脑胶质瘤组织长链非编码RNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达与预后的关系

摘要 目的：探讨脑胶质瘤组织长链非编码核糖核酸(LncRNA) FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达与预后的关系。方法：选取我院105例脑胶质瘤患者手术切除的癌组织和癌旁组织（距离肿瘤边缘3~5 cm）。采用实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）检测组织中LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达。分析LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达与脑胶质瘤患者临床病理特征的关系。K-M法绘制不同LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达脑胶质瘤患者术后5年无进展生存期和总生存期曲线。Cox回归分析脑胶质瘤患者预后不良的影响因素。结果：脑胶质瘤组织中LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达水平高于癌旁组织(P＜0.05)。LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达与脑胶质瘤患者卡氏体力状态(KPS)评分和世界卫生组织(WHO)分级相关(P＜0.05)。LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1高表达组无进展生存期和总生存期均短于低表达组(P＜0.05)。KPS评分(HR=2.621,95%CI：1.284～5.348)、WHO分级(HR=2.264,95%CI：1.152～4.449)、LncRNA FTX(HR=1.997,95%CI：1.017～3.922)、LncRNA RHPN1-AS1(HR=2.431,95%CI：1.257～4.701)均是脑胶质瘤患者预后不良的影响因素(P＜0.05)。结论：脑胶质瘤组织中LncRNA FTX、RHPN1-AS1表达水平升高,且二者与KPS评分、WHO分级均是患者预后不良的影响因素,可用于脑胶质瘤患者预后评估。     

非小细胞肺癌组织PAK4、PAK5蛋白表达与上皮-间质转化、临床病理特征和预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织p21激活激酶（PAK）4、PAK5蛋白表达与上皮-间质转化（EMT）、临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法：选取2018年1月～2019年12月我院收治的100例NSCLC患者,收集手术切除的癌组织和癌旁组织标本,采用免疫组化法检测NSCLC组织和癌旁组织中PAK4、PAK5和EMT相关蛋白[E-钙粘蛋白（E-Cad）、N-钙粘蛋白（N-Cad）和波形蛋白（VIM）]表达。分析PAK4、PAK5蛋白表达与NSCLC患者病理特征的关系和与EMT相关蛋白的相关性。根据NSCLC组织中PAK4、PAK5表达分为阳性/阴性表达组,采用K-M法绘制PAK4、PAK5阳性/阴性表达NSCLC患者的生存曲线,多因素Cox回归分析NSCLC患者死亡的影响因素。结果：与癌旁组织相比,NSCLC组织中PAK4、PAK5、N-Cad、VIM蛋白阳性表达率升高,E-Cad蛋白阳性表达率降低（P＜0.05）。二列相关性分析显示,NSCLC组织PAK4、PAK5与E-Cad蛋白阳性表达率呈负相关,与N-Cad、VIM蛋白阳性表达率呈正相关（P均＜0.001）。不同分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移NSCLC患者PAK4、PAK5蛋白阳性表达率比较,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。100例NSCLC患者3年总生存率为56.00%（56/100）。K-M生存曲线分析显示,PAK4、PAK5阳性表达组总生存率低于阴性表达组（P＜0.05）。多因素Cox回归分析显示,低分化、TNM分期为ⅢA期、淋巴结转移和PAK4、PAK5蛋白阳性表达为NSCLC患者死亡的独立危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论：NSCLC组织PAK4、PAK5蛋白表达升高,与EMT、分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移和预后有关,可能成为NSCLC诊治的新靶点。     

肝细胞肝癌组织NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin表达与上皮间质转化标志物、临床病理特征和预后的关系

