Molecular identification and expression patterns of carboxylesterase genes based on transcriptome analysis of the common cutworm, Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Ya Nan Zhang,Jin-Bu Li,Peng He,Liang Sun,Zhao-Qun Li,Li-Ping Fang,Zhan-Feng Ye,Dao-Gui Deng,Xiu-Yun Zhu 한국응용곤충학회 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.19 No.4

Carboxylesterases (CXEs) belong to a family of metabolic enzymes that are widely distributed in insects and other organisms and can rapidly degrade the components of sex pheromones and plant volatiles with an acetate functional group. The common cutworm, Spodoptera litura, is an important agricultural pest around the world, causing vast economic losses every year. The female sex pheromones of S. litura comprise four acetates, Z9, E11-14:OAc; Z9, E12-14:OAc; Z9-14:OAc; and E11-14:OAc, but the degradation mechanisms of these components are not well understood. By analysing previously obtained transcriptomic data of the sex pheromone glands,we identified a total of 24 putative CXE genes in S. litura. Gene expression patterns and phylogenetic analysis revealed 5 genes with antennae-specific or biased expression, and clusteredwith genes showed involvement in the degradation of sex pheromones or other detoxification in other insects. SlitCXE10was expressed specifically in the antennae of both sexes, and SlitCXE14, 17, 19, and 21 had high antenna biased expression. Interestingly, RT-PCR and qPCR tests indicated that SlitCXE24 had significantly higher expression in PG than in other tissue, and that it could be a potential candidate gene for sex pheromone degradation in PG. This study is the first to provide solid background information for the further elucidation of sex pheromone degradation, and ultimately provides potential targets for the disruption of sexual communication in S. litura for new pest management.

Immune and Anti-oxidant Functions of Ethanol Extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Mice Bearing U14 Cervical Cancers

Peng, Yong,Guo, Cong-Shan,Li, Pan-Xia,Fu, Zhan-Zhao,Gao, Li-Ming,Di, Ya,Ju, Ya-Kun,Tian, Ru,Xue, Jia-Jia Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

Background: The objective was to study the effect of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi ethanol extracts (SBGE) on immune and anti-oxidant function in U14 tumor-bearing mice. Materials and Methods: U14 tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into eight groups: a control group, a cyclophosphamide (CTX) group, three dose groups of SBGEI (high, medium, low), and three dose groups of SBGEII (high, medium, low). After two weeks, the thymus and spleen weight indices of mice bearing U14 cervical cancer were calculated. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum IL-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-8, and PCNA. MDA activity and SOD activity in plasma were measured with detection kits. Results: In the SBGE groups, thymus weight and spleen weight indices of U14 tumor-bearing mice were significantly higher than in the control group or CTX group (p<0.05). Compared to control group, the levels of serum IL-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in U14 tumor-bearing mice increased significantly, whereas the contents of serum IL-8 and PCNA decreased (p<0.05). The activity of SOD increased with the growing dose of SBGE, while the activity of MDA decreased significantly in the highe-rdose groups of SBGE. Conclusions: These findings suggested that SBGE, especially at high dose, 1000 mg/kg, showed significant immune and anti-oxidant effects infU14 tumor-bearing mice, which might be the mechanisms of SBGE inhibition of tumor growth.

H-형태 양친매성 펜타블록 공중합체의 화학효소적 합성과 자기회합거동 평가

Peng Chen,Ya Peng Li,Can Jin Li,Xin Lei Meng,Bao Zhang,Ming Zhu,Yan-jing Liu,Jing Yuan Wang 한국고분자학회 2013 폴리머 Vol.37 No.3

H-shaped amphiphilic pentablock copolymers (PSt)2-b-PCL-b-PEO-b-PCL-b-(PSt)2 was synthesized via chemoenzymatic method by combining enzyme-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (eROP) of ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene. By this process, we obtained copolymers with controlled molecular weight and low polydispersity. The structure and composition of the obtained copolymers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and infrared spectroscopy analysis (IR). The crystallization behavior of the copolymers was analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The crystallization behavior of the H-shaped block copolymers demonstrated a PCL dominate crystallization. The self-assembly behavior of the copolymers was investigated in aqueous media. The hydrodynamic diameters of the copolymer micelles in aqueous solution were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS). The morphology of the copolymer micelles was observed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hydrodynamic diameters of spherical micelles declined gradually with the increase of the hydrophobic chain lengths of the copolymers. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) values were determined from fluorescence emission, and it was found that the CMCs decreased with an increase of PSt hydrophobic block lengths.

