The Site-Directed A184S Mutation in the HTH Domain of the Global Regulator IrrE Enhances Deinococcus radiodurans R1 Tolerance to UV Radiation and MMC Shock

( Chen Zhang ),( Zhengfu Zhou ),( Wei Zhang ),( Zhen Chen ),( Yuan Song ),( Wei Lu ),( Min Lin ),( Ming Chen ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.12

IrrE is a highly conserved global regulator in the Deinococcus genus and contributes to survival from high doses of UV radiation, ionizing radiation, and desiccation. Drad-IrrE and Dgob-IrrE from Deinococcus radiodurans and Deinococcus gobiensis I-0 each share 66% sequence identity. However, Dgob-IrrE showed a stronger protection phenotype against UV radiation than Drad-IrrE in the D. radiodurans irrE-deletion mutant (ΔirrE), which may be due to amino acid residues differences around the DNA-binding HTH domain. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to generate a Drad-IrrE A184S single mutant, which has been characterized and compared with the ΔirrE mutant complemented strain with Drad-irrE, designated ΔirrE-E. The effects of the A184S mutation following UV radiation and mitomycin C (MMC) shock were determined. The A184S mutant displayed significantly increased resistance to UV radiation and MMC shock. The corresponding A184 site in Dgob-IrrE was inversely mutated, generating the S131A mutant, which exhibited a loss of resistance against UV radiation, MMC shock, and desiccation. qPCR analysis revealed that critical genes in the DNA repair system, such as recA, pprA, uvrA, and ddrB, were remarkably induced after UV radiation and MMC shock in the ΔirrE-IE and A184S mutants. These data suggested that A184S improves the ability against UV radiation and MMC shock, providing new insights into the modification of IrrE. We speculated that the serine residue may determine the efficiency of DNA binding, leading to the increased expression of IrrE-dependent genes important for protection against DNA damage.

Plant Virome Analysis by the Deep Sequencing of Small RNAs of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis and the Rapid Identification of Viruses

Lu-xi Chen,Hang-kai Pan,Yu-tian Tao,Dang Yang,Hui-min Deng,Kai-jie Xu,Wen-bin Chen,Jun-min Li 한국식물병리학회 2022 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.38 No.5

Thunberg fritillary (Fritillaria thunbergii), a perennial used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is a members of the family Liliaceae. The degeneration of germplasm is a severe problem in the production of Fritillaria thunbergii var. chekiangensis. However, no information about viral infections of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis has been reported. In this study, we sequenced the small RNAs of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis from leaves and bulbs, and viruses were identified using a phylogenetic analysis and BLAST search for sequence. In addition, multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to rapidly detect viruses in this variety. Our study first reported that five viruses infected F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Among them, fritillary virus Y (FVY), lily mottle virus (LMoV), Thunberg fritillary mosaic virus (TFMV), and hop yellow virus (HYV) had been reported in F. thunbergii, while apple stem grooving virus was first reported in the genus Fritillaria. A multiplex RT-PCR method was developed to rapidly test the four viruses FVY, LMoV, TFMV, and HYV in F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis. Our results provide a better understanding of the infection of F. thunbergii var. chekiangensis by viruses and a basic reference for the better design of suitable control measures.

Risk Factors for Anxiety in Major Depressive Disorder Patients

Li-Min Xin,Lin Chen,Zhen-Peng Ji,Suo-Yuan Zhang,Jun Wang,Yan-Hong Liu,Da-Fang Chen,Fu-De Yang,Gang Wang,Yi-Ru Fang,Zheng Lu,Hai-Chen Yang,Jian Hu,Zhi-Yu Chen,Yi Huang,Jing Sun,Xiao-Ping Wang,Hui-Chun 대한정신약물학회 2015 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.13 No.3

