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With data samples collected with the BESIII detector at seven energy points at √s = 3.68 − 3.71 GeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 333 pb−1, we present a study of the Λ transverse polarization in the e+e− → ΛΛ¯ reaction. The signifcance of polarization by combining the seven energy points is found to be 2.6σ including the systematic uncertainty, which implies a non-zero phase between the transition amplitudes of the ΛΛ¯ helicity states. The modulus ratio and the relative phase of EM-psionic form factors combined with all energy points are measured to be RΨ = 0.71+0.10−0.10 ± 0.03 and ∆ΦΨ = 23+8.8−8.0 ± 1.6◦, where the frst uncertainties are statistical and the second systematic.
There has recently been a dramatic renewal of interest in hadron spectroscopy and charm physics. This renaissance has been driven in part by the discovery of a plethora of charmonium-like XYZ states at BESIII and B factories, and the observation of an intriguing proton-antiproton threshold enhancement and the possibly related X(1835) meson state at BESIII, as well as the threshold measurements of charm mesons and charm baryons.
We present a detailed survey of the important topics in tau-charm physics and hadron physics that can be further explored at BESIII during the remaining operation period of BEPCII. This survey will help in the optimization of the data-taking plan over the coming years, and provides physics motivation for the possible upgrade of BEPCII to higher luminosity.
We report new measurements of the cross sections for the production of Dbar D final states at the ψ(3770) resonance. Our data sample consists of an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 of e+e− annihilation data produced by the BEPCII collider and collected and analyzed with the BESIII detector. We exclusively reconstruct three D0 and six D+ hadronic decay modes and use the ratio of the yield of fully reconstructed Dbar D events ("double tags") to the yield of all reconstructed D or bar D mesons ("single tags") to determine the number of D0bar D0 and D+D− events, benefiting from the cancellation of many systematic uncertainties. Combining these yields with an independent determination of the integrated luminosity of the data sample, we find the cross sections to be σ(e+e− → D0bar D0) nb and σ(e+e− → D+D−) = (2.830 ± 0.011 ± 0.026) nb, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively.
We measure the Born cross sections of the process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝐾+𝐾−𝐾+𝐾− at center-of-mass (c.m.) energies, √𝑠, between 2.100 and 3.080 GeV. The data were collected using the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. An enhancement at √𝑠=2.232 GeV is observed, very close to the 𝑒+𝑒−→Λ¯Λ production threshold. A similar enhancement at the same c.m. energy is observed in the 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜙𝐾+𝐾− cross section. The energy dependence of the 𝐾+𝐾−𝐾+𝐾− and 𝜙𝐾+𝐾− cross sections differs significantly from that of 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜙𝜋+𝜋−.
Using an 𝑒+𝑒− collision data sample of 2.93 fb−1 collected at a center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV by the BESIII detector at BEPCII, we report the observation of 𝐷0→𝑎0(980)−𝑒+𝜈𝑒 and evidence for 𝐷+→𝑎0(980)0𝑒+𝜈𝑒 with significances of 6.4𝜎 and 2.9𝜎, respectively. The absolute branching fractions are determined to be ℬ(𝐷0→𝑎0(980)−𝑒+𝜈𝑒)×ℬ(𝑎0(980)−→𝜂𝜋−) = [1.33+0.33−0.29(stat)±0.09(syst)]×10−4 and ℬ(𝐷+→𝑎0(980)0𝑒+𝜈𝑒)×ℬ(𝑎0(980)0→𝜂𝜋0)=[1.66+0.81
−0.66(stat)±0.11(syst)]×10−4. This is the first time the 𝑎0(980) meson has been measured in a 𝐷0 semileptonic decay, which would open one more interesting page in the investigation of the nature of the puzzling 𝑎0(980) states.