Breastfeeding and Ovarian Cancer Risk: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 40 Epidemiological Studies

Li, Da-Peng,Du, Chen,Zhang, Zuo-Ming,Li, Guang-Xiao,Yu, Zhi-Fu,Wang, Xin,Li, Peng-Fei,Cheng, Cheng,Liu, Yu-Peng,Zhao, Ya-Shuang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess any association between breastfeeding and the risk of ovarian cancer. A systematic search of published studies was performed in PUBMED and EMBASE and by reviewing reference lists from retrieved articles through March 2013. Data extraction was conducted independently by two authors. Pooled relative risk ratios were calculated using random-effect models. Totals of 5 cohort studies and 35 case-control studies including 17,139 women with ovarian cancer showed a 30% reduced risk of ovarian cancer when comparing the women who had breastfed with those who had never breastfed (pooled RR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.64-0.76; p = 0.00), with significant heterogeneity in the studies (p = 0.00; I2 = 76.29%). A significant decreasd in risk of epithelial ovarian cancer was also observed (pooled RR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.61-0.76). When the participants were restricted to only parous women, there was a slightly attenuated but still significant risk reduction of ovarian cancer (pooled RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.69-0.83). For total breastfeeding duration, the pooled RRs in the < 6 months, 6-12 months and > 12 months of breastfeeding subgroups were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77-0.93), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65-0.82) and 0.64 (95%CI: 0.56-0.73), respectively. Meta-regression of total breastfeeding duration indicated an increasing linear trend of risk reduction of ovarian cancer with the increasing total breastfeeding duration (p = 0.00). Breastfeeding was inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer, especially long-term breastfeeding duration that demonstrated a stronger protective effect.

Comprehensive transcriptome analysis discovers novel candidate genes related to leaf color in a Lagerstroemia indica yellow leaf mutant

Ya Li,Zhenyu Zhang,Peng Wang,Shu’an Wang,Lingling Ma,Linfang Li,Rutong Yang,Yuzhu Ma,Qing Wang 한국유전학회 2015 Genes & Genomics Vol.37 No.10

Lagerstroemia indica is a popular woody ornamental plant throughout the world. However, relatively little is known about the molecular processes regulating leaf color in L. indica compared with other ornamental plants. Although yellow leaf mutants from various organisms have been well characterized, L. indica yellow leaf mutant has not yet been reported. In this study, a L. indica yellow leaf mutant, named YL03, was characterized and its leaf transcriptome was sequenced. A total of 30,712,752 reads were generated and assembled de novo into 45,308 unigenes with an average length of 987.51 bp. Among these unigenes, 21,339 (47.10 %) were identified as putative homologs of annotated sequences in public databases. A total of 79 unigenes involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis and degradation, photosynthesis and chloroplast development were identified. The expression levels of those genes were detected using quantitative real-time PCR in this study. Among those genes, 11 unigenes showed highly significant difference in the mutant compared to wild type plants. Conclusively, the leaf color formation is greatly affected by the activity of chloroplast development and chlorophyll metabolism. And the possible formation pathway of yellow leaf mutant is deduced based on our results.

Comprehensive Expression Analysis Suggests Functional Overlapping of Human FOX Transcription Factors in Cancer

Zhang, Ya-Li,Sun, Feng-Ting,Zhang, Ze,Chen, Xiao-Xu,Liu, Ai-Xiang,Pan, Jing-Jing,Peng, Fei,Zhou, Shuai,Sun, Li-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Forkhead-box (FOX) transcription factors comprise a large gene family that contains more than 50 members in man. Extensive studies have revealed that they not only have functions in control of growth and development, but also play important roles in different diseases, especially in cancer. However, biological functions for most of the members in the FOX family remain unknown. In the present study, the expression of 39 FOX genes in 48 kinds of cancer was mined from the Gene Expression Atlas database of European Bioinformatics Institute. The analysis results showed that some FOX genes demonstrate overlapping expression in various cancers, which suggests particular biological functions. The pleiotropic features of the FOX genes make them excellent candidates in efforts aimed to give medical treatment for cancers at the genetic level. The results also indicated that different FOX genes may have the synergy or antagonistics effects in the same cancers. The study provides clues for further functional analysis of FOX genes, especially for the pleiotropic biological functions and crosstalk of FOX genes in human cancers.

