Molecular Cloning and Function Analysis of an Anthocyanidin Synthase Gene from Ginkgo biloba, and Its Expression in Abiotic Stress Responses

Feng Xu,Hua Cheng,Rong Cai,Lin Ling Li,Jie Chang,Jun Zhu,Feng Xia Zhang,Liu Ji Chen,Yan Wang,Shu Han Cheng,Shui Yuan Cheng 한국분자세포생물학회 2008 Molecules and cells Vol.26 No.6

Anthocyanidin synthase (ANS, leucoanthocyanidin oxygenase), a 2-oxoglutarate iron-dependent oxygenase, catalyzed the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of the anthocyanin class of flavonoids, from the colorless leucoanthocyanidins to the colored anthocyanidins. The full-length cDNA and genomic DNA sequences of ANS gene (designated as GbANS) were isolated from Ginkgo biloba for the first time. The full-length cDNA of GbANS contained a 1062-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 354-amino-acid protein. The genomic DNA analysis showed that GbANS gene had three exons and two introns. The deduced GbANS protein showed high identities to other plant ANSs. The conserved amino acids (H-X-D) ligating ferrous iron and residues (R-X-S) participating in 2-oxoglutarate binding were found in GbANS at the similar positions like other ANSs. Southern blot analysis indicated that GbANS belonged to a multi-gene family. The expression analysis by real-time PCR showed that GbANS expressed in a tissue-specific manner in G. biloba. GbANS was also found to be up-regulated by all of the six tested abiotic stresses, UV-B, abscisic acid, sucrose, salicylic acid, cold and ethylene, consistent with the promoter region analysis of GbANS. The recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E. coli strain with pET-28a vector. The in vitro enzyme activity assay by HPLC indicated that recombinant GbANS protein could catalyze the formation the cyanidin from leucocyanidin and conversion of dihydroquercetin to quercetin, suggesting GbANS is a bifunctional enzyme within the anthocyanidin and flavonol biosynthetic pathway.

ATP6V0d2 Suppresses Alveoli Macrophage Alternative Polarization and Allergic Asthma via Degradation of PU.1

Liu Na,Feng Yuchen,Liu Huicheng,Wu Wenliang,Liang Yuxia,Li Pingfei,Wei Zhengping,Wu Min,Tang Zhao-Hui,Han Junyan,Cheng Xiang,Liu Zheng,Laurence Arian,Li Huabin,Zhen Guohua,Yang Xiang-Ping 대한천식알레르기학회 2021 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.13 No.3

Purpose Macrophages are important regulators of environmental allergen-induced airway inflammation and asthma. ATP6V0d2 is a subunit of vacuolar ATPase highly expressed in macrophages. However, the functions of ATP6V0d2 in the regulation of pathogenesis of allergic asthma remain unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the function and related molecular mechanisms of macrophage protein ATP6V0d2 in allergic asthma. Methods We compared the disease severity between female C57BL/6 wild-type and ATP6V0d2−/− mice in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model. We also investigated the association of expression of ATP6V0d2, PU.1 and CCL17 with disease severity among asthmatic patients. Results The expression of ATP6V0d2 in sputum cells of asthmatic patients and in the lungs of OVA-challenged mice was enhanced compared to healthy subjects and their counterparts, respectively. However, ATP6V0d2-deficient mice exaggerated inflammatory cell infiltration as well as enhanced alternative activated macrophage (AAM) polarization and mucus production in an OVA-induced asthma model. Furthermore, we found that Atp6v0d2 promoted lysosomal degradation of Pu.1, which induced AAM polarization and Ccl17 production. Among asthma patients, ATP6V0d2 expression was inversely associated with disease severity, whereas PU.1 and CCL17 expression was positively associated with disease severity. Conclusions Our results identify macrophage Atp6v0d2, as an induced feedback inhibitor of asthma disease severity by promoting Pu.1 lysosomal degradation, which may in turn leads to reduced AAM polarization and Ccl17 production.

