Patterns and Polarity in Floral Meristem and Floral Organ Initiation

The initial event in plant floral organogenesis is bract specification, followed by floral meristem (FM) initiation in bract axils, but initiation signals and the interplay between both lateral organs remain unelucidated. Floral organs are initiated on the flanks of the outgrowing FM and the enormous diversity in floral morphology throughout the plant kingdom reflects variations in organ position, meristy and ontogeny. Classical models of floral development have focused on Arabidopsis, which has mostly actinomorphic flowers, and Antirrhinum, which exhibits zygomorphy, although neither species is typical or representative of angiosperm flower diversity. Although the ABCE model defines a centripetal model of organ identity establishment in different whorls, the characterization of floral organ initiation in many species has relied on their morphological appearance, due to a lack of founder cell-specific markers. Recent progress in early Arabidopsis floral development using histology, molecular markers and mutants has led to refinements of existing floral organ initiation paradigms. In Arabidopsis, sepals initiate unidirectionally, in a temporal window characterized by the absence of CLAVATA3 and WUSCHEL stem cell markers and are partly dependent on PRESSED FLOWER function, whereas initiation of inner-whorl organs occurs centripetally. Arabidopsis mutants reveal that the FM is highly polarized along an ab-/adaxial axis and a comparison of floral development in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum suggests that heterochrony of conserved gene functions has been evolutionarily adaptive.

This review discusses current views on FM and organ specification signals, the gene regulatory networks that underlie floral meristem polarity, and analogies between the development of floral and leaf primordia as lateral organs. Alternative stem-cell proliferation mechanisms and the bifurcation of founder cell populations can help to explain the diversity in floral diversity throughout the plant kingdom and underpin comparative evolutionary biology and macroevolution. An analysis of plants with divergent body plans at the level of organ specification is urgently needed.     

MicroRNA-214 在心肌缺血/再灌注的研究进展

MicroRNA是一种内源性的小核苷酸片段,已检测出700余种。大约30%的人类基因受miRNAs调节。其中miRNA-214在不同细胞有多种生物学作用,通过调控多种靶基因在诸多疾病中都发挥着重要作用。microRNA-214在心肌损伤及免疫方面也发挥积极的作用,通过抑制心肌缺血/再灌注的细胞凋亡、HIF1AN等机制参与心肌缺血/再灌注,其有可能成为预防和治疗治疗心肌缺血/再灌注损伤性疾病的新型靶向分子,为临床预防和治疗心肌缺血/再灌注损伤性疾病提供思路和方法。     

miR-214对骨形成的抑制作用

越来越多的研究表明microRNA广泛参与骨代谢的调控,调节骨髓间充质干细胞、成骨及破骨细胞的增殖及分化,调控骨形成与骨吸收之间的平衡,在维持骨代谢平衡中发挥重要作用。近年来有研究报道老年性骨质疏松、绝经后骨质疏松均与miR-214的高表达有关。miR-214通过靶向作用于Osterix、ATF-4、FGFR1、Pten以及LZTS1等基因调控骨髓间充质干细胞、成骨细胞以及破骨细胞等骨组织细胞的增殖及分化,进而抑制骨形成,促进骨吸收。本文主要综述了miR-214对骨髓间充质干细胞、成骨细胞以及破骨细胞分化的调控作用,旨在探讨miR-214对骨形成的抑制作用,为骨质疏松等骨疾病的诊断及治疗提供理论依据。     

microRNA-214在恶性肿瘤中的表达及相关性的研究进展

微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)是广泛存在于动植物中的一类不编码蛋白质的短小的单链RNA分子,一般由22个核苷酸组成,它们可以特异性地结合mRNA并通过降解或抑制其翻译而在转录后水平调控基因表达。miRNA的表达及功能可影响许多表观遗传学特征,其功能涉及细胞的发生、生长、发育、分化和凋亡过程,在肿瘤的形成和进展过程中扮演重要角色。microRNA-214(miRNA-214,miR-214)参与肝癌、乳腺癌、宫颈癌、卵巢癌、恶性黑色素瘤、胃癌、胶质瘤、儿童骨肉瘤等恶性肿瘤的发生发展,以及与肿瘤细胞的侵袭及转移密切相关。miRNA-214在不同的肿瘤中表达水平并不相同,miRNA-214在不同肿瘤中的差异表达是通过调控某个或者某些癌基因及抑癌基因而实现其参与肿瘤的发生发展、侵袭及转移的作用。因此,本文主要通过阅读大量国内外文献,总结和概括了miRNA-214参与部分恶性肿瘤发生发展的机制。虽然目前对于miRNA的理论研究已经日渐完善和成熟,但是怎样将这些研究结果应用于临床,怎样能够更准确、更便捷的通过对miRNA的检测达到对疾病的诊断、治疗以及预后评估,想必一定会成为将来研究的热点,我们期待一种新型的恶性肿瘤的分子标志物会使越来越多的肿瘤患者获益。     

