EPS364, a Novel Deep-Sea Bacterial Exopolysaccharide,Inhibits Liver Cancer Cell Growth and Adhesion

The prognosis of liver cancer was inferior among tumors. New medicine treatments are urgently needed. In this study, a novel exopolysaccharide EPS364 was purified from Vibrio alginolyticus 364, which was isolated from a deep-sea cold seep of the South China Sea. Further research showed that EPS364 consisted of mannose, glucosamine, gluconic acid, galactosamine and arabinose with a molar ratio of 5:9:3.4:0.5:0.8. The relative molecular weight of EPS364 was 14.8 kDa. Our results further revealed that EPS364 was a β-linked and phosphorylated polysaccharide. Notably, EPS364 exhibited a significant antitumor activity, with inducing apoptosis, dissipation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Huh7.5 liver cancer cells. Proteomic and quantitative real-time PCR analyses indicated that EPS364 inhibited cancer cell growth and adhesion via targeting the FGF19-FGFR4 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that EPS364 is a promising antitumor agent for pharmacotherapy.     

几种因素对培养小鼠精原干细胞的影响

探讨了小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞饲养层及干细胞因子(SCF)、白血病抑制因子(LIF)、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)等对体外培养小鼠精原干细胞的作用.结果显示,在饲养层上,精原干细胞贴壁时间缩至8～12 h,饲养层具有促进其分裂增殖的作用;培养液中加入不同浓度的SCF、LIF及bFGF,可延长精原干细胞在体外的存活时间,其中加入30μg/LSCF后,其体外存活时间与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05).     

两种复合肥在叶菜类蔬菜上的应用效果比较

在山东省莱阳和寿光两地露地及保护地生长的芹菜和大白菜上进行新型复合肥 2 1 8 11S肥效研究 ,同时与市场上较为流行的 15 15 15S复合肥进行比较。结果表明 ,2 1 8 11S复合肥比 15 15 15S复合肥在增加产量、提高品质方面效果更好。 2 1 8 11S复合肥最佳用量大白菜为 14 14～ 170 0kg·hm-2 ,芹菜为 2 0 6 2～ 2 4 78kg·hm-2 。     

Relationship of p21WAF1 gene polymorphisms with protein expression in breast carcinomas

AIM: To investigate the relationship between p21^WAF1gene polymorphisms and protein expression in breast carcinoma. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphisms technique (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemical assay of S-P immunostaining technique were used to study polymorphisms of p21^WAF1 and protein expression respectively on the specimen of paraffin-embedded tissues in 100 cases of breast carcinomas and 40 benign breast diseases as control. RESULTS: Two p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms were found in 18% (18/100) of breast carcinomas and 5% (2/40) of control samples. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=3.94, P＜0.05). The positive immunohistochemical reaction of p21^WAF1 protein were found in 50% (50/100) of breast carcinomas and 12.5% (5/40) of control samples. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=16.84, P＜0.01). The positive immunohistochemical reaction of p21^WAF1 protein were found in 100% (18/18) of breast carcinomas with p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms and 39% (32/82) of no p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (χ²=21.95, P＜0.01). The p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms were correlated with the protein expression in breast carcinomas (r=0.576, P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms may create the different copies of mRNA and may make relevant protein molecules.     

