The Biochemical Impact by Covalent Shielding of the Anionic Oxygen of the Phosphate Group in DNA and RNA as Methylated Phosphotriester Linkage on the Inhibition of DNA Duplication and on HIV-1 RNA Viral Infectivity Has Been Seriously Overlooked

With the help of model experiments, we are able to offer a detailed proposal for the inhibition of DNA duplication and no inhibition of RNA viral infectivity. As a backbone, we introduced methyl phosphotriester (MPTE). Duplex formation according to the traditional Watson and Crick base-pairing: [(MPTE)n−1 DNA] * DNA and [(MPTE)n−1 DNA] * RNA, where n = number of DNA and RNA bases. However, in the latter case, inhibition is obtained by reduction of the number of MPTE linkages, as is confirmed with model experiments and under biological conditions with micro (mi)RNA substrates. The latter results have recently been published. One or more single MPTEs are disseminated over different places of DNA without neighbour MPTEs (Prof. Wen-Yih Chen and his group, Taiwan).

Precore/basal core promoter mutants and hepatitis B viral DNA levels as predictors for liver deaths and hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM： To conduct a retrospective study in 400 chronic hepatitis B patients in order to identify hepatitis B viral factors associated with complications of liver disease or development of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS： The mean follow-up time was 83.6 ± 39.6 mo. Alpha-fetoprotein test and abdominal ultrasound were used for cancer surveillance. Hepatitis B basal core promoter mutants, precore mutants, genotypes, hepatitis B viral DNA （HBV DNA） level and hepatitis B e antigen （HBeAg） were measured. Univariate analysis and logistic regression were used to assess odds ratios for viral factors related to liver deaths and hepatocellular carcinoma development. RESULTS： During follow-up, 38 patients had liver deaths not related to hepatocellular carcinoma. On multivariate analysis, older age [odds ratio： 95.74 （12.13-891.31）, P 〈 0.0001], male sex [odds ratio： 7.61 （2.20-47.95）; P = 0.006], and higher Iogzo HBV DNA [odds ratio： 4.69 （1.16-20.43）; P 〈 0.0001] were independently predictive for these liver related deaths. Also, 31 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma. Multivariate analysis showed that older age [odds ratio： 26.51 （2.36-381.47）; P = 0.007], presence of precore mutants [odds ratio： 4.23 （1.53-19.58）, P = 0.02] and presence of basal core promoter mutants [odds ratio： 2.93 （1.24-7.57）; P = 0.02] were independent predictors for progression to hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSION： Our results show that high levels of baseline serum HBV DNA are associated with non- hepatocellular carcinoma-related deaths of liver failure, while genetic mutations in the basal core promoter and precore regions are predictive for development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Epigallocatechin gallate inhibits HBV DNA synthesis in a viral replication-inducible cell line

AIM:To analyze the antiviral mechanism of Epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)against hepatitis B virus(HBV) replication.METHODS:In this research,the HBV-replicating cell line HepG2.117 was used to investigate the antiviral mechanism of EGCG.Cytotoxicity of EGCG was analyzed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.Hepatitis B virus e antigen(HBeAg)and hepatitis B virus surface antigen(HBsAg)in the supernatant were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Precore mRNA and pregenomic RNA(pgRNA) levels were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(PCR)assay.The effect of EGCG on HBV core promoter activity was measured by dual luciferase reporter assay.HBV covalently closed circular DNA and replicative intermediates of DNA were quantified by real-time PCR assay.RESULTS:When HepG2.117 cells were grown in the presence of EGCG,the expression of HBeAg was suppressed,however,the expression of HBsAg was not affected.HBV precore mRNA level was also downregulated by EGCG,while the transcription of precore mRNA was not impaired.The synthesis of both HBV covalently closed circular DNA and replicative intermediates of DNA were reduced by EGCG treatment to a similar extent,however,HBV pgRNA transcripted from chromosome-integrated HBV genome was not affected by EGCG treatment,indicating that EGCG targets only replicative intermediates of DNA synthesis.CONCLUSION:In HepG2.117 cells,EGCG inhibits HBV replication by impairing HBV replicative intermediates of DNA synthesis and such inhibition results in reduced production of HBV covalently closed circular DNA.