miR-214通过调控Notch1信号对口咽鳞状细胞癌细胞株增殖、侵袭及凋亡的作用机制研究

目的研究miR-214通过调控Notch1信号对口咽鳞状细胞癌（OSCC）细胞株增殖、侵袭及凋亡的作用机制。 方法在ATCC细胞库购买OSCC细胞株,分为3组：抑制组（IN组）、模拟组（SI组）及对照组（CO组）。通过Western blot法、qRT-PCR法、TUNEL法、侵袭实验及CCK-8法分析3组癌细胞中Notch1的蛋白、mRNA表达水平、细胞凋亡、迁移及增殖能力的差异性,三组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果IN、SI、CO组细胞内miR-214mRNA表达量分别为1.15±0.26,3.34±0.89,2.08±0.67,SI组分别与IN组、CO组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 5.281,P = 0.002;t = 2.529,P = 0.045）;SI组、IN组的Notch1-UTR表达分别为0.42±0.11、0.86±0.09,差异具有统计学意义（t = 5.362,P = 0.006）;IN、SI、CO组的OSCC细胞凋亡率分别为（0.78±0.10）﹪、（0.32±0.06）﹪、（0.56±0.12）﹪,IN组分别与CO组、SI组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 3.149,P = 0.020;t = 8.823,P < 0.001）;IN、SI、CO组癌细胞的增殖率分别为（0.65±0.05）﹪、（1.26±0.06）﹪、（1.89±0.04）﹪,IN组与SI组、IN组与CO组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 11.056,P < 0.001;t = 27.394,P < 0.001）,CO组与SI组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 12.365,P < 0.001）;IN、SI、CO组癌细胞侵袭率分别为（0.13±0.02）﹪、（0.89±0.13）﹪、（0.48±0.11）﹪,SI组与CO组、SI组与IN组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 4.176,P = 0.006;t = 10.147,P < 0.001）;IN、SI、CO组的Notch1蛋白含量分别为：2.38±1.34、0.94±0.23、1.76±0.67,SI组与CO组、SI组与IN组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 2.588,P = 0.041;t = 2.368,P = 0.056）;IN、SI、CO组的Notch1 mRNA表达量分别为4.26±1.06、1.45±0.38、2.46±0.87,IN组与CO组、IN组与SI组比较,差异具有统计学意义（t = 2.935,P = 0.026;t = 5.583,P = 0.001）。 结论miR-214可能与OSCC细胞株增殖呈负相关,在细胞中miR-214含量升高,可能抑制Notch1信号通路表达,从而促进癌细胞增长、侵袭,抑制癌细胞凋亡。     

Fertilization of poplar clones in the nursery

Summary Results of experiments with four poplar clones and various chemical fertilizers in a nursery in southern Greece are presented. At the end of the first growth period the heights of the four clones, without fertilizers, decreased in the order of I-214>I-262>cv. campeator > black poplar 1/64 with significant differences only between black poplar 1/64 and the rest of the clones.Of the fertilizer nutrients N, P, K and Mg only N improved heights of all clones significantly and especially of the clone I-214. One hundred and 200 kg of P fertilizer per ha had minimal or negative effect on height increase of all clones.Ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate all at 400 kg N per ha were found equally effective in improving height growth of the clone I-214 but ammonium nitrate is the N fertilizer of choice by its higher N content and relatively lower price.Ammonium nitrate at 200 kg N per ha, in two or three equal dosages, during the first growth period, June–July, gave the maximum height increase for two consecutive years of the clone I-214. Six hundred kgs, of N per ha reduced height increase of the same clone and increased losses of N, as NO₃ ^–, in drainage water.     

microRNA-214-mediated UBC9 expression in glioma

It has been reported that ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme 9 (Ubc9), the unique enzyme2 in the sumoylation pathway, is up-regulated in many cancers. However, the expression and regulation of UBC9 in glioma remains unknown. In this study, we found that Ubc9 was up-regulated in glioma tissues and cell lines compared to a normal control. UBC9 knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) affected cell proliferation and apoptosis in T98G cells. Further experiments revealed that microRNA (miR)-214 directly targeted the 3'' untranslated region (UTR) of UBC9 and that there was an inverse relationship between the expression levels of miR-214 and UBC9 protein in glioma tissues and cells. miR-214 overexpression suppressed the endogenous UBC9 protein and affected T98G cell proliferation. These findings suggest that miR-214 reduction facilitates UBC9 expression and is involved in the regulation of glioma cell proliferation. [BMB Reports 2012; 45(11): 641-646]     