Influence of FeSe doping on superconducting properties of MgB2 by hybrid microwave method

Cheng Cheng,Zhenjie Feng,Qing Li,Xu Wang,Chuan Yu,Hao Chu,Ya Yang,Changqin Liu,Yiming Cao,Zhe Li,Jingzhe Chen,Chao Jing,Shixun Cao,Jincang Zhang 한국물리학회 2017 Current Applied Physics Vol.17 No.11

The effect of FeSe doping on the physical properties of MgB2 is studied. Bulk samples of the FeSe doped MgB2 with weight ratio x ðFeSe : MgB2Þ ¼ 0%; 3%; 7% and 10% were prepared by hybrid microwave method. It is proved that FeSe is not stable together with MgB2. Fe2þ enters into MgB2 lattice, some Mg2þ and Se2『 are combined into the new impurity compound MgSe. The superconducting transition temperature (Tc) slightly decreased with increasing doping content of FeSe from R-T and M-T curves, which results from the substitution of Mg2þ by Fe2þ in the MgB2 lattice. The Jc increase slightly with the FeSe doping content increasing from 3 wt % to 10 wt %, which results from the increasing MgSe impurity pinning centers.

Topology Optimization Method of Lattice Structures Based on a Genetic Algorithm

Feng Ruo-qiang,Liu Feng-cheng,Xu Wei-jia,Liu Yang 한국강구조학회 2016 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.16 No.3

A two-stage topology optimization method of lattice structures based on a genetic algorithm is proposed. The first stage is the form-finding analysis of lattice structures, and the optimal initial shape was achieved with the numerical inverse hanging method. The second stage is the topology optimization of single-layer lattice structures, which can be realized by changing the mesh size and the tube configurations to minimize the total weight of steel tubes subject to the design requirements. The mesh configuration optimization is realized through the adjustment of the nodal horizontal co-ordinates and the removal of tubes with lower stress. The maximum displacement of the structure, the maximum stress of the circular steel tubes, and the nonlinear buckling load are the state variables, and a genetic algorithm (GA) is the optimization algorithm. Different stress-limiting values used to delete the tubes were discussed. The numerical examples show that the two-stage topology optimization method for lattice structures proposed in this paper is correct and efficient. Furthermore, the forms of the optimized structure are rich, and the structure is lightweight and efficient.

Low-dose diethylhexyl phthalate exposure does not impair the expressive patterns of epigenetics-related genes and DNA methylation of breast cancer-related genes in mouse mammary glands

Shun-Feng Cheng,Ling Li,Bo Li,Jing-Cai Liu,Fang-Nong Lai,Yong Zhao,Xi-Feng Zhang,Wei Shen,Lan Li 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2018 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.14 No.2

Backgrounds: Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), is widely used in plasticizer and other productions. Ubiquitous human exposure to DEHP has been proposed to be a potential risk to public health. Developmental exposure to DEHP could alter epigenetic programming and result in adult-onset disease. Methods: In this study, we investigated whether DEHP exposure to pregnant mice affected epigenetic changes as a result of increase in breast cancer incidence. Results: Our results showed that the expression of total 143 epigenetics-related genes in mammary gland cells, have no significantly altered after short time and low-dose treated with DEHP from 0.5 days post-coitum (dpc) to 3.5 dpc of pregnant mice. DNA methylation status of some neoplastic development genes, such as EGFr, Esr1, Pgr, Fos and Rassf5 also had no obvious change. Conclusion: These finding showed no impact of DEHP on the expressive patterns of epigenetics-related genes and DNA methylation of breast cancer-related genes in pregnant mouse mammary gland cells.

Compound HRAS/PIK3CA Mutations in Chinese Patients with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcomas

Liu, Chun-Xia,Li, Xiao-Ying,Li, Cheng-Fang,Chen, Yun-Zhao,Cui, Xiao-Bin,Hu, Jian-Ming,Li, Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.4

The rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common type of soft tissue tumor in children and adolescents; yet only a few screens for oncogenic mutations have been conducted for RMS. To identify novel mutations and potential therapeutic targets, we conducted a high-throughput Sequenom mass spectrometry-based analysis of 238 known mutations in 19 oncogenes in 17 primary formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded RMS tissue samples and two RMS cell lines. Mutations were detected in 31.6% (6 of 19) of the RMS specimens. Specifically, mutations in the NRAS gene were found in 27.3% (3 of 11) of embryonal RMS cases, while mutations in NRAS, HRAS, and PIK3CA genes were identified in 37.5% (3 of 8) of alveolar RMS (ARMS) cases; moreover, PIK3CA mutations were found in 25% (2 of 8) of ARMS specimens. The results demonstrate that tumor profiling in archival tissue samples is a useful tool for identifying diagnostic markers and potential therapeutic targets and suggests that these HRAS/ PIK3CA mutations play a critical role in the genesis of RMS.

