Prognostic value of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide overexpression in gastric cancer

AIM To investigate the relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta(P4 HB) expression, and clinicopathologic parameters, as well as the prognostic value of these genes for patients with gastric cancer(Gc).METHODS Hypoxia is a critical factor that shapes the Gc microenvironment. In previous reports, we have demonstrated that P4 HB is a potential target of HIF-1α. In the present study, gene expression profiling interactive analysis(GEPIA) was used to analyze the relationship between P4 HB and hypoxia-associated genes. To this end, 428 Gc tissue samples were used to analyze the expression of HIF-1α and P4 HB via immunohistochemical staining. Patient samples were classified as having weak-expression or over-expression both in terms of HIF-1α and P4 HB. Correlations between biomarkers and clinicopathological factors were analyzed to predict survival. RESULTS P4 HB demonstrated a positive correlation with hypoxiaassociated genes(P < 0.05). HIF-1α and P4 HB overexpression have a significant correlation with TNM staging(χ2 = 23.32, P = 0.00; χ2 = 65.64, P = 0.00) and peritoneum cavity metastasis(χ2 = 12.67, P = 0.00; χ2 = 39.29, P = 0.00). In univariate analysis, patients with a high HIF-1α expression trend had a shorter disease-free survival(DFS: 44.80 mo vs 22.06 mo) and overall survival(OS: 49.58 mo vs 39.92 mo). P4 HB overexpression reflected similar results: patients with over-expression of P4 HB had a shorter survival time than those with weak-expression(DFS: 48.03 mo vs 29.64 mo, OS: 52.48 mo vs 36.87 mo). Furthermore, HIF-1α is also a clinicopathological predictor of dismal prognosis according to multivariate analysis(DFS, 95%c I: 0.52-0.88, P < 0.00; OS, 95%c I: 0.50-0.85, P < 0.00). However, P4 HB was meaningful in DFS(95%c I: 0.58-1.00, P < 0.05) but not in OS(95%c I: 0.72-1.23, P > 0.05).CONCLUSION Overexpression of HIF-1α and P4 HB is associated with poor prognosis in patients with Gc. Thus, these genes may be potential prognostic biomarker candidates in GC.

Isolation and Expression Analysis of Two Genes Encoding Cinnamate 4-Hydroxylase from Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum)

Two genes （GhC4H1 and GhC4H2） that encode putative cotton cinnamate 4-hydroxylases that catalyze the second step in the phenylpropanoid pathway were isolated from developing cotton fibers. GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 each contain open reading frames of 1 518 base pairs （bp） in length and both encode proteins consisting of 505 amino acid residues. They are 90.89% identical to each other at the amino acid sequence level and belong to class I of plant C4Hs. GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 genomic DNA are 2 247 and 2 161 bp long, respectively, and contain two introns located at conserved positions relative to the coding sequence. GhC4HI and GhC4H2 promoters were isolated and found to contain many cis-elements （boxes P, L and AC-1 element） previously identified in the promoters of other phenylpropanoid pathway genes. Histochemical staining showed GUS expression driven by the GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 promoters in ovules and fibers tissues. GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 were also widely expressed in other cotton tissues. GhC4H2 expression reached its highest level during the elongation stage of fiber development, whereas GhC4H1 expression increased during the secondary wall development period in cotton fibers. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the biochemical role of GhC4H1 and GhC4H2 in cotton fiber development.

Expression of Prolyl 4-Hydroxylase Beta-Polypeptide in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chinese Medicines

Objectives： To investigate the role of prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide （P4HB） expressed in lung carcinoma and the intervention effect of Yiqi Chutan Formula （益气除痰方, YQCTF）. Methods： Lung carcinoma model was established by subcutaneously inoculating LEWIS lung carcinoma cells in C57BL/6J mice. The differential expression of P4HB protein between the YQCTF （3.0 g/kg, gavage, once daily, 21 days） group and the control group was acquired by a 2 fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis （2D-DIGE）, verified by Westem blotting and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry （MALDI-TOF/＇IOF-MS）. The expression of P4HB and P4HB mRNA in cultured A549 cells from cisplatin （DDP） 1.5μg/mL group and 15% serum combined with DDP 1.5 μg/mL group were detected by cellular immunohistochemistry and reverse chain reaction, respectively. Results： The proteomics research discovered that one-third of differential proteins including P4HB were decreased in the YQCTF group （P〈0.01）. Clinical pathology and tissue microarray studies showed that P4HB expression in lung cancer tissue was stronger than adjacent tissues and normal lung epithelial （P〈0.01）. In the YQCTF and DDP combined groups, the expression of P4HB and P4HB mRNA in A549 cell were decreased significantly （P〈0.01）. Conclusion： YQCTF could inhibit the LEWIS lung carcinoma＇s growth, decrease the expression of P4HB in LEWIS lung carcinoma and A549 cells. YQCTF might take effect through regulating P4HB in endoplasmic reticulum to inhibit the incidence and growth process of lung cercinoma.

