BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in many diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is a metabolic pathway that facilitates cancer cell survival in response to stress. ...BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in many diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is a metabolic pathway that facilitates cancer cell survival in response to stress. The relationship between autophagy and the lncRNA-activated by transforming growth factor beta (lncRNA-ATB) in HCC remains unknown. AIM To explore the influence of lncRNA-ATB in regulating autophagy in HCC cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS In the present study, we evaluated lncRNA-ATB expression in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from 72 HCC cases by real-time PCR. We evaluated the role of lncRNA-ATB in the proliferation and clonogenicity of HCC cells in vitro. The effect of lncRNA-ATB on autophagy was determined using a LC3-GFP reporter and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the mechanism by which lncRNA-ATB regulates autophagy was explored by immunofluorescence staining, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and Western blot. RESULTS The expression of lncRNA-ATB was higher in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues, and lncRNA-ATB expression was positively correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, and poorer survival of patients with HCC. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of lncRNA-ATB promoted cell proliferation and clonogenicnity of HCC cells in vitro. LncRNA-ATB promoted autophagy by activating Yesassociated protein (YAP). Moreover, lncRNA-ATB interacted with autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5) mRNA and increased ATG5 expression. CONCLUSION LncRNA-ATB regulates autophagy by activating YAP and increasing ATG5 expression. Our data demonstrate a novel function for lncRNA-ATB in autophagy and suggest that lncRNA-ATB plays an important role in HCC.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a highly invasive malignant tumor. Expression levels of the autophagy-related protein microtubule-associated protein 1 A/1 B-light chain 3(LC3) and perineural invasion(PNI) are closely ...BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a highly invasive malignant tumor. Expression levels of the autophagy-related protein microtubule-associated protein 1 A/1 B-light chain 3(LC3) and perineural invasion(PNI) are closely related to its occurrence and development. Our previous results showed that the high expression of LC3 was positively correlated with PNI in the patients with pancreatic cancer. In this study, we further searched for differential genes involved in autophagy of pancreatic cancer by gene expression profiling and analyzed their biological functions in pancreatic cancer, which provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the pathophysiological mechanism of autophagy in pancreatic cancer and PNI.AIM To identify differentially expressed genes involved in pancreatic cancer autophagy and explore the pathogenesis at the molecular level.METHODS Two sets of gene expression profiles of pancreatic cancer/normal tissue(GSE16515 and GSE15471) were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus.Significance analysis of microarrays algorithm was used to screen differentially expressed genes related to pancreatic cancer. Gene Ontology(GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis were used to analyze the functional enrichment of the differentially expressed genes. Protein interaction data containing only differentially expressed genes was downloaded from String database and screened. Module mining was carried out by Cytoscape software and ClusterOne plug-in. The interaction relationship between the modules was analyzed and the pivot nodes between the functional modules were determined according to the information of the functional modules and the data of reliable protein interaction network.RESULTS Based on the above two data sets of pancreatic tissue total gene expression, 6098 and 12928 differentially expressed genes were obtained by analysis of genes with higher phenotypic correlation. After extracting the intersection of the two differential gene sets, 4870 genes were determined. GO analysis showed that 14 significant functional items including negative regulation of protein ubiquitination were closely related to autophagy. A total of 986 differentially expressed genes were enriched in these functional items. After eliminating the autophagy related genes of human cancer cells which had been defined, 347 differentially expressed genes were obtained. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the pathways hsa04144 and hsa04020 were related to autophagy. In addition,65 clustering modules were screened after the protein interaction network was constructed based on String database, and module 32 contains the LC3 gene,which interacts with multiple autophagy-related genes. Moreover, ubiquitin C acts as a pivot node in functional modules to connect multiple modules related to pancreatic cancer and autophagy.CONCLUSION Three hundred and forty-seven genes associated with autophagy in human pancreatic cancer were concentrated, and a key gene ubiquitin C which is closely related to the occurrence of PNI was determined, suggesting that LC3 may influence the PNI and prognosis of pancreatic cancer through ubiquitin C.展开更多
Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosome-mediated catabolic process(Klionsky,2007).Autophagy is believed to be essential for cell survival,especially when cells were exposed to stresses,such as nutrient sta...Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosome-mediated catabolic process(Klionsky,2007).Autophagy is believed to be essential for cell survival,especially when cells were exposed to stresses,such as nutrient starvation.展开更多
Autophagy,defined as a scavenging process of protein aggregates and damaged organelles mediated by lysosomes,plays a significant role in the quality control of macromolecules and organelles.Since protein kinases are i...Autophagy,defined as a scavenging process of protein aggregates and damaged organelles mediated by lysosomes,plays a significant role in the quality control of macromolecules and organelles.Since protein kinases are integral to the autophagy process,it is critically important to understand the role of kinases in autophagic regulation.At present,intervention of autophagic processes by small-molecule modulators targeting specific kinases has becoming a reasonable and prevalent strategy for treating several varieties of human disease,especially cancer.In this review,we describe the role of some autophagy-related kinase targets and kinase-mediated phosphorylation mechanisms in autophagy regulation.We also summarize the small-molecule kinase inhibitors/activators of these targets,highlighting the opportunities of these new therapeutic agents.展开更多
In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the prolifer...In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in response to mitogens.The splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by T-cell mitogens(Con A and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies)released high levels of IL-2 but low levels of IFN-γand IL-17A.The release of IL-4 was unaffected by MRJPs.Additionally,splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by LPS were prevented by MRJPs at the same dose as that required for producing IL-1βand IL-6,two pro-inflammatory cytokines.The production of IL-1β,IL-6,and IFN-γwas negatively associated with estrogen levels,which were higher in the MRJP-treated animals than in the control group.Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that feeding mice 250 mg/kg of MRJPs maintained the stability of the natural intestinal microflora of mice.Additionally,the LEf Se analysis identified biomarkers in the MRJP-treated mice,including Prevotella,Bacillales,Enterobacteriales,Gammaproteobacteria,Candidatus_Arthromitus,and Shigella.Our results showed that MRJPs are important components of royal jelly that modulate host immunity and hormone levels and help maintain gut microbiota stability.展开更多
The onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is usually characterized by focal death of both upper and/or lower motor neurons occurring in the motor cortex,basal ganglia,brainstem,and spinal cord,and commonly involves t...The onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is usually characterized by focal death of both upper and/or lower motor neurons occurring in the motor cortex,basal ganglia,brainstem,and spinal cord,and commonly involves the muscles of the upper and/or lower extremities,and the muscles of the bulbar and/or respiratory regions.However,as the disease progresses,it affects the adjacent body regions,leading to generalized muscle weakness,occasionally along with memory,cognitive,behavioral,and language impairments;respiratory dysfunction occurs at the final stage of the disease.The disease has a complicated pathophysiology and currently,only riluzole,edaravone,and phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol are licensed to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in many industrialized countries.The TAR DNA-binding protein 43 inclusions are observed in 97%of those diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.This review provides a preliminary overview of the potential effects of TAR DNAbinding protein 43 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,including the abnormalities in nucleoplasmic transport,RNA function,post-translational modification,liquid-liquid phase separation,stress granules,mitochondrial dysfunction,oxidative stress,axonal transport,protein quality control system,and non-cellular autonomous functions(e.g.,glial cell functions and prion-like propagation).展开更多
Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton production is challenged by two main problems,i.e.,the low concentration of Bt protein at the boll setting stage and the lowest insect resistance in bolls among all the cotton plant’s...Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton production is challenged by two main problems,i.e.,the low concentration of Bt protein at the boll setting stage and the lowest insect resistance in bolls among all the cotton plant’s organs.Therefore,increasing the Bt protein concentration at the boll stage,especially in bolls,has become the main goal for increasing insect resistance in cotton.In this study,two protein degradation inhibitors(ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid(EDTA)and leupeptin)were sprayed on the bolls,subtending leaves,and whole cotton plants at the peak flowering stage of two Bt cultivars(medium maturation Sikang 1(SK1))and early maturation Zhongmian 425(ZM425)in 2019 and 2020.The Bt protein content and protein degradation metabolism were assessed.The results showed that the Bt protein concentrations were enhanced by 21.3 to 38.8%and 25.0 to 38.6%in the treated bolls of SK1 and ZM425 respectively,while they were decreased in the subtending leaves of these treated bolls.In the treated leaves,the Bt protein concentrations increased by 7.6 to 23.5%and 11.2 to 14.9%in SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The combined application of EDTA and leupeptin to the whole cotton plant increased the Bt protein concentrations in both bolls and subtending leaves.The Bt protein concentrations in bolls were higher,increasing by 22.5 to 31.0%and 19.6 to 32.5%for SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The organs treated with EDTA or/and leupeptin showed reduced free amino acid contents,protease and peptidase activities and significant enhancements in soluble protein contents.These results indicated that inhibiting protein degradation could improve the protein content,thus increasing the Bt protein concentrations in the bolls or/and leaves of cotton plants.Therefore,the increase in the Bt protein concentration without yield reduction suggested that these two protein degradation inhibitors may be applicable for improving insect resistance in cotton production.展开更多
Single-molecule magnetic tweezers(MTs) have revealed multiple transition barriers along the unfolding pathway of several two-state proteins, such as GB1 and Csp. In this study, we utilized MTs to measure the force-dep...Single-molecule magnetic tweezers(MTs) have revealed multiple transition barriers along the unfolding pathway of several two-state proteins, such as GB1 and Csp. In this study, we utilized MTs to measure the force-dependent folding and unfolding rates of both protein L(PLWT) and its Y47W mutant(PLY47W) where the mutation point is not at the force-bearing β-strands. The measurements were conducted within a force range of 3–120 pN. Notably, the unfolding rates of both PLWT and PWY47W exhibit distinct force sensitivities below 50 pN and above 60 pN, implying a two-barrier free energy landscape. Both PLWT and PLY47W share the same force-dependent folding rate and the same transition barriers,but the unfolding rate of PLY47W is faster than that of PLWT. Our finding demonstrates that the residue outside of the force-bearing region will also affect the force-induced unfolding dynamics.展开更多
BACKGROUND Breast cancer(BC) remains a public health problem. Tamoxifen(TAM) resistance has caused great difficulties for treatment of BC patients. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1(EIF4EBP...BACKGROUND Breast cancer(BC) remains a public health problem. Tamoxifen(TAM) resistance has caused great difficulties for treatment of BC patients. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1(EIF4EBP1) plays critical roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of BC. However, the expression and mechanism of EIF4EBP1 in determining the efficacy of TAM therapy in BC patients are still unclear.AIM To investigate the expression and functions of EIF4EBP1 in determining the efficacy of TAM therapy in BC patients.METHODS High-throughput sequencing data of breast tumors were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differential gene expression analysis identified EIF4EBP1 to be significantly upregulated in cancer tissues. Its prognostic value was analyzed. The biological function and related pathways of EIF4EBP1 was analyzed. Subsequently, the expression of EIF4EBP1 was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, colony formation assay and wound healing assay were used to understand the phenotypes of function of EIF4EBP1.RESULTS EIF4EBP1 was upregulated in the TAM-resistant cells, and EIF4EBP1 was related to the prognosis of BC patients. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that EIF4EBP1 might be involved in Hedgehog signaling pathways. Decreasing the expression of EIF4EBP1 could reverse TAM resistance, whereas overexpression of EIF4EBP1 promoted TAM resistance.CONCLUSION This study indicated that EIF4EBP1 was overexpressed in the BC and TAM-resistant cell line, which increased cell proliferation, invasion, migration and TAM resistance in BC cells.展开更多
Essential proteins are inseparable in cell growth and survival. The study of essential proteins is important for understanding cellular functions and biological mechanisms. Therefore, various computable methods have b...Essential proteins are inseparable in cell growth and survival. The study of essential proteins is important for understanding cellular functions and biological mechanisms. Therefore, various computable methods have been proposed to identify essential proteins. Unfortunately, most methods based on network topology only consider the interactions between a protein and its neighboring proteins, and not the interactions with its higher-order distance proteins. In this paper, we propose the DSEP algorithm in which we integrated network topology properties and subcellular localization information in protein–protein interaction(PPI) networks based on four-order distances, and then used random walks to identify the essential proteins. We also propose a method to calculate the finite-order distance of the network, which can greatly reduce the time complexity of our algorithm. We conducted a comprehensive comparison of the DSEP algorithm with 11 existing classical algorithms to identify essential proteins with multiple evaluation methods. The results show that DSEP is superior to these 11 methods.展开更多
