MicroRNA-329-mediated PTTG1 downregulation inactivates the MAPK signaling pathway to suppress cell proliferation and tumor growth in cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a severe malignancy usually producing a poor prognosis and high mortality rate. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported in association with CCA; however, the role miR-329 plays in the CCA condition still remains unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the underlying mechanism of which miR-329 is influencing the progression of CCA. This work studied the differential analysis of the expression chips of CCA obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Next, to determine both the expression and role of pituitary tumor transforming gene-1 (PTTG1) in CCA, the miRNAs regulating PTTG1 were predicted. In the CCA cells that had been intervened with miR-329 upregulation or inhibition, along with PTTG1 silencing, expression of miR-329, PTTG1, p-p38/p38, p-ERK5/ERK5, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Cyclin D1, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and caspase-3 were determined. The effects of both miR-329 and PTTG1 on cell proliferation, cell-cycle distribution, and apoptosis were also assayed. The miR-329 was likely to affect the CCA development through regulation of the PTTG1-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. The miR-329 targeted PTTG1, leading to inactivation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Upregulation of miR-329 and silencing of PTTG1 inhibited the CCA cell proliferation, induced cell-cycle arrest, and subsequently promoted apoptosis with elevations in Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and total caspase-3, but showed declines in PCNA, Cyclin D1, and Bcl-2. Moreover, miR-329 was also found to suppress the tumor growth by downregulation of PTTG1. To summarize, miR-329 inhibited the expression of PTTG1 to inactivate the MAPK signaling pathway, thus suppressing the CCA progression, thereby providing a therapeutic basis for the CCA treatment.     

Effects of Temperature on Stereochemistry of Enzymatic Reactions

A brief discussion of the theoretical basis for effects of temperature on stereoselectivity of enzyme catalysed reactions is presented. In theory, the stereoselectivity of an enzymatic reaction can either increase or decrease as the reaction temperature is raised. The secondary alcohol dehydrogenase from Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus reduces 2-butanone to (R)-2-butanol at 37° C, with increased stereoselectivity at higher temperatures and in the presence of NADP analogues. In contrast, at 37°, 2-pentanone and 2-hexanone are reduced to (S)-2-pentanol and (S)-2-hexanol, respectively, but the stereoselectivity decreases at higher temperatures and in the presence of NADP analogues. Reduction of racemic 2-methylbutanal by the primary alcohol dehydrogenase from T. ethanolicus gives (S)-2-methyl-1-butanol with greater stereospecificity at 35° (51% e.e.) than at 15° (14% e.e.). Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase shows a preference for oxidation of the (S)-enantiomers of acyclic secondary alcohols at 25°, with a decrease in stereospecificity at higher temperatures.     

In situ hybridization to metaphase chromosomes in six species ofPhaseolus andVigna using ribosomal DNA as the probe

In situ hybridization with a biotin-labeled rice ribosomal DNA (rDNA) probe to the somatic metaphase chromosomes of six species ofPhaseolus andVigna (P. angularis, P. calcaratus, P. coccineus, P. vulgaris, V. sesquipedalis andV. sinensis) was done to determine the sites of rDNA. Hybridization signals were present in the terminal and subterminal chromosome regions of each of the six species. The number of rDNA sites was two inP. angularis andP. calcaratus, four inP. coccineus andP. vulgaris, and six inV. sesquipedalis andV. sinensis.     

Dichloroacetophenones targeting at pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 with improved selectivity and antiproliferative activity: Synthesis and structure-activity relationships

Dichloroacetophenone is a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) inhibitor with suboptimal kinase selectivity. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel dichloroacetophenones. Structure-activity relationship analyses (SARs) enabled us to identify three potent compounds, namely 54, 55, and 64, which inhibited PDK1 function, activated pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, and reduced the proliferation of NCI-H1975 cells. Mitochondrial bioenergetics assay suggested that 54, 55, and 64 enhanced the oxidative phosphorylation in cancer cells, which might contribute to the observed anti-proliferation effects. Collectively, these results suggested that 54, 55, and 64 could be promising compounds for the development of potent PDK1 inhibitors.     

