Aberrant expression and regulatory network of splicing factor-SRSF3 in tumors

Alternative splicing facilitates the splicing of precursor RNA into different isoforms. Alternatively spliced transcripts often exhibit antagonistic functions or differential temporal or spatial expression patterns. There is increasing evidence that alternative splicing, especially by the serine-arginine rich (SR) protein family, leads to abnormal expression patterns and is closely related to the development of cancer. SRSF3, also known as SRp20, is a splicing factor. Through alternative splicing, it plays important roles in regulating various biological functions, such as cell cycle, cell proliferation, migration and invasion, under pathological and physiological conditions. Deregulation of SRSF3 is an essential feature of cancers. SRSF3 is also considered a candidate therapeutic target. Therefore, the involvement of abnormal splicing in tumorigenesis and the regulation of splicing factors deserve further analysis and discussion. Here, we summarize the function of SRSF3-regulated alternative transcripts in cancer cell biology at different stages of tumor development and the regulation of SRSF3 in tumorigenesis.

Cyclodextrin-Based Multistimuli-Responsive Supramolecular Assemblies and Their Biological Functions

Cyclodextrins (CDs), which are a class of cyclic oligosaccharides extracted from the enzymatic degradation of starch, are often utilized in molecular recognition and assembly constructs, primarily via host-guest interactions in water. In this review, recent progress in CD-based supramolecular nanoassemblies that are sensitive to chemical, biological, and physical stimuli is updated and reviewed, and intriguing examples of the biological functions of these nanoassemblies are presented, including pH- and redox-responsive drug and gene delivery, enzyme-activated specific cargo release, photoswitchable morphological interconversion, microtubular aggregation, and cell-cell communication, as well as a geomagnetism-controlled nanosystem for the suppression of tumor invasion and metastasis. Moreover, future perspectives and challenges in the fabrication of intelligent CD-based biofunctional materials are also discussed at the end of this review, which is expected to promote the translational development of these nanomaterials in the biomedical field.

Effects of miR-129-3p on biological functions of prostate cancer cells through targeted regulation of Smad3

Effects of miR-129-3p on the biological functions of prostate cancer cells through the targeted regulation of Smad3 were investigated. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of miR-129-3p in prostate cancer tissues and cells and its target gene Smad3 mRNA determined by bioinformatics prediction. Correlation between miR-129-3p and Smad3 was analyzed. MTT assay, cell invasion detection, and apoptosis detection were conducted to detect the effects of miR-129-3p and Smad3 on the proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. The results of RT-qPCR showed that the expression level of miR-129-3p decreased but that of Smad3 increased in the prostate cancer tissue, and the expression levels of the two were significantly and negatively correlated. Additionally, the expression levels were closely related to the degree of tumor differentiation, TNM staging, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Bioinformatics prediction and subsequent experiments proved that Smad3 was the direct target gene of miR-129-3p. Cell detection confirmed that the overexpression of miR-129-3p or the inhibition of Smad3 expression inhibited the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, promoting apoptosis, and increased the expression level of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, as well as decreased the expression level of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Inhibition of miR-129-3p expression had the opposite effect to overexpression. miR-129-3p, which may be a new and potential target for the treatment of prostate cancer, can inhibit the proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells and promote their apoptosis by directly targeting Smad3.

Emerging Roles for NLRC5 in Immune Diseases

Innate immunity activates the corresponding immune response relying on multiple pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that includes pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), like NOD-like receptors (NLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), which could accurately recognize invasive pathogens. In particular, NLRs belong to a large protein family of pattern recognition receptors in the cytoplasm, where they are highly correlated with activation of inflammatory response system followed by rapid clearance of invasive pathogens. Among the NLRs family, NLRC5, also known as NOD4 or NOD27, accounts for a large proportion and involves in immune responses far and wide. Notably, in the above response case of inflammation, the expression of NLRC5 remarkably increased in immune cells and immune-related tissues. However, the evidence for higher expression of NLRC5 in immune disease still remains controversial. It is noted that the growing evidence further accounts for the participation of NLRC5 in the innate immune response and inflammatory diseases. Moreover, NLRC5 has also been confirmed to exert a critical role in the control of regulatory diverse signaling pathways. Together with its broad participation in the occurrence and development of immune diseases, NLRC5 can be consequently treated as a potential therapeutic target. Nevertheless, the paucity of absolute understanding of intrinsic characteristics and underlying mechanisms of NLRC5 still make it hard to develop targeting drugs. Therefore, current summary about NLRC5 information is indispensable. Herein, current knowledge of NLRC5 is summarized, and research advances in terms of NLRC5 in characteristics, biological function, and regulatory mechanisms are reviewed.