Background:Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers.In many cases,the poor prognosis of advanced CRC is associated with resistance to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-Fluoro...Background:Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers.In many cases,the poor prognosis of advanced CRC is associated with resistance to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU).The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and dysregulation in protein methylation are two mechanisms associated with chemoresistance in many cancers.This study looked into the effect of 5-FU dose escalation on EMT and protein methylation in CRC.Materials and Methods:HCT-116,Caco-2,and DLD-1 CRC cell lines were exposed to dose escalation treatment of 5-FU.The motility and invasive potentials of the cells before and after treatment with 5-FU were investigated through wound healing and invasion assays.This was followed by aWestern blot which analyzed the protein expressions of the epithelial marker E-cadherin,mesenchymal marker vimentin,and the EMT transcription factor(EMTTF),the snail family transcriptional repressor 1(Snail)in the parental and desensitized cells.Western blotting was also conducted to study the protein expressions of the protein methyltransferases(PMTs),Euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2(EHMT2/G9A),protein arginine methyltransferase(PRMT5),and SET domain containing 7/9(SETD7/9)along with the global lysine and arginine methylation profiles.Results:The dose escalation method generated 5-FU desensitized CRC cells with distinct morphological features and increased tolerance to high doses of 5-FU.The 5-FU desensitized cells experienced a decrease in migration and invasion when compared to the parental cells.This was reflected in the observed reduction in E-cadherin,vimentin,and Snail in the desensitized cell lines.Additionally,the protein expressions of EHMT2/G9A,PRMT5,and SETD7/9 also decreased in the desensitized cells and global protein lysine and arginine methylation became dysregulated with 5-FU treatment.Conclusion:This study showed that continuous,dose-escalation treatment of 5-FU in CRC cells generated 5-FU desensitized cancer cells that seemed to be less aggressive than parental cells.展开更多
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a multi-purpose legume with high quality protein for human consumption and livestock. The objective of this work was to develop near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) prediction models...Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a multi-purpose legume with high quality protein for human consumption and livestock. The objective of this work was to develop near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) prediction models to estimate protein content in cowpea. A total of 116 cowpea breeding lines with a wide range of protein contents (19.28 % to 32.04%) were selected to build the model using whole seed and ground seed samples. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) regression technique with different pre-treatments (derivatives, standard normal variate, and multiplicative scatter correction) were carried out to develop the protein prediction model. Results showed: 1) spectral plots of both the whole seed and ground seed showed higher spectral scatter at higher wavelengths (>1450 nm), 2) data pre-processing affects prediction accuracy for bot whole seed and ground seed samples, 3) prediction using ground seed samples (0.64 R<sup>2</sup> 0.85) is better than the whole seed (0.33 R<sup>2</sup> 0.78), and 4) the data pre-processing second derivative with standard normal variate has the best prediction (R<sup>2</sup>_whole seed = 0.78, R<sup>2</sup>_ground seed = 0.85). The results will be of interest in cowpea breeding programs aimed at improving total seed protein content.展开更多
Globally,the prevalence of anxiety and depression has reached epidemic proportions.Food-derived protein hydrolysates and peptides delivered through dietary supplementation can avoid the negative risks associated with ...Globally,the prevalence of anxiety and depression has reached epidemic proportions.Food-derived protein hydrolysates and peptides delivered through dietary supplementation can avoid the negative risks associated with traditional pharmaceuticals while delivering superior anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.This review summarizes current research on food-derived anxiolytic and antidepressant protein hydrolysates and peptides,and subsequently analyses their physicochemical characteristics and elaborates on their mechanisms.The aim of this work is to contribute to the in-depth study and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of related products to better serve patients with anxiety and depression.展开更多
Background: Preeclampsia is reported to complicate 2% - 8% of pregnancies globally and is an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aetiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understoo...Background: Preeclampsia is reported to complicate 2% - 8% of pregnancies globally and is an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aetiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood and substantial improvement has not been made in the prediction, prevention and treatment of the disease. Objective: To compare the frequency of activated protein C resistance (APC-R) in patients with pre-eclampsia to that of normotensive pregnant women and to determine the correlation between activated protein ratio (APC-ratio) and the severity of pre-eclampsia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 100 pre-eclamptic patients and 100 normotensive pregnant controls. The APC-ratio was determined using the modified activated partial thromboplastin time. Study participants with APC-ratio of less than 2.0 were defined as having APC-R. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Mean APC-ratio was significantly lower in pre-eclamptics (2.89 ± 1.70) compared to normotensive pregnant women (3.57 ± 1.06) (p = 0.0008) and the levels were also higher in mild (2.95 ± 1.15) compared to severe pre-eclamptics (2.62 ± 1.14). The frequency of APC-R was 26% among women with pre-eclampsia compared to 4% among normotensive controls (p = 0.000). Among 100 pre-eclamptic women 7 (21.2%) out of 33 with mild pre–eclampsia had APC-R, while 19 (28.4%) out of 67 with severe pre-eclampsia had APC-R. APC-ratio had a significant negative correlation with mean arterial blood pressure (r = −0.324;p = 0.000) and proteinuria (r = −0.379;p = 0.000) among study participants. Conclusion: The frequency of activated protein c resistance is significantly higher in pre-eclamptics compared to normotensive pregnant women and this is more pronounced in those with severe pre-eclampsia compared with those with mild disease. APC-R may therefore be used as a marker of severity in the disease.展开更多
