Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) biodegradation by Purpureocillium lilacinum strain BA1S.

Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), a promising biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic copolyester material, can be applied as an alternative material to reduce the adverse effects of conventional plastics. However, the degradation of PBAT plastics in soil is time-consuming, and effective PBAT-degrading microorganisms have rarely been reported. In this study, the biodegradation properties of PBAT by an elite fungal strain and related mechanisms were elucidated. Four PBAT-degrading fungal strains were isolated from farmland soils, and Purpureocillium lilacinum strain BA1S showed a prominent degradation rate. It decomposed approximately 15 wt.% of the PBAT films 30 days after inoculation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC‒MS) were conducted to analyze the physicochemical properties and composition of the byproducts after biodegradation. In the presence of PBAT, the lipolytic enzyme activities of BA1S were remarkably induced, and its cutinase gene was also significantly upregulated. Of note, the utilization of PBAT in BA1S cells was closely correlated with intracellular cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenase. Furthermore, CreA-mediated carbon catabolite repression was confirmed to be involved in regulating PBAT-degrading hydrolases and affected the degradation efficiency. This study provides new insight into the degradation of PBAT by elite fungal strains and increases knowledge on the mechanism, which can be applied to control the biodegradability of PBAT films in the future. KEY POINTS: • Purpureocillium lilacinum strain BA1S was isolated from farmland soils and degraded PBAT plastic films at a prominent rate. • The lipolytic enzyme activities of strain BA1S were induced during coculture with PBAT, and the cutinase gene was significantly upregulated during PBAT degradation. • CreA-mediated carbon catabolite repression of BA1S plays an essential role in regulating the expression of PBAT-degrading hydrolases.

Mutagenesis of Odorant Receptor Coreceptor Orco Reveals the Odorant-Detected Behavior of the Predator Eupeodes corollae.

The successful mating of the hoverfly and the search for prey aphids are of great significance for biological control and are usually mediated by chemical cues. The odorant receptor co-receptor (Orco) genes play a crucial role in the process of insect odor perception. However, the function of Orco in the mating and prey-seeking behaviors of the hoverfly remains relatively unexplored. In this study, we characterized the Orco gene from the hoverfly, Eupeodes corollae, a natural enemy insect. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 technique to knock out the Orco gene of E. corollae, and the EcorOrco-/- homozygous mutant was verified by the genotype analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the antennal ORN of EcorOrco-/- mutant lack Orco staining. Electroantennogram (EAG) results showed that the adult mutant almost lost the electrophysiological response to 15 odorants from three types. The two-way choice assay and the glass Y-tube olfactometer indicated that both the larvae and adults of hoverflies lost their behavioral preference to the aphid alarm pheromone (E)-ß-farnesene (EBF). In addition, the mating assay results showed a significant decrease in the mating rate of males following the knock out of the EcorOrco gene. Although the mating of females was not affected, the amount of eggs being laid and the hatching rate of the eggs were significantly reduced. These results indicated that the EcorOrco gene was not only involved in the detection of semiochemicals in hoverflies but also plays a pivotal role in the development of eggs. In conclusion, our results expand the comprehension of the chemoreceptive mechanisms in the hoverflies and offers valuable insights for the advancement of more sophisticated pest management strategies.

LncRNA UCA1/miR-124 axis modulates TGFß1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion of tongue cancer cells through JAG1/Notch signaling.

Tongue cancer remains a massive threat to public health due to the high rate of metastasis. Tumor cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which can be induced by transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), has been regarded as a significant contributor to cancer invasion and migration. In our previous study, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1/miR-124/JAG1 axis modulates the growth of tongue cancer. In addition to metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), another lncRNA, urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1), can promote EMT and cancer metastasis. In the present study, UCA1 was overexpressed in tongue cancer tissues and cell lines. UCA1 overexpression was correlated to the poorer prognosis of patients with tongue cancer. UCA1 knockdown significantly suppressed TGFß1-induced tongue cancer cell invasion and EMT by decreasing vimentin and increasing E-cadherin. Regarding the molecular mechanism, UCA1 could directly bind to microRNA-124 (miR-124) and negatively regulate each other. UCA1 knockdown ameliorated, whereas miR-124 inhibition exacerbated TGFß1-induced EMT and invasion in tongue cancer cells through miR-124 downstream jagged 1 (JAG1) and Notch signaling. Moreover, miR-124 inhibition partially impaired the effect of UCA1 knockdown. In tongue cancer tissues, miR-124 expression was remarkably decreased, whereas JAG1 mRNA expression was increased. miR-124 was negatively correlated with UCA1 and JAG1. UCA1 and JAG1 were positively correlated. In summary, we provided a novel mechanism by which the EMT process and cancer cell invasion in tongue cancer could be modulated from the perspective of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulation.

