Mammalian DIS3L2 exoribonuclease targets the uridylated precursors of let-7 miRNAs

The mechanisms of gene expression regulation by miRNAs have been extensively studied. However, the regulation of miRNA function and decay has long remained enigmatic. Only recently, 3′ uridylation via LIN28A-TUT4/7 has been recognized as an essential component controlling the biogenesis of let-7 miRNAs in stem cells. Although uridylation has been generally implicated in miRNA degradation, the nuclease responsible has remained unknown. Here, we identify the Perlman syndrome-associated protein DIS3L2 as an oligo(U)-binding and processing exoribonuclease that specifically targets uridylated pre-let-7 in vivo. This study establishes DIS3L2 as the missing component of the LIN28-TUT4/7-DIS3L2 pathway required for the repression of let-7 in pluripotent cells.     

Characterizing ZC3H18, a Multi-domain Protein at the Interface of RNA Production and Destruction Decisions

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A restrictor complex of ZC3H4, WDR82, and ARS2 integrates with PNUTS to control unproductive transcription

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孤儿核受体SHP敲减抑制BMP9诱导C3H10T1/2细胞的成骨分化

孤儿核受体SHP(small heterodimer partner)是核受体超家族中的一员,具有LXXLL模体及配体结合域,但无经典的DNA结合域.它可与多种转录因子结合,调节细胞的增殖、分化和代谢等生物学过程.但目前关于SHP在BMP9诱导成骨分化中的确切作用却尚不清楚.本研究证明,SHP参与BMP9诱导的C3H10T1/2细胞成骨分化. RT-PCR结合Western印迹方法检测蛋白揭示,异位表达BMP9上调了SHP在C3H10T1/2细胞中的表达. 小干扰RNA敲减SHP基因在C3H10T1/2细胞的表达下调了成骨相关基因Runx2、Id1、Id2及CTGF的表达,而过表达BMP9则可上调这些基因的表达.碱性磷酸酶(ALP)活性测定/染色及茜素红染色显示,敲减核受体SHP基因可抑制BMP9的成骨分化作用,而过表达BMP9可部分消除SHP 敲减导致的成骨抑制作用.上述结果提示,核受体SHP为BMP9诱导的C3H10T1/2细胞成骨分化所必需. 究竟BMP9如何上调SHP基因表达,以及SHP究竟通过何种机制上调BMP9下游成骨分化相关基因的表达尚待进一步研究.     

APOBEC3G Inhibits MicroRNA-mediated Repression of Translation by Interfering with the Interaction between Argonaute-2 and MOV10

The apolipoprotein-B-mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3G (APOBEC3G or A3G) is a potent restrictive factor for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and many other retroviruses. It belongs to the cytidine deaminase family. Recent studies have shown that A3G significantly inhibits microRNA (miRNA)-mediated repression of translation. However, the mechanism underlying this action must be clarified. In this report, we have demonstrated that A3G counteracts miRNA-mediated repression of translation by inhibiting the interaction between moloney leukemia virus 10 (MOV10) protein and Argonaute-2 (AGO2), causing either abnormal assembly or abnormal maturation of miRNA-inducing silencing complex (miRISC). Through a series of MOV10 deletions, we found that A3G binds to a domain at the C terminus in MOV10, where it competitively inhibits the binding of AGO2 to that same domain. The interaction between A3G and MOV10 relies on its association with a small RNA named 7SL RNA. The A3G mutant W127L, which is unable to bind to 7SL RNA, shows significantly incapability to counteract the miRNA-mediated repression of translation. Our data demonstrate a novel mechanism involved in the regulation of miRISC activity. Although both A3G and MOV10 belong to the interferon antiviral system and inhibit HIV-1 and other retroviruses, their opposing effects on the cellular miRNA activity suggest that they play much more complicated regulatory roles in various cellular functions.     