We study the electromagnetic Dalitz decay 𝐽/𝜓→𝑒+𝑒−𝜂 and search for dielectron decays of a dark gauge boson (𝛾′) in 𝐽/𝜓→𝛾′𝜂 with the two 𝜂 decay modes 𝜂→𝛾𝛾 and 𝜂→𝜋+𝜋−𝜋0 using (1310.6±7.0)×106 𝐽/𝜓 events collected with the BESIII detector. The branching fraction of 𝐽/𝜓→𝑒+𝑒−𝜂 is measured to be (1.43±0.04(stat)±0.06(syst))×10−5, with a precision that is improved by a factor of 1.5 over the previous BESIII measurement. The corresponding dielectron invariant mass dependent modulus square of the transition form factor is explored for the first time, and the pole mass is determined to be Λ=2.84±0.11(stat)±0.08(syst) GeV/𝑐2. We find no evidence of 𝛾′ production and set 90% confidence level upper limits on the product branching fraction ℬ(𝐽/𝜓→𝛾′𝜂)×ℬ(𝛾′→𝑒+𝑒−) as well as the kinetic mixing strength between the standard model photon and 𝛾′ in the mass range of 0.01≤𝑚𝛾′≤2.4 GeV/𝑐2.
The process 𝑒+𝑒−→𝜙𝜂′ has been studied for the first time in detail using data sample collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at center of mass energies from 2.05 to 3.08 GeV. A resonance with quantum numbers 𝐽𝑃𝐶=1−− is observed with mass 𝑀=(2177.5±4.8(stat)±19.5(syst))MeV/𝑐2 and width Γ=(149.0±15.6(stat)±8.9(syst)) MeV with a statistical significance larger than 10𝜎, including systematic uncertainties. If the observed structure is identified with the 𝜙(2170), then the ratio of partial width between the 𝜙𝜂′ by BESIII and 𝜙𝜂 by BABAR is (ℬ𝑅𝜙𝜂Γ𝑅𝑒𝑒)/(ℬ𝑅𝜙𝜂′Γ𝑅𝑒𝑒)=0.23±0.10(stat)±0.18(syst), which is smaller than the prediction of the 𝑠¯𝑠𝑔 hybrid models by several orders of magnitude.
Using a sample of 4.48×108 𝜓(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we study the two-photon decays of the pseudoscalar mesons 𝜋0, 𝜂, 𝜂′, 𝜂(1405), 𝜂(1475), 𝜂(1760), and 𝑋(1835) in 𝐽/𝜓 radiative decays using 𝜓(3686)→𝜋+𝜋−𝐽/𝜓 events. The 𝜋0, 𝜂, and 𝜂′ mesons are clearly observed in the two-photon mass spectra, and the branching fractions are determined to be 𝐵(𝐽/𝜓→𝛾𝜋0→3𝛾)=(3.57±0.12±0.16)×10−5, 𝐵(𝐽/𝜓→𝛾𝜂→3𝛾)=(4.42±0.04±0.18)×10−4, and 𝐵(𝐽/𝜓→𝛾𝜂′→3𝛾)=(1.26±0.02±0.05)×10−4, where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. No clear signal for 𝜂(1405), 𝜂(1475), 𝜂(1760) or 𝑋(1835) is observed in the two-photon mass spectra, and upper limits at the 90% confidence level on the product branching fractions are obtained.
Using 𝑒+𝑒−→Λ+𝑐¯Λ−𝑐 production from a 567 pb−1 data sample collected by BESIII at 4.6 GeV, a full angular analysis is carried out simultaneously on the four decay modes of Λ+𝑐→𝑝𝐾0𝑆, Λ𝜋+, Σ+𝜋0, and Σ0𝜋+. For the first time, the Λ+𝑐 transverse polarization is studied in unpolarized 𝑒+𝑒− collisions, where a nonzero effect is observed with a statistical significance of 2.1𝜎. The decay asymmetry parameters of the Λ+𝑐 weak hadronic decays into 𝑝𝐾0𝑆, Λ𝜋+, Σ+𝜋0 and Σ0𝜋+ are measured to be 0.18±0.43(stat)±0.14(syst), −0.80±0.11(stat)±0.02(syst), −0.57±0.10(stat)±0.07(syst), and −0.73±0.17(stat)±0.07(syst), respectively. In comparison with previous results, the measurements for the Λ𝜋+ and Σ+𝜋0 modes are consistent but with improved precision, while the parameters for the 𝑝𝐾0𝑆 and Σ0𝜋+ modes are measured for the first time.
