Key pathways involved in prostate cancer based on gene set enrichment analysis and meta analysis

Prostate cancer is one of the most common male malignant neoplasms; however, its causes are not completely understood. A few recent studies have used gene expression profiling of prostate cancer to identify differentially expressed genes and possible relevant pathways. However, few studies have examined the genetic mechanics of prostate cancer at the pathway level to search for such pathways. We used gene set enrichment analysis and a meta-analysis of six independent studies after standardized microarray preprocessing, which increased concordance between these gene datasets. Based on gene set enrichment analysis, there were 12 down- and 25 up-regulated mixing pathways in more than two tissue datasets, while there were two down- and two up-regulated mixing pathways in three cell datasets. Based on the meta-analysis, there were 46 and nine common pathways in the tissue and cell datasets, respectively. Three up- and 10 down-regulated crossing pathways were detected with combined gene set enrichment analysis and meta-analysis. We found that genes with small changes are difficult to detect by classic univariate statistics; they can more easily be identified by pathway analysis. After standardized microarray preprocessing, we applied gene set enrichment analysis and a meta-analysis to increase the concordance in identifying biological mechanisms involved in prostate cancer. The gene pathways that we identified could provide insight concerning the development of prostate cancer.     

蛋白磷酸酶在离子通道调控中的作用

蛋白质可逆磷酸化是调节细胞生理功能的主要机制之一。任何状态下的蛋白质磷酸化水平实际上反映了催化该过程的蛋白激酶（ＰＫ）和蛋白磷酸酶（ＰＰａｓｅ）相对活性之间的平衡。尽管ＰＫ激活的信号传导途径及它们调控离子能道的机制比较清楚,但ＰＰａｓｅ的作用却长期被忽视。近年来,随着特异ＰＰａｓｅ抑制剂的发掘和利用,ＰＰａｓｅ在膜通道调控中的重要性逐渐被认识并引起人们重视。研究通道电流和ＰＰａｓｅ的关系不仅可阐明     

Structural basis of the chromodomain of Cbx3 bound to methylated peptides from histone h1 and G9a

Background

HP1 proteins are highly conserved heterochromatin proteins, which have been identified to be structural adapters assembling a variety of macromolecular complexes involved in regulation of gene expression, chromatin remodeling and heterochromatin formation. Much evidence shows that HP1 proteins interact with numerous proteins including methylated histones, histone methyltransferases and so on. Cbx3 is one of the paralogues of HP1 proteins, which has been reported to specifically recognize trimethylated histone H3K9 mark, and a consensus binding motif has been defined for the Cbx3 chromodomain.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here, we found that the Cbx3 chromodomain can bind to H1K26me2 and G9aK185me3 with comparable binding affinities compared to H3K9me3. We also determined the crystal structures of the human Cbx3 chromodomain in complex with dimethylated histone H1K26 and trimethylated G9aK185 peptides, respectively. The complex structures unveil that the Cbx3 chromodomain specifically bind methylated histone H1K26 and G9aK185 through a conserved mechanism.

Conclusions/Significance

The Cbx3 chromodomain binds with comparable affinities to all of the methylated H3K9, H1K26 and G9aK185 peptides. It is suggested that Cbx3 may regulate gene expression via recognizing both histones and non-histone proteins.     

海南热带雨林国家公园试点经验

海南热带雨林国家公园是目前最晚启动的国家公园体制试点,其诞生和推动一直受到高度重视.2018年4月13日,习近平总书记在庆祝海南建省办经济特区30周年大会上发表重要讲话强调,“要积极开展国家公园体制试点,建设热带雨林等国家公园,构建归属清晰、权责明确、监管有效的自然保护地体系”.海南省委省政府把建设热带雨林国家公园确定...     

