Circular RNA WHSC1 exerts oncogenic properties by regulating miR-7/TAB2 in lung cancer

Circular RNA is a newly discovered member of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and regulates the target gene by acting as a micro-RNA sponge. It plays vital roles in various diseases. However, the functions of circular RNA in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain still unclear. Our data showed that circ-WHSC1 was highly expressed in NSCLC cells and tissues. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that circ-WHSC1 promoted NSCLC proliferation. circ-WHSC1 also promoted the migration and invasion of lung cancer cells. Through bioinformatic analysis and functional experiments, we showed that circ-WHSC1 could act as a sponge for micro-RNA-7 (miR-7) and regulate the expression of TAB2 (TGF-beta activated kinase one binding protein two). Inhibition of the circ-WHSC1/miR-7/TAB2 pathway could effectively attenuate lung cancer progression. In summary, this study confirmed the existence and oncogenic function of circ-WHSC1 in NSCLC. The research suggests that the circ-WHSC1/miR-7/TAB2 axis might be a potential target for NSCLC therapy.     

铁皮石斛GRAS转录因子家族基因SCL3克隆及表达分析

GRAS家族是一类植物特有的转录调控因子,参与调控植物生长发育及抵御逆境胁迫,并且在赤霉素(gibberellins, GAs)信号转导过程中具有重要作用。本研究采用RT-PCR结合RACE方法从铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo)原球茎中克隆到了一个转录因子GRAS家族基因SCL3 (scarecrow-like 3)并对其进行了表达分析。该基因cDNA序列全长2 278 bp,命名为DoSCL3 (GenBank注册号:MG252261),其编码425个氨基酸,分子量为47.88 kD,等电点(PI)为6.21。DoSCL3基因编码的蛋白不含跨膜域和信号肽,具有GRAS转录因子家族特有的保守结构域(22~422);多序列比对表明,DoSCL3与小兰屿蝴蝶兰的SCL3蛋白高度同源(相似性达到83%),同时进化树分析结果显示其与小兰屿蝴蝶兰亲缘关系非常相近。qRT-PCR实验结果显示,DoSCL3基因在铁皮石斛种子共生萌发中随着萌发进程的变化(1~3级,萌发至原球茎阶段)其表达量逐渐升高,并且在种子萌发至2级时,共生萌发组表达量显著高于无菌萌发组(为无菌组2.2倍),表明DoSCL3在兰科药用植物铁皮石斛种子共生萌发中菌根共生关系的建立过程起到重要的调控作用。     

Single-Cell Heterogeneity Analysis and CRISPR Screen Identify Key β-Cell-Specific Disease Genes

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Increased soil-derived N2O production following a simulated fall-freeze–thaw cycle: effects of fall urea addition,soil moisture,and history of manure applications

Biogeochemistry - Adding nitrogen fertilizers to soils can induce short-term changes in soil N pools, and consequently cause extra release of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions that are sourced directly...     

Developmental Block and Programmed Cell Death in Bos indicus Embryos: Effects of Protein Supplementation Source and Developmental Kinetics

The aims of this study were to determine if the protein source of the medium influences zebu embryo development and if developmental kinetics, developmental block and programmed cell death are related. The culture medium was supplemented with either fetal calf serum or bovine serum albumin. The embryos were classified as Fast (n = 1,235) or Slow (n = 485) based on the time required to reach the fourth cell cycle (48 h and 90 h post insemination - hpi -, respectively). The Slow group was further separated into two groups: those presenting exactly 4 cells at 48 hpi (Slow/4 cells) and those that reached the fourth cell cycle at 90 hpi (Slow). Blastocyst quality, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential and signs of apoptosis or necrosis were evaluated. The Slow group had higher incidence of developmental block than the Fast group. The embryos supplemented with fetal calf serum had lower quality. DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane potential were absent in embryos at 48 hpi but present at 90 hpi. Early signs of apoptosis were more frequent in the Slow and Slow/4 cell groups than in the Fast group. We concluded that fetal calf serum reduces blastocyst development and quality, but the mechanism appears to be independent of DNA fragmentation. The apoptotic cells detected at 48 hpi reveal a possible mechanism of programmed cell death activation prior to genome activation. The apoptotic cells observed in the slow-developing embryos suggested a relationship between programmed cell death and embryonic developmental kinetics in zebu in vitro-produced embryos.     

Effects of Partial Replacement of Corn with Glycerin on Ruminal Fermentation in a Dual-Flow Continuous Culture System

