Protein Kinase C Mediates the Corticosterone-induced Sensitization of Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons Innervating the Rat Stomach

( Meng Li ),( Lu Xue ),( Hong-yan Zhu ),( Hongjun Wang ),( Xue Xu ),( Ping-an Zhang ),( Geping Wu ),( Guang-yin Xu ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2017 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.23 No.3

Background/Aims Gastric hypersensitivity contributes to abdominal pain in patients with functional dyspepsia. Recent studies showed that hormones induced by stress are correlated with visceral hypersensitivity. However, the precise mechanisms underlying gastric hypersensitivity remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was designed to investigate the roles of corticosterone (CORT) on excitability of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the stomach. Methods DRG neurons innervating the stomach were labeled by DiI injection into the stomach wall. Patch clamp recordings were employed to examine neural excitability and voltage-gated sodium channel currents. Electromyograph technique was used to determine the responses of neck muscles to gastric distension. Results Incubation of acutely isolated DRG neurons with CORT significantly depolarized action potential threshold and enhanced the number of action potentials induced by current stimulation of the neuron. Under voltage-clamp mode, incubation of CORT enhanced voltage-gated sodium current density of the recorded neurons. Pre-incubation of GF109203X, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, blocked the CORT-induced hyperexcitability and potentiation of sodium currents. However, pre-incubation of H-89, an inhibitor of protein kinase A, did not alter the sodium current density. More importantly, intraperitoneal injection of CORT produced gastric hypersensitivity of healthy rats, which was blocked by pre-administration of GF109203X but not H-89. Conclusions Our data strongly suggest that CORT rapidly enhanced neuronal excitability and sodium channel functions, which is most likely mediated by protein kinase C but not protein kinase A signaling pathway in DRG neurons innervating the stomach, thus underlying the gastric hypersensitivity induced by CORT injection. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2017;23:464-476)

Structural and functional properties of Maillard-reacted casein phosphopeptides with different carbohydrates

Meng Yuan,Yu Cao,Haoyang Zheng,Kunlin Chen,Yuping Lu,Jing Wang,Liqin Zhu,Ming Chen,Zhipeng Cai,Yonggen Shen 한국식품과학회 2024 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.33 No.7

This study used glucose, fructose, maltose and dextran to explore the effects of different carbohydrates on the Maillard reaction of casein phosphopeptides (CPP). The color parameter results showed that heating time from 1 to 5 h led to brown color, which was consistent with the observed increased in browning intensity. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results verified that four carbohydrates reacted with CPP to produce Maillard conjugates. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that the Maillard reaction changed the tertiary structure of CPP by decreasing the intrinsic fluorescence intensity and surface hydrophobicity compared with the CPP-carbohydrate mixture. At the same time, the Maillard reaction effectively improved the emulsifying properties, reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity of CPP. Furthermore, this study also found that glucose and fructose improved CPP more than maltose and dextran. Therefore, monosaccharides have good potential in modifying CPP via the Maillard reaction.

Analysis of the Genome Sequence of Strain GiC-126 of Gloeostereum incarnatum with Genetic Linkage Map

( Wan-zhu Jiang ),( Fang-jie Yao ),( Ming Fang ),( Li-xin Lu ),( You-min Zhang ),( Peng Wang ),( Jing-jing Meng ),( Jia Lu ),( Xiao-xu Ma ),( Qi He ),( Kai-sheng Shao ),( Asif Ali Khan ),( Yun-hui Wei 한국균학회 2021 Mycobiology Vol.49 No.4

Gloeostereum incarnatum has edible and medicinal value and was first cultivated and domesticated in China. We sequenced the G. incarnatum monokaryotic strain GiC-126 on an Illumina HiSeq X Ten system and obtained a 34.52-Mb genome assembly sequence that encoded 16,895 predicted genes. We combined the GiC-126 genome with the published genome of G. incarnatum strain CCMJ2665 to construct a genetic linkage map (GiC-126 genome) that had 10 linkage groups (LGs), and the 15 assembly sequences of CCMJ2665 were integrated into 8 LGs. We identified 1912 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci and detected 700 genes containing 768 SSRs in the genome; 65 and 100 of them were annotated with gene ontology (GO) terms and KEGG pathways, respectively. Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) were identified in 20 fungal genomes and annotated; among them, 144 CAZymes were annotated in the GiC-126 genome. The A mating-type locus (MAT-A) of G. incarnatum was located on scaffold885 at 38.9 cM of LG1 and was flanked by two homeodomain (HD1) genes, mip and beta-fg. Fourteen segregation distortion markers were detected in the genetic linkage map, all of which were skewed toward the parent GiC-126. They formed three segregation distortion regions (SDR1-SDR3), and 22 predictive genes were found in scaffold1920 where three segregation distortion markers were located in SDR1. In this study, we corrected and updated the genomic information of G. incarnatum. Our results will provide a theoretical basis for fine gene mapping, functional gene cloning, and genetic breeding the follow-up of G. incarnatum.