Plant height influences plant architecture,lodging resistance,and yield performance.It is modulated by gibberellic acid(GA)metabolism and signaling.DELLA proteins,acting as central repressors of GA signaling,integrate...Plant height influences plant architecture,lodging resistance,and yield performance.It is modulated by gibberellic acid(GA)metabolism and signaling.DELLA proteins,acting as central repressors of GA signaling,integrate various environmental and hormonal signals to regulate plant growth and development in Arabidopsis.We examined the role of two DELLA proteins,GmRGAa and GmRGAb,in soybean plant height control.Knockout of these proteins led to longer internodes and increased plant height,primarily by increasing cell elongation.GmRGAs functioned under different light conditions,including red,blue,and far-red light,to repress plant height.Interaction studies revealed that GmRGAs interacted with the blue light receptor GmCRY1b.Consistent with this,GmCRY1b partially regulated plant height via GmRGAs.Additionally,DELLA proteins were found to stabilize the protein GmSTF1/2,a key positive regulator of photomorphogenesis.This stabilization led to increased transcription of GmGA2ox-7b and subsequent reduction in plant height.This study enhances our understanding of DELLA-mediated plant height control,offering Gmrgaab mutants for soybean structure and yield optimization.展开更多
Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a spontaneously fatal disease characterized by an obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract due to thrombosis or a primary disease of the venous wall. The primary form of BC...Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a spontaneously fatal disease characterized by an obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract due to thrombosis or a primary disease of the venous wall. The primary form of BCS is extremely rare. This is a disease mainly affecting young adults of both sexes. Clinical manifestations are variable;they can be asymptomatic, acute, or subacute but mostly chronic. Several causes have been identified, such as myeloproliferative syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and inherited thrombotic disorders. Data on primary BCS in Sub-Saharan Africa is rare as most publications available are case reports. In these reports, the causes are unknown with poor prognosis in most cases often leading to patient death. We herein present a case report of a male patient diagnosed with a primary BCS at Yaoundé General Hospital (Cameroon) caused by a Protein C deficiency who presented with ascites decompensating liver cirrhosis. Treatment was based on anticoagulants, diuretics and laxatives administration. Two years after the diagnosis, the patient is alive with clinical and paraclinical improvement.展开更多
The unfolded protein response(UPR)is a cellular stress response pathway activated when the endoplasmic reticulum,a crucial organelle for protein folding and modification,encounters an accumulation of unfolded or misfo...The unfolded protein response(UPR)is a cellular stress response pathway activated when the endoplasmic reticulum,a crucial organelle for protein folding and modification,encounters an accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins.The UPR aims to restore endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis by enhancing protein folding capacity,reducing protein biosynthesis,and promoting protein degradation.It also plays a pivotal role in coordinating signaling cascades to determine cell fate and function in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Recent research has highlighted the significance of the UPR not only in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis but also in influencing various physiological processes in the nervous system.Here,we provide an overview of recent findings that underscore the UPR’s involvement in preserving the function and viability of neuronal and myelinating cells under physiological conditions,and highlight the critical role of the UPR in brain development,memory storage,retinal cone development,myelination,and maintenance of myelin thickness.展开更多
Changes in protein abundance and reversible protein phosphorylation(RPP)play important roles in regulating hypometabolism but have never been documented in overwintering frogs at high altitudes.To test the hypothesis ...Changes in protein abundance and reversible protein phosphorylation(RPP)play important roles in regulating hypometabolism but have never been documented in overwintering frogs at high altitudes.To test the hypothesis that protein abundance and phosphorylation change in response to winter hibernation,we conducted a comprehensive and quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of the liver of the Xizang plateau frog,Nanorana parkeri,living on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.In total,5170 proteins and 5695 phosphorylation sites in 1938 proteins were quantified.Based on proteomic analysis,674 differentially expressed proteins(438 up-regulated,236 down-regulated)were screened in hibernating N.parkeri versus summer individuals.Functional enrichment analysis revealed that higher expressed proteins in winter were significantly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways,whereas lower expressed proteins were mainly involved in metabolic processes.A total of 4251 modified sites(4147 up-regulated,104 down-regulated)belonging to 1638 phosphoproteins(1555 up-regulated,83 down-regulated)were significantly changed in the liver.During hibernation,RPP regulated a diverse array of proteins involved in multiple functions,including metabolic enzymatic activity,ion transport,protein turnover,signal transduction,and alternative splicing.These changes contribute to enhancing protection,suppressing energy-consuming processes,and inducing metabolic depression.Moreover,the activities of phosphofructokinase,glutamate dehydrogenase,and ATPase were all significantly lower in winter compared to summer.In conclusion,our results support the hypothesis and demonstrate the importance of RPP as a regulatory mechanism when animals transition into a hypometabolic state.展开更多
AIM:To explore the therapeutic effect and main molecular mechanisms of acteoside in a glaucoma model in DBA/2J mice.METHODS:Proteomics was used to compare the differentially expressed proteins of C57 and DBA/2J mice.A...AIM:To explore the therapeutic effect and main molecular mechanisms of acteoside in a glaucoma model in DBA/2J mice.METHODS:Proteomics was used to compare the differentially expressed proteins of C57 and DBA/2J mice.After acteoside administration in DBA/2J mice,anterior segment observation,intraocular pressure(IOP)monitoring,electrophysiology examination,and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to analyze any potential effects.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)assays were used to verify the proteomics results.Furthermore,retinal ganglion cell 5(RGC5)cell proliferation was assessed with cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assays.Serta domain-containing protein 4(Sertad4)mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis,respectively.RESULTS:Proteomics analysis suggested that Sertad4 was the most significantly differentially expressed protein.Compared with the saline group,the acteoside treatment group showed decreased IOP,improved N1-P1 wave amplitudes,thicker retina,and larger numbers of cells in the ganglion cell layer(GCL).The IHC results showed that Sertad4 expression levels in DBA/2J mice treated with acteoside were significantly lower than in the saline group.Acteoside treatment could improve RGC5 cell survival and reduce the Sertad4 mRNA and protein expression levels after glutamate injury.CONCLUSION:Sertad4 is differentially expressed in DBA/2J mice.Acteoside can protect RGCs from damage,possibly through the downregulation of Sertad4,and has a potential use in glaucoma treatment.