绵羊FGF10基因克隆、序列分析及其在毛囊发育中的表达分析

本试验旨在获得中国美利奴羊成纤维细胞生长因子10（fibroblast growth factor 10，FGF10）基因的编码区（CDS）全长序列并进行生物信息学分析，随后对FGF10基因在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达特征进行分析，明确其在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达模式，为进一步研究FGF10 mRNA表达水平与中国美利奴羊毛囊生长发育的表达调控机制奠定理论基础。采用PCR扩增获得中国美利奴羊FGF10基因CDS，并克隆到zero PCR@^TM-Blunt进行测序验证；利用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测FGF10在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中的表达差异。结果表明，绵羊FGF10基因CDS长度为696 bp（序列上传GenBank，获得登录号：MT872422），编码231个氨基酸，与牛和山羊的氨基酸序列同源性达100%，存在1个信号肽和1个跨膜结构域，其为分泌通路信号蛋白；实时荧光定量PCR分析表明，FGF10基因在中国美利奴羊毛囊发育过程中均表达，在毛囊发育第85天表达最高，显著高于其他毛囊发育时期（P<0.05）。本研究获得中国美利奴羊FGF10基因完整的编码区序列和毛囊发育过程中的表达特征，生物信息学分析发现，FGF10基因编码区序列具有物种间的保守性，同时FGF10在绵羊毛囊不同发育阶段的皮肤组织中表达，由此表明，FGF10基因可能在绵羊毛囊的生长发育过程中发挥重要的生物学作用。     

FGF4在肺癌细胞体内和体外中表达差异的研究

FGF4已经被证明是癌基因,它涉及肿瘤的生长和转移,为了解FGF4的表达与肿瘤微环境的关系。我们利用FGF4抗体通过免疫组化对一名肺癌患者癌旁,癌组织,癌组织小鼠移植瘤,二次移植瘤以及原代培养的细胞爬片进行FGF4检测,探究其表达差异。通过对比癌组织与对照组（癌旁组织）,FGF4在癌巢中高表达;同样,移植瘤与二次移植瘤的癌巢中与癌旁组织比较,FGF4表达相对较高;但是将癌组织进行原代培养后,免疫组化检测细胞爬片FGF4,发现仅有5%±0.21%的肿瘤细胞表达FGF4,对照蛋白Cytokine作为肿瘤标记物,则在100%的肿瘤细胞中表达。研究提示免疫组化检测到FGF4在体内和体外表达不同,提示肿瘤细胞FGF4的表达与肿瘤微环境调控密切相关,肿瘤微环境对肿瘤细胞的FGF4的调控有着重要作用。     

Expression and mechanisms of hsa_circ_087631 in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

AIM To explore the expression and mechanisms of circular RNA hsa_circ_087631 in the patients with primary biliary cholangitis （PBC）. METHODS RT-qPCR was used to detect the expression of hsa_circ_087631 in PBC patients and healthy controls. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was constructed and transfected into human acute T cell leukemia Jurkat cells， and then the expression levels of hsa_circ_087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and interleukin-21 （IL-21） mRNA were detected by RT-qPCR. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the interactions between hsa_circ_087631 and hsa-miR-346. RESULTS The expression of hsa_circ_087631 in the PBC patients was significantly increased compared with the healthy subjects. Hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector pLenti-EF1a-EGFP-F2A-Puro-CMV-MCS was successfully constructed. The expression of hsa-miR-346 was significantly increased after the hsa-miR-346-overexpressing lentiviral vector was transfected into the Jurkat cells， while the expression levels of hsa_circ_0087631， Bcl-6 mRNA and IL-21 mRNA were significantly decreased. After wild-type or mutant hsa_circ_087631 vector and hsa-miR-346 mimics were transfected into 293T cells， the results of dual-luciferase reporter assay showed that hsa-miR-346 significantly decreased the luciferase activity of wild-type hsa_circ_087631 （P<0.01）， but the regulation did not change significantly after mutation of the predicted binding site. CONCLUSION Peripheral blood hsa_circ_087631 level is elevated in the PBC patients. The hsa_circ_087631/hsa-miR-346/Bcl-6 signaling may take effect in human T cells. Hsa-miR-346 significantly reduces the expression of hsa_circ_087631， but it may not be regulated by predicted binding sites.     

