Autophagy in Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma: from bench to bedside

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma (tRCC) characterized by the rearrangement of the TFE3 is recently identified as a unique subtype of RCC that urgently...     

闽南渔场游泳动物优势种种群聚集特性

基于2016年4月和10月闽南渔场渔业资源的专项调查数据,运用相对性重要指数、平均拥挤度指数、聚块指数、Cassie指标、Mrisita指数等方法分析闽南渔场游泳动物优势种组成及其种群聚集特性,比较不同的季节、类群和种类及其相互间的聚集状态,探究种群聚集驱动因子,旨在发现闽南渔场游泳动物优势种种群聚集的特征、内在规律和形成机制。结果表明,闽南渔场游泳动物优势种共17种,其中鱼类6种、虾类3种、蟹类4种、头足类4种;鱼类中六指马鲅（Polydactylus se-xfilis）聚集强度最强,头足类中火枪乌贼（Loligo beka）聚集强度最强;虾类和蟹类中春季以哈氏仿对虾（Parapenaeopsis hardwickii）和拥剑梭子蟹（Portunus gladiator）的聚集强度最强,而秋季以鹰爪虾（Trachypenaeus curvirostris）和日本蟳（Charybdis japonica）的聚集强度最强;鱼类、虾类、蟹类和头足类中春季分别以二长棘犁齿鲷（Evynnis cardinali）、鹰爪虾、三疣梭子蟹（P. trituberculatus）和火枪乌贼的平均拥挤度最高,而秋季分别以带鱼（Trichiurus lepturus）、鹰爪虾、拥剑梭子蟹和杜氏枪乌贼（Loligo duvaucelii）的平均拥挤度最高;闽南渔场游泳动物优势种的平均拥挤度呈现出秋季高于春季,虾类、蟹类种群聚集强度大于鱼类、头足类的特点。     

Genetic Manipulation of Sex Ratio for the Large-Scale Breeding of YY Super-Male and XY All-Male Yellow Catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (Richardson))

Yellow catfish has become one of the most important freshwater aquaculture species in China. The mono-sex male yellow catfish has important application value in aquaculture because the male grows generally faster than the sibling females under the same conditions. This study has screened YY super-male and YY physiological female yellow catfish by sex reversal, gynogenesis, and progeny testing, which can help to achieve the large-scale production of YY super-male and XY all-male. From 2008 to 2010, about 123,000 YY super-male were produced, and about 81 million XY all-male fry were produced with 100 % male rate by random sampling. Therefore, these results indicate that YY super-male and YY physiological female yellow catfish can be viable and fertile. We conclude that the mono-sex breeding technique by YY super-male yellow catfish is stable and reliable, which has great potential for application in yellow catfish aquaculture.     

GNB3, eNOS,and Mitochondrial DNA Polymorphisms Correlate to Natural Longevity in a Xinjiang Uygur Population

Background

In centenarian populations, application of the positive biology approach (examination of positive phenotypes in aging) has revealed that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation accumulation may be linked to human longevity; however, the role of guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) abnormalities modulated by G-protein beta-3 (GNB3) and nitrate (NO2) production associated with endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), commonly appearing in age-related diseases, remains undetermined.

Objective

The association between the mtDNA 5178A/C, mtDNA 10398A/G, GNB3 C825T, and eNOS polymorphisms and longevity in a Uygur population (Xinjiang region, China) were investigated.

Methods

A total of 275 experimental subjects aged ≥100 or with 4 generations currently living were screened for inclusion in the centenarian (>100 years) and nonagenarian groups (90–100 years), and 112 65–70 year old control subjects were selected. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to examine mtDNA 5178A/C, mtDNA 10398A/G, GNB3 C825T, and eNOS. Associations between polymorphic loci, genotypes, and longevity were analyzed.

Results

165 included subjects (M∶F = 107∶58; mean age = 97±3 years; mean age 100–113 years) were assigned to the centenarian (M∶F = 46/19; n = 65) and nonagenarian groups (M∶F = 61/39; n = 100). Associations between mtDNA C5178A and A10398G polymorphisms with longevity in the centenarian group with mtDNA genotype frequencies 5178A and 10398G were 66.79% and 36.8%.

Conclusions

Applying the overwhelming longevity observed in Uygur populations, these findings demonstrate that mtDNA 5178A/C and 10398A/G, GNB3 C825T, and eNOS polymorphisms are useful as a genetic basis for longevity.     

榆紫叶甲赤眼蜂基础生物学特性及其实验种群生命表

榆紫叶甲赤眼蜂(Asynacta ambrostomae Liao)是榆紫叶甲卵期重要寄生蜂。在实验条件下对榆紫叶甲赤眼蜂生殖、寿命、性比等生物学特性进行观察研究。结果表明：每粒寄主卵平均出蜂量为2.92头,雌雄比为3.64:1,营两性生殖,孤雌产雄。不同营养条件对寿命有显著影响,其中成虫补充20%蜂蜜水和20%蔗糖水能显著增加雌雄虫寿命。组建了25℃条件下榆紫叶甲赤眼蜂成蜂补充不同营养的实验种群生命表,成虫补充20%蜂蜜水、20%蔗糖水、清水、对照组(不添加任何物质)的净生殖力R₀分别为74.42、65.27、56.77和44.50。可见,成蜂补充营养能提高种群生殖力。研究结果将为榆紫叶甲赤眼蜂的开发利用提供理论依据。     