MCM10 facilitates the invaded/migrated potentials of breast cancer cells via Wnt/β‐catenin signaling and is positively interlinked with poor prognosis in breast carcinoma

The minichromosome maintenance protein 10 (MCM10) is one of the MCM proteins that initiate DNA replication by interacting with CDC45‐MCM2–7. It has been reported that MCM10 has a role in breast cancer progression. However, MCM10 in breast cancer is still not comprehensively studied and further research is needed. This study was aimed at investigating the potential effects of MCM10 on metastasis, the prognosis of breast carcinoma, and its underlying mechanisms. Using the ONCOMINE database and the Kaplan‐Meier Plotter, MCM10 was significantly overexpressed in cancers, and high expression of MCM10 was involved in the poor prognosis of breast carcinoma. MCM10 can promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of MDA‐MB‐231 cells. MCM10 knockdown brought about a radical reversal in cell behaviors. Meanwhile, decreased expression of β‐catenin and cyclin Dl was detected in MCM10 short hairpin RNA cells, implying that MCM10 might induce breast cancer metastasis via the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway.MCM10 can be defined as a potential diagnostic tool and a promising target for breast carcinoma.     

胃癌组织长链非编码RNA ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达与临床病理特征及预后的关系研究

目的:探讨胃癌组织长链非编码RNA(lncRNA)DHHC型锌指蛋白8假基因1(ZDHHC8P1)、母系表达基因3(MEG3)、牛磺酸上调基因1(TUG1)表达与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法:选取2013年1月至2016年1月我院病理科收集的83例胃癌患者经手术切除或胃镜活检的癌组织及癌旁组织石蜡标本,检测胃癌和癌旁组织中ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达。分析ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达与胃癌临床病理特征的关系。随访所有患者,分析ZDHHC8P1、MEG3、TUG1表达与患者预后的关系。结果:胃癌组织中ZDHHC8P1、TUG1表达量均高于癌旁组织(P0.05),MEG3表达量低于癌旁组织(P0.05)。ZDHHC8P1表达与肿瘤直径、分化程度、浸润深度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移、远处转移有关(P0.05),MEG3、TUG1表达与分化程度、浸润深度、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05)。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析结果显示ZDHHC8P1、TUG1高表达患者无疾病进展生存(PFS)率、总生存(OS)率低于ZDHHC8P1、TUG1低表达患者(P0.05),MEG3低表达患者PFS、OS率低于MEG3高表达患者(P0.05)。Cox风险回归分析结果显示淋巴结转移、ZDHHC8P1高表达、TUG1高表达、MEG3低表达是胃癌患者不良预后的危险因素(HR=1.613、1.956、2.512、-0.824,P0.05)。结论:胃癌组织中ZDHHC8P1、TUG1呈高表达,MEG3呈低表达,ZDHHC8P1、TUG1、MEG3表达均与胃癌临床病理特征和预后有关,可作为胃癌患者预后评估的辅助指标。     

RNAi抑制小菜蛾Br-Z2/3基因对下游细胞凋亡基因表达及化蛹的影响

[目的]本研究旨在构建用于小菜蛾Plutella xylostella蛹期特异表达基因Br-Z2/3 dsRNA合成的体外原核表达系统,研究RNAi抑制Br-Z2/3基因对小菜蛾Br-Z2/3和细胞凋亡基因表达及化蛹的影响.[方法]构建小菜蛾L4440-Br-Z2/3重组载体,转化大肠杆菌Escherichia col...     

Studies on the 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol-6α-hydroxylase and on the 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol-7α-hydroxylase in anterior hypophysis of male rats.

In anterior pituitaries from male rats, it appeared that 5α-androstane-3β, 17β-diol was quickly metabolized into 5α-androstane-3β,6α-17β-triol and 5α-androstane-3β,7α, 17β-triol by action of 6α- and 7α-hydroxylases. Hydroxysteroid hydroxylases were located in endoplasmic reticulum and were dependent on NADPH⁺. Their optimum pH was 8.0, optima temperature, 37°C, and their apparent Km was 2.7 μM. Hydroxylative reactions were not reversible and not modified by gonadectomy. Hydroxylation seemed an efficient control of the pituitary level of 5α-andros-tane-3β, 17β-diol.     

