Length–weight relationships of five commercial fish species from the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf

Length‐weight relationships are described for five fish species from the coast of the Hormuz Strait in the Persian Gulf, Iran. Specimens were collected between August 2010 and July 2011 using shrimp beam trawls, gill nets and intertidal fishing weirs. Relationships for three of the species had no previous data in the international science global databank on fishes: www.FishBase.org . A new maximum length was recorded for Acanthopagrus latus.     

Motility of Mugil cephalus L. spermatozoa in coelomic fluid, seminal fluid and saline media

The aim of this study was to assess the motility duration of Mugil cephalus when exposed to seminal fluid, coelomic fluid and saline media. Hypo-osmotic activation medium (distilled water containing bovine serum albumin 10 or 30 mg ml⁻¹) did not trigger sperm motility. Saline solution containing 500 m m NaCl, 3.1 m m KCl, 0.2 m m Tris, 3.4 m m CaCl₂, pH 7.5 initiated the sperm activation and the motility lasted for more than 2 min. Coelomic fluid showed an inhibitory effect for triggering the motility of spermatozoa. Higher salinity increases the motility duration of sperm. The optimum motility duration was shown in salinity 32 psu.     

DARPin Ec1-LMWP protein scaffold in targeted delivery of siRNA molecules through EpCAM cancer stem cell marker

Molecular Biology Reports - This study is to investigate the binding ability of Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins type Ec1that was fused to Low Molecular Weight Protamine (DARPin Ec1-LMWP) protein...     

An investigation on the expression of miRNAs including miR-144 and miR-34a in plasma samples of RET-positive and RET-negative medullar thyroid carcinoma patients

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a scarce cancerous disease, originating from parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland. MTC can be manifested as an aggressive carcinoma with metastasis, especially in sporadic forms. Mutations of the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene occurs in all hereditary and a few somatic MTCs, so detection of RET mutations is needed for prompt and appropriate treatment. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding regulatory RNAs. Extensive studies have done in progress or suppression of several types of cancers such as MTCs with the remarkable application as prognostic markers. Of the effective miRNAs in cancers, miR-144 and miR-34 were evaluated in our study. Blood samples of 25 RET-positive and 25 RET-negative blood samples of patients with MTC were evaluated for these miRNAs, using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Analysis of the results was performed by the 2 ^−ΔΔCt method, showing that miR-144 and miR-34a expression had a relative increase in patients with MTC compared with normal control samples and also in RET positives versus RET negatives. We recruited 50 out of 350 MTC plasma samples (27 female and 23 male) which were selected based on RET mutation in exon 11 (25 RET-positive and 25 RET-negative), with a mean ± SD age of 37.04 ± 1.74 years. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done to investigate the prognostic value of these miRNAs; although, they showed no significant prognostic value as MTC biomarkers in plasma samples. In conclusion, miRNAs can be used as biomarkers of cancers such as MTC; however, more studies are needed to find the best candidate miRNAs for the diagnosis of cancers.     

Detecting selection signatures in three Iranian sheep breeds

The objective of genome mapping is to achieve valuable insight into the connection between gene variants (genotype) and observed traits (phenotype). Part of that objective is to understand the selective forces that have operated on a population. Finding links between genotype–phenotype changes makes it possible to identify selective sweeps by patterns of genetic variation and linkage disequilibrium. Based on Illumina 50KSNP chip data, two approaches, XP‐EHH (cross‐population extend haplotype homozygosity) and F_ST (fixation index), were carried out in this research to identify selective sweeps in the genome of three Iranian local sheep breeds: Baluchi (n = 86), Lori‐Bakhtiari (n = 45) and Zel (n = 45). Using both methods, 93 candidate genomic regions were identified as harboring putative selective sweeps. Bioinformatics analysis of the genomic regions showed that signatures of selection related to multiple candidate genes, such as HOXB9, HOXB13, ACAN, NPR2, TRIL, AOX1, CSF2, GHR, TNS2, SPAG8, HINT2, ALS2, AAAS, RARG, SYCP2, CAV1, PPP1R3D, PLA2G7, TTLL7 and C20orf10, that play a role in skeletal system and tail, sugar and energy metabolisms, growth, reproduction, immune and nervous system traits. Our findings indicated diverse genomic selection during the domestication of Iranian sheep breeds.     

Mevalonate cascade regulation of airway mesenchymal cell autophagy and apoptosis: a dual role for p53

Statins inhibit the proximal steps of cholesterol biosynthesis, and are linked to health benefits in various conditions, including cancer and lung disease. We have previously investigated apoptotic pathways triggered by statins in airway mesenchymal cells, and identified reduced prenylation of small GTPases as a primary effector mechanism leading to p53-mediated cell death. Here, we extend our studies of statin-induced cell death by assessing endpoints of both apoptosis and autophagy, and investigating their interplay and coincident regulation. Using primary cultured human airway smooth muscle (HASM) and human airway fibroblasts (HAF), autophagy, and autophagosome formation and flux were assessed by transmission electron microscopy, cytochemistry (lysosome number and co-localization with LC3) and immunoblotting (LC3 lipidation and Atg12-5 complex formation). Chemical inhibition of autophagy increased simvastatin-induced caspase activation and cell death. Similarly, Atg5 silencing with shRNA, thus preventing Atg5-12 complex formation, increased pro-apoptotic effects of simvastatin. Simvastatin concomitantly increased p53-dependent expression of p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), NOXA, and damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM). Notably both mevalonate cascade inhibition-induced autophagy and apoptosis were p53 dependent: simvastatin increased nuclear p53 accumulation, and both cyclic pifithrin-α and p53 shRNAi partially inhibited NOXA, PUMA expression and caspase-3/7 cleavage (apoptosis) and DRAM expression, Atg5-12 complex formation, LC3 lipidation, and autophagosome formation (autophagy). Furthermore, the autophagy response is induced rapidly, significantly delaying apoptosis, suggesting the existence of a temporally coordinated p53 regulation network. These findings are relevant for the development of statin-based therapeutic approaches in obstructive airway disease.     

The regulation of CD47-SIRPα signaling axis by microRNAs in combination with conventional cytotoxic drugs together with the help of nano-delivery: a choice for therapy?

Molecular Biology Reports - CD47, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is an important “Don’t Eat-Me” signal in phagocytosis process [clearance of apoptotic cells] as well...