TGFß1-Smad3-Jagged1-Notch1-Slug signaling pathway takes part in tumorigenesis and progress of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: TGFß1 and Smad3 play an important role in the process of EMT. TGFß1 regulates the expression of Jagged1 by modulating Notch signaling. Jagged1 is related to tumor invasion, metastasis, chemotherapy resistance, and tumor immune escape. The aims of this study are to examine deregulation of TGFß1-Smad3-Jagged1-Notch1-Slug signaling in TSCC and to investigate its roles in TSCC progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Notch1, Smad3, Jagged1 and Slug proteins and mRNA expression were detected in specimens from 89 cases of patients. We analyzed the correlation between their expressions and histological grade, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Notch1, Smad3, Jagged1 and Slug mRNA expressions in TSCC were higher than normal tissue (P <0.05). The protein expression of Notch1 and Smad3 in TSCC were higher (χ(2) =7.30, P <0.01 and χ(2) = 5.84, P <0.05). Notch1 and Smad3 expressions were correlated with clinical stage (χ(2) =18.81, P<0.01; χ(2) =22.29, P<0.01), but not Jagged1 (χ(2) =0.53, P>0.05). The Slug protein expression was correlated with clinical stage. The positive rate of Notch1 was higher in lymph node metastases positive cases (χ(2) =7.30, P<0.01). Moreover, higher expression of Jagged1 was found in lymph node positive cases (χ(2) =10.82, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The key protein expression in TGFß1-Smad3-Jagged1-Notch1-Slug signaling pathway significantly correlated with the clinicopathological features of TSCC patients. It's potential as a biomarker and a novel therapeutic target for TSCC patients at risk of metastasis. It may play an irreplaceable role in TSCC progression which may attribute to promoting EMT which enhances cell migration, invasion and metastasis.

Suppression of tongue squamous cell carcinoma growth by inhibition of Jagged1 in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: The changes in Notch signaling are closely related to the occurrence and development of many cancers. We have investigated Notch signaling receptor and its ligand expressions in TSCC cell lines, tissues and its significance. We clarified Notch signaling pathway in TSCC and its mechanism. We regulated Notch signaling pathway of tumor cells, thereby inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and differentiation. METHODS: We detected Jagged1 protein and mRNA expression levels in specimens (tongue cancer and adjacent tissues) from 74 patients with tongue cancer and in TSCC cell line. The Jagged1-targeted lentiviral vector RNAi system was constructed, and its suppressive effects on the proliferation and invasion of tongue carcinoma cells in in vivo and ex vivo were determined. RESULTS: Jagged1 was expressed in tongue squamous cell cancer tissues and cell line, but there were differences in its expression. Jagged1 was knocked down and the tumor growth was inhibited accompanying cell cycle changes. Animal studies also showed that the tumor growth was inhibited. CONCLUSIONS: Jagged1 may be involved in the differentiation and proliferation of tongue cancer. Targeting Jagged1 RNA interference lentiviral vector can effectively lower Jagged1 mRNA and protein expression levels of Tca8113 cells, thereby preventing the proliferation of TSCC cells. Jagged1 is expected to be a promising new target for curing tongue cancer. In-depth study of the interaction between Jagged1 and other molecules of Notch signaling pathway in the process of carcinogenesis has important theoretical guidance and clinical significance in revealing the mechanism of Jagged1 and its application in the therapy for tongue cancer.

The Influence of Social Support on Leisure-Time Physical Activity of the Elderly in the Chinese Village of Fuwen.

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of social support factors with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) of older people in Fuwen village. A cross-sectional study included 523 randomly selected elderly people (60+ years) whose LTPA levels were determined using the shortened version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-S). A modified version of the Physical Activity Social Support Scale (PASSS) was operated to gather perceived scores of the social support factors. A multivariate linear regression was performed to locate associations of perceived scores of social supports with leisure-time walking (LTW) and moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The results indicated that social support from family was positively and significantly related to LTW and MVPA in both models. The community factor was positively and significantly correlated with MVPA in both models. The sport club factor was related to LTW and MVPA to some extent. The results suggest that social support from family is the most important motivator for older people's LTW and MVPA in the village of Fuwen. Social support from the community is the motivator for older people's MVPA. The sport club factor has some effects on older people's LTW and MVPA as well. More future studies are needed to extend the database of the relationship between social support and rural older people's physical activity.