Circular RNAs in Cancer

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of single-stranded closed RNA molecules that are formed by precursor mRNA back-splicing or skipping events of thousands of genes in eukaryotes as covalently closed continuous loops. High-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics approaches have uncovered the broad expression of circRNAs across species. Their high stability, abundance, and evolutionary conservation among species points to their distinct properties and diverse cellular functions as efficient microRNAs and protein sponges; they also play important roles in modulating transcription and splicing. Additionally, most circRNAs are aberrantly expressed in pathological conditions and in a tissue-specific manner such as development and progression of cancer. Herein, we highlight the characteristics, functions, and mechanisms of action of circRNAs in cancer; we also provide an overview of recent progress in the circRNA field and future application of circRNAs as cancer biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.

Review of the Isolation, Characterization, Biological Function, and Multifarious Therapeutic Approaches of Exosomes

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that contain a specific composition of proteins, lipids, RNA, and DNA. They are derived from endocytic membranes and can transfer signals to recipient cells, thus mediating a novel mechanism of cell-to-cell communication. They are also thought to be involved in cellular waste disposal. Exosomes play significant roles in various biological functions, including the transfer of biomolecules such as RNA, proteins, enzymes, and lipids and the regulation of numerous physiological and pathological processes in various diseases. Because of these properties, they are considered to be promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of various diseases and may contribute to the development of minimally invasive diagnostics and next generation therapies. The biocompatible nature of exosomes could enhance the stability and efficacy of imaging probes and therapeutics. Due to their potential use in clinical applications, exosomes have attracted much research attention on their roles in health and disease. To explore the use of exosomes in the biomedical arena, it is essential that the basic molecular mechanisms behind the transport and function of these vesicles are well-understood. Herein, we discuss the history, biogenesis, release, isolation, characterization, and biological functions of exosomes, as well as the factors influencing their biogenesis and their technical and biological challenges. We conclude this review with a discussion on the future perspectives of exosomes.

G-Quadruplexes: More Than Just a Kink in Microbial Genomes

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are noncanonical nucleic acid secondary structures formed by guanine-rich DNA and RNA sequences. In this review we aim to provide an overview of the biological roles of G4s in microbial genomes with emphasis on recent discoveries. G4s are enriched and conserved in the regulatory regions of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Importantly, G4s in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) genomes modulate genes crucial for virus replication. Recent studies on Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) shed light on the role of G4s within the microbial transcripts as cis-acting regulatory signals that modulate translation and facilitate immune evasion. Furthermore, G4s in microbial genomes have been linked to radioresistance, antigenic variation, recombination, and latency. G4s in microbial genomes represent novel therapeutic targets for antimicrobial therapy.

Novel miRNA, miR-sc14, promotes Schwann cell proliferation and migration

MicroRNAs refer to a class of endogenous, short non-coding RNAs that mediate numerous biological functions. MicroRNAs regulate various physiological and pathological activities of peripheral nerves, including peripheral nerve repair and regeneration. Previously, using a rat sciatic nerve injury model, we identified many functionally annotated novel microRNAs, including miR-sc14. Here, we used real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to examine miR-sc14 expression in rat sciatic nerve stumps. Our results show that miR-sc14 is noticeably altered following sciatic nerve injury, being up-regulated at 1 day and diminished at 7 days. EdU and transwell chamber assay results showed that miR-sc14 mimic promoted proliferation and migration of Schwann cells, while miR-sc14 inhibitor suppressed their proliferation and migration. Additionally, bioinformatic analysis examined potential target genes of miR-sc14, and found that fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 might be a potential target gene. Specifically, our results show changes of miR-sc14 expression in the sciatic nerve of rats at different time points after nerve injury. Appropriately, up-regulation of miR-sc14 promoted proliferation and migration of Schwann cells. Consequently, miR-sc14 may be an intervention target to promote repair of peripheral nerve injury. The study was approved by the Jiangsu Provincial Laboratory Animal Management Committee, China on March 4, 2015 (approval No. 20150304-004).

