Quantitative trait loci identification reveals zinc finger protein CONSTANS-LIKE 4 as the key candidate gene of stigma color in watermelon(Citrullus lanatus)

Stigma color is a critical agronomic trait in watermelon that plays an important role in pollination.However,there are few reports on the regulation of stigma color in watermelon.In this study,a genetic analysis of the F2 population derived from ZXG1553(P1,with orange stigma)and W1-17(P2,with yellow stigma)indicated that stigma color is a quantitative trait and the orange stigma is recessive compared with the yellow stigma.Bulk segregant analysis sequencing(BSA-seq)revealed a 3.75 Mb segment on chromosome 6 that is related to stigma color.Also,a major stable effective QTL Clqsc6.1(QTL stigma color)was detected in two years between cleaved amplified polymorphic sequencing(CAPS)markers Chr06_8338913 and Chr06_9344593 spanning a~1.01 Mb interval that harbors 51 annotated genes.Cla97C06G117020(annotated as zinc finger protein CONSTANS-LIKE 4)was identified as the best candidate gene for the stigma color trait through RNA-seq,quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR),and gene structure alignment analysis among the natural watermelon panel.The expression level of Cla97C06G117020 in the orange stigma accession was lower than in the yellow stigma accessions with a significant difference.A nonsynonymous SNP site of the Cla97C06G117020 coding region that causes amino acid variation was related to the stigma color variation among nine watermelon accessions according to their re-sequencing data.Stigma color formation is often related to carotenoids,and we also found that the expression trend of ClCHYB(annotated asβ-carotene hydroxylase)in the carotenoid metabolic pathway was consistent with Cla97C06G117020,and it was expressed in low amounts in the orange stigma accession.These data indicated that Cla97C06G117020 and ClCHYB may interact to form the stigma color.This study provides a theoretical basis for gene fine mapping and mechanisms for the regulation of stigma color in watermelon.

Diagnostic value of methylated branched chain amino acid transaminase 1/IKAROS family zinc finger 1 for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND The diagnostic value of combined methylated branched chain amino acid transaminase 1(BCAT1)/IKAROS family zinc finger 1(IKZF1)in plasma for colorectal cancer(CRC)has been explored since 2015.Recently,several related studies have published their results and showed its diagnostic efficacy.AIM To analyze the diagnostic value of methylated BCAT1/IKZF1 in plasma for screening and postoperative follow-up of CRC.METHODS The candidate studies were identified by searching the PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,CNKI,and Wanfang databases from May 31,2003 to June 1,2023.Sensitivity,specificity,and diagnostic accuracy were calculated by merging ratios or means.RESULTS Twelve eligible studies were included in the analysis,involving 6561 participants.The sensitivity of methylated BCAT1/IKZF1 in plasma for CRC diagnosis was 60%[95%confidence interval(CI)53-67]and specificity was 92%(95%CI:90-94).The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 8.0(95%CI:5.8-11.0)and 0.43(95%CI:0.36-0.52),respectively.Diagnostic odds ratio was 19(95%CI:11-30)and area under the curve was 0.88(95%CI:0.85-0.91).The sensitivity and specificity for CRC screening were 64%(95%CI:59-69)and 92%(95%CI:91-93),respectively.The sensitivity and specificity for recurrence detection during follow-up were 54%CONCLUSION The detection of methylated BCAT1/IKZF1 in plasma,as a non-invasive detection method of circulating tumor DNA,has potential CRC diagnosis,but the clinical application prospect needs to be further explored.

Upregulated lncRNA PRNT promotes progression and oxaliplatin resistance of colorectal cancer cells by regulating HIPK2 transcription

