Important amino acids in the phosphohydrolase module of Escherichia coli Orf135

The Escherichia coli Orf135 protein, a MutT-type enzyme, hydrolyzes 2-hydroxy-dATP and 8-hydroxy-dGTP, in addition to dCTP and 5-methyl-dCTP, and its deficiency causes increases in both the spontaneous and H(2)O(2)-induced mutation frequencies. In this study, the Gly-36, Gly-37, Lys-38, Glu-43, Arg-51, Glu-52, Leu-53, Glu-55, and Glu-56 residues of Orf135, which are conserved in the three MutT-type proteins (Orf135, MutT, and MTH1), were substituted, and the enzymatic activity of these mutant proteins was examined. The mutant proteins with a substitution at the 36th, 37th, 52nd, and 56th amino acid residues completely lost their activity. On the other hand, the mutant proteins with a substitution at the 38th, 43rd, 51st, 53rd, and 55th residues could hydrolyze 5-methyl-dCTP. Some mutants with detectable activity for 5-methyl-dCTP did not hydrolyze dCTP. Activities for known substrates (5-methyl-dCTP, dCTP, 2-hydroxy-dATP, and 8-hydroxy-dGTP) were examined in detail with the four mutants, K38R, E43A, L53A, and E55Q. These results indicate the essential residues for the activity of the Orf135 protein.     

MicroRNA‐135a alleviates oxygen‐glucose deprivation and reoxygenation‐induced injury in neurons through regulation of GSK‐3β/Nrf2 signaling

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested as pivotal regulators in the pathological process of cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of miR‐135a in regulating neuronal survival in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury using an in vitro cellular model induced by oxygen‐glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R). Our results showed that miR‐135a expression was significantly decreased in neurons with OGD/R treatment. Overexpression of miR‐135a significantly alleviated OGD/R‐induced cell injury and oxidative stress, whereas inhibition of miR‐135a showed the opposite effects. Glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β) was identified as a potential target gene of miR‐135a. miR‐135a was found to inhibit GSK‐3β expression, but promote the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) and downstream signaling. However, overexpression of GSK‐3β significantly reversed miR‐135a‐induced neuroprotective effect. Overall, our results suggest that miR‐135a protects neurons against OGD/R‐induced injury through downregulation of GSK‐3β and upregulation of Nrf2 signaling.     

Quercetin improves atrial fibrillation through inhibiting TGF-β/Smads pathway via promoting MiR-135b expression

PurposeTo investigate the role and mechanism of quercetin in isoprenaline (ISO)-induced atrial fibrillation (AF).Study designRat cardiac fibroblasts (RCFs) models and RCFs were used to explore the effect and underlying mechanism of quercetin in isoprenaline (ISO)-induced atrial fibrillation (AF) in vivo and in vitro by a series of experiments.MethodsDifferentially expressed microRNAs were screened from human AF tissues using the GEO2R and RT-qPCR. The expressions of TGF-β/Smads pathway molecules (TGFβ1, TGFBR1, Tgfbr1, Tgfbr2, Smad2, Smad3, Smad4) in AF tissues were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. The relationships between miR-135b and genes (Tgfbr1, Tgfbr2, Smad2) were analyzed by Pearson correlation, TargetScan and dual-luciferase activity assay. RCFs induced by ISO were treated with quercetin (20 or 50 μM), miR-135b mimic and inhibitor, siTgfbr1 and their corresponding controls, then the cell viability was determined by MTT and the expressions of cyclin D1, α-SMA, collagen-related molecules, TGF-β/Smads pathway molecules, and miR-135b were measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot. ISO-induced rats were treated with quercetin (25 mg/kg/day) via gavage, miR-135b antagomir, agomir and their corresponding controls. The treated rats were used for the detection of miR-135b expression by RT-qPCR, histopathological observation by HE and Masson staining, and the detection of Col1A1 and fibronectin contents by immunohistochemical technique.ResultsThe expression of miR-135b was downregulated, and those of TGFBR1, TGFBR2, target genes of miR-135b were upregulated in human AF tissues and negatively regulated by miR-135b in RCFs. Through inhibiting TGF-β/Smads pathway via promoting miR-135b expression, quercetin treatment inhibited proliferation, myofibroblast differentiation and collagen deposition in ISO-treated RCFs, as evidenced by reduced expressions of cyclin D1, α-SMA, collagen-related genes and proteins, and alleviated fibrosis and collagen deposition of atrial tissues in ISO-treated rats.ConclusionQuercetin may alleviate AF by inhibiting fibrosis of atrial tissues through inhibiting TGF-β/Smads pathway via promoting miR-135b expression.     

