R-spondin-1 induces Axin degradation via the LRP6-CK1ε axis.

R-spondins (RSPOs) are secreted signaling molecules that potentiate the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway by cooperating with Wnt ligands. RSPO1 is crucial in tissue development and tissue homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanism by which RSPOs activate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling remains elusive. In this study, we found that RSPOs could mediate the degradation of Axin through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The results of Co-IP showed that the recombinant RSPO1 protein promoted the interaction between Axin1 and CK1ε. Either knockout of the CK1ε gene or treatment with the CK1δ/CK1ε inhibitor SR3029 caused an increase in Axin1 protein levels and attenuated RSPO1-induced degradation of the Axin1 protein. Moreover, we observed an increase in the number of associations of LRP6 with CK1ε and Axin1 following RSPO1 stimulation. Overexpression of LRP6 further potentiated Axin1 degradation mediated by RSPO1 or CK1ε. In addition, recombinant RSPO1 and Wnt3A proteins synergistically downregulated the protein expression of Axin1 and enhanced the transcriptional activity of the SuperTOPFlash reporter. Taken together, these results uncover the novel mechanism by which RSPOs activate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through LRP6/CK1ε-mediated degradation of Axin.

WDR54 exerts oncogenic roles in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

WDR54 has been recently identified as a novel oncogene in colorectal and bladder cancers. However, the expression and function of WDR54 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) were not reported. In this study, we investigated the expression of WDR54 in T-ALL, as well as its function in T-ALL pathogenesis using cell lines and T-ALL xenograft. Bioinformatics analysis indicated high mRNA expression of WDR54 in T-ALL. We further confirmed that the expression of WDR54 was significantly elevated in T-ALL. Depletion of WDR54 dramatically inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at S phase in T-ALL cells in vitro. Moreover, knockdown of WDR54 impeded the process of leukemogenesis in a Jurkat xenograft model in vivo. Mechanistically, the expression of PDPK1, phospho-AKT (p-AKT), total AKT, phospho-ERK (p-ERK), Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were downregulated, while cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 were upregulated in T-ALL cells with WDR54 knockdown. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis indicated that WDR54 might regulate the expression of some oncogenic genes involved in multiple signaling pathways. Taken together, these findings suggest that WDR54 may be involved in the pathogenesis of T-ALL and serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of T-ALL.

KIF2C is a prognostic biomarker associated with immune cell infiltration in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The kinesin-13 family member 2C (KIF2C) is a versatile protein participating in many biological processes. KIF2C is frequently up-regulated in multiple types of cancer and is associated with cancer development. However, the role of KIF2C in immune cell infiltration of tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy in breast cancer remains unclear. METHODS: The expression of KIF2C was analyzed using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database and further verified by immunohistochemical staining in human breast cancer tissues. The correlation between KIF2C expression and clinical parameters, the impact of KIF2C on clinical prognosis and independent prognostic factors were analyzed by using TCGA database, the Kaplan-Meier plotter, and Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, respectively. The nomograms were constructed according to independent prognostic factors and validated with C-index, calibration curves, ROC curves, and decision curve analysis. A gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of KIF2C. The degree of immune infiltration was assessed by the Estimation of Stromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumor tissues using the Expression (ESTIMATE) algorithm and the single sample GSEA (ssGSEA). The Tumor mutational burden and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Rejection (TIDE) were used to analyze immunotherapeutic efficiency. Finally, the KIF2C-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed to predict the putative regulatory mechanisms of KIF2C. RESULTS: KIF2C was remarkably up-regulated in 18 different types of cancers, including breast cancer. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that high KIF2C expression was associated with poor overall survival (OS). KIF2C expression was associated with clinical parameters such as age, TMN stage, T status, and molecular subtypes. We identified age, stage, estrogen receptor (ER) and KIF2C expression as OS-related independent prognosis factors for breast cancer. An OS-related nomogram was developed based on these independent prognosis factors and displayed good predicting ability for OS of breast cancer patients. Finally, our results revealed that KIF2C was significantly related to immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden, and immunotherapy in patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: KIF2C was overexpressed in breast cancer and was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy response. Therefore, KIF2C can serve as a potential biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy in breast cancer.

