Investigation of sex expression profiles and the cantharidin biosynthesis genes in two blister beetles.

Cantharidin (CTD) is a well-established defensive toxin synthesized by blister beetles, displaying both therapeutic potential and toxicity. Among these beetles, Hycleus cichorii and Hycleus phaleratus are the two most commercially significant species due to their capacity to produce CTD in males. In this investigation, we conducted a gene expression profiling analysis of male and female individuals of these two species, utilizing the Illumina Hiseq4000 platform.

Neuropathy-associated Fars2 deficiency affects neuronal development and potentiates neuronal apoptosis by impairing mitochondrial function.

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases encompass an extensive and heterogeneous group of nervous system disorders which are characterized by progressive degeneration and death of neurons. Many lines of evidence suggest the participation of mitochondria dysfunction in these diseases. Mitochondrial phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, encoded by FARS2, catalyzes the transfer of phenylalanine to its cognate tRNA for protein synthesis.

RNA editing affects cis-regulatory elements and predicts adverse cancer survival.

Background: RNA editing exerts critical impacts on numerous biological processes and thus are implicated in crucial human phenotypes, including tumorigenesis and prognosis. While previous studies have analyzed aggregate RNA editing activity at the sample level and associated it with overall cancer survival, there is not yet a large-scale disease-specific survival study to examine genome-wide RNA editing sites' prognostic value taking into account the host gene expression and clinical variables.

Methods: In this study, we solved comprehensive Cox proportional models of disease-specific survival on individual RNA-editing sites plus host gene expression and critical demographic covariates.

Genomic content of chemosensory receptors in two sister blister beetles facilitates characterization of chemosensory evolution.

Background: More than 2500 species belong to the Meloidae family (Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea), members of which produce the potent defensive blistering agent cantharidin and are commonly known as blister beetles or Spanishflies. Cantharidin has recently been used for cancer therapy. Hycleus cichorii and Hycleus phaleratus have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for more than 2000 years due to their ability to biosynthesize cantharidin.

Draft genomes of two blister beetles Hycleus cichorii and Hycleus phaleratus.

Background: Commonly known as blister beetles or Spanish fly, there are more than 1500 species in the Meloidae family (Hexapoda: Coleoptera: Tenebrionoidea) that produce the potent defensive blistering agent cantharidin. Cantharidin and its derivatives have been used to treat cancers such as liver, stomach, lung, and esophageal cancers. Hycleus cichorii and Hycleus phaleratus are the most commercially important blister beetles in China due to their ability to biosynthesize this potent vesicant.

Genetic polymorphisms of 12 X STR loci in Shaanxi Han population from China.

Allele frequencies for 12 X STR loci (DXS8378, DXS10159, DXS10162, DXS10164, DXS981, DXS6789, DXS7424, DXS101, DXS7133, GATA165B12, GATA31E08 and DXS7423) were obtained from a sample of 518 unrelated individuals from Shaanxi, China. We observed a total of 108 alleles in the group with the allelic frequency values ranging from less than 0.0014 to 0.

Mutations of short tandem repeat loci in cases of paternity testing in Chinese.

In order to find out the characteristics of genetic mutations in 15 short tandem repeat (STR) loci, 3734 parentage cases were analyzed using AmpFlSTR Sinofiler kit. The allele source, mutation rate, and mutation rule of the STR loci were determined. Seventy mutations were observed in all cases for paternity testing.

A novel mitochondrial DNA deletion in a patient with Pearson syndrome and neonatal diabetes mellitus provides insight into disease etiology, severity and progression.

Pearson syndrome (PS) is a rare, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletion disorder mainly affecting hematopoietic system and exocrine pancreas in early infancy, which is characterized by multi-organ involvement, variable manifestations and poor prognosis. Since the clinical complexity and uncertain outcome of PS, the ability to early diagnose and anticipate disease progression is of great clinical importance. We described a patient with severe anemia and hyperglycinemia at birth was diagnosed with neonatal diabetes mellitus, and later with PS.

Tri-allelic pattern of short tandem repeats identifies the murderer among identical twins and suggests an embryonic mutational origin.

Monozygotic twins can be co-identified by genotyping of short tandem repeats (STRs); however, for distinguishing them, STR genotyping is ineffective, especially in the case of murder. Here, a rarely occurring tri-allelic pattern in the vWA locus (16, 18, 19) was identified only in the DNA of one identical twin, which could help to exonerate the innocent twin in a murder charge. This mutation was defined as primary through genotyping of the family and could be detected in blood, buccal and semen samples from the individual; however, two alternative allele-balanced di-allelic patterns (16, 18 or 16, 19) were detected in hair root sheath cells.

