Epigenetic repression of microRNA-129-2 leads to overexpression of SOX4 in gastric cancer

High levels of SOX4 expression have been found in a variety of human cancers, such as lung, brain and breast cancers. However, the expression of SOX4 in gastric tissues remains unknown. The SOX4 expression was detected using immunohistochemical staining and semi-quantitative RT-PCR, and our results showed that SOX4 was up-regulated in gastric cancer compared to benign gastric tissues. To further elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying up-regulation of SOX4 in gastric cancers, we analyzed the expression of microRNA-129-2 (miR-129-2) gene, the epigenetic repression of which leads to overexpression of SOX4 in endometrial cancer. We found that up-regulation of SOX4 was inversely associated with the epigenetic silencing of miR-129-2 in gastric cancer, and restoration of miR-129-2 down-regulated SOX4 expression. We also found that inactivation of SOX4 by siRNA and restoration of miR-129-2 induced apoptosis in gastric cancer cells.     

Who Is the King? The α‐Hydroxy‐β‐oxo‐α,β‐enone Moiety or the Catechol B Ring: Relationship between the Structure of Quercetin Derivatives and Their Pro‐Oxidative Abilities

Quercetin and other flavonoids have been reported to exhibit both antioxidant and pro‐oxidant properties. Most studies about the pro‐oxidative ability were conducted in the presence of metal ions, and the essential functional moiety of quercetin responsible for the pro‐oxidative effect is still unclear. In this study, we evaluated the pro‐oxidative abilities in the absence of metal ions of two quercetin derivatives, i.e., quercetin‐3′‐O‐β‐D ‐glucoside ( 1 ) and quercetin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucoside ( 2 ), by assessing DNA cleavage and HO^.‐radical production. The binding mode between these compounds and DNA was studied by fluorescence and viscometric titrations. The results showed that 1 can efficiently induce oxidative damage to plasmid DNA, while 2 shows poor activity. Both 1 and 2 bind to DNA via groove‐binding. These results proved that the α‐hydroxy‐β‐oxo‐α,β‐enone moiety contributes to the pro‐oxidative activity of quercetin.     

达乌尔黄鼠实验室饲养、繁殖及其冬眠阵

为探索实验室条件下达乌尔黄鼠饲养与繁殖的方法及冬眠阵的发生规律,参照野生黄鼠冬眠洞穴的主要生态环境参数,建立人工冬眠屋,采用传统锯末技术记录冬眠阵。结果显示: (1) 处于春季繁殖期的黄鼠应以大鼠饲料为主,辅以少量黄瓜等,夏季活跃期交叉饲喂大鼠饲料与兔饲料,辅以多水的瓜果蔬菜,秋季育肥期以大鼠饲料为主,辅以高脂肪高蛋白的花生、豆类等。(2)雌鼠怀孕期为28 d 左右,哺乳期约一个月,雌鼠每窝产仔4 ～ 8 只,平均5.52 只;初生幼鼠两周内忌换垫料,并避免将异味带入鼠房。(3)黄鼠冬眠期从当年11月下旬至次年3 月上旬,平均93.95 d;冬眠阵睡眠时长平均7. 44 d,阵间激醒时长平均1.36 d,睡眠天数占整个冬眠期的89.9% ;整个冬眠期,黄鼠冬眠阵平均7. 55 个。(4)2009 年秋至2011 年春季,自野外共捕回黄鼠185 只, 存活146 只,存活率78. 9% 。在2006、2009 和2011 年的黄鼠繁殖期,共配对25 对,产仔138 只,成活92 只,成活率为66.7% 。结果表明,野生达乌尔黄鼠可在人工饲养条件下实现繁殖,并可在人工冬眠屋成功冬眠。     

两阶段搅拌转速控制策略发酵生产聚唾液酸

目的:优化聚唾液酸发酵过程的搅拌转速.方法:比较不同搅拌转速对大肠杆菌Escherichia coli K235分批发酵生产聚唾液酸过程的影响.结果:根据发酵前、后期菌体细胞比生长速率和聚唾液酸比合成速率达到最大值所需搅拌转速的不同,提出了两阶段搅拌转速控制策略:发酵前期(0～15h)控制搅拌转速500r/min,发酵中后期控制搅拌转速700r/min.结论:两阶段搅拌转速控制策略使聚唾液酸产量达到3 966mg/L,比恒定搅拌转速500r/min和700r/min分别提高了31.8%和49.3%.将两阶段搅拌转速控制策略与分批补料发酵技术结合,聚唾液酸产量提高到5 108mg/L,山梨醇的转化率达到0.12g/g.     