Using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 taken at the center-of-mass energy of 3.773 GeV, we search for the Majorana neutrino (𝜈𝑚) in the lepton number violating decays 𝐷→𝐾𝜋𝑒+𝑒+. No significant signal is observed, and the upper limits on the branching fraction at the 90% confidence level are set to be ℬ(𝐷0→𝐾−𝜋−𝑒+𝑒+)<2.8×10−6, ℬ(𝐷+→𝐾0𝑆𝜋−𝑒+𝑒+)<3.3×10−6 and ℬ(𝐷+→𝐾−𝜋0𝑒+𝑒+)<8.5×10−6. The Majorana neutrino is searched for with different mass assumptions ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 GeV/𝑐2 in the decays 𝐷0→𝐾−𝑒+𝜈𝑚,𝜈𝑚→𝜋−𝑒+ and 𝐷+→𝐾0𝑆𝑒+𝜈𝑚,𝜈𝑚→𝜋−𝑒+, and the upper limits on the branching fraction at the 90% confidence level are at the level of 10−7∼10−6, depending on the mass of the Majorana neutrino. The constraints on the mixing matrix element |𝑉𝑒𝜈𝑚|2 are also evaluated.
By analyzing the large-angle Bhabha scattering events e+e− → (γ)e+e− and diphoton events e+e− → (γ)γγ for the data sets collected at center-of-mass (c.m.) energies between 2.2324 and 4.5900 GeV (131 energy points in total) with the upgraded Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII) at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider (BEPCII), the integrated luminosities have been measured at the different c.m. energies, individually. The results are important inputs for the R value and J/ψ resonance parameter measurements.
The decay 𝐽/𝜓→𝛾𝛾𝜙 is studied using a sample of 1.31×109 𝐽/𝜓 events collected with the BESIII detector. Two structures around 1475 MeV/𝑐2 and 1835 MeV/𝑐2 are observed in the 𝛾𝜙 invariant mass spectrum for the first time. With a fit on the 𝛾𝜙 invariant mass, which takes into account the interference between the two structures, and a simple analysis of the angular distribution, the structure around 1475 MeV/𝑐2 is found to favor an assignment as the 𝜂(1475) and the mass and width for the structure around 1835 MeV/𝑐2 are consistent with the 𝑋(1835). The statistical significances of the two structures are 13.5𝜎 and 6.3𝜎, respectively. The results indicate that both 𝜂(1475) and 𝑋(1835) contain a sizeable 𝑠¯𝑠 component.
Using a low background data sample of 9.7×105 𝐽/𝜓→𝛾𝜂′, 𝜂′→𝛾𝜋+𝜋− events, which are 2 orders of magnitude larger than those from the previous experiments, recorded with the BESIII detector at BEPCII, the decay dynamics of 𝜂′→𝛾𝜋+𝜋− are studied with both model-dependent and model-independent approaches. The contributions of 𝜔 and the 𝜌(770)−𝜔 interference are observed for the first time in the decays 𝜂′→𝛾𝜋+𝜋− in both approaches. Additionally, a contribution from the box anomaly or the 𝜌(1450) resonance is required in the model-dependent approach, while the process specific part of the decay amplitude is determined in the model-independent approach.
Based on an 𝑒+𝑒− collision data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567 pb−1 taken at the center-of-mass energy of √𝑠=4.6 GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive decay Λ+𝑐→Λ+𝑋 to be ℬ(Λ+𝑐→Λ+𝑋)=(38.2+2.8−2.2±0.9)% using the double-tag method, where 𝑋 refers to any possible final state particles. In addition, we search for direct 𝐶𝑃 violation in the charge asymmetry of this inclusive decay for the first time, and obtain 𝒜𝐶𝑃≡[ℬ(Λ+𝑐→Λ+𝑋)−ℬ(¯Λ−𝑐 → ¯Λ+𝑋)]/[ℬ(Λ+𝑐→Λ+𝑋)+ℬ(¯Λ−𝑐 → ¯Λ+𝑋)]=(2.1+7.0−6.6±1.6)%, a statistically limited result with no evidence of 𝐶𝑃 violation.
