Intragenic heterochromatin-mediated alternative polyadenylation modulates miRNA and pollen development in rice.

Despite a much higher proportion of intragenic heterochromatin-containing genes in crop genomes, the importance of intragenic heterochromatin in crop development remains unclear. Intragenic heterochromatin can be recognised by a protein complex, ASI1-AIPP1-EDM2 (AAE) complex, to regulate alternative polyadenylation. Here, we investigated the impact of rice ASI1 on global poly(A) site usage through poly(A) sequencing and ASI1-dependent regulation on rice development. We found that OsASI1 is essential for rice pollen development and flowering. OsASI1 dysfunction has an important impact on global poly(A) site usage, which is closely related to heterochromatin marks. Intriguingly, OsASI1 interacts with the intronic heterochromatin of OsXRNL, a nuclear XRN family exonuclease gene involved in the processing of an miRNA precursor, to promote the processing of full-length OsXRNL and regulate miRNA abundance. We found that OsASI1-mediated regulation of pollen development partially depends on OsXRNL. Finally, we characterised the rice AAE complex and its involvement in alternative polyadenylation and pollen development. Our findings help to elucidate an epigenetic mechanism governing miRNA abundance and rice development, and provide a valuable resource for studying the epigenetic mechanisms of many important processes in crops.

Genome-wide distribution and functions of the AAE complex in epigenetic regulation in Arabidopsis.

Heterochromatin is widespread in eukaryotic genomes and has diverse impacts depending on its genomic context. Previous studies have shown that a protein complex, the ASI1-AIPP1-EDM2 (AAE) complex, participates in polyadenylation regulation of several intronic heterochromatin-containing genes. However, the genome-wide functions of AAE are still unknown. Here, we show that the ASI1 and EDM2 mostly target the common genomic regions on a genome-wide level and preferentially interacts with genetic heterochromatin. Polyadenylation (poly(A) sequencing reveals that AAE complex has a substantial influence on poly(A) site usage of heterochromatin-containing genes, including not only intronic heterochromatin-containing genes but also the genes showing overlap with heterochromatin. Intriguingly, AAE is also involved in the alternative splicing regulation of a number of heterochromatin-overlapping genes, such as the disease resistance gene RPP4. We provided evidence that genic heterochromatin is indispensable for the recruitment of AAE in polyadenylation and splicing regulation. In addition to conferring RNA processing regulation at genic heterochromatin-containing genes, AAE also targets some transposable elements (TEs) outside of genes (including TEs sandwiched by genes and island TEs) for epigenetic silencing. Our results reveal new functions of AAE in RNA processing and epigenetic silencing, and thus represent important advances in epigenetic regulation.

Eliminating Plasmodium falciparum in Hainan, China: a study on the use of behavioural change communication intervention to promote malaria prevention in mountain worker populations.

BACKGROUND: In the island of Hainan, the great majority of malaria cases occur in mountain worker populations. Using the behavioral change communication (BCC) strategy, an interventional study was conducted to promote mountain worker malaria prevention at a test site. This study found the methods and measures that are suitable for malaria prevention among mountain worker populations. METHODS: During the Plasmodium falciparum elimination stage in Hainan, a representative sampling method was used to establish testing and control sites in areas of Hainan that were both affected by malaria and had a relatively high density of mountain workers. Two different methods were used: a BCC strategy and a conventional strategy as a control. Before and after the intervention, house visits, core group discussions, and structural surveys were utilized to collect qualitative and quantitative data regarding mountain worker populations (including knowledge, attitudes, and practices [KAPs]; infection status; and serological data), and these data from the testing and control areas were compared to evaluate the effectiveness of BCC strategies in the prevention of malaria. RESULTS: In the BCC malaria prevention strategy testing areas, the accuracy rates of malaria-related KAP were significantly improved among mountain worker populations. The accuracy rates in the 3 aspects of malaria-related KAP increased from 37.73%, 37.00%, and 43.04% to 89.01%, 91.53%, and 92.25%, respectively. The changes in all 3 aspects of KAP were statistically significant (p < 0.01). In the control sites, the changes in the indices were not as marked as in the testing areas, and the change was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Furthermore, in the testing areas, both the percentage testing positive in the serum malaria indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the number of people inflicted decreased more significantly than in the control sites (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The use of the BCC strategy significantly improved the ability of mountain workers in Hainan to avoid malarial infection. Educational and promotional materials and measures were developed and selected in the process, and hands-on experience was gained that will help achieve the goal of total malaria elimination in Hainan.

