A Novel Function of dcf1 During the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells In vitro

The study of neural dendrite formation is of great significance both in theory and applications. However, the molecular mechanisms of regulation remain unclear. We previously described a novel EST, which has high homology with dentritic cell factors (DCF1), expressed differentially between undifferentiated and differentiated neural stem cells (NSCs). In this study, we cloned, expressed, and silenced the dcf1 gene and offered insight into its function in regulating dendrite formation during the differentiation of NSCs. The results indicated that dcf1 encoded a 42 kD protein and could be successfully expressed both in Escherichia coli and NSCs. In order to silence dcf1 gene, three different kinds of siRNA vectors were constructed and transformed into the NSC line C17.2 and primary NSCs, resulting in down regulation of the dcf1 mRNA. Analysis of immunofluorescence or GFP illuminated that with overexpression of the dcf1 gene, the NSCs were maintained in undifferentiated status. After the dcf1 gene was silenced, cells tended to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

生物信息学分析RIPK4的分子结构与功能

针对RIPK4(Receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase protein 4)结构与功能的报道较少且矛盾。本研究使用生物信息学手段,对RIPK4蛋白的理化性质、组织表达、亚细胞定位、信号肽和跨膜区、空间结构、蛋白质相互作用网络及序列同源性进行分析。结果表明人RIPK4蛋白是酸性不稳定的亲水蛋白,无信号肽和跨膜区域,定位于细胞质的可能性最大,主要二级结构为α-螺旋和无规则卷曲,属于PKc_like和ANK超家族。经GO分析和KEGG通路分析可知,与RIPK4相互作用的蛋白PHLPP1、PHLPP2、ACACA、ACACB、CNOT6L和CNOT6值得深入研究,预示RIPK4存在更为复杂的分子功能和作用机制。为进一步研究RIPK4的功能提供一定的参考。     

FOXD3的空间结构和理化性质分析

FOXD3(Forkhead box D3)作为一个有价值的肿瘤预后标志物,其抑癌机制和预后价值仍未被完全阐明。为了全面认识FOXD3,本研究利用生物信息学手段,对FOXD3蛋白的氨基酸序列同源性、理化性质、组织表达、亚细胞定位、空间结构及蛋白质相互作用网络进行了预测和分析。结果表明:人FOXD3蛋白是酸性不稳定的亲水蛋白,在进化过程中高度保守,无信号肽和跨膜区域,属于FH超家族。该蛋白定位于细胞核的可能性最大,主要二级结构为无规卷曲。经GO分析和KEGG通路分析可知,与FOXD3相互作用的蛋白主要是转录因子,参与调控细胞干性的蛋白质和调控肿瘤细胞特性的蛋白质。本文结果为进一步研究FOXD3的功能及抑癌机制提供一定的参考。     

Bioinformatics role of the WGCNA analysis and co-expression network identifies of prognostic marker in lung cancer

Lung cancer is the most talked about cancer in the world. It is also one of the cancers that currently has a high mortality rate. The aim of our research is to find more effective therapeutic targets and prognostic markers for human lung cancer. First, we download gene expression data from the GEO database. We performed weighted co-expression network analysis on the selected genes, we then constructed scale-free networks and topological overlap matrices, and performed correlation modular analysis with the cancer group. We screened the 200 genes with the highest correlation in the cyan module for functional enrichment analysis and protein interaction network construction, found that most of them focused on cell division, tumor necrosis factor-mediated signaling pathways, cellular redox homeostasis, reactive oxygen species biosynthesis, and other processes, and were related to the cell cycle, apoptosis, HIF-1 signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and several cancer disease pathways are involved. Finally, we used the GEPIA website data to perform survival analysis on some of the genes with GS > 0.6 in the cyan module. CBX3, AHCY, MRPL12, TPGB, TUBG1, KIF11, LRRC59, MRPL17, TMEM106B, ZWINT, TRIP13, and HMMR was identified as an important prognostic factor for lung cancer patients. In summary, we identified 12 mRNAs associated with lung cancer prognosis. Our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer and provides new insights into drug use and prognosis.     

棉田多虫复合危害互作效应及“两红”复合防治指标应用研究

针对长江中游棉区棉花多虫复合危害问题,设计了6种害虫4种组合的复合危害系统。运用通径分析方法,定量描述了多种害虫对棉花的侵害及其间的互作效应。通过多种害虫对棉花产量和品级的直接影响效应和间接影响效应分析,认为当多虫复合危害时,害虫间的相互作用就其对作物的侵害而言,表现为增强效应和减弱效应。在此基础上,研究并制定了“两红”(棉红铃虫和朱砂叶螨)复合危害动态防治指标,经验证、示范及推广应用,取得了显着的经济、生态和社会效益。     

The program XEASY for computer-supported NMR spectral analysis of biological macromolecules

Summary A new program package, XEASY, was written for interactive computer support of the analysis of NMR spectra for three-dimensional structure determination of biological macromolecules. XEASY was developed for work with 2D, 3D and 4D NMR data sets. It includes all the functions performed by the precursor program EASY, which was designed for the analysis of 2D NMR spectra, i.e., peak picking and support of sequence-specific resonance assignments, cross-peak assignments, cross-peak integration and rate constant determination for dynamic processes. Since the program utilizes the X-window system and the Motif widget set, it is portable on a wide range of UNIX workstations. The design objective was to provide maximal computer support for the analysis of spectra, while providing the user with complete control over the final resonance assignments. Technically important features of XEASY are the use and flexible visual display of strips, i.e., two-dimensional spectral regions that contain the relevant parts of 3D or 4D NMR spectra, automated sorting routines to narrow down the selection of strips that need to be interactively considered in a particular assignment step, a protocol of resonance assignments that can be used for reliable bookkeeping, independent of the assignment strategy used, and capabilities for proper treatment of spectral folding and efficient transfer of resonance assignments between spectra of different types and different dimensionality, including projected, reduced-dimensionality triple-resonance experiments.Abbreviations 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D one-, two-, three-, four-dimensional - NOE nuclear Overhauser enhancement - NOESY nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy - TOCSY total correlation spectroscopy - COSY correlation spectroscopy - TPPI time-proportional phase incrementation     

Phylogenetic relationships within phylum Rotifera: orders and genus Notholca

We investigated evolutionary relationships among orders in phylum Rotifera and among species in genus Notholca (Rotifera) by computing parsimonious cladograms. All of the most-parsimonious cladograms generated for the ordinal level confirm the view that class Monogononta, superclass Eurotatoria, and phylum Rotifera are monophyletic. Species within the genus Notholca were separated into six groups (clades), but some species have been defined based on highly variable characters not reliably studied using cladistics. Therefore, phenetic studies are warranted, especially for species possessing caudal processes.