The Receptor-Like Cytoplasmic Kinase STRK1 Phosphorylates and Activates CatC, Thereby Regulating H2O2 Homeostasis and Improving Salt Tolerance in Rice.

Salt stress can significantly affect plant growth and agricultural productivity. Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are believed to play essential roles in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stresses. Here, we identify a receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase, salt tolerance receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase 1 (STRK1), from rice (Oryza sativa) that positively regulates salt and oxidative stress tolerance. Our results show that STRK1 anchors and interacts with CatC at the plasma membrane via palmitoylation. CatC is phosphorylated mainly at Tyr-210 and is activated by STRK1. The phosphorylation mimic form CatCY210D exhibits higher catalase activity both in vitro and in planta, and salt stress enhances STRK1-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation on CatC. Compared with wild-type plants, STRK1-overexpressing plants exhibited higher catalase activity and lower accumulation of H2O2 as well as higher tolerance to salt and oxidative stress. Our findings demonstrate that STRK1 improves salt and oxidative tolerance by phosphorylating and activating CatC and thereby regulating H2O2 homeostasis. Moreover, overexpression of STRK1 in rice not only improved growth at the seedling stage but also markedly limited the grain yield loss under salt stress conditions. Together, these results offer an opportunity to improve rice grain yield under salt stress.

Recent Advances in Nondestructive Analytical Techniques for Determining the Total Soluble Solids in Fruits: A Review.

The total soluble solids play an important role in the fruit maturity process and determine the acceptance of rich nutrients as well as economic benefits in the fruit trade. Thus, development of rapid and nondestructive techniques for evaluating soluble solids content in fruits is important. This review focuses on recent advances in nondestructive techniques for soluble solids contents of fruits including hyperspectral imaging, laser light backscattering imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray computed tomography, near-infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The advantages and disadvantages of these techniques are compared and discussed, and some viewpoints about future trends are also presented.

MiR-492 contributes to cell proliferation and cell cycle of human breast cancer cells by suppressing SOX7 expression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as important regulators that potentially play critical roles in cancer cell biological processes. Previous studies have shown that miR-492 plays an important role in cell tumorigenesis in multiple kinds of human cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanisms of this microRNA in breast cancer remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated miR-492's role in cell proliferation of breast cancer. MiR-492 expression was markedly upregulated in breast cancer tissues and breast cancer cells. Overexpression of miR-492 promoted the proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of breast cancer cells. Bioinformatics analysis further revealed sex-determining region Y-box 7 (SOX7), a putative tumor suppressor, as a potential target of miR-492. Data from luciferase reporter assays showed that miR-492 directly binds to the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of SOX7 messenger RNA (mRNA) and repressed expression at both transcriptional and translational levels. Ectopic expression of miR-492 led to downregulation of SOX7 protein, which resulted in the upregulation of cyclin D1 and c-Myc. In functional assays, SOX7 silenced in miR-492-in-transfected ZR-75-30 cells has positive effect to promote cell proliferation, suggesting that direct SOX7 downregulation is required for miR-492-induced cell proliferation and cell cycle of breast cancer. In sum, these results suggest that miR-492 represents a potential onco-miR and participates in breast cancer carcinogenesis by suppressing SOX7 expression.

Protease-activated receptor-2 modulates hepatic stellate cell collagen release and apoptotic status.

The pathogenesis of hepatic fibrosis is to be further investigated. Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2) plays a role in hepatic fibrosis. This study aims to elucidate the role of activation of PAR2 in the regulation of hepatic stellate cell activities. In this study, the expression of PAR2, Fas and caveolin-1 in human hepatic stellate cell line, HHStec cell (HHStecs) was assessed by real time RT-PCR and Western blot. The levels of collagen were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The PAR2 gene was silenced in HHStecs using RNA interference. Apoptosis of HHStecs was assessed by flow cytometry. The results showed that HHStecs expressed PAR2, which was up regulated by activation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). Activation of PAR2 increased the release of collagen from HHStecs. Exposure to PMA induced HHStec apoptosis, which was significantly inhibited by activation of PAR2. The PAR2 activation also suppressed the expression of caveolin-1 and Fas in HHStecs. Over expression of caveolin-1 in HHStecs blocked PAR2-reduced apoptosis. We conclude that HHStecs express PAR2. Activation of PAR2 increases HHStecs to release collagen and reduces the activation-induced HHStec apoptosis, which can be inhibited by the over expression of caveolin-1.