Changes of chlorogenic acid content and its synthesis-associated genes expression in Xuehua pear fruit during development

According to synthetic pathway of plant chlorogenic acid （CGA）, the expression patterns of genes encoding enzymes that are associated with CGA synthesis were studied in normally developed Xuehua pear fruit. The study demonstrated that CGA content in peel and flesh of Xuehua pear decreased as fruit development progressed, with a higher level in peel. The expression levels of PbPAL 1, PbPAL2, PbC3H, PbC4H, Pb4CL 1, Pb4CL2, Pb4CL6, PbHC T1 and PbHC T3 genes decreased in fruit, which was consistent with the pattern of variation in CGA content. That indicated that these genes might be key genes for influencing fruit CGA synthesis in Xuehua pear. However, Pb4CL7 gene expression profile is not consistent with variation of CGA content, hence, it may not be a key gene involved in CGA synthesis.

Effects of Temperature on Seed Germination and Metabolism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi

[Objectives]To explore the effects of temperature on the primary and secondary metabolism of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi during the seed germination.[Methods]The superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity was determined using riboflavin-NBT;peroxidase(POD)activity was determined using guaiacol colorimetric method,catalase(CAT),ascorbate peroxidase(APX),phenylalanine ammonia lyase(PAL)and cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase(C4H)activity were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry,and chalcone synthase(CHS)activity and the content of secondary metabolites were measured by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).[Results]The germination rate,germination potential and germination index of S.baicalensis seeds were significantly affected by temperature.The most suitable temperature for the germination of S.baicalensis seeds was 25℃.The activities of SOD,POD and CAT in S.baicalensis seeds treated at low and high temperature were higher than that treated at suitable temperature;the activities of PAL,C4H and CHS of S.baicalensis seeds treated at low and high temperature were lower than that treated at suitable temperature.There was a good positive correlation between flavonoids and soluble sugar,PAL activity and C4H activity,and the correlation coefficients were R=0.894*,R=0.956*and R=0.951*,respectively.[Conclusions]In adverse environment,S.baicalensis seeds have good defense capabilities.During the germination of seeds,the formation of secondary metabolites is significantly correlated to the activity of key enzymes.Therefore,high-quality medicinal materials can be obtained by taking measures to improve the activity of key enzymes.

Efficient production of 14α‑OH‑AD by engineered Mycolicibacterium neoaurum via coupled cofactor and reconstructed electron transport system

14α-hydroxy-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione(14α-OH-AD)is an important precursor for the synthesis of steroid drugs with anticancer and carcinolytic activity.Initially,14α-OH-AD was mostly synthesized by whole-cell fermentation of mold fungi using androstenedione(AD)as a substrate,which had difficulties in product isolation and purification as well as problems of high production cost.In this study,the source of the 14α-hydroxylase gene was expanded.And 14α-hydroxylase genes were heterologously expressed in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum(MNR)M3ΔksdD,which enabled the one-step biotransformation from the cheap substrate phytosterols(PS)to 14α-OH-AD,reducing the difficulty of product purification and production cost.What is more,to alleviate the problem of poor activity of 14α-hydroxylase,the 14α-hydroxylase gene was co-expressed with the electron transport chain element genes and the coenzyme regeneration genes,and a superior engineered strain MNR M3ΔksdD/pMV261-14α-G6PDH was obtained.Finally,the transformation conditions were optimized for the transformation of PS by the engineered strain.The molar yield of 14α-OH-AD reached to 60.4±2.3%(about 0.22 g/L productivity).This study investigated for the first time the effects of the tandem electron transport chain element genes and the tandem coenzyme regeneration genes on the 14α-hydroxylation reaction,providing a theoretical basis for the industrial production of 14α-OH-AD.

Filling the Gaps to Solve the Extensin Puzzle

Extensins （EXTs） are highly repetitive plant O-glycoproteins that require several post-translational modifi- cations （PTMs） to become functional in plant cell walls. First, they are hydroxylated on contiguous proline residues; then they are O-glycosylated on hydroxyproline and serine. After secretion into the apoplast, O-glycosylated EXTs form a tridimensional network organized by inter- and intra-Tyr linkages. Recent studies have made significant progress in the identification of the enzymatic machinery required to process EXTs, which includes prolyl 4-hydroxylases, glycosyltransferases, papain-type cysteine endopeptidases, and peroxidases. EXTs are abundant in plant tissues and are particularly important in rapidly expanding root hairs and pollen tubes, which grow in a polar manner. Small changes in EXT PTMs affect fastgrowing cells, although the molecular mechanisms underlying this regulation are unknown. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of EXT modifications throughout the secretory pathway, EXT assembly in cell walls, and possible sensing mechanisms involving the Catharanthus roseus cell surface sensor receptor-like kinases located at the interface between the apoplast and the cytoplasmic side of the plasma membrane.