Rice Secondary Metabolites: Structures, Roles, Biosynthesis, and Metabolic Regulation

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important food crop providing energy and nutrients for more than half of the world population. It produces vast amounts of secondary metabolites. At least 276 secondary metabolites from rice have been identified in the past 50 years. They mainly include phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, and their derivatives. These metabolites exhibit many physiological functions, such as regulatory effects on rice growth and development, disease-resistance promotion, anti-insect activity, and allelopathic effects, as well as various kinds of biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on our knowledge of the structures, biological functions and activities, biosynthesis, and metabolic regulation of rice secondary metabolites. Some considerations about cheminformatics, metabolomics, genetic transformation, production, and applications related to the secondary metabolites from rice are also discussed.

Mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis

Mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM), present in all members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and in other pathogenic Mycobacterium spp, is a high molecular mass amphipathic lipoglycan with a defined critical role in mycobacterial survival during infection. In particular, ManLAM is well-characterized for its importance in providing M. tuberculosis a safe portal of entry to phagocytes, regulating the intracellular trafficking network, as well as immune responses of infected host cells. These ManLAM immunological characteristics are thought to be linked to the subtle but unique and well-defined structural characteristics of this molecule, including but not limited to the degree of acylation, the length of the D-mannan and D-arabinan cores, the length of the mannose caps, as well as the presence of other acidic constituents such as succinates, lactates and/or malates, and also the presence of 5-methylthioxylosyl. The impact of all these structural features on ManLAM spatial conformation and biological functions during M. tuberculosis infection is still uncertain. In this review, we dissect the relationship between ManLAM structure and biological function addressing how this relationship determines M. tuberculosis interactions with host cells, and how it aids this exceptional pathogen during the course of infection.

FHL2 interacts with iASPP and impacts the biological functions of leukemia cells

iASPP is an inhibitory member of apoptosis-stimulating proteins of p53 (ASPP) family, which inhibits p53-dependent apoptosis. iASPP was highly expressed in acute leukemia, inhibited leukemia cells apoptosis and promoted leukemogenesis. In order to clarify its mechanism, a yeast two-hybrid screen was performed and FHL2 was identified for the first time as one of the binding proteins of iASPP. FHL2 was highly expressed in K562 and Kasumi-1 cells. FHL2 and iASPP interacted with each other and co-localized in both nucleus and cytoplasm. Either FHL2 or iASPP silenced could reduce cell proliferation, induce cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase, and increase cell apoptosis. Western blot analysis showed that the level of p21 and p27 increased, CDK4, E2F1, Cyclin E and anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL reduced. Interestingly, when FHL2 was knocked down, the protein expression level of iASPP also decreased. Similarly, the expression of FHL2 would reduce when iASPP was silenced. These results indicated that FHL2 might be a novel potential target for acute myelocytic leukemia treatment.