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of partially replacing dry ground corn with glycerin on ruminal fermentation using a dual-flow continuous culture system. Six fermenters (1,223 ± 21 ml) were used in a replicated 3x3 Latin square arrangement with three periods of 10 d each, with 7 d for diet adaptation and 3 d for sample collections. All diets contained 75% concentrate and three dietary glycerin levels (0, 15, and 30% on dry matter basis), totaling six replicates per treatment. Fermenters were fed 72 g of dry matter/d equally divided in two meals/d, at 0800 and 2000 h. Solid and liquid dilution rates were adjusted daily to 5.5 and 11%/h, respectively. On d 8, 9, and 10, samples of 500 ml of solid and liquid digesta effluent were mixed, homogenized, and stored at -20°C. Subsamples of 10 ml were collected and preserved with 0.2 mL of a 50% H₂SO₄ solution for later determination of NH₃-N and volatile fatty acids. Microbial biomass was isolated from fermenters for chemical analysis at the end of each experimental period. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure in SAS with α = 0.05. Glycerin levels did not affect apparent digestibility of DM (P _Lin. = 0.13; P _Quad. = 0.40), OM (P _Lin. = 0.72; P _Quad. = 0.15), NDF (P _Lin. = 0.38; P _Quad. = 0.50) and ADF (P _Lin. = 0.91; P _Quad. = 0.18). Also, glycerin inclusion did not affect true digestibility of DM (P _Lin. = 0.35; P _Quad. = 0.48), and OM (P _Lin. = 0.08; P _Quad. = 0.19). Concentrations of propionate (P < 0.01) and total volatile fatty acids (P < 0.01) increased linearly and concentrations of acetate (P < 0.01), butyrate (P = 0.01), iso-valerate (P < 0.01), and total branched-chain volatile fatty acids, as well as the acetate: propionate ratio (P < 0.01) decreased with glycerin inclusion. Linear increases on NH₃-N concentration in digesta effluent (P < 0.01) and on NH₃-N flow (P < 0.01) were observed due to glycerin inclusion in the diets. Crude protein digestibility (P = 0.04) and microbial N flow (P = 0.04) were greater in the control treatment compared with the other treatments and responded quadratically with glycerin inclusion. Furthermore, the inclusion of glycerin linearly decreased (P = 0.02) non-ammonia N flow. Glycerin levels did not affect the flows of total N (P _Lin. = 0.79; P _Quad. = 0.35), and dietary N (P _Lin. = 0.99; P _Quad. = 0.07), as well as microbial efficiency (P _Lin. = 0.09; P _Quad. = 0.07). These results suggest that partially replacing dry ground corn with glycerin may change ruminal fermentation, by increasing total volatile fatty acids, and propionate concentration without affecting microbial efficiency, which may improve glucogenic potential of beef cattle diets.     

Evidence for Association of Cell Adhesion Molecules Pathway and NLGN1 Polymorphisms with Schizophrenia in Chinese Han Population

Multiple risk variants of schizophrenia have been identified by Genome-wide association studies (GWAS). As a complement for GWAS, previous pathway-based analysis has indicated that cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) pathway might be involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, less replication studies have been reported. Our objective was to investigate the association between CAMs pathway and schizophrenia in the Chinese Han population. We first performed a pathway analysis utilizing our previous GWAS data. The CAMs pathway (hsa04514) was significantly associated with schizophrenia using hybrid gene set-based test (P = 1.03×10⁻¹⁰) and hypergeometric test (P = 5.04×10⁻⁶). Moreover, 12 genes (HLA-A, HLA-C, HLA-DOB, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQA2, HLA-DRB1, MPZ, CD276, NLGN1, NRCAM, CLDN1 and ICAM3) were modestly significantly associated with schizophrenia (P<0.01). Then, we selected one promising gene neuroligin 1 (NLGN1) to further investigate the association between eight significant SNPs and schizophrenia in an independent sample (1814 schizophrenia cases and 1487 healthy controls). Our study showed that seven SNPs of NLGN1 and two haplotype blocks were significantly associated with schizophrenia. This association was confirmed by the results of combined analysis. Among them, SNP rs9835385 had the most significant association with schizophrenia (P = 2.83×10⁻⁷). Furthermore, in silico analysis we demonstrated that NLGN1 is preferentially expressed in human brain and SNP rs1488547 was related to the expression level. We validated the association of CAMs pathway with schizophrenia in pathway-level and identified one susceptibility gene NLGN1. Further investigation of the roles of CAMs pathway in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia is warranted.     

鱼类生物群落对太子河流域土地利用、河岸带栖息地质量的响应

河流生态系统的退化是多空间尺度环境因子作用的结果。探讨不同尺度环境因子及水生生物之间的作用关系,识别影响水生生物群落完整性的尺度问题,是有效开展水生生物保护的基础。基于2009年对太子河流域15个样点的鱼类、河岸带栖息地质量评价,结合遥感影像解译的太子河流域土地利用情况(包括流域尺度和河段尺度),研究鱼类完整性指数(F-IBI)与两种尺度土地利用、栖息地质量参数之间的关系。结果表明太子河上游地区河岸栖息地质量较好,下游地区由于农业用地、城镇用地比例的增加河岸栖息地质量明显下降。F-IBI与自然用地比例呈正相关,与农业、城镇用地比例呈负相关。农业用地对F-IBI的影响体现在流域尺度,而城镇用地在两种尺度上都存在显著影响。相比于农业用地,城镇用地相同比例的增加会导致F-IBI更快的下降。底质、水质状况、人类活动强度是显著影响F-IBI的栖息地质量评价参数。3项参数均随农业和城镇用地比例增加而降低,农业用地主要在流域尺度上对3项参数产生影响,城镇用地主要影响底质和水质状况2项参数,而在两种尺度上的影响相差不大。