Retraction Note: miR-195-5p/NOTCH2-mediated EMT modulates IL-4 secretion in colorectal cancer to affect M2-like TAM polarization

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) generally arises from a background of liver cirrhosis (LC). Patients with cirrhosis and suspected HCC are recommended to undergo serum biomarker tests and imaging diagnostic evaluation. However, the performance of routine diagnostic methods in detecting early HCC remains unpromising.

Methods

Here, we conducted a large-scale, multicenter study of 1675 participants including 490 healthy controls, 577 LC patients, and 608 HCC patients from nine clinical centers across nine provinces of China, profiled gene mutation signatures of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) using Circulating Single-Molecule Amplification and Resequencing Technology (cSMART) through detecting 931 mutation sites across 21 genes.

Results

An integrated diagnostic model called “Combined method” was developed by combining three mutation sites and three serum biomarkers. Combined method outperformed AFP in the diagnosis of HCC, especially early HCC, with sensitivities of 81.25% for all stages and 66.67% for early HCC, respectively. Importantly, the integrated model exhibited high accuracy in differentiating AFP-negative, AFP-L3-negative, and PIVKA-II-negative HCCs from LCs.

     

Genome-wide identification,classification, and expression profiling of serine esterases and other esterase-related proteins in the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta

Serine esterases (SEs) are hydrolases that catalyze the conversion of carboxylic esters into acids and alcohols. Lipases and carboxylesterases constitute two major groups of SEs. Although over a hundred of insect genomes are known, systematic identification and classification of SEs are rarely performed, likely due to large size and complex composition of the gene family in each species. Considering their key roles in lipid metabolism and other physiological processes, we have categorized 144 M. sexta SEs and SE homologs (SEHs), 114 of which contain a motif of GXSXG. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis have revealed 39 neutral lipases (NLs), 3 neutral lipase homologs (NLHs), 11 acidic lipases (ALs), 3 acidic lipase homologs (ALHs), a lipase-3, a triglyceride lipase, a monoglyceride lipase, a hormone-sensitive lipase, and a GDSL lipase. Eighty-three carboxylesterase genes encode 29 α-esterases (AEs), 12 AEHs (e.g., SEH4-1–3), 20 feruloyl esterases (FEs), 2 FEHs, 2 β-esterases (BEs), 2 integument esterases (IEs), 1 IEH, 4 juvenile hormone esterases, 2 acetylcholinesterases, gliotactin, 6 neuroligins, neurotactin, and an uncharacteristic esterase homolog. In addition to these GXSXG proteins, we have identified 26 phospholipases and 13 thioesterases. Expression profiling of these genes in specific tissues and stages has provided insights into their functions including digestion, detoxification, hormone processing, neurotransmission, reproduction, and developmental regulation. In summary, we have established a framework of information on SEs and related proteins in M. sexta to stimulate their research in the model species and comparative investigations in agricultural pests or disease vectors.     

Effects of salinity on food intake, growth, and survival of pufferfish (Fugu obscurus)

The food intake, growth, food conversion ratio and survival of yearling pufferfish, Fugu obscurus Abe, were investigated under different water salinity conditions over a 54‐day period. Within the salinity regimes of 0 (freshwater), 8, 18, and 35‰, the food intake levels were 0.97%, 1.43%, 1.19% and 1.01%, respectively; food conversion ratios were 1.31, 1.93, 1.61 and 1.36, respectively; and specific growth rates were 0.41%, 1.15%, 0.84%, and 0.35%, respectively. The three data series were reduced with increasing salinity. However, the survival rates did not show the same tendencies, which were 80%, 100%, 100%, and 67%, respectively. There were significant differences among the treatments. In conclusion, the yearling pufferfish optimum culture salinity condition was about 8‰.     

水稻蜡质基因5＇上游区缺失对基因表达的影响

为研究水稻蜡质基因（ｗａｘｙ）５＇上游调控区中存在的顺式作用元件,我们将水稻ｗａｘｙ基因翻译起始声、（ＡＴＧ）５＇上游３．４ｋｂ（－２１１８～＋１２９１ｂＰ）片段经外切核酸酶ＥｘｏⅢ部分酶解,得到一系列５＇端缺失的片段。将这些缺失片段分别与ｇｕｓ基因编码区连接,构建成融合质粒,经ＰＥＧ介导引入水稻原生质体,２６℃培养４８ｈ后,定量测定ＧＵＳ酶活力,并以同时导入的由３５Ｓ启动子指导的荧光素酶（ＬＵＣ）基因表达的酶活力作为内对照。结果表明,ＧＵＳ酶活性随５’上游调控区长度的减少而逐渐减弱。由─８６１ｂｐ缺失至─６４０ｂＰ时,ｇｕｓ基因表达水平有较明显的降低,推测在该区域中可能存在一个顺式作用元件区。     

Protein structural plasticity exemplified by insertion and deletion mutants in T4 lysozyme.