Integrins Were Involved in Soybean Agglutinin Induced Cell Apoptosis in IPEC-J2

Soybean agglutinin (SBA), is a non-fiber carbohydrate related protein and a major anti-nutritional factor. Integrins, transmembrane glycoproteins, are involved in many biological processes. Although recent work suggested that integrins are involved in SBA-induced cell-cycle alterations, no comprehensive study has reported whether integrins are involved in SBA-induced cell apoptosis (SCA) in IPEC-J2. The relationship between SBA and integrins are still unclear. We aimed to elucidate the effects of SBA on IPEC-J2 cell proliferation and cell apoptosis; to study the roles of integrins in IPEC-J2 normal cell apoptosis (NCA) and SCA; and to illustrate the relationship and connection type between SBA and integrins. Thus, IPEC-J2 cells were treated with SBA at the levels of 0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 mg/mL to determine cell proliferation and cell apoptosis. The cells were divided into control, SBA treated groups, integrin inhibitor groups, and SBA + integrin inhibitor groups to determine the integrin function in SCA. The results showed that SBA significantly (p < 0.05) lowered cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in IPEC-J2 (p < 0.05). Inhibition of any integrin type induced the cell apoptosis (p < 0.05) and these integrins were involved in SCA (p < 0.05). Even SBA had no physical connection with integrins, an association was detected between SBA and α-actinin-2 ACTN2 (integrin-binding protein). Additionally, SBA reduced the mRNA expression of integrins by down regulating the gene expression level of ACTN2. We concluded an evidence for the anti-nutritional mechanism of SBA by ACTN2 with integrins. Further trials are needed to prove whether ACTN2 is the only protein for connecting SBA with integrin.

Carotenoids from Marine Organisms: Biological Functions and Industrial Applications

As is the case for terrestrial organisms, carotenoids represent the most common group of pigments in marine environments. They are generally biosynthesized by all autotrophic marine organisms, such as bacteria and archaea, algae and fungi. Some heterotrophic organisms also contain carotenoids probably accumulated from food or partly modified through metabolic reactions. These natural pigments are divided into two chemical classes: carotenes (such as lycopene and α- and β-carotene) that are composed of hydrogen and carbon; xanthophylls (such as astaxanthin, fucoxanthin and lutein), which are constituted by hydrogen, carbon and oxygen. Carotenoids, as antioxidant compounds, assume a key role in the protection of cells. In fact, quenching of singlet oxygen, light capture and photosynthesis protection are the most relevant biological functions of carotenoids. The present review aims at describing (i) the biological functions of carotenoids and their benefits for human health, (ii) the most common carotenoids from marine organisms and (iii) carotenoids having large success in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industries, highlighting the scientific progress in marine species cultivation for natural pigments production.

Pharmacokinetics of Exosomes-An Important Factor for Elucidating the Biological Roles of Exosomes and for the Development of Exosome-Based Therapeutics

Exosomes are small membrane vesicles containing lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Recently, researchers have uncovered that exosomes are involved in various biological events, such as tumor growth, metastasis, and the immune response, by delivering their cargos to exosome-receiving cells. Moreover, exosomes are expected to be used in therapeutic treatments, such as tissue regeneration therapy and antitumor immunotherapy, because exosomes are effective delivery vehicles for proteins, nucleic acids, and other bioactive compounds. To elucidate the biological functions of exosomes, and for the development of exosome-based therapeutics, the pharmacokinetics of exosomes is important. In this review, we aim to summarize current knowledge about the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of exosomes. The pharmacokinetics of exogenously administered exosomes is discussed based on the tissue distribution, types of cells taking up exosomes, and key molecules in the pharmacokinetics of exosomes. In addition, recent progress in the methods to control the pharmacokinetics of exosomes is reviewed.

Different impairment of immune and inflammation functions in short and long-term after ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke therapy and prognosis outcomes largely depend on the time periods after symptom onset. This study aims to explore the difference of global gene expression profiles and impairment of biological functions between short-term and long-term after stroke onset. We compared three short-term (3 h, 5 h and 24 h) and a long-term (6-month) gene expression levels by a multi-platform microarray data integration method. RankProd was used to calculate the differentially expressed genes between stroke patients and controls. DAVID Bioinformatics Resources was utilized to determine affected biological functions. Consensus cluster and hierarchical cluster methods were employed to compare the gene expression patterns of the commonly biological functions among these four time course groups. The results showed that severe impairment of inflammation and immune related functions in 5 h and 24 h after symptom onset. However, these functions were less affected in the 3 h and the 6-month groups. In addition, several key genes (CCL20, THBS1, EREG, and IL6 et al.) were dramatically down-regulated in 5 h and 24 h groups, whereas these genes showed no change or even a slight contrary expression in 3 h or 6-month groups. This study has identified the large differences of altered immune and inflammation functions based on gene levels between short and long-term after stroke onset. The findings provide valuable insight into the clinical practice and prognosis evaluation of ischemic stroke.

