Abstract: Synthetic nucleic acids encoding mini and microdystrophin genes comprising the membrane binding motifs or domains of the R10-R11-R12 region are provided. Also provided are vectors, host cells, and related methods of using the same to treat a subject suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) or X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDC), or for ameliorating one or more adverse effects of DMD, BMD, or XLDC. Also provided are a fusion protein comprising a nNOS binding domain of dystrophin R16-R17 that is operably linked to a syntrophin PDZ domain and synthetic nucleic acids comprising the same that can be used to treat subjects with diseases characterized by loss of sarcolemmal neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activity.

Abstract: A use of a ZmSBP12 gene in the regulation of drought resistance, plant height, and ear height of Zea mays L. is provided. After the ZmSBP12 gene is over-expressed in Zea mays L., the resulting Zea mays L. mutant plant exhibits increased drought resistance and decreased plant and ear heights. The overexpression of the ZmSBP12 gene leads to increased drought resistance and decreased plant and ear heights, indicating that the ZmSBP12 gene plays a crucial role in the drought resistance and plant type (plant height) of Zea mays L. The expression abundance of the ZmSBP12 gene is increased to improve the drought resistance of Zea mays L. and reduce the plant and ear heights of Zea mays L., which can be used for the assisted breeding of novel drought-resistant and lodging-resistant Zea mays L. varieties and the breeding of excellent inbred lines and hybrids of Zea mays L.

Abstract: A use of a ZmSBP12 gene in the regulation of drought resistance, plant height, and ear height of Zea mays L. is provided. After the ZmSBP12 gene is over-expressed in Zea mays L., the resulting Zea mays L. mutant plant exhibits increased drought resistance and decreased plant and ear heights. The overexpression of the ZmSBP12 gene leads to increased drought resistance and decreased plant and ear heights, indicating that the ZmSBP12 gene plays a crucial role in the drought resistance and plant type (plant height) of Zea mays L. The expression abundance of the ZmSBP12 gene is increased to improve the drought resistance of Zea mays L. and reduce the plant and ear heights of Zea mays L., which can be used for the assisted breeding of novel drought-resistant and lodging-resistant Zea mays L. varieties and the breeding of excellent inbred lines and hybrids of Zea mays L.

Abstract: A key DNA sequence for regulating a maize leaf angle and a mutant thereof are provided, which have polynucleotide sequences shown in SEQ ID No. 1 and SEQ ID No. 2, respectively. The DNA sequence for regulating a maize leaf angle and the mutant thereof provided by present disclosure can regulate the expression of ZmNAC16 gene in a maize pulvinus, and thus can be used for the improvement of maize leaf angle and plant type and further for the cultivation of new maize varieties. The present disclosure further provides specific detection primers for detecting mutations of the DNA key sequence and the mutant, and detection primers for detecting an expression level of ZmNAC16 gene in maize. These detection primers can be used to directionally improve a maize leaf angle and also shows application potential for breeding of dense-planting-tolerant and high-yield maize.