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is the third most common cancer and a significant cause of cancer-related mortality globally.Resistance to chemotherapy,especially during CRC treatment,leads to reduced effectiveness of drugs and poor patient outcomes.Long noncoding RNAs(lncRNAs)have been implicated in various pathophysiological processes of tumor cells,including chemotherapy resistance,yet the roles of many lncRNAs in CRC remain unclear.AIM To identify and analyze the lncRNAs involved in oxaliplatin resistance in CRC and to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms influencing this resistance.METHODS Gene Expression Omnibus datasets GSE42387 and GSE30011 were reanalyzed to identify lncRNAs and mRNAs associated with oxaliplatin resistance.Various bioinformatics tools were employed to elucidate molecular mechanisms.The expression levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs were assessed via quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.Functional assays,including MTT,wound healing,and Transwell,were conducted to investigate the functional implications of lncRNA alterations.Interactions between lncRNAs and trans-cription factors were examined using RIP and luciferase reporter assays,while Western blotting was used to confirm downstream pathways.Additionally,a xenograft mouse model was utilized to study the in vivo effects of lncRNAs on chemotherapy resistance.RESULTS LncRNA prion protein testis specific(PRNT)was found to be upregulated in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cell lines and negatively correlated with homeodomain interacting protein kinase 2(HIPK2)expression.PRNT was demonstrated to sponge transcription factor zinc finger protein 184(ZNF184),which in turn could regulate HIPK2 expression.Altered expression of PRNT influenced CRC cell sensitivity to oxaliplatin,with overexpression leading to decreased sensitivity and decreased expression reducing resistance.Both RIP and luciferase reporter assays indicated that ZNF184 and HIPK2 are targets of PRNT.The PRNT/ZNF184/HIPK2 axis was implicated in promoting CRC progression and oxaliplatin resistance both in vitro and in vivo.CONCLUSION The study concludes that PRNT is upregulated in oxaliplatin-resistant CRC cells and modulates the expression of HIPK2 by sponging ZNF184.This regulatory mechanism enhances CRC progression and resistance to oxaliplatin,positioning PRNT as a promising therapeutic target for CRC patients undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Therapeutic targeting of cellular prion protein: toward the development of dual mechanism anti-prion compounds

PrPSc,a misfolded,aggregation-prone isoform of the cellular prion protein(PrPC),is the infectious prion agent responsible for fatal neurodegenerative diseases of humans and other mammals.PrPSccan adopt different pathogenic conformations(prion strains),which can be resistant to potential drugs,or acquire drug resistance,posing challenges for the development of effective therapies.Since PrPCis the obligate precursor of any prion strain and serves as the mediator of prion neurotoxicity,it represents an attractive therapeutic target fo r prion diseases.In this minireview,we briefly outline the approaches to target PrPCand discuss our recent identification of Zn(Ⅱ)-Bn PyP,a PrPC-targeting porphyrin with an unprecedented bimodal mechanism of action.We argue that in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism by which Zn(Ⅱ)-Bn PyP targets PrPCmay lead toward the development of a new class of dual mechanism anti-prion compounds.

ZNF554 Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Progression via Regulating RBM5 and Inactivating WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Objective:Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma(UCEC),a kind of gynecologic malignancy,poses a significant risk to women’s health.The precise mechanism underlying the development of UCEC remains elusive.Zinc finger protein 554(ZNF554),a member of the Krüppel-associated box domain zinc finger protein superfamily,was reported to be dysregulated in various illnesses,including malignant tumors.This study aimed to examine the involvement of ZNF554 in the development of UCEC.Methods:The expression of ZNF554 in UCEC tissues and cell lines were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blot assay.Cells with stably overexpressed or knocked-down ZNF554 were established through lentivirus infection.CCK-8,wound healing,and Transwell invasion assays were employed to assess cell proliferation,migration,and invasion.Propidium iodide(PI)staining combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting(FACS)flow cytometer was utilized to detect cell cycle distribution.qRT-PCR and Western blotting were conducted to examine relative mRNA and protein levels.Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase reporter assay were used to explore the regulatory role of ZNF554 in RNA binding motif 5(RBM5).Results:The expression of ZNF554 was found to be reduced in both UCEC samples and cell lines.Decreased expression of ZNF554 was associated with higher tumor stage,decreased overall survival,and reduced disease-free survival in UCEC.ZNF554 overexpression suppressed cell proliferation,migration,and invasion,while also inducing cell cycle arrest.In contrast,a decrease in ZNF554 expression resulted in the opposite effect.Mechanistically,ZNF554 transcriptionally regulated RBM5,leading to the deactivation of the Wingless(WNT)/β-catenin signaling pathway.Moreover,the findings from rescue studies demonstrated that the inhibition of RBM5 negated the impact of ZNF554 overexpression onβ-catenin and p-glycogen synthase kinase-3β(p-GSK-3β).Similarly,the deliberate activation of RBM5 reduced the increase inβ-catenin and p-GSK-3βcaused by the suppression of ZNF554.In vitro experiments showed that ZNF554 overexpression-induced decreases in cell proliferation and migration were counteracted by RBM5 knockdown.Additionally,when RBM5 was overexpressed,it hindered the improvements in cell proliferation and migration caused by reducing the ZNF554 levels.Conclusion:ZNF554 functions as a tumor suppressor in UCEC.Furthermore,ZNF554 regulates UCEC progression through the RBM5/WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway.ZNF554 shows a promise as both a prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for UCEC.

