An epigenomic approach to therapy for tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer

Tamoxifen has been a frontline treatment for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast tumors in premenopausal women. However, resistance to tamoxifen occurs in many patients. ER still plays a critical role in the growth of breast cancer cells with acquired tamoxifen resistance, suggesting that ERα remains a valid target for treatment of tamoxifen-resistant (Tam-R) breast cancer. In an effort to identify novel regulators of ERα signaling, through a small-scale siRNA screen against histone methyl modifiers, we found WHSC1, a histone H3K36 methyltransferase, as a positive regulator of ERα signaling in breast cancer cells. We demonstrated that WHSC1 is recruited to the ERα gene by the BET protein BRD3/4, and facilitates ERα gene expression. The small-molecule BET protein inhibitor JQ1 potently suppressed the classic ERα signaling pathway and the growth of Tam-R breast cancer cells in culture. Using a Tam-R breast cancer xenograft mouse model, we demonstrated in vivo anti-breast cancer activity by JQ1 and a strong long-lasting effect of combination therapy with JQ1 and the ER degrader fulvestrant. Taken together, we provide evidence that the epigenomic proteins BRD3/4 and WHSC1 are essential regulators of estrogen receptor signaling and are novel therapeutic targets for treatment of Tam-R breast cancer.     

Sequential Synthesis and Active‐Site Coordination Principle of Precious Metal Single‐Atom Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction and PEM Fuel Cells

Carbon‐supported precious metal single‐atom catalysts (PM SACs) have shown promising application in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, the coordination principle of the active site, consisting of one PM atom and several coordinating anions, is still unclear for PM SACs. Here, a sequential coordination method is developed to dope a large amount of PM atoms (Ir, Rh, Pt and Pd) into a zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF), which are further pyrolyzed into nitrogen‐coordinated PM SACs. The PM loadings are as high as 1.2–4.5 wt%, achieving the highest PM loadings in ZIF‐derived SACs to date. In the acidic half‐cell, Ir₁‐N/C and Rh₁‐N/C exhibit much higher oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities than nanoparticle catalysts Ir/C and Rh/C. In the contrast, the activities of Pd₁‐N/C and Pt₁‐N/C are considerably lower than Pd/C and Pt/C. Density function theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the ORR activity of PM SAC depends on the match between the OH* adsorption on PM and the electronegativity of coordinating anions, and the stronger OH* adsorption is, the higher electronegativity is needed for the coordinating anions. PEMFC tests confirm the active‐site coordination principle and show the extremely high atomic efficiency of Ir₁‐N/C. The revealed principle provides guidance for designing future PM SACs for PEMFCs.     

RNAi Silencing of the HaHMG-CoA Reductase Gene Inhibits Oviposition in the Helicoverpa armigera Cotton Bollworm

RNA interference (RNAi) has considerable promise for developing novel pest control techniques, especially because of the threat of the development of resistance against current strategies. For this purpose, the key is to select pest control genes with the greatest potential for developing effective pest control treatments. The present study demonstrated that the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase; HMGR) gene is a potential target for insect control using RNAi. HMGR is a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway in insects. A complete cDNA encoding full length HMGR (encoding an 837-aa protein) was cloned from Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The HaHMGR (H. armigera HMGR) knockdown using systemic RNAi in vivo inhibited the fecundity of the females, effectively inhibited ovipostion, and significantly reduced vitellogenin (Vg) mRNA levels. Moreover, the oviposition rate of the female moths was reduced by 98% by silencing HaHMGR compared to the control groups. One-pair experiments showed that both the proportions of valid mating and fecundity were zero. Furthermore, the HaHMGR-silenced females failed to lay eggs (approximate 99% decrease in oviposition) in the semi-field cage performance. The present study demonstrated the potential implications for developing novel pest management strategies using HaHMGR RNAi in the control of H. armigera and other insect pests.     

The metabolites of the mangrove fungus Verruculina enalia No. 2606 from a salt lake in the Bahamas

Two metabolites enalin A (1) and B (2), together with hydroxymethyl furfural (3) and three cyclodipeptides (4, 5 and 6), were isolated from the mangrove fungus Verruculina enaria from a salt lake in the Bahamas. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, mainly by 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. A possible biosynthetic scheme to 1 and 2 is presented.     