Tumor promoter TPA activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in a casein kinase 1-dependent manner.

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetra-decanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) has been defined by its ability to promote tumorigenesis on carcinogen-initiated mouse skin. Activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has a decisive role in mouse skin carcinogenesis, but it remains unclear how TPA activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in mouse skin carcinogenesis. Here, we found that TPA could enhance Wnt/ß-catenin signaling in a casein kinase 1 (CK1) ε/δ-dependent manner. TPA stabilized CK1ε and enhanced its kinase activity. TPA further induced the phosphorylation of LRP6 at Thr1479 and Ser1490 and the formation of a CK1ε-LRP6-axin1 complex, leading to an increase in cytosolic ß-catenin. Moreover, TPA increased the association of ß-catenin with TCF4E in a CK1ε/δ-dependent way, resulting in the activation of Wnt target genes. Consistently, treatment with a selective CK1ε/δ inhibitor SR3029 suppressed TPA-induced skin tumor formation in vivo, probably through blocking Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Taken together, our study has identified a pathway by which TPA activates Wnt/ß-catenin signaling.

Sulfur-Coordinated Organoiridium(III) Complexes Exert Breast Anticancer Activity via Inhibition of Wnt/ß-Catenin Signaling.

The sulfur-coordinated organoiridium(III) complexes pbtIrSS and ppyIrSS, which contain C,N and S,S (dithione) chelating ligands, were found to inhibit breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis by targeting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling for the first time. Treatment with pbtIrSS and ppyIrSS induces the degradation of LRP6, thereby decreasing the protein levels of DVL2, ß-catenin and activated ß-catenin, resulting in downregulation of Wnt target genes CD44 and survivin. Additionally, pbtIrSS and ppyIrSS can suppress cell migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, both complexes show the ability to inhibit sphere formation and mediate the stemness properties of breast cancer cells. Importantly, pbtIrSS exerts potent anti-tumor and anti-metastasis effects in mouse xenograft models through the blockage of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. Taken together, our results indicate that pbtIrSS has great potential to be developed as a breast cancer therapeutic agent with a novel mechanism.

CDDO-Me Elicits Anti-Breast Cancer Activity by Targeting LRP6 and FZD7 Receptor Complex.

Aberrant activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway leads to the development of multiple cancers, including breast cancer. Development of therapeutic agents against this signaling pathway is an urgent need. In this study, we found that 2-cyano-3, 12-dioxooleana-1, 9(11)-dien-28-oic acid-methyl ester (CDDO-Me) could inhibit Wnt/ß-catenin signaling mainly through targeting the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 6 and Frizzled (FZD) 7 receptor complex. This compound induced the degradation and ubiquitination of LRP6 and Fzd7 via the lysosomal pathway. We further showed that CDDO-Me mediated the degradation of FZD7 in an LRP6 ectodomain-dependent manner. In breast cancer cells, treatment with CDDO-Me increased the degradation of LRP6 and FZD7 and reduced the levels of phosphorylated Disheveled (DVL) 2 and active ß-catenin, resulting in the downregulation of Wnt target genes and several cancer stem cell (CSC) marker genes. In a murine xenograft bearing mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-Wnt1-driven mammary tumor, administration of CDDO-Me significantly inhibited tumor growth and was accompanied by reduced expression of phosphorylated and total LRP6, phosphorylated and unphosphorylated DVL2, active ß-catenin, several Wnt target genes, and CSC marker genes. Collectively, the results of our study present that CDDO-Me is a potent Wnt/ß-catenin signaling inhibitor that may be a promising therapeutic agent against breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Blocking the membrane receptor complex consisting of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 6 and Frizzled (FZD) 7 may help developing therapeutic approaches for cancers, including breast cancers. Our study indicates that 2-cyano-3, 12-dioxooleana-1, 9(11)-dien-28-oic acid-methyl ester (CDDO-Me) can inhibit Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by inducing the ubiquitination and degradation of LRP6/FZD7 membrane receptor complex via a lysosomal pathway. We also found that the ectodomain of LRP6 is essential for CDDO-Me-induced FZD7 degradation. Defining CDDO-Me as a novel inhibitor of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, our results provide insight into the mechanism of its anticancer activity.