稳定遗传的染色体组合整合酿酒酵母重组菌株的构建

染色体整合表达可获得稳定遗传的基因工程菌,是工业酿酒酵母育种的重要手段。pAUR135整合载体是抗生素标记基因可循环使用的载体,添加特定的同源臂后可构建在酵母染色体上稳定遗传的菌株。目前对酵母菌的分子育种常需要对多个基因进行过表达,利用pAUR135载体可将不同基因分别整合在不同染色体或相同染色体的不同位点,这种组合整合表达方法可对不同基因的表达强度比例进行调节,构建表型优化的工业酿酒酵母菌株。本研究以木糖代谢途径基因为例,构建了3个pAUR135整合载体,将3个木糖代谢基因依次整合到工业酿酒酵母染色体的不同位点,获得了染色体组合整合表达的代谢工程菌株。与将这3个基因整合在同一个位点的对照重组菌株相比,染色体组合整合的重组菌株木糖利用率提高了24.4%–35.5%。多基因染色体组合整合方法从新的角度对工业酵母进行代谢工程改造,所获得的工程菌株不带有任何外来基因和选择标记,可以保持性状的稳定,是工业酿酒酵母分子育种的新方法。     

2～59岁健康人群接种ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗的免疫原性观察

目的评价ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗在2～59岁健康人群中的免疫原性。方法 2～59岁健康人群接种者随机抽样(n=60),接种一剂四价脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗。采集接种前和接种后1个月血清,采用体外杀菌试验(Serum bactericidal assay,SBA)检测血清中抗A、C、Y、W135群脑膜炎球菌的血清杀菌滴度。结果免疫前、后血清抗A群脑膜炎球菌的血清杀菌滴度GMTs(95%CI)分别为1241(736,2091)和7559(5520,10351)(P<0.05);抗C群脑膜炎球菌的血清杀菌滴度GMTs(95%CI)分别为4(9,21)和4787(2947,7775)(P<0.05);抗W135群脑膜炎球菌的血清杀菌滴度GMTs(95%CI)分别为16(9,28)和368(162,883)(P<0.05);抗Y群脑膜炎球菌的血清杀菌滴度GMTs(95%CI)分别为120(58,246)和1373(687,2745)(P<0.05)。免疫前和免疫后血清抗A群脑膜炎球菌的杀菌滴度≥128的比例分别为87(77.4,95.1)%和100(83.2,100)%;抗C群脑膜炎球菌的比例分别为17(8.3,28.5)%和97(88.5,99.6)%;抗W135群脑膜炎球菌的比例分别为13(5.9,24.6)%和68(55.0,79.7)%;抗Y群脑膜炎球菌的比例分别为57(43.2,69.4)%和85(73.4,92.9)%。免疫后较免疫前抗A群、C群、W135群和Y群脑膜炎球菌杀菌抗体滴度≥4倍升高的比例分别为50(27.2,72.8)%、97(88.5,99.6)%、62(43.2,73.9)%和55(41.6,67.9)%。结论虽然免疫前人群由于地方和国家免疫计划的实施已具有较高水平的抗A群脑膜炎球菌的血清杀菌滴度,但接种ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗后可以使其保护水平进一步提高,并使人群对C群、W135群和Y群脑膜炎球菌的低水平杀菌抗体滴度均显著升高达到保护水平,证明ACYW135群脑膜炎球菌多糖疫苗在2～59岁健康人群中具有比较好的免疫原性。     

Metabolic alterations caused by the mutation and overexpression of the Tmem135 gene

