Nuclear DNA content variation of three Miscanthus species in China

Xi Li,Die Hu,Manman Luo,Ming Zhu,Xinwei Li,Fan Luo,Jianqiang Li,Juan Yan 한국유전학회 2013 Genes & Genomics Vol.35 No.1

In order to estimate the variation in nuclear genome size in Miscanthus, flow cytometry of nuclei stained by propidium iodide was carried out using 36 populations of three Miscanthus species: M. lutarioriparius, M. sacchariflorus and M. sinensis, which were sampled from cold northern to warm and humid southern and central China, as well as near the sea level in eastern China to mountains in western China. The DNA content of diploid was 4.37 ±0.02 pg/2C in M. lutarioriparius, 4.37 ± 0.01 pg/2C in M. sacchariflorus, and 5.37 ± 0.03 pg/2C in M. sinensis,respectively. There was no intraspecific variation in the three Miscanthus species at the diploid level, suggesting that the genome size was stable within species and the diverse environments did not induce variation in genome size at the diploid level. However, tetraploid populations were found in M. lutarioriparius and M. sacchariflorus, and their genome sizes were 8.56 and 8.54 pg, respectively, which are lower than expected values (8.74 pg), indicating the genome downsizing after polyploidization in the genus. Our results showed that the plant height of M. lutarioriparius was the highest one among the three species and the species was more closely related to M. sacchariflorus than M. sinensis. The intra-species genomic variation and inter-species differentiation in Miscanthus species provide important genetic and genomic information for the development of Miscanthus,especially for the endemic species, M. lutarioriparius,(together with Miscanthus 9 giganteus) which are now emerging as a key bio-energy crop because of their high yields and strong adaptability.

Improved Temperature Characteristics of an Aspergillus oryzae GHF11 Xylanase, by In Silico Design and Site-directed Mutagenesis

Die Hu,Jianfang Li,Qin Wu,Jia Zang,Jianqing Cheng,Minchen Wu 한국생물공학회 2016 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.21 No.6

To improve the temperature characteristics of a mesophilic glycoside hydrolase family (GHF) 11 xylanase AoXyn11A from Aspergillus oryzae, both introduction of a disulfide bridge and the substitution of a specific amino acid were carried out by in silico design and site-directed mutagenesis. Based on the analysis of a known crystal structure of thermophilic xylanase TlXynA from Thermomyces lanuginosus, and the alignment of primary structures between AoXyn11A and TlXynA, one mutant AoXyn11AM with a disulfide bridge (Cys108–Cys152) was designed by replacing the Ser108 and Asn152 of AoXyn11A with Cys residues, respectively. Additionally, based on the analysis of amino acid B-factor values, another mutant AoXyn11AM-G22A was predicted by substituting Gly22 of AoXyn11AM (having the maximum B-factor value of 69.25 Å, with the corresponding Ala23 of TlXynA. Thereafter, two mutant xylanase-encoding genes, Aoxyn11AM and Aoxyn11AM-G22A, were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis. Aoxyn11A and two mutant genes were expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) respectively, and three expressed recombinant xylanases, reAoXyn11A, reAoXyn11AM and reAoXyn11AM-G22A, were purified to homogeneity. The temperature optima of reAoXyn11AM and reAoXyn11AM-G22A were 60 and 65°C, respectively, being 5 and 10°C higher than that of reAoXyn11A. Their thermal inactivation half-lives at 50°C were 1.8- and 8.4-folds longer than that of reAoXyn11A. There were no obvious alterations after mutations in specific activity and enzymatic properties, except for the temperature characteristics.

PLCE1 rs2274223 Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Esophageal Cancer: a Meta-analysis

Guo, Li-Yan,Yang, Ning,Hu, Die,Zhao, Xia,Feng, Bing,Zhang, Yan,Zhai, Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.21

Purpose: To investigate and study the relationship between the PLCE1 rs2274223 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer by meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: The literature was searched in Wanfang, CNKI, PubMed, CBM, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer, Elsevier and Cochrane databases from the date of January $1^{st}$ 2004 to April $1^{st}$ 2014 to collect case-control studies on the PLCE1 polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer. For the population genotype distributions of both esophagus cancer and control groups, their odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were taken as effect indexes. Disqualified studies were excluded. Odds ratios of PLCE1 rs2274223 genotype distributions in the group of patients with esophageal cancer and the group of healthy control were calculated. The metaanalysis software, RevMan5.0, was applied for heterogeneity test, pooled OR and 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also explored. Results: A total of twelve case-control studies were included, covering a total of 9, 912 esophageal cancer cases and 13, 023 controls were included. The pooled odds ratio of PLCE1 rs2274223 genotype GA vs AA was 1.29 (95%CI=1.17~1.43), p<0.01, GG vs AA was 1.65 (95%CI=1.32~2.05), p<0.01, GG/GA vs AA was 1.30 (95%CI=1.16~1.46), p<0.01 and GG vs GA/AA was 1.48 (95%CI=1.22~1.80), p<0.01. The PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism was thus associated with risk of esophageal cancer in all genetic models. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, and source of controls, no significantly increased risk was observed for white persons. There was no obvious publication bias detected. Conclusions: This meta-analysis showed there was a significantly association between PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism and esophageal cancer in yellow race populations. Due to some minor limitations, our findings should be confirmed in further studies.