Chlorquinaldol targets the ß-catenin and T-cell factor 4 complex and exerts anti-colorectal cancer activity.

Aberrant activation of Wnt signaling plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Chlorquinaldol (CQD) is a topical antimicrobial agent used to treat skin infections. Little is known about the anticancer activity of CQD and its underlying mechanisms. In this study, CQD was demonstrated to inhibit Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through targeting the downstream part of this pathway. The results showed that CQD could inhibit the acetylation of ß-catenin and disrupt the interaction of ß-catenin with T-cell factor 4 (TCF4), leading to reduced binding of ß-catenin to the promoters of Wnt target genes and downregulation of the expression of these target genes. Moreover, treatment with CQD suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness of CRC cells. In APCmin/+ mice and CRC cell xenografts, administration of CQD suppressed tumor growth and the expression of Wnt target genes c-Myc and Leucine-rich G protein-coupled receptor-5 (LGR5). These results strongly suggest that CQD may be a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of CRC.

Prodigiosin inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and exerts anticancer activity in breast cancer cells.

Prodigiosin, a natural red pigment produced by numerous bacterial species, has exhibited promising anticancer activity; however, the molecular mechanisms of action of prodigiosin on malignant cells remain unclear. Aberrant activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling cascade is associated with numerous human cancers. In this study, we identified prodigiosin as a potent inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Prodigiosin blocked Wnt/ß-catenin signaling by targeting multiple sites of this pathway, including the low-density lipoprotein-receptor-related protein (LRP) 6, Dishevelled (DVL), and glycogen synthase kinase-3ß (GSK3ß). In breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, nanomolar concentrations of prodigiosin decreased phosphorylation of LRP6, DVL2, and GSK3ß and suppressed ß-catenin-stimulated Wnt target gene expression, including expression of cyclin D1. In MDA-MB-231 breast cancer xenografts and MMTV-Wnt1 transgenic mice, administration of prodigiosin slowed tumor progression and reduced the expression of phosphorylated LRP6, phosphorylated and unphosphorylated DVL2, Ser9 phosphorylated GSK3ß, active ß-catenin, and cyclin D1. Through its ability to inhibit Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and reduce cyclin D1 levels, prodigiosin could have therapeutic activity in advanced breast cancers.

Homoharringtonine regulates the alternative splicing of Bcl-x and caspase 9 through a protein phosphatase 1-dependent mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Homoharringtonine (HHT) is a natural alkaloid with potent antitumor activity, but its precise mechanism of action is still poorly understood. METHODS: We examined the effect of HHT on alternative splicing of Bcl-x and Caspase 9 in various cells using semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mechanism of HHT-affected alternative splicing in these cells was investigated by treatment with protein phosphatase inhibitors and overexpression of a protein phosphatase. RESULTS: Treatment with HHT downregulated the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL and Caspase 9b mRNA with a concomitant increase in the mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic Bcl-xS and Caspase 9a in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), significantly inhibited the effects of HHT on the alternative splicing of Bcl-x and Caspase 9, in contrast to okadaic acid, a specific inhibitor of PP2A. Overexpression of PP1 resulted in a decrease in the ratio of Bcl-xL/xS and an increase in the ratio of Caspase 9a/9b. Moreover, the effects of HHT on Bcl-x and Caspase 9 splicing were enhanced in response to PP1 overexpression. These results suggest that HHT-induced alternative splicing of Bcl-x and Caspase 9 is dependent on PP1 activation. In addition, overexpression of PP1 could induce apoptosis and sensitize MCF7 cells to apoptosis induced by HHT. CONCLUSION: Homoharringtonine regulates the alternative splicing of Bcl-x and Caspase 9 through a PP1-dependent mechanism. Our study reveals a novel mechanism underlying the antitumor activities of HHT.