Zinc finger protein A20 protects rats against chronic liver allograft dysfunction

AIM： To investigate the effect of zinc finger protein A20 on chronic liver allograft dysfunction in rats. METHODS： AIIogeneic liver transplantation from DA rats to Lewis rats was performed. Chronic liver allograft dysfunction was induced in the rats by administering low-dose tacrolimus at postoperative day （POD） 5. Hepatic overexpression of A20 was achieved by recom- binant adenovirus （rAd.）-mediated gene transfer ad- ministered intravenously every 10 d starting from POD 10. The recipient rats were injected with physiologi- cal saline, rAdEasy-A20 （1 × 109 pfu/30 g weight） or rAdEasy （1 × 109 pfu/30 g weight） every 10 d through the tail vein for 3 mo starting from POD 10. Liver tissue samples were harvested on POD 30 and POD 60. RESULTS： Liver-transplanted rats treated with only tacrolimus showed chronic allograft dysfunction with severe hepatic fibrosis. A20 overexpression ameliorated the effects on liver function, attenuated liver allograft fibrosis and prolonged the survival of the recipient rats. Treatment with A20 suppressed hepatic protein pro- duction of tumor growth factor （TGF）-β1, interleukin- 113, caspase-8, CD40, CD40L, intercellular adhesion molecule-i, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin. A20 treatment suppressed liver cell apopto- sis and inhibited nuclear factor-KB activation of Kupffer cells （KCs）, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells （LSECs） and hepatic stellate cells （HSCs）, and it subsequently decreased cytokine mRNA expression in KCs and LSECs and reduced the production of TGF-β1 in HSCs. CONCLUSION： A20 might prevent chronic liver allogra- ft dysfunction by re-establishing functional homeostasis of KCs, LSECs and HSCs.

Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 mediates aerobic glycolysis via suppression of sirtuin 3 in pancreatic cancer

AIM TO uncover the roles of tumor-promoting gene ZEB1 in aerobic glycolysis regulation and shed light on the underlying molecular mechanism.METHODS Endogenous zinc finger E-box binding homeobox-1 （ZEB1） was silenced using a and the impact of ZEB1 and lentivirus-mediated method, methyI-CpG binding domain protein 1 （MBD1） on aerobic glycolysis was measured using seahorse cellular flux analyzers, reactive oxygen species quantification, and mitochondrial membrane potential measurement. The interaction between ZEB1 and MBD1 was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays. The impact of ZEB1 and MBD1 interaction on sirtuin 3 （SIRT3） expression was confirmed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and dual-luciferase and chromatinimmunoprecipitation assays.RESULTS ZEB1 was a positive regulator of aerobic glycolysis in pancreatic cancer. ZEB1 transcriptionally silenced expression of SIRT3, a mitochondrial-localized tumor suppressor, through interaction with MBD1.CONCLUSION ZEB1 silenced SIRT3 expression via interaction with MBD1 to promote aerobic glycolysis in pancreatic cancer.