SIRT3, PP2A and TTP protein stability in the presence of TNF‐α on vincristine‐induced apoptosis of leukaemia cells

The contribution of vincristine (VCR)‐induced microtubule destabilization to evoke apoptosis in cancer cells remains to be resolved. Thus, we investigated the cytotoxic mechanism of VCR on U937 and HL‐60 human leukaemia cell lines. We discovered that VCR treatment resulted in the up‐regulation of TNF‐α expression and activation of the death receptor pathway, which evoked apoptosis of U937 cells. Moreover, VCR induced microtubule destabilization and mitotic arrest. VCR treatment down‐regulated SIRT3, and such down‐regulation caused mitochondrial ROS to initiate phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. p38 MAPK suppressed MID1‐modulated degradation of the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) catalytic subunit. The SIRT3‐ROS‐p38 MAPK‐PP2A axis inhibited tristetraprolin (TTP)‐controlled TNF‐α mRNA degradation, consequently, up‐regulating TNF‐α expression. Restoration of SIRT3 and TTP expression, or inhibition of the ROS‐p38 MAPK axis increased the survival of VCR‐treated cells and repressed TNF‐α up‐regulation. In contrast to suppression of the ROS‐p38 MAPK axis, overexpression of SIRT3 modestly inhibited the effect of VCR on microtubule destabilization and mitotic arrest in U937 cells. Apoptosis of HL‐60 cells, similarly, went through the same pathway. Collectively, our data indicate that the SIRT3‐ROS‐p38 MAPK‐PP2A‐TTP axis modulates TNF‐α expression, which triggers apoptosis of VCR‐treated U937 and HL‐60 cells. We also demonstrate that the apoptotic signalling is not affected by VCR‐elicited microtubule destabilization.     

Two closely related human members of chitinase-like family, CHI3L1 and CHI3L2, activate ERK1/2 in 293 and U373 cells but have the different influence on cell proliferation

The activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) has been associated with specific outcomes. Sustained activation of ERK1/2 by nerve growth factor (NGF) is associated with translocation of ERKs to the nucleus of PC12 cells and precedes their differentiation into sympathetic-like neurons whereas transient activation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) leads to cell proliferation. It was demonstrated that different growth factors initiating the same cellular signaling pathways may lead to the different cell destiny, either to proliferation or to the inhibition of mitogenesis and apoptosis. Thus, further investigation on kinetic differences in activation of certain signal cascades in different cell types by biologically different agents are necessary for understanding the mechanisms as to how cells make a choice between proliferation and differentiation.It was reported that chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1) protein promotes the growth of human synovial cells as well as skin and fetal lung fibroblasts similarly to insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). Both are involved in mediating the mitogenic response through the signal-regulated kinases ERK1/2. In addition, CHI3L1 which is highly expressed in different tumors including glioblastomas possesses oncogenic properties. As we found earlier, chitinase 3-like 2 (CHI3L2) most closely related to human CHI3L1 also showed increased expression in glial tumors at both the RNA and protein levels and stimulated the activation of the MAPK pathway through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in 293 and U87 MG cells. The work described here demonstrates the influence of CHI3L2 and CHI3L1 on the duration of MAPK cellular signaling and phosphorylated ERK1/2 translocation to the nucleus. In contrast to the activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by CHI3L1 that leads to a proliferative signal (similar to the EGF effect in PC12 cells), activation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by CHI3L2 (similar to NGF) inhibits cell mitogenesis and proliferation.     

