Notch2 regulates matrix metallopeptidase 9 via PI3K/AKT signaling in human gastric carcinoma cell MKN-45

AIM：To clarify the role of activated Notch2 in the invasiveness of gastric cancer.METHODS：To investigate the invasiveness of silencing Notch2 gene expression,we established a Notch2small interfering RNA（siRNA） transfected cell line using the MKN-45 gastric cancer cell line.After the successful transfection confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction（RT-PCR） and Western blotting,migration and invasion assays were employed to evaluate the aggressiveness of the gastric cancer.RT-PCR and Western blottings were employed to confirm the down-regulation of Notch2 and to evaluate the expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition-related gene matrix metallopeptidase 9（MMP9）,Akt,p-Akt.To confirm the relationship between PI3KAkt and MMP9,the PI3K inhibitor LY294002 was used to treat MKN-45 cells.RESULTS：Notch2 expression was dramatically decreased after Notch2 siRNA transfection（100.00% ± 9.74% vs 11.61% ± 3.85%,P 〈 0.01 by qRT-PCR）.There was also a marked reduction of Notch target gene Hes1（100.00% ± 4.74% vs 61.61% ± 3.58%,P 〈 0.05） at the mRNA,indicating an inhibition of Notch signaling.Inhibition of Notch signaling was also confirmed by the marked reduction of Notch2 intracellular domain at the protein levels（100.00% ± 9.74% vs 65.61% ± 7.58%,P 〈 0.05）.Down-regulation of Notch2 by siRNA enhanced tumor cell invasion（100.00% ± 21.64% vs 162.22% ± 16.84%,P 〈 0.05） and expression of MMP9（1.56 fold,P 〈 0.05）,and activated the pro-MMP9 protein to its active form（1.48 fold,P 〈 0.05）.There was no significant difference in the protein levels of Akt between the two groups（100.00% ± 10.87% vs 96.61% ± 7.33%,P 〉 0.05）,while down-regulation of Notch2 elevated p-Akt expression（100.00% ± 9.87% vs 154.61% ± 13.10%,P 〈 0.05）.Furthermore,p-Akt and MMP9 was down-regulated in response to the inhibitor LY294002（p-Akt 100.00% ± 8.87% vs 58.27% ± 5.01%,P 〈 0.05;MMP9 100.00% ± 9.17% vs 50.03% ± 4.88%,P 〈 0.05）.CONCLUSION：Notch2 may negatively regulate cell invasion by inhibiting the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway

北柴胡皂苷生物合成途径关键酶IPPI的全长cDNA克隆及其序列分析

目的克隆北柴胡皂苷生物合成途径关键酶异戊烯基焦磷酸异构酶(EC 5.3.3.2,isopentenyl diphosphate isomerase,IPPI)的全长cDNA,为研究柴胡皂苷的生物合成与基因调控奠定基础。方法 PCR矩阵法快速筛选北柴胡全长cDNA文库。结果获得了北柴胡IPPI的全长cDNA(GenBank No.gq433719),其核苷酸序列长1 117bp,编码319个氨基酸的蛋白。NCBI Blastx结果显示与胡萝卜Daucus carotasubsp.sativus(abb52064)的IPPI氨基酸序列相似性最高,一致性为92%,相似度为97%。保守结构域搜索显示含有IPPI共有的催化活性位点、金属结合位点及Nudix基序。TargetP1.1和SignalP3.0分析表明北柴胡IPPI N端含有长26 bp的叶绿体信号肽。结论首次克隆了北柴胡IPPI的全长cDNA,将促进后续北柴胡IPPI基因表达特性及其在柴胡皂苷合成代谢中功能的研究。