Conserved balance of hepatocyte nuclear DNA content in mononuclear and binuclear hepatocyte populations during the course of chronic viral hepatitis

AIM： TO analyze the percentages of hepatocytes with increased nuclear DNA content, i.e., tetraploid （4n） and octoploid （Sn） nuclei, and then compared mononuclear and binuclear hepatocyte populations： METHODS： The percentages of mononuclear diploid （2n）, 4n, and 8n hepatocytes and those of binuclear 2 × 2n, 2 × 4n, and 2 × 8n hepatocytes were determined with a method that can simultaneously measure hepatocyte nuclear DNA content and binuclearity in 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B or C. The percentage of 4n and 8n hepatocytes in the mononuclear hepatocyte population was compared with the percentage of 2 × 4n and 2 × 8n hepatocytes in the binuclear hepatocyte population. RESULTS： The percentages of 4n and 8n hepatocytes in mononuclear hepatocytes and 2 ×4n and 2 × 8n hepatocytes in binuclear hepatocytes were similar, regardless of the activity or fibrosis grade of chronic hepatitis and regardless of the infecting virus. CONCLUSION： The distribution of nuclear DNA content within mononuclear and binuclear hepatocyte populations was conserved during the course of chronic viral hepatitis.

DNA存储技术:挑战与未来

随着全球数据呈现指数级增长,当前的信息存储技术面临维护成本高昂、存储寿命有限等多个缺陷,逐渐无法满足日益凸显的需求。因此,迫切需要引入新的信息存储方法来解决这一问题。DNA作为一种天然的遗传信息载体,具备高存储密度、潜在低维护成本和长寿命等优势,因此被视为一种有潜力的新型信息存储介质。该文对DNA数据存储技术的基本原理和流程进行了概述,并回顾了其历史发展。同时,对当前基于DNA存储的领域仍面临的挑战进行了总结,如缓慢的数据写入和读取速度等,以及应对这些挑战的一些潜在策略。最后,为了满足全球对新存储方法的需求,该文指出了DNA数据存储技术的未来发展方向。

Early hepatitis B viral DNA clearance predicts treatment response at week 96

AIM To investigate whether hepatitis viral DNA load at 24 wk of treatment predicts response at 96 wk in patients with chronic hepatitis B.METHODS A total of 172 hepatitis B envelope antigen(HBe Ag)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients who received initial treatment at 16 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China were enrolled in this study. All patients received conventional doses of lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir dispersible tablets, or entecavir tablets for 96 wk. Patients who used other antiviral drugs or antitumor and immune regulation therapy were excluded. Patients were stratified into three groups according to their viral DNA load at 24 wk: < 10 IU/m L(group 1), 10-103 IU/m L(group 2), and > 103 IU/m L(group 3). Correlations of 24-wk DNA load with HBe Ag negative status and HBe Ag seroconversion at 96 wk were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to test the predictive value of the HBV DNA load at 24 wk for long-term response.RESULTS The rates of conversion to HBe Ag negative status and HBe Ag seroconversion rates were 53.7% and 51.9%, respectively, in group 1; 35.21% and 32.39% in group 2; and 6.38% and 6.38% in group 3. The receiver operating characteristic curves for the three subgroups revealed that the lowest DNA load(< 10 IU/m L) was better correlated with response at 96 wk than a higher DNA load(10-103 IU/m L). Nested PCR was used for amplifying and sequencing viral DNA in patients with a viral DNA load > 200 IU/m L at 96 wk; resistance mutations involving different loci were present in 26 patients, and three of these patients had a viral DNA load 10-103 IU/m L at 96 wk. CONCLUSION Hepatitis B viral DNA load at 24 wk of antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B is a predictor of the viral load and response rate at 96 wk.