Activated protease receptor-2 induces GATA6 expression to promote survival in irradiated colon cancer cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The resistance to irradiation is common and a great drawback in the treatment of cancer with radiotherapy; the underlying mechanism is unclear. GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) is associated with the pathogenesis of cancer. This study aims to investigate the role of GATA6 on compromising irradiation effect on HT55 and HT29 cells, 2 colorectal cancer cell lines. METHODS: Human colon cancer cell lines, HT55 and HT29 cells, were treated with irradiation in the culture. Apoptosis of HT55 and HT29 cells was determined by flow cytometry. The expression of PAR2 and GATA6 in HT55 and HT29 cells was analyzed by real time RT-PCR and Western blotting. The gene silence and gene over expression were employed to observe the effect of GATA6 on p53 expression in HT55 and HT29 cells. RESULTS: The results showed that HT55 and HT29 cells expressed protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR2). Irradiation induced 38.6% HT55 cell and 33.8% HT29 cell apoptosis, which reduced to 4.2% and 5.6%, respectively after activation of PAR2. Exposure to irradiation increased the expression of GATA6; the latter played a critical role in suppression of p53 expression in HT55 and HT29 cells. Inhibition of GATA6 significantly increased the effect of irradiation on HT55 and HT29 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of PAR2 compromises the effect of irradiation on inducing colorectal cancer cell apoptosis, which can be prevented by inhibition of GATA6 expression.

Combination predicting model of traffic congestion index in weekdays based on LightGBM-GRU.

Tree-based and deep learning methods can automatically generate useful features. Not only can it enhance the original feature representation, but it can also learn to generate new features. This paper develops a strategy based on Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM or LGB) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) to generate features to improve the expression ability of limited features. Moreover, a SARIMA-GRU prediction model considering the weekly periodicity is introduced. First, LightGBM is used to learn features and enhance the original features representation; secondly, GRU neural network is used to generate features; finally, the result ensemble is used as the input for prediction. Moreover, the SARIMA-GRU model is constructed for predicting. The GRU prediction consequences are revised by the SARIMA model that a better prediction can be obtained. The experiment was carried out with the data collected by Ride-hailing in Chengdu, and four predicted indicators and two performance indexes are utilized to evaluate the model. The results validate that the model proposed has significant improvements in the accuracy and performance of each component.

Determination of trace thiophanate-methyl and its metabolite carbendazim with teratogenic risk in red bell pepper (Capsicumannuum L.) by surface-enhanced Raman imaging technique.

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging coupling with multivariate analysis in spectral region of 200 to 1800cm-1 was developed to quantify and visualize thiophanate-methyl (TM) and its metabolite carbendazim residues in red bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Least squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) and support vector machines (SVM) models based on seven optimized characteristic peaks that showed SERS effects of TM and its metabolite carbendazim residues were employed to establish prediction models. SERS spectra with first derivative (1st) and second derivative (2nd) method were subsequently compared and the optimized model of 1st-LS-SVM acquired showed the best performance (RPD=6.08, R2P=0.986 and RMSEP=0.473). The results demonstrated that SERS imaging with multivariate analysis had the potential for rapid determination and visualization of the trace TM and its metabolite carbendazim residues in complex food matrices.

The Association Between Serum Levels of Selenium, Copper, and Magnesium with Thyroid Cancer: a Meta-analysis.

There are conflicting reports on the correlation between serum levels of selenium (Se), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg) with thyroid cancer. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the association between Se, Cu, and Mg levels with thyroid cancer using a meta-analysis approach. We searched articles indexed in PubMed published as of January 2015 that met our predefined criteria. Eight eligible articles involving 1291 subjects were identified. Overall, pooled analysis indicated that subjects with thyroid cancer had lower serum levels of Se and Mg, but higher levels of Cu than the healthy controls [Se: standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.485, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = (-0.878, -0.092), p = 0.016; Cu: SMD = 2.372, 95%CI = (0.945, 3.799), p = 0.001; Mg: SMD = -0.795, 95%CI = (-1.092, -0.498), p < 0.001]. Further subgroup analysis found lower serum levels of Se in thyroid cancer in Norway [SMD = -0.410, 95%CI = (-0.758, -0.062), p = 0.021] and Austria [SMD = -0.549, 95%CI = (-0.743, -0.355), p < 0.001], but not in Poland (SMD = -0.417, 95%CI = (-1.724, 0.891), p = 0.532]. Further subgroup analysis also found that patients with thyroid cancer had higher serum levels of Cu in China [SMD = 1.571, 95%CI = (1.121, 2.020), p < 0.001] and Turkey [SMD = 0.977, 95%CI = (0.521, 1.432), p < 0.001], but not in Poland [SMD = 3.471, 95%CI = (-0.056, 6.997], p = 0.054]. In conclusion, this meta-analysis supports a significant association between serum levels of Se, Cu, and Mg with thyroid cancer. However, the subgroup analysis found that there was significant effect modification of Se, Cu levels by ethnic, like China and Poland. Thus, this finding needs further confirmation by a trans-regional multicenter study to obtain better understanding of causal relationship between Se, Cu, and Mg with thyroid cancer of different human races or regions.

