Unleashing the Power of Evolution in Xylanase Engineering: Investigating the Role of Distal Mutation Regulation.

The drive to enhance enzyme performance in industrial applications frequently clashes with the practical limitations of exhaustive experimental screening, underscoring the urgency for more refined and strategic methodologies in enzyme engineering. In this study, xylanase Xyl-1 was used as the model, coupling evolutionary insights with energy functions to obtain theoretical potential mutants, which were subsequently validated experimentally. We observed that mutations in the nonloop region primarily aimed at enhancing stability and also encountered selective pressure for activity.

Silencing of long non-coding RNA CRNDE promotes autophagy and alleviates neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in rats.

Hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain damage (HIBD) leads to high neonatal mortality and severe neurologic morbidity. Autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of HIBD. This study aims to investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) on HIBD and to validate whether autophagy is involved in this process.

Long non-coding RNA CRNDE deteriorates intrauterine infection-induced neonatal brain injury.

Background: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) colorectal neoplasia differentially expressed (CRNDE) could exacerbate brain injury caused by intrauterine infection in neonatal rats.

Methods: Intrauterine infection was induced in pregnant rats by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After delivery, newborn rats with brain injury caused by intrauterine infection were randomly divided into control, control shRNA, and CRNDE shRNA groups.

Optimization of an HPLC Method for Determining the Genomic Methylation Levels of Taxus Cells.

An HPLC method for quantifying total DNA methylation in Taxus chinensis cells is described. Optimal conditions for the method were established as follows: DNA was hydrolyzed with DNA degradase at 37°C for 3 h. The mobile phase was a mixture of Solvent A [50 mM potassium dihydrogen phosphate/triethylamine (100:0.

Mechanisms and effective control of physiological browning phenomena in plant cell cultures.

Browning phenomena are ubiquitous in plant cell cultures that severely hamper scientific research and widespread application of plant cell cultures. Up to now, this problem still has not been well controlled due to the unclear browning mechanisms in plant cell cultures. In this paper, the mechanisms were investigated using two typical materials with severe browning phenomena, Taxus chinensis and Glycyrrhiza inflata cells.

[Clinical application of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation in initial treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome].

Objective: To study the clinical effectiveness and safety of nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) in the initial treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) and the initial setting of NIPPV parameters.

Methods: One hundred neonates with NRDS were divided into NIPPV group (n=50) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) group (n=50). A randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of NIPPV versus NCPAP in the initial treatment of NRDS from the following aspects: reducing CO2 retention, improving oxygenation, reducing second endotracheal intubation and second use of pulmonary surfactant (PS), reducing the duration of invasive respiratory support, reducing the duration of oxygen use, and reducing the incidence of air leak, abdominal distension and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Correlation analysis of the taxane core functional group modification, enzyme expression, and metabolite accumulation profiles under methyl jasmonate treatment.

Metabolomic and transcriptomic profiling data were obtained and integrated to elucidate the crucial network controls on taxol and its precursor biosynthesis during the taxane core functionalization within methyl jasmonate (MJ)-induced Taxus chinensis cells. Twelve metabolites were identified using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. These metabolites contain taxol (paclitaxel), baccatin III (B-III) and its analogs, a group structurally bearing multiple free hydroxyls (TAX), and another group of multiple acyl taxanes (MAT), including taxuyunnanine C (TC) and its analogs.

Hexa-substituted polyoxometalates made of trivacant Dawson {P2W15} fragments and {Ni6} clusters under hydrothermal conditions.

Three novel polyoxometalates (POMs) containing [Ni6(μ3-OH)3](9-) and [P2W15O56](12-) units were first made, showing the first hexa-nuclearity transition-metal substituted POMs (TMSPs) based on monomeric lacunary Dawson fragments, which further indicates that the hydrothermal technique can offer an effective way for making new TMSPs through lacunary POM fragments incorporated with high-nuclear TM clusters.

Transcriptional profile of Taxus chinensis cells in response to methyl jasmonate.

Background: Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) has been successfully used as an effective elicitor to enhance production of taxol and other taxanes in cultured Taxus cells. However the mechanism of MeJA-mediated taxane biosynthesis remains unclear. Genomic information for species in the genus Taxus is currently unavailable.

Negative correlation between serum syndecan-1 and apolipoprotein A1 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are involved in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis and lipid metabolism in vitro. Syndecans are the primary form of HSPGs. Syndecan-1 is involved in the processes of cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, wound healing and inflammation.

Hexaaqua-magnesium(II) bis-{[2-(1-phenyl-1H-tetra-zol-5-yl)sulfan-yl]acetate}.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, [Mg(H(2)O)(6)](C(9)H(7)N(4)O(2)S)(2), contains one-half of a [Mg(H(2)O)(6)](2+) cation ( symmetry) and one uncoordinated 2-[(1-phenyl-1H-tetra-zol-5-yl)sulfan-yl]acetate anion. The Mg(II) cation is coordinated by six water mol-ecules, exhibiting a slightly distorted octa-hedral coordination. A two-dimensional network parallel to (001) is formed via extensive hydrogen-bonding inter-actions involving the water mol-ecules as donors and the tetra-zole N and carboxyl-ate O atoms of the anion as acceptors.

Efficient extraction of RNA and analysis of gene expression in a long-term Taxus cell culture using real-time RT-PCR.

A simple, quick and efficient method for isolating total RNA from heavy browning cells was developed by adding polyvinylpyrrolidone, mercaptoethanol and 3 M NaAc during the process of the Trizol (a kind of a widely used RNA extraction buffer) method. High-quality total RNA was isolated and synthesized to cDNA. Transcript levels of four paclitaxel biosynthetic pathway genes: dxr, hmgr, ggpps and dbat were assayed by real-time RT-PCR.

