Egr1 deficiency disrupts dynamic equilibrium of chondrocyte extracellular matrix through PPARγ/RUNX2 signaling pathways.

Background: This study is to investigate the effect of Egr1 on the mineralization and accumulation of chondrocyte extracellular matrix.

Methods: The femoral heads of patients of various heights were collected. Egr1 knockout mice were used.

Interface energy effect on the dispersion relation of nano-sized cylindrical piezoelectric/piezomagnetic composites.

Interface between the constituents plays an important role in the non-destructive detection of smart piezoelectric/piezomagnetic devices. The propagation of SH waves in nano-sized cylindrically multiferroic composites consisting of a piezoelectric layer and a piezomagnetic central cylinder is investigated, and the size-dependent dispersion relation with interface effect is derived. The general solutions of decoupled governing equation in different regions are expressed by using Bessel functions, and the unknown coefficients are determined by satisfying the boundary conditions at the inner interface with negligible thickness and the outer surface of the structure.

[The expression level of FtsZ protein during the dedifferentiation and redifferentiation of explants of Nicotiana tobacum].

The explants cells of Nicotiana Tobacum undergo the process of dedifferentiation and redifferentiation under the treatment of phytohormone with different contentrations. By monitoring the change of plastids and the expression of FtsZ protein, which functions in the progress of chloroplast division, we show that chloroplasts turn into amyloid and hypostasis when explants dedifferent and at the same time the expression of FtsZ proteins decreases. When explants redifferent and bud, hypostasis turn back into the chloroplast and the expression of FtsZ protein restores.

[Study of the metastasis-associated genes and its copy numbers variation in highly metastatic epithelial ovarian cancer].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of the metastasis-associated genes and its copy numbers variation in the highly metastatic human epithelial ovarian cancer cell line HO-8910PM.

Methods: The differentially expressed genes and its copy number variation between HO-8910PM cell line and normal ovarian tissues was detected by human genome U133A 2.0 gene chip and human mapping 10K array 2.

Erratum to: Binding Energy and Spin-Orbit Splitting of a Hydrogenic Donor Impurity in AlGaN/GaN Triangle-Shaped Potential Quantum Well.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s11671-009-9398-3.].

Binding Energy and Spin-Orbit Splitting of a Hydrogenic Donor Impurity in AlGaN/GaN Triangle-Shaped Potential Quantum Well.

In the framework of effective-mass envelope function theory, including the effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling, the binding energy E(b) and spin-orbit split energy Г of the ground state of a hydrogenic donor impurity in AlGaN/GaN triangle-shaped potential heterointerface are calculated. We find that with the electric field of the heterojunction increasing, (1) the effective width of quantum well W̅ decreases and (2) the binding energy increases monotonously, and in the mean time, (3) the spin-orbit split energy Г decreases drastically. (4) The maximum of Г is 1.

The involvement of NtFtsZ2-1 gene in the regulation of chloroplast division and expansion in tobacco.

Chloroplasts are a vital group of organelles of plants, yet the molecular mechanisms associated with their division remain poorly understood. Recent studies have revealed that the FtsZ protein, known as a key component in prokaryotic cell division, is involved in chloroplast division process. The NtFtsZ2-1 gene was isolated from Nicotiana tabacum by RT-PCR, and the sense and antisense expression plasmids were used to examine the function of NtFtsZ2-1 gene in transgenic tobacco.

Cloning and functional characterization of PpDBF1 gene encoding a DRE-binding transcription factor from Physcomitrella patens.

The dehydration-responsive element binding (DREB) transcription factors play central roles in regulating expression of stress-inducible genes under abiotic stresses. In the present work, PpDBF1 (Physcomitrella patens DRE-binding Factor1) containing a conserved AP2/ERF domain was isolated from the moss P. patens.

Identification of differentially expressed genes in the high and low metastatic human ovarian cancer cell lines and analyses of their chromosomal localizations and functions.

Oligonucleotide microarrays were used to study the differences of gene expressions in high (H) and low (L) metastatic ovarian cancer cell lines and in normal ovarian tissues (C). Bioinformatics was used to identify novel genes and their functions as well as chromosomal localizations. A total of 409 genes were differentially expressed between the high and low metastatic ovarian cancer cell lines.

[Screening of carcinogenesis associated genes in gastric carcinoma by gene chip].

Objective: To screen the carcinogenesis associated genes in gastric carcinoma by gene chip.

Methods: U133A (Affymetrix Santa Clara, CA) gene chip was used to detect differentially expressed genes in tumor tissues, paratumor mucosa and normal mucosa. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the screened results.

[Blue light signaling in mosses].

Arabidopsis thaliana contains five identified blue light photoreceptors and at least one unidentified blue/UV-A light photoreceptor. Cryptochromes (CRY1 and CRY2) modulate photomorphological processes, flowering time, and circadian timing while phototrophins (PHOT1 and PHOT2) modulate phototropism, chloroplast movement, and stomatal opening. Flavins are the chromophores and absorb in the blue and UV-A range.

Function and chromosome location of differentially expressed genes in gastric cancer.

Using Affymetrix U133A oligonucleotide microarrays, screening was done for genes that were differentially expressed in gastric cancer (T) and normal gastric mucosa (C), and their chromosome location was characterized by bioinformatics. A total of 270 genes were found to have a difference in expression levels of more than eight times. Of them 157 were up-regulated (Signal Log Ratio [SLR] > or = 3), and 113 were down-regulated (SLR< or = -3).

[Study on gene expression profile difference in gastric cancer, pericancerous mucosa and normal gastric mucosa from the distant cutting margin by oligonucleotide microarray].

Objective: To study the difference of gene expression profiles in gastric cancer (T), pericancerous mucosa (P) and the gastric mucosa from distant cutting margin (C), and to screen an associated novel gene in early gastric carcinogenesis by oligonucleotide microarray.

Methods: U133A (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) gene chip was used to detect the gene expression profile difference in T, P and C, respectively. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the detected results.

[The role of cortical microtubules in moss protonemal cells during dehydration/rehydration cycle].

Plant cells response to water deficit through a variety of physiological processes. In this work, we studied the function of microtubule cytoskeleton during dehydration/rehydration cycle in moss (Atrichum undulatum) protonemal cells as a model system. The morphological and cytological change of protonemal cells during dehydration and rehydration cycle were first investigated.

Gene expression profile differences in gastric cancer, pericancerous epithelium and normal gastric mucosa by gene chip.

Aim: To study the difference of gene expression in gastric cancer (T), pericancerous epithelium (P) and normal tissue of gastric mucosa (C), and to screen an associated novel gene in early gastric carcinogenesis by oligonucleotide microarray.

Methods: U133A (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) gene chip was used to detect the gene expression profile difference in T, P and C, respectively. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the detected results.

[Characterization of human lung cancer cell line A549 transfected with human interferon-gamma gene].

Objective: To establish a human lung cancer cell line expressing human interferon-gamma.

Methods: The full-length gene of human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) was introduced into the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 through retroviral vector pLXSN. The established cell line A549-IFN-gamma was tested for expression of MHC class I and class II by flow cytometer (FCM) and tested for expression of IFN-gamma by enzyme-lined immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA ).