The emerging role of miR-200 family in metastasis: focus on EMT,CSCs, angiogenesis,and anoikis

Introduction

Cancer is the second major threat to human society and one of the main challenges facing healthcare systems. One of the main problems of cancer care is the metastases of cancer cells that cause 90% of deaths due to cancer. Multiple molecular mechanisms are involved in cancer cell metastasis. Therefore, a better understanding of these molecular mechanisms is necessary for designing restrictive strategies against cancer cell metastasis. Accumulating data suggests that MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in metastasis and invasion of human tumors through regulating multiple genes expression levels that are involved in molecular mechanisms of metastasis. The goal of this review is to present the molecular pathways by which the miR 200 family manifests its effects on EMT, cancer stem cells, angiogenesis, anoikis, and the effects of tumor cell metastases.

Methods

A detailed literature search was conducted to find information about the role of the miR-200 family in the processes involved in metastasis in various databases.

Results

Numerous lines of evidence revealed an association between the mir-200 family and metastasis of human tumors by impressing processes such as cancer stem cells, EMT, angiogenesis, and anoikis.

Conclusions

Understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with metastasis in which the miR-200 family is involved can be effective in treating metastatic cancers.

Graphic abstract

     

Synaptic mutation-driven male sterility in Panax sikkimensis Ban. (Araliaceae) from Eastern Himalaya, India

In higher plants, synaptic mutation-associated gametic abnormalities are reported mostly in crop plants, but studies have rarely focused on the natural plant populations. This is particularly so in threatened herbaceous perennials, some of which are known to suffer from loss of sexual reproduction driven by the genetic mutations. Cytological investigations of Panax species, viz. P. sikkimensis, P. sokpayensis and P. bipinnatifidus, revealed that all the species were diploid with 2n = 24 chromosomes. Natural occurrence of synaptic mutation was recorded in Panax sikkimensis in the Kalep population of North Sikkim, India. We recorded that 86.03% of pollen mother cells (PMCs) lacked bivalent formation and had 24 distinct univalents at prophase I in the mutant plants of P. sikkimensis. We found a significantly lower mean number of chiasmata per cell (0.31 ± 0.91; t test = 38.24, P < 0.001) in the mutant plants as compared to the normal plants (21.04 ± 4.56). The chromosomal associations in the PMCs of the synaptic mutants ranged from 25% bivalents and 75% univalents to 100% univalents at diplotene/diakinesis. The unequal distribution of chromosomes at anaphase I and II resulted in the formation of microspores and microcytes of differing sizes. The pollen stainability test in the mutant population of P. sikkimensis revealed very low (0.12%) pollen fertility reflecting the consequences of synaptic mutation. Synaptic mutation in the herbaceous perennial P. sikkimensis was considered to be responsible for the male sterility in the species.     

Selection of Lactobacillus acidophilus strains for use in “acidophilus products”

Recent studies by DNA-DNA hybridization revealed that strains now designated as L. acidophilus, can be divided into several groups and only one group should be classified as L. acidophilus. We studied several phenotypic characteristics in representative strains from the six DNA-homology groups of L. acidophilus. No group specific pattern was observed among the strains for fermentation of eight carbohydrates, growth at 15 and 45°C, resistance to 0.2% oxgall, lysis by lysozyme or sensitivity to 17 antibiotics. However, some differences among groups were observed in -galactosidase (-gal) activity and surface layer (s-layer) protein. Strains in B1 do not have a s-layer or -gal while B2 strains also lack a s-layer but do possess -gal. All strains in groups A1, A2, A3 and A4, capable of growing in lactose, have -gal activity and also have a s-layer composed of protein subunits of different molecular weights (MW). Strains in A1 homology group have a s-layer with 46 Kd protein subunits while strains in other A groups have s-layer protein subunits that varied in MW within each group. On the basis of these two traits several isolates of unknown homology groups have been tentatively placed in A1, B1 or B2 groups. L. acidophilus from A1 group showed strain variation in -gal specific activity and rate of acid production and growth. For use in dietary adjuncts, L. acidophilus strains should be selected for these three and other desirable traits. They should be maintained and grown in media containing lactose.     

Electrical conductivity of bilayer lipid membranes in electrolytic solution

The electrical conductivity of bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) of oxidized cholesterol has been measured separately in bathing solutions of sodium sulphate, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium iodide and also in bathing solutions of iodine and iodine containing these salts. An attempt has been made to explain the conduction of electric current across the membranes.     