Nutrigenomics reveals potential genetic underpinning of diverse taste preference of Chinese men

Zhouhai Zhu,Junpu Mei,Silong Sun,Sheming Lu,Meng Li,Ying Guan,Ying Chen,Yuqiong Xu,Tao Zhang,Fengxue Shi,Xuemei Li,Mingming Miao,Shancen Zhao,Qian Gao,Qili Mi,Ping Tang,Jianhua Yao 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.6

Background Taste preference varies geographically in China. However, studies on Chinese people’s taste preference in different regions of China are limited, and are lack of research on the mechanism of diferences in taste preference, especially in genetics. Objective This study aims to investigate the characteristics of taste preference of Chinese men, and estimate whether diverse taste preference in Chinese have genetic underpinning. Methods We conducted a questionnaire survey on taste preferences on 1076 males from 10 regions of China, and collected another 1427 males from the same regions which genotyped by microarray. We compared the correlation between diferent taste preference, and evaluated the correlation between the mutation frequency of inhouse database and diferent taste preference. The putative taste-preference-related genes were further utilized to estimate the candidate relationship on gene and gene network in diferent taste preference. Results There was a correlation between diferent taste preferences in Chinese men. We found 31 SNPs associated with 6 kind of taste preferences. These SNPs located within or nearby 36 genes, and the tastes associated with 4 of these genes (TRPV1, AGT, ASIC2 and GLP1R) are consistent with the previous studies. Moreover, in diferent tastes which were suggested to be associated with each other, some putative related genes were the same or in the same gene network, such as pathways related with blood pressure, response to stimulus and nervous system. Conclusions This study indicates that the diverse taste preference of Chinese men may have genetic underpinning.

Genetic linkage map construction and quantitative trait loci mapping of agronomic traits in Gloeostereum incarnatum

Jiang Wan-Zhu,Yao Fang-Jie,Lu Li-Xin,Fang Ming,Wang Peng,Zhang You-Min,Meng Jing-Jing,Lu Jia,Ma Xiao-Xu,He Qi,Shao Kai-Sheng 한국미생물학회 2021 The journal of microbiology Vol.59 No.1

Gloeostereum incarnatum is an edible medicinal mushroom widely grown in China. Using the whole genome of G. incarnatum, simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed and synthetic primers were designed to construct its first genetic linkage map. The 1,048.6 cm map is composed of 10 linkage groups and contains 183 SSR markers. In total, 112 genome assembly sequences were anchored, representing 16.43 Mb and covering 46.41% of the genome. Selfing populations were used for quantitative trait loci (QTL) targeting, and the composite interval mapping method was used to co-localize the mycelium growth rate (potato dextrose agar and sawdust), growth period, yield and fruiting body length, and width and thickness. The 14 QTLs of agronomic traits had LOD values of 3.20–6.51 and contribution rates of 2.22– 13.18%. No linkage relationship was found between the mycelium growth rate and the growth period, but a linkage relationship was observed among the length, width and thickness of the fruiting bodies. Using NCBI’s BLAST alignment, the genomic sequences corresponding to the QTL regions were compared, and a TPR-like protein candidate gene was selected. Using whole-genome data, 138 candidate genes were found in four sequence fragments of two SSR markers located in the same scaffold. The genetic map and QTLs established in this study will aid in developing selective markers for agronomic traits and identifying corresponding genes, thereby providing a scientific basis for the further gene mapping of quantitative traits and the marker-assisted selection of functional genes in G. incarnatum breeding programs.

