Small-Molecule Selectively Recognizes Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex DNA and Regulates Its Conformational Switch

Structural complexity is an inherent feature of the human telomeric sequence, and it presents a major challenge for developing ligands of pharmaceutical interest. Recent studies have pointed out that the induction of a quadruplex or change of a quadruplex conformation on binding may be the most powerful method to exert the desired biological effect. In this study, we demonstrate a quadruplex ligand that binds selectively to different forms of the human telomeric G-quadruplex structure and regulates its conformational switch. The results show that not only can oxazine750 selectively induce parallel quadruplex formation from a random coil telomeric oligonucleotide in the absence of added cations, it also can easily surpass the energy barrier between two structures and change the G-quadruplex conformation in Na⁺ or K⁺ solution. The combination of its unique properties, including the size and shape of the G-quadruplex and the small molecule, is proposed as the predominant force for regulating the special structural formation and transitions. These results may stimulate the design of new quadruplex binders that would be capable of discriminating different G-quadruplex structures as well as controlling biological phenomena, functional molecules, and nanomaterials.     

Involvement of anoikis-resistance in the metastasis of hepatoma cells

Acquisition of anoikis-resistance is a pre-requisite for cancer cell metastasis. We have demonstrated that hepatoma cells could resist anoikis by a synoikis-like survival style. In this study, we further suggest that acquisition of anoikis-resistance confer cancer cells more capacity for invasiveness, evading from cancer therapeutic agents and escaping from host immune attacks. We investigated the response of anoikis-resistant hepatoma cells to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), a typical immune surveillant molecule as well as a potential anticancer agent. Our data indicated that detached hepatoma cells not only resist TRAIL-induced apoptosis, but also domesticate TRAIL to exert a stealth “tumor counterattack” effect. These results reveal that acquisition of anoikis-resistance may act as a selective pressure to superimpose on hepatoma cells more metastatic potential for the development of cancer.     

HBV DNA can bind to P53 protein and influence p53 transactivation in hepatoma cells

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) may contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis by blocking p53 function. A p53 response element-like binding sequences, TGCCT?TGCCT, was found in HBV genome. To clarify whether HBV DNA can, like some other DNA viruses, bind to P53 protein and form a DNA-protein complex, we used a series of plasmids encoding full-length or mutant HBV or p53 fragments to determine the binding ability of HBV DNA after cotransfected into cells by electrophoretic mobility shift (and supershift) assay. We found that HBV DNA could bind to P53 protein and form DNA-protein complexes in human hepatoma cell lines. Cotransfection with p53 and HBV DNA increased the replication of HBV, CAT activity, tumor cell apoptosis, and cytoplasmic P53 accumulation in the hepatoma cells. In conclusions, our observations suggest that the interaction of HBV and p53 at the levels of protein-protein and DNA-protein, which resulted in inactivation of p53 transactivation.     

IGF2基因组印迹系统人重组腺病毒载体的构建与鉴定

目的:构建携带IGF2印迹系统的腺病毒载体,并验证其在肿瘤细胞及正常细胞中的功效,为IGF2印迹在肿瘤靶向治疗中的应用提供理论基础.方法:将人源的IGF2印迹系统启动子H19、增强子enhancer及甲基化区域CTCF克隆至穿梭质粒pDC-312中构建IGF2基因印迹系统,从pDC-315-EGFP质粒中扩增出EGFP片段插入到构建好的IGF2印迹系统中,然后与腺病毒骨架Ad5通过脂质体Lipofectamine2000介导共转染HEK293细胞,包装成有感染能力的腺病毒Ad-H19-CTCF-enlmncer-EGFP,命名为Ad-EGFP;构建好的腺病毒分别感染IGF2基因印记保持的细胞MCF-7和GES-1及IGF2基因印迹丢失的细胞HRT-18,荧光显微镜下观察EGFP在三种细胞中表达的差异.结果:转染腺病毒载体的HEK293细胞表达EGFP随着时间逐渐增强,并且出现明显的细胞病变效应,EGFP在HRT-18细胞中有大量表达,在MCF-7和GES-1细胞中不表达或仅有少量表达.结论:成功构建了携带IGF2基因印迹系统的腺病毒载体,证明其在IGF2基因印迹丢失的肿瘤细胞中特异性的表达,在正常细胞及IGF2基因印迹保持细胞中不表达,为IGF2基因印迹系统应用于肿瘤细胞的靶向治疗提供了理论基础.     

稻草秸秆纤维素分解菌的分离筛选

本研究基于获得高效木质纤维素分解菌的目的,以刚果红纤维素琼脂和滤纸条培养基为初筛培养基,从分离获得的124株真菌中筛选出透明圈与菌落直径比值较大、滤纸条分解能力较强的11个菌株.经液体发酵,测定其酶活力,复筛得到羧甲基纤维素酶活和滤纸酶活均较高的4个菌株;并进行了不同碳源和不同pH对筛选菌株产酶能力的影响试验,发现不同菌株对不同纤维素物质的分解能力不一样,同一菌株对不同纤维素碳源的利用能力也不相同.     

Non-coding RNAs and the acquisition of genomic imprinting in mammals

Genomic imprinting, representing parent-specific expression of alleles at a locus, is mainly evident in flowering plants and placental mammals. Most imprinted genes, including numerous non-coding RNAs, are located in clusters regulated by imprinting control regions (ICRs). The acquisition and evolution of genomic imprinting is among the most fundamental genetic questions. Discoveries about the transition of mammalian imprinted gene domains from their non-imprinted ancestors, especially recent studies undertaken on the most ancient mammalian clades — the marsupials and monotremes from which model species genomes have recently been sequenced, are of high value. By reviewing and analyzing these studies, a close connection between non-coding RNAs and the acquisition of genomic imprinting in mammals is demonstrated. The evidence comes from two observations accompanied with the acquisition of the imprinting: (i) many novel non-coding RNA genes emerged in imprinted regions; (ii) the expressions of some conserved non-coding RNAs have changed dramatically. Furthermore, a systematical analysis of imprinted snoRNA (small nucleolar RNA) genes from 15 vertebrates suggests that the origination of imprinted snoRNAs occurred after the divergence between eutherians and marsupials, followed by a rapid expansion leading to the fixation of major gene families in the eutherian ancestor prior to the radiation of modern placental mammals. Involved in the regulation of imprinted silencing and mediating the chromatins epigenetic modification may be the major roles that non-coding RNAs play during the acquisition of genomic imprinting in mammals. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30830066), the Ministry of Education of China and Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (Grant No. IRT0447, NSF-05200303) and National Key Basic Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB724600)