The association between deficient manganese levels and breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

There are conflicting reports on the correlation between manganese (Mn) levels and breast cancer. The purpose of the present study is to clarify the association between Mn levels and breast cancer using a meta-analysis approach. We searched articles indexed in Pubmed and the Chinese Journal Full-text Database (CJFD) published as of August 2014 that met our predefined criteria. Eleven eligible studies involving 1302 subjects were identified. Overall, pooled analysis indicated that subjects with breast cancer had lower Mn levels than the healthy controls (SMD = -1.51, 95% CI = [-2.47, -0.56]). Further subgroup analysis found a similar pattern in China (SMD = -1.32, 95% CI = [-2.33, -0.32]) and Korea (SMD = -4.08, 95% CI = [-4.63, -3.54]), but not in Turkey (SMD = -0.96, 95% CI = [-3.19, 1.27]). Further subgroup analysis also found a similar pattern in different sample specimens (serum: SMD = -1.24, 95% CI = [-2.31, -0.16]; hair: SMD = -1.99, 95% CI = [-3.91, -0.06]) and different types of Mn measurement (inductively coupled plasma-atomic absorption spectrometry (ICP-AAS): SMD = -1.14, 95% CI = [-2.24, -0.04]; graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS): SMD = -1.94, 95% CI = [-2.38, -1.49]; inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES): SMD = -3.77, 95% CI = [-4.70, -2.85]). No evidence of publication bias was observed. In conclusion, this meta-analysis supports a significant association between deficient Mn levels and breast cancer. However, the subgroup analysis found that there was contradiction regarding races and geography, like China and Turkey. Thus this finding needs further confirmation by trans-regional multicenter, long-term observation in a cohort design to obtain better understanding of causal relationships between Mn levels and breast cancer, through measuring Mn at baseline to investigate whether the highest Mn category versus lowest was associated with breast cancer risk.

Extraction and identification of membrane proteins from black widow spider eggs.

The eggs of oviparous animals are storehouses of maternal proteins required for embryonic development. Identification and molecular characterization of such proteins will provide much insight into the regulation of embryonic development. We previously analyzed soluble proteins in the eggs of the black widow spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus), and report here on the extraction and mass spectrometric identification of the egg membrane proteins. Comparison of different lysis solutions indicated that the highest extraction of the membrane proteins was achieved with 3%-4% sodium laurate in 40 mmol/L Tris-HCl buffer containing 4% CHAPS and 2% DTT (pH 7.4). SDS-PAGE combined with nLC-MS/MS identified 39 proteins with membrane-localization annotation, including those with structural, catalytic, and regulatory activities. Nearly half of the identified membrane proteins were metabolic enzymes involved in various cellular processes, particularly energy metabolism and biosynthesis, suggesting that relevant metabolic processes were active during the embryonic development of the eggs. Several identified cell membrane proteins were involved in the special structure formation and function of the egg cell membranes. The present proteomic analysis of the egg membrane proteins provides new insight into the molecular mechanisms of spider embryonic development.

Synergism from the combination of ulinastatin and curcumin offers greater inhibition against colorectal cancer liver metastases via modulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 and E-cadherin expression.

Liver metastasis is a major cause of mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC). The current study was to investigate the ability of ulinastatin (UTI) and curcumin (CUR) to inhibit CRC liver metastases via modulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and E-cadherin expression. Human CRC HCT-116 cells were treated with compounds individually and in combination in order to understand the effect on cell migration and invasion. The HCT-116 cell line was established to stably express luciferase and green fluorescent protein (GFP) by lentiviral transduction (HCT-116-Luc-GFP). We identified an anti-metastasis effect of UTI and CUR on a CRC liver metastasis mouse model. Tumor development and therapeutic responses were dynamically tracked by bioluminescence imaging. Expression of MMP-9 and E-cadherin in metastatic tumors was detected by immunohistochemical assay. Results of wound healing and cell invasion assays suggest that treatment with UTI, CUR, and UTI plus CUR, respectively, significantly inhibit HCT-116 cell migration and invasion. Furthermore, results of CRC hepatic metastasis on a nude mouse model showed that treatment with UTI, CUR alone, and a combination notably inhibited hepatic metastases from CRC and prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice, especially in the UTI plus CUR group. These results suggest that the combination of UTI and CUR together may offer greater inhibition against metastasis of CRC.

Interleukin-12 prevents colorectal cancer liver metastases in mice.