Myeloid zinc finger 1(MZF1) is the most important transcriptional factor for porcine follistatin promoter

Follistatin （FS） is a secreted protein, which was originally isolated from porcine follicular fluid. Expression of follistatin is tightly regulated during porcine growth and development. To study the essential transcriptional regions of the porcine FS promoter, ten primer pairs were designed to amplify segments with different lengths of the FS promoter from -1 800 to ＋16 bp. The products were then inserted into the pGL3-basic vector to analyze the relative luciferase activity. The results showed that the most remarkable changes of promoter activity were observed between constructs （-302/＋16 bp）-FS and （-180/＋16 bp）-FS （P〈0.01）. Further research showed that the reconstructed reporter plasmid lacking myeloid zinc finger 1 （MZF1） binding sequence had significantly decreased luciferase activity （P〈0.05）. Furthermore, the FS protein expression was significantly increased in PK15 cells while the MZF1 was overexpressed, suggesting that the short sequence ＂TCCCCACC＂ （the recognition site of transcription factor MZF1） was the most important for FS transcription activation in the porcine.

Zinc finger protein 139 expression in gastric cancer and its clinical significance

AIM: To investigate the expression of zinc finger protein 139 (ZNF139) in gastric cancer (GC), and to analyze its clinical significance.

Expression Pattern Analysis of Zinc Finger Protein Genes in Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) Under Phosphorus Deprivation

Zinc finger protein（ZFP） genes comprise a large and diverse gene family, and are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants. In this study, a total of 126 ZFP genes classified into various types in wheat were characterized and subjected to expression pattern analysis under inorganic phosphate（Pi） deprivation. The wheat ZFP genes and their corresponding GenBank numbers were obtained from the information of a 4×44K wheat gene expression microarray chip. They were confirmed by sequence similarity analysis and named based on their homologs in Brachypodium distachyon or Oriza sativa. Expression analysis based on the microarray chip revealed that these ZFP genes are categorized into 11 classes according to their gene expression patterns in a 24-h of Pi deprivation regime. Among them, ten genes were differentially up-regulated, ten genes differentially downregulated, and two genes both differentially up- and down-regulated by Pi deprivation. The differentially up- or down-regulated genes exhibited significantly more or less transcripts at one, two, or all of the checking time points（1, 6, and 24 h） of Pi stress in comparison with those of normal growth, respectively. The both differentially up- and down-regulated genes exhibited contrasting expression patterns, of these, TaWRKY70;5 showed significantly up-regulated at 1 and 6 h and down-regulated at 24 h whereas TaAN1AN20-8;2 displayed significantly upregulated at 1 h and downregulated at 6 h under deprivation Pi condition. Real time PCR analysis confirmed the expression patterns of the differentially expressed genes obtained by the microarray chip. Our results indicate that numerous ZFP genes in wheat respond to Pi deprivation and have provided further insight into the molecular basis that plants respond to Pi deprivation mediated by the ZFP gene family.

Zinc Finger Protein-activating Transcription Factor Up-regulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Expression in Vitro

Objective To construct the zinc finger protein-activating transcription factor (ZFP-ATF) plasmid and evaluate its efficacy in inducing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in EY.HY926 endothelial cells. Methods Firstly, we constructed the ZFP-ATF plasmid, then testified the quantity of VEGF protein in EY.HY926 endothelial cells after transfected with ZFP-ATP plasmid by Western blot, finally, we used the RT-PCR to testify whether the ZFP-ATF can stimulate expression of VEGF splice variants. Results The ZFP-ATF DNA sequences were located the multiclone sites of PVAX1 vector between the site of BamH Ⅰ and Xhol. Western blot result showed VEGF expression in EY.HY926 endothelial cells transfected with ZFP-ATF plasmid was significantly higher than that in cells transfected with VEGF165 (19.95±3.95 vs. 12.15±1.55 μg/μL, P<0.01). RT-PCR result showed VEGF-A mRNA expression level induced by ZFP-ATF was high than that induced by VEGF165. Conclusion ZFP-ATF can up-regulate the VEGF-A expression in comparison with VEGF165, which might have beneficial effects in angiogenesis process.

