Small interfering RNA–mediated gene suppression as a therapeutic intervention in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the lethal and difficult-to-cure cancers worldwide. Owing to the late diagnosis and drug resistance of malignant hepatocytes, treatment of this cancer by conventional chemotherapy agents is challenging, and researchers are seeking new alternative treatment options to overcome therapy resistance in this neoplasm. RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent and specific approach in targeting gene expression and has emerged as a novel therapeutic tool for many diseases, including cancers. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a type of RNAi that is produced intracellularly from exogenous synthetic oligonucleotides and can selectively knock down target gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. Various factors play roles in the initiation and progression of HCC and provide multiple candidate targets for siRNA intervention. In addition, due to the liver's unique architecture and availability of some hepatic siRNA delivery methods, this organ has received much more attention as a target tissue for such oligonucleotide action. Recent advances in designing nanoparticle systems for the in vivo delivery of siRNAs have markedly enhanced the potency of siRNA-mediated gene silencing under clinical development for HCC therapy. The utility of siRNAs as anti-HCC agents is the subject of the current review. siRNA-based gene therapies could be one of the main feasible approaches for HCC therapy in the future.     

Paleobiogeographic implications of the Middle Eocene ostracods from Cairo–Suez district,Egypt

The main targets of this paper are to examine the Middle Eocene ostracod assemblages collected from a succession exposed in the Cairo–Suez district, Egypt and to detect their paleobiogeographical implications. The studied succession is subdivided into two rock units: the Observatory and Qurn formations, in ascending order. The analysis of the ostracod assemblages led to the identification of 18 species, none of which is new. Three local biozones are established, Digmocythere ismaili - Xestoleberis kenawyi Assemblage Zone, Grinioneis moosi - Loxoconcha pseudopunctatella Assemblage Zone and Cativella qurnenis - Soudanella triangulata Assemblage Zone. The multivariate analyses indicate that there are three distinct bioprovinces, one of them represents the North Africa bioprovince, including Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. The second bioprovince represents the Middle East, including Jordan and Israel. The third represents the West Africa bioprovince, including Senegal, Togo, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Therefore, this deduction supports a migration of Eocene ostracods along the southern Tethys.     

海藻糖酶基因TRE2-like和TRE2在异色瓢虫羽化过程中的表达与功能

【目的】异色瓢虫Harmonia axyridis是一种重要的捕食性天敌昆虫,海藻糖在异色瓢虫的变态发育、羽化等整个生命过程都起着重要的作用。本研究以前期获得的类似膜结合型海藻糖酶(TRE2-like)与膜结合型海藻糖酶(TRE2)基因为基础,探讨在异色瓢虫羽化阶段这两个海藻糖酶的潜在功能,为阐明异色瓢虫从蛹发育到成虫时海藻糖代谢机制提供参考。【方法】根据TRE2-like和TRE2基因序列设计双链RNA(dsRNA)区域片段并合成对应的dsRNA,通过RNAi将其注射到异色瓢虫2日龄蛹中。采用实时荧光定量PCR(RT-qPCR)检测RNAi处理后羽化第1天的异色瓢虫成虫糖代谢相关基因的表达;同时采用蒽酮比色法、酶标法等分别测定RNAi处理后羽化第1天的异色瓢虫成虫主要糖类物质含量及TRE活性变化,并观察异色瓢虫羽化后的表型变化。【结果】结果表明,与对照组(dsGFP注射组)相比,异色瓢虫2日龄蛹被注射TRE2-like或TRE2 dsRNA后,其新羽化成虫体内TRE2-like和TRE2表达量均极显著下调,且少数个体出现了蜕皮与翅形成困难等畸形表型。可溶性海藻糖酶活性在注射dsTRE2-like后显著降低,膜结合型海藻糖酶活性在注射dsTRE2后显著降低;注射dsTRE2后糖原含量显著下降,注射dsTRE2-like后糖原和海藻糖含量显著下降,注射dsTRE2-like+dsTRE2后糖原和葡萄糖含量显著下降,且海藻糖含量极显著下降。注射dsTRE2-like, dsTRE2和dsTRE2-like+dsTRE2后可溶性海藻糖酶基因TRE1-1和TRE1-2表达下降或显著下降,而TRE1-5表达上升或显著上升,海藻糖合成酶(trealose-6-phosphate synthase, TPS)、糖原磷酸化酶(glycogen phosphorylase, GP)、糖原合成酶(glycogen synthase, GS)基因的表达均显著下调。【结论】TRE2-like和TRE2基因表达被抑制后,异色瓢虫海藻糖等代谢受到影响。研究结果为探究异色瓢虫体内膜结合型海藻糖酶的潜在功能和调控机制奠定了基础。     

