Comprehensive Characterization of the C3HC4 RING Finger Gene Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.): Insights into Their Involvement in Anthocyanin Biosynthesis.

The C3HC4 RING finger gene (RING-HC) family is a zinc finger protein crucial to plant growth. However, there have been no studies on the RING-HC gene family in potato. In this study, 77 putative StRING-HCs were identified in the potato genome and grouped into three clusters based on phylogenetic relationships, the chromosome distribution, gene structure, conserved motif, gene duplication events, and synteny relationships, and cis-acting elements were systematically analyzed. By analyzing RNA-seq data of potato cultivars, the candidate StRING-HC genes that might participate in tissue development, abiotic stress, especially drought stress, and anthocyanin biosynthesis were further determined. Finally, a StRING-HC gene (Soltu.DM.09G017280 annotated as StRNF4-like), which was highly expressed in pigmented potato tubers was focused on. StRNF4-like localized in the nucleus, and Y2H assays showed that it could interact with the anthocyanin-regulating transcription factors (TFs) StbHLH1 of potato tubers, which is localized in the nucleus and membrane. Transient assays showed that StRNF4-like repressed anthocyanin accumulation in the leaves of Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana benthamiana by directly suppressing the activity of the dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) promoter activated by StAN1 and StbHLH1. The results suggest that StRNF4-like might repress anthocyanin accumulation in potato tubers by interacting with StbHLH1. Our comprehensive analysis of the potato StRING-HCs family contributes valuable knowledge to the understanding of their functions in potato development, abiotic stress, hormone signaling, and anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Strong Lewis Base Ga4B2O9: Ga-O Connectivity Enhanced Basicity and Its Applications in the Strecker Reaction and Catalytic Conversion of n-Propanol.

Heterogeneous solid base catalysis is valuable and promising in chemical industry, however it is insufficiently developed compared to solid acid catalysis due to the lack of satisfied solid base catalysts. To gain the strong basicity, the previous strategy was to basify oxides with alkaline metals to create surficial vacancies or defects, which suffers from the instability under catalytic conditions. Monocomponent basic oxides like MgO are literally stable but deficient in electron-withdrawing ability. Here we prove that a special connectivity of atoms could enhance the Lewis basicity of oxygen in monocomponent solids exemplified by Ga4B2O9. The structure-induced basicity is from the µ3-O linked exclusively to five-coordinated Ga3+. Ga4B2O9 behaved as a durable catalyst with a high yield of 81% in the base-catalyzed synthesis of α-aminonitriles by Strecker reaction. In addition, several monocomponent solid bases were evaluated in the Strecker reaction, and Ga4B2O9 has the largest amount of strong base centers (23.1 µmol/g) and the highest catalytic efficiency. Ga4B2O9 is also applicable in high-temperature solid-gas catalysis, for example, Ga4B2O9 catalyzed efficiently the dehydrogenation of n-propanol, resulting in a high selectivity to propanal (79%). In contrast, the comparison gallium borate, Ga-PKU-1, which is a Brönsted acid, preferred to catalyze the dehydration process to obtain propylene with a selectivity of 94%.

Construction of a BALB/c-Nu Mouse Model of Invasive Bladder Carcinoma and Preliminary Studies on the Treatment of Bladder Tumors through Internal Iliac Arterial Infusion of Albumin-Bound Arsenic Trioxide (As2O3).

To establish a BALB/c-nu mouse model of invasive bladder carcinoma and to investigate the feasibility, efficacy, and side effects of treating the mouse xenografts with internal iliac arterial infusion of albumin-bound arsenic trioxide (As2O3). Bladder tumors were established by intravesicular injection. Color Doppler were used to monitor tumor growth. Albumin-bound As2O3 and bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles were synthesized by cross-linking. BALB/c-nu mice were randomly divided into four treatment groups: 1) normal saline, 2) BSA nanoparticles, 3) As2O3 injections, and 4) albumin-bound As2O3. In an attempt to replicate the treatment of bladder cancer in humans using internal iliac arterial infusion, the drugs were injected into the mouse abdominal aorta. Tumor xenografts were established successfully. Mice treated with As2O3 injections and with albumin-bound As2O3 had significantly smaller bladders (36.59% and 37.82% smaller, respectively) than mice given normal saline injections (P < 0.01). Mice receiving As2O3 injections had lower white blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts compared with mice receiving normal saline injections only (P < 0.05). However, mice treated with albumin-bound As2O3 did not experience a significant decrease in WBC or platelet counts compared with control mice. A model of intra-arterial bladder cancer treatment was successfully established in BALB/c-nu mice. In this model, albumin-bound As2O3 appeared to be an effective method for treating bladder tumors, with less severe hematologic side effects compared with As2O3 alone. The infusion of albumin-bound As2O3 through the internal iliac artery is a promising method of bladder cancer therapy.

Berberine targets epidermal growth factor receptor signaling to suppress prostate cancer proliferation in vitro.

Berberine is a well­known component of the Chinese herbal medicine Huanglian (Coptis chinensis), and is capable of inhibiting the proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines. However, information available regarding the effect of berberine on prostate cancer cell growth is limited. In the present study, LnCaP and PC­3 human prostate cancer cell lines were selected as in vitro models in order to assess the efficacy of berberine as an anticancer agent. A cell proliferation assay demonstrated that berberine inhibited cell growth in a dose­and time­dependent manner. Further investigation revealed berberine significantly accumulated inside cells that were in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and enhanced apoptosis. Western blot analysis demonstrated that berberine inhibited the expression of prostate­specific antigen and the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and it attenuated EGFR activation following EGF treatment in vitro. In conclusion, the results indicate that berberine inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells through apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest by inactivation of the EGFR signaling pathway.

Effects of common polymorphism rs11614913 in Hsa-miR-196a2 on lung cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA-coding genes may participate in the pathogenesis of lung cancer by altering the expression of tumor-related microRNAs. Several studies were investigated in recent years to evaluate the association between hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 polymorphism and increased/decreased lung cancer risk. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically summarize the possible association. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We performed a meta-analysis of 4 case-control studies that included 2219 lung-cancer cases and 2232 cancer-free controls. We evaluated the strength of the association using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In the overall analysis, it was found that the rs11614913 polymorphism significantly elevated the risk of lung cancer (CC versus (vs.) TT OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.07-1.49, P = 0.007; CC/CT vs. TT: OR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.98-1.29, P = 0.007; C vs. T: OR = 1.12, 95% CI 1.03-1.22, P = 0.008). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, statistically significantly increased cancer risk was found among Asians (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.10-1.54, P = 0.003; CT vs. TT: OR = 1.16, 95% CI 1.01-1.34, P = 0.039; CC vs. CT/TT: OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-1.41, P = 0.012; C vs. T: OR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.25, P = 0.002). For Europeans, a significant association with lung cancer risk was found in recessive model (CC vs. CT/TT: OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.40-0.98, P = 0.040). No publication bias was found in this study. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our meta-analysis suggests that the rs11614913 polymorphism is significant associated with the increased risk of lung cancer, especially in Asians. Besides, the C allele of rs11614913 polymorphism may contribute to increased lung cancer risk.