Genome-wide analysis of the CCCH zinc finger family in longan:Characteristic identification and expression profiles in Dimocarpus longan Lour

CCCH(C3 H) Zinc finger(Znf) transcription factors(TFs), as a novel type of Znf gene, regulate the expression of genes by binding to their mRNAs and play important roles in plant growth and development and abiotic stress resistance.Longan(Dimocarpous longan) is a tropical/subtropical fruit tree of great economic importance in Southeast Asia.However, genomic information on C3 H and their functions in longan are still unknown. In this study, a comprehensive analysis of the longan C3 H(DlC3 H) gene family was carried out. A total of 49 DlC3 H genes in three clades were identified from the longan genome database. Characteristics of the genes were analyzed with respect to gene structure,motif composition, phylogenetic tree and potential functions. The analysis of alternative splicing(AS) events suggested that AS events in DlC3 H genes were related to the transformation from longan non-embryonic to embryonic cultures.Promoter analysis indicated that most of the DlC3 H genes included cis-acting elements associated with hormones and stresses responses. Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that 26 of the 49 DlC3 Hs, which possess methyl jasmonate(MeJA) and abscisic acid(ABA) responsive cis-acting elements, showed differential expression patterns under treatment with ABA, MeJA and their endogenous inhibitors, suggesting that DlC3 Hs might be involved in the ABA and MeJA signaling pathways. The expression profiles of 17 of the 49 DlC3 Hs in non-embryonic callus and three tissues of embryonic cultures showed that only five of the 17 DlC3 Hs had the same expression trends as the FPKM trends in transcriptome data;the expression levels of DlC3 H07/14/16/36/49 in embryogenic callus and DlC3 H04/38 in globular embryos were high, suggesting that they have different functions in embryonic development. Further, we verified that DlC3 H01/03/05/11/19/39 were regulated by sRNAs by a modified 5’ RLM-RACE method. This study provides the first systematic analysis of C3 H genes in longan, and found that C3 H genes may be involved in hormone and stress responses, and somatic embryogenesis. Our preliminary investigation may provide clues to further studies on the characteristics and functions of this family in longan.

Expression and analysis of zinc fi nger family gene in Lenzites gibbosa

Zinc finger transcription factors play significant roles in the growth and development of plant and animal,but their function remains obscure in fungi.Lenzites gibbosa mycelia were extracted and sequenced by transcriptome analysis after growing on sawdust at different times to support mycelial growth of L.gibbosa in a nutrient matrix.Data bases used for analysis were the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes(KEGG)annotation,the cluster of orthologous groups of proteins(COG)and gene ontology(GO)annotation.Zinc finger class genes related to the growth and development of L.gibbosa were screened.GO annotation and enrichment analysis of diff erentially expressed genes were carried out.A total of 114.55 Gb Clean Data were obtained from the L.gibbosa transcriptome.The average Clean Data in each sample was 6.16 Gb.The relative efficiency of reads between each sample and the reference genome was 88.5%to 91.4%.The COG analysis showed that most zinc finger protein genes were related to replication,recombination and repair function.GO enrichment analysis showed that the expressed genes involved in cellular process,cell part and binding.We identifi ed seventy-two expressed genes including seven up-regulated genes and sixty-five down-regulated genes by applying DESeq2 data analysis software.By comparing the significantly expressed genes with KEGG database,66 annotated sequences were obtained,and 35 primary metabolic pathways were annotated.Pathway enrichment analysis showed that differentially expressed genes were signifi cantly enriched in protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathways.Gene_11750 and gene_5266 are highly correlated with the growth and development of L.gibbosa and are closely related to protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway.According to gene functional analysis,seven important differentially expressed genes related to the growth and development of L.gibbosa were identified.

