Promoter Analysis of Bombyx mori Nucleopolyhedrovirus Ubiquitin Gene

Xu’ai Lin,Yin Chen,Yongzhu Yi,Jie Yan,Zhifang Zhang 한국미생물학회 2008 The journal of microbiology Vol.46 No.4

The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) ubiquitin gene promoter and the effects of conserved motifs, such as TAAG, TATA, and CAAT, along with baculovirus enhancer homologous region 3 (hr3), on promoter activity. Ubiquitin gene of BmNPV was expressed during the late phase of virus infection. In the presence of viral factors, significant reduction of promoter activity was observed by deletion of -382 to -124 bp upstream of ATG. The fragment between -187 and -383 bp upstream of ATG, including distal TAAG, CAAT motif, and TATA box, could also drive expression of the reporter gene. The mutation of cis-elements TATA boxes and TAAG motifs significantly decreased the promoter’s activity, while CAAT mutations enhanced promoter activity by 2- or 3-fold, as compared with the native promoter. In the presence of BmNPV, hr3, both located downstream of the reporter gene of the same vector, and separate vector, could significantly enhance transcription activity of ubiquitin promoter as compared to the control. We concluded that BmNPV ubiquitin gene might be regulated by dual sets of promoter elements, where TAAG and TATA box may positively regulate the expression of ubiquitin, while CAAT motif functions as a negative regulator. Viral factor(s) play an important role in the co-activation of hr3 and promoter.

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of myocardial damage and cardiac dysfunction in acute coronary syndrome patients

Chen Chen,Bai Lin Cong,Min Wang,Muhammad Abdullah,Xiao Long Wang,Yin Hua Zhang,Shun Ji Xu,Lan Cui 한국한의학연구원 2018 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.7 No.2

Background: Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in peripheral blood is established to correlate with the morbidity and mortality of heart disease patients. We aimed to define the severity of inflammation (NLR) by observing the association of NLR with cardiac functions or myocardial damage parameters in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: Data from 715 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 72 hours of incidence in 2016 were analysed retrospectively. Results: The NLR ranges from 0.50 to 46 (medium ± SD, 2.76 ± 2.96) in 715 patients. NLR positively correlated with myocardial damage (NLR vs. CK-mB: p < 0.0001) but negatively correlated with myocardial function (NLR vs. EF: p < 0.0001; NLR vs. FS: p < 0.0001). Myocardial damage markers (CK, CK-mB, ASL, LDH) were significantly increased, and cardiac contractile parameters (EF and FS) were reduced at NLR > 2.76 compared to those of NLR < 2.76. ELISA analysis has shown that IL-10 was significantly increased when NLR ≥ 4.6 and TGF-β was increased at NLR > 4. The correlation was diminished between NLR and CK-mB at NLR > 2.76 or at NLR > 4, but that of NLR and EF or FS was maintained in NLR > 2.76 and at NLR > 4. EF and FS were comparable between NLR > 2.76 and NLR > 4. But myocardial damage parameters increased significantly at NLR > 4 compared to those of NLR > 2.76. Conclusion: NLR is a strong predictor of myocardial damage in acute myocardial patients. High NLR are associated with myocardial dysfunction in all the patients. Severe inflammation (NLR) can predict the consequence of the heart in patients with coronary syndrome.

Structural insights into hydrogenated graphite prepared from fluorinated graphite through Birch−type reduction

Zhang, Xu,Goossens, Karel,Li, Wei,Chen, Xianjue,Chen, Xiong,Saxena, Manav,Lee, Sun Hwa,Bielawski, Christopher W.,Ruoff, Rodney S. Elsevier 2017 Carbon Vol.121 No.-

<P>Hydrogenated graphite was synthesized through a Birch-type reduction by treating fluorinated graphite ((CFx)(n), x similar to 1.1) with a solution of Li in liquid NH3 followed by the addition of H2O as the proton donor. The conversion was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and combustion elemental analysis were used to determine and quantify the chemical composition, giving an empirical formula of C1H0.60O0.06N0.01 for the product with no more than 2 at.% of fluorine atoms remaining. Thermal dehydrogenation of the hydrogenated material - as investigated by thermogravimetric analysis coupled to mass spectrometry - predominately occurs over the range of 350-600 degrees C. The product was also analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, which collectively supported the formation of hydrogenated graphene sheets through a wet-chemical route. To elucidate the structure of the hydrogenated sample, the material was investigated by solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Direct pulse and cross-polarization nuclear magnetic resonance measurements, including spin counting, spectral editing and 2D heteronuclear correlation experiments, revealed the nature of the sp(3)- and sp(2)-hybridized carbon nuclei, and indicated that methine, methylene and quaternary sp(3)-carbon atoms were present in the hydrogenated material. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Differences in the biological properties of mesenchymal stromal cells from traumatic temporomandibular joint fibrous and bony ankylosis: a comparative study