一株抗蓝舌病病毒8型VP2蛋白单克隆抗体识别的线性抗原表位的鉴定

为研究本实验室制备的一株抗蓝舌病病毒8型(BTV-8)VP2蛋白的单克隆抗体(MAb)3G11识别的B细胞抗原表位,利用噬菌体肽库展示技术对3G11识别的抗原表位进行筛选并鉴定。经过4轮淘选后挑取蓝斑测序,测序结果经分析后获得KLLAT序列,与BTV-8 VP2蛋白氨基酸序列比对后获得共同的短肽序列为283LL284;合成4种短肽序列:KLLAA、KALAT、KLAAT和KLLAT,与3G11细胞上清和腹水分别进行间接ELISA鉴定,结果表明,短肽KLLAA和KLLAT与3G11细胞上清及腹水具有较强的结合能力;与24种BTV标准阳性血清反应结果表明,这两种短肽都可与BTV-8阳性血清发生特异性反应;序列分析结果可见,该表位的氨基酸序列283LL284在不同来源的BTV-8毒株间保守,确定283LL284为MAb3G11识别抗原表位的关键氨基酸。本研究为建立8型BTV特异性的免疫学检测方法和相关病毒蛋白的功能研究奠定了基础。     

降钙素基因相关肽的心肌电生理作用

应用浮置微电极技术,记录和观察降钙素基因相关肽（ＣＧＲＰ）对家兔正常及缺血心肌电生理反应的影响。实验表明,ＣＧＲＰ能够显著增加心室肌细胞静息电位,提高动作电位幅度。心肌缺血后,ＣＧＲＰ除有上述作用外,尚能明显延长复极化至３０％和５０％（ＡＰＤ＿(３０),ＡＰＤ＿(５０)）的时程,而缩短复极化至１００％（ＡＰＤ＿(１００)）的时程,从而逆转了心肌缺血的ＡＰＤ异常变化。结果表明,ＣＧＲＰ对心肌电活动具有调节作用,对缺血心肌的电生理具有稳定和保护作用。     

硫和6-苄氨基腺嘌呤对水稻幼苗硝酸还原酶活性的影响

缺硫培养6天的水稻幼苗,其叶片和根中的硝酸还原酶(NR)活性明显下降。用1pPm 的6-苄氨基腺嘌呤(6-BA)处理培养了10天的水稻幼苗根系,24小时后缺硫培养的水稻幼苗叶片和根系的 NR 活性升高,加硫培养的水稻幼苗叶片和根中的 NR 活性下降。用~(35)S示踪发现,6-BA 可降低加硫幼苗对~(35)S 的吸收和转化,但促进缺硫幼苗对~(35)S 的转化。     

Oxidative stress-induced RAC autophagy can improve the HUVEC functions by releasing exosomes

Retinal neovascularization (RNV) is a common pathological feature in many kinds of fundus oculi diseases. Sometimes RNV can even lead to severe vision loss. Oxidative injury is one of the main predisposing factors for RNV occurrence and development. The specific mechanism may be closely related to the special structural tissues of the retina. Retinal astrocytes (RACs) are mesenchymal cells located in the retinal neuroepithelial layer. RACs have an intimate anatomical relationship with microvascular endothelial cells. They have a variety of functions, but little is known about the mechanisms by which RACs regulate the function of endothelial cells. The molecules secreted by RACs, such as exosomes, have recently received a lot of attention and may provide potential clues to address the RAC-mediated modulation of endothelial cells. In this study, we aimed to preliminarily explore the mechanisms of how RAC exosomes generated under oxidative stress are involved in the regulation of endothelial function. Our results showed that the apoptosis and autophagy levels in RACs were positively correlated with the oxidative stress level, and the exosomes generated from RACs under normal and oxidative stress conditions had different effects on the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. However, the effect of RACs on endothelial cell function could be markedly reversed by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine or the exosome inhibitor GW4869. Therefore, oxidative stress can lead to increased autophagy in RACs and can further promote RACs to regulate endothelial cell function by releasing exosomes.