CSTP1, a Novel Protein Phosphatase,Blocks Cell Cycle,Promotes Cell Apoptosis,and Suppresses Tumor Growth of Bladder Cancer by Directly Dephosphorylating Akt at Ser473 Site

Akt/protein kinase B is a pivotal component downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, whose activity regulates the balance between cell survival and apoptosis. Phosphorylation of Akt occurs at two key sites either at Thr308 site in the activation loop or at Ser473 site in the hydrophobic motif. The phosphorylated form of Akt (pAkt) is activated to promote cell survival. The mechanisms of pAkt dephosphorylation and how the signal transduction of Akt pathway is terminated are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified a novel protein phosphatase CSTP1(complete s transactivated protein 1), which interacts and dephosphorylates Akt specifically at Ser473 site in vivo and in vitro, blocks cell cycle progression and promotes cell apoptosis. The effects of CSTP1 on cell survival and cell cycle were abrogated by depletion of phosphatase domain of CSTP1 or by expression of a constitutively active form of Akt (S473D), suggesting Ser473 site of Akt as a primary cellular target of CSTP1. Expression profile analysis showed that CSTP1 expression is selectively down-regulated in non-invasive bladder cancer tissues and over-expression of CSTP1 suppressed the size of tumors in nude mice. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that decreased expression of CSTP1 implicated significantly reduced recurrence-free survival in patients suffered from non-invasive bladder cancers.     

Genome-Wide Identification,Characterization, and Stress-Responsive Expression Profiling of Genes Encoding LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant) Proteins in Moso Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins have been identified in a wide range of organisms and are believed to play a role in the adaptation of plants to stress conditions. In this study, we performed genome-wide identification of LEA proteins and their coding genes in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) of Poaceae. A total of 23 genes encoding LEA proteins (PeLEAs) were found in P. edulis that could be classified to six groups based on Pfam protein family and homologous analysis. Further in silico analyses of the structures, gene amount, and biochemical characteristics were conducted and compared with those of O. sativa (OsLEAs), B. distachyon (BdLEAs), Z. mays (ZmLEAs), S. bicolor (SbLEAs), Arabidopsis, and Populus trichocarpa. The less number of PeLEAs was found. Evolutionary analysis revealed orthologous relationship and colinearity between P. edulis, O. sativa, B. distachyon, Z. mays, and S. bicolor. Analyses of the non-synonymous (Ka) and synonymous (Ks)substitution rates and their ratios indicated that the duplication of PeLEAs may have occurred around 18.8 million years ago (MYA), and divergence time of LEA family among the P. edulis-O. sativa and P. edulis–B. distachyon, P. edulis-S. bicolor, and P. edulis-Z. mays was approximately 30 MYA, 36 MYA, 48 MYA, and 53 MYA, respectively. Almost all PeLEAs contain ABA- and (or) stress-responsive regulatory elements. Further RNA-seq analysis revealed approximately 78% of PeLEAs could be up-regulated by dehydration and cold stresses. The present study makes insights into the LEA family in P. edulis and provides inventory of stress-responsive genes for further functional validation and transgenic research aiming to plant genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance.     

特定环状RNA表达与衰老的关系研究*

目的:研究小鼠不同组织器官中环状RNA的表达量在年老与年幼中的差异,揭示环状RNA与衰老的联系。方法:通过对不同组织器官的总RNA的提取,分别逆转录,并扩增circUSP34、circTCF4、circTCF20、circZFP64、circPWWP2A、circLIN54,通过凝胶电泳比较其在年轻小鼠与年老小鼠的组织器官中的表达情况,明确上述环状RNA与衰老的联系。结果:环状RNA在不同年龄小鼠的组织器官中存在广泛性的差异性表达,不同组织不同环状RNA有着不同的表达量的改变,其与衰老存在联系。在卵巢中除circTCF4,其余五种环状RNA表达量均与年龄负相关;在肾脏中,除circTCF4与circPWWP2A,其余与年龄呈负相关;在乳腺中只有circUSP3与衰老呈负相关;而在肠道与生长相关的只有上述后三种环状RNA,均呈正相关。其他样本与组织的发育阶段有不同的相关性,具体在结果体现。结论:环状RNA的表达量在组织中与年龄的增大有着显著相关性,环状RNA可能广泛地参与了不同的衰老通路,起到不同的生物学作用,其在衰老的产生中扮演重要角色。     