Zhang Pei-Pei,Liang Su-Xia,Wang Hua-Lun,Yang Kun,Nie Shao-Chen,Zhang Tong-Mei,Tian Yuan-Yuan,Xu Zhao-Yuan,Chen Wei,Yan Ying-Bin 한국통합생물학회 2021 Animal cells and systems Vol.25 No.5

The aim of this study was to compare the functional characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from a sheep model of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) fibrous and bony ankylosis. A sheep model of bilateral TMJ trauma-induced fibrous ankylosis on one side and bony ankylosis on the contralateral side was used. MSCs from fibrous ankylosed callus (FAMSCs) or bony ankylosed callus (BA-MSCs) at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 after surgery were isolated and cultured. MSCs derived from the bone marrow of the mandibular condyle (BM-MSCs) were used as controls. The MSCs from the different sources were characterized morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally. Adherence and trilineage differentiation potential were presented in the ovine MSCs. These cell populations highly positively expressed MSC-associated specific markers, namely CD29, CD44, and CD166, but lacked CD31 and CD45 expressions. The BA-MSCs had higher clonogenic and proliferative potentials than the FA-MSCs. The BA-MSCs also showed higher osteogenic and chondrogenic potentials, but lower adipogenic capacity than the FA-MSCs. In addition, the BA-MSCs demonstrated higher chondrogenic, but lower osteogenic capacity than the BM-MSCs. Our study suggests that inhibition of the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiations of MSCs might be a promising strategy for preventing bony ankylosis in the future.

LETM1 Promotes Gastric Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Zhang, Yunfeng,Chen, Lele,Cao, Yifan,Chen, Si,Xu, Chao,Xing, Jun,Zhang, Kaiguang The Korean Gastric Cancer Association 2020 Journal of gastric cancer Vol.20 No.2

Purpose: Globally, there is a high incidence of gastric cancer (GC). Leucine zipper-EF-hand containing transmembrane protein 1 (LETM1) is reported to play a vital role in several human malignancies. However, there is limited understanding of the role of LETM1 in GC. This study aims to investigate the effects of LETM1 on proliferation, migration, and invasion of GC cells. Materials and Methods: The expression levels of LETM1 in the normal gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) and GC cells were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays were performed to evaluate the effect of LETM1 knockdown or overexpression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the GC cells, respectively. Additionally, the effect of LETM1 knockdown or overexpression on GC cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the effect of LETM1 knockdown or overexpression on the expression levels of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway-related proteins was evaluated by western blotting. Results: The GC cells exhibited markedly higher mRNA and protein expression levels of LETM1 than the GES-1 cells. Additionally, the knockdown of LETM1 remarkably suppressed the GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted the apoptosis of GC cells, which were reversed upon LETM1 overexpression. Furthermore, the western blotting analysis indicated that LETM1 facilitates GC progression via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Conclusions: LETM1 acts as an oncogenic gene to promote GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Therefore, LETM1 may be a potential target for GC diagnosis and treatment.

Ginsenoside Rb1 ameliorates cisplatin-induced learning and memory impairments

Chen Chen,Haifeng Zhang,Hongliang Xu,Yake Zheng,Tianwen Wu 고려인삼학회 2019 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.43 No.4