Inhibition of miR-214 expression represses proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that participate in diverse biological processes including skeletal muscle development. MiR-214 is an miRNA that is differentially expressed in porcine embryonic muscle and adult skeletal muscle, suggesting that miR-214 may be related to embryonic myogenesis. In this study, the myoblast cell line C2C12 was used for functional analysis of miR-214 in vitro. The results showed that miR-214 was expressed both in myoblasts and in myotubes and was upregulated during differentiation. After treatment with an miR-214 inhibitor and culturing in differentiation medium, myoblast differentiation was repressed, as indicated by the significant downregulation of expression of the myogenic markers myogenin and myosin heavy chain (MyHC). Interestingly, myoblast proliferation was also repressed when cells were transfected with an miR-214 inhibitor and cultured in growth medium by real-time proliferation assay and cell cycle analysis. Our results showed that miR-214 regulates both proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts depending on the conditions.     

Rs884225 polymorphism is associated with primary hypertension by compromising interaction between epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) and miR-214

Genetic variations in the 3′UTR of mRNAs as well as sequences of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can affect gene expression by interfering with the binding between them. In this study, we investigated the role of the following polymorphisms in the risk of hypertension: the 774T > C (rs17337023) polymorphism located in the EGFR 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR), the rs884225 polymorphism located in the sequence of miR-214, and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs325797437, rs344501106, rs81286029 and rs318656749 located in the promoter of lncRNA MEG3. Taqman genotyping assays and haplotype analysis tools were used to measure the MEG3 haplotypes and the rs17337023 and rs884225 polymorphisms genotypes. The relationship between MEG3, miR-214 and EGFR was validated using computational analysis and luciferase assays. Unlike other polymorphisms, only patients grouped according to their rs884225 genotypes exhibited varied EGFR mRNA and protein levels, which indicated that the rs884225 genotype is associated with the expression of EGFR mRNA and protein levels. MiR-214 was confirmed to bind to MEG3 and 3’UTR of EGFR by showing that the transfection of exogenous miR-214 significantly down-regulated the luciferase activity of A549 and H460 cells transfected with wild-type MEG3 or wild-type EGFR 3’ UTR. Additionally, MEG3 overexpression inhibited miR-214 expression while elevating the EGFR mRNA and protein expressions. Meanwhile, MEG3 down-regulation demonstrated an opposite result, thus establishing the MEG3/miR-214/EGRF signalling pathway. Our study confirmed that the T > C substitution of rs884225 polymorphism located in miR-214 binding site in the 3’UTR of EGFR is associated with increased risk of primary hypertension.     

LncRNA BDNF‐AS inhibits proliferation,migration, invasion and EMT in oesophageal cancer cells by targeting miR‐214

This study was aimed at exploring the effect of lncRNA BDNF‐AS on cell proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of oesophageal cancer (EC) cells. The expression of BDNF‐AS and miR‐214 in tissue samples and cells was measured by qRT‐PCR. The targeted relationship between BDNF‐AS and miR‐214 was analysed by dual‐luciferase reporter assay. After cell transfection, the cell proliferation activity was assessed by MTS method, while the migrating and invading abilities were evaluated by transwell assay. LncRNA BDNF‐AS was remarkably down‐regulated, while miR‐214 was up‐regulated in EC tissues and cells in comparison with normal tissues and cells. Overexpression of BDNF‐AS significantly inhibited the abilities of cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as the EMT processes of EC cells. The bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assay indicated that BDNF‐AS could be directly bound by miR‐214. Furthermore, overexpression of miR‐214 and BDNF‐AS exerted suppressive influence on EC cell multiplication, migration, invasion and EMT processes. LncRNA BDNF‐AS restrained cell proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT processes in EC cells by targeting miR‐214.     

