FERM domain phosphorylation and endogenous 3＇UTR are not essential for regulating the function and subcellular localization of polarity protein Crumbs

In the past two decades, extensive studies have focused on a group of so-called polarity proteins that play conserved and essential functions in establishing and maintaining cell polarity in epithelial cells. Among them, Crumbs （Crb） is the only trans- membrane polarity protein characterized to date （Tepass et al.,

Down-regulated expression of atypical PKC-binding domain deleted asip isoforms in human hepatocellular carcinomas

Asip is a mammalian homologue of polarity protein Par-3 of Caenorhabditis elegans and Bazooka of Drosophila melanogaster. Asip/Par-3/Bazooka are PDZ-motif containing proteins that localize asymmetrically to the cell periphery and play a pivotal role in cell polarity and asymmetric cell division. In the present study, we have cloned human asip cDNA and its splicing variants by 5’-RACE and RT-PCR using candidate human EST clones which have a high homology to rat asip cDNA. The full-length cDNA of human asip encodes a 1,353 aa protein exhibiting 88% similarity to the rat one. Human asip is a single copy gene consisting of at least 26 exons and localizing in human chromosome 10, band p11.2, with some extraordinarily long introns. All exon/intron boundary nucleotides conform to the "gt-ag" rule. Three main transcripts were detected by Northern blot analysis, and at least five variants, from alternative splicing and polyadenylation, have been identified by RT-PCR and liver cDNA library screening. Exon 17b deleted asip mRNAs expressed ubiquitously in normal human tissues, including liver, on RT-PCR analysis. However, they were absent from most human liver cancer cell lines examined. More interestingly, the expression of exon 1 7b deleted variants was down regulated in 52.6% (10/19) clinic specimens of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs), compared with the surrounding nontumorous liver tissues from the same patients. The presence of various splicing transcripts, the variation of their distribution among different tissues and cells, and their differential expressions in human HCCs suggest that human Asip isoforms may function in different context.

Advances in Research of PRMT7,DVL3 and Gastric Cancer

Protein arginine methyltransferase 7(PRMT7)is closely related to the formation of lung cancer,breast cancer and other malignant tumors,and it may be a potential target gene for malignant tumor therapy.Dishevelleds(DVLs)are key factors involved in cell proliferation,invasion and metastasis.Among the dishevelleds,the dishevelled segment polarity protein 3(DVL3)is a key protein in the Wnt signaling pathway,and its abnormal expression plays an important role in the occurrence and development of malignant tumors.This paper reviewed the advances in research of PRMT7 and DVL3 in gastric cancer.

Asymmetric cell division in plant development

Asymmetric cell division(ACD) is a fundamental process that generates new cell types during development in eukaryotic species.In plant development,post-embryonic organogenesis driven by ACD is universal and more important than in animals,in which organ pattern is preset during embryogenesis.Thus,plant development provides a powerful system to study molecular mechanisms underlying ACD.During the past decade,tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of the key components and mechanisms involved in this important process in plants.Here,we present an overview of how ACD is determined and regulated in multiple biological processes in plant development and compare their conservation and specificity among different model cell systems.We also summarize the molecular roles and mechanisms of the phytohormones in the regulation of plant ACD.Finally,we conclude with the overarching paradigms and principles that govern plant ACD and consider how new technologies can be exploited to fill the knowledge gaps and make new advances in the field.