To further investigate the ways in which proteins respond to changes in the length of the polypeptide chain, a series of 32 insertions and five deletions were made within nine different alpha-helices of T4 lysozyme. In most cases, the inserted amino acid was a single alanine, although in some instances up to four residues, not necessarily alanine, were used. Different insertions destabilized the protein by different amounts, ranging from approximately 1 to 6 kcal/mol. In one case, no protein could be obtained. An "extension" mutant in which the carboxy terminus of the molecule was extended by four alanines increased stability by 0.3 kcal/mol. For the deletions, the loss in stability ranged from approximately 3 to 5 kcal/mol. The structures of six insertion mutants, as well as one deletion mutant and the extension mutant, were determined, three in crystal forms nonisomorphous with wild type. In all cases, including previously described insertion mutants within a single alpha-helix, there appears to be a strong tendency to preserve the helix by translocating residues so that the effects of the insertion are propagated into a bend or loop at one end or the other of the helix. In three mutants, even the hydrophobic core was disrupted so as to permit the preservation of the alpha-helix containing the insertion. Translocation (or "register shift") was also observed for the deletion mutant, in this case a loop at the end of the helix being shortened. In general, when translocation occurs, the reduction in stability is only moderate, averaging 2.5 kcal/mol. Only in the most extreme cases does "bulging" or "looping-out" occur within the body of an alpha-helix, in which case the destabilization is substantial, averaging 4.9 kcal/mol. Looping-out can occur for insertions close to the end of a helix, in which case the destabilization is less severe, averaging 2.6 kcal/mol. Mutant A73-[AAA] as well as mutants R119-[A] and V131-[A], include shifts in the backbone of 3-6 A, extending over 20 residues or more. As a result, residues 114-142, which form a "cap" on the carboxy-terminal domain, undergo substantial reorganizations such that the interface between this "cap" and the rest of the protein is altered substantially. In the case of mutant A73-[AAA], two nearby alpha-helices, which form a bend of approximately 105 degrees in the wild-type structure, reorganize in the mutant structure to form a single, essentially straight helix. These structural responses to mutation demonstrate the plasticity of protein structures and illustrate ways in which their three-dimensional structures might changes during evolution.     

Reversion of malignancy in human gastric cancer MKN—45 cells through the transfection of transforming growth factor—β type Ⅱ receptor gene

Human gastric cancer MKN-45 cells which are resistant to TGF-β growth inhibition and possess TGF-β type I and type Ⅲ receptors,but not type Ⅱ receptors,have been used as a model system to reconstitute these cancer cells with TGF-β RII cDNA.The results of these experiments indicated that the reexpression of TGF-β RII gene in MKN-45 cells can restore their sensitivity to TGF-β growth inhibition,decrease their growth rate,reduce their cloning efficiency in soft agar and tumorigenicity in nude mice in stable transfectants,in comparison with their control MKN-45 cells.Among different RII transfectants,their difference in the changes of these parameters,as a result of the regain of autocrine negative growth control by TGF-β,is roughly proportional to their level of expression of transfected RII mRNA.From these data,it is concluded that the inactivation of TGF-β RII gene is related to the escape of growth control by TGF-β in MKN-45 cells.The importance of the study of the interplay of TGF-β and its receptor system in the negative growth control of gastric cancer,and possibly also of other cancers,is discussed.     

人工栽培条件下三叶木通座果及果实生长特性研究

用栽培三叶木通为试材,研究了其座果及果实生长的特性。结果表明：人工栽培条件下,三叶木通座果（雌花）率可以提高到１３．５％,是野生三叶木通的２ １００％;以先年第１、２次攀援茎第３￣３０节位结果为主;３月底开花,花期３０ｄ左右。花后第２０￣５０ｄ（４月中旬至５月上旬）花序、雌花及幼果（子房）大量脱落,出现明显的脱落高峰。三叶木通果实纵向生长呈双Ｓ曲线布,生长期１５０ｄ左右,可划分成５个时期：受精结实     

肝炎平对D－氨基半乳精所致肝损害保护作用的酶组织化学研究

本实验采用Ｄ－氨基半乳糖（Ｄ－ＧａｌＮ）诱导的大鼠急性肝损伤模型,观察大鼠肝脏组织化学的变化,探讨肝炎平对急性肝损伤的保护作用。实验分为四组,即正常对照组、模型组、肝炎平及肝得健保护组。结果表明：肝炎平对肝细胞膜系统有一定的保护作用。肝炎平组和肝得健组ＳＤＨ、ＣＣＯ及ＣｈＥ活性明显高于模型组,且与正常对照组相近。本实验模型组ＡＣＰ的活性明显高于正常组,而肝炎平组ＡＣＰ的活性明显低于模型组,与正常对照组无显著性差异。提示：肝炎平可显著改善因Ｄ－氨基半乳糖所致肝损害的作用。且其对肝细胞的保护作用与肝得健一致。     

盘县大洞的发育与演化

盘县大洞是一个形态和成因复杂的大型喀斯特洞穴系统,本文通过对喀斯特作用与坡立谷结构,古水系变迁与洞穴形成等动力地貌－洞穴过程分析,探讨区域喀斯特及洞穴形成演化的水动力成因,结合岩相古地理环境等推测指出,关牛洞形成早更新世和中更新世早期,大洞洞厅,阴河坡,消洞和水洞形成于更新世早期至中更新世中期,十里坪坡立谷的形成始于中更新世早期,并经历后来反复积水－消水,侵蚀－堆积过程直至全新世。     

EB病毒BNLF-1基因的分子生物学研究进展

位于EB病毒基因组U₅-TR区内的BNLF-1基因,其转译产物为潜伏膜蛋白(latent membrane protein1, LMP-1),由于LMP-1可以导致细胞转化并在EB病毒致癌过程中具有重要作用,因而成为近年来EB病毒分子生物学及相关肿瘤如人鼻咽癌、伯基特淋巴瘤、何杰金氏病等疾病病因发病学研究的热点,并取得了一批有重要意义的成果,文章从BNLF-1的基因结构及表达调控, LMP蛋白的结构及生化功能, LMP-1的生物学功能和LMP-1研究进行评述.