Taq DNA聚合酶的分子改造及其在探针法qPCR直扩体系中的应用

Taq DNA聚合酶作为实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应(qPCR)技术的核心组分,其性能优劣直接影响qPCR技术的进一步发展。然而,野生型Taq DNA聚合酶的耐抑制剂性能差、延伸性能不足。为获得具有高性能的Taq DNA聚合酶,采用基因工程技术将双链DNA结合蛋白Sso7d或Sto7d融合在野生型Taq DNA聚合酶的N端或C端,构建了4个均可溶表达的改造体,再经过耐受性测试筛选较优的改造体,结果显示:改造体Taq-Sto的耐受性最高,其热稳定性不受影响,且在1 s/kbp的延伸条件下能成功扩增靶标,表明Taq-Sto具有增强的延伸性能,在TaqMan探针法qPCR体系中对腐殖酸、单宁酸、全血等抑制剂同样表现出良好的耐受性。EMSA实验发现:Taq-Sto对DNA模板的结合亲和力有所提高,有利于增强Taq-Sto对模板的竞争力;将Taq-Sto应用于非洲猪瘟病毒(ASFV)的TaqMan探针法qPCR检测,与商品化试剂相比,Taq-Sto具有更低的ASFV检出限,且在体积分数为2%~6%的猪粪便样本或猪肉样本中的检测灵敏度分别为100.0%和85.4%,说明Taq-Sto在直扩qPCR检测领域更具有优势。

DNA损伤修复相关通路的合成致死靶点研究及其在卵巢癌中的应用和前景

DNA损伤引发细胞启动一系列DNA损伤应答(DNA damage response,DDR),包括DNA损伤修复、细胞周期检查点激活、细胞周期阻滞、各种细胞内信号转导途径的活化和细胞凋亡等。DNA损伤修复(DNA damage repair)是细胞维持基因组稳定性的重要机制,于2015年获得诺贝尔化学奖。DNA损伤修复途径主要包括:碱基切除修复(base-excision repair,BER)、核苷酸切除修复(nucleotide excision repair,NER)、错配修复(mismatch repair,MMR)、同源重组(homologous recombination,HR)和非同源末端连接(non-homologous end joining,NHEJ)等,分别在DNA单链断裂(single-strand break,SSB)或双链断裂(double-strand break,DSB)等损伤修复中发挥重要作用。DNA损伤修复缺陷与肿瘤发生发展密切相关,同时也是肿瘤治疗的重要靶点。DNA损伤修复通路的多聚ADP核糖聚合酶(poly-ADP-ribose polymerase,PARP)与乳腺癌易感基因BRCA 1/2等存在合成致死(synthetic lethality)作用,使PARP抑制剂(PARP inhibitor,PARPi)成为第一个也是目前唯一上市的肿瘤治疗合成致死靶药。PARPi在卵巢癌及多种实体瘤治疗中疗效良好,使DNA损伤修复及相关DDR通路的合成致死靶药研发成为热点,其他在研靶点主要包括:共济失调毛细血管扩张突变蛋白(ataxia telangiectasia-mutated protein,ATM)、共济失调毛细血管扩张与RAD3相关蛋白(ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related protein,ATR)、DNA依赖性蛋白质激酶催化亚单位(DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit,DNA-PKcs)、细胞周期检测点激酶1(checkpoint kinase1,CHK1)、细胞周期检测点激酶2(checkpoint kinase 2,CHK2)、阻止有丝分裂的蛋白质激酶WEE1等。PARPi与其他DDR靶药、抗血管生成药物及免疫检查点抑制剂的联用,有可能成为克服PARPi耐药、提高疗效的有效手段和发展前景。本文针对DNA损伤修复及相关DDR通路的关键分子和潜在肿瘤治疗靶点进行综述,阐述了DNA损伤修复相关通路的合成致死靶点研究及在卵巢癌的应用和前景,为基础研究及临床应用提供指导。