Estrogen interaction with the anterior pituitary of female rats differential cytosol binding, nuclear translocation and stimulation of RNA synthesis by 17β-estradiol and tamoxifen

The interaction of tamoxifen (trans-1-(p-β-dimethylaminoethoxyphenyl)-1,2-diphenylbut-1-ene) with the cytosol estrogen receptor of the anterior pituitary of female rats was studied. No differences were recorded between incubations of cytosol samples with 17β-[³H]estradiol performed in the presence or absence of unlabeled 17β-estradiol and tamoxifen, respectively, thus suggesting that these interactions were at common receptor sites and excluding possible cooperative interactions. Competition experiments and Scatchard plot analysis of saturation experiments add further evidence for common receptor sites. A dissociation constant for tamoxifen of K_d = 2 nM was recorded. Tamoxifen was found to be bound to a moiety sedimenting in the 4–5 S region, on a 6–24% linear sucrose density gradient at low salt concentrations, whereas 17β-estradiol sedimented in the 8–9 S area. These data suggest possible conformational changes of the receptor in the presence of tamoxifen. Furthermore, nuclear estrogen receptor levels remained elevated for at least 80 h after the application of tamoxifen alone or in a combination with 17β-estradiol, and a concomitant inhibition of cytosol receptor replenishment was noted. Tamoxifen and 17β-estradiol, respectively, were found to stimulate progesterone receptor levels when applied through 5 days. Tamoxifen plus 17β-estradiol administration elevated progesterone receptor contents above those found for each of the two compounds alone. On the other hand, tamoxifen enhanced the 17β-estradiol-induced prolactin serum levels, but did not stimulate prolactin serum levels by itself. These data combine to suggest that tamoxifen interacts with common estrogen receptor sites at the rat anterior pituitary.     

Diethyldithiocarbamate Potentiates the Neurotoxicity of In Vivo l-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-Tetrahydropyridine and of In Vitro 1-Methyl-4-Phenylpyridinium

Diethyldithiocarbamic acid (DDC) potentiates in vivo neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and in vitro neurotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+). Male C57B1/6 mice were given two or five injections of MPTP (30 mg/kg i.p.) preceded 0.5 h by DDC (400 mg/kg i.p.). The mice were tested for catalepsy, akinesia, or motor activity during and after the period of dosing. Striatal and hippocampal tissues were obtained at 2 and 7 days following the last injection and evaluated for dopamine and norepinephrine levels, respectively. These same tissues were also analyzed for the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocyte-localized protein known to increase in response to neural injury. Pretreatment with DDC potentiated the effect of MPTP in striatum and resulted in substantially greater dopamine depletion, as well as a more pronounced elevation in GFAP. In hippocampus, the levels of norepinephrine and GFAP were not different from controls in mice receiving only MPTP, but pretreatment with DDC resulted in a sustained depletion of norepinephrine and an elevation of GFAP, suggesting that damage was extended to this brain area by the combined treatment. Mice receiving MPTP preceded by DDC also demonstrated a more profound, but reversible, catalepsy and akinesia compared to those receiving MPTP alone. Systemically administered MPP+ decreased heart norepinephrine, but did not alter the striatal levels of dopamine or GFAP, and pretreatment with DDC did not alter these effects, but did increase lethality. DDC is known to increase brain levels of MPP+ after MPTP, but our data indicate that this is not due to a movement of peripherally generated MPP+ into CNS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

UCA1, a non-protein-coding RNA up-regulated in bladder carcinoma and embryo, influencing cell growth and promoting invasion

A non-protein-coding RNA, UCA1, has been cloned from human bladder TCC cell line BLZ-211 by using 5' and 3' RACE. The UCA1 full-length cDNA was 1442 bp. RT-PCR analysis indicated that UCA1 is an embryonic development and bladder cancer-associated RNA. The proliferative, migrative, invasive, and drug resistance behaviors of human bladder TCC cell line BLS-211 were enhanced by exogenous UCA1 expression in vitro. Several potential target genes of UCA1 were identified through microarray analysis. Moreover, the expression of UCA1 also increased tumorigenic potential of BLS-211 cells in nude mice. Results from the present study suggested that UCA1 might play a pivotal role in bladder cancer progression and embryonic development.