摘要 目的：探讨肝细胞癌（HCC）癌组织神经降压素（NTS）、鞘氨醇-1-磷酸转运体2（SPNS2）、热休克蛋白75（Mortalin）表达与上皮间质转化（EMT）标志物、临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法：选取2010年1月～2017年1月联勤保障部队第九〇〇医院仓山院区收治的90例HCC患者,采用免疫组化法检测患者癌组织和对应癌旁组织中NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin及EMT标志物N-钙粘蛋白（N-Cad）、E-钙粘蛋白（E-Cad）表达情况。分析NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin表达与HCC患者EMT标志物、临床病理特征和预后的关系。结果：HCC癌组织中NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin、N-Cad阳性表达率高于癌旁组织,E-Cad阳性表达率低于癌旁组织（P＜0.05）。Pearson相关性分析显示,HCC癌组织中NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin表达水平与N-Cad表达水平呈正相关,与E-Cad表达水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）。 HCC癌组织中NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin表达与Child-Pugh分级、血管侵犯、巴塞罗那临床肝癌（BCLC）分期、淋巴结转移、远处转移有关（P＜0.05）。90例HCC患者术后5年总生存率为48.89％（44/90）。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析显示,NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin阳性组总生存率分别低于NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin阴性组（P＜0.05）。结论：HCC癌组织中NTS、SPNS2、Mortalin表达上调,与EMT、Child-Pugh分级、血管侵犯、BCLC分期、淋巴结转移、远处转移和预后有关,可作为HCC病情及预后的辅助评估指标。     

乳腺癌组织FOXP3、HMGA2、RASAL2的表达及与临床病理特征和预后的关系

摘要 目的：探讨乳腺癌组织叉头框蛋白P3（FOXP3）、高迁移率族蛋白A2（HMGA2）、大鼠肉瘤蛋白活化因子2（RASAL2）的表达及其与临床病理特征和预后的关系。方法：选取2014年6月至2015年6月期间我院收治的102例乳腺癌患者作为研究对象。检测乳腺癌组织以及癌旁组织中FOXP3、HMGA2、RASAL2表达,分析FOXP3、HMGA2、RASAL2表达与临床病理参数的相关性。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析不同FOXP3、HMGA2、RASAL2表达患者总生存率的差异。Cox比例风险回归模型分析乳腺癌患者预后的影响因素。结果：与癌旁组织相比,乳腺癌组织中FOXP3、HMGA2阳性表达率升高,而RASAL2阳性表达率降低（P<0.05）。FOXP3、HMGA2、RASAL2表达均与TNM分期和淋巴结转移相关（P<0.05）。FOXP3、HMGA2阳性患者的生存率明显低于FOXP3、HMGA2阴性患者,RASAL2阳性患者的生存率明显高于RASAL2阴性患者（P<0.05）。TNM分期Ⅲ期、FOXP3阳性表达、HMGA2阳性表达是影响乳腺癌患者预后的危险因素（P<0.05）,而RASAL2阳性表达是乳腺癌患者预后的保护因素（P<0.05）。结论：乳腺癌组织中FOXP3和HMGA2阳性表达率升高,而RASAL2阳性表达率降低,FOXP3和HMGA2阳性表达以及RASAL2阴性表达与乳腺癌患者TNM分期、淋巴结转移相关,并且是患者预后不良的影响因素。     

HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR在口咽癌诊断中的临床价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨人乳头状瘤病毒感染状态（HPV-DNA）、p16基因和表皮生长因子受体（EGFR）在口咽癌诊断中的临床价值。方法：选取我院2015年5月到2021年10月共收治的口咽癌60患者作为研究对象,进行回顾性分析,分析HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR在口咽癌患者的表达情况,分析HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR与肿瘤病理的关系,之后对所有患者进行随访,应用Cox比例风险回归模型分析患者的生存情况与HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR的关系。结果：HPV-DNA、p16和EGFR在口咽癌患者中的阳性表达对比无明显差异（P＜0.05）;HPV-DNA阳性患者与阴性患者性别、年龄对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,肿瘤分期与淋巴结受累情况对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;p16阳性患者与阴性患者性别、年龄、肿瘤分期对比无差异（P＞0.05）,淋巴结受累情况对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;EGFR阳性患者与阴性患者性别、年龄对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,肿瘤分期与淋巴结受累情况对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;在患者生存分析之中,有20例患者因为随访数据不全被剔除,其中无病生存率之中,P16/EGFR、p16对比差异显著（P＜0.05）,总生存率中淋巴结转移、P16/EGFR对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;口咽癌中HPV-DNA水平与p16水平呈现负相关关系,与EGFR呈现正相关关系,p16与EGFR呈现负相关关系（P＜0.05）。结论：p16的表达是口咽癌最可靠的预后标志物,而且可能是HPV阳性口咽癌的替代标记物。HPV1/p161肿瘤倾向于减少EGFR的表达,但使用两种免疫组织学标记物对预后有显著影响。     