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles that undergo fission and fusion. While they are essential for cellular metabolism, the effect of dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics on cellular metabolism is not fully understood. We previously found that transmembrane protein 135 (Tmem135) plays a role in the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics in mice. Mice homozygous for a Tmem135 mutation (Tmem135^{FUN025/FUN025}) display accelerated aging and age-related disease pathologies in the retina including the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We also generated a transgenic mouse line globally overexpressing the Tmem135 gene (Tmem135 TG). In several tissues and cells that we studied such as the retina, heart, and fibroblast cells, we observed that the Tmem135 mutation causes elongated mitochondria, while overexpression of Tmem135 results in fragmented mitochondria. To investigate how abnormal mitochondrial dynamics affect metabolic signatures of tissues and cells, we identified metabolic changes in primary RPE cell cultures as well as heart, cerebellum, and hippocampus isolated from Tmem135^{FUN025/FUN025} mice (fusion > fission) and Tmem135 TG mice (fusion < fission) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Metabolomics analysis revealed a tissue-dependent response to Tmem135 alterations, whereby significant metabolic changes were observed in the heart of both Tmem135 mutant and TG mice as compared to wild-type, while negligible effects were observed in the cerebellum and hippocampus. We also observed changes in Tmem135^{FUN025/FUN025} and Tmem135 TG RPE cells associated with osmosis and glucose and phospholipid metabolism. We observed depletion of NAD⁺ in both Tmem135^{FUN025/FUN025} and Tmem135 TG RPE cells, indicating that imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics to both directions lowers the cellular NAD⁺ level. Metabolic changes identified in this study might be associated with imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics in heart tissue and RPE cells which can likely lead to functional abnormalities.Impact statementMitochondria are dynamic organelles undergoing fission and fusion. Proper regulation of this process is important for healthy aging process, as aberrant mitochondrial dynamics are associated with several age-related diseases/pathologies. However, it is not well understood how imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics may lead to those diseases and pathologies. Here, we aimed to determine metabolic alterations in tissues and cells from mouse models with over-fused (fusion > fission) and over-fragmented (fusion < fission) mitochondria that display age-related disease pathologies. Our results indicated tissue-dependent sensitivity to these mitochondrial changes, and metabolic pathways likely affected by aberrant mitochondrial dynamics. This study provides new insights into how dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics could lead to functional abnormalities of tissues and cells.     

MicroRNA-135b/CAMK2D Axis Contribute to Malignant Progression of Gastric Cancer through EMT Process Remodeling

There is a continued need for investigating the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets on the progression of gastric cancer (GC), especially metastasis. Here, we performed an integrated study to identify dysregulated miRNAs critical for GC development and progression. miR-135b was determined as a promising biomarker for GC. The expression level of miR-135b was increased among GC cell lines, patient tumor tissues, serum samples, and correlation with aggravation of the GC patients. The in vitro functional assays demonstrated overexpression of miR-135b promoted cell proliferation, migration and invasion in GC, while miR-135b inhibition led to the opposite results. CAMK2D was found to be the direct target of miR-135b, serving as a tumor suppressor in GC cells. Based on our and public datasets, we confirmed the attenuation of CAMK2D expression in GC tissues. And, the expression levels of miR-135b and CAMK2D were closely associated with prognosis of GC patients. Ectopic expression of miR-135b resulted in the down-regulation of CAMK2D. Additionally, CAMK2D was a prerequisite for miR-135b to promote GC cells proliferation and migration by regulating the EMT process, which was confirmed by the in vivo experiments. Importantly, in vivo injection of miR-135b antagomir significantly repressed the tumor growth and metastasis of xenograft models, which suggested that the miR-135b antagomir were promising for clinical applications. Taken together, these results indicate that miR-135b/CAMK2D axis drives GC progression by EMT process remodeling, suggesting that miR-135b may be utilized as a new therapeutic target and prognostic marker for GC patients.     

Placenta-derived exosomal miR-135a-5p promotes gestational diabetes mellitus pathogenesis by activating PI3K/AKT signalling pathway via SIRT1

Most people are aware of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a dangerous pregnancy complication in which pregnant women who have never been diagnosed with diabetes develop chronic hyperglycaemia. Exosomal microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation has been shown to be a key player in the pathophysiology of GDM. In this study, we looked into how placental exosomes and their miRNAs may contribute to GDM. When compared to exosomes from healthy pregnant women, it was discovered that miR-135a-5p was elevated in placenta-derived exosomes that were isolated from the maternal peripheral plasma of GDM women. Additionally, we discovered that miR-135a-5p encouraged HTR-8/SVneo cell growth, invasion and migration. Further research revealed that miR-135a-5p activates HTR-8/SVneo cells' proliferation, invasion and migration by promoting PI3K/AKT pathway activity via Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). The transfer of exosomal miR-135a-5p generated from the placenta could be viewed as a promising agent for targeting genes and pertinent pathways involved in GDM, according to our findings.