Vanillin Promotes the Germination of Antrodia camphorata Arthroconidia through PKA and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Proteomic analysis of inhibitor of apoptosis protein‑like protein‑2 on breast cancer cell proliferation

Although inhibitor of apoptosis protein-like protein-2 (ILP-2) is considered to be a novel enhancer of breast cancer proliferation, its underlying mechanism of action remains unknown. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the expression profile of ILP-2-related proteins in MCF-7 cells to reveal their effect on promoting breast cancer cell proliferation. The isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method was used to analyse the expression profile of ILP-2-related proteins in MCF-7 breast cancer cells transfected with small interfering (si)RNA against ILP-2 (siRNA-5 group) and the negative control (NC) siRNA. The analysis of the iTRAQ data was carried out using western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. A total of 4,065 proteins were identified in MCF-7 cells, including 241 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs; fold change ≥1.20 or ≤0.83; P<0.05). Among them, 156 proteins were upregulated and 85 were downregulated in the siRNA-5 group compared with in the NC group. The aforementioned DEPs were mainly enriched in ‘ECM-receptor interaction’. In addition, the top 10 biological processes related to these proteins were associated with signal transduction, cell proliferation and immune system processes. Furthermore, ILP-2 silencing upregulated N(4)-(β-N-acetylglucosaminyl)-L-asparaginase, metallothionein-1E and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, whereas ILP-2 overexpression exerted the opposite effect. The results of the present study suggested that ILP-2 could promote breast cancer growth via regulating cell proliferation, signal transduction, immune system processes and other cellular physiological activities.

Comprehensive transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of antroquinonol biosynthetic genes and enzymes in Antrodia camphorata

Antroquinonol (AQ) has several remarkable bioactivities in acute myeloid leukaemia and pancreatic cancer, but difficulties in the mass production of AQ hamper its applications. Currently, molecular biotechnology methods, such as gene overexpression, have been widely used to increase the production of metabolites. However, AQ biosynthetic genes and enzymes are poorly understood. In this study, an integrated study coupling RNA-Seq and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) were used to identify AQ synthesis-related genes and enzymes in Antrodia camphorata during coenzyme Q0-induced fermentation (FM). The upregulated genes related to acetyl-CoA synthesis indicated that acetyl-CoA enters the mevalonate pathway to form the farnesyl tail precursor of AQ. The metE gene for an enzyme with methyl transfer activity provided sufficient methyl groups for AQ structure formation. The CoQ2 and ubiA genes encode p-hydroxybenzoate polyprenyl transferase, linking coenzyme Q0 and the polyisoprene side chain to form coenzyme Q3. NADH is transformed into NAD+ and releases two electrons, which may be beneficial for the conversion of coenzyme Q3 to AQ. Understanding the biosynthetic genes and enzymes of AQ is important for improving its production by genetic means in the future.