Gigantol inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin signaling and exhibits anticancer activity in breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Gigantol is a bibenzyl compound derived from several medicinal orchids. This biologically active compound has been shown to have promising therapeutic potential against cancer cells, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of gigantol on Wnt/ß-catenin signaling was evaluated with the SuperTOPFlash reporter system. The levels of phosphorylated low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (LRP6), total LRP6 and cytosolic ß-catenin were determined by Western blot analysis. The expression of Wnt target genes was analyzed using real-time PCR. Cell viability was measured with a MTT assay. The effect of gigantol on cell migration was examined using scratch wound-healing and transwell migration assays. RESULTS: Gigantol decreased the level of phosphorylated LRP6 and cytosolic ß-catenin in HEK293 cells. In breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, treatment with gigantol reduced the level of phosphorylated LRP6, total LRP6 and cytosolic ß-catenin in a dose-dependent manner, resulting in a decrease in the expression of Wnt target genes Axin2 and Survivin. We further demonstrated that gigantol suppressed the viability and migratory capacity of breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Gigantol is a novel inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. It inhibits Wnt/ß-catenin signaling through downregulation of phosphorylated LRP6 and cytosolic ß-catenin in breast cancer cells.

The WNT receptor FZD7 is required for maintenance of the pluripotent state in human embryonic stem cells.

WNT signaling is involved in maintaining stem cells in an undifferentiated state; however, it is often unclear which WNTs and WNT receptors are mediating these activities. Here we examined the role of the WNT receptor FZD7 in maintaining human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in an undifferentiated and pluripotent state. FZD7 expression is significantly elevated in undifferentiated cells relative to differentiated cell populations, and interfering with its expression or function, either by short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown or with a fragment antigen binding (Fab) molecule directed against FZD7, disrupts the pluripotent state of hESCs. The FZD7-specific Fab blocks signaling by Wnt3a protein by down-regulating FZD7 protein levels, suggesting that FZD7 transduces Wnt signals to activate Wnt/ß-catenin signaling. These results demonstrate that FZD7 encodes a regulator of the pluripotent state and that hESCs require endogenous WNT/ß-catenin signaling through FZD7 to maintain an undifferentiated phenotype.

Highly reliable optical system for a rubidium space cold atom clock.

We describe a highly reliable optical system designed for a rubidium space cold atom clock (SCAC), presenting its design, key technologies, and optical components. All of the optical and electronic components are integrated onto an optimized two-sided 300 mm×290 mm×30 mm optical bench. The compact optical structure and special thermal design ensure that the optical system can pass all of the space environmental qualification tests including both thermal vacuum and mechanical tests. To verify its performance, the optical system is carefully checked before and after each test. The results indicate that this optical system is suitably robust for the space applications for which the rubidium SCAC was built.

Adsorption Removal of Environmental Hormones of Dimethyl Phthalate Using Novel Magnetic Adsorbent.

Magnetic polyvinyl alcohol adsorbent M-PVAL was employed to remove and concentrate dimethyl phthalate DMP. The M-PVAL was prepared after sequential syntheses of magnetic Fe3O4 (M) and polyvinyl acetate (M-PVAC). The saturated magnetizations of M, M-PVAC, and M-PVAL are 57.2, 26.0, and 43.2 emu g(-1) with superparamagnetism, respectively. The average size of M-PVAL by number is 0.75 µm in micro size. Adsorption experiments include three cases: (1) adjustment of initial pH (pH0) of solution to 5, (2) no adjustment of pH0 with value in 6.04-6.64, and (3) adjusted pH0 = 7. The corresponding saturated amounts of adsorption of unimolecular layer of Langmuir isotherm are 4.01, 5.21, and 4.22 mg g(-1), respectively. Values of heterogeneity factor of Freundlich isotherm are 2.59, 2.19, and 2.59 which are greater than 1, revealing the favorable adsorption of DMP/M-PVAL system. Values of adsorption activation energy per mole of Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm are, respectively, of low values of 7.04, 6.48, and 7.19 kJ mol(-1), indicating the natural occurring of the adsorption process studied. The tiny size of adsorbent makes the adsorption take place easily while its superparamagnetism is beneficial for the separation and recovery of micro adsorbent from liquid by applying magnetic field after completion of adsorption.