PHOSPHORYLATION OF THE MYELOID ZINC FINGER PRO TEIN MZF－1 IS DIFFERENTIALLY REGULATED DURING MYELOPOIESIS

The myeloid zinc finger gene-1 (MZF-1) encodes a putative transcription factor whose expression has been implicated in myeloid differentiation. To study the role of the nMZF-1 in myploid differentiation,we characterized MZF-1 protein expr.ession,cellular localization,and phosphorylation in leukemia cell lines and leukemia cells.MZF1 protein expression was found only in myeloid cells. In proliferating HL-60 cells,MZF-1 was localized to the nucleus with some cytoplasmic distribution; however,upon retinoic acid (RA)induced granulocytic differentiation, MZF-1 became restricted to the nucleus.In32 PO4-la labelled HL-60 cell, MZF-1 was immunoprecipitated as a phosphoprotein doublet of 53￣54kDa. MZF-1 phosphorylation increased after acute stimulation of HL-60 with granulocytemacrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3(IL-3),phorbol ester,and serum.Chronic GM-CSf treatment of HL-60 cells potentiating granulocytic differentiation sustained the hyperphosphorylated state of MZF-1,whereas chronic treatment with TPA leading to monocytic-macrophage differentiation was accompanied by the disappearance of the 53 kDa MZF-1 phosphoprotein and the appearance of cross-reactive 69 and 105kDa phosphoprotein species. K562 human myeloblastic cells which are resistant to granulocytic differentiation express both the 53 kDa MZF-1 protein and the cross reactive 69 and 105 kDa proteins,but the 53 kDa MZF-1 protein is not detectable phosphorylated under any experimental conditions. Acute promyelocytic leukemic cells exhibited the 53kDa phosphoprotein,whereas monocytic leukemia cells expressed only the 69 and 105 kDa MZF-1 related phosphoproteins. The studies demonstrate that MZF-1 is a nuclear protein whose phosphorylation is associated with the granulocytic commitment of myeloid cells.

Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of a Cys2/His2 Type Zinc Finger Protein Gene in Upland Cotton

The zinc finger proteins belong to the largest family of transcription factors.But there is little research of Cys2/His2 type zinc finger proteins in cotton,and there is no submission of correlating

STUDIES ON THE SYNTHESIS AND DNA-BINDING ABILITY OF ZINC FINGER MOTIF

Transcription factor SPI is a protcin present in mammalian cells that binds to GC box promoter clements of Gene and selectively activates mRNA synthesis. The gene contains functional recognition sites. It contains three continuous zinc finger motifs, which are believed being mctalloprotein structures that interact with DNA. We synthesized the second zine finger fragment of SP1 (SP1-ZF2) and its mutant (SP1-ZF2 / HT. E20→H. R23→T), we also synthesized the Cys-Cys loop (ZF6) and the His-His loop (ZF5) of SPI and linked the twoloops together using a β-turn structure to obtain a finger mimic analogue (ZF-15) by stepwise solid-phase technique. Atomic absorption studies show that SP 1-ZF2 and SP1-ZF2 / HT bind zinc cquimolarly, but ZF-15 docs not bind Zn anyway. The CD experiments demonstrate a significant change in secondary structure in the prescnce or absence of Zn to SP1-ZF2 and SP1-ZF2/ HT, but there is no change about ZF-15. Gcl-retardation clectrophoresis assays indicate that SP1-ZF2 binds to DNA sequence specifically in the presence of Zn, but SP1-ZF2 / HT docs not bind as SP 1-ZF2 did. We observed that a single zine finger like SP1-ZF2 is able to bind DNA sequence specifically.

Long non-coding RNA-ATB induces trastuzumab resistance and aggravates the progression of gastric cancer by repressing miR- 200c via ZNF217 elevation

Background: Trastuzumab resistance accounts for chemotherapy failure in gastric cancer patients in clinicalpractice. The significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the maintenance of drug resistance in gastriccancer has been already underlined. Method: This study aimed to identify the specific role of lncRNA-ATB in gastriccancer progression and trastuzumab resistance. The downstream miRs of lncRNA-ATB and target genes of miRs werepredicted by bioinformatics analysis and verified using dual luciferase reporter assay. Loss- and gain-function assayswere performed to explore the roles of lncRNA-ATB, miR-200c, and zinc-finger protein 217 (ZNF217) in the cellfunctions and trastuzumab resistance of a trastuzumab-resistant gastric cancer cell line (NCI-N87-TR). Result:LncRNA-ATB was upregulated, while miR-200c was downregulated. Depletion of lncRNA-ATB or miR-200celevation led to a decrease in malignant properties of NCI-N87-TR cells. LncRNA-ATB could negatively target miR-200c, which in turn inversely targeted and reduced the expression of ZNF217. Silencing of ZNF217 could inhibit cellviability and migration. Conclusion: lncRNA-ATB promoted the progression and trastuzumab resistance of gastriccancer by repressing miR-200c via ZNF217 upregulation.