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in many diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Autophagy is a metabolic pathway that facilitates cancer cell survival in response to stress. The relationship between autophagy and the lncRNA-activated by transforming growth factor beta (lncRNA-ATB) in HCC remains unknown. AIM To explore the influence of lncRNA-ATB in regulating autophagy in HCC cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS In the present study, we evaluated lncRNA-ATB expression in tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues from 72 HCC cases by real-time PCR. We evaluated the role of lncRNA-ATB in the proliferation and clonogenicity of HCC cells in vitro. The effect of lncRNA-ATB on autophagy was determined using a LC3-GFP reporter and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the mechanism by which lncRNA-ATB regulates autophagy was explored by immunofluorescence staining, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and Western blot. RESULTS The expression of lncRNA-ATB was higher in HCC tissues than in normal liver tissues, and lncRNA-ATB expression was positively correlated with tumor size, TNM stage, and poorer survival of patients with HCC. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of lncRNA-ATB promoted cell proliferation and clonogenicnity of HCC cells in vitro. LncRNA-ATB promoted autophagy by activating Yesassociated protein (YAP). Moreover, lncRNA-ATB interacted with autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5) mRNA and increased ATG5 expression. CONCLUSION LncRNA-ATB regulates autophagy by activating YAP and increasing ATG5 expression. Our data demonstrate a novel function for lncRNA-ATB in autophagy and suggest that lncRNA-ATB plays an important role in HCC.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.U1504815 and No.U1504808
文摘BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a highly invasive malignant tumor. Expression levels of the autophagy-related protein microtubule-associated protein 1 A/1 B-light chain 3(LC3) and perineural invasion(PNI) are closely related to its occurrence and development. Our previous results showed that the high expression of LC3 was positively correlated with PNI in the patients with pancreatic cancer. In this study, we further searched for differential genes involved in autophagy of pancreatic cancer by gene expression profiling and analyzed their biological functions in pancreatic cancer, which provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the pathophysiological mechanism of autophagy in pancreatic cancer and PNI.AIM To identify differentially expressed genes involved in pancreatic cancer autophagy and explore the pathogenesis at the molecular level.METHODS Two sets of gene expression profiles of pancreatic cancer/normal tissue(GSE16515 and GSE15471) were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus.Significance analysis of microarrays algorithm was used to screen differentially expressed genes related to pancreatic cancer. Gene Ontology(GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway analysis were used to analyze the functional enrichment of the differentially expressed genes. Protein interaction data containing only differentially expressed genes was downloaded from String database and screened. Module mining was carried out by Cytoscape software and ClusterOne plug-in. The interaction relationship between the modules was analyzed and the pivot nodes between the functional modules were determined according to the information of the functional modules and the data of reliable protein interaction network.RESULTS Based on the above two data sets of pancreatic tissue total gene expression, 6098 and 12928 differentially expressed genes were obtained by analysis of genes with higher phenotypic correlation. After extracting the intersection of the two differential gene sets, 4870 genes were determined. GO analysis showed that 14 significant functional items including negative regulation of protein ubiquitination were closely related to autophagy. A total of 986 differentially expressed genes were enriched in these functional items. After eliminating the autophagy related genes of human cancer cells which had been defined, 347 differentially expressed genes were obtained. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the pathways hsa04144 and hsa04020 were related to autophagy. In addition,65 clustering modules were screened after the protein interaction network was constructed based on String database, and module 32 contains the LC3 gene,which interacts with multiple autophagy-related genes. Moreover, ubiquitin C acts as a pivot node in functional modules to connect multiple modules related to pancreatic cancer and autophagy.CONCLUSION Three hundred and forty-seven genes associated with autophagy in human pancreatic cancer were concentrated, and a key gene ubiquitin C which is closely related to the occurrence of PNI was determined, suggesting that LC3 may influence the PNI and prognosis of pancreatic cancer through ubiquitin C.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)(No.2016YFA0100400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81773009)
文摘Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosome-mediated catabolic process(Klionsky,2007).Autophagy is believed to be essential for cell survival,especially when cells were exposed to stresses,such as nutrient starvation.
基金supported by grants from National Key R&D Program of China(Grants 2017YFC0909301 and 2017YFC0909302)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 81874290,81673290,81673455,81602953,and 81903502)the Opening Foundation of State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology,Nanjing University,China(Grant KF-GN-201904).
文摘Autophagy,defined as a scavenging process of protein aggregates and damaged organelles mediated by lysosomes,plays a significant role in the quality control of macromolecules and organelles.Since protein kinases are integral to the autophagy process,it is critically important to understand the role of kinases in autophagic regulation.At present,intervention of autophagic processes by small-molecule modulators targeting specific kinases has becoming a reasonable and prevalent strategy for treating several varieties of human disease,especially cancer.In this review,we describe the role of some autophagy-related kinase targets and kinase-mediated phosphorylation mechanisms in autophagy regulation.We also summarize the small-molecule kinase inhibitors/activators of these targets,highlighting the opportunities of these new therapeutic agents.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U2004104)the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province(202300410080)+2 种基金the Key Project of Henan Education Committee(21A310005)the Internal Fund of Hebei University of Economics and Business(2020ZD10)the Postgraduate“Talent Program”of Henan University(SYL20060187 and SYL20060189)。
文摘In this study,we investigated the effects of major royal jelly proteins(MRJPs)on the estrogen,gut microbiota,and immunological responses in mice.Mice given 250 or 500 mg/kg,not 125 mg/kg of MRJPs,enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes in response to mitogens.The splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by T-cell mitogens(Con A and anti-CD3/CD28 antibodies)released high levels of IL-2 but low levels of IFN-γand IL-17A.The release of IL-4 was unaffected by MRJPs.Additionally,splenocytes and mesenteric lymphocytes activated by LPS were prevented by MRJPs at the same dose as that required for producing IL-1βand IL-6,two pro-inflammatory cytokines.The production of IL-1β,IL-6,and IFN-γwas negatively associated with estrogen levels,which were higher in the MRJP-treated animals than in the control group.Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that feeding mice 250 mg/kg of MRJPs maintained the stability of the natural intestinal microflora of mice.Additionally,the LEf Se analysis identified biomarkers in the MRJP-treated mice,including Prevotella,Bacillales,Enterobacteriales,Gammaproteobacteria,Candidatus_Arthromitus,and Shigella.Our results showed that MRJPs are important components of royal jelly that modulate host immunity and hormone levels and help maintain gut microbiota stability.
