Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a cardiovascular disease characterized by one or both ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction. Its pathogenesis involves inherited genetic mutations and various secondary factors. Human DCM animal models have been developed using a variety of experimental animals such as mice, rats, zebrafish, and pigs, and are generally constructed by gene editing, drug induction, autoimmune deficiency induction, and viral infection. The previous studies have utilized DCM animal models to thoroughly investigate the pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets of this disease. This paper briefly described the pathological features, clinical symptoms, and epidemiological characteristics of human DCM. Furthermore, it reviewed the types of DCM animal models and their construction methods used in recent years. This paper also presented new perspectives on optimizing modeling methods and promoting therapeutic research for DCM. Therapeutic studies based on DCM animal models can help us better understand the mechanisms of DCM and provide a basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches.

In plants, target of rapamycin (TOR) functions as a pivotal signaling and metabolic hub, integrating nutrient availability, energy status, and environmental cues through phosphorylation. This regulatory mechanism plays a crucial role in governing plant growth, development, and environmental adaptation. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review of the discovery and characterization of TOR in plants. We summarize previous and recent studies on the signaling pathway of plant TOR, highlighting the identification of upstream effect factors and downstream substrates. Additionally, we discuss the diverse roles of TOR in plant embryogenesis, meristem formation, nutrient utilization, flowering, senescence, and responses to both abiotic and biotic stresses. Furthermore, we explore the potential research prospects for TOR kinase and its application in agriculture.

Cohesin is a functionally and evolutionarily conserved multi-subunit protein complex that is required for sister chromatid cohesion and chromatin loop structure in both mitosis and meiosis. The meiotic cell-cycle consisting of one DNA replication and two successive rounds of chromosome segregation completes the segregation of homologous chromosomes and sister chromatids. Cohesin is crucial for faithful and proper segregations. There is a group of distinctive cohesin subunits that are only expressed in meiotic cells. The study of meiosis-specific cohesin is of great significance for understanding chromosome architecture and dynamics in meiosis. REC8 is a typical meiosis-specific cohesin subunit that plays essential roles in sister chromatid cohesion and meiotic chromosome events. Here, we review the function and mechanism of meiotic cohesin REC8 based on the current study and hypothesize that phosphorylation modification and microRNAs (miRNAs) could be the subsequent research directions of REC8.

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) (CRISPR/Cas) system, an ancient bacterial and archaeal immune system, has rapidly developed into a popular gene-editing tool, which largely promotes the development of several biology-related fields. By combining the CRISPR/Cas systems with the isothermal amplification techniques, the novel and effective detection methods with high sensitivity and independence of equipment have been established, such as DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans-reporter (DETECTR) and specific high-sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking (SHERLOCK). These new technologies not only improve the performance of the CRISPR/Cas system in different situations, but also inspire its application potential in the on-site detection. In this review, we summarized the nucleic acid detection methods developed on the three widely-used CRISPR/Cas systems (CRISPR/Cas9, CRISPR/Cas12a, and CRISPR/Cas13), and elucidated their biological significance and the principles of action. We also reviewed the recent studies on the applications of CRISPR/Cas systems in pathogen detection, and analyzed the characteristics and possible defects of different detection systems in practical applications. This review aims to provide more constructive advice on developing adaptable and efficient CRISPR/Cas-based detection methods for different pathogens in various practical scenarios.