Population genetic data of 15 STR loci in Gansu Han population from China.

The genetic polymorphisms of 15 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci included in the AmpFISTR Sinofiler™ kit were evaluated in 547 healthy unrelated Han individuals from Gansu, China. All of the loci reached the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after the Bonferroni correction (p > 0.0033).

Female specific association between NNMT gene and schizophrenia in a Han Chinese population.

Accumulating evidence has shown that alterations in one carbon metabolism might play an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SZ). Nicotinamide-N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is one of the key enzymes of one-carbon metabolism. To examine whether NNMT gene was associated with SZ in Han Chinese population, we selected seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NNMT gene, and investigated its association with SZ from a cohort of 42 SZ patients and 86 healthy controls by Mass-ARRAY technology.

Mitochondrial haplogroups and hypervariable region polymorphisms in schizophrenia: a case-control study.

Previous studies have detected associations between mitochondrial haplogroups and schizophrenia (SZ). However, no study has examined the relationship between major mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and SZ in the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to assess the association between mtDNA haplogroups and SZ genesis in the Chinese Han population.

The distribution of genetic diversity of KIR genes in the Chinese Mongolian population.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) are expressed on natural killer cells and as such regulate their response against infection and malignancy. KIR genes are variable in gene content and type, which results in different KIR haplotypes, and can be used to discriminate individuals and populations from different regions or ethnic groups. In the present study, we represent the first report on the KIR gene frequency and content diversities of 14 KIR genes (KIR2DL1, 2DL2, 2DL3, 2DL4, 2DL5, 2DS1, 2DS2, 2DS3, 2DS4, 2DS5, 3DL1, 3DL2, 3DL3, 3DS1) and 2 pseudogenes (KIR3DP1 and 2DP1) in the Chinese Mongolian population.

Genetic polymorphisms of 15 STR loci in Chinese Han population living in Xi'an city of Shaanxi Province.

Fifteen autosomal STRs loci were analyzed from a population sample of 446 unrelated healthy individuals of Chinese Han population residing in Xi'an city of Shaanxi Province using a multiplex PCR system. We report allele frequencies distribution and statistical parameters for all STR loci, D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA. The observed genotype frequencies and expected of genotype frequencies were evaluated by chi(2)-test and the Fisher exact tests.

[Soluble expression, purification and bioactivity of recombinant human Era protein].

Aim: To prepare a soluble human Era(hEra) protein and to measure its bioactivity.

Methods: Human era cDNA gene from pUC19 plasmid was subcloned into the expression plasmid pMAL-p2x. pMAL-hEra was transducted to E.

[Construction of shRNA expression vector pWH1 and its function in silencing the HIF1 gene].

Aim: To construct the expression vector of small hairpin RNA(shRNA) and to test its efficacy in silencing the Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1 (HIF1) gene.

Methods: The H1 gene promoter was amplified from the genome of the human blood cells by PCR. Then the promoter was cloned into the pEGFP-C1 vector digested with the restriction enzyme.

Silencing of CXCR4 inhibits the proliferation, adhesion, chemotaxis and invasion of salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma Mc3 cells in vitro.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in salivary glands and high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma is often accompanied with poor prognosis. Many recent research works demonstrated that stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor CXC chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) interaction was critical for metastasis of various cancers. In this study, the immunoexpression of CXCR4 in human salivary gland mucoepidermoid carcinoma in different grades was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and the expression of CXCR4 and its ligand SDF-1 in mucoepidermoid carcinoma MEC-1 cell line and its highly metastatic clone Mc3 was examined by RT-PCR, flow cytometry and immunocytochemical analysis.

[Expression of a candidate human Era binding protein A19 and the preparation of its polyclonal antibody].

Aim: To express a candidate hEra binding protein A19 in Escherichia coli and to prepare anti-A19 antibody.

Methods: A19 gene was amplified by PCR from the plasmid containing A19 gene and was cloned into the expression vector pGEX-4T3 which was then transformed into E.coli.

[Expression of human Fab antibody against keratin in E.coli and its renaturation].

Aim: To express Fd fragment and L chain of human anti-keratin Fab in E.coli BL21(DE3) respectively and obtain human anti-keratin Fab by renaturation in-vitro.

Methods: Genes of L chain and Fd fragment of anti-keratin antibody from the plasmids p3MH/ Fab were subcloned into vector pET32a respectively.

[Epidemiological investigation of Taenia saginata asiatica in Duyun, Guizhou and detection of amino acids and elements of adult worms].

Objective: To study epidemiological factors of taeniasis and to detect amino acid and element components of adult worms in Duyun of Guizhou Province.

Methods: 1. Traditional methods were used for epidemiological investigation.