食管癌组织环指蛋白2、环指蛋白6的表达与上皮-间质转化和预后的关系分析

摘要 目的：探讨食管癌组织环指蛋白2（RNF2）、环指蛋白6（RNF6）的表达与上皮-间质转化（EMT）和预后的关系。方法：选择广东医科大学附属医院2017年2月至2020年2月收治的162例食管癌患者,取手术切除的癌组织和癌旁组织。采用免疫组化法检测RNF2、RNF6以及EMT标志蛋白[上皮钙黏附素（E-cadherin）、神经型钙黏蛋白（N-cadherin）Slug 和Snail]表达。Spearman相关性分析RNF2、RNF6与EMT标志蛋白的关系;分析食管癌组织RNF2、RNF6表达在不同临床病理特征中的差异;Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析RNF2、RNF6表达与食管癌患者预后的关系;多因素Cox回归分析影响食管癌患者预后的因素。结果：食管癌组织RNF2、RNF6、N-cadherin、Slug和Snail蛋白阳性表达率高于癌旁组织,E-cadherin蛋白阳性表达率低于癌旁组织（P＜0.05）。食管癌组织RNF2、RNF6蛋白阳性表达率与N-cadherin、Slug和Snail蛋白阳性表达率呈正相关,与E-cadherin蛋白阳性表达率呈负相关（P＜0.05）;低度分化、TNM分IIIA期、肿瘤直径≥2 cm、淋巴结转移在食管癌组织中RNF2、RNF6蛋白阳性表达率高于无淋巴结转移、肿瘤直径＜2 cm,中高度分化、TNM分期I～II期食管癌组织（P＜0.05）;RNF2阳性表达患者3年OS率为47.17%,低于RNF2阴性表达患者的59.26% （P＜0.05）,RNF6阳性表达患者3年OS率为47.06%,低于RNF6阴性表达患者的63.41%（P＜0.05）;多因素Cox回归分析显示TNM分期ⅢA期、淋巴结转移、RNF2阳性表达、RNF6阳性表达是食管癌患者预后的危险因素（P＜0.05）。结论：食管癌组织中RNF2、RNF6阳性表达率增加,且与肿瘤直径、分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移以及低生存率有关,RNF2、RNF6可能通过EMT参与食管癌恶性进展过程。     

非小细胞肺癌组织CENPF、KLF4表达与上皮-间质转化和预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织中着丝粒蛋白F（CENPF）、Krüppel样因子4（KLF4）表达与上皮-间质转化（EMT）和预后的关系。方法：选取2017年1月至2019年12月期间于泰州市第四人民医院行手术切除的120例NSCLC患者的癌组织和距癌组织5cm癌旁组织标本,采用免疫组织化学法和免疫印迹法检测癌组织和癌旁组织中CENPF、KLF4及ETM相关标志物[E-钙粘蛋白（E-cadherin）、波形蛋白（Vimentin）]的阳性表达率和表达量。采用Pearson检验分析CENPF、KLF4与EMT相关标志物的相关性,并分析CENPF、KLF4表达与NSCLC患者预后的关系。结果：NSCLC癌组织中CENPF、Vimentin的阳性表达率显著高于癌旁组织（均P<0.05）,而KLF4、E-cadherin的阳性表达率均显著低于癌旁组织（均P<0.05）。NSCLC癌组织中CENPF与E-cadherin呈负相关,与Vimentin呈正相关（P<0.05）;而KLF4与E-cadherin呈正相关,与Vimentin呈负相关（P<0.05）。NSCLC癌组织中CENPF、KLF4的阳性表达率与TNM分期和淋巴结转移有关（均P<0.05）。入组患者3年无病生存率（DFS）为60.00%。CENPF阳性表达的NSCLC患者3年DFS显著低于CENPF阴性表达患者（56.25% vs 75.00%,P=0.014）,KLF4阳性表达的NSCLC患者3年DFS显著高于KLF4阴性表达患者（68.75% vs 54.17%, P=0.048）。结论：CENPF的高表达及KLF4的低表达可促进NSCLC的EMT发生、进展,并导致患者预后不良,CENPF和KLF4可辅助预测NSCLC患者的预后。     