[The atherosclerosis and atheromatosis as two etiologically different aphysiological processes at single pathogenesis. Atheromatosis and pathogenetic role of insulin.]

It is supposed that at stages of phylogenesis seven biological functions was developed: 1) biological function of trophology; 2) homeostasis; 3) endoecology; 4) adaptation; 5) continuation of species; 6) locomotion; 7) cognitive function, including intellect. The function of trophology (feeding) is implemented by two biological reactions: exophilia - external feeding and endophilia - internal feeding. The function of endoecology prevents exceeding of upper limit of physiological interval by no substrate, catabolites and endogenous phlogogens. It is implemented by two biological functions: excretion and inflammation. The etiological factors of atherosclerosis are the following ones. The oleic mono-saturated fatty acid in chemical reactions is by far more active than palmitic fatty acid. In the ocean, all animals were carnivorous (piscivorous); species Homo Sapiens, in millions of years of life on dry land, forcedly became a herbivorousone. The main role in development of herbivorous animals belongs to insulin; the hormone regulating in the first-place metabolism of fatty acids, expresses transmutation of all endogenously synthesized from glucose palmitic saturated fatty acid in oleic monosaturated fatty acid. The late in phylogenesis insulin can't initiate transmutation of exogenous palmitic saturated fatty acid of food into oleic mono-saturated fatty acid. Under effect of insulin in vivo an active oleic type of metabolism of fatty acids is developed; and outside if effect of insulin palmitic type of metabolism of fatty acids is developed. In the ocean, synthesis of active eicosanoids occurs from ῳ-3 polyene fatty acids; there is no such fatty acids in dry land. The basis of pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is feeding of large amount of carnivorous (meat) food by phylogenetically herbivorous Homo Sapiens. This way a deficiency of palmitic saturated fatty acids in cells if developed blocking their bio-accessibility. The lipoproteins of low density are not developed in the initiated by insulin transfer of oleic triglycerides to cells in oleic apoE/B-100 lipoproteins of very low density and their absorption by cells. The transfer of triglycerides into lipoproteins of very low density is blocked under slow processes of transmutation of palmitic lipoproteins of very low density into lipoproteins of low density, retention cumulation of lipoproteins of low density in blood. Only because of partial utilization by monocytes of non-ligand palmitic lipoproteins of very low density →lipoproteins of low density that occurs in the intima of arteries of elastic type, atheromotosis is developed. The atheromotosis masses of intima are first of all interim catabolites of polyene fatty acids; the cells could not to absorb them by apoB-100-endocytosis in the content of lipoproteins of low density. The atherosclerosis, hyperlipoproteinemia, high content of lipoproteins of low density in blood and deficiency of polyene fatty acids in cells are a result of disorder of trophology function; the atheromotosis of arteries is only partial implementation of endoecology function.

[The diagnostic reading of normal level of arterial pressure: metabolism, humoral mediators, biological functions and biological reactions, local pools of inter-cellular medium.]