Using a data sample of 𝑒+𝑒− collisions corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 567 pb−1 collected at a center-of-mass energy of √𝑠=4.6 GeV with the BESIII detector, we measure the absolute branching fraction of the inclusive semileptonic Λ+𝑐 decay with a double-tag method. We obtain ℬ(Λ+𝑐→𝑋𝑒+𝜈𝑒)=(3.95±0.34±0.09)%, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic. Using the known Λ+𝑐 lifetime and the charge-averaged semileptonic decay width of nonstrange charmed mesons (𝐷0 and 𝐷+), we obtain the ratio of the inclusive semileptonic decay widths Γ(Λ+𝑐→𝑋𝑒+𝜈𝑒)/¯Γ(𝐷→𝑋𝑒+𝜈𝑒)=1.26±0.12.
The decays of χc2→K+K−π0, KSK±π∓ and π+π−π0 are studied with the ψ(3686) data samples collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII). For the first time, the branching fractions of χc2→K∗K¯¯¯¯¯, χc2→a±2(1320)π∓/a02(1320)π0 and χc2→ρ(770)±π∓ are measured. Here K∗K¯¯¯¯¯ denotes both K∗±K∓ and K∗0K¯¯¯¯¯0+c.c., and K∗ denotes the resonances K∗(892), K∗2(1430) and K∗3(1780). The observations indicate a strong violation of the helicity selection rule in χc2 decays into vector and pseudoscalar meson pairs. The measured branching fractions of χc2→K∗(892)K¯¯¯¯¯ are more than 20 times larger than that of χc2→ρ(770)±π∓, which implies the effects are largely due to U-spin symmetry breaking, rather than just isospin symmetry breaking in charmonium decays.
The decays of χc2→K+K−π0, KSK±π∓ and π+π−π0 are studied with the ψ(3686) data samples collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII). For the first time, the branching fractions of χc2→K∗K¯¯¯¯¯, χc2→a±2(1320)π∓/a02(1320)π0 and χc2→ρ(770)±π∓ are measured. Here K∗K¯¯¯¯¯ denotes both K∗±K∓ and K∗0K¯¯¯¯¯0+c.c., and K∗ denotes the resonances K∗(892), K∗2(1430) and K∗3(1780). The observations indicate a strong violation of the helicity selection rule in χc2 decays into vector and pseudoscalar meson pairs. The measured branching fractions of χc2→K∗(892)K¯¯¯¯¯ are more than 10 times larger than the upper limit of χc2→ρ(770)±π∓, which is so far the first direct observation of a significant U-spin symmetry breaking effect in charmonium decays.
Using a data sample of 448.1×106 𝜓(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector operating at the BEPCII, we perform search for the hadronic transition ℎ𝑐→𝜋+𝜋−𝐽/𝜓 via 𝜓(3686)→𝜋0ℎ𝑐. No signals of the transition are observed, and the upper limit on the product branching fraction ℬ(𝜓(3686)→𝜋0ℎ𝑐)ℬ(ℎ𝑐→𝜋+𝜋−𝐽/𝜓) at the 90% confidence level (C.L.) is determined to be 2.0×10−6. This is the most stringent upper limit to date.
The decays of χc2→K+K−π0, KSK±π∓ and π+π−π0 are studied with the ψ(3686) data samples collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII). For the first time, the branching fractions of χc2→K∗K¯¯¯¯¯, χc2→a±2(1320)π∓/a02(1320)π0 and χc2→ρ(770)±π∓ are measured. Here K∗K¯¯¯¯¯ denotes both K∗±K∓ and K∗0K¯¯¯¯¯0+c.c., and K∗ denotes the resonances K∗(892), K∗2(1430) and K∗3(1780). The observations indicate a strong violation of the helicity selection rule in χc2 decays into vector and pseudoscalar meson pairs. The measured branching fractions of χc2→K∗(892)K¯¯¯¯¯ are more than 20 times larger than that of χc2→ρ(770)±π∓, which implies the effects are largely due to U-spin symmetry breaking, rather than just isospin symmetry breaking in charmonium decays.
The decays of χc2→K+K−π0, KSK±π∓ and π+π−π0 are studied with the ψ(3686) data samples collected with the Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII). For the first time, the branching fractions of χc2→K∗K¯¯¯¯¯, χc2→a±2(1320)π∓/a02(1320)π0 and χc2→ρ(770)±π∓ are measured. Here K∗K¯¯¯¯¯ denotes both K∗±K∓ and K∗0K¯¯¯¯¯0+c.c., and K∗ denotes the resonances K∗(892), K∗2(1430) and K∗3(1780). The observations indicate a strong violation of the helicity selection rule in χc2 decays into vector and pseudoscalar meson pairs. The measured branching fractions of χc2→K∗(892)K¯¯¯¯¯ are more than 10 times larger than the upper limit of χc2→ρ(770)±π∓, which is so far the first direct observation of a significant U-spin symmetry breaking effect in charmonium decays.