非小细胞肺癌组织PRRX1、VASH-1与微血管密度、临床病理参数和预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）组织配对相关同源框蛋白1（PRRX1）、血管抑制蛋白1（VASH-1）与微血管密度（MVD）、临床病理参数和预后的关系。方法：选择2018年1月至2020年1月辽宁省金秋医院行手术切除的156例NSCLC患者的癌组织及癌旁正常组织标本。应用免疫组织化学染色法检测癌组织及癌旁组织PRRX1、VASH-1的阳性表达率,并进行MVD计数。比较PRRX1阳性表达组/阴性表达组、VASH-1阳性表达组/阴性表达组MVD计数。分析PRRX1、VASH-1与NSCLC患者病理参数的关系。随访3年,应用Kaplan-Meier生存曲线分析PRRX1、VASH-1阳性/阴性表达与NSCLC患者预后的关系。结果：与癌旁组织相比,NSCLC患者癌组织PRRX1阳性表达率降低,VASH-1阳性表达率升高（P<0.05）。与PRRX1阴性NSCLC患者相比,PRRX1阳性NSCLC患者癌组织MVD降低,与VASH-1阴性NSCLC患者相比,VASH-1阳性NSCLC患者癌组织MVD升高（P<0.05）。与TNM I~II期、无淋巴结转移NSCLC患者的癌组织相比,TNM Ⅲ A期、淋巴结转移NSCLC患者的癌组织中PRRX1阳性表达率降低,VASH-1阳性表达率升高（P<0.05）。Kaplan-Meier法分析显示,PRRX1阳性组3年总体生存率（OS）、3年无病生存率（DFS）高于PRRX1阴性组（P<0.05）,VASH-1阴性组3年OS、3年DFS高于VASH-1阳性组（P<0.05）。结论：NSCLC患者的癌组织中PRRX1阳性表达率降低,VASH-1阳性表达率升高,与淋巴结转移、TNM分期及不良预后有关。     

MCM6、MCM7、KIAA1522蛋白联合检测对非小细胞肺癌诊断及预后预测的临床价值研究

摘要 目的：筛选肺癌蛋白分子标志物,寻找可诊断及预测肺癌预后的蛋白标志物。方法：选择2014年8月~2019年7月于西安市第四医院确诊并进行肺部切除手术的非小细胞肺癌(non-small-cell lung Cancer,NSCLC)患者80例,采用免疫组织化学(immunohistochemistry,IHC)检测NSCLC患者肺癌组织标本和癌旁MCM2(Minichromosome maintenance protein2, 微小染色体维持蛋白2)、MCM5(Minichromosome maintenance protein5,微小染色体维持蛋白5)、MCM6(Minichromosome maintenance protein6,微小染色体维持蛋白6)、MCM7(Minichromosome maintenance protein7,微小染色体维持蛋白7)、KIAA1522和KIAA0317蛋白表达阳性率,探讨多蛋白联合检测对NSCLC诊断及预后预测的临床应用价值。结果：肺癌组织中MCM2、MCM5、MCM6、MCM7、KIAA1522和KIAA0317的阳性表达率均显著高于癌旁正常肺组织(P＜0.05),其中MCM6、MCM7和KIAA1522在50 %以上;以MCM6、MCM7、KIAA15223蛋白联合检测肺癌组织,不同性别、不同年龄、类型和分期的NSCLC患者的联合蛋白阳性率无统计学差异(P＞0.05),且蛋白阳性率均大于80 %;MCM7高表达较之低表达或不表达的病例,显著增加患者的死亡风险(P=0.000)。男性(P=0.031)、III~IV期患者(P＜0.001)、以及低分化程度(P=0.012)也是患者的不良预后因素,多因素回归分析显示,MCM7是一个独立的预测指标(P=0.000), 与患者生存具有显著相关性,对预后有一定的预测作用。结论：NSCLC患者肺癌组织中MCM6、MCM7和KIAA1522呈高表达,三者联合检测对NSCLC的检测具有较高的准确性、敏感性和特异性,高水平的MCM7表达提示肺癌患者的不良预后。     