苏云金芽胞杆菌Sigma54和CcpA共同调控的基因鉴定

【目的】通过综合分析苏云金芽胞杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)HD73菌株Sigma54缺失突变体的转录组数据和蜡样芽胞杆菌(Bacillus cereus)ATCC 14579菌株CcpA缺失突变体的转录组数据,并进行启动子与CcpA蛋白的体外结合验证,明确Bt HD73菌株中Sigma54和CcpA共同调控的基因,丰富了对微生物的代谢调控网络的认识。【方法】以转录组测序结果为基础,通过基因同源性的比对在Bt HD73菌株中寻找受Sigma54和CcpA共同调控的基因,在这些基因中找到具有cre序列的启动子,通过凝胶阻滞验证这些启动子与CcpA蛋白的结合。【结果】Bt HD73菌株中有31个基因受Sigma54和CcpA共同调控,其中14个基因的启动子序列包含cre序列,这些启动子都可以与CcpA蛋白发生体外结合。【结论】Bt HD73菌株中有14个基因直接受CcpA的调控,同时其转录受Sigma54的控制。     

A toolbox for class I HDACs reveals isoform specific roles in gene regulation and protein acetylation

The class I histone deacetylases are essential regulators of cell fate decisions in health and disease. While pan- and class-specific HDAC inhibitors are available, these drugs do not allow a comprehensive understanding of individual HDAC function, or the therapeutic potential of isoform-specific targeting. To systematically compare the impact of individual catalytic functions of HDAC1, HDAC2 and HDAC3, we generated human HAP1 cell lines expressing catalytically inactive HDAC enzymes. Using this genetic toolbox we compare the effect of individual HDAC inhibition with the effects of class I specific inhibitors on cell viability, protein acetylation and gene expression. Individual inactivation of HDAC1 or HDAC2 has only mild effects on cell viability, while HDAC3 inactivation or loss results in DNA damage and apoptosis. Inactivation of HDAC1/HDAC2 led to increased acetylation of components of the COREST co-repressor complex, reduced deacetylase activity associated with this complex and derepression of neuronal genes. HDAC3 controls the acetylation of nuclear hormone receptor associated proteins and the expression of nuclear hormone receptor regulated genes. Acetylation of specific histone acetyltransferases and HDACs is sensitive to inactivation of HDAC1/HDAC2. Over a wide range of assays, we determined that in particular HDAC1 or HDAC2 catalytic inactivation mimics class I specific HDAC inhibitors. Importantly, we further demonstrate that catalytic inactivation of HDAC1 or HDAC2 sensitizes cells to specific cancer drugs. In summary, our systematic study revealed isoform-specific roles of HDAC1/2/3 catalytic functions. We suggest that targeted genetic inactivation of particular isoforms effectively mimics pharmacological HDAC inhibition allowing the identification of relevant HDACs as targets for therapeutic intervention.     

Analysis of omeprazole and 5-OH omeprazole in human plasma using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS)--eliminating evaporation and reconstitution steps in 96-well liquid/liquid extraction

Bioanalytical methods using liquid/liquid extraction (LLE) and liquid chromatography with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) are widely used. The organic extracts need to be evaporated and reconstituted, hampering further improvement of throughput and automation. In this study, we demonstrated a novel approach of eliminating these two steps in 96-well LLE by using hydrophilic interaction chromatography with MS/MS (HILIC-MS/MS) on silica column with high organic/low aqueous mobile phase. Omeprazole, its metabolite 5-OH omeprazole, and internal standard desoxyomeprazole, were extracted from 0.05 ml of human plasma using 0.5 ml of ethyl acetate in a 96-well plate. A portion (0.1 ml) of the ethyl acetate extract was diluted with 0.4 ml of acetonitrile and 10 microl was injected onto a Betasil silica column (50 mm x 3.0 mm, 5 microm) and detected by API 3000 and 4000 with (+) ESI. Mobile phase with linear gradient elution consists of acetonitrile, water, and formic acid (from 95:5:0.1 to 73.5:26.5:0.1 in 2 min). The flow rate was 1.5 ml/min with total run time of 2.75 min. The method was validated for a low limit of quantitation at 2.5 ng/ml for both analytes. The method was also validated for specificity, reproducibility, stability and recovery. Lack of adverse matrix effect and carry-over was also demonstrated. The inter-day precision and accuracy of the quality control samples at low, medium and high concentration levels were <4.4% relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) and 4.1% relative error (R.E.) for omeprazole, and 4.5% R.S.D. and 5.6% R.E. for 5-OH omeprazole, respectively.