Measurement of branching fractions for D meson decaying into ϕ meson and a pseudoscalar meson
(2019)
The four decay modes D0 → φπ0, D0 → φη, D+ → φπ+, and D+ → φK + are studied by using a data sample taken at the centre-of-mass energy √s = 3.773 GeV with the BESIII detector, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1. The branching fractions of the first three decay modes are measured to be B(D0 → φπ0) = (1.168 ± 0.028 ± 0.028) × 10−3, B(D0 → φη) = (1.81 ± 0.46 ± 0.06) × 10−4, and B(D+ → φπ+) = (5.70 ± 0.05 ± 0.13) × 10−3, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second are systematic. In addition, the upper limit of the branching fraction for D+ → φK+ is given to be 2.1 × 10−5 at the 90% confidence level. The ratio of B(D0 → φπ0) to B(D+ → φπ+) is calculated to be (20.49 ± 0.50 ± 0.45)%, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction based on isospin symmetry between these two decay modes.
Using a data sample of 448.1 × 106 ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider, we report the first observation of the electromagnetic Dalitz decay ψ(3686) → η e+e−, with significances of 7.0σ and 6.3σ when reconstructing the η meson via its decay modes η → γπ+π− and η → π+π−η (η → γγ ), respectively. The weighted average branching fraction is determined to be B(ψ(3686) → η e+e−) = (1.90 ± 0.25 ± 0.11) × 10−6, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second systematic.
Using a data sample of e+e− collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.93 fb−1 collected with the BESIII detector at a center-of-mass energy of s=3.773GeV, we search for the singly Cabibbo-suppressed decays D0→π0π0π0, π0π0η, π0ηη and ηηη using the double tag method. The absolute branching fractions are measured to be B(D0→π0π0π0)=(2.0±0.4±0.3)×10−4, B(D0→π0π0η)=(3.8±1.1±0.7)×10−4 and B(D0→π0ηη)=(7.3±1.6±1.5)×10−4 with the statistical significances of 4.8σ, 3.8σ and 5.5σ, respectively, where the first uncertainties are statistical and the second ones systematic. No significant signal of D0→ηηη is found, and the upper limit on its decay branching fraction is set to be B(D0→ηηη)<1.3×10−4 at the 90% confidence level.
Measurements of cross section of e⁺e⁻ → pp¯π⁰ at center-of-mass energies between 4.008 and 4.600 GeV
(2017)
Based on e+e− annihilation data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at 13 center-of-mass energies from 4.008 to 4.600 GeV, measurements of the Born cross section of e+e− → pp¯π0 are performed. No significant resonant structure is observed in the measured energy dependence of the cross section. The upper limit on the Born cross section of e+e− → Y (4260) → pp¯π0 at the 90% C.L. is determined to be 0.01 pb. The upper limit on the ratio of the branching fractions B(Y (4260)→pp¯π0) B(Y (4260)→π+π− J/ψ) at the 90% C.L. is determined to be 0.02%.
By analyzing 2.93 fb−1 of data taken at the ψ(3770) resonance peak with the BESIII detector, we measure the branching fractions for the hadronic decays D+ → K0S K0S K +, D+ → K0S K0Sπ+, D0 → K0S K0S and D0 → K0S K0S K0S . They are determined to be B(D+ → K0S K0S K +) = (2.54 ± 0.05stat. ± 0.12sys.) × 10−3, B(D+ → K0S K0Sπ+) = (2.70 ± 0.05stat. ± 0.12sys.) × 10−3, B(D0 → K0S K0S ) = (1.67 ± 0.11stat. ± 0.11sys.) × 10−4 and B(D0 → K0S K0S K0S ) = (7.21 ± 0.33stat. ± 0.44sys.) × 10−4, where the second one is measured for the first time and the others are measured with significantly improved precision over the previous measurements.