Objective: To analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors related to anxiety in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: This study involved a secondary analysis of data obtained from the Diagnostic Assessment Service for People with Bipolar Disorders in China (DASP), which was initiated by the Chinese Society of Psychiatry (CSP) and conducted from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011. Based on the presence or absence of anxiety-related characteristics, 1,178 MDD patients were classified as suffering from anxious depression (n=915) or non-anxious depression (n=263), respectively. Results: Compared with the non-anxious group, the anxious-depression group had an older age at onset (t=−4.39, p<0.001), were older (t=−4.69, p<0.001), reported more lifetime depressive episodes (z=−3.24, p=0.001), were more likely to experience seasonal depressive episodes (χ2=6.896, p=0.009) and depressive episodes following stressful life events (χ2=59.350, p <0.001), and were more likely to have a family history of psychiatric disorders (χ2=6.091, p=0.014). Their positive and total scores on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) and the 32-item Hypomania Checklist (HCL-32) (p<0.05) were also lower. The logistic regression analysis indicated that age (odds ratio [OR]=1.03, p<0.001), a lower total MDQ score (OR=0.94, p=0.011), depressive episodes following stressful life events (OR=3.04, p<0.001), and seasonal depressive episodes (OR=1.75, p=0.039) were significantly associated with anxious depression. Conclusion: These findings indicate that older age, fewer subclinical bipolar features, an increased number of depressive episodes following stressful life events, and seasonal depressive episodes may be risk factors for anxiety-related characteristics in patients with MDD.

Expression and Prognostic Role of MEKK3 and pERK in Patients with Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma

Chen, Qi,Lu, Hong-sheng,Gan, Mei-fu,Chen, Lan-xi,He, Kai,Fan, Guang-min,Cao, Xue-quan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.6

Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is an important serine/threonine protein kinase and a member of the MAPK family. MEKK3 can effectively activate the MEK/ERK signaling pathway and promote an autocrine growth loop critical for tumor genesis, cell proliferation, terminal differentiation, apoptosis and survival. To explore the relationship between MEKK3 and cell apoptosis, clinicopathology and prognosis, we characterize the expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 in the renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC). Protein expression was detected by tissue microarray and immunochemistry in 46 cases of RCCC and 28 control cases. Expression levels of CD3+,CD3+CD4+,CD3+CD8+,CD4+CD25+, CD4+CD25+ FoxP3+ were assessed by flow cytometry and analyzed for their association with pathological factors, correlation and prognosis in RCCC. Expression of MEKK3, pERK and FoxP3 was significantly up-regulated in RCCC as compared to control levels (p<0.01), associated with pathological grade (p<0.05)and clinical stage (p<0.05). CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells were also significantly increased in RCCC patients (p<0.05). Cox multivariate regression analysis showed that MEKK3, pERK expression and patholigical stage were independent prognostic factors in patients with RCCC (p<0.05). MEKK3 can be used as an important marker of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation in RCCC. It may be associated with imbalance of anti-tumor immunity and overexpression of pERK. Expression of MEKK3 and pERK are significantly increased in RCCC, with protein expression and clinical stage acting as independent prognostic factors.

Efficacy of Pap Test in Combination with ThinPrep Cytological Test in Screening for Cervical Cancer

Chen, Hua,Shu, Hui-Min,Chang, Zhou-Lin,Wang, Zhi-Feng,Yao, Hai-Hong,Zhu, Hong-Mei,Lu, Tian-Mei,Ma, Qiang-Yan,Yang, Bin-Lie Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of the Pap test in combination with the ThinPrep cytological test (TCT) in screening for cervical cancer in China. Design: From March 2006 to October 2008, 988 women with the mean age $46.4{\pm}10.5$ years (range, 23-80 years) were recruited to receive cervical cancer screening. Pap test results ${\geq}$ grade III and TCT findings ${\geq}$ ASCUS/AGUS were considered abnormal. Subjects with a Pap test result ${\geq}$ grade IIb received TCT. Colposcopy and biopsies were performed in all participants, and final diagnosis was based on pathological findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and Youden index for predicting CIN I or above were determined. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and Youden index of the Pap test were 43.1%, 97.2%, 70.0%, 91.9%, and 40.3%, respectively. The same values for TCT in predicting CIN were 80.0%, 63.2%, 16.0%, 97.3%, and 43.2%, respectively. The two tests in combination gave values for predicting CIN of 64.8%, 87.6%, 43.6%, 94.4%, and 53.5%, respectively. Combined testing exhibited the highest Youden index (53.4%). Conclusion: The Pap test with a reduced threshold in combination with the TCT has high sensitivity and high specificity in screening for cervical cancer.