基金in part supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.30560042,81160161,81360198,and 82160255Education Department of Jiangxi Province,Nos.GJJ13198 and GJJ170021+1 种基金Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology,No.20192BAB205043Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province,Nos.20181019 and 202210002(all to RX)。
文摘The onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is usually characterized by focal death of both upper and/or lower motor neurons occurring in the motor cortex,basal ganglia,brainstem,and spinal cord,and commonly involves the muscles of the upper and/or lower extremities,and the muscles of the bulbar and/or respiratory regions.However,as the disease progresses,it affects the adjacent body regions,leading to generalized muscle weakness,occasionally along with memory,cognitive,behavioral,and language impairments;respiratory dysfunction occurs at the final stage of the disease.The disease has a complicated pathophysiology and currently,only riluzole,edaravone,and phenylbutyrate/taurursodiol are licensed to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in many industrialized countries.The TAR DNA-binding protein 43 inclusions are observed in 97%of those diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.This review provides a preliminary overview of the potential effects of TAR DNAbinding protein 43 in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,including the abnormalities in nucleoplasmic transport,RNA function,post-translational modification,liquid-liquid phase separation,stress granules,mitochondrial dysfunction,oxidative stress,axonal transport,protein quality control system,and non-cellular autonomous functions(e.g.,glial cell functions and prion-like propagation).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31901462 and 31671613).
文摘Bacillus thuringiensis(Bt)cotton production is challenged by two main problems,i.e.,the low concentration of Bt protein at the boll setting stage and the lowest insect resistance in bolls among all the cotton plant’s organs.Therefore,increasing the Bt protein concentration at the boll stage,especially in bolls,has become the main goal for increasing insect resistance in cotton.In this study,two protein degradation inhibitors(ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid(EDTA)and leupeptin)were sprayed on the bolls,subtending leaves,and whole cotton plants at the peak flowering stage of two Bt cultivars(medium maturation Sikang 1(SK1))and early maturation Zhongmian 425(ZM425)in 2019 and 2020.The Bt protein content and protein degradation metabolism were assessed.The results showed that the Bt protein concentrations were enhanced by 21.3 to 38.8%and 25.0 to 38.6%in the treated bolls of SK1 and ZM425 respectively,while they were decreased in the subtending leaves of these treated bolls.In the treated leaves,the Bt protein concentrations increased by 7.6 to 23.5%and 11.2 to 14.9%in SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The combined application of EDTA and leupeptin to the whole cotton plant increased the Bt protein concentrations in both bolls and subtending leaves.The Bt protein concentrations in bolls were higher,increasing by 22.5 to 31.0%and 19.6 to 32.5%for SK1 and ZM425,respectively.The organs treated with EDTA or/and leupeptin showed reduced free amino acid contents,protease and peptidase activities and significant enhancements in soluble protein contents.These results indicated that inhibiting protein degradation could improve the protein content,thus increasing the Bt protein concentrations in the bolls or/and leaves of cotton plants.Therefore,the increase in the Bt protein concentration without yield reduction suggested that these two protein degradation inhibitors may be applicable for improving insect resistance in cotton production.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12174322 to HC and 12204124 to ZG)111 Project(Grant No.B16029)+1 种基金the Graduate Scientific Research Foundation of Wenzhou University(Grant No.3162023003034 to JH)research grant from Wenzhou Institute。
文摘Single-molecule magnetic tweezers(MTs) have revealed multiple transition barriers along the unfolding pathway of several two-state proteins, such as GB1 and Csp. In this study, we utilized MTs to measure the force-dependent folding and unfolding rates of both protein L(PLWT) and its Y47W mutant(PLY47W) where the mutation point is not at the force-bearing β-strands. The measurements were conducted within a force range of 3–120 pN. Notably, the unfolding rates of both PLWT and PWY47W exhibit distinct force sensitivities below 50 pN and above 60 pN, implying a two-barrier free energy landscape. Both PLWT and PLY47W share the same force-dependent folding rate and the same transition barriers,but the unfolding rate of PLY47W is faster than that of PLWT. Our finding demonstrates that the residue outside of the force-bearing region will also affect the force-induced unfolding dynamics.
文摘BACKGROUND Breast cancer(BC) remains a public health problem. Tamoxifen(TAM) resistance has caused great difficulties for treatment of BC patients. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E binding protein 1(EIF4EBP1) plays critical roles in the tumorigenesis and progression of BC. However, the expression and mechanism of EIF4EBP1 in determining the efficacy of TAM therapy in BC patients are still unclear.AIM To investigate the expression and functions of EIF4EBP1 in determining the efficacy of TAM therapy in BC patients.METHODS High-throughput sequencing data of breast tumors were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differential gene expression analysis identified EIF4EBP1 to be significantly upregulated in cancer tissues. Its prognostic value was analyzed. The biological function and related pathways of EIF4EBP1 was analyzed. Subsequently, the expression of EIF4EBP1 was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays, colony formation assay and wound healing assay were used to understand the phenotypes of function of EIF4EBP1.RESULTS EIF4EBP1 was upregulated in the TAM-resistant cells, and EIF4EBP1 was related to the prognosis of BC patients. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that EIF4EBP1 might be involved in Hedgehog signaling pathways. Decreasing the expression of EIF4EBP1 could reverse TAM resistance, whereas overexpression of EIF4EBP1 promoted TAM resistance.CONCLUSION This study indicated that EIF4EBP1 was overexpressed in the BC and TAM-resistant cell line, which increased cell proliferation, invasion, migration and TAM resistance in BC cells.
