Computational analysis and prediction for exons of PAC579 genomic sequence

To isolate the novel genes related to human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we se-quenced P1-derived artificial chromosome PAC579 (D17S926 locus) mapped in the minimum LOH (loss of heterozygosity) deletion region of chromosome 17p13.3 in HCC. Four novel genes mapped in this genomic sequence area were isolated and cloned by wet-lab experiments, and the exons of these genes were located. 0-60 kb of this genomic sequence including the genes of interest was scanned with five different computational exon prediction programs as well as four splice site recognition programs. After analyzing and comparing the computationally predicted results with the wet-lab experiment results, some potential exons were predicted in the genomic sequence by using these programs.     

两个黄芪根瘤菌新类群代表菌株的16S rDNA序列分析

对黄芪根瘤菌两个新类群中心菌株CA8561和JL84进行了16S rDNA全序列测定,并进行了系统发育学分析。结果表明,CA8561位于Rhizobium分支中,JL84位于Sinorhizobium分支中。     

Protection of xenogeneic cells from human complement-mediated lysis by the expression of human DAF, CD59 and MCP

CD59 and membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46) are widely expressed cell surface glycoproteins that protect host cells from the effect of homologous complement attack. cDNAs encoding human CD59 and MCP cloned from Chinese human embryo were separately transfected into NIH/3T3 cells resulting in the expression of human CD59 and MCP protein on the cell surface. The functional properties of expressed proteins were studied. When the transfected cells were exposed to human serum as a source of complement and naturally occurring anti-mouse antibody, they were resistant to human complement-mediated cell killing. However, the cells remained sensitive to rabbit and guinea pig complement. Human CD59 and MCP can only protect NIH/3T3 cells from human complement-mediated lysis. These results demonstrated that complement inhibitory activity of these proteins is species-selective. The cDNAs of CD59 and MCP were also separately transfected into the endothelial cells (ECs) of the pigs transgenic for the human DAF gene to investigate a putative synergistic action. The ECs expressing both DAF and MCP proteins or both DAF and CD59 proteins exhibited more protection against cytolysis by human serum compared to the cells with only DAF expressed alone.     

Seasonal variations of mercury levels and human health risk in vegetables from Arid Oasis (Shihezi city), Xinjiang,Northwest China

The purpose of this study was to investigate the seasonal variations of mercury levels and human health risk in vegetables that were collected from farmland, home garden, and plastic greenhouse in summer and winter 2016 in Arid Oasis (Shihezi city), Xinjiang, Northwest China. The results showed that the levels of mercury in fresh vegetables were lower in winter (0.003–0.025 mg·kg^?1) than in summer (0.001–0.035 mg·kg^?1). Single factor pollution (P) in vegetables indicated that all vegetables were polluted in diverse levels. The exceeding rate in different vegetables was 0.00% to 88.89% in summer and 0.00% to 100% in winter compared with limits of pollutants in vegetables. The value of bio-concentration factor (BCF) revealed that the mercury absorption capacity of 10 species vegetables decreased in the following order: pea seedling > spinage > caraway > lettuces > pakchoi > celery > crowndaisy chrysanthemum > chives > spinach > shallot. The daily intake (DI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) of mercury for children (2–12 years), young adults (18–45 years), and quinquagenarian (>45 years) indicated that non-carcinogenic values were below the threshold values except one sampling sit from farmland around the industrial parks. Furthermore, the THQ of open field in summer was higher than plastic greenhouse in winter. Under the same pollution level, children had more non-carcinogenic risk than young adults and quinquagenarian.     

Inhibition of EGFR attenuates fibrosis and stellate cell activation in diet-induced model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease. NAFLD begins with steatosis and advances to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhosis. The molecular mechanisms involved in NAFLD progression are not understood. Based on recent studies showing dysregulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in animal models of liver injury, we sought to determine if inhibition of EGFR mitigates liver fibrosis and HSC activation in NAFLD. We utilized the high fat diet (HFD)-induced murine model of liver injury to study the role of EGFR in NAFLD. The lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and matrix deposition were examined in the liver tissues. We also evaluated the EGFR signaling pathway, ROS activation and pro-fibrogenic phenotype in oxidized low density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) challenged cultured HSCs. We demonstrate that EGFR was phosphorylated in liver tissues of HFD murine model of NAFLD. Inhibition of EGFR prevented diet-induced lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and HSC activation and matrix deposition. In cultured HSCs, we show that ox-LDL caused rapid activation of the EGFR signaling pathway and induce the production of reactive oxygen species. EGFR also mediated HSC activation and promoted a pro-fibrogenic phenotype. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that EGFR plays an important role in NAFLD and is an attractive target for NAFLD therapy.     