CyclinE和p27蛋白在骨肉瘤中的表达及临床意义

目的探讨CyclinE和p27在骨肉瘤中表达及临床意义。方法检测108例骨肉瘤石蜡包埋组织中CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平,统计分析其与患者临床病理因素和预后之间的关系。结果骨肉瘤组织中CyclinE的阳性率为68．52％,p27的阳性率为26．85％;CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平与骨肉瘤病理分级、软组织浸润、远处转移、Enneking分期及患者整体生存期有关（P〈0．05）;CyclinE蛋白阳性组骨肉瘤患者5年存活率显著低于阴性组;而p27蛋白阳性组患者5年存活率显著高于阴性组（P〈0．05）。Cox多因素分析提示软组织浸润及远处转移状态、病理分级、Enneking外科分期、CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平是影响骨肉瘤患者预后的独立危险因素（P〈0．05）。结论CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平是判断骨肉瘤患者预后的新指标,联合检测CyclinE和p27蛋白表达水平对骨肉瘤的进展、预后判断有重要意义。     

Correlation of Immunoglobulin G Expression and Histological Subtype and Stage in Breast Cancer

Introduction

Recently, growing evidence indicates that immunoglobulins (Igs) are not only produced by mature B lymphocytes or plasma cells, but also by various normal cells types at immune privileged sites and neoplasm, including breast cancer. However, the association of breast cancer derived IgG with genesis and development of the disease has not yet been established.

Methods

In this study we examined the expression of IgG in 186 breast cancers, 20 benign breast lesions and 30 normal breast tissues. Both immunohistochemistry with antibodies to Igκ (immunoglobulin G κ light chain) and Igγ (immunoglobulin G heavy chain) and in situ hybridization with an antisense probe to IgG1 heavy chain constant region gene were performed. Various clinicopathological features were also analyzed.

Results

We found that IgG is specifically expressed in human breast cancer cells. Both infiltrating ductal carcinoma and infiltrating lobular carcinoma had significantly greater numbers of Igκ and Igγ positive cancer cells as compared with medullary carcinoma, carcinoma in situ, and benign lesions (all p<0.05). In addition, IgG expression was correlated with breast cancer histological subtypes (p<0.01) and AJCC stages (p<0.05), with more abundance of IgG expression in more malignant histological subtypes or in more advanced stage of the disease.

Conclusions

IgG expression in breast cancer cells is correlated with malignancy and AJCC stages of the cancers. This suggests that breast cancer derived IgG may be associated with genesis, development and prognosis of the cancer.     

Baicalein Inhibits Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Formation and the Quorum Sensing System In Vitro

Biofilm formed by Staphylococcus aureus significantly enhances antibiotic resistance by inhibiting the penetration of antibiotics, resulting in an increasingly serious situation. This study aimed to assess whether baicalein can prevent Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and whether it may have synergistic bactericidal effects with antibiotics in vitro. To do this, we used a clinically isolated strain of Staphylococcus aureus 17546 (t037) for biofilm formation. Virulence factors were detected following treatment with baicalein, and the molecular mechanism of its antibiofilm activity was studied. Plate counting, crystal violet staining, and fluorescence microscopy revealed that 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL baicalein clearly inhibited 3- and 7-day biofilm formation in vitro. Moreover, colony forming unit count, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy showed that vancomycin (VCM) and baicalein generally enhanced destruction of biofilms, while VCM alone did not. Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses (RTQ-PCR) confirmed that baicalein treatment reduced staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and α-hemolysin (hla) levels. Most strikingly, real-time qualitative polymerase chain reaction data demonstrated that 32 μg/mL and 64 μg/mL baicalein downregulated the quorum-sensing system regulators agrA, RNAIII, and sarA, and gene expression of ica, but 16 μg/mL baicalein had no effect. In summary, baicalein inhibited Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation, destroyed biofilms, increased the permeability of vancomycin, reduced the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin A and α-hemolysin, and inhibited the quorum sensing system. These results support baicalein as a novel drug candidate and an effective treatment strategy for Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-associated infections.     

OsDi19‐4 acts downstream of OsCDPK14 to positively regulate ABA response in rice

The drought‐induced 19 protein family consists of several atypical Cys2/His2‐type zinc finger proteins in plants and plays an important role in abiotic stress. In this study, we found that overexpressing OsDi19‐4 in rice altered the expression of a series of abscisic acid (ABA)‐responsive genes, resulting in strong ABA‐hypersensitive phenotypes including ABA‐induced seed germination inhibition, early seedling growth inhibition and stomatal closure. On the contrary, OsDi19‐4 knockdown lines were less sensitive to ABA. Additionally, OsCDPK14 was identified to interact with OsDi19‐4 and be responsible for the phosphorylation of OsDi19‐4, and the phosphorylation of OsDi19‐4 was further enhanced after the treatment of ABA. Apart from these, OsDi19‐4 was shown to directly bind to the promoters of OsASPG1 and OsNAC18 genes, two ABA‐responsive genes, and regulate their expression. Transient expression assays confirmed the direct regulation role of OsDi19‐4, and the regulation was further enhanced by the increased phosphorylation of OsDi19‐4 after the treatment of ABA. Taken together, these data demonstrate that OsDi19‐4 acts downstream of OsCDPK14 to positively regulate ABA response by modulating the expression of ABA‐responsive genes in rice.     

Histone modifications in DNA damage response

DNA damage is a relatively common event in eukaryotic cell and may lead to genetic mutation and even cancer. DNA damage induces cellular responses that enable the cell either to repair the damaged DNA or cope with the damage in an appropriate way. Histone proteins are also the fundamental building blocks of eukaryotic chromatin besides DNA, and many types of post-translational modifications often occur on tails of histones. Although the function of these modifications has remained elusive, there is ever-growing studies suggest that histone modifications play vital roles in several chromatin-based processes, such as DNA damage response. In this review, we will discuss the main histone modifications, and their functions in DNA damage response.