Anti-tumor activities and apoptotic mechanism of ribosome-inactivating proteins.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) belong to a family of enzymes that attack eukaryotic ribosomes and potently inhibit cellular protein synthesis. RIPs possess several biomedical properties, including anti-viral and anti-tumor activities. Multiple RIPs are known to inhibit tumor cell proliferation through inducing apoptosis in a variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, leukemia/lymphoma, and hepatoma. This review focuses on the anti-tumor activities of RIPs and their apoptotic effects through three closely related pathways: mitochondrial, death receptor, and endoplasmic reticulum pathways.

Genetic variations in microRNAs and the risk and survival of renal cell cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of short non-coding, single-stranded RNAs, which perform posttranscriptional regulatory functions as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNAs (miRNAs) genes are currently being identified for contributing to cancer risk, prognosis and survival. We investigated whether genetic variations of miRNAs were associated with the risk and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We genotyped four common miRNA SNPs (i.e. miR-146a rs2910164, miR-149 rs2292832, miR-196a2 rs11614913 and miR-499 rs3746444) to assess their associations with RCC risk in a two-stage case-control study (355 cases and 362 controls in discovery set, meanwhile 647 cases and 660 controls in validation set), as well as RCC survival in 311 patients. We found that the miR-196a2 SNP rs11614913 was associated with RCC susceptibility in recessive model [CC versus TT/TC, adjusted odds ratio = 0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.52-0.83] and with survival of RCC in dominant model (TC/CC versus TT, adjusted hazard ratio = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.18-0.89). Meanwhile, the rs11614913 CC genotype was associated with the significantly decreased expression of miR-196a-5p in 26 renal cancer tissues (P = 0.018). Moreover, luciferase reporter assays revealed the potential effect of rs11614913 SNP on the binding of miR-196a-3p to its targets. These results suggested that the miR-196a2 rs11614913 may contribute to the genetic susceptibility and prognosis for RCC, which may act as a biomarker for RCC occurrence and prognosis.

Salinomycin inhibits Wnt signaling and selectively induces apoptosis in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.

Salinomycin, an antibiotic potassium ionophore, has been reported recently to act as a selective breast cancer stem cell inhibitor, but the biochemical basis for its anticancer effects is not clear. The Wnt/ß-catenin signal transduction pathway plays a central role in stem cell development, and its aberrant activation can cause cancer. In this study, we identified salinomycin as a potent inhibitor of the Wnt signaling cascade. In Wnt-transfected HEK293 cells, salinomycin blocked the phosphorylation of the Wnt coreceptor lipoprotein receptor related protein 6 (LRP6) and induced its degradation. Nigericin, another potassium ionophore with activity against cancer stem cells, exerted similar effects. In otherwise unmanipulated chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells with constitutive Wnt activation nanomolar concentrations of salinomycin down-regulated the expression of Wnt target genes such as LEF1, cyclin D1, and fibronectin, depressed LRP6 levels, and limited cell survival. Normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes resisted salinomycin toxicity. These results indicate that ionic changes induced by salinomycin and related drugs inhibit proximal Wnt signaling by interfering with LPR6 phosphorylation, and thus impair the survival of cells that depend on Wnt signaling at the plasma membrane.

Proteomic and metabolomic analysis of the serum of patients with tick-borne encephalitis.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a common virus in Europe and Asia, causing around 10,000 to 10,500 infections annually. It affects the central nervous system and poses threats to public health. However, the exact molecular mechanisms of TBE pathogenesis are not yet fully understood due to the complex interactions between the virus and its host. In this study, a comprehensive analysis was conducted to characterize the serum metabolome and proteome of adult patients infected with TBEV, in comparison to a control group of healthy individuals. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed to monitor metabolic and proteomic alternations throughout the progression of the disease, significant physiological changes associated with different stages of the disease were identified. A total of 44 proteins and 115 metabolites exhibited significantly alternations in the sera of patients diagnosed with TBE. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses of these metabolites and proteins revealed differential enrichment of genes associated with the extracellular matrix, complement binding, hemostasis, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism between TBE patients and healthy controls. We gained valuable understanding of the specific metabolites implicated in the host's responses to TBE, establishing a basis for further research on TBE disease. SIGNIFICANCE: The current investigation revealed a comprehensive and systematic differences on TBE using LC-MS platform from human serum samples of TBE patients and healthy individuals providing the immune response to the invasion of TBE.