Interleukin (IL)-12 has emerged to be a prospective molecule for antitumor therapies with many types of cancers. Here we examine the effect of IL-12 treatment in preventing the colorectal cancer liver metastasis in a mice model. At different doses, we found that IL-12 treatment decreased the formation of liver metastasis sites and the percentage of metastasis volume in the liver. Additionally, this treatment leads to improved survival function of mice after tumor cell transplantation. We believe that IL-12 based therapy provided a novel treatment to colorectal cancer patients suffering from liver metastasis.

Ulinastatin reduces cancer recurrence after resection of hepatic metastases from colon cancer by inhibiting MMP-9 activation via the antifibrinolytic pathway.

High recurrence of colon cancer liver metastasis is observed in patients after hepatic surgery, and the cause is believed to be mostly due to the growth of residual microscopic metastatic lesions within the residual liver. Therefore, triggering the progression of occult metastatic foci may be a novel strategy for improving survival from colon cancer liver metastases. In the present study, we identified an anti-recurrence effect of ulinastatin on colon cancer liver metastasis in mice after hepatectomy. Transwell cell invasion assays demonstrated that ulinastatin significantly inhibited the in vitro invasive ability of colon cancer HCT116 cells. Moreover, gelatin zymography and ELISA analysis showed that MMP-9 activity and plasmin activity of colon cancer HCT116 cells were inhibited by ulinastatin, respectively. Furthermore, in vivo BALB/C nu/nu mice model indicated that ulinastatin effectively reduced recurrence after resection of hepatic metastases from colon cancer. The optimum timing for ulinastatin administration was one week after hepatectomy. Taken together, our findings point to the potential of ulinastatin as an effective approach in controlling recurrence of hepatic metastases from colon cancer after hepatectomy via its anti-plasmin activity.

Improvement of the immunity of pig to Hog cholera vaccine by recombinant plasmid with porcine interleukin-6 gene and CpG motifs.

In order to observe the dosage-effect of recombinant pig interleukin-6 gene and CpG motifs on the immune responses of swine to vaccine, a novel recombinant eukaryotic VPIL6C plasmid was packed with chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) prepared by ionic cross linkage, which contains pig interleukin-6 gene and immunostimulatory sequence consisted of 11 CpG motifs. CNP-VRIL6C was then utilized to inoculate 30-day-old piglets intramuscularly at the dosage of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5mg/per capita, respectively. Meanwhile, the piglets were injected with attenuated classical Hog cholera vaccine and designated as A1, A2 and A3 group. The blood was weekly collected from the piglets after vaccination to detect the changes of immunoglobulins, specific antibody, interleukins, IFN-γ and immune cells. The results were found that compared to those of the control piglets injected with VR1020-CNP, the content of IgG, IgA and IgM, specific antibodies, IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-γ significantly increased in the sera from the treated three groups from 14 to 70 days after vaccination (P<0.05); the number of T(H), T(C) and CD3(+) positive T cells raised obviously in the blood of VPIL6C treated piglets (P<0.05). Also the above immune indexes of A1 group were significantly lower to different extent in comparison with those of A2 and A3 group from 14 to 56 days post inoculation (P>0.05). Moreover, the lymphocytes also remarkably elevated in the treated groups (P<0.05). These indicate that VPIL6C entrapped with CNP is a novel effective adjuvant to boost the humoral and cellular immunity of pig to Hog cholera, implying it's potentiality to enhance the resistance of pig against infectious diseases.

Enhancement of immunity and resistance in mice by pig IL-6 gene and CpG motifs encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticle.

This study was conducted to explore the synergetic effect of a novel plasmid containing a porcine IL-6 gene and CpG motifs on immunity of mice in order to develop an effective adjuvant to boost resistance against infection. The synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide containing 11 CpG motifs was inserted into the reconstructed VR1020 plasmid containing the pig IL-6 gene (VRPIL6), designated VRIL6C, and then encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) prepared by ionic cross linkage, designated VRIL6C-CNP. The 3-week old mice were injected, respectively, with VRIL6C-CNP, VRIL6-CNP, CpG-CNP and VR1020-CNP to detect the changes of immunity. At 28 days post inoculation, the mice were challenged with virulent hemolytic serotype 2 Streptococcus to test their resistance against infection. The results showed that there was a significant increase in immunoglobulins and interleukins in mice receiving VRIL6C-CNP compared with the control groups, as well as an increase in the lymphocytes and monocytes in the inoculated mice, so that the immunity was remarkably improved in the VRIL6C-CNP group. The challenge provoked stronger immunity and protection against infection in the VRIL6C-CNP group than in the control mice that manifested severe symptoms and lesions. This suggests that VRIL6C-CNP could remarkably enhance the nonspecific immunity of mice, and facilitate the development of an effective immunopotentiator to promote the resistance of the animals against infection.