PLCE1 Gene in Esophageal Cancer and Interaction with Environmental Factors

Guo, Li-Yan,Zhang, Shen,Suo, Zhen,Yang, Chang-Shuang,Zhao, Xia,Zhang, Guo-An,Hu, Die,Ji, Xing-Zhao,Zhai, Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.7

Objective: To study the PLCE1 gene rs2274223 polymorphism with regard to esophageal cancer and its interaction with diet, lifestyle, psychological and environmental factors in Southwest Shandong province. Materials and Methods: A case series study (case-case) was conducted. Questionnaire data were collected and 3 ml-5ml venous blood was drawn for DNA extraction among the qualified research subjects. PLCE1 gene polymorphism was detected after PCR amplification of DNA. SPSS 13.0 software was used for statistical analysis of the data. Results: The three genotypes A/A, A/G and G/G PLCE1 gene rs2274223 was 31, 16 and 4 cases, accounting for 60.8%, 31.4%, 0.08% respectively. The difference of three genotypes (AA/GA/GG) proportion between negative and positive family history of patients was statistically significant, ${\chi}^2=6.213$, p=0.045. There was no statistically significant relationship between PLCE1 gene rs2274223 polymorphism and smoking, drinking, ${\chi}^2=0.119$, p=0.998, and ${\chi}^2=1.727$, p=0.786. There was no linkage of the three rs2274223 PLCE1 gene genotypes (AA/GA/GG) proportion with eating fried, pickled, hot, mildew, overnight, smoked, excitant food, eat speed, salt taste or not (p>0.05). or with living environment pollution and nine risk factors of occupational exposure (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in TS scores between different genotype of rs2274223 PLCE1 gene. Conclusions: The PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism has a relationship with family history of esophageal cancer, but does not have any significant association with age, gender, smoking, alcohol drinking, food hygiene, eating habits, living around the environment and occupation in cases.

Moisture-Induced Reversible Softening of Polyacrylates-Stiffened Cotton Fabrics

Yifang Mi,Die Wu,Yongxiang Li,Xiaoxia Cheng,Xiaobo Yang,Shuxian Lan,Zhihai Cao 한국섬유공학회 2022 Fibers and polymers Vol.23 No.5

The stiffening finishing of cotton fabrics has been widely used in textile industry. However, the notorious softeningof stiffened fabrics attenuated the stiffening style during storage. To reveal crucial factors responsible for the softeningphenomenon and elucidate the mechanism, cotton twill woven fabrics finished with polyacrylates (PAcr) stiffening agentswere systematically analyzed. The sensitive index to stiffening effect, i.e. stiffness value, was found which can fully assessthe handle changes of stiffened fabrics. The stiffness value of stiffened cotton fabrics decreased rapidly in the initial stage ofstorage, and the declining extent was related to the hygroscopic behavior of stiffened fabrics. Based on the hygroscopickinetic data, hygroscopic-drying cyclic experiments, and morphology characterization, it was found that interfaces betweencotton fibers and stiffening agent film were maintained during the whole hygroscopic process, and the reason for handlechanges of stiffened cotton fabrics was ascribed to the reversible moisture-induced plasticization effect on PAcr stiffeningagent film and cotton fibers. Furthermore, the underlying softening mechanism was further proposed in this work. Collectively, the present results are crucial for anti-softening in stiffening finishing of hydrophilic fabrics and an importantpart for the research on the mechanism of softening of stiffened fabrics.

Cough Inhibition Activity of Schisandra chinensis in Guinea Pigs

Shan Zhong,Li-Ping Bai,Xiao-Dong Liu,Die-Yi Cai,Lee-Fong Yau,Chu-Qin Huang,Jia-Qi Zhang,Ke-Fang Lai,Nan-Shan Zhong 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Journal of medicinal food Vol.24 No.4

Chronic cough is very common in respiratory clinics, and no effective drugs are available. Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (S. chinensis), an important traditional Chinese medicine, has been extensively prescribed for patients with a persistent cough. Preliminary research indicated that 95% ethanol extracts (EE) of S. chinensis showed remarkable antitussive activity in guinea pigs exposed to cigarette smoke (CS). To find out the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis, EE was divided into four fractions according to the polarity: petroleum ether extract (PEE), ethyl acetate extract (ECE), n-butyl alcohol extract, and residue extract. The antitussive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of the four fractions were evaluated in a guinea pig model of cough hypersensitivity induced by CS exposure. Eighteen main constituents of the two effective fractions, PEE and ECE, were identified using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography electronic spray ion time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The cough inhibition activities of compound 1, 3, 9, 10, 17 were evaluated on citric acid induced acute cough guinea pigs. The results showed that the antitussive activity of EE was almost all contained in PEE and ECE. The 16 major peaks in PEE were identified as 15 lignans (1–12 and 14–16) and 1 triterpene (compound 13), and 3 major peaks (1, 17, and 18) in ECE were also identified as lignans. Three doses of five compounds brought about a significant decrease in number of cough efforts (P < .01), and the cough inhibition rates were between 40.9% and 85.1%. Therefore, lignans are the antitussive ingredients of S. chinensis.