A PANoptosis pattern to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Individuals diagnosed with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) experience a significant occurrence rate and are susceptible to premature spreading, resulting in a bleak outlook. Therapeutic approaches, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, may exhibit primary and acquired resistance during the advanced phases of HNSCC. There is currently no viable solution to tackle this issue. PANoptosis-a type of non-apoptotic cell death-is a recently identified mechanism of cellular demise that entails communication and synchronization among thermal apoptosis, apoptosis, and necrosis mechanisms. However, the extent to which PANoptosis-associated genes (PRG) contribute to the forecast and immune reaction of HNSCC remains mostly undisclosed. The present study aimed to thoroughly analyze the potential importance of PRG in HNSCC and report our discoveries. We systematically analyzed 19 PRG from previous studies and clinical data from HNSCC patients to establish a PAN-related signature and assess its prognostic, predictive potential. Afterward, the patient information was separated into two gene patterns that corresponded to each other, and the analysis focused on the connection between patient prognosis, immune status, and cancer immunotherapy. The PAN score was found to correlate with survival rates, immune systems, and cancer-related pathways. We then validated the malignant role of CD27 among them in HNSCC. In summary, we demonstrated the effectiveness of PAN.Score-based molecular clustering and prognostic features in predicting the outcome of HNSCC. The discovery we made could enhance our comprehension of the significance of PAN.Score in HNSCC and facilitate the development of more effective treatment approaches.

CK1δ/ε inhibition induces ULK1-mediated autophagy in tumorigenesis.

INTRODUCTION: Autophagy is an important mechanism of cell homeostasis maintenance. As essential serine/threonine-protein kinases, casein kinase I family members affect tumorigenesis by regulating a variety of cellular progression. However, the mechanism by which they regulate autophagy remains unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We silenced CK1δ/ε in cancer cells and observed cell morphology, the expression of autophagy-related genes, and its impact on cancer cell growth and viability. By inhibiting CK1δ/ε-induced upregulation of autophagy genes, we profiled the regulatory mechanism of CK1δ/ε on autophagy and cancer cell growth. The impact of CK1δ/ε inhibition on tumor cell growth was also assessed in vivo. RESULTS: Here, we found that CK1δ/ε played an important role in ULK1-mediated autophagy regulation in both lung cancer and melanoma cells. Mechanically, silencing CK1δ/ε increased ULK1 expression with enhanced autophagic flux and suppressed cancer cell proliferation, while ULK1 knockdown blocked the activation of autophagy caused by CK1δ/ε inhibition. By silencing CK1δ/ε in syngeneic mouse model bearing LLC1 murine lung cancer cells in vivo, we observed tumor growth suppression mediated by CK1δ/ε inhibition. CONCLUSION: Our results provide evidence for the role of CK1δ/ε in the regulation of tumorigenesis via the ULK1-mediated autophagy, and also suggest the impact of CK1δ/ε inhibition on tumor growth and its significance as a potential therapeutic target.

Cold atom microwave clock based on intracavity cooling in China space station.

Atomic clocks with higher frequency stability and accuracy than traditional space-borne atomic clocks are the cornerstone of long-term autonomous operation of space-time-frequency systems. We proposed a space cold atoms clock based on an intracavity cooling scheme, which captures cold atoms at the center of a microwave cavity and then executes in situ interactions between the cold atoms and microwaves. As a result of the microgravity environment in space, the cold atoms can interact with the microwaves for a longer time, which aids in realizing a high-precision atomic clock in space. This paper presents the overall design, operational characteristics, and reliability test results of the space atomic clock based on the intracavity cooling scheme designed for the operation onboard the China space station. In addition, the engineering prototype performance of the space cold atoms microwave clock is also presented. The ground test results for the clock show a fractional frequency stability of 1.1 × 10-12 τ-1/2 reaching 2.5 × 10-15 at 200,000 s, providing solid technical and data support for its future operation in orbit.