桑树内生拮抗菌的分离鉴定及其对桑断枝烂叶病的生防初探

【目的】本研究从健康桑树茎中分离筛选对桑断枝烂叶病菌具显著拮抗作用的内生细菌,为该病生物防治奠定研究基础。【方法】采用组织培养法分离桑树内生菌,抑菌圈法和平板对峙法筛选抑菌活性稳定的内生拮抗菌;根据形态学、生理生化特征检测和基于16SrDNA、gyrA和gyrB基因的系统发育分析对拮抗菌进行菌种鉴定;利用抑菌圈法测定拮抗菌株活性发酵液热稳定性,菌丝生长速率法检测活性发酵液抑菌谱;并通过观察拮抗菌对桑断枝烂叶病菌BoeremiaexiguaGXH1菌株生长及菌丝形态的影响,扩增抑菌活性物质合成关键基因,以及采用酸沉淀法提取拮抗菌株脂肽类化合物并进行高效液相色谱串联质谱分析(LC-MS),初步探究可能的抑菌机制。【结果】从健康桑树茎中共分离获得17株桑树内生细菌,并从中筛选获得一株对桑断枝烂叶病菌B.exiguaGXH1有稳定拮抗作用的桑树内生细菌NPJ13菌株。该菌株形态学、生理生化特征与芽孢杆菌属一致,基于16SrDNA、gyrA和gyrB基因序列的系统发育分析结果显示该菌株与贝莱斯芽孢杆菌(Bacillusvelezensis)的亲缘关系最近,且处于系统发育树的最小分枝,故将NPJ13菌株鉴定为贝莱斯芽孢杆菌,命名为B. velezensis NPJ13。NPJ13菌株对灰霉病菌SWU5、核地杖菌SXSG-5、核盘菌PZ-2及烟草疫霉SWU20等12种病原真菌具有不同程度的拮抗作用,其活性发酵液具有较好的热稳定性。NPJ13菌株会导致桑断枝烂叶病菌GXH1菌丝发生扭曲、膨大、透明度增加、断裂等畸变现象;基因检测结果显示NPJ13菌株基因组中具有PKSI、NRPS、Sfp、ItuD、Srfc等5种抑菌活性物质合成关键基因,LC-MS检测结果表明菌株NPJ13脂肽类粗提物中含有表面活性素和伊枯草菌素。【结论】本研究分离筛选获得一株对桑断枝烂叶病菌具有显著拮抗作用的桑树内生细菌B. velezensis NPJ13菌株,为桑断枝烂叶病的生物防治提供了候选菌株。     

Proteomic Analysis Reveals that Odoroside A Triggers G2/M Arrest and Apoptosis in Colorectal Carcinoma Through ROS‐p53 Pathway

Odoroside A (OA) is an active ingredient extracted from the leaves of Nerium oleander Linn. (Apocynaceae). This study aims to examine the anticancer bioactivity of OA against CRC cells and to investigate the action mechanisms involved. As a result, OA can significantly inhibit cellular ability and induce apoptosis of CRC cells in a concentration‐dependent manner without any obvious cytotoxicity in normal colorectal epithelial cells. Then, quantitative proteomics combined with bioinformatics is adopted to investigate the alterations of proteins and signaling pathways in response to OA treatment. As suggested by the proteomic analysis, flow cytometry and Western blotting analyses validate that exposure of CRC cells to OA causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, accompanied with the activation of the ROS/p53 signaling pathway. This observation demonstrates that OA, as a natural product, can induce oxidative stress to suppress tumor cell growth, implicating a novel therapeutic agent against CRC without obvious side effects.     

新疆野苹果作为苹果砧木利用的研究进展

新疆野苹果是我国重要的野生果树资源,在栽培苹果起源研究和砧木利用方面有重要价值。本文在收集整理近年来有关新疆野苹果大量文献的基础上,从苹果砧木利用角度,就新疆野苹果对主要生物逆境、非生物逆境的抗性以及与主栽品种的嫁接亲和性进行了综述,以期为相关研究提供参考。     

Activation of NFKB-JMJD3 signaling promotes bladder fibrosis via boosting bladder smooth muscle cell proliferation and collagen accumulation

Chronic cystitis is characterized by the hyperplasia and fibrosis of the bladder wall as well as attenuated compliance of the bladder. To further unravel its underlying molecular mechanism, the role of NFκB-JMJD3 signaling pathway in cystitis induced bladder fibrosis was investigated. Jmjd3 and Col1/3 expression was detected in a cystitis mouse model that was developed by intraperitoneal injection of cyclophosphamide (CYP). Human bladder smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs) were stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the cell proliferation and collagen accumulation were detected using EdU, CCK8, flow cytometry, qPCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, the effects of NFκB and JMJD3 on cell proliferation and collagen accumulation were investigated using its selective antagonists, JSH23 and GSK-J4, respectively. CYP induced cystitis significantly increased Jmjd3, Col1 and Col3 expression in the bladder muscle cells. Furthermore, LPS stimulation markedly activated NFκB signaling and elevated JMJD3 expression in hBSMCs, and the activation of NFκB-JMJD3 signaling significantly promoted cell proliferation and collagen accumulation by upregulating CCND1 and COL1/3 expression, respectively. Our study reveals the critical role of NFκB-JMJD3 signaling in cystitis induced bladder reconstruction by regulating hBSMC proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and these findings provide an avenue for effective treatment of patients with cystitis.