Artificial Intelligence in the Prediction of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors on Endoscopic Ultrasonography Images: Development, Validation and Comparison with Endosonographers

Lu Yi,Wu Jiachuan,Hu Minhui,Zhong Qinghua,Er Limian,Shi Huihui,Cheng Weihui,Chen Ke,Liu Yuan,Qiu Bingfeng,Xu Qiancheng,Lai Guangshun,Wang Yufeng,Luo Yuxuan,Mu Jinbao,Zhang Wenjie,Zhi Min,Sun Jiachen 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2023 Gut and Liver Vol.17 No.6

Background/Aims: The accuracy of endosonographers in diagnosing gastric subepithelial lesions (SELs) using endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is influenced by experience and subjectivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) has achieved remarkable development in this field. This study aimed to develop an AI-based EUS diagnostic model for the diagnosis of SELs, and evaluated its efficacy with external validation. Methods: We developed the EUS-AI model with ResNeSt50 using EUS images from two hospitals to predict the histopathology of the gastric SELs originating from muscularis propria. The diagnostic performance of the model was also validated using EUS images obtained from four other hospitals. Results: A total of 2,057 images from 367 patients (375 SELs) were chosen to build the models, and 914 images from 106 patients (108 SELs) were chosen for external validation. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the model for differentiating gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and non-GISTs in the external validation sets by images were 82.01%, 68.22%, 86.77%, 59.86%, and 78.12%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in the external validation set by tumors were 83.75%, 71.43%, 89.33%, 60.61%, and 80.56%, respectively. The EUS-AI model showed better performance (especially specificity) than some endosonographers. The model helped improve the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of certain endosonographers. Conclusions: We developed an EUS-AI model to classify gastric SELs originating from muscularis propria into GISTs and non-GISTs with good accuracy. The model may help improve the diagnostic performance of endosonographers. Further work is required to develop a multi-modal EUS-AI system.

Sensor Node Localization Based On Improved Genetic Algorithm

Chen Tao,Lu Min 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Smart Home Vol.9 No.7

The Role of N-Doped Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes in Achieving Highly Efficient Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

Lu, Luyao,Xu, Tao,Chen, Wei,Lee, Ju Min,Luo, Zhiqiang,Jung, In Hwan,Park, Hyung Il,Kim, Sang Ouk,Yu, Luping American Chemical Society 2013 NANO LETTERS Vol.13 No.6

<P>This paper reports an improved solar cell performance of 8.6% by incorporation of N-doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (N-MCNTs) into BHJ solar cells composed of PTB7 and PC<SUB>71</SUB>BM. It was demonstrated for the first time that incorporation of N-MCNTs leads to not only increased nanocrystallite sizes but also smaller phase-separated domain sizes of both PTB7 copolymers and PC<SUB>71</SUB>BM from X-ray scattering study. The results show that N-MCNTs could serve as both exciton dissociation centers and charge transfer channels. The enhanced charge dissociation probabilities and effective charge carrier lifetime in the active layer material offer evidence to support the conclusion that N-MCNTs facilitated charge separation and transport.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/nalefd/2013/nalefd.2013.13.issue-6/nl304533j/production/images/medium/nl-2012-04533j_0006.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/nl304533j'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Collaborative System Energy Efficiency of the Application of Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Network Research

Chen Tao,Lu Min 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Future Generation Communi Vol.8 No.3

Inhibitory effect of StCYP707A1 gene on tuberization in transgenic potato

Lu Liu,Rui-Jie Zhang,Wen-jiao Zhu,Xin-Ru Liu,Ke Shi,Min Chen,Qing Yang 한국식물생명공학회 2017 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.11 No.4

Tuber formation of potato is a complex biological process and is regulated by many factors including phytochrome, hormones, transcription factors, RNAs, microRNAs, etc. In our previous study, CYP707A1, an ABA 80-hydroxylase gene, was down-regulated in the StCOL antisense transgenic potato stolons, but its relation with potato tuberization has not been studied yet. In this study, to investigate the role of this gene in potato tuberization, we cloned a CYP707A1 gene from potato cultivar De ´sire ´e and constructed the StCYP707A1 over-expression and anti-sense potato lines by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In total, four over-expression transgenic lines and nine anti-sense transgenic lines were confirmed by PCR analysis. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and qRTPCR analysis showed that the level of StCYP707A1 transcripts was significantly higher in the over-expression lines (A7 and A9) and lower in the anti-sense lines (F2 and F8), compared to the wild-type control. We further analyzed tuber formation in the transgenic lines and the wild-type control. The result showed that tuber yield per plant and average tuber weight were decreased in A7 and A9 and increased in F2. We also measured the content of ABA and GA3 in transgenic lines. ABA level was reduced in A7 and A9 and increased in F2. Contrariwise, the concentration of GA3 was higher in A7 and A9, and lower in F2 than in wild-type control. These results indicate that StCYP707A1 negatively affects potato tuberization through ABA regulation on gibberellic acid concentration.