下咽鳞状细胞癌组织claudin-1和MMP-9的表达及与临床病理特征及预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：研究下咽鳞状细胞癌组织紧密连接蛋白1（claudin-1）和基质金属蛋白酶-9（MMP-9）的表达及与临床病理特征及预后的关系。方法：选取2015年1月-2017年3月我院收集的75例下咽鳞状细胞癌组织标本进行研究,同期选取60例癌旁正常黏膜组织标本作为对照。采用免疫组织化学法检测claudin-1、MMP-9在下咽鳞状细胞癌组织与癌旁正常黏膜组织中的表达差异,分析claudin-1、MMP-9阳性表达与临床病理特征关系;Spearman相关性分析癌组织claudin-1与MMP-9的相关性。对患者进行5年随访,分析claudin-1、MMP-9表达与预后的关系。结果：下咽鳞状细胞癌组织claudin-1、MMP-9阳性表达率高于癌旁正常黏膜组织（P＜0.05）。claudin-1、MMP-9阳性表达与下咽鳞状细胞癌患者组织分化程度、淋巴结转移有关（P＜0.05）。经Spearman相关性分析显示,下咽鳞状细胞癌组织中claudin-1阳性表达与MMP-9阳性表达呈正相关（rs= 0.463,P＜0.05）。术后随访5年,2例失访,73例患者获得随访。Kaplan-Meier生存曲线显示,claudin-1阳性表达患者的5年生存率为35.71%,低于阴性表达患者的66.67%（P＜0.05）,MMP-9阳性表达患者的5年生存率为34.85%,低于阴性表达患者的57.14%（P＜0.05）。结论：下咽鳞状细胞癌组织中claudin-1、MMP-9阳性表达升高,其表达与组织分化程度、淋巴结转移和预后不良有关,两者呈正相关,可能发挥协同作用促进肿瘤发生发展。     

Recent advances in the cryopreservation of shoot-derived germplasm of economically important fruit trees of Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis

This paper presents the advances made over the last decade in cryopreservation of economically important vegetatively propagated fruit trees. Cryopreservation protocols have been established using both dormant buds sampled on field-grown plants and shoot tips sampled on in vitro plantlets. In the case of dormant buds, scions are partially dehydrated by storage at − 5 °C, and then cooled slowly to − 30 °C using low cooling rates (c.a. 1 °C/h) before immersion in liquid nitrogen. After slow rewarming and rehydration of samples, regrowth takes place either through grafting of buds on rootstocks or excision of apices and inoculation in vitro. In the case of shoot tips of in vitro plantlets, the cryopreservation techniques employed are the following: controlled rate cooling procedures involving slow prefreezing followed by immersion in liquid nitrogen or vitrification-based procedures including encapsulation–dehydration, vitrification, encapsulation–vitrification and droplet-vitrification. The current status of cryopreservation for a series of fruit tree species including Actinidia, Diospyros, Malus, Olea, Prunus, Pyrus and Vitis is presented. Routine application of cryopreservation for long-term germplasm storage in genebanks is currently limited to apple and pear, for which large cryopreserved collections have been established at NCGRP, Fort Collins (USA), using dormant buds and in vitro shoot tips, respectively. However, there are a growing number of examples of pilot scale testing experiments under way for different species in various countries. Progress in the further development and application of cryopreservation techniques will be made through a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to dehydration and cryopreservation in frozen explants.     

Ingestion of the dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, by the calanoid copepod, Acartia tonsa

The dinoflagellate, Pfiesteria piscicida, can form harmful algal blooms in estuarine environments. The dominant copepod species usually found in these waters is Acartia tonsa. We tested the ability of A. tonsa to graze the non-toxic zoospore stage of P. piscicida and thus serve as a potential biological control of blooms of this algal species. A. tonsa grazed the non-toxic zoospore stages of both a non-inducible P. piscicida strain (FDEPMDR23) and a potentially toxic strain (Tox-B101156) at approximately equal rates. Ingestion of P. piscicida increased with cell concentration and exhibited a saturated feeding response. Both the maximum number of cells ingested (I_max) and the slope of the ingestion curve (α) of A. tonsa feeding on P. piscicida were comparable to these ingestion parameters for A. tonsa fed similar-sized phytoplankton and protozoan species. When these laboratory ingestion rates were combined with abundance estimates of A. tonsa from the Pocomoke Estuary and Chesapeake Bay, we found that significant grazing control of the non-toxic zoospore stage of P. piscicida by A. tonsa would only occur at high copepod abundances (>10 copepods L⁻¹). We conclude that under most in situ conditions the potential biological control of blooms of P. piscicida is exerted by microzooplankton grazers. However, in the less saline portions of estuaries where maximum concentrations of copepods often occur with low abundances of microzooplankton, copepod grazing coefficients can be similar to the growth rates of P. piscicida.     