Characterization of the Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ32 pepC gene.

Sequence analysis of the aminopeptidase C gene (pepC) from Lactobacillus helveticus CNRZ32 identified a 1,332-nucleotide open reading frame coding for a polypeptide with motifs characteristic of cysteine proteinases. Homology to the pepC gene appears to be widely distributed among lactic acid bacteria.     

Germinating pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) seeds secrete factor(s) having antiethylene-like effects

Germinating pigeonpea seeds were found to release factor(s), which dramatically altered the growth pattern of rice seedlings. This included an increased sensitivity of roots to gravity, an increase in seminal root length, and increased density of branch roots on the seminal root and suppression of root hair formation. Furthermore, the known characteristic responses of rice to ethylene (namely, coleoptile growth promotion and induction of senescence) were inhibited by the presence of these factor(s). This altered growth pattern of rice seedlings was similar to that brought about by the ethylene-antagonist, silver nitrate. Further, the change in growth pattern in rice was specifically reversed by ethrel. In addition, in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana these factors suppressed formation of root hair, the development of which is known to be promoted by ethylene. In contrast, in a mutant A. thaliana which shows constitutive ethylene response ( ctr1-1 ), the factors failed to inhibit root hair formation. These observations indicated that germinating pigeonpea seeds secrete factor(s), which have antiethylene-like effects.     

Chaos game representation of coding regions of human globin genes and alcohol dehydrogenase genes of phylogenetically divergent species

Summary Chaos game representation (CGR) is a novel holistic approach that provides a visual image of a DNA sequence quite different from the traditional linear arrangement of nucleotides. Although it is known that CGR patterns depict base composition and sequentiality, the biological significance of the specific features of each pattern is not understood. To systematically examine these features, we have examined the coding sequences of 7 human globin genes and 29 relatively conserved alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) genes from phylogenetically divergent species. The CGRs of human globin cDNAs were similar to one another and to the entire human globin gene complex. Interestingly, human globin CGRs were also strikingly similar to human Adh CGRs. Adh CGRs were similar for genes of the same or closely related species but were different for relatively conserved Adh genes from distantly related species. Dinucleotide frequencies may account for the self-similar pattern that is characteristic of vertebrate CGRs and the genome-specific features of CGR patterns. Mutational frequencies of dinucleotides may vary among genome types. The special features of CG dinucleotides of vertebrates represent such an example. The CGR patterns examined thus far suggest that the evolution of a gene and its coding sequence should not be examined in isolation. Consideration should be given to genome-specific differential mutation rates for different dinucleotides or specific oligonucleotides. Offprint requests to: S. M. Singh     

Changes in carbohydrates and lipids during embryonic development ofAntheraea mylitta (Lepidoptera)

Changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism during embryonic development inAntheraea mylitta were studied. While carbohydrates were metabolized during early embryogenesis, lipids were catabolised at the later stages. A significant increase in both total carbohydrates and glycogen on days 5 and 6 suggested the concurrent occurrence of both gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis. As the development of the embryo proceeds, both lipids and carbohydrates were utilised, resulting in the increase in the concentration of citrate, pyruvate and lactate.     

Li+ Pre‐Insertion Leads to Formation of Solid Electrolyte Interface on TiO2 Nanotubes That Enables High‐Performance Anodes for Sodium Ion Batteries

Recently, sodium ion batteries (SIBs) have been widely investigated as one of the most promising candidates for replacing lithium ion batteries (LIBs). For SIBs or LIBs, designing a stable and uniform solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the electrode–electrolyte interface is the key factor to provide high capacity, long‐term cycling, and high‐rate performance. In this paper, it is described how a remarkably enhanced SEI layer can be obtained on TiO₂ nanotube (TiO₂ NTs) arrays that allows for a strongly improved performance of sodium battery systems. Key is that a Li⁺ pre‐insertion in TiO₂ NTs can condition the SEI for Na⁺ replacement. SIBs constructed with Li‐pre‐inserted NTs deliver an exceptional Na⁺ cycling stability (e.g., 99.9 ± 0.1% capacity retention during 250 cycles at a current rate of 50 mA g^?1) and an excellent rate capability (e.g., 132 mA h g^?1 at a current rate of 1 A g^?1). The key factor in this outstanding performance is that Li‐pre‐insertion into TiO₂ NTs leads not only to an enhanced electronic conductivity in the tubes, but also expands the anatase lattice for facilitated subsequent Na⁺ cycling.