Retracted: LncRNA MT1JP functions as a tumor suppressor via regulating miR-214-3p expression in bladder cancer

Growing evidence suggested that the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate several pathophysiological processes in tumorigenesis and may be new biomarkers for tumor therapy. In this study, we studied the expression and role of lncRNA MT1JP in the development of bladder cancer. We demonstrated that the expression of MT1JP was downregulated in bladder tumor samples and cell lines. Ectopic expression of MT1JP suppressed cell proliferation, cycle, and invasion in bladder cancer. In addition, our result suggested that miR-214-3p overexpression decreased the luciferase activity of wild-type MT1JP but not mutated-type MT1JP and elevated expression of MT1JP decreased miR-214-3p expression in the bladder cancer cell. Furthermore, we indicated that the expression of miR-214-3p was upregulated in bladder tumor samples and cell lines. Ectopic expression of miR-214-3p promoted cell proliferation, cycle, and invasion in bladder cancer. MT1JP suppressed cell proliferation, cycle, and invasion via negative modulation of miR-214-3p in bladder cancer. These data suggested that lncRNA MT1JP acts a tumor suppressor gene in bladder cancer progression, considering MT1JP as a new therapeutic target in bladder cancer.     

HeLa细胞中miRNA-214靶基因Mek3的确定

目的探索miRNA-214在HeLa细胞中的与其靶基因Mek3相互作用。方法通过miRNA靶基因预测网站寻找可能与miRNA-214相互作用的靶基因,合成miRNA-214和对照序列,将miRNA-214、对照序列、Mek3的3’非翻译区（3’UTR）以及突变的Mek3 3’UTR分别克隆到表达载体上,转染HeLa细胞,转染48h后提取蛋白,检测绿色荧光蛋白的表达水平;HeLa细胞转染miRNA-214后,Trizol抽提RNA,通过荧光定量PCR检测Mek3mRNA的表达水平;Western印迹检Mek3的蛋白表达水平。经过以上实验从mRNA和蛋白水平上验证了在HeLa细胞中miRNA-214对靶基因Mek3的作用效应。结果生物信息学方法显示miRNA-214和Mek3存在可能的结合位点。经过实验验证了miRNA-214可以下调Mek3的mRNA和蛋白水平。结论miRNA-214可以负调节靶基因Mek3的表达。     

A major change in monsoon-driven productivity in the tropical Indian Ocean during ca 1.2–0.9 Myr: Foraminiferal faunal and stable isotope data

Tropical climate is variable on astronomical time scale, driving changes in surface and deep-sea fauna during the Pliocene–Pleistocene. To understand these changes in the tropical Indian Ocean over the past 2.36 Myr, we quantitatively analyzed deep-sea benthic foraminifera and selected planktic foraminifera from > 125 μm size fraction from Deep Sea Drilling Project Site 219. The data from Site 219 was combined with published foraminiferal and isotope data from Site 214, eastern Indian Ocean to determine the nature of changes. Factor and cluster analyses of the 28 highest-ranked species distinguished four biofacies, characterizing distinct deep-sea environmental settings. These biofacies have been named after their most dominant species such as Stilostomella lepidula–Pleurostomella alternans (Sl–Pa), Nuttallides umbonifer–Globocassidulina subglobosa (Nu–Gs), Oridorsalis umbonatus–Gavelinopsis lobatulus (Ou–Gl) and Epistominella exigua–Uvigerina hispido-costata (Ee–Uh) biofacies. Biofacies Sl–Pa ranges from ~ 2.36 to 0.55 Myr, biofacies Nu–Gs ranges from ~ 1.9 to 0.65 Myr, biofacies Ou–Gl ranges from ~ 1 to 0.35 Myr and biofacies Ee–Uh ranges from 1.1 to 0.25 Myr. The proxy record indicates fluctuating tropical environmental conditions such as oxygenation, surface productivity and organic food supply. These changes appear to have been driven by changes in monsoonal wind intensity related to glacial–interglacial cycles. A shift at ~ 1.2–0.9 Myr is observed in both the faunal and isotope records at Site 219, indicating a major increase in monsoon-induced productivity. This coincides with increased amplitude of glacial cycles, which appear to have influenced low latitude monsoonal climate as well as deep-sea conditions in the tropical Indian Ocean.     

Methylation-mediated miR-214 regulates proliferation and drug sensitivity of renal cell carcinoma cells through targeting LIVIN

LIVIN, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), is reported playing important roles in the development and progression of multiple human cancers. However, its underlined mechanisms in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are still needed to be clarified. In the present study, we reported that inhibition of miR-214 promoted the expression of LIVIN, then facilitated RCC cells growth and reduced the sensitivity of RCC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. In constant, overexpression of miR-214 had contradictory effects. Further investigation showed that miR-214 was down-regulated in RCC because of abnormal methylation. In addition, DNA methyltransferase DNMT1, miR-214 and LIVIN are directly correlated in RCC patients. In conclusion, these results suggest that abnormal miR-214 methylation negatively regulates LIVIN, which may promote RCC cells growth and reduced the sensitivity of RCC cells to chemotherapeutic drugs.