雌激素受体β基因CA重复序列多态性与绝经后骨质疏松症的关联性研究

绝经后骨质疏松症(PMO)是一种多基因调控的遗传性疾病。雌激素受体β亚型基因是骨质疏松症的重要侯选基因。此文采用病例对照设计(78名股骨颈PMO病人和122名对照以及108名腰椎PMO病人和92名对照)研究中国人(汉族)雌激素受体β基因(ESR2)第5内含子CA重复序列多态性与PMO的相关性。以CA重复序列平均数22次为界将重复序列基因分为短基因(<22)和长基因(≥22),分别以S和L表示。股骨颈及腰椎(L2-4)部位,病例组中LL基因型和L等位基因者频率显著高于对照组(P<0.01),SL、LL及SL LL基因型者较SS基因型者患PMO风险显著增高(P<0.05);调整年龄、绝经时间、绝经年龄及体质指数后,Logistic回归分析显示ESR2(CA)n多态性仍然与股骨颈(OR4.923,95%CI1.986～12.203,P=0.001)及L2-4(OR2.267,95%CI1.121～4.598,P=0.023)PMO显著相关。结果显示:ESR2基因CA重复序列多态性与股骨颈和L2-4部位PMO独立关联,L等位基因显性影响PMO的发病风险。     

桃Pp4CL2基因的克隆及抗寒功能验证

基于‘丁家坝李光桃’抗寒转录组数据,采用RT PCR技术克隆桃4 香豆酸辅酶A连接酶基因(Pp4CL2),并对其进行生物信息学及转化模式植物拟南芥和烟草的抗寒分析,以解析‘丁家坝李光桃’的抗寒机制。结果显示：(1)成功克隆获得桃Pp4CL2基因(登录号：LOC18792923),其cDNA序列为1 635 bp,编码544个氨基酸残基,具有4CL基因家族保守结构域。(2)二级结构分析显示,Pp4CL2蛋白由4种状态的二级结构组成,其中α螺旋占30.51%、β 折叠占7.35%、不规则卷曲及延伸链分别占41.54%和20.59%。(3)顺式作用元件分析发现,Pp4CL2基因上游启动子区含有光、低温以及多种激素响应元件。(4)序列系统进化分析显示,桃Pp4CL2与杏(Prunus armeniaca)、欧洲甜樱桃(Prunus avium)和梅(Prunus mume)的蛋白相似性最高,分别为99.08%、97.98%和96.14%。(5)成功构建转化载体Pp4CL2 pRI101,对拟南芥和烟草进行遗传转化并通过PCR鉴定获得转基因拟南芥和烟草。(6)与野生型相比,低温胁迫下转基因拟南芥和烟草的Pp4CL2基因相对表达量高,受冷害程度轻,具有更高的渗透调节物质含量和抗氧化酶活性,对低温具有更强的耐受性。研究表明,过表达Pp4CL2基因可增强植物对低温的耐受性,推测Pp4CL2基因在‘丁家坝李光桃’响应低温胁迫过程中具有重要作用。     

A study of the antibacterial mechanism of pinocembrin against multidrug-resistant Aeromonas hydrophila

International Microbiology - Aeromonas hydrophila is a common pathogen in fish that has caused severe economic losses in aquaculture worldwide. With the emergence of bacterial resistance, it is...     

Benzo(a)pyrene inhibits endometrial cell apoptosis in early pregnant mice via the WNT5A pathway

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is an endocrine-disrupting pollutant present in various aspects of daily life, and studies have demonstrated that BaP exerts reproductive toxicity. We previously showed that BaP damages endometrial morphology and decreases the number of implantation sites in early pregnant mice, but the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. The endometrial function is crucial for implantation, which is associated with endometrial cell apoptosis. In this study, we focused on the effect of BaP on endometrial cell apoptosis and the role of WNT signaling during this process. Pregnant mice were gavaged with corn oil (control group) or 0.2 mg·kg⁻¹·day ⁻¹ BaP (treatment group) from Days 1 to 6 of pregnancy. BaP impaired endometrial function by decreasing the expression of HOXA10 and BMP2, two markers of receptivity and decidualization. WNT5A and β-catenin were activated in the BaP group. BaP affected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins and inhibited the apoptosis of endometrial stromal cells. In vitro, human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) were treated with different concentrations of BaP (dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); 5, 10 µM). WNT5A and β-catenin were also upregulated in the BaP treatment group. HESC apoptosis was restrained by BaP. Inhibiting WNT5A by SFRP5 partially restored the effect of BaP on apoptosis. In summary, these results suggested that BaP exposure during early pregnancy activates WNT5A/β-catenin signaling pathway, which inhibits the endometrial cell apoptosis and potentially destroys endometrial function.     

Selection of suitable reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis of Begonia semperflorens under stress conditions

Molecular Biology Reports - Begonia semperflorens (B. semperflorens), belonging to the family Begoniaceae, has now been widely cultivated worldwide and is famous for its ornamental plants with...     

Effects of Restraint Water-Immersion Stress-Induced Gastric Mucosal Damage on Astrocytes and Neurons in the Nucleus Raphe Magnus of Rats via the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway

Neurochemical Research - Restraint water-immersion stress (RWIS) consists of psychological and physical stimulation, and it has been utilized in the research of gastric mucosal damage. It has been...     

Genetic Structure and Diversity of Glycyrrhiza Populations Based on Transcriptome SSR Markers

Plant Molecular Biology Reporter - Glycyrrhiza is a widely used traditional Chinese herb with medicinal value. Recently, however, Glycyrrhiza biodiversity has faced an unprecedented threat due to...     

MORC4 is a novel breast cancer oncogene regulated by miR-193b-3p

A better understanding of breast cancer pathogenesis would contribute to improved diagnosis and therapy and potentially decreased mortality rates. Here, we found that the MORC family CW-type zinc finger 4 (MORC4) overexpression in breast cancer tissues is associated with poor survival, and the short-interfering RNA knockdown of MORC4 suppresses the growth of breast cancer cells by promoting apoptosis. To investigate the mechanisms associated with MORC4 upregulation, microRNAs potentially targeting MORC4 were analyzed, with miR-193b-3p identified as the regulator and a negative correlation between miR-193b-3p and MORC4 expression determined in both breast cancer cell lines and tissues. Further analysis verified that MORC4 silencing did not affect miR-193b-3p expression, although altered miR-193b-3p expression attenuated MORC4 protein levels. Moreover, dual-luciferase reporter assays verified miR-193b-3p binding to the 3′ untranslated region of MORC4. Furthermore, restoration of miR-193b-3p expression in breast cancer cells led to decreased growth and activation of apoptosis, which was consistent with results associated with MORC4 silencing in breast cancer cells. These results identified MORC4 as differentially expressed in breast cancer cells and tissues and its downregulation by miR-193b-3p, as well as its roles in regulating the growth of breast cancer cells via regulation of apoptosis. Our findings offer novel insights into potential mechanisms associated with breast cancer pathogenesis.