On the roles of Notch, Delta, kuzbanian, and inscuteable during the development of Drosophila embryonic neuroblast lineages

The generation of cellular diversity in the nervous system involves the mechanism of asymmetric cell division. Besides an array of molecules, including the Par protein cassette, a heterotrimeric G protein signalling complex, Inscuteable plays a major role in controlling asymmetric cell division, which ultimately leads to differential activation of the Notch signalling pathway and correct specification of the two daughter cells. In this context, Notch is required to be active in one sibling and inactive in the other. Here, we investigated the requirement of genes previously known to play key roles in sibling cell fate specification such as members of the Notch signalling pathway, e.g., Notch (N), Delta (Dl), and kuzbanian (kuz) and a crucial regulator of asymmetric cell division, inscuteable (insc) throughout lineage progression of 4 neuroblasts (NB1-1, MP2, NB4-2, and NB7-1). Notch-mediated cell fate specification defects were cell-autonomous and were observed in all neuroblast lineages even in cells born from late ganglion mother cells (GMC) within the lineages. We also show that Dl functions non-autonomously during NB lineage progression and clonal cells do not require Dl from within the clone. This suggests that within a NB lineage Dl is dispensable for sibling cell fate specification. Furthermore, we provide evidence that kuz is involved in sibling cell fate specification in the central nervous system. It is cell-autonomously required in the same postmitotic cells which also depend on Notch function. This indicates that KUZ is required to facilitate a functional Notch signal in the Notch-dependent cell for correct cell fate specification. Finally, we show that three neuroblast lineages (NB1-1, NB4-2, and NB7-1) require insc function for sibling cell fate specification in cells born from early GMCs whereas insc is not required in cells born from later GMCs of the same lineages. Thus, there is differential requirement for insc for cell fate specification depending on the stage of lineage progression of NBs.     

Expression profiling of the triterpene saponin biosynthesis genes FPS, SS, SE, and DS in the medicinal plant Panax notoginseng

Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, an economically significant medicinal plant with hemostatic and health tonic activities, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for more than 3000 years. Triterpene saponins are responsible for most of the pharmacological activities of P. notoginseng. Here, we cloned five cDNA sequences encoding the key enzymes involved in triterpene saponin biosynthesis, namely, PnFPS, PnSS, PnSE1, PnSE2, and PnDS, and analyzed the conserved domains and phylogenetics of their corresponding proteins. Their organ-specific expression patterns in four-year-old P. notoginseng were detected by real-time PCR, showing that they were all most highly expressed in flowers. In addition, four of the genes, excluding PnSE2, were upregulated in leaves following stimulation with methyl jasmonate. This study is the first comprehensive analysis of the expression patterns of pivotal genes for triterpene saponin biosynthesis in P. notoginseng and provides a basis to further elucidate the molecular mechanism for the biosynthesis of these medically important compounds.     

NCAM regulates the proliferation,apoptosis, autophagy,EMT, and migration of human melanoma cells via the Src/Akt/mTOR/cofilin signaling pathway

The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) plays critical roles in multiple cellular processes in neural cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and various cancer cells. However, the effect and mechanism of NCAM in human melanoma cells are still unclear. In this study, we found that NCAM regulated the proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of human melanoma cells by determining the biological behavior of NCAM knockdown A375 and M102 human melanoma cells. Further studies revealed that NCAM knockdown impaired the organization of actin cytoskeleton and reduced the phosphorylation of cofilin, an actin-cleaving protein. When cells were transfected with cofilin S3A (dephosphorylated cofilin), biological behavior similar to that of NCAM knockdown cells was observed. Research on the underlying molecular mechanism showed that NCAM knockdown suppressed activation of the Src/Akt/mTOR pathway. Specific inhibitors of Src and PI3K/Akt were employed to further verify the relationship between Src/Akt/mTOR signaling and cofilin, and the results showed that the phosphorylation level of cofilin decreased following inhibition of the Src/Akt/mTOR pathway. These results indicated that NCAM may regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of human melanoma cells via the Src/Akt/mTOR/cofilin pathway-mediated dynamics of actin cytoskeleton.     