SPON2 Promotes M1-like Macrophage Recruitment and Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Distinct Integrin–Rho GTPase–Hippo Pathways

Zhang, Yan-Li,Li, Qing,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Fang, Fang,Li, Jun,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Qin,Zhu, Lei,Nie, Hui-Zhen,Zhang, Xue-Li,Feng, Ming-Xuan,Jiang, Shu-Heng,Tian, Guang-Ang,Hu, Li-Peng,Lee, Ho-Young,Lee, Su-J American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Cancer research Vol.78 No.9

<P>Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P>Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent key regulators of the complex interplay between cancer and the immune microenvironment. Matricellular protein SPON2 is essential for recruiting lymphocytes and initiating immune responses. Recent studies have shown that SPON2 has complicated roles in cell migration and tumor progression. Here we report that, in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SPON2 not only promotes infiltration of M1-like macrophages but also inhibits tumor metastasis. SPON2-α4β1 integrin signaling activated RhoA and Rac1, increased F-actin reorganization, and promoted M1-like macrophage recruitment. F-Actin accumulation also activated the Hippo pathway by suppressing LATS1 phosphorylation, promoting YAP nuclear translocation, and initiating downstream gene expression. However, SPON2-α5β1 integrin signaling inactivated RhoA and prevented F-actin assembly, thereby inhibiting HCC cell migration; the Hippo pathway was not noticeably involved in SPON2-mediated HCC cell migration. In HCC patients, SPON2 levels correlated positively with prognosis. Overall, our findings provide evidence that SPON2 is a critical factor in mediating the immune response against tumor cell growth and migration in HCC.</P><P><B>Significance:</B> Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract:</B> http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/9/2305/F1.large.jpg. <I>Cancer Res; 78(9); 2305–17. ©2018 AACR</I>.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P><P> [Figure]</P>

Research on Network Modeling Technique of Unified Spatial Dimension

Li, Ya-Ping,Yao, Jian-Guo,Zhang, Rui-Peng,Wang, Jun-Yu The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2011 The Journal of International Council on Electrical Vol.1 No.4

For the modeling of spatial dimension in current chinese dispatch center is always incomplete, and the maintenance of model is always repeated again and again, a distributed modeling method based on IEC 61970 is proposed in this paper. It splits and merges the model by utilizing boundary comparison table and has no requirement for uniform naming, so it will not interrupt the online EMS system. The proposed method has designed an automatic flow control module, and users can take part in the process of modeling because fault-tolerant mechanism and safe returnable mechanism have been taken into account. Release-subscribe style is adopted by this method, so it can provide incorporate model management and release service to the control center. With this technology, the distributed modeling system can provide basic data and technical support to the online monitoring and security analysis function, and the problem of spatial dimension uniform modeling can be solved effectively.

Calcination and sintering effects on the microstructure and dielectric properties of CaCu3Ti4O12 ceramics

Peng Liu,Lei Cao,Jian-Ping Zhou,Ya-Juan Wang,Li-Na Su,Cheng Liu,Huai-Wu Zhang 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2010 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.11 No.4

CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) ceramics were fabricated by a conventional solid-state reaction at various calcination and sintering temperatures. Depending on the relative dielectric constant (εr) at 1 kHz, the specimens can be categorized into three types:type A (εr < 5 × 104), type B (5 × 104 < εr < 105) and type C (εr > 105). The value of εr is closely related to the microstructure:type-A specimens show a morphology with large grains embedded in a small-grained matrix, type-B specimens present a network structure and type-C specimens display a core-shell structure. Different dielectric loss variation tendencies are observed in the type-A specimens, which can be well explained by impedance spectroscopy analysis and further confirmed by the EDX results. Also, the proper calcination and sintering temperature ranges needed to achieve good comprehensive properties are given.

Paris polyphylla Smith Extract Induces Apoptosis and Activates Cancer Suppressor Gene Connexin26 Expression

Li, Fu-Rong,Jiao, Peng,Yao, Shu-Tong,Sang, Hui,Qin, Shu-Cun,Zhang, Wei,Zhang, Ya-Bin,Gao, Lin-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.1

Background: The inhibition of tumor cell growth without toxicity to normal cells is an important target in cancer therapy. One possible way to increase the efficacy of anticancer drugs and to decrease toxicity or side effects is to develop traditional natural products, especially from medicinal plants. Paris polyphylla Smith has shown anti-tumour effects by inhibition of tumor promotion and inducement of tumor cell apoptosis, but mechanisms are still not well understood. The present study was to explore the effect of Paris polyphylla Smith extract (PPSE) on connexin26 and growth control in human esophageal cancer ECA109 cells. Methods: The effects of PPSE on Connexin26 were examined by RT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence; cell growth and proliferation were examined by the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results: PPSE inhibited the growth and proliferation on esophageal cancer ECA109 cells, while increasing the expression of connexin26 mRNA and protein; conversely, PPSE decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bad. Conclusion: This study firstly shows that PPSE can increase connexin26 expression at mRNA and protein level, exerting anti-tumour effects on esophageal cacner ECA109 cells via inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing cell apoptosis.