Structures, biomimetic synthesis, and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of two pairs of enantiomeric phenylpropanoid-conjugated protoberberine alkaloids from the rhizomes of Corydalis decumbens

Jing-Guang Lu,Yingwei Wang,Ming-Rong Yang,Cai-Yun Wang,Jieru Meng,Jiazheng Liu,Zifeng Yang,Kongsong Wu,Li-Ping Bai,Guo-Yuan Zhu,Zhi-Hong Jiang 대한약학회 2022 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.45 No.9

(±)-Decumicorine A ( 1 ) and (±)- epi -decumicorine A ( 2 ), two pairs of enantiomeric isoquinoline alkaloids featuring a novel phenylpropanoid-conjugated protoberberine skeleton, were isolated and purifi ed from the rhizomes of Corydalis decumbens . The separation of (±)- 1 and (±)- 2 was achieved by chiral HPLC to produce four optically pure enantiomers. The structures and absolute confi gurations of compounds (−)- 1 , (+)- 1 , (−)- 2 , and (+)- 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculations, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The two racemates were generated from a Diels-Alder [4 + 2] cycloaddition between jatrorrhizine and ferulic acid in the proposed biosynthetic pathways, which were fully verifi ed by a biomimetic synthesis. Moreover, compound (+)- 1 exhibited an antiviral entry eff ect on SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus by blocking spike binding to the ACE2 receptor on HEK-293T-ACE2 h host cells.

"Sandwich" Chemotherapy (CT) with Radiotherapy (RT) Improves Outcomes in Patients with Stage I_E/II_E Extranodal Natural Killer (NK)/T-cell Lymphomas

Zhang, Jing,Zhu, Meng-Yuan,Wang, Liang,Wang, Hua,Wang, Wei-Da,Geng, Qi-Rong,Lu, Yue Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

The extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) shows high local or systemic failure rates when radiotherapy (RT) is taken as the primary treatment, suggesting a role for chemotherapy (CT) added to RT for this disease. However, the appropriate mode of combined modality therapy (CMT) has not been fully defined. A total of one hundred and twenty-one patients with ENKTL receiving sandwich CT with RT were reviewed between January 2003 and August 2012. The primary endpoints were the response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and the relapse rate. After the initial CT, there were 84 (69.4%) patients in CR, 22 (18.2%) patients in PR, 9 (7.4%) patients in SD, and 6 (5%) patients in PD, respectively. At the end of RT, the CR, PR, SD, and PD rates for all patients were 90.9% (n=110), 1.7% (n=2), 4.1% (n=5), and 3.3% (n=4), respectively. After a median follow-up of 42.3 months (3.5~112.3 months), the 5-year PFS was 74.7% (95% CI 70.4%~79.0%), and 5-year OS was 77.3% (95% CI 67.9%~86.7%). Disease progression was documented in 25 (20.7%) patients. The rates of systemic failure, local failure, and regional failure were 18.2%, 5.8%, 1.7%, respectively. Twenty death events (16.5%) were observed for the entire group of patients (18 deaths related to PD). Furthermore, CR to the initial CT and low Korean Prognostic Index (KPI) can independently predict long PFS and OS. The sandwich CMT achieved an excellent outcome for localized ENKTL with acceptable toxicity. We recommend it can be applied as the optimal choice for localized ENKTL.

Impact of a Glyphosate-Tolerant Soybean Line on the Rhizobacteria, Revealed by Illumina MiSeq

( Gui-hua Lu ),( Yin-ling Zhu ),( Ling-ru Kong ),( Jing Cheng ),( Cheng-yi Tang ),( Xiao-mei Hua ),( Fan-fan Meng ),( Yan-jun Pang ),( Rong-wu Yang ),( Jin-liang Qi ),( Yong-hua Yang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2017 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.27 No.3