[Effect of oral carcinoma-associated fibroblasts on extracellular signal-regulated kinases pathway in the lingual carcinoma cell line].

Objective: To investigate the effects of oral carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) pathway in a lingual carcinoma cell line.

Methods: The lingual carcinoma cell line, Tca8113 was stimulated by conditioned medium from oral CAFs, or cocultured with oral CAFs for definite time. Total ERK and pERK in Tca8113 lysate were detected by Western blotting, and the ratio between pERK and ERK were calculated.

[Investigation of the degradation and the mechanisms of artificial basement membrane co-cultured with oral carcinoma-associated fibroblasts].

Objective: To investigate the degradation of artificial basement membrane (matrigel) co-cultured with oral carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and its possible mechanism.

Methods: CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were incubated on matrigel for 24, 48, 72 h. Equivalent amounts of conditioned medium were collected and assayed for total protein, hydroxyproline and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity by gelatin zymography.

[Genetic diversity of F-ATPase subunits gene uncEBF amplified from Streptococcus mutans clinical isolates].

Objective: The purpose of this research was to study the genetic diversity of F-ATPase subunit gene uncEBF derived from Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) clinical isolates, furthermore to investigate the relationship between the genetic diversity of F-ATPase and S. mutans aciduric ability.

Immunotherapy of tumors with protein vaccine based on chicken homologous Tie-2.

Purpose: Tie-2 is an endothelium-specific receptor tyrosine kinase known to play a key role in tumor angiogenesis. The present study explores the feasibility of immunotherapy of tumors by using a protein vaccine based on chicken Tie-2 as a model antigen to break the immune tolerance against Tie-2 in a cross-reaction between the xenogeneic homologous and self-Tie-2.

Experimental Design And Results: In this study, a chicken homologous Tie-2 protein vaccine (chTie-2) and a corresponding mouse Tie-2 vaccine as a control were prepared and the antitumor effect of these vaccines was tested in two tumor models (murine B16F10 melanoma and murine H22 hepatoma).

[Genetic diversity of Citrus succosa Hort. Ex Tanaka from seven provinces as revealed by AFLP analysis].

Using 28 selected primer combinations, 12 accessions of Bendizao tangerine from seven provinces were investigated by AFLP analysis. A total of 882 genetic sites were detected, among which 192 were polymorphic. Using Huangyan Bendizao as contrast, the polymorphic sites of the other 11 accessions from seven provinces are not very high (3.

[Association of estrogen receptor gene polymorphisms and primary trigeminal neuralgia].

Objective: To investigate the association of estrogen receptor (ER) gene polymorphism and primary trigeminal neuralgia.

Methods: By polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), ER gene polymorphism was analyzed in 20 trigeminal neuralgia (TR) patients and 20 control individuals, and the distribution of ER genotype was compared in TR group and control group.

Results: There was no significant difference in frequencies of allele and genotype in XbaI or PvuII polymorphism or XbaI with PvuII polymorphisms together between TR group and control group (P > 0.

[Colonization relationship between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Bacteroides forsythus in the infected root canals with chronic apical periodontitis].

Purpose: To detect the distribution of P. gingivalis and B. forsythus in the infected root canals from Chinese chronic apical periodontitis, and investigate the colonization relationship between them in the root canals.

[Expression and secretion of human tumor necrosis factor gene transfected on human embryo myoblasts].

Objective: To observe human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (hTNF-alpha) expression and secreting level of human embryo myoblasts transfected by hTNF-alpha gene.

Methods: Human embryo myoblasts were transfected with shuttle plasmid pSV23SHTNF containing hTNF-alpha gene by cationic liposomes DOSPER. The control group was only given equivalent liposomes except plasmid.

[Association between Bacteroides forsythus in the infected root canals and clinical symptoms of chronic apical periodontitis].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of Bacteroides forsythus in root canals with chronic apical periodontitis and to determine its associations with clinical symptoms.

Methods: Thirty-eight tooth root canals from 31 subjects were studied with a 16S rDNA-directed polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These teeth were classified into symptomatic and asymptomatic groups according to the clinical symptoms and signs, including spontaneous pain, percussion pain, sinus tract and swelling, respectively.

Combination of low-dose cisplatin and recombinant xenogeneic endoglin as a vaccine induces synergistic antitumor activities.

Angiogenesis is critical to the growth and metastasis of solid tumors, and acquired drug resistance is one of the major hindrances to chemotherapy. Thus, we sought a rational strategy using the combination of antiangiogenic biotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer therapy. We explored the efficacy of a strategy combining low-dose cisplatin and a recombinant xenogeneic endoglin as a protein vaccine, which we previously demonstrated to have effective antiangiogenic effects in several mouse models.

Induction of apoptosis and tumor regression by vesicular stomatitis virus in the presence of gemcitabine in lung cancer.

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has been shown to replicate rapidly in vitro and kill selectively a variety of tumor cell lines. The present study was designed to determine whether gemcitabine potentiates the antitumor activity of VSV in vitro and in vivo. A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells and LLC Lewis lung carcinoma cells were treated with VSV (0.

Active immunotherapy of tumors with a recombinant xenogeneic endoglin as a model antigen.

Angiogenesis play a critical role in tumor growth and metastasis. Increasing evidence suggests that endoglin is a powerful marker of angiogenesis in solid malignancies. Thus, breaking of immune tolerance of self-endoglin-associated angiogenesis is an attractive approach to cancer therapy.