采前低温诱发菠萝果实黑心病

采前低温可诱发菠萝果实黑心病,发病率变化范围为60%~100%。低于21℃的采前低温影响是诱发菠萝黑心病的重要因子之一。在华南菠萝生产区,不同品种对黑心病敏感性的表现不同。因此,培育和栽培抗黑心病的菠萝新品种,将是一个控制黑心病腐烂的重要措施。     

内生真菌培养液对东北红豆杉细胞生长及紫杉醇合成的影响

产紫杉醇的内生真菌（Fusarium mairei）先培养在B5液体培养基中,然后制备成内生真菌培养液。在东北红豆杉（Taxus cuspidata）细胞悬浮培养的不同阶段（5、10和15天）,用不同剂量的内生真菌培养液（2、4和6mL）分别进行处理。结果表明,在用4mL内生真菌培养液处理的植物细胞中可获得最高的紫杉醇产量（5.88mg·L^-1）与释放率（67%）,分别是对照的1.9倍与5.6倍。添加时间方面,在植物细胞培养周期的第5天添加4mL内生真菌培养液,可获得最佳效果,紫杉醇产量与释放率分别为6.1mg·L^-1与75%,分别是对照的2倍与6.8倍。与其它诱导子相比,4mL内生真菌培养液不仅可提高紫杉醇的释放率,而且不会引起东北红豆杉细胞膜的明显伤害,说明内生真菌发酵液激活了紫杉醇主动运输过程中的相关酶类。     

胃癌细胞对化疗药物的敏感性及其与Pgp、GST-π和Topo Ⅱ表达的关系

目的探讨胃癌在体外对化疗药物的敏感性和与P-糖蛋白(P-glycoprotein Pgp)、谷胱甘肽S转移酶π(glutathione-S-transferase GST-π)和拓扑异构酶Ⅱ(topoisomeraseⅡ TopoⅡ)表达的关系。方法收集81例手术切除胃癌标本,制备单细胞悬液,分别加入HCPT、CDDP、ADM、5-Fu和MMC培养48h,用MTT比色法检测胃癌细胞对化疗药物的敏感性;免疫组化技术检测Pgp、GST-π和TopoⅡ蛋白在胃癌组织中的表达。结果胃癌细胞对不同化疗药物敏感性不同:5-Fu(43.4±9.2)、CDDP(41.9±8.7)和HCPT(40.6±8.3)对胃癌细胞的抑制率与ADM(31.6±7.8)和MMC(28.7±7.3)比较有统计学意义(P0.05)。胃癌组织中Pgp、GST-π和TopoⅡ蛋白的阳性率分别为61.33%、65.33%和68.00%。Pgp阳性者显示对ADM、HCPT有明显的体外耐药性(P0.05),GST-π在5-Fu、CDDP和MMC耐药组阳性率显著高于敏感组(P0.05),而TopoⅡ在HCPT、ADM和MMC耐药组中的表达显著低于敏感组(P0.05)。结论 Pgp、GST-π和TopoⅡ可以作为胃癌对化疗药物原发性耐药的标志,结合MTT药敏检测,有助于筛选有效化疗药物。     

一种超高灵敏的埃博拉病毒胶体碳侧流免疫层析检测方法的建立

埃博拉出血热 (Ebola hemorrhagic fever, EHF) 由于其高感染性和高致死率特点,快速鉴别诊断并实施隔离是最有效的防止疫情扩散的措施。文中建立了一种可以快速、高灵敏筛查埃博拉病毒 (Ebola virus,EBOV)感染的现场检测技术,用碳纳米颗粒标记抗EBOV基质蛋白VP40兔多克隆抗体,组装成一种可在15 min内检测埃博拉病毒的胶体碳侧流免疫层析试纸条。将标记胶体碳颗粒的兔多抗喷涂于玻璃纤维素膜上制备碳标垫;以1 mg/mL的抗VP40单克隆抗体 (McAb,4B7F9) 和羊抗兔IgG,按照2 μL/cm的包被量印迹于硝酸纤维膜上,分别作为检测线与质控线,组装试纸条。该试纸条能够特异地检测EBOV重组VP40蛋白、EBOV病毒样颗粒(Virus-like particles,VLP) 和灭活EBOV,而与马尔堡病毒样颗粒 (MARV-VLP)、流感病毒A/PR/8 (IAV/PR/8)、黄热病毒 (YFV-17D)、登革热病毒2型 (DEN2) 无交叉反应,显示良好的特异性,对1 500份阴性血清进行检测,假阳性率为1.3‰,仅为WHO授权ReEBOV?胶体金试纸的1/100;该胶体碳试纸条检测灭活EBOV的最低检出限为100 ng/mL (相当于106 copies/mL),远优于ReEBOV?胶体金试纸条检出限 (10 μg/mL,相当于108 copies /mL)。热稳定性评价显示试纸条可在室温稳定保存1年以上。文中建立的EBOV胶体碳免疫层析试纸条能够快速、超高灵敏、特异地检测EBOV,为现场快速筛查EBOV感染提供一种新方法。