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), a dominant component from the extract of Panax ginseng root,exhibits neuroprotective functions in many neurological diseases. This study was intended to investigatewhether Rb1 can attenuate cisplatin-induced memory impairments and explore the potentialmechanisms. Methods: Cisplatin was injected intraperitoneally with a dose of 5 mg/kg/wk, and Rb1 was administeredin drinking water at the dose of 2 mg/kg/d to rats for 5 consecutive wk. The novel objects recognition taskand Morris water maze were used to detect the memory of rats. Nissl staining was used to examine theneuron numbers in the hippocampus. The activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase,cholineacetyltransferase, acetylcholinesterase, and the levels of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species,acetylcholine, tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin-1b, and interleukin-10 were measured by ELISAto assay the oxidative stress, cholinergic function, and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus. Results: Rb1 administration effectively ameliorates the memory impairments caused by cisplatin in bothnovel objects recognition task and Morris water maze task. Rb1 also attenuates the neuronal loss inducedby cisplatin in the different regions (CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus) of the hippocampus. Meanwhile, Rb1 isable to rescue the cholinergic neuron function, inhibit the oxidative stress and neuroinflammation incisplatin-induced rat brain. Conclusion: Rb1 rescues the cisplatin-induced memory impairment via restoring the neuronal loss byreducing oxidative stress and neuroinflammation and recovering the cholinergic neuron functions.

Strategy for Fabricating Wafer-Scale Platinum Disulfide

Xu, Hongjun,Huang, Hsin-Pan,Fei, HaiFeng,Feng, Jiafeng,Fuh, Huei-Ru,Cho, Jiung,Choi, Miri,Chen, Yanhui,Zhang, Lei,Chen, Dengyun,Zhang, Duan,Coileá,in, Cormac Ó,Han, Xiufeng,Chang, Ching-Ra American Chemical Society 2019 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.11 No.8

<P>PtS<SUB>2</SUB> is a newly developed group 10 2D layered material with high carrier mobility, wide band gap tunability, strongly bound excitons, symmetrical metallic and magnetic edge states, and ambient stability, making it attractive in nanoelectronic, optoelectronic, and spintronic fields. To the aim of application, a large-scale synthesis is necessary. For transition-metal dichalcogenide (TMD) compounds, a thermally assisted conversion method has been widely used to fabricate wafer-scale thin films. However, PtS<SUB>2</SUB> cannot be easily synthesized using the method, as the tetragonal PtS phase is more stable. Here, we use a specified quartz part to locally increase the vapor pressure of sulfur in a chemical vapor deposition furnace and successfully extend this method for the synthesis of PtS<SUB>2</SUB> thin films in a scalable and controllable manner. Moreover, the PtS and PtS<SUB>2</SUB> phases can be interchangeably converted through a proposed strategy. Field-effect transistor characterization and photocurrent measurements suggest that PtS<SUB>2</SUB> is an ambipolar semiconductor with a narrow band gap. Moreover, PtS<SUB>2</SUB> also shows excellent gas-sensing performance with a detection limit of ∼0.4 ppb for NO<SUB>2</SUB>. Our work presents a relatively simple way of synthesizing PtS<SUB>2</SUB> thin films and demonstrates their promise for high-performance ultrasensitive gas sensing, broadband optoelectronics, and nanoelectronics in a scalable manner. Furthermore, the proposed strategy is applicable for making other PtX<SUB>2</SUB> compounds and TMDs which are compatible with modern silicon technologies.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Genetic Improvement of Oiltea Camellia in China

Riqing Zhang,Donglin Zhang,Xiaoling Jin,Tana Wuyun,Yongzhong Chen,Xu Zhang,Jinlin Ma 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

A vacuum-sealed flat-panel X-ray source based on ZnO nanowire field emitters

Daokun CHEN,Zhipeng ZHANG,Guofu ZHANG,Juncong SHE,Shaozhi DENG,Ningsheng XU,Jun CHEN 한국진공학회 2016 한국진공학회 학술발표회초록집 Vol.2016 No.8

Fabrication and Characterization of Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanorod Arrays via Inverted Monolayer Colloidal Crystals Mask

Cheng Chen,Taotao Ding,Zhiqiang Qi,Wei Zhang,Jun Zhang,Juan Xu,Jingwen Chen,Jiangnan Dai,Changqing Chen 대한금속·재료학회 2018 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.14 No.4

The periodically ordered ZnO nanorod (NR) arrays have been successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal approach on thesilicon substrates by templating of the TiO2ring deriving from the polystyrene (PS) nanosphere monolayer colloidal crystals(MCC). With the inverted MCC mask, sol–gel-derived ZnO seeds could serve as the periodic nucleation positions for thesite-specific growth of ZnO NRs. The large-scale patterned arrays of single ZnO NR with good side-orientation can be readilyproduced. According to the experimental results, the as-integrated ZnO NR arrays showed an excellent crystal quality andoptical property, very suitable for optoelectronic applications such as stimulated emitters and ZnO photonic crystal devices.