Comparison and analysis of the biomechanics of the lower limbs of female tennis players of different levels in foot-up serve.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine biomechanical performance of the foot-up serve (FUS) in female tennis players at different skill levels. Methods: FUS analysis was completed in the biomechanical laboratory by 32 female college tennis players at three different levels. During FUS, 3D-biomechanical data from tennis players' lower limbs were collected. One-way ANOVA was used to examine differences in kinematic and kinetic data between groups Results: Range of motion (ROM) of bilateral lower-limb joints revealed significant differences in kinematics performance during both the preparation and landing cushion phases (p < 0.05). During preparation, Level 3 was significantly longer than Level 2 (P-a = 0.042, P-b = 0.001, and P-c = 0.006). During the flight phase, significant differences between levels 1 and 3 (P-a:0.002) and levels 1 and 2 (P-c:0.000) were discovered (P-a:0.002 and P-c:0.000). There were significant height differences between levels 1 and 2 as well as between levels 1 and 3. (P-a = 0.001, P-c = 0.000). During serve preparation (P-c = 0.001) and landing, GRF's peak was significantly higher than level 3. (P-c:0.007). Significant differences were found between groups in the LLS preparation stage, with level 3 significantly higher than levels 1 and 2. (P-a = 0.000, P-b = 0.001, and P-c = 0.000); during landing, level 2 LLS was significantly higher than levels 1 and 3. (P-a = 0.000, P-b = 0.000, and P-c = 0.035). Conclusion: The range of motion of joints and the stiffness of the lower limbs have a significant impact on a tennis player's FUS performance. A larger of joint mobility and lower-limb stiffness promote better performance during the FUS preparation stage.

Biodegradation of PBSA Films by Elite Aspergillus Isolates and Farmland Soil.

Plastic films are widely used in current agricultural practices; however, most mulch films used are discarded and buried in the land after harvest, having adverse environmental impacts. To solve this environmental problem, the demand for biodegradable mulch has been increasing in recent years. Polybutylene succinate-co-adipate (PBSA) is a biodegradable polymer with good ductility and can be used for packaging and mulching. In this study, we isolated two elite fungal strains for PBSA degradation from farmlands, i.e., Aspergillus fumigatus L30 and Aspergillus terreus HC, and the latter showed better degradation ability than the former. It is noteworthy that biodegradation of PBSA by A. terreus is reported for the first time, which revealed unique characteristics. In the soil burial test, even the soil with relatively poor degradation ability could be improved by the addition of elite fungal mycelia. In substrate specificity analyses of soil samples, PBSA could induce the synthesis of lipolytic enzymes of indigenous microbes to degrade substrates with medium and long carbon chains in soil. Furthermore, PBSA residues or fungal mycelia supplementation in soils had no adverse effect on the seed germination rate, seedling growth, or mature plant weight of the test green leafy vegetable. Taken together, the results of this study not only advance our understanding of the biodegradation of PBSA films by filamentous fungi but also provide insight into improving the efficiency of biodegradation in soil environments.

Molecular basis of (E)-ß-farnesene-mediated aphid location in the predator Eupeodes corollae.

(E)-ß-farnesene (EBF) is an important chemical cue mediating interactions between plants, aphids, and natural enemies. This chemical has two origins, being secreted by aphid as an alarm pheromone and also produced by the attacked plants as a semiochemical attracting natural enemies. Despite the important role of this volatile chemical, little is known on the molecular mechanisms mediating the attraction of natural enemies to EBF. Here, we first verified that the larvae and adults of aphid predator hoverfly Eupeodes corollae detect and are attracted to EBF. Then, we found a neuron housed in type III basiconic sensilla of adult antenna responding to EBF. We further verified that in both adults and larvae odorant receptor EcorOR3 and odorant-binding protein EcorOBP15 mediate detection of EBF and structurally similar volatiles. Finally, we provide evidence that larvae of E. corollae may use aphid-derived EBF for prey location in the short-range, whereas adults could detect plant-derived EBF to find attacked plants from longer distances. Thus, while dissecting the molecular basis for attraction to EBF produced by two different sources, our results may find potential applications in integrated aphid management approaches.

CRISPR/Cas9 in lepidopteran insects: Progress, application and prospects.