甘肃东大山自然保护区岩羊生态行为的初步观察

2004年7月和8月,通过样线调查、野外直接跟踪观察和瞬间取样的方法,对东大山自然保护区岩羊(Pseudois nayaur)的种群结构和生态行为进行了初步研究。在观察到的720只岩羊中,719只组成了50个群,最大的群82只,最小的群2只,平均群大小(14.38±15.83)只(n=50)。雌雄性比为1∶0.63,成年雌体、亚成体和幼体之比是1∶0.4∶0.24。岩羊的昼间活动中,上午和下午各有一个瞬间觅食高峰,分别在6:30时和15:30时,中午有一段较长时间的休息期。通过对一个46只岩羊群连续12 d的野外跟踪观察,发现该岩羊群昼间的活动范围基本上在1.47 km2内。对152个自然死亡的雄性岩羊头骨的分析表明,东大山雄性岩羊的自然死亡年龄在7.5~11.5龄,其中9.5龄是其自然死亡的高峰。     

ToxR负调控副溶血弧菌中c-di-GMP的合成

副溶血弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)是世界范围内引起海产品相关食物中毒的主要致病菌,具有很强的生物膜形成能力。ToxR是一种膜结合调控蛋白,对副溶血弧菌生物膜形成具有一定的调控作用,但具体机制尚未见报道。c-di-GMP是一种普遍存在于细菌中重要的第二信使,参与调控细菌的多种生物学行为包括生物膜的形成。本文探究ToxR对副溶血弧菌中c-di-GMP代谢的调控作用。利用酶联免疫吸附法(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)测定副溶血弧菌野生株(wild-type,WT)和toxR突变株(ΔtoxR)中c-di-GMP水平的差异。挑选c-di-GMP代谢相关基因scrA、scrG和vpa0198为进一步研究的靶标,采用实时定量qPCR实验检测靶基因在WT和ΔtoxR中的转录水平差异;将靶基因调控区DNA序列克隆入pHRP309质粒中无启动子的β半乳糖苷酶基因上游,采用lacZ报告基因融合实验进一步研究ToxR对靶基因的转录调控关系;将重组质粒分别导入含有pBAD33或pBAD33-toxR的EC100lpir中,采用lacZ报告基因融合实验研究ToxR是否能在异体宿主中调控靶基因的表达;PCR扩增靶基因上游调控区DNA序列,并纯化His-ToxR蛋白,用凝胶阻滞实验(electrophoresis mobility shift assay,EMSA)研究His-ToxR与靶基因启动子区DNA序列是否具有结合作用。ELISA结果显示ΔtoxR中c-di-GMP含量显著性高于WT中的,说明ToxR抑制c-di-GMP的产生;实时定量qPCR结果表明WT中scrA、scrG和vpa0198的转录水平显著性高于ΔtoxR中的,表明ToxR抑制它们的转录;lacZ报告基因融合实验结果表明ToxR可抑制副溶血弧菌和EC100lpir中scrA、scrG和vpa0198的启动子区活性;EMSA实验显示His-ToxR能特异性地结合到scrA和scrG的上游调控区DNA序列上,而对vpa0198的上游调控区DNA序列无结合作用。综上所述,ToxR通过直接调控相关酶蛋白基因的转录来抑制副溶血弧菌内c-di-GMP的合成,从而有助于精确调控生物膜形成等细菌行为。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统检测果蝇细胞中组蛋白甲基化修饰对20E信号传导的调控

[目的]利用CRISPR/Cas9基因敲除系统在黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster细胞中筛选并检测组蛋白甲基化修饰对蜕皮激素20-羟基蜕皮酮(20-hydroxyecdysone,20E)信号传导的调控.[方法]通过Flybase网站分析并总结黑腹果蝇组蛋白甲基转移酶及其修饰位点;将5个组蛋白甲基转...     