Computational analysis and prediction for exons of PAC579 genomic sequence

To isolate the novel genes related to human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we sequenced P1-derived artificial chromosome PAC579 (D17S926 locus) mapped in the minimum LOH (loss of heterozygosity) deletion region of chromosome 17p13.3 in HCC. Four novel genes mapped in this genomic sequence area were isolated and cloned by wet-lab experiments, and the exons of these genes were located. 0–60 kb of this genomic sequence including the genes of interest was scanned with five different computational exon prediction programs as well as four splice site recognition programs. After analyzing and comparing the computationally predicted results with the wet-lab experiment results, some potential exons were predicted in the genomic sequence by using these programs.     

Real-time imaging nuclear translocation of Akt1 in HCC cells

Akt is one of the critical mediators in cellular signaling, and overactivation of Akt related pathway frequently occurs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we presented that Akt was upregulated in HCC cell lines, and its active phosphorylated form was mainly located in the nucleus. Employing the laser confocal techniques for imaging intracellular protein dynamics, we monitored the transnuclear movement of GFP-tagged wild-type Akt1 (Akt1-WT-GFP) and its inactive mutant (Akt1-T308A/S473A-GFP) in live SMMC-7721 HCC cells, and both of fusion proteins were found to distribute over the cytoplasm and nucleus. Moreover, it was found that platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) was able to accelerate the nuclear translocation of wild-type Akt1 in HCC cells but failed to speed up the motion of the mutant. It was demonstrated that activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt1 facilitated the nuclear translocation of Akt1, but the phosphorylation at threonine 308 and serine 473 was not prerequisite.     

胡枝子属根瘤菌的多相分类研究

采用了数值分类、全细胞可溶性蛋白电泳分析、ＤＮＡＧ＋Ｃｍｏｌ％和ＤＮＡ相关性的测定以及１６ＳｒＤＮＡＰＣＲＲＦＬＰ分析等多相分类技术对来源于不同地区的１６种寄主的胡枝子根瘤菌进行了系统的分类研究。数值分类的结果表明,在６７％的相似性水平上,全部供试菌可以分为快生型根瘤菌和慢性型根瘤菌两大群,在８０％的相似性水平上又可分为四个亚群。在此基础上,对各亚群的胡枝子根瘤菌进行了ＤＮＡ相关性的测定,以进一步证实和确定它们的分类地位,并通过１６ＳｒＤＮＡＰＣＲＲＦＬＰ分析对各亚群的系统发育关系进行了初步研究。     

新疆吐鲁番加依墓地青铜—早期铁器时代居民牙齿的磨耗

本文对新疆吐鲁番市加依墓地青铜—早期铁器时代居民的牙齿磨耗、口腔疾病和骨质隆起等特征进行了观察与研究,结果显示,加依墓地居民的牙齿磨耗较重,但前后部牙齿的磨耗程度差异不大,臼齿偏斜式磨耗现象显著,龋齿罹患率偏低。生前脱落、牙结石等口腔疾病在该人群中普遍流行,部分个体的下颌存在发育显著的骨质隆起现象。本文还通过臼齿磨耗方向指数(Wear Orientation)对加依墓地居民的偏斜式磨耗进行了量化研究,并参考相关民族学调查、考古发现以及现代医学研究成果对加依墓地居民复杂的牙齿磨耗形态和口腔疾病的成因进行了初步探讨。推测加依墓地居民的食物结构应以肉类为主,谷类亦占有一定地位;此外可能是受到恶劣生活环境及特殊谷物加工技术的影响,日常食物较为坚硬。     

Epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2 in human hepatocellular carcinomas

Recent findings have shown that SLIT2 appears to function as a novel tumor suppressor gene. In addition, hypermethylation of its promoter region has been detected in various cancers, including breast and lung cancer, colorectal carcinoma, and gliomas. Here, we report for the first time that there is epigenetic silencing of SLIT2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Downregulation of SLIT2 was detected in 6 of 8 (75%) HCC cell lines by quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), and the downregulation of SLIT2 was generally dependent on the degree of methylation at the promoter region. Furthermore, expression of SLIT2 was restored in relatively low-expressing cell lines after treatment with 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC). Downregulation of SLIT2 expression was also detected in 45 of 54 primary HCC samples (83.3%), and the decrease in expression was significantly correlated with CpG island hypermethylation. This decrease of SLIT2 expression was also associated with lymph node metastasis in HCC. Moreover, overexpression of SLIT2 in SMMC-7721 cells induced by recombinant adenovirus suppressed cell growth, migration, and invasion, These results suggest that epigenetic inactivation of SLIT2 in HCC may be important in the development and progression of HCC. Thus, SLIT2 may be useful as a therapeutic target in the treatment of HCC.