In Silico Cloning,Expression and Phylogenetic Analysis of Pig GATA-3 Gene

Pig GATA-3 cDNA was obtained by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, using in silico cloning strategy based on pig dbEST. The length of pig GATA-3 cDNA is 1,760 bp containing a 1,335 bp open reading frame （ORF）, which encodes a 444 amino acid protein. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis of GATA-3 mRNA expression was done using the total RNAs from different normal tissues of a large white pig. The GATA-binding family of transcription factors comprised of a subgroup of DNA-binding proteins that both bound the consensus GATA motif and contained the class Ⅳ zinc finger motif. The molecular evolution tree was constructed based on the GATA-3 amino acid sequence and class Ⅳ zinc finger motif using mega 3.1. Phylogeny analysis of GATA factors isolated from vertebrates suggested that the six distinct vertebrate GATAs had descended from a common ancestral sequence, and the topology also suggested multiple modes of evolution including gene duplication and class Ⅳ zinc finger motif recombination. These data helped the authors in illuminating the pathways of divergent and convergent evolution of the GATA-binding family of transcription factors.

Zinc finger protein 296 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression via intervening interaction between macrophages and B cells

Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a prevalent malignancy with poor survival.Different cell types in the tumor microenvironment participate in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC.This study aimed to analyze the immune microenvironment of HCC and its relationship with clinical outcomes.Methods:We analyzed HCC RNA-seq for cell type identification and prognosis by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts using CIBERSORTx.The interaction between B cells and macrophages in HCC was analyzed using a Hepa1-6 orthotopic transplantation mouse model and flow cytometry.The effect of Zinc finger protein 296(ZNF296)on the interaction of B cells and macrophages was verified using human HCC tissues analyzed through western blot,quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(qPCR),and multiplex immunofluorescence.A comparative analysis of immune cells associated with HCC prognosis was performed using RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA),bulk multimodal data,and single-cell transcriptomic data from existing HCC single-cell transcriptomic data employing the Single Cell Inferred Site Specific Omics Resource for Tumor Microenvironments(SCISSOR).Results:Liver hepatocellular carcinoma(LIHC)RNA-seq analysis of TCGA showed that high eosinophil infiltration promoted HCC progression.The proportion of B cells correlated with that of macrophages(r=−0.24)and affected the infiltration and programmed death ligand 1(PD-L1)expression of macrophages in HCC.ZNF296 may participate in the interaction between B cells and macrophages to accelerate the HCC progression by regulating PAFAH1B3 and H2AFX.Moreover,ZNF296 expression positively correlated with LAG3(r=0.27)and CTLA4(r=0.31)expression levels.Among the immune cell phenotypes related to survival and death identified by SCISSOR analysis,T cells correlated with an excellent prognosis of HCC.The normal function of liver and dendritic cells was also associated with a good prognosis in HCC.Conclusions:This study analyzed the interaction of the immune microenvironment with HCC prognosis,identifying ZNF296 as a promising diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC.

Progress and prospects of engineered sequence-specific DNA modulating technologies for the management of liver diseases

Liver diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. The hepatic illnesses, which include inherited metabolic disorders, hemophilias and viralhepatitides, are complex and currently difficult to treat. The maturation of gene therapy has heralded new avenues for developing effective intervention for these diseases. DNA modification using gene therapy is now possible and available technology may be exploited to achieve long term therapeutic benefit. The ability to edit DNA sequences specifically is of paramount importance to advance gene therapy for application to liver diseases. Recent development of technologies that allow for this has resulted in rapid advancement of gene therapy to treat several chronic illnesses. Improvements in application of derivatives of zinc finger proteins(ZFPs), transcription activator-like effectors(TALEs), homing endonucleases(HEs) and clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats(CRISPR) and CRISPR associated(Cas) systems have been particularly important. These sequence-specific technologies may be used to modify genes permanently and also to alter gene transcription for therapeutic purposes. This review describes progress in development of ZFPs, TALEs, HEs and CRISPR/Cas for application to treating liver diseases.