RETRACTED ARTICLE: ShRNA-mediated gene silencing of Heat shock protein 70 inhibits human colon cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry -     

An experiment with a 105-day isolation simulating some conditions of a space flight to mars: the goals, scope, and structure of the research

The article deals with the main goals, objectives, and features of a 105-day experiment simulating some conditions of a manned space flight to Mars. It contains the scope and time patterns of the research program of the 105-day experiment, as well as methodological and organizational recommendations for the preparation for a 520-day experiment based on the analysis of the results of a 105-day experiment.     

Development of Emotion Word Comprehension in Chinese Children from 2 to 13 Years Old: Relationships with Valence and Empathy

Children’s emotion word comprehension (EWC) has constantly received a great deal of attention in developmental science. However, since previous reports focused on only English emotion vocabulary, researchers thus far remained unclear as to the developmental trajectories of EWC (to Chinese emotion words) in Chinese children, let alone the cross-cultural difference of EWC in different languages (i.e., English V.S. Chinese). Furthermore, the influence of valence on EWC, as well as the interaction mechanism between EWC and empathy, has not been fully investigated. Finding answers to these research gaps has become the main motivation of the current study. For this purpose, a Chinese emotion vocabulary was first constructed to estimate EWC of Chinese children (ages 2–13 years old). Then, the valence of each emotion word was evaluated using the standard 9-point scale approach. After that, the Chinese children’s EWC and empathy were measured in terms of parental ratings. Finally, all data collected were statistically analyzed to reveal the influence of the valence of EWC, the relation between EWC and empathy, and the cross-cultural difference of children’s EWC between China and UK from the viewpoint of developmental science. The main results of the current study included the following: (i) EWC in general increased with age for Chinese children ages 2–13 years old, however, there was a dramatic increase during ages 6–8 years old; (ii) EWC of positive emotion words in general developed better than that of negative and neutral ones for Chinese children (ages 2–13 years old); and the disadvantage of EWC to negative emotion words over neutral ones was gradually observed with the increase of age, even though there were no significant differences between them from the beginning; (iii) EWC completely mediated the effect of age on empathy; and (iv) EWC of children in UK developed better than Chinese counterparts during the early childhood period (ages 4–6 years old), then Chinese counterparts developed better during the middle childhood period (ages 7–10 years old), however, there was no significant difference of EWC between both groups during the late childhood period (ages 11–12 years old).     

Proteomic and cytokine plasma biomarkers for predicting progression from colorectal adenoma to carcinoma in human patients

In the present study, we screened proteomic and cytokine biomarkers between patients with adenomatous polyps and colorectal cancer (CRC) in order to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind turmorigenesis and tumor progression in CRC. To this end, we performed comparative proteomic analysis of plasma proteins using a combination of 2DE and MS as well as profiled differentially regulated cytokines and chemokines by multiplex bead analysis. Proteomic analysis identified 11 upregulated and 13 downregulated plasma proteins showing significantly different regulation patterns with diagnostic potential for predicting progression from adenoma to carcinoma. Some of these proteins have not previously been implicated in CRC, including upregulated leucine‐rich α‐2‐glycoprotein, hemoglobin subunit β, Ig α‐2 chain C region, and complement factor B as well as downregulated afamin, zinc‐α‐2‐glycoprotein, vitronectin, and α‐1‐antichymotrypsin. In addition, plasma levels of three cytokines/chemokines, including interleukin‐8, interferon gamma‐induced protein 10, and tumor necrosis factor α, were remarkably elevated in patients with CRC compared to those with adenomatous polyps. Although further clinical validation is required, these proteins and cytokines can be established as novel biomarkers for CRC and/or its progression from colon adenoma.     

CARAGANA FABR. PROMOTES REVEGETATION AND SOIL REHABILITATION IN SALINE-ALKALI WASTELAND

To determine how plantations of Caragana microphylla shrubs affect saline-alkali soil amelioration and revegetation, we investigated the vegetation and sampled soils from saline-alkali wasteland (SAW), perennial Caragana forestland (PCF), Caragana forest after fire disturbance (CFF). Results showed that with the development of Caragana Fabr., highly dominant species of Poaceae family, including Elymus dahuricus, Thermopsis lanceolata, Stipa tianschanica, died out in PCF. Moreover, Papilionaceae family, including Lespedeza indica, Oxytropis psammocharis, and Astragalus scaberrimus, was established both in PCF and CFF. Phytoremediation of saline-alkali wasteland (SAW) was achieved by plantation, resulting in the reduced soil pH, sodium adsorption ratio, exchangeable sodium percentage, salinity, and Na⁺ concentration around Caragana shrubs. Greater amounts of soil organic, total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium were observed in PCF topsoil than in SAW topsoil. The concentration of mineralized N in PCF soil was significantly lower than that in SAW soil at all sampled depths, indicating that Caragana shrubs were just using N and therefore less measured in soils. Fire disturbance resulted in decreased soil pH and salinity, but increased organic content, total nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen. The improved soil parameters and self-recovery of shrubs indicated that Caragana shrubs were well established after burning event.     

Thermostable Alkaline Phosphatase of Bacterium Meiothermus ruber: Gene Cloning,Expression in Escherichia coli,and Biochemical Characterization of the Recombinant Protein

The Meiothermus ruber alkaline phosphatase gene was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli cells, and sequenced. The enzyme precursor, including the putative signal peptide, was shown to consist of 503 residues (deduced molecular mass 54,229 Da). The recombinant enzyme showed the maximal activity at 60–65°C, pH 11.0, K _M = 0.055 mM with p-nitrophenyl phosphate. The enzyme proved to be moderately thermostable, retaining 50% activity after 6 h incubation at 60°C and being completely inactivated in 2 h at 80°C. In substrate specificity assays, the highest activity was observed with p-nitrophenyl phosphate and dATP. Vanadate, inorganic phosphate, and SDS were inhibitory, while thiol-reducing agents had virtually no effect. The enzyme activity strongly depended on exogenous Mg²⁺ and declined in the presence of EDTA.     

Structural analysis of chloroplast tail‐anchored membrane protein recognition by ArsA1

In mammals and yeast, tail‐anchored (TA) membrane proteins destined for the post‐translational pathway are safely delivered to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane by a well‐known targeting factor, TRC40/Get3. In contrast, the underlying mechanism for translocation of TA proteins in plants remains obscure. How this unique eukaryotic membrane‐trafficking system correctly distinguishes different subsets of TA proteins destined for various organelles, including mitochondria, chloroplasts and the ER, is a key question of long standing. Here, we present crystal structures of algal ArsA1 (the Get3 homolog) in a distinct nucleotide‐free open state and bound to adenylyl‐imidodiphosphate. This approximately 80‐kDa protein possesses a monomeric architecture, with two ATPase domains in a single polypeptide chain. It is capable of binding chloroplast (TOC34 and TOC159) and mitochondrial (TOM7) TA proteins based on features of its transmembrane domain as well as the regions immediately before and after the transmembrane domain. Several helices located above the TA‐binding groove comprise the interlocking hook‐like motif implicated by mutational analyses in TA substrate recognition. Our data provide insights into the molecular basis of the highly specific selectivity of interactions of algal ArsA1 with the correct sets of TA substrates before membrane targeting in plant cells.