基金Project supported by the Gansu Province Industrial Support Plan (Grant No.2023CYZC-25)the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (Grant No.23JRRA770)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.62162040)。
文摘Essential proteins are inseparable in cell growth and survival. The study of essential proteins is important for understanding cellular functions and biological mechanisms. Therefore, various computable methods have been proposed to identify essential proteins. Unfortunately, most methods based on network topology only consider the interactions between a protein and its neighboring proteins, and not the interactions with its higher-order distance proteins. In this paper, we propose the DSEP algorithm in which we integrated network topology properties and subcellular localization information in protein–protein interaction(PPI) networks based on four-order distances, and then used random walks to identify the essential proteins. We also propose a method to calculate the finite-order distance of the network, which can greatly reduce the time complexity of our algorithm. We conducted a comprehensive comparison of the DSEP algorithm with 11 existing classical algorithms to identify essential proteins with multiple evaluation methods. The results show that DSEP is superior to these 11 methods.
基金supported through the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Award 2021 University of Malta(awarded to K.F).
文摘Background:Colorectal cancer(CRC)is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers.In many cases,the poor prognosis of advanced CRC is associated with resistance to treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-Fluorouracil(5-FU).The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT)and dysregulation in protein methylation are two mechanisms associated with chemoresistance in many cancers.This study looked into the effect of 5-FU dose escalation on EMT and protein methylation in CRC.Materials and Methods:HCT-116,Caco-2,and DLD-1 CRC cell lines were exposed to dose escalation treatment of 5-FU.The motility and invasive potentials of the cells before and after treatment with 5-FU were investigated through wound healing and invasion assays.This was followed by aWestern blot which analyzed the protein expressions of the epithelial marker E-cadherin,mesenchymal marker vimentin,and the EMT transcription factor(EMTTF),the snail family transcriptional repressor 1(Snail)in the parental and desensitized cells.Western blotting was also conducted to study the protein expressions of the protein methyltransferases(PMTs),Euchromatic histone lysine methyltransferase 2(EHMT2/G9A),protein arginine methyltransferase(PRMT5),and SET domain containing 7/9(SETD7/9)along with the global lysine and arginine methylation profiles.Results:The dose escalation method generated 5-FU desensitized CRC cells with distinct morphological features and increased tolerance to high doses of 5-FU.The 5-FU desensitized cells experienced a decrease in migration and invasion when compared to the parental cells.This was reflected in the observed reduction in E-cadherin,vimentin,and Snail in the desensitized cell lines.Additionally,the protein expressions of EHMT2/G9A,PRMT5,and SETD7/9 also decreased in the desensitized cells and global protein lysine and arginine methylation became dysregulated with 5-FU treatment.Conclusion:This study showed that continuous,dose-escalation treatment of 5-FU in CRC cells generated 5-FU desensitized cancer cells that seemed to be less aggressive than parental cells.
文摘Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) is a multi-purpose legume with high quality protein for human consumption and livestock. The objective of this work was to develop near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) prediction models to estimate protein content in cowpea. A total of 116 cowpea breeding lines with a wide range of protein contents (19.28 % to 32.04%) were selected to build the model using whole seed and ground seed samples. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) regression technique with different pre-treatments (derivatives, standard normal variate, and multiplicative scatter correction) were carried out to develop the protein prediction model. Results showed: 1) spectral plots of both the whole seed and ground seed showed higher spectral scatter at higher wavelengths (>1450 nm), 2) data pre-processing affects prediction accuracy for bot whole seed and ground seed samples, 3) prediction using ground seed samples (0.64 R<sup>2</sup> 0.85) is better than the whole seed (0.33 R<sup>2</sup> 0.78), and 4) the data pre-processing second derivative with standard normal variate has the best prediction (R<sup>2</sup>_whole seed = 0.78, R<sup>2</sup>_ground seed = 0.85). The results will be of interest in cowpea breeding programs aimed at improving total seed protein content.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD2100402)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81903275)the Fund of the Cultivation Project of Double First-Class Disciplines of Food Science and Engineering,Beijing Technology&Business University (BTBUYXTD202203)。
文摘Globally,the prevalence of anxiety and depression has reached epidemic proportions.Food-derived protein hydrolysates and peptides delivered through dietary supplementation can avoid the negative risks associated with traditional pharmaceuticals while delivering superior anxiolytic and antidepressant effects.This review summarizes current research on food-derived anxiolytic and antidepressant protein hydrolysates and peptides,and subsequently analyses their physicochemical characteristics and elaborates on their mechanisms.The aim of this work is to contribute to the in-depth study and provide a theoretical foundation for the development of related products to better serve patients with anxiety and depression.
文摘Background: Preeclampsia is reported to complicate 2% - 8% of pregnancies globally and is an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The aetiology and pathogenesis are still poorly understood and substantial improvement has not been made in the prediction, prevention and treatment of the disease. Objective: To compare the frequency of activated protein C resistance (APC-R) in patients with pre-eclampsia to that of normotensive pregnant women and to determine the correlation between activated protein ratio (APC-ratio) and the severity of pre-eclampsia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 100 pre-eclamptic patients and 100 normotensive pregnant controls. The APC-ratio was determined using the modified activated partial thromboplastin time. Study participants with APC-ratio of less than 2.0 were defined as having APC-R. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: Mean APC-ratio was significantly lower in pre-eclamptics (2.89 ± 1.70) compared to normotensive pregnant women (3.57 ± 1.06) (p = 0.0008) and the levels were also higher in mild (2.95 ± 1.15) compared to severe pre-eclamptics (2.62 ± 1.14). The frequency of APC-R was 26% among women with pre-eclampsia compared to 4% among normotensive controls (p = 0.000). Among 100 pre-eclamptic women 7 (21.2%) out of 33 with mild pre–eclampsia had APC-R, while 19 (28.4%) out of 67 with severe pre-eclampsia had APC-R. APC-ratio had a significant negative correlation with mean arterial blood pressure (r = −0.324;p = 0.000) and proteinuria (r = −0.379;p = 0.000) among study participants. Conclusion: The frequency of activated protein c resistance is significantly higher in pre-eclamptics compared to normotensive pregnant women and this is more pronounced in those with severe pre-eclampsia compared with those with mild disease. APC-R may therefore be used as a marker of severity in the disease.
