CSTP1, a Novel Protein Phosphatase,Blocks Cell Cycle,Promotes Cell Apoptosis,and Suppresses Tumor Growth of Bladder Cancer by Directly Dephosphorylating Akt at Ser473 Site

Akt/protein kinase B is a pivotal component downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway, whose activity regulates the balance between cell survival and apoptosis. Phosphorylation of Akt occurs at two key sites either at Thr308 site in the activation loop or at Ser473 site in the hydrophobic motif. The phosphorylated form of Akt (pAkt) is activated to promote cell survival. The mechanisms of pAkt dephosphorylation and how the signal transduction of Akt pathway is terminated are still largely unknown. In this study, we identified a novel protein phosphatase CSTP1(complete s transactivated protein 1), which interacts and dephosphorylates Akt specifically at Ser473 site in vivo and in vitro, blocks cell cycle progression and promotes cell apoptosis. The effects of CSTP1 on cell survival and cell cycle were abrogated by depletion of phosphatase domain of CSTP1 or by expression of a constitutively active form of Akt (S473D), suggesting Ser473 site of Akt as a primary cellular target of CSTP1. Expression profile analysis showed that CSTP1 expression is selectively down-regulated in non-invasive bladder cancer tissues and over-expression of CSTP1 suppressed the size of tumors in nude mice. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that decreased expression of CSTP1 implicated significantly reduced recurrence-free survival in patients suffered from non-invasive bladder cancers.     

玉米ZmSOD基因克隆及其在干旱胁迫下的表达

为探讨超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)基因在玉米抗逆反应中的作用,研究选用2个抗旱性有明显差别的玉米品种为试验材料,采用RT-PCR、实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)及二维凝胶电泳(2-DE)耦联的基质辅助激光解吸电离/飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF)法,对ZmSOD基因的序列结构及其在干旱胁迫下的表达特性进行分析。结果表明：(1)从干旱敏感品种‘登海605’(DH605)和抗旱品种‘蠡玉35’(LY35)玉米叶片中分别成功克隆出ZmSOD1和ZmSOD2基因。DH605中ZmSOD1开放阅读框(ORF)全长456 bp,编码151个氨基酸,编码的蛋白等电点为5.76,分子量为15.05 kD。LY35中ZmSOD2ORF全长459 bp,编码152个氨基酸,编码的蛋白等电点为5.65,分子量为15.11 kD;ZmSOD1和ZmSOD2是亲水性稳定蛋白,都含有Cu/Zn-SOD结构域,蛋白序列N端无信号肽及无跨膜结构域。同源性和系统进化分析表明,玉米ZmSOD和谷子Cu/Zn-SOD2的亲缘关系最近,相似性高达96.05%。(2)在干旱条件下,ZmSOD1在DH605中转录水平明显降低,LY35中ZmSOD2转录水平显著升高;2-DE耦联的质谱分析显示：ZmSOD1在DH605中表达量明显降低,LY35中ZmSOD2表达量无显著性变化,却检测到Mn-SOD蛋白表达量显著增加。(3)相关分析显示,干旱条件下,DH605叶片中ZmSOD1转录水平和其蛋白丰度及SOD酶活性呈极显著性正相关,LY35叶片中ZmSOD2转录水平与SOD酶活性呈显著性正相关。研究结果为进一步探索SOD基因在调节玉米抗性以及逆境胁迫应答过程中的作用机制提供了基础。     

Exosome-mediated miR-7-5p delivery enhances the anticancer effect of Everolimus via blocking MNK/eIF4E axis in non-small cell lung cancer

Everolimus is a kind of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. Activated mitogen-activated protein kinase interacting kinases/eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (MNK/eIF4E) axis plays a crucial role in resistance to Everolimus in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The eIF4E phosphorylation increased by mTOR inhibitors is mainly mediated by MNKs. However, the mechanisms are poorly understood. Recently, extensive reprogramming of miRNA profiles has also been found after long-term mTOR inhibitor exposure. Our previous studies have confirmed that tumor suppressor miR-7-5p is decreased in A549 cells after treatment with Everolimus. Exactly, MNK1 is the target of miR-7-5p. In this study, we investigated the biological functions and potential molecular mechanisms of miR-7-5p in the NSCLC undergoing treatment with Everolimus. We confirmed that Everolimus targeted mTORC1 inducing NSCLC cells to secrete miR-7-5p-loaded exosomes in Rab27A and Rab27B-dependent manners. Loss of intracellular miR-7-5p induced phosphorylation of MNK/eIF4E axis, but a supplement of extra exosomal miR-7-5p could reverse it. Of note, both low expression of miR-7-5p and elevated MNK1 protein were associated with a poor prognosis of NSCLC. Both endogenous miR-7-5p and exo-miR-7-5p enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of Everolimus by inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and metastasis of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. The combination of miR-7-5p with Everolimus induced apoptosis to exhibit a synergistic anticancer therapeutic efficacy through dual abrogation of MNK/eIF4E and mTOR in NSCLC. In conclusion, Everolimus decreases the intracellular miR-7-5p by releasing of miR-7-5p loaded exosomes from NSCLC cells in Rab27A and Rab27B dependent manners. Either endogenous miR-7-5p or exo-miR-7-5p combined with Everolimus can enhance the anticancer efficacy by targeting MNK/eIF4E axis and mTOR. Besides, both low levels of miR-7-5p and positive expression of MNK1 act as independent poor prognostic biomarkers for NSCLC. Therefore, restoring miR-7-5p carried by exosome may be a promising novel combined therapeutic strategy with Everolimus for NSCLC.Subject terms: Drug development, Growth factor signalling, Oncogenesis     