The global commercial cultivation of transgenic crops, including glyphosate-tolerant soybean, has increased widely in recent decades with potential impact on the environment. The bulk of previous studies showed different results on the effects of the release of transgenic plants on the soil microbial community, especially rhizosphere bacteria. In this study, comparative analyses of the bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soils and surrounding soils were performed between the glyphosate-tolerant soybean line NZL06-698 (or simply N698), containing a glyphosate-insensitive EPSPS gene, and its control cultivar Mengdou12 (or simply MD12), by a 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA) amplicon sequencing-based Illumina MiSeq platform. No statistically significant difference was found in the overall alpha diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial communities, although the species richness and evenness of the bacteria increased in the rhizosphere of N698 compared with that of MD12. Some influence on phylogenetic diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial communities was found between N698 and MD12 by beta diversity analysis based on weighted UniFrac distance. Furthermore, the relative abundances of part rhizosphere bacterial phyla and genera, which included some nitrogen-fixing bacteria, were significantly different between N698 and MD12. Our present results indicate some impact of the glyphosate-tolerant soybean line N698 on the phylogenetic diversity of rhizosphere bacterial communities together with a significant difference in the relative abundances of part rhizosphere bacteria at different classification levels as compared with its control cultivar MD12, when a comparative analysis of surrounding soils between N698 and MD12 was used as a systematic contrast study.

Genetic variations in the bitter taste receptor gene TAS2R38 are related to cigarette smoking behavior in Han Chinese smokers

Qi Fei-Yan,Zhu Zhou-Hai,Li Meng,Guan Ying,Peng Qi-Yuan,Lu She-Ming,Liu Zhi-Hua,Wang Ming-Feng,Miao Ming-Ming,Chen Zhang-Yu,Li Xue-Mei,Bai Jie,Yao Jian-Hua 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.11

Background: Smoking behavior is influenced by multiple genes, including the bitter taste gene TAS2R38. It has been reported that the correlation between TAS2R38 and smoking behavior has ethnicity-based differences. However, the TAS2R38 status in Chinese smokers is still unclear. Objective: This study aims to investigate the possible relationship between genetic variations in TAS2R38 (A49P, V262A and I296V) and smoking behaviors in the Han Chinese population. Methods: The haplotype analyses were performed and smoking behavior questionnaire was completed by 1271 individuals. Genetic association analyses for smoking behavior were analyzed using chi-square test. Further, for investigating the molecular mechanism of TAS2R38 variants effect on smoking behavior, we conducted TAS2R38-PAV and TAS2R38-AVI expression plasmids and tested the cellular calcium assay by cigarette smoke compounds stimulus in HEK293. Results: Significant associations of genetic variants within TAS2R38 were identified with smoking behavior. We found a higher PAV/PAV frequency than AVI/AVI in moderate and high nicotine dependence (FTND ≥ 4; X2 = 4.611, 1 df, p = 0.032) and strong cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference (X2 = 4.5383, 1 df, p = 0.033) in participants. Furthermore, in the in vitro cellular calcium assay, total particle matter (TPM), N-formylnornicotine and cotinine, existing in cigarette smoke, activated TAS2R38-PAV but not TAS2R38-AVI-transfected cells. Conclusion: Our data highlights that genetic variations in TAS2R38 are related to smoking behavior, especially nicotine dependence and cigarette smoke flavor intensity preference. Our findings may encourage further consideration of the taste process to identify individuals susceptible to nicotine dependence, particularly Han Chinese smokers.

Identification of Specific Gene Modules in Mouse Lung Tissue Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

Xing, Yong-Hua,Zhang, Jun-Ling,Lu, Lu,Li, De-Guan,Wang, Yue-Ying,Huang, Song,Li, Cheng-Cheng,Zhang, Zhu-Bo,Li, Jian-Guo,Xu, Guo-Shun,Meng, Ai-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

Background: Exposure to cigarette may affect human health and increase risk of a wide range of diseases including pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung fibrosis and lung cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis induced by cigarettes still remain obscure even with extensive studies. With systemic view, we attempted to identify the specific gene modules that might relate to injury caused by cigarette smoke and identify hub genes for potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers from specific gene modules. Materials and Methods: The dataset GSE18344 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and divided into mouse cigarette smoke exposure and control groups. Subsequently, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a gene co-expression network for each group and detected specific gene modules of cigarette smoke exposure by comparison. Results: A total of ten specific gene modules were identified only in the cigarette smoke exposure group but not in the control group. Seven hub genes were identified as well, including Fip1l1, Anp32a, Acsl4, Evl, Sdc1, Arap3 and Cd52. Conclusions: Specific gene modules may provide better understanding of molecular mechanisms, and hub genes are potential candidates of therapeutic targets that may possible improve development of novel treatment approaches.