The physiological level of arterial pressure confirms absence in vivo of disorders of biological functions of homeostasis, tropology, endoecology, (biological reactions of excretion and inflammation) and adaptation (biological reactions of compensation and stress). The standard arterial pressure reflects physiological permeability of biolayer (endothelium/pneumocytes and endothelium/trophoblasts) on the interface of common and local pools of inter-cellular medium. Under development of increasing of metabolic arterial pressure it is a non-simple clinical biochemical task to establish which particular function out of four ones has no local compensation at the second level of regulation of metabolism (in paracrine regulating cenosises of cells and organs) and requires such a compensation as increasing of arterial pressure from the third level of regulation of metabolism, from level of organism, vasomotor center of brain. The clinical biochemical differential diagnostic of metabolic arterial hypertension requires new methods of diagnostic. These methods will be based on a mode of quantitative and qualitative detection of analytes in urine known as metabolomics. This is a mode of fluid chromatography of small numerous water-soluble analytes (metabolites and catabolites) of urine with mass-spectrometric detectors. It is proposed during analysis of spectrograms to differentiate particular peaks and to etiologically and pathogenetically group them in diagnostic clusters permitting as supposed to characterize disorder of four biological functions. And then let be present peaks still unidentified and with unclear diagnostic value. The more in number of peaks will be etiological and pathogenic clusters of metabolic arterial hypertension the more successful will be differentiated diagnostic. The disorder of four biological functions that in vivo are to be compensated from the level of organism, determines such a high rate of metabolic arterial hypertension in population of the developed countries.

[The expression of MiR-148a in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its effect on tumor cell biology functions in nasopharyngeal carcinoma]

Objective:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC) is a common malignant tumor, in recent years,most of studies have found that micro RNA played an important role in the development of NPC.This study was to explore the expression level of MiR-148a and its effect on the biological functions of NPC cells.Method:The expression of MiR-148a in NPC cell line CNE2 was detected by Real-time PCR method.MTT,clone formation assay and flow cytometry were applied to detect cell proliferation and apoptosis. We predicted that EGFR was the downstream target genes of MiR-148a through the analysis of bioinformatics software. Then the expression change of EGFR was measured by Real-time PCR and Western blot.Result:Comparing with normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissue cells,MiR-148a expression level was significantly reduced in NPC cell line CNE2.MTT,clone formation assay and flow cytometry test show that overexpression of MiR-148a can inhibit cell proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.Real-time PCR and Western blot test show that MiR 148a can reduce the expression of EGFR.Conclusion:MiR-148a can affect the proliferation and apoptosis of NPC cell,and it is likely to be involved in the development and progression of NPC.

The Biological Functions of Non-coding RNAs: From a Line to a Circle

Non-coding RNAs have gained increasing attention, as their physiological and pathological functions are being gradually uncovered. MicroRNAs are the most well-studied ncRNAs, which play essential roles in translational repression and mRNA degradation. In contrast, long non-coding RNAs are distinguished from other small/short non-coding RNAs by length and regulate chromatin remodeling, gene transcription and posttranscriptional modifications. Recently, circular RNAs have emerged as endogenous, abundant, conserved and stable in mammalian cells. It has been demonstrated that circular RNAs can function as miRNA sponges. Other possible biological functions of circular RNAs are still under investigation. In this review, the biogenesis and biological functions of the three major types of ncRNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs, are overviewed. In addition, the role of ncRNAs in human diseases and potential clinical applications of ncRNAs are discussed.

Dynamic biointerfaces: from recognition to function

The transformation of recognition signals into regulating macroscopic behaviors of biological entities (e.g., biomolecules and cells) is an extraordinarily challenging task in engineering interfacial properties of artificial materials. Recently, there has been extensive research for dynamic biointerfaces driven by biomimetic techniques. Weak interactions and chirality are two crucial routes that nature uses to achieve its functions, including protein folding, the DNA double helix, phospholipid membranes, photosystems, and shell and tooth growths. Learning from nature inspires us to design dynamic biointerfaces, which usually take advantage of highly selective weak interactions (e.g., synergetic chiral H-bonding interactions) to tailor their molecular assemblies on external stimuli. Biomolecules can induce the conformational transitions of dynamic biointerfaces, then drive a switching of surface characteristics (topographic structure, wettability, etc.), and eventually achieve macroscopic functions. The emerging progresses of dynamic biointerfaces are reviewed and its role from molecular recognitions to biological functions highlighted. Finally, a discussion is presented of the integration of dynamic biointerfaces with the basic biochemical processes, possibly solving the big challenges in life science.

PGAM1 is Involved in Spermatogenic Dysfunction and Affects Cell Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Migration

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between PGAM1 and spermatogenic dysfunction and to evaluate the effect of expression of PGAM1 on the function of germ cells.