Inhibition of Bone Resorption by Econazole in Rat Osteoclast-like Cells through Suppressing TRPV5

Peng Yan,Tang Li,Meng Bo,Liu Die,Liang Xing 대한약학회 2011 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.34 No.6

Osteoclasts are primary bone resorption cells and intervention in osteoclast activation is considered an effective therapeutic approach to treatment of bone diseases involving osteoclasts. TRPV5 was detected in osteoclasts and it has been thought to take part in the transportation of the degraded calcium in the resorption lacuna, which is essential for bone resorption. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of a modulator of calcium dynamics, econazole, on the expression of TRPV5 and bone resorption activity in rat osteoclast-like cells (OLCs). OLCs were obtained by co-culturing rat bone marrow cells with osteoblasts and then culturing with different concentrations of econazole (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0 μmol/L). Cell counting and staining protocols were used to determine whether econazole influenced the survival of OLCs. Expression of TRPV5 in response to econazole treatment was assessed by western blotting. Bone resorption activity of OLCs was determined by measuring the resorption area of dentin slices with a microscope and a digital image analysis system. Additionally, Ca^2+ inside OLCs was tested. We found that econazole inhibited expression of TRPV5 in a dose dependent manner while it had no influence on the survival of OLCs and it therefore inhibited bone resorption activity in rat OLCs. Ca^2+ inside OLCs increased, suggesting a limited compensatory mechanism to make up for inhibition of TRPV5 effects.

Association of Visit-to-Visit Variability of Blood Pressure with Cardiovascular Disease among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Cohort Study

Zhe-Bin Yu,Die Li,Xue-Yu Chen,Pei-Wen Zheng,Hong-Bo Lin,Meng-Ling Tang,Ming-Juan Jin,Jian-Bing Wang,Kun Chen 대한당뇨병학회 2019 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.43 No.3

Background: Increasing evidence has shown that visit-to-visit variability (VVV) of blood pressure (BP) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of VVV of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) on the risk of CVD among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 10,163 T2DM patients who were not previously diagnosed with CVD from January 2008 to December 2012 in Ningbo, China. The VVV of BP was calculated using five metrics, including standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), variation independent of mean, average real variability, and successive variability (SV) of measurements, obtained over a 24-month measurement period. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression models for the associations of variability in BP with risk of CVD. Results: A total of 894 CVD events were observed during a median follow-up of 49.5 months. The hazard ratio in the highest quintile of SD of SBP was 1.24 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.52) compared with patients in the lowest quintile. The association between higher VVV of DBP and risk of CVD was not consistent across different metrics and sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: Higher VVV of SBP was associated with an increased risk of CVD, irrespective of the mean SBP level. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Hsa-let-7c controls the committed differentiation of IGF-1-treated mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental pulps by targeting IGF-1R via the MAPK pathways

Gen-Xia Liu,Shu Ma,Yao Li,Yan Yu,Yi-Xiang Zhou,Ya-Die Lu,Lin Jin,Zi-Lu Wang,Jin-Hua Yu 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

The putative tumor suppressor microRNA let-7c is extensively associated with the biological properties of cancer cells. However, the potential involvement of let-7c in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells has not been fully explored. In this study, we investigated the influence of hsa-let-7c (let-7c) on the proliferation and differentiation of human dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells (DPMSCs) treated with insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) via flow cytometry, CCK-8 assays, alizarin red staining, real-time RT-PCR, and western blotting. In general, the proliferative capabilities and cell viability of DPMSCs were not significantly affected by the overexpression or deletion of let-7c. However, overexpression of let-7c significantly inhibited the expression of IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) and downregulated the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of DPMSCs, as indicated by decreased levels of several osteo/odontogenic markers (osteocalcin, osterix, runt-related transcription factor 2, dentin sialophosphoprotein, dentin sialoprotein, alkaline phosphatase, type 1 collagen, and dentin matrix protein 1) in IGF-1-treated DPMSCs. Inversely, deletion of let- 7c resulted in increased IGF-1R levels and enhanced osteo/odontogenic differentiation. Furthermore, the ERK, JNK, and P38 MAPK pathways were significantly inhibited following the overexpression of let-7c in DPMSCs. Deletion of let-7c promoted the activation of the JNK and P38 MAPK pathways. Our cumulative findings indicate that Let-7c can inhibit the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of IGF-1-treated DPMSCs by targeting IGF-1R via the JNK/P38 MAPK signaling pathways.