Deregulation of Cdc2 kinase induces caspase-3 activation and apoptosis

Progression of the cell cycle and control of apoptosis are tightly linked processes. It has been reported that manifestation of apoptosis requires cdc2 kinase activity yet the mechanism(s) of which is largely unclear. In an attempt to study the role of human MDM2 (HDM2) in interphase and mitosis, we employed the Xenopus cell-free system to study HDM2 protein stability. Interestingly, HDM2 is specifically cleaved in Xenopus mitotic extracts but not in the interphase extracts. We demonstrate that HDM2 cleavage is dependent on caspase-3 and that activation of cdc2 kinase results in caspase-3 activation in the Xenopus cell-free system. Furthermore, expression of cdc2 kinase in mammalian cells leads to activation of caspase-3 and apoptosis. Taken together, these data indicate that deregulation of cdc2 kinase activity can trigger apoptotic machinery that leads to caspase-3 activation and apoptosis.     

Mast cells expressing interleukin 17 in the muscularis propria predict a favorable prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 17 (IL-17) is considered to play a crucial role in diverse human tumors; however, its role in disease progression remains controversial. This study investigated the cellular source and distribution of IL-17 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in situ and determined its prognostic value. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy were used to identify IL-17-expressing cells in ESCC tissues, paying particular attention to their anatomic localization. Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied to estimate overall survival in 215 ESCC patients with long-term follow-up (>10 years). The results showed that mast cells, but not T cells or macrophages, were the predominant cell type expressing IL-17 in ESCC tissues. Unexpectedly, these IL-17⁺ cells were highly enriched in the muscularis propria rather than the corresponding tumor nest (p < 0.0001). The density of IL-17⁺ cells in muscularis propria was inversely associated with tumor invasion (p = 0.016) and served as an independent predictor of favorable survival (p = 0.007). Moreover, the levels of IL-17⁺ cells in muscularis propria were positively associated with the density of effector CD8⁺ T cells and activated macrophages in the same area (both p < 0.0001). This finding suggested that mast cells may play a significant role in tumor immunity by releasing IL-17 at a previously unappreciated location, the muscularis propria, in ESCC tissues, which could serve as a potential prognostic marker and a novel therapeutic target for ESCC.     

Characterization and application of a newly synthesized 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase

A codon-optimized 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate aldolase (DERA) gene was newly synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli to investigate its biochemical properties and applications in synthesis of statin intermediates. The expressed DERA was purified and characterized using 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate as the substrate. The specific activity of recombinant DERA was 1.8 U/mg. The optimum pH and temperature for DERA activity were pH 7.0 and 35 °C, respectively. The recombinant DERA was stable at pH 4.0–7.0 and at temperatures below 50 °C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by 1 mM of Ni²⁺, Ba²⁺ and Fe²⁺. The apparent K _m and V _max values of purified enzyme for 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate were 0.038 mM and 2.9 μmol min^?1 mg^?1, for 2-deoxyribose were 0.033 mM and 2.59 μmol min^?1 mg^?1, respectively, which revealed that the enzyme had similar catalytic efficiency towards phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated substrates. To synthesize statin intermediates, the bioconversion process for production of (3R, 5S)-6-chloro-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose from chloroacetaldehyde and acetaldehyde by the recombinant DERA was developed and a conversion of 94.4 % was achieved. This recombinant DERA could be a potential candidate for application in production of (3R, 5S)-6-chloro-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose.     

水氮运筹对膜下滴灌棉花光合特性及产量形成的影响

以不同基因型棉花品种为材料,在土柱栽培条件下研究膜下滴灌条件下水氮运筹方式对新疆棉花光合性能和产量构成的影响.结果表明： 播前灌溉+盛花期前限量滴灌+盛花期后充分滴灌,并配合氮肥基施20%+追施80%的水氮运筹方式（W₄N₂）下,盛花期叶片叶绿素含量、气孔导度（g_s）、净光合速率（P_n）、PSⅡ实际光化学效率（Φ_PSⅡ）和光化学猝灭系数（q_P）均显著低于全生育期常规滴灌处理,非光化学猝灭系数（NPQ）增加,地上部干物质累积量受到限制;盛铃期至吐絮期叶绿素含量、g_s、P_n、Φ_PSⅡ、q_P均随水氮供应量的提高而增大,地上部干物质产生超补偿积累,且有利于光合产物向棉铃的运转与分配.在氮肥基施20%+追施80%的施氮方式下,新陆早13号以播前灌溉+全生育期常规滴灌（W₃）处理的籽棉产量较高,新陆早43号以播前灌溉+盛花期前限量滴灌+盛花期后充分滴灌（W₄）处理籽棉产量最高.因此,在播前灌溉条件下适当减少盛花期前、增加生育中后期水氮供应,可以延长冠层叶片光合功能期,促进光合物质优先向生殖器官分配,充分发挥膜下滴灌棉花的增产潜力.     

正痘病毒基因结构及功能研究的几项进展

正痘病毒载体在重组疫苗研究中有广泛前景,但其罕见但较为严重的副反应阻碍了发展。正痘病毒属中具有较宽宿主范围的痘苗病毒和牛痘病毒具有典型的宿主范围基因K1L、CP77和C7L。这三个基因对不同宿主细胞具有选择性,可以扰乱宿主细胞信号通路,并且与病毒的毒力相关。