Cloning and expression of the Apa LI, Nsp I, Nsp HI, Sac I, Sca I, and Sap I restriction-modification systems in Escherichia coli

The genes encoding the ApaLI (5′-G^TGCAC-3′), NspI (5′-RCATG^Y-3′), NspHI (5′-RCATG^Y-3′), SacI (5′-GAGCT^C-3′), SapI (5′-GCTCTTCN1^-3′, 5′-^N4GAAGAGC-3′) and ScaI (5′-AGT^ACT-3′) restriction-modification systems have been cloned in E.␣coli. Amino acid sequence comparison of M.ApaLI, M.NspI, M.NspHI, and M.SacI with known methylases indicated that they contain the ten conserved motifs characteristic of C5 cytosine methylases. NspI and NspHI restriction-modification systems are highly homologous in amino acid sequence. The C-termini of the NspI and NlaIII (5′-CATG-3′) restriction endonucleases share significant similarity. 5mC modification of the internal C in a SacI site renders it resistant to SacI digestion. External 5mC modification of a SacI site has no effect on SacI digestion. N4mC modification of the second base in the sequence 5′-GCTCTTC-3′ blocks SapI digestion. N4mC modification of the other cytosines in the SapI site does not affect SapI digestion. N4mC modification of ScaI site blocks ScaI digetion. A DNA invertase homolog was found adjacent to the ApaLI restriction-modification system. A DNA transposase subunit homolog was found upstream of the SapI restriction endonuclease gene. Received: 15 April 1998 / Accepted: 3 August 1998     

Starch grain morphology of the seagrasses Halodule wrightii, Ruppia maritima, Syringodium filiforme, and Thalassia testudinum

Starch grains are a ubiquitous component of plants that have been used in tandem with phytoliths, pollen, and macrofossils to reconstruct past floral diversity. This tool has yet to be fully explored for aquatic plants, specifically seagrasses, which lack phytoliths and are rarely preserved as macrofossils or pollen. If starch grains in seagrasses are morphologically distinct, this method has the potential to improve seagrass identification in the fossil record in such cases where its starch is preserved (e.g. scratches and occlusal surfaces of tooth enamel from seagrass consumers). The goals of this study were twofold: (1) to determine if starch is present in seagrass material and (2) to assess how starch grain morphology differs between different seagrasses.This study focused on four abundant and ecologically distinct seagrasses from the Caribbean: Halodule wrightii, Ruppia maritima, Syringodium filiforme, and Thalassia testudinum. Starch grains were observed in all species except S. filiforme. Grains from H. wrightii are typically observed in side-on orientation, are sub-round to angular, and are fairly small (3-19 μm, end-on). Grains of R. maritima are small spherical grains (4-8 μm) that have a centric hilum and a straight extinction cross with a median angle between the arms of 90°. Grains from T. testudinum are large (9-31 μm, end-on), conical in side-on and round/sub-round in end-on orientation, have a slightly eccentric hilum with an obvious particle, and prominent lamellae.Visual assessment and comparative statistics demonstrate that the morphology of starch grains from T. testudinum, R. maritima, and H. wrightii are significantly different. With more extensive research, there is potential for the positive identification of starch grains from an unknown seagrass. The ability to identify seagrass from starch grains could facilitate the identification of seagrasses in the fossil record and supply information on seagrass evolution and distribution, climate effects on seagrass distribution, and the diets of seagrass consumers.     

A new isoschizomer, BnaI, of the BamHI restriction endonuclease

By assaying the yield of phage SPO1 we have identified a new restriction-modification activity in the Bacillus natto B3364 strain. A class II restriction endonuclease, BnaI, isolated from the crude extract of B3364 cells was shown to be a true isoschizomer of the BamHI endonuclease. The Mr, stability and optimal conditions required for DNA digestion were determined for BnaI. Although both enzymes show the same specificity, BnaI and BamHI differ from each other in all the properties specified above.