基金supported by the Sci-Tech Innovation 2030(2022ZD0400701-2)Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of CAAS+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31871705)the Central Public-Interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund。
文摘Plant height influences plant architecture,lodging resistance,and yield performance.It is modulated by gibberellic acid(GA)metabolism and signaling.DELLA proteins,acting as central repressors of GA signaling,integrate various environmental and hormonal signals to regulate plant growth and development in Arabidopsis.We examined the role of two DELLA proteins,GmRGAa and GmRGAb,in soybean plant height control.Knockout of these proteins led to longer internodes and increased plant height,primarily by increasing cell elongation.GmRGAs functioned under different light conditions,including red,blue,and far-red light,to repress plant height.Interaction studies revealed that GmRGAs interacted with the blue light receptor GmCRY1b.Consistent with this,GmCRY1b partially regulated plant height via GmRGAs.Additionally,DELLA proteins were found to stabilize the protein GmSTF1/2,a key positive regulator of photomorphogenesis.This stabilization led to increased transcription of GmGA2ox-7b and subsequent reduction in plant height.This study enhances our understanding of DELLA-mediated plant height control,offering Gmrgaab mutants for soybean structure and yield optimization.
文摘Primary Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a spontaneously fatal disease characterized by an obstruction of the hepatic venous outflow tract due to thrombosis or a primary disease of the venous wall. The primary form of BCS is extremely rare. This is a disease mainly affecting young adults of both sexes. Clinical manifestations are variable;they can be asymptomatic, acute, or subacute but mostly chronic. Several causes have been identified, such as myeloproliferative syndrome, antiphospholipid syndrome, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, and inherited thrombotic disorders. Data on primary BCS in Sub-Saharan Africa is rare as most publications available are case reports. In these reports, the causes are unknown with poor prognosis in most cases often leading to patient death. We herein present a case report of a male patient diagnosed with a primary BCS at Yaoundé General Hospital (Cameroon) caused by a Protein C deficiency who presented with ascites decompensating liver cirrhosis. Treatment was based on anticoagulants, diuretics and laxatives administration. Two years after the diagnosis, the patient is alive with clinical and paraclinical improvement.
基金supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health,No.NS105689(to WL)the Department of Defense through the Multiple Sclerosis Research Program,No.W81XWH-22-1-0757(to WL).
文摘The unfolded protein response(UPR)is a cellular stress response pathway activated when the endoplasmic reticulum,a crucial organelle for protein folding and modification,encounters an accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins.The UPR aims to restore endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis by enhancing protein folding capacity,reducing protein biosynthesis,and promoting protein degradation.It also plays a pivotal role in coordinating signaling cascades to determine cell fate and function in response to endoplasmic reticulum stress.Recent research has highlighted the significance of the UPR not only in maintaining endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis but also in influencing various physiological processes in the nervous system.Here,we provide an overview of recent findings that underscore the UPR’s involvement in preserving the function and viability of neuronal and myelinating cells under physiological conditions,and highlight the critical role of the UPR in brain development,memory storage,retinal cone development,myelination,and maintenance of myelin thickness.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32001110)Training Program for Cultivating Highlevel Talents by the China Scholarship Council(2021lxjjw01)Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture,Qinghai University(2021-KF-004)。
文摘Changes in protein abundance and reversible protein phosphorylation(RPP)play important roles in regulating hypometabolism but have never been documented in overwintering frogs at high altitudes.To test the hypothesis that protein abundance and phosphorylation change in response to winter hibernation,we conducted a comprehensive and quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of the liver of the Xizang plateau frog,Nanorana parkeri,living on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.In total,5170 proteins and 5695 phosphorylation sites in 1938 proteins were quantified.Based on proteomic analysis,674 differentially expressed proteins(438 up-regulated,236 down-regulated)were screened in hibernating N.parkeri versus summer individuals.Functional enrichment analysis revealed that higher expressed proteins in winter were significantly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways,whereas lower expressed proteins were mainly involved in metabolic processes.A total of 4251 modified sites(4147 up-regulated,104 down-regulated)belonging to 1638 phosphoproteins(1555 up-regulated,83 down-regulated)were significantly changed in the liver.During hibernation,RPP regulated a diverse array of proteins involved in multiple functions,including metabolic enzymatic activity,ion transport,protein turnover,signal transduction,and alternative splicing.These changes contribute to enhancing protection,suppressing energy-consuming processes,and inducing metabolic depression.Moreover,the activities of phosphofructokinase,glutamate dehydrogenase,and ATPase were all significantly lower in winter compared to summer.In conclusion,our results support the hypothesis and demonstrate the importance of RPP as a regulatory mechanism when animals transition into a hypometabolic state.
基金Supported by Tianjin Key Medical Discipline(Specialty)Construction Project(No.TJYXZDXK-037A).
文摘AIM:To explore the therapeutic effect and main molecular mechanisms of acteoside in a glaucoma model in DBA/2J mice.METHODS:Proteomics was used to compare the differentially expressed proteins of C57 and DBA/2J mice.After acteoside administration in DBA/2J mice,anterior segment observation,intraocular pressure(IOP)monitoring,electrophysiology examination,and hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to analyze any potential effects.Immunohistochemistry(IHC)assays were used to verify the proteomics results.Furthermore,retinal ganglion cell 5(RGC5)cell proliferation was assessed with cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assays.Serta domain-containing protein 4(Sertad4)mRNA and protein expression levels were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis,respectively.RESULTS:Proteomics analysis suggested that Sertad4 was the most significantly differentially expressed protein.Compared with the saline group,the acteoside treatment group showed decreased IOP,improved N1-P1 wave amplitudes,thicker retina,and larger numbers of cells in the ganglion cell layer(GCL).The IHC results showed that Sertad4 expression levels in DBA/2J mice treated with acteoside were significantly lower than in the saline group.Acteoside treatment could improve RGC5 cell survival and reduce the Sertad4 mRNA and protein expression levels after glutamate injury.CONCLUSION:Sertad4 is differentially expressed in DBA/2J mice.Acteoside can protect RGCs from damage,possibly through the downregulation of Sertad4,and has a potential use in glaucoma treatment.