基于中医证候与精液质量相关参数构建精子DNA碎片预测模型与验证

背景:中医证候与精液质量相关参数相结合,共同预测精子DNA碎片指数(DNA fragmentation index,DFI)异常增高的发生并绘制列线图,能显著提高临床的实操性与应用效能,为临床全面评估精液质量,采取积极干预措施以改善临床结局及制定个体化医疗方案提供依据。目的:探讨基于中医证候与精液质量相关参数构建精子DNA碎片的预测模型与验证。方法:回顾性分析2019年7月至2021年7月在广西壮族自治区南溪山医院中医男科接受中医证候诊断及精子DNA碎片率检查的不育患者共420例,据《人类精液检查与处理实验室手册》(第6版),将其中137例精子DFI>30%患者纳入精子DFI异常增高组,将283例精子DFI≤30%作为对照组;首先采用单因素分析筛选精子DFI异常增高的影响因素,然后采用套索算法(LASSO)校正因子共线性问题并筛选出最佳匹配因子后,将其纳入多因素向前逐步Logistic回归找出其独立影响因素并绘制列线图,最后采用受试者工作曲线、校准曲线、临床决策曲线、临床影响曲线对该预测模型进行区分度与准确度及临床应用效能验证。结果与结论:①单因素分析结果显示,年龄、体质量指数、前向运动率、精子总活率、精子浓度、精子形态学、肾阳虚衰证、湿热下注证、肾精不足证为引发精子DFI异常增高的影响因子(P<0.05);②通过LASSO回归进一步筛选出的最佳匹配因素为年龄、体质量指数、精子总活率、精子浓度、精子形态学、肾阳虚衰证、湿热下注证、肾精不足证(P<0.05);③多因素向前逐步Logistic回归结果显示年龄、体质量指数、精子浓度、精子总活率、湿热下注证、肾阳虚衰证共6项为引发精子DFI异常增高的独立影响因素;④受试者工作曲线显示,模型组曲线下面积为0.760(0.713,0.806),验证组曲线下面积为0.745(0.714,0.776),说明该预测模型具有较好的区分度;⑤校准曲线平均绝对误差0.040,Hosmer-Lemeshow检验P>0.05,表明该模型预测发生精子DFI异常增高的概率与实际发生精子DFI异常增高的概率无显著统计学差异,证实该模型具有较好的准确度;⑥临床决策曲线与临床影响曲线显示,模型组与验证组分别在阈概率值为0.08-0.84与0.09-0.78时具有临床最大净获益,且在该阈概率范围内具有较好的临床应用效能;⑦结果表明,年龄、体质量指数、精子浓度、精子总活率、湿热下注证、肾阳虚衰证为引发精子DFI异常增高的独立影响因素,通过其构建的临床预测模型列线图具有较好的临床预测价值与临床应用效能,可为临床全面评估精液质量、预后与干预及个体化医疗服务提供依据。

Evaluation of HBsAg Quantification as Surrogate to HBV DNA Viral Load in Hepatitis B Infected Patients in Anambra State, Nigeria

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease of great public health importance. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest incidence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection worldwide. However, the accessibility and affordability of HBV DNA quantification (viral load) assay is the key laboratory test for therapy initiation, and monitoring is a challenge to HBV management. This study aimed at determining the relationship between HBV DNA quantification and routine haemato-serological parameters in order to develop a more cost-effective diagnostic algorithm for Hepatitis B management. Cross sectional study design was used with a total of 264 subjects comprising of 88 HBsAg seropositive treatment naïve subjects, 88 HBsAg seropositive subjects on antiviral therapy as case subjects and 88 age-matched apparently healthy HBsAg seronegative individuals were recruited as control subjects. Hepatitis B Virus DNA assay was performed using real time PCR technique while ELISA technique was used for Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification. HBsAg quantification showed strong positive correlation with HBV DNA viral load both in treatment and non-treatment groups (r = 0.673;p < 0.001). However, the Receiver Operation Characteristics curve indicated a very poor performance characteristics (AUC = 0.537, p = 0.002). The non-treatment group has higher viral load (M = 805.50 IU/ml) compared with treatment group (M = 65.50 IU/ml) (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in HBV DNA levels among the four serological patterns observed in the study (p < 0.001). This study has revealed that HBsAg quantification has strong correlation with HBV viral load but might not be efficient in clinical practice as a predictor of serum HBV viral load due to its poor performance characteristics in identifying high positive viral load.