A comparison of the kinetics of low-density lipoprotein oxidation induced by copper or by gamma-rays: influence of radiation dose-rate and copper concentration

The oxidation of low-density lipoproteins is the first step in the complex process leading to atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to compare the kinetics of low density lipoprotein oxidation induced by copper ions or by oxygen free radicals generated by 60Co gamma-rays. The effects of copper concentration and irradiation dose-rate on LDL peroxidation kinetics were also studied. The oxidation of LDL was followed by the measurement of conjugated diene, hydroperoxides, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance formation as well as alpha-tocopherol disappearance. In the case of gamma irradiation, the lag-phase before the onset of lipid peroxidation was inversely correlated to the radiation dose-rate. The radiation chemical rates (nu) increased with increasing dose-rate. Copper-induced LDL peroxidation followed two kinetic patterns: a slow kinetic for copper concentrations between 5-20 microM, and a fast kinetic for a copper concentration of 40 microM. The concentration-dependent oxidation kinetics suggest the existence of a saturable copper binding site on apo-B. When compared with gamma-rays, copper ions act as drastic and powerful oxidants only at higher concentrations (> or = 40 microM).     

Polymorphic phases of galactocerebrosides: spectroscopic evidence of lamellar crystalline structures

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to study the structural and thermal properties of bovine brain galactocerebroside (GalCer) containing amide linked non-hydroxylated or alpha-hydroxy fatty acids (NFA- and HFA-GalCer, respectively). Over the temperature range 0-90 degrees C, both GalCer displayed complex thermal transitions, characteristic of polymorphic phase behavior. Upon heating, aqueous dispersions of NFA- and HFA-GalCer exhibited high order-disorder transition temperatures near 80 and 72 degrees C, respectively. En route to the chain melting transition, the patterns of the amide I band of NFA-GalCer were indicative of two different lamellar crystalline phases, whereas those of HFA-GalCer were suggestive of lamellar gel and crystalline bilayers. Cooling from the liquid-crystalline phase resulted in the formation of another crystalline phase of NFA-GalCer and a gel phase of HFA-GalCer, with a phase transition near 62 and 66 degrees C, respectively. Prolonged incubation of GalCer bilayers at 38 degrees C revealed conversions among lamellar crystalline phases (NFA-GalCer) or between lamellar gel and crystalline bilayer structures (HFA-GalCer). Spectral changes indicated that the temperature and/or time induced formation of the lamellar crystalline structures of NFA- and HFA-GalCer was accompanied by partial dehydration and by rearrangements of the hydrogen bonding network and bilayer packing mode of GalCer.     

T cell studies in a peptide-induced model of systemic lupus erythematosus

We have previously reported that immunization with a peptide mimetope of dsDNA on a branched polylysine backbone (DWEYSVWLSN-MAP) induces a systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome in the nonautoimmune BALB/c mouse strain. To understand the mechanism underlying this breakdown in self tolerance, we examined the role of T cells in the response. Our results show that the anti-foreign and anti-self response induced by immunization is T cell dependent and is mediated by I-E(d)-restricted CD4(+) T cells of the Th1 subset. In addition, generation of the critical T cell epitope requires processing by APCs and depends on the presence of both DWEYSVWLSN and the MAP backbone. The breakdown in self tolerance does not occur through cross-reactivity between the T cell epitope of DWEYSVWLSN-MAP and epitopes derived from nuclear Ags. In this induced-model of SLE, therefore, autoreactivity results from the activation of T cells specific for foreign Ag and of cross-reactive anti-foreign, anti-self B cells. Despite the fact that tissue injury is mediated by Ab, the critical initiating T cell response is Th1.     

Organization and concerted evolution of the ampliconic Y-chromosomal TSPY genes from cattle

The Y-chromosomal gene TSPY (testis-specific protein Y-encoded) is probably involved in early spermatogenesis and has a variable copy number in different mammalian species. Analysis of bovine BAC clones leads to an estimate of 90 TSPY loci on the bovine Y chromosome. Half of these loci (TSPY-M1 and TSPY-M2) contain a single copy, while the other loci (TSPY-C) contain a cluster of three, possibly four, truncated pseudogenes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization indicated that the TSPY loci are located mainly on the short arm (Yp). The TSPY genes appear to account for about 2.5% of the Y chromosome and contain several published bovine Y-chromosomal microsatellites. The homology of TSPY and the major Y-chromosomal repetitive elements BRY.2 from cattle and OY.1 from sheep (80-85% similarity) further illustrates how the Y chromosome is shaped by rearrangements and horizontal spreading of the most abundant sequences. A comparison of TSPY-M1 sequences from different BAC clones and from related bovine species suggests concerted evolution as one of the mechanisms of the rapid evolution of the mammalian Y chromosome.