Regulation of cancer progression by circRNA and functional proteins.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are closed back-splicing products of precursor mRNA in eukaryotes. Compared with linear mRNAs, circRNAs have a special structure and stable expression. A large number of studies have provided different regulatory mechanisms of circRNAs in tumors. Challenges exist in understanding the control of circRNAs because of their sequence overlap with linear mRNA. Here, we survey the most recent progress regarding the regulation of circRNA biogenesis by RNA-binding proteins, one of the vital functional proteins. Furthermore, substantial circRNAs exert compelling biological roles by acting as protein sponges, by being translated themselves or regulating posttranslational modifications of proteins. This review will help further explore more types of functional proteins that interact with circRNA in cancer and reveal other unknown mechanisms of circRNA regulation.

Biochar application under low phosphorus input promotes soil organic phosphorus mineralization by shifting bacterial phoD gene community composition.

Biochar has the potential to enhance microbial-mediated phosphorus (P) cycling in soils, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We hypothesized that biochar amendment could enhance the production of acid and alkaline phosphomonoesterase, phosphodiesterase and P mineralization, which may vary depending on the P input. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the impacts of rice straw biochar application (0 and 4%) under different P-input rates (0, 30 and 90 kg P ha-1) on the relationships among P fractions, phosphatase activities and alkaline phosphomonoesterase-encoding bacterial (phoD gene) communities in an acidic soil. Biochar application under low P input (< 30 kg P ha-1) significantly increased the activities of phosphodiesterase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase but not that of acid phosphomonoesterase and depleted organic P. The results from the structural equation model revealed a dominant role of alkaline phosphomonoesterase in P mineralization. The increase in alkaline phosphomonoesterase activity was not related to an increase in phoD gene abundance but was due to a shift in community composition, which was primarily driven by the soil C:P ratio. Microbial network analysis demonstrated a more complex phoD gene community with more functionally interrelated groups as a result of biochar application under low P input than under high P input. Moreover, the specific enrichment of Micromonosporaceae under C-rich and P-poor conditions may play a critical role in alkaline phosphomonoesterase production and potential P mineralization. In conclusion, we demonstrated that biochar application under low P input supports a more organized phoD gene community and preferentially enriches taxa in terms of their capacity for P mineralization, which in turn may enhance P bioavailability and plant P acquisition.

LncRNA DNAJC3-AS1 Regulates Fatty Acid Synthase via the EGFR Pathway to Promote the Progression of Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis and the development of CRC. By constructing a differential lncRNA expression profile, we screened gene chips and found that DNAJC3-AS1 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Further, we proved through assays such as wound healing, colony formation, and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) that interfering with DNAJC3-AS1 could reduce the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells. Mechanically, we found that DNAJC3-AS1 regulates fatty acid synthase to promote the progression of CRC via the epidermal growth factor receptor/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/nuclear factor κB signaling pathway. Therefore, DNAJC3-AS1 may be a new target for the diagnosis and therapy of CRC.

LncRNA SLCO4A1-AS1 predicts poor prognosis and promotes proliferation and metastasis via the EGFR/MAPK pathway in colorectal cancer.

It is universally acknowledged that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in tumorigenesis in human cancers. However, the function and mechanism of many lncRNAs in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. By analyzing the two sets of CRC-related gene microarrays data, downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the lncRNA expression in a set of RNA sequencing data, we found that lncRNA SLCO4A1-AS1 was significantly upregulated in CRC tissues. We then collected CRC tissue samples and verified that SLCO4A1-AS1 is highly expressed in CRC tissues. Furthermore, SLCO4A1-AS1 was also upregulated in the CRC cell line. In situ hybridization results showed that high expression of SLCO4A1-AS1 was associated with poor prognosis in patients with CRC. Next, we found that SLCO4A1-AS1 promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Results of western blotting assays show that its mechanism may relate to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Therefore, SLCO4A1-AS1 may be a potential biomarker for CRC prognosis and a new target for colorectal cancer therapy.

Antioxidant properties of Du-zhong (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) extracts and their effects on color stability and lipid oxidation of raw pork patties.

The ethanol extracts from leaf, roasted cortex, and seed of Du-zhong ( Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.) were examined for total phenolics content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC). The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated by measuring the radical scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity in a beta-carotene/linoleic acid system. Du-zhong leaf extract was found to have the highest TPC content (94.46 +/- 1.17 mg of gallic acid equiv/g of solid extract) and TFC content (61.36 +/- 0.59 mg of catechin equiv/g of solid extract). In the above three antioxidant assay systems, Du-zhong leaf extract also exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacities, followed by roasted cortex extract and seed extract. The effects of Du-zhong extracts (leaf, roasted cortex, and seed) on lipid oxidation, meat color, and metmyoglobin (MetMb) formation in raw pork patties were investigated and compared with that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) during refrigerated storage at 4 degrees C for 8 days. The results indicated that the addition of leaf extract at 0.1% (w/w), roasted cortex extract at 0.1% (w/w), and BHT at 0.01% (w/w) decreased day 8 TBARS values by 35, 20, and 37%, respectively. Du-zhong leaf extract at 0.1% (w/w) also exhibited a certain stabilizing effect on meat redness a* value and retarded the formation of MetMb. This study suggests that Du-zhong leaf extract may be a potential source of natural antioxidants.