Concomitant genetic alterations having greater impact on the clinical benefit of EGFR-TKIs in EGFR-mutant advanced NSCLC than BIM deletion polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, the predictive role of BIM deletion polymorphism with respect to responses to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) has been controversial. The potential reasons for these inconsistent findings were unknown. METHODS: Data from CTONG0901 clinical trial and medical records of Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute (GLCI) were retrospectively pooled. A total of 194 and 141 EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with first- and second-generation EGFR-TKIs were examined in the CTONG0901 and GLCI cohorts, respectively. Sixty-eight patients were treated with third-generation EGFR-TKIs in the GLCI cohort. The BIM gene status was examined by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: The frequency of BIM deletion polymorphism was 11.3% and 17.0% in CTONG0901 and GLCI cohorts, respectively. For first- and second-generation EGFR-TKIs in CTONG0901 cohort, objective response (ORR) was 54.5% in BIM deletion group versus 56.4% in wild-type BIM group (P = .87); disease control rate (DCR) was 90.9% versus 88.4% (P = 1.00); progression-free survival (PFS) was 10.5 versus 11.2 months (P = .59); and overall survival (OS) was 20.5 versus 20.5 months (P = .73). In GLCI cohort, ORR was 54.2% versus 60.7% (P = .55); DCR was 91.7% versus 96.6% (P = .27); PFS was 10.1 versus 11.6 months (P = .63); and OS was 58.5 versus 45.0 months (P = .93). For third-generation EGFR-TKIs, ORR was 18.2% versus 63.2% (P = .02); DCR was 81.8% versus 96.5%, (P = .12); PFS was 5.8 versus 9.0 months (P = .13); and OS was 30.0 versus 24.8 months (P = .85). Cox regression analysis showed that concomitant genetic alterations could adversely affect the response to EGFR-TKIs, but not BIM deletion. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of BIM deletion showed no relation to an impaired response to first-, second-, and third-generation EGFR-TKIs in NSCLC patients. The factors influencing the response of EGFR-TKIs were concomitant genetic alterations, but not BIM deletion.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic value of the KRAS G12C mutation in Chinese non-small cell lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: The KRAS mutation is the second most common genetic variant in Chinese non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. At the 2019th World Conference of Lung Cancer, the KRAS G12C-specific inhibitor AMG510 showed promising results in the phase I clinical trial. However, the frequency, clinical characteristics, and prognostic significance of the KRAS G12C mutation in Chinese NSCLC patients are rarely reported. METHODS: Next-generation sequencing was used to confirm the KRAS mutation status in 40,804 NSCLC patients from multiple centers (mCohort). Survival data were collected retrospectively from 1456 patients at one of the centers, the Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute (iCohort). RESULTS: In the mCohort, 3998 patients (9.8%) were confirmed to harbor a KRAS mutation, of whom 1179 (29.5%) had the G12C subtype. In the iCohort, 130 NSCLC patients (8.9%) had a KRAS mutation and 42 (32.3%) had the G12C subtype. The G12C subgroup included more male patients (85.2% vs 67.4%, P < 0.0001) and more smokers (76.2% vs 53.4%, P = 0.02) than did the non-G12C subgroup. Both the KRAS mutation group and KRAS G12C mutation subgroup were associated with a shorter median overall survival (OS) than wildtype tumors (15.1 vs 26.7 months, hazard ratio [HR] KRAS = 1.50, P = 0.002; 18.3 vs 26.7 months, HR G12C = 1.66, P = 0.007). In Cox regression analysis, smoking (HR = 1.39, P = 0.05) and stage IV disease (HR = 2.72, P < 0.001) remained as independent predictors of shorter OS. Both the KRAS mutation (HR = 1.30, P = 0.07) and KRAS G12C mutation (HR = 1.47, P = 0.07) reached borderline significance. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest sample used thus for, our study found that approximately 10% of Chinese NSCLC patients had KRAS mutations. Of these, nearly 30% harbored the KRAS G12C mutation subtype, which was most common in male smokers. The KRAS G12C mutation is a biomarker of poor prognosis in Chinese NSCLC patients, which could potentially be improved by G12C-specific inhibitors in the future.(296 words).

Enantioselective reductive amination of alpha-keto acids by papain-based semisynthetic enzyme.

Alkylation of a cysteine residue in papain with a pyridoxamine (PX) cofactor was carried out. The resulting semisynthetic enzyme (papain-PX) has no detectable protease activity but has the ability to catalyze enantioselective reductive amination of alpha-keto acids. The conjugate was characterized by ion-exchange chromatography, and the optimal reaction conditions were found. We report that papain-PX reductively aminates the alkyl side chain of functionalized alpha-keto acids to give the respective alpha-amino acids with high enantioselectivities, greater than 70%. Based on these studies, we propose a new model for the catalytic activity of the semisynthetic enzyme with Interchem software. The results of the study demonstrate the effectiveness of the modified enzyme and its potential for engineering new catalytic specificity.

Reduction of benzaldehyde catalyzed by papain-based semisynthetic enzymes.

Some features of native enzyme's active site were used to conjunction with a chemical reagent or modifying group, which would generate new functionality different from the natural enzyme. In order to obtain an efficient catalyst, we have designed four different molecular size N-derivatives of modifiers and introduced them into the active site of papain to obtain new semisynthetic enzymes, which were used as catalyst in reduction of benzaldehyde to yield benzyl alcohol respectively, and the reactions carried out with recycling agent in 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 6.5 at 37 degrees C. The results had shown that a longer N-derivative of semisynthetic enzyme had higher catalytic activity. Furthermore, we propose a plausible model for the catalytic mechanism in the semisynthetic enzymes system.