Reduction in cadmium accumulation in japonica rice grains by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of OsNRAMP5

Cadmium (Cd) intake is harmful to human health and Cd contamination in rice grains represents a severe threat to those consuming rice as a staple food. Knockout of Cd transporters is a promising strategy to reduce Cd accumulation in rice grains. OsNRAMP5 is the major transporter for Cd and manganese (Mn) uptake in rice. Nevertheless, it is uncertain whether knockout of OsNRAMP5 is applicable to produce low Cd rice without affecting plant growth and grain yield. In this study, we adopted CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing technology to knock out OsNRAMP5 in two japonica varieties. We generated three independent transgene-free osnramp5 mutants and investigated the effect of osnramp5 mutations on Cd accumulation and plant growth. Hydroponic experiments showed that plant growth and chlorophyll content were significantly reduced in osnramp5 mutants at low Mn conditions, and this defective growth in the mutants could be fully rescued by supply of high levels of Mn. Cd and Mn accumulation in both roots and shoots was markedly reduced in the mutants compared to that in wild-type plants. In paddy field experiments, although Cd in flag leaves and grains was greatly reduced in osnramp5 mutants, some agronomic traits including plant height, seed setting rate, and grain number per panicle were affected in the mutants, which ultimately caused a mild reduction in grain yield. The reduced plant growth in the mutants can be attributed to a marked decrease in Mn accumulation. Our results reveal that the manipulation of OsNRAMP5 should be treated with caution: When assessing the applicability of osnramp5 mutants, soil pH and soil water content in paddy fields need to be taken into consideration, since they might affect the levels of available Mn in the soil and consequently determine the effect of the mutation on grain yield.     

谷子杂交种与常规种光合和叶绿素荧光特性的比较

为了明确杂交谷的光合优势是否是其产量高于常规谷的一大主因,本研究于2013年对常规谷晋谷21号和杂交谷张杂谷5号的光合和叶绿素荧光特性进行比较。采用完全随机设计,每个品种种植5个小区,在拔节期和灌浆期分别测定各项光合指标。结果表明,在拔节期,张杂谷5号的净光合速率、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量显著高于晋谷21号;但在灌浆期,张杂谷5号和晋谷21号之间的总叶绿素含量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量、光化学淬灭参数和非光化学淬灭参数都存在显著差异。总体杂交谷在拔节期和灌浆期的光合性能高于常规谷。     

鸡脂肪组织TCF21基因启动子区DNA甲基化与其表达的关系

旨在研究鸡脂肪组织中TCF21基因启动子区DNA甲基化水平与其表达的关系。以东北农业大学高、低腹脂双向选择品系（简称高、低脂系）第24世代7周龄肉鸡为试验材料，利用RT-qPCR检测高、低脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织中TCF21基因的mRNA表达水平；利用生物信息学和双荧光素酶报告系统分析TCF21基因启动子的结构与功能；利用Sequenom MassARRAY飞行质谱检测高、低脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织中TCF21基因启动子区CpG位点的甲基化水平；利用CpG甲基转移酶处理TCF21启动子报告基因质粒，分析DNA甲基化对TCF21基因启动子活性的影响。结果显示，高脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织中TCF21基因的mRNA表达水平极显著高于低脂系（P<0.001）；TCF21基因的启动子区存在40个CpG位点，且在启动子的近端和远端均有分布，但不存在CpG岛；将TCF21基因的启动子划分为5个功能区域，分别为R1区域（-2 000~-1 500 bp）、R2区域（-1 500~-1 000 bp）、R3区域（-1 000~-500 bp）、R4区域（-500~-200 bp）和Core区域（-200~-100 bp）；高脂系R2、R3和R2+R3区域的DNA甲基化水平显著或极显著高于低脂系（P<0.05或P<0.001）；R2、R3、R2+R3区域的DNA甲基化水平与TCF21基因mRNA表达水平呈显著正相关（R2区域：r=0.438，P<0.05；R3区域：r=0.371，P<0.05；R2+R3区域：r=0.489，P<0.05）；R2区域的DNA甲基化显著抑制其转录活性（P<0.05）。综上所述，TCF21基因在高、低脂系肉鸡腹部脂肪组织中的表达水平主要与其启动子R2区域的DNA甲基化水平有关。