BnaARF8 as interactors of BnaA03.IAA7 and BnaEXPA5 as a target of BnaARF6 and BnaARF8. The three genes BnaA03.IAA7, BnaARF6/8 and BnaEXPA5 were highly expressed in stem, suggesting that these genes were involved in stem development. The overexpression of BnaEXPA5 results in larger rosettes leaves and longer inflorescence stems in Arabidopsis thaliana. Our results indicate that BnaA03.IAA7- and BnaARF6/8-dependent auxin signal control stem elongation and plant height by regulating the transcription of BnaEXPA5 gene, which is one of the targets of this signal.