Factors Potentially Associated with Chemotherapy-induced Anemia in Patients with Solid Cancers

Cheng, Ke,Zhao, Feng,Gao, Feng,Dong, Hang,Men, Hai-Tao,Chen, Ye,Li, Long-Hao,Ge, Jun,Tang, Jie,Ding, Jing,Chen, Xin,Du, Yang,Luo, Wu-Xia,Liu, Ji-Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Purpose: Chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) is one of the most important causes of anemia in cancer patients. This study was conducted to describe the prevalence and characteristics of CIA in solid cancer patients in the Chinese population, and to explore the relationship of white blood cell (WBC) or platelet decrease with CIA. Methods: Data on age, gender, tumor diagnosis, anti-cancer treatment and blood cell analyses were available from 220 untreated non-anemic cancer patients who received at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy, and the data were analyzed to assess their relationship with CIA or its severity. Results: 139 patients (63.2%) presented anemia, most being Grade 1 or 2. Esophageal and lung cancers were associated with a high prevalence. G3/4 leucopenia and decrease of platelets were identified as independent risk factors for the occurrence of CIA. Moreover, G3/4 leucopenia, decrease of platelet and G3/4 thrombocytopenia were found to be also associated with the severity of CIA. Cisplatin-containing regimens were a main potential factor in causing CIA, although significant association was only found on univariate analysis. Conclusion: Anemia or decrease in hematoglobin are common in Chinese cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Cisplatin-containing regimens might be an important factor influencing the occurrence of CIA. Our analysis firstly described some risk factors, such as decrease of platelets or WBCs, severity of leucopenia or thrombocytopenia, associated with the occurrence and severity of CIA.

Genetic Characterization of the Escherichia coli O66 Antigen and Functional Identification of its wzy Gene

Cheng, Jiansong,Liu, Bin,Bastin David A.,Han, Weiqing,Wang, Lei,Feng Lu The Microbiological Society of Korea 2007 The journal of microbiology Vol.45 No.1

Escherichia coli is a clonal species, and occurs as both commensal and pathogenic strains, which are normally classified on the basis of their O, H, and K antigens. The O-antigen (O-specific polysaccharide), which consists of a series of oligosaccharide (O-unit) repeats, contributes major antigenic variability to the cell surface. The O-antigen gene cluster of E. coli O66 was sequenced in this study. The genes putatively responsible for the biosynthesis of dTDP-6-deoxy-L-talose and GDP-mannose, as well as those responsible for the transfer of sugars and for O-unit processing were identified based on their homology. The function of the wzy gene was confirmed by the results of a mutation test. Genes specific for E. coli O66 were identified via PCR screening against representatives of 186 E. coli and Shigella O type strains. The comparison of intergenic sequences located between galF and the O-antigen gene cluster in a range of E. coli and Shigella showed that this region may perform an important function in the homologous recombination of the O-antigen gene clusters.

TNF Polymorphisms and Cancer

Feng, Ren-Nan,Liu, Gui-You,Wang, Cheng,Sun, Chang-Hao,Li, Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Circulating Tumor Cells are Associated with Bone Metastasis of Lung Cancer

Cheng, Min,Liu, Lin,Yang, Hai-Shan,Liu, Gui-Feng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, predominantly due to the difficulty of early diagnosis and its high metastatic potential. Recently, increasing evidence suggests that circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are responsible for cancer metastatic relapse, and CTCs have attracted interest in cancer metastasis detection and quantification. In present study, we collected blood samples from 67 patients with bone metastasis, and 30 patients without such metastasis, and searched for CTCs. Then the association of CTC numbers with bone metastasis and other clinico-pothological variants was analyzed. Results demonstrated that when 5 or 1 was taken as a threshhold for the CTC number, there were significantly higher positivity of CTCs in the bone metastasis group than in the non-metastasis group. While the increase in CTC number was not significantly associated with any other clinicopathological factor, including age, gender, pathological type, intrapulmonary metastasis and lymph node metastasis, the CTC number in patients with positivity of the last above mentioned variants was obviously higher than in patients with negativity of the two variants. Taken together, the CTC number appears to be significantly associated with the bone metastasis from lung cancer.