Cell Boundary Confinement Sets the Size and Position of the E. coli Chromosome

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ATL3 Is a Tubular ER-Phagy Receptor for GABARAP-Mediated Selective Autophagy

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Cyclic tripeptide-based potent human SIRT7 inhibitors

In the current study, two cyclic tripeptides respectively harboring a thiourea-type and a carboxamide-type of catalytic mechanism-based sirtuin inhibitory warheads as the central residue were found to behave as potent (low μM level) inhibitors against the tRNA-activated human SIRT7 deacetylase activity. Despite exhibiting a potent pan-inhibition against the deacylase activities of the five tested human sirtuins (i.e. SIRT1/2/3/6/7), these two compounds represent the first examples of potent SIRT7 inhibitors ever identified thus far, and their identification could facilitate the future development of more potent and selective SIRT7 inhibitors.     

OsSHOC1 and OsPTD1 are essential for crossover formation during rice meiosis

Meiosis is essential for eukaryotic sexual reproduction and plant fertility, and crossovers (COs) are essential for meiosis and the formation of new allelic combinations in gametes. In this study, we report the isolation of a meiotic gene, OsSHOC1, and the identification of its partner, OsPTD1. Osshoc1 was sterile both in male and female gametophytes, and it showed a striking reduction in the number of meiotic COs, indicating that OsSHOC1 was required for normal CO formation. Further investigations showed that OsSHOC1 physically interacted with OsPTD1 and that the latter was also required for normal CO formation and plant fertility. Additionally, the expression profiles of both genes were consistent with their functions. Our results suggest that OsSHOC1 and OsPTD1 are essential for rice fertility and CO formation, possibly by stabilizing the recombinant intermediates during meiosis.     

Application of quantitative structure‐activity relationship analysis on an antibody and alternariol‐like compounds interaction study

The antigen‐antibody interaction determines the sensitivity and specificity of competitive immunoassay for hapten detection. In this paper, the specificity of a monoclonal antibody against alternariol‐like compounds was evaluated through indirect competitive ELISA. The results showed that the antibody had cross‐reactivity with 33 compounds with the binding affinity (expressed by IC₅₀) ranging from 9.4 ng/mL to 12.0 μg/mL. All the 33 compounds contained a common moiety and similar substituents. To understand how this common moiety and substituents affected the recognition ability of the antibody, a three‐dimensional quantitative structure‐activity relationship (3D‐QSAR) between the antibody and the 33 alternariol‐like compounds was constructed using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) methods. The q² values of the CoMFA and CoMSIA models were 0.785 and 0.782, respectively, and the r² values were 0.911 and 0.988, respectively, indicating that the models had good predictive ability. The results of 3D‐QSAR showed that the most important factor affecting antibody recognition was the hydrogen bond mainly formed by the hydroxyl group of alternariol, followed by the hydrophobic force mainly formed by the methyl group. This study provides a reference for the design of new hapten and the mechanisms for antibody recognition.     

Effect of Panax ginseng combined with Angelica sinensis on the dissolution of ginsenosides and in chemotherapy mice hematopoietic function

ObjectiveTo study the changes of ginsenoside content in different proportion of Panax ginseng-Angelica sinensis (GA) co-decoction, and to explore the amelioration of hematopoietic function in mice after combined use of the two drugs. The active ingredient profiles in P. ginseng single decoction and co-decoction of GA were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The experimental pharmacology method was used to explore the effect of GA co-decoction on the hematopoietic function of chemotherapy mice.ResultsThe active ingredient profiles of the co-decoction of GA significantly changed compared with those of the single decoction. Compared with GA1:0 (single decoction of Panax ginseng), the routine ginsenosides of all proportions of GA decreased significantly, but the proportion of rare ginsenosides increased significantly. The changes of contents of rare ginsenosides of GA were basically consistent with the trends of effects on the myelosuppression induced by CY. Compared with the model group, GA significantly increased the number of bone marrow nucleated cells, thymus index, peripheral blood leukocytes and platelets, and significantly reduced the spleen index. Moreover, GA could promote G1 phase bone marrow cells to enter the cell cycle, increase the proportion of S phase cells and G2/M phase cells, and increase the cell proliferation index.ConclusionGA can ameliorate the hematopoietic function of mice after chemotherapy, and GA2:3, GA3:2 were the best, which may be due to the changes of the pharmacodynamic material basis of GA after compatibility. All these results implied that GA may be an ideal drug and food supplement for the treatment of toxic and side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs.     

Genetic Variant of MYLK4 Gene and its Association with Growth Traits in Chinese Cattle

As a member of MYLK family, MYLK4 gene may play a vital role in muscle development. In this study, one novel single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was identified the bovine MYLK4 by sequencing pooled DNA samples (pool-Seq) and forced polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (forced PCR-RFLP) methods. Overall, we reported one mutation (SNP1) in the intron 10 region within the bovine MYLK4 gene in 559 individuals representing five main cattle breeds from China (Nanyang, NY; Qinchuan; Jiaxian, JX; Pinan cattle; and Caidamu cattle, CDM). Genotype AA and allele A were predominant in the QC, PN, and XN populations. Association analysis with growth traits in the QC breed showed that the animals with genotype GG had significantly greater chest breadth and hip width (P?<?0.05). Meanwhile, the genotype GG was strongly associated with withers height and body length than those with genotype AA (P?<?0.01 or P?<?0.05) at 12 months in the NY breed. These statistical results exhibited that the MYLK4 gene might be a potential candidate gene to improve cattle’s growth traits, and the SNP could be used as molecular markers in early marker-assisted selection (MAS) in beef cattle breeding program.     

Let‐7b‐5p inhibits proliferation and motility in squamous cell carcinoma cells through negative modulation of KIAA1377

KIAA1377 has been found to be linked with lymph node metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in our previous study; however, the regulation of KIAA1377 remains far from understood. Herein, to understand the regulation of KIAA1377 from the angle of microRNA (miRNA)–messenger RNA (mRNA) modulation in the setting of SCC cells, the basal level of KIAA1377 was determined by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blot analysis in KYSE‐150 and HeLa cells; biological roles of KIAA1377 contributing in the proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated using 3‐(4,5‐dimethyl‐2‐thiazolyl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound‐healing and Transwell assays, respectively, after KIAA1377 was knocked out mediated by the CRISPR‐Cas9 system. Bioinformatic prediction revealed that let‐7b‐5p was a putative miRNA regulating KIAA1377, which was ensuingly validated by the luciferase reporter assay; after which, variation of KIAA1377 expression was further verified by qRT‐PCR and western blot analysis. Moreover, the biological roles of let‐7b‐5p in proliferation, migration, and invasion of KYSE‐150 and HeLa cells were also evaluated. It was exhibited that KIAA1377 was able to promote the proliferation and motility of both KYSE‐150 and HeLa cells, which can be reverted by re‐expression of let‐7b‐5p. The luciferase reporter assay verified that let‐7b‐5p can diametrically target KIAA1377. Collectively, our data demonstrated that let‐7b‐5p can directly but negatively regulate KIAA1377 in SCC cell lines, Ecal109, and HeLa cells.