不同DNA条形码在微口线虫属形态相近物种分类上的应用

为建立和完善海洋线虫相近物种的DNA条形码鉴定方法,本研究以深圳福田红树林湿地自由生活的海洋线虫优势属微口线虫属(Terschellingia)为研究对象,在形态分类鉴定基础上,将DNA条形码技术引入海洋线虫形态相似物种的鉴定,研究线粒体细胞色素氧化酶第一亚基(COⅠ)基因、18S核糖体RNA基因(18S rDNA)和28S rDNA三种基因序列片段的物种分类效果。研究共鉴定出微口线虫属4个不同的形态学种,获得其中3个种的DNA序列。18S rDNA及28S rDNA两种条形码所构建的发育树支持将本属划分成6个类群;Kimura 2 parameter(K2P)种内和种间阈值分别为18S rDNA的0%~2.5%和0.4%~13.7%,28S rDNA的0%和20.5%~84.6%。18S rDNA的MN18F-Nem_18S_R引物对所扩增的序列最适合作为微口线虫属种类鉴定的DNA条形码,并可用于区分物种复合体。28S rDNA序列虽然能成功扩增,但扩增效率相对较低;COⅠ基因片段无法在所有物种中成功扩增,推测现有引物可能不适合用于本属序列的提取。研究结果表明,DNA条形码可以用于自由生活海洋线虫形态相似物种的识别,但不同的单基因片段对相同物种的鉴定结果有明显差异。

“DNA粗提取和鉴定”实验设计与改进

对DNA粗提取与鉴定实验进行优化,探究植物组织的多种破碎方法对DNA粗提取的影响,并用氯仿等有机物对DNA粗提取物进一步纯化,分析DNA未纯化与纯化后的纯度差异。结果显示,相较于破壁机破碎、加液氮研钵研磨以及玻璃匀浆器研磨,不添加液氮用研钵研磨效果更好。DNA粗提液经纯化后纯度显著提高,蛋白质及盐类等污染明显减少。

利用基于Python/RGB模块的DNA电泳图像分析方法检测绵羊血浆中羊源性成分

该文探究了运用Python处理食品中DNA分子量与含量测定的新方法,建立了DNA凝胶图像分析方法。将不同分子量的DNA Marker与DNA标准样品进行琼脂糖凝胶电泳并拍照,利用自行开发Python程序分析凝胶图,对图像进行灰度图转换、高斯模糊、图像阈值化、轮廓检测的图像优化步骤,探究了轮廓平均值法、轮廓中线法、全局数据平均法、全局数据积分法反映出DNA浓度与RGB数值间的线性关系,选取最优处理方法,通过读取像素迁移距离、RGB-灰度、RGB-向量、RGB-亮度进行DNA分子量与含量的测定实验,建立一种基于Python/RGB色彩体系的DNA凝胶电泳中分子量与含量的分析方法。检测结果误差较小,证明了Python/RGB的DNA分子量与含量分析方法的可行性,同时将该文所构建的凝胶图像分析方法应用于绵羊血浆中羊源性成分检测,结果显示所得目的蛋白为296 bp,而用DNA检测法得出样品中片段大小为294 bp,误差为0.99%,有望构建一种肉类源性成分检测的新方法。

