Collagen I-induced VCAN/ERK signaling and PARP1/ZEB1-mediated metastasis facilitate OSBPL2 defect to promote colorectal cancer progression.

The global burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) has rapidly increased in recent years. Dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis facilitated by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling transforms the tumor microenvironment. Collagen I, a major with ECM component is highly expressed in colorectal tumors with infiltrative growth.

Novel multiplex stool-based assay for the detection of early-stage colon cancer in a Chinese population.

Background: Stool DNA (sDNA) methylation analysis is a promising, noninvasive approach for colorectal cancer screening; however, reliable biomarkers for detecting early-stage colon cancer (ECC) are lacking, particularly in the Chinese population.

Aim: To identify a novel stool-based assay that can improve the effectiveness of ECC screening.

Methods: A blinded case-control study was performed using archived stool samples from 125 ECC patients, and 125 control subjects with normal colonoscopy.

Squalene synthase predicts poor prognosis in stage I-III colon adenocarcinoma and synergizes squalene epoxidase to promote tumor progression.

Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the most prevalent malignancies, with poor prognosis and lack of effective treatment targets. Squalene synthase (FDFT1) is an upstream enzyme of squalene epoxidase (SQLE) in cholesterol biosynthesis. In a previous study, we revealed that SQLE promotes colon cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.

Squalene epoxidase promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation through accumulating calcitriol and activating CYP24A1-mediated MAPK signaling.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most malignant tumors with high incidence, yet its molecular mechanism is not fully understood, hindering the development of targeted therapy. Metabolic abnormalities are a hallmark of cancer. Targeting dysregulated metabolic features has become an important direction for modern anticancer therapy.

Strategic communication related to academic performance: Evidence from China.

We examined a range of forms of strategic communication relevant to academic performance among 151 seventh- and eleventh-grade adolescents in China. Participants were asked to rate the frequency of their engagement of strategic communication and to evaluate the possible motives for each strategy. The most commonly adopted strategy was to give a vague response about one's own performance, and the predominant motives for strategic communication were the desires to outcompete others, to be prosocial, and to be modest.

Versicoamides F-H, Prenylated Indole Alkaloids from Aspergillus tennesseensis.

Three highly modified indole alkaloids, versicoamides F-H (1-3), together with seven known alkaloids (4-10) were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus tennesseensis. The structures of new compounds were determined by analysis of the NMR and MS spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were assigned by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments.

New Cyclohexadepsipeptides from an Entomogenous Fungus Fusarium proliferatum and Their Cytotoxicity and Autophagy-Inducing Activity.

Five new cyclohexadepsipeptides termed as enniatins R - V (1 - 5) and seven known cyclohexadepsipeptides (6 - 12) were isolated from the solid culture of Fusarium proliferatum, a fungus isolated from the cadaver of an unidentified insect collected in Tibet. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. The X-ray single-crystal structure of 6 was reported for the first time.

Identification of a new cyathane diterpene that induces mitochondrial and autophagy-dependent apoptosis and shows a potent in vivo anti-colorectal cancer activity.

Diterpenes has been reported to possess multiple bioactivities consisting of anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. This study reveals a new cyathane-type diterpene (cyathin Q) from the culture of the fungus Cyathus africanus by bioactivity-guided separation. The structure of cyathin Q was determined based on spectroscopic measurements (NMR and MS).

A New Fungal Diterpene Induces VDAC1-dependent Apoptosis in Bax/Bak-deficient Cells.

The pro-apoptotic Bax and Bak proteins are considered central to apoptosis, yet apoptosis occurs in their absence. Here, we asked whether the mitochondrial protein VDAC1 mediates apoptosis independently of Bax/Bak. Upon screening a fungal secondary metabolite library for compounds inducing apoptosis in Bax/Bak-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts, we identified cyathin-R, a new cyathane diterpenoid compound able to activate apoptosis in the absence of Bax/Bak via promotion of the VDAC1 oligomerization that mediates cytochrome c release.

Stucturally Diverse Sesquiterpenes Produced by a Chinese Tibet Fungus Stereum hirsutum and Their Cytotoxic and Immunosuppressant Activities.

Two new heterodimeric sesquiterpenes, sterhirsutins C (1) and D (2), along with eight new sesquiterpenoid derivatives, sterhirsutins E--L (3-10), were isolated from the culture of Stereum hirsutum. The absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment. Compounds 1 and 2 possessed an unprecedented chemical skeleton with a 5/5/5/6/9/4 fused ring system.

Cochlioquinone derivatives with apoptosis-inducing effects on HCT116 colon cancer cells from the phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris luttrellii L439.

A new cochlioquinone derivative, cochlioquinone F (1), as well as three known compounds, anhydrocochlioquinone A (2), isocochlioquinone A (3), and isocochlioquinone C (4), were isolated from the PDB (potato dextrose broth) culture of the phytopathogenic fungus Bipolaris luttrellii. The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of NMR techniques. The apoptosis-inducing effects of compounds 1-4 were evaluated against HCT116 cancer cells.

Redox heme-proteins mediated fluorescence of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots.

The redox properties of cytochrome c (Cyt c), hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb) were studied based on electrostatic interactions between Thioglycolic acid (TGA) capped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and proteins. Results indicated that only Cyt c quenched the fluorescence of the QDs at pH>8.0.

Phaeolschidins A-E, five hispidin derivatives with antioxidant activity from the fruiting body of Phaeolus schweinitzii collected in the Tibetan Plateau.

Five new hispidin derivatives, phaeolschidins A-E (1-5), as well as two known natural products, pinillidine (6) and hispidin (7), were isolated from the fruiting bodies of Phaeolus schweinitzii collected in the Tibetan Plateau. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Phaeolschidins A-D (1-4) are new bishispidins.