Clustered regularly spaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPR) structure family forms the acquired immune system in bacteria and archaea. Recent advances in CRISPR/Cas genome editing as derived from prokaryotes, confirmed the characteristics of robustness, high target specificity and programmability, and also revolutionized the insect sciences field. The successful application of CRISPR in a wide variety of lepidopteran insects, with a high genetic diversity, provided opportunities to explore gene functions, insect modification and pest control. In this review, we present a detailed overview on the recent progress of CRISPR in lepidopteran insects, and described the basic principles of the system and its application. Major interest is on wing development, pigmentation, mating, reproduction, sex determination, metamorphosis, resistance and silkworm breeding innovation. Finally, we outlined the limitations of CRISPR/Cas system and discussed its application prospects in lepidopteran insects.

Heavy metal distribution in Tiaoxi River's sediment.

According to current study, seven surface sediments and three sediment cores were collected from three typical areas of Tiaoxi River, which were living area, agricultural area, and industrial area. The water quantity into the Lake Taihu from the Tiaoxi River accounted for almost one third of the total water quantity by all rivers into the Lake Taihu. To study geochemical features and pollution history of heavy metals in three typical areas of Tiaoxi River, total content and chemical fractionations of Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn, Zn, Fe, As, and Hg were analyzed for surface and core sediments using the speciation extraction procedure, proposed by the Commission of the European Communities Bureau of Reference (BCR), together with grain size and organic carbon measurements. The results showed that the concentration of nine heavy metals and the variation characteristics of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Cr are different among five cores, which has shown that the river responses to natural and anthropogenic activities were dissimilar in various areas. BCR sequential extraction showed contents of Cr, Fe, and Cu were dominated in the remaining parts. Non-residual fractions for Zn and Mn contained major portions. Based on RAC (risk assessment core), the risk of Mn was high to very high in the three typical areas, and the risk of Zn was medium in the three typical areas.

[Retracted] Long non­coding RNA MALAT1 interacts with miR­124 and modulates tongue cancer growth by targeting JAG1.

We wish to retract our research article entitled "Long non­coding RNA MALAT1 interacts with miR­124 and modulates tongue cancer growth by targeting JAG1" published in Oncology Reports 37 2087­2094, 2017. Following the publication of this article, it was drawn to our attention that this paper bore numerous similarites with an article published previously in the journal OncoTargets and Therapy. Although all the data reported in our study were original, we recognize that it was not appropriate that we should have modelled our paper on previously published articles as a template on which to base the writing of our paper. Therefore, we have agreed to follow the Editor's recommendation that this paper be retracted from the publication. All the named authors agree to this retraction. We sincerely apologize to the Editor and the readership of the Journal for our action, and regret any inconvenience this has caused. [the original article was published in the Oncology Reports 37: 2087­2094, 2017; DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5445].

Synthesis and Properties of Poly(ether sulfone)s with Clustered Sulfonic Groups for PEMFC Applications under Various Relative Humidity.

Novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) copolymers (S4PH-x-PSs) based on a new aromatic diol containing four phenyl substituents at the 2, 2', 6, and 6' positions of 4,4'-diphenyl ether were synthesized. Sulfonation was found to occur exclusively on the 4 position of phenyl substituents by NMR spectroscopy. The ion exchange capacity (IEC) values can be controlled by adjusting the mole percent (x in S4PH-x-PS) of the new diol. The fully hydrated sulfonated poly(ether sulfone) copolymers had good proton conductivity in the range 0.004-0.110 S/cm at room temperature. The surface morphology of S4PH-x-PSs and Nafion 212 was investigated by atomic force microscopy (tapping-mode) and related to the percolation limit and proton conductivity. Single H2/O2 fuel cell based on S4PH-40-PS loaded with 0.25 mg/cm2 catalyst (Pt/C) exhibited a peak power density of 462.6 mW/cm2, which was close to that of Nafion 212 (533.5 mW/cm2) at 80 °C with 80% RH. Furthermore, fuel cell performance of S4PH-35-PS with various relative humidity was investigated. It was confirmed from polarization curves that the fuel cell performance of S4PH-35-PS was not as high as that of Nafion 212 under fully hydrated state due to higher interfacial resistance between S4PH-35-PS and electrodes. While under low relative humidity (53% RH) at 80 °C, fuel cells based on S4PH-35-PS showed higher peak power density (234.9 mW/cm2) than that (214.0 mW/cm2) of Nafion 212.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of chloroquine on oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Chloroquine, which is a widely used antimalarial drug, has been reported to exert anticancer activity in some tumor types; however, its potential effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the effects and possible underlying mechanisms of chloroquine against OSCC. MTT and clonogenic assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of chloroquine on the human OSCC cell lines SCC25 and CAL27. Cell cycle progression and apoptosis were detected using flow cytometry. Autophagy was monitored using microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B­light chain 3 as an autophagosomal marker. In order to determine the in vivo antitumor effects of chloroquine on OSCC, a CAL27 xenograft model was used. The results demonstrated that chloroquine markedly inhibited the proliferation and the colony­forming ability of both OSCC cell lines in a dose­ and time­dependent manner in vitro. Chloroquine also disrupted the cell cycle, resulting in the cell cycle arrest of CAL27 and SCC25 cells at G0/G1 phase, via downregulation of cyclin D1. In addition, chloroquine inhibited autophagy, and induced autophagosome and autolysosome accumulation in the cytoplasm, thus interfering with degradation; however, OSCC apoptosis was barely affected by chloroquine. The results of the in vivo study demonstrated that chloroquine effectively inhibited OSCC tumor growth in the CAL27 xenograft model. In conclusion, the present study reported the in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects of chloroquine on OSCC, and the results indicated that chloroquine may be considered a potent therapeutic agent against human OSCC.

Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 interacts with miR-124 and modulates tongue cancer growth by targeting JAG1.

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), was the earliest discovered to be correlated with cancer and contributes to the initiation and development of several types of tumors. Dysregulation of MALAT1 expression is frequently observed in many types of cancer such as gastric cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and glioma. To date, the role of MALAT1 and the underlying mechanisms in tongue cancer development remain unclear. In the present study, we studied the influence of MALAT1 on tongue cancer cell lines and clinical tongue cancer samples so as to detect its function and the underlying mechanism. In the present study, lncRNA-MALAT1 was specifically upregulated in tongue cancer cell lines and overexpression promoted tongue cancer cell growth by targeting miR-124. Knockdown of MALAT1 suppressed the growth and invasion of human tongue cancer cells and inhibited metastasis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, miR-124-dependent jagged1 (JAG1) regulation was required for MALAT1-induced tongue cancer cell growth. Our data revealed that MALAT1 inhibited tongue cancer cell growth and metastasis through miR-124-dependent JAG1 regulation. In conclusion, we revealed that MALAT1 may play an oncogenic role by increasing proliferation and metastasis of tongue cancer and is a potential therapeutic target in human tongue cancer.

[The expression and significance of the Notch signaling pathway molecules in tongue squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of Notch signaling receptors Notchl, Notch3 and its ligand Jaggedl, Jagged2 in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). METHODS: mRNA and protein expression levels of tissue samples from 74 cases of tongue cancer patients and human tongue cell line Cal-27 were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Its relationship with cell proliferation and clinical pathology was analyzed. RESULTS: mRNA and protein expression were detected in tongue cancer tissues, adjacent tissues and cell lines. Notchl and Notch3 protein expression in tongue cancer was higher than the adjacent tissues. Jaggedl and Jagged2 protein expression in tongue cancer and adjacent tissues had no difference. Notchl and Notch3 protein had correlation with tongue cancer clinical staging. Pathway protein expression had no correlation with pathological grade, age, gender. Notchl protein expression in lymph node metastasis-positive cases was higher than in lymph node metastasis-negative cases. The expression of Notch3 and Jagged2 had correlation. Jaggedl expression grade in metastasis-positive cases was higher than in negative cases. CONCLUSION: Notch signaling molecules have active expression in TSCC and may play important roles in tongue cancer development.

[Cloning and characterization of genes differentially expressed in human dental pulp cells and gingival fibroblasts].

OBJECTIVE: To study the biological properties of human dental pulp cells (HDPC) by cloning and analysis of genes differentially expressed in HDPC in comparison with human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). METHODS: HDPC and HGF were cultured and identified by immunocytochemistry. HPDC and HGF subtractive cDNA library was established by PCR-based modified subtractive hybridization, genes differentially expressed by HPDC were cloned, sequenced and compared to find homogeneous sequence in GenBank by BLAST. RESULTS: Cloning and sequencing analysis indicate 12 genes differentially expressed were obtained, in which two were unknown genes. Among the 10 known genes, 4 were related to signal transduction, 2 were related to trans-membrane transportation (both cell membrane and nuclear membrane), and 2 were related to RNA splicing mechanisms. CONCLUSION: The biological properties of HPDC are determined by the differential expression of some genes and the growth and differentiation of HPDC are associated to the dynamic protein synthesis and secretion activities of the cell.