Levels and patterns of genetic variation in Japanese whiting (Sillago japonica) based on mitochondrial DNA control region.

Japanese whiting (Sillago japonica) is a commercially important demersal fish distributed along the coasts of East Asia and becomes recently an aquaculture species. Despite its commercial importance, the levels and patterns of population genetic variation remain poorly understood. In this study, 346 specimens were collected from 14 localities along the coastal waters of China, Korea and Japan and their genetic variation was analyzed with mtDNA control region (D-loop) sequences. A total of 131 polymorphic sites were detected which determined 294 haplotypes. A pattern with high levels of haplotype diversity (h = 0.999 ± 0.001) and nucleotide diversity (л = 0.030 ± 0.015) was detected in the examined range. Analyses of analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and Fst showed that no significant genetic differentiation existed among China, Korea and Japan populations, excepting for the populations between Ise Bay (IBP) sample and the other ones. Minimum spanning tree (MST), neutrality tests, mismatch distribution and Bayesian skyline analyses indicated that the species along coastline of China, Korea and Japan have experienced population expansions originated in its most recent history at about 106-423 kya during the late Pleistocene glaciations and deglaciations periods.

Effect of silencing the T­Box transcription factor TBX2 in prostate cancer PC3 and LNCaP cells.

T­Box (TBX)­2 is a member of the T­box gene family, which is aberrantly expressed in numerous types of malignant tumors, and has previously been demonstrated to be conducive to tumor progression by acting as a transcription factor. However, specific information regarding the expression and function of TBX2 in prostate cancer cells remains to be elucidated. The present study demonstrated that silencing of TBX2 by TBX2 small interfering RNA inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell senescence. It was demonstrated that knockdown of TBX2 inhibited cell metastatic abilities by upregulating E­cadherin and downregulating N­cadherin, Vimentin and fibronectin. In addition, the expression of TBX2 in prostate cancer tissues and tumor adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. The results indicated that the expression rates of TBX2 were significantly increased in the cancerous tissues, compared with the healthy tumor adjacent tissue, and TBX2 increased staining was associated with the clinical stage and pathological grade. The findings of the present study therefore suggest that TBX2 expression is markedly increased in prostate cancer and TBX2 may act as a potential beneficial therapeutic target for the future treatment of prostate cancer.