Using data samples collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider at six center-of-mass energies between 4.008 and 4.600 GeV, we observe the processes e+e− → φφω and e+e− → φφφ. The Born cross sections are measured and the ratio of the cross sections σ(e+e− → φφω)/σ(e+e− → φφφ) is estimated to be 1.75 ± 0.22 ± 0.19 averaged over six energy points, where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic. The results represent first measurements of these interactions.
We study the decays of J/ψ and ψ(3686) to the final states Σ(1385)0Σ¯(1385)0 and Ξ0Ξ¯0 based on a single baryon tag method using data samples of (1310.6±7.0)×106 J/ψ and (447.9±2.9)×106 ψ(3686) events collected with the BESIII detector at the BEPCII collider. The decays to Σ(1385)0Σ¯(1385)0 are observed for the first time. The measured branching fractions of J/ψ and ψ(3686)→Ξ0Ξ¯0 are in good agreement with, and much more precise, than the previously published results. The angular parameters for these decays are also measured for the first time. The measured angular decay parameter for J/ψ→Σ(1385)0Σ¯(1385)0, α=−0.64±0.03±0.10, is found to be negative, different to the other decay processes in this measurement. In addition, the "12\% rule" and isospin symmetry in the J/ψ and ψ(3686)→ΞΞ¯ and Σ(1385)Σ¯(1385) systems are tested.
Knowledge about the biogeographic affinities of the world’s tropical forests helps to better understand regional differences in forest structure, diversity, composition, and dynamics. Such understanding will enable anticipation of region-specific responses to global environmental change. Modern phylogenies, in combination with broad coverage of species inventory data, now allow for global biogeographic analyses that take species evolutionary distance into account. Here we present a classification of the world’s tropical forests based on their phylogenetic similarity. We identify five principal floristic regions and their floristic relationships: (i) Indo-Pacific, (ii) Subtropical, (iii) African, (iv) American, and (v) Dry forests. Our results do not support the traditional neo- versus paleotropical forest division but instead separate the combined American and African forests from their Indo-Pacific counterparts. We also find indications for the existence of a global dry forest region, with representatives in America, Africa, Madagascar, and India. Additionally, a northern-hemisphere Subtropical forest region was identified with representatives in Asia and America, providing support for a link between Asian and American northern-hemisphere forests.
Background: Altered neuronal development is discussed as the underlying pathogenic mechanism of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Copy number variations of 16p11.2 have recurrently been identified in individuals with ASD. Of the 29 genes within this region, quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase (QPRT) showed the strongest regulation during neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. We hypothesized a causal relation between this tryptophan metabolism-related enzyme and neuronal differentiation. We thus analyzed the effect of QPRT on the differentiation of SH-SY5Y and specifically focused on neuronal morphology, metabolites of the tryptophan pathway, and the neurodevelopmental transcriptome.
Methods: The gene dosage-dependent change of QPRT expression following Chr16p11.2 deletion was investigated in a lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) of a deletion carrier and compared to his non-carrier parents. Expression of QPRT was tested for correlation with neuromorphology in SH-SY5Y cells. QPRT function was inhibited in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells using (i) siRNA knockdown (KD), (ii) chemical mimicking of loss of QPRT, and (iii) complete CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock out (KO). QPRT-KD cells underwent morphological analysis. Chemically inhibited and QPRT-KO cells were characterized using viability assays. Additionally, QPRT-KO cells underwent metabolite and whole transcriptome analyses. Genes differentially expressed upon KO of QPRT were tested for enrichment in biological processes and co-regulated gene-networks of the human brain.
Results: QPRT expression was reduced in the LCL of the deletion carrier and significantly correlated with the neuritic complexity of SH-SY5Y. The reduction of QPRT altered neuronal morphology of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Chemical inhibition as well as complete KO of the gene were lethal upon induction of neuronal differentiation, but not proliferation. The QPRT-associated tryptophan pathway was not affected by KO. At the transcriptome level, genes linked to neurodevelopmental processes and synaptic structures were affected. Differentially regulated genes were enriched for ASD candidates, and co-regulated gene networks were implicated in the development of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the hippocampus, and the amygdala.
Conclusions: In this study, QPRT was causally related to in vitro neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells and affected the regulation of genes and gene networks previously implicated in ASD. Thus, our data suggest that QPRT may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ASD in Chr16p11.2 deletion carriers.