Identification and characterization of a novel gene, c1orf109, encoding a CK2 substrate that is involved in cancer cell proliferation.

BACKGROUND: In the present study we identified a novel gene, Homo Sapiens Chromosome 1 ORF109 (c1orf109, GenBank ID: NM_017850.1), which encodes a substrate of CK2. We analyzed the regulation mode of the gene, the expression pattern and subcellular localization of the predicted protein in the cell, and its role involving in cell proliferation and cell cycle control. METHODS: Dual-luciferase reporter assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation and EMSA were used to analysis the basal transcriptional requirements of the predicted promoter regions. C1ORF109 expression was assessed by western blot analysis. The subcellular localization of C1ORF109 was detected by immunofluorescence and immune colloidal gold technique. Cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT assay and colony-forming assay. RESULTS: We found that two cis-acting elements within the crucial region of the c1orf109 promoter, one TATA box and one CAAT box, are required for maximal transcription of the c1orf109 gene. The 5' flanking region of the c1orf109 gene could bind specific transcription factors and Sp1 may be one of them. Employing western blot analysis, we detected upregulated expression of c1orf109 in multiple cancer cell lines. The protein C1ORF109 was mainly located in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Moreover, we also found that C1ORF109 was a phosphoprotein in vivo and could be phosphorylated by the protein kinase CK2 in vitro. Exogenous expression of C1ORF109 in breast cancer Hs578T cells induced an increase in colony number and cell proliferation. A concomitant rise in levels of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) and cyclinD1 expression was observed. Meanwhile, knockdown of c1orf109 by siRNA in breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells confirmed the role of c1orf109 in proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggest that C1ORF109 may be the downstream target of protein kinase CK2 and involved in the regulation of cancer cell proliferation.

[Mechanisms of Penicillin Wastewater Treatment by Coupled Electrocatalytic and Bioelectrochemical Systems].

Large amounts of wastewater containing residual antibiotics are produced in antibiotics production, but it is difficult for traditional biological wastewater treatment to efficiently treat this high concentration antibiotic wastewater. Coupled electrocatalytic and bioelectrochemical systems were proposed to treat typical ß-lactam antibiotics (penicillin) wastewater. The penicillin wastewater was oxidized by a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrocatalytic electrode and then steadily treated by a bioelectrochemical system (BES). The penicillin removal rate of the electrocatalytic system was 89%, and 79% of the residual penicillin was further removed by the BES. The maximum power density of the BES with pretreated penicillin of (1124±28) mW·m-2 was increased by 473% compared with that of the BES with raw penicillin. The total penicillin removal rate was 98% in the electrocatalytic and bioelectrochemical system. The results of the BES anode biomass and biofacies showed that Acinetobacter was the dominant bacterial group on the anode before penicillin addition, and it was the main microorganism in the formation of the anode biofilm. Bacillus is an electricity-producing bacterium with a power generation function. Penicillin inhibited the biomass of the mixed anode bacteria and the biological activity of Proteus microorganisms, which were the main electricity-producing bacteria, and reduced the biomass of Acinetobacter and Bacillus. This was the main factor affecting the power generation performance and reactor treatment effect. The pretreatment of penicillin wastewater by electrocatalytic degradation can significantly decrease its concentration, efficiently alleviate the inhibition of the BES by penicillin, and improve the biodegradability of wastewater. The coupled electrocatalytic and bioelectrochemical system is a new technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment with a high efficiency and low energy consumption.

[The expression analysis of Grb10 during mouse embryonic development].

Grb10 gene expression was analyzed in fetus and four organs during gestation process using the real-time RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. The real-time RT-PCR analysis result showed that the expression of Grb10 in whole embryos is throughout E8.5 to E19.5. The Grb10 gene expression level was gradually increased from E8.5 to E13.5, and then gradually reduced. The tissues specific expression levels were decreased in brain, heart, and lung from E12.5 to E19.5, but a peak expression was observed in liver at E18.5. Grb10 gene expression was also investigated at E13.5, E15.5, E16.5 and E18.5 sections by using in situ hybridization analysis. Strong signals of Grb10 were detected in brain, spine, kidney, and muscle tissues. These results suggest that Grb10 may play an important role during the development process in mouse.

[Progress in electricity generation from biomass using microbial fuel cell MFC)].

By applying bacteria as anodic catalyst, microbial fuel cell (MFC) can directly convert biomass energy into electrical energy, provided a new way for biomass utilization. Previous studies showed that the substrates and their concentration substantially affected performance of MFC. High power output was obtained when simple organic such as volatile fatty acids (VFA), alcohols or glucose was used as substrate. However, physical, chemical or even biological pretreatment methods were needed when substrate was complex organic. Addition of simple organic as co-substrate was also demonstrated to be an efficient way for refractory compounds degradation in MFC. Using biomass as substrates, MFC will be applied in area such as bioenergy recovery from wastewater, power supply in outfield and biosensors.

[Effect of temperature on performance of microbial fuel cell using beer wastewater].

The effects of temperature on performance and biological community structure were investigated in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using beer wastewater amended with 50 mmol/L phosphate buffer solution (PBS). The maximum power density decreased from 483 mW/m2 to 435 mW/m2 when the temperature varied from 30 degrees C to 20 degrees C, meanwhile just a little decreasing on coulombic efficiency and the COD removal rate were observed. Decreasing of temperature resulted in effects both on cathode potential and anode potential, but cathode potential behaved much more sensitive to temperature. The half-saturation constants (Ks) obtained from the fit of Monod-type equation were 228 mg/L (30 degrees C) and 293 mg/L (20 degrees C) respectively. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis indicated that operating temperature not only affected the predominant population of the anodic bacterial community, but also had a great impact on the diversity of the cathodic microbial population.