DNA聚合酶θ的合成致死作用研究

利用合成致死(SL)作用治疗癌症可能会成为一种有效且对患者安全的方案。在诱导合成致死效应的众多因素中,参与DNA修复的因素是最密切相关的。当一个经典的DNA双链断裂(DSB)修复途径发生突变时,替代途径可能是消除肿瘤细胞的靶标。目前,抑制缺乏经典修复途径肿瘤细胞中的RAD52和/或PARP1一直是诱导合成致死作用的潜在靶标,但是,常用的PARP1抑制剂(PARPi)的耐药性是制定治疗方案的最大障碍。由POLQ基因编码的DNA聚合酶θ(Polθ)介导的末端连接(TMEJ)在另一种DSB修复途径起关键作用。因此,它是治疗具有同源重组修复(HRR)缺陷肿瘤的潜在靶点,抑制其活性可以诱导SL。在本综述中,主要讨论了基于靶点Polθ合成致死性的抗癌疗法的现状。

Detection of hepatitis B viral DNA in liver with polymerase chain reaction

The sensitivity of PCR was determined for detection of HBV DNA in paraffin-embed-ded liver tissue with different methods for sample preparation.Of 8 cases of HBeAg-positiveHBV infection,HBV DNA was detected in 6 by extracting DNA from both frozen and dewaxedsamples,but in none by direct reaction.Of 12 cases subjected to Southern blot hybridization,HBV DNA was detected in 7 by this technique,in 10 by PCR with both methods of DNA extrac-tion and in 3 by direct PCR.The results showed that PCR was sensitive and was comparablewith blot hybridization in detecting intrahepatic HBV DNA.In comparison between differentmethods of sample preparation,the viral detection rate from the dewaxed samples was near thatfrom the frozen ones,while by the direct reaction HBV DNA could be detected only in a fewsamples with high level of infection.

水生生物环境DNA监测技术的发展、应用与标准化

水生态系统是保障国家生态安全的重要基础。水生生物在水生态系统中扮演着核心角色,是研究水体演变的重要依据,是维护水生态健康的关键。传统水生生物调查和监测通常采用形态学方法,但其存在专业知识要求高、难以标准化和自动化及费时耗力等缺陷。环境DNA(Environmental DNA,简称eDNA)技术是一种通过监测环境中存在的DNA片段来识别特定生物物种的方法,可以实现基于水体中DNA分子进行水生生物的鉴定和监测,为水生生物的常态化监测提供了一个准确、便捷、可标准化和自动化实施的方案。文章介绍了eDNA技术的基本原理,总结回顾了eDNA技术从萌芽到广泛科研应用的发展历史和过程,介绍了基于eDNA的宏条形码和宏基因组等各类水生生物鉴定监测技术;阐述了eDNA技术在保护种、入侵种及生物类群监测和水生态评估等各领域的应用;分析了eDNA技术当前面临的物种参考序列数据库不完善等各类挑战;提出了通过优化完善数据库、样品采集方法、评价指标和参数、样品保藏、数据分析和存储等来推动eDNA技术标准化和自动化,以解决当前面临的挑战。同时,基于eDNA技术当前的发展阶段,提出了在我国水体结合专业形态分类鉴定开展水生生物eDNA技术标准化监测的实施建议。

DNA甲基化对急性髓系白血病作用的研究进展

研究证实,在基因的表观遗传调控中DNA甲基化起着至关重要的作用。而DNA甲基转移酶(DNMT)催化DNA甲基化,这是DNA甲基化模式形成和保持的必要条件。在哺乳动物细胞中,有三种关键的DNMT负责着不同的任务。首先是DNMT1,负责维持DNA的甲基化状态,保持细胞功能正常运转。而另外两种则是DNMT3a和DNMT3b,它们则负责推动DNA从头开始的甲基化过程。目前,急性髓系白血病(AML)的病因仍无法完全阐明。通过研究发现,异常的表观遗传学变化与AML的发病密切相关。深入探讨DNA甲基化与AML之间的联系,将为治疗这种疾病和开发新药物提供关键的分子靶点。这一领域的突破将为医学界带来新的希望,为患者提供更有效的治疗方案。Research has confirmed that DNA methylation plays a crucial role in the epigenetic regulation of genes. DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) catalyzes DNA methylation, which is a necessary condition for the formation and maintenance of DNA methylation patterns. In mammalian cells, there are three key DNMTs responsible for different tasks. Firstly, DNMT1 is responsible for maintaining the methylation status of DNA and ensuring the normal functioning of cells. The other two are DNMT3a and DNMT3b, which are responsible for driving the DNA methylation process from scratch. At present, the etiology of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cannot be fully elucidated. Through research, it has been found that abnormal epigenetic changes are closely related to the onset of AML. Exploring the relationship between DNA methylation and AML in depth will provide key molecular targets for the treatment of this disease and the development of new drugs. Breakthroughs in this field will bring new hope to the medical community and provide more effective treatment options for patients.