METHODS

Expression of PGAM1 was detected in 40 cases of infertile males with definite pathological diagnosis and 12 cases of mouse models with spermatogenic dysfunction by immunohistochemistry. Then, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration were evaluated when expression of PGAM1 was knocked down by a specific small interfering RNA in GC1 and TM4 cells.

RESULTS

The positive rates of PGAM1 in patients with normal spermatogenesis, mild hypospermatogenesis, severe hypospermatogenesis, and Sertoli cell-only syndrome were 90%, 80%, 10%, 100%, respectively, and the difference was significant (P < .001). Meanwhile, expression of PGAM1 was found to be significantly decreased in mouse models with spermatogenic dysfunction. Moreover, when expression of PGAM1 was knocked down in GC1 cells, the proliferation and migration were significantly inhibited, but the rate of apoptosis was significantly increased. Furthermore, PGAM1 downregulation in TM4 cells significantly inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis but didn't affect migration.

CONCLUSION

PGAM1 correlates with spermatogenic distinction and affects the function of cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration.

Non-coding RNA: a new frontier in regulatory biology

A striking finding in the past decade is the production of numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) from mammalian genomes. While it is entirely possible that many of those ncRNAs are transcription noises or by-products of RNA processing, increasing evidence suggests that a large fraction of them are functional and provide various regulatory activities in the cell. Thus, functional genomics and proteomics are incomplete without understanding functional ribonomics. As has been long suggested by the 'RNA world' hypothesis, many ncRNAs have the capacity to act like proteins in diverse biochemical processes. The enormous amount of information residing in the primary sequences and secondary structures of ncRNAs makes them particularly suited to function as scaffolds for molecular interactions. In addition, their functions appear to be stringently controlled by default via abundant nucleases when not engaged in specific interactions. This review focuses on the functional properties of regulatory ncRNAs in comparison with proteins and emphasizes both the opportunities and challenges in future ncRNA research.

The C-terminal cysteine of turbot Scophthalmus maximus translationally controlled tumour protein plays a key role in antioxidation and growth-promoting functions

The translationally controlled tumour protein (TCTP) of turbot Scophthalmus maximus (SmTCTP) contains only one cysteine (Cys¹⁷⁰) at the C-terminal end. The biological role of this C-terminal Cys¹⁷⁰ in the antioxidation and growth-promoting functions of SmTCTP was examined by site-directed mutation of C170A (Cys¹⁷⁰ →Ala¹⁷⁰). It was found that C170A mutation not only obviously decreased the antioxidation capacity of the mutant-smtctp-transformed bacteria exposed to 0·22 mM hydrogen peroxide, but also significantly interrupted the normal growth and survival of the mutant-smtctp-transformed bacteria and flounder Paralichthys olivaceus gill (FG) cells, indicating a key role played by Cys¹⁷⁰ in the antioxidation and growth-promoting functions of SmTCTP. This study also suggested that the self-dimerization or dimerization with other interacting proteins is critical to the growth-promoting function of SmTCTP.

The very many faces of presenilins and the γ-secretase complex

Presenilin is a central, catalytic component of the γ-secretase complex which conducts intramembrane cleavage of various protein substrates. Although identified and mainly studied through its role in the development of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer disease, γ-secretase has many other important functions. The complex seems to be evolutionary conserved throughout the Metazoa, but recent findings in plants and Dictyostelium discoideum as well as in archeons suggest that its evolution and functions might be much more diversified than previously expected. In this review, a selective survey of the multitude of functions of presenilins and the γ-secretase complex is presented. Following a brief overview of γ-secretase structure, assembly and maturation, three functional aspects are analyzed: (1) the role of γ-secretase in autophagy and phagocytosis; (2) involvement of the complex in signaling related to endocytosis; and (3) control of calcium fluxes by presenilins.

Glycosides from marine sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae): structures, taxonomical distribution, biological activities and biological roles

Literature data about glycosides from sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae) are reviewed. Structural diversity, biological activities, taxonomic distribution and biological functions of these natural products are discussed.