Identification of novel LncRNA targeting Smad2/PKCα signal pathway to negatively regulate malignant progression of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly proliferative cancer with generally poor prognosis and accumulating evidence has highlighted the potential of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the biological behaviors of glioma cells. This study focused on the identification of lncRNAs to identify targets for possible GBM prognosis. Microarray expression profiling found that 1,759 lncRNAs and 3,026 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were upregulated, and 1932s lncRNA and 2,979 mRNAs were downregulated in GBM. Bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification identified TCONS_00020456 (TCON) for further analysis. In situ hybridization, along with immunohistochemical and receiver operating characteristic analysis determined TCON (truncation value = 3.5) as highly sensitive and specific in GBM. Grade IV patients with glioma life span with different lncRNA staining scores were analyzed. TCON staining scores below 3.5 indicated poor prognosis (life span ranging from 0.25 to 7 months), even if the glioma was surgically removed. TCON decreased significantly in GBM, and showed a coexpressional relationship with Smad2 and protein kinase C α (PKCα). Overexpression of TCON reduced the proliferation on one hand and migration, invasion on the other. TCON also inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transformation and glioma progression in vivo, based on a nude mouse tumorigenicity assay. In addition, we predicted a potential binding site and intersection that microRNAs targeting Smad2, PKCα, and TCON through RACE pretest and bioinformatics analysis. Taken together, TCON, regarded as oncosuppressor, targeting the Smad2/PKCα axis plays a novel role in inhibiting the malignant progression of glioma. Moreover, it also demonstrates that the level of TCON can be used as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for GBM.     

Species-specific abundant retrotransposons elucidate the genomic composition of modern sugarcane cultivars

Chromosoma - Modern sugarcane cultivars are highly polyploid and derived from the hybridization of Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum, thus leading to singularly complex genomes. The complex...     

多酶组合催化制备L-高苯丙氨酸

【目的】L-高苯丙氨酸(L-HPA)是许多医药化学品的重要中间体,化学合成法生产L-HPA反应复杂、环境污染严重,本研究旨在开发高效环保的L-HPA酶法合成路线。【方法】采用模块化组装的方法,构建了一条以甘氨酸和苯乙醛为底物高产L-HPA的新途径。【结果】首先,根据文献挖掘设计了一条由苏氨酸醛缩酶(TA)、苏氨酸脱氨酶(TD)、苯丙氨酸脱氢酶(PheDH)和甲酸脱氢酶(FDH)组成的多酶组合催化途径,用于L-HPA的合成。其次,根据氨基基团的引入和重构,将L-HPA多酶组合催化途径分为基础单元和扩增单元,基础单元包括TA和TD,扩增单元包括PheDH和FDH。然后,利用不同表达水平的质粒,对基础单元和扩增单元进行蛋白表达的组合调节,获得最优工程菌BL21-C-M1-R-M2,使L-HPA产量达到208.6mg/L。最后,我们对全细胞转化体系进行优化,使L-HPA产量进一步提高到1226.6 mg/L,苯乙醛摩尔转化率为34.2%。【结论】该工艺路线绿色高效,为未来大规模生产L-HPA奠定基础。     

Using defined finger–finger interfaces as units of assembly for constructing zinc-finger nucleases

Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) have been used for genome engineering in a wide variety of organisms; however, it remains challenging to design effective ZFNs for many genomic sequences using publicly available zinc-finger modules. This limitation is in part because of potential finger–finger incompatibility generated on assembly of modules into zinc-finger arrays (ZFAs). Herein, we describe the validation of a new set of two-finger modules that can be used for building ZFAs via conventional assembly methods or a new strategy—finger stitching—that increases the diversity of genomic sequences targetable by ZFNs. Instead of assembling ZFAs based on units of the zinc-finger structural domain, our finger stitching method uses units that span the finger–finger interface to ensure compatibility of neighbouring recognition helices. We tested this approach by generating and characterizing eight ZFAs, and we found their DNA-binding specificities reflected the specificities of the component modules used in their construction. Four pairs of ZFNs incorporating these ZFAs generated targeted lesions in vivo, demonstrating that stitching yields ZFAs with robust recognition properties.     

Stimulation of σ1-receptor restores abnormal mitochondrial Ca mobilization and ATP production following cardiac hypertrophy

Background

We previously reported that the σ₁-receptor (σ₁R) is down-regulated following cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction in transverse aortic constriction (TAC) mice. Here we address how σ₁R stimulation with the selective σ₁R agonist SA4503 restores hypertrophy-induced cardiac dysfunction through σ₁R localized in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR).

Methods

We first confirmed anti-hypertrophic effects of SA4503 (0.1–1 μM) in cultured cardiomyocytes exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II). Then, to confirm the ameliorative effects of σ₁R stimulation in vivo, we administered SA4503 (1.0 mg/kg) and the σ₁R antagonist NE-100 (1.0 mg/kg) orally to TAC mice for 4 weeks (once daily).

Results

σ₁R stimulation with SA4503 significantly inhibited Ang II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Ang II exposure for 72 h impaired phenylephrine (PE)-induced Ca^2 + mobilization from the SR into both the cytosol and mitochondria. Treatment of cardiomyocytes with SA4503 largely restored PE-induced Ca^2 + mobilization into mitochondria. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to Ang II for 72 h decreased basal ATP content and PE-induced ATP production concomitant with reduced mitochondrial size, while SA4503 treatment completely restored ATP production and mitochondrial size. Pretreatment with NE-100 or siRNA abolished these effects. Chronic SA4503 administration also significantly attenuated myocardial hypertrophy and restored ATP production in TAC mice. SA4503 administration also decreased hypertrophy-induced impairments in LV contractile function.

Conclusions

σ₁R stimulation with the specific agonist SA4503 ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction by restoring both mitochondrial Ca^2 + mobilization and ATP production via σ₁R stimulation.

General significance

Our observations suggest that σ₁R stimulation represents a new therapeutic strategy to rescue the heart from hypertrophic dysfunction.     

Thermal manipulation during the middle incubation stage has a repressive effect on the immune organ development of Peking ducklings

Avian embryos are easily influenced by their environment during incubation. Previous studies have demonstrated that incubation temperature changes could influence muscle development and body weight, which subsequently determine the adult phenotype. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the development of immune organs in ducklings could be influenced by thermal manipulation during the middle stage of incubation. To evaluate this hypothesis, a control group was incubated under a normal temperature from E11 to E24, while the incubation temperature of the experimental group was increased by 1 °C. Our results indicated that slight changes in the incubation temperature significantly repressed the bursa of Fabricius index of the duck embryo on E25 (F1, 58=122.51, P<0.0001) and significantly repressed the spleen index of neonatal ducklings (F1, 58=74.38, P<0.0001). At 0 day posthatching (dph) and 14 dph, ducklings hatched from eggs incubated under the higher temperature had a lower percentage of globulin than the control group (F1, 10=19.97, P=0.0111; F1, 10=9.8, P=0.0352). The IFN-γ concentration of ducklings at 14 dph displayed the same trend (F1, 10=284.49, P<0.0001). These results suggested that thermal manipulation during the middle stage of incubation had a repressive effect on the development of immune organs and reduced the concentrations of serum globulin and IFN-γ. These results demonstrated that the subtle alteration of incubation temperature may weaken ducklings' immunity.