DNA聚合酶θ:易错的多功能DNA末端修复分子

DNA聚合酶θ(DNA polymerase theta,Polθ)是一种广泛存在于动植物中的DNA修复酶。它在选择性末端连接(alternative end-joining,Alt-EJ)途径中发挥着关键作用,常参与DNA双链断裂(DNA double-strand breaks,DSB)损伤修复。在正常生理状态下,Polθ主要调控基因组稳定性。然而,在恶性肿瘤发生时,Polθ表现出异常高表达水平,并参与调控肿瘤细胞的恶性转变过程。研究表明,抑制Polθ活性可导致同源重组(homologous recombination,HR)缺陷的肿瘤细胞发生合成致死(synthetic lethality,SL)。因此,已经开发出多种针对Polθ的小分子抑制剂,可与其他化疗药物联合使用以抑制恶性肿瘤的发展。此外,敲除或抑制Polθ活性还能增加HR修复效率,从而提高外源基因靶向整合效果。本文综述了Polθ及其介导的Alt-EJ修复机制在生物学功能方面的最新研究进展,为靶向Polθ在肿瘤治疗和基因编辑方面的应用提供理论基础。

Fuzzy splicing in precursor-mRNA sequences: prediction of aberrant splice-junctions in viral DNA context

RNA splicing normally generates stable splice- junction sequences in viruses that are important in the context of virus mimicry. Potential variability in envelop proteins may occur with point-mutations inducing cryptic splice-junctions, which would remain unrecognized by T-memory cells of higher organisms in vaccine trials. Such aberrant splice- junctions result from evolution-specific non-conser- vation of actual splice-junction sites due to mutations;as such, locations of splice-junctions in a test DNA sequence could only be imprecisely specified. Such impreciseness of splice-junction locations (or cryptic sites) in a sequence is evaluated in this study via “noisy” attributes (with associated stochastics) to the mutated subspace;and, relevant fuzzy considerations are invoked with membership attributes expressed in terms of a spatial signal-to-noise ratio (SSNR). That is, SSNR adopted as a membership function expresses the belongingness of a site-region to exon/intron subspaces. An illustrative example with actual (Dengue 1 viral) DNA data is furnished demonstrating the pursuit developed in predicting aberrant splice-junctions at cryptic sites in the test sequence.

基于DNA折纸订书钉链折叠的信息加密策略

DNA折纸结构是蕴含复杂序列折叠信息的纳米结构,为发展具有超大密钥空间的信息加密技术提供了新思路。该文设计了一种能够充分发挥DNA折纸结构信息特征的信息加密策略,与先前利用DNA折纸骨架链折叠的思路不同,该文基于订书钉链集合的非线性组合特征,提出通过探索其更为广阔的折叠多样性来实现更大的密钥空间。该策略的密钥空间计算模型分解为订书钉链的结合域模式、协同折叠以及独立性3个因素,分别考虑了订书钉链的链内区段分布性、链间排布多样性以及序列特异性。以上3种因素的组合,使单位几何空间内DNA折纸的折叠多样性更有效地转化为密钥空间。该策略是一种基于生物分子热力学的加密方式,为扩展信息安全的应用场景提供了新的可能。