两种内镜手术对消化道神经内分泌肿瘤的切除效果及安全性评价

目的:探讨内镜下两种手术方法对消化道神经内分泌肿瘤的切除效果和安全性。方法:选取64例消化道神经内分泌肿瘤患者,随机分为A组和B组,每组各32例。A组接受内镜下黏膜切除术,B组接受内镜下黏膜剥离术。分析和比较两组所切除组织的病理学检查结果、手术时间、切除肿瘤的直径和厚度、治疗费用、住院时间、肿瘤完全切除率、垂直切缘阴性率以及并发症的发生率。结果:A组的手术时间为(8.95±1.63) min,治疗费用为(2127.70±468.31)元,均显著少于B组(P0.05);两组患者切除肿瘤直径和厚度、住院时间、垂直切缘阴性率对比差异均没有统计学意义(P0.05);B组的肿瘤完全切除率为93.75%,显著高于A组(P0.05);A组并发症发生率为3.13%,显著低于B组(P0.05)。结论:两种内镜下手术方式均可有效清除消化道神经内分泌肿瘤病灶。内镜下黏膜切除术的手术时间、费用及并发症的发生率更少低,而内镜下黏膜剥离术能够更彻底地清除肿瘤组织。     

Novel hepacivirus in Asian house shrew,China

<正>Dear Editor,Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a leading global cause of various liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The genome of HCV is monopartite, single-stranded, positive RNA, about 10 kb in size.HCV is the prototype species of the Hepacivirus genus,which contains 14 species according to the update from the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (Smith et al., 2016). Prior to 2005, humans were thought to be the only     

Up‐regulation of ZFAS1 indicates dismal prognosis for cholangiocarcinoma and promotes proliferation and metastasis by modulating USF1 via miR‐296‐5p

LncRNAs has been demonstrated to modulate neoplastic development by modulating downstream miRNAs and functional genes. In this study, we aimed to detect the interaction among lncRNA ZFAS1 miR‐296‐5p and USF1. We explored the proliferation, migration and invasion of cholangiocarcinoma. The differentially expressed ZFAS1 was discovered in both tissues and cell lines by qRT‐PCR. The targeting relationship between miR‐296‐5p and ZFAS1 or USF1 was validated by dual‐luciferase assay. The impact of ZFAS1 on CCA cell proliferation was observed by CCK‐8 assay. The protein expression of USF1 was determined by Western blot. The effects of ZFAS1, miR‐296‐5p and USF1 on tumour growth were further confirmed using xenograft model. LncRNA ZFAS1 expression was relatively up‐regulated in tumour tissues and cells while miR‐296‐5p was significantly down‐regulated. Knockdown of ZFAS1 significantly suppressed tumour proliferation, migration, invasion and USF1 expression. Overexpressed miR‐296‐5p suppressed cell proliferation and metastasis. Knockdown of USF1 inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis and xenograft tumour growth. In conclusion, ZFAS1 might promote cholangiocarcinoma proliferation and metastasis by modulating USF1 via miR‐296‐5p.     

Inter‐α‐inhibitor deficiency in the mouse is associated with alterations in anxiety‐like behavior,exploration and social approach

In recent years, several genome‐wide association studies have identified candidate regions for genetic susceptibility in major mood disorders. Most notable are regions in a locus in chromosome 3p21, encompassing the genes NEK4‐ITIH1‐ITIH3‐ITIH4. Three of these genes represent heavy chains of the composite protein inter‐α‐inhibitor (IαI). In order to further establish associations of these genes with mood disorders, we evaluated behavioral phenotypes in mice deficient in either Ambp/bikunin, which is necessary for functional ITIH1 and ITIH3 complexes, or in Itih4, the gene encoding the heavy chain Itih4. We found that loss of Itih4 had no effect on the behaviors tested, but loss of Ambp/bikunin led to increased anxiety‐like behavior in the light/dark and open field tests and reduced exploratory activity in the elevated plus maze, light/dark preference and open field tests. Ambp/bikunin knockout mice also exhibited a sex‐dependent exaggeration of acoustic startle responses, alterations in social approach during a three‐chamber choice test, and an elevated fear conditioning response. These results provide experimental support for the role of ITIH1/ITIH3 in the development of mood disorders.     

Synthesis and Antitumor Evaluation in Vitro of NO‐Donating Ursolic Acid‐Benzylidene Derivatives

Antitumor activity of triterpenoid and its derivatives has attracted great attention recently. Our previous efforts led to the discovery of a series of NO‐donor betulin derivatives with potent antitumor activity. Herein, we prepared eight compounds derived from ursolic acid (UA). All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines (HepG‐2, MCF‐7, HT‐29 and A549). Among the compounds tested, compound 4a was found to be most active against HT‐29 (IC₅₀=4.28 μm ). Further biological assays demonstrated that compound 4a could induce cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner. In addition, compound 4a was found to upregulate pro‐apoptotic Bax, p53 and downregulate anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2. All these results suggested that compound 4a is a potential candidate drug for the therapy of colon cancer.