OBJECTIVEThrough a simulation of interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), we developed an in vitro model to explore the change law of biological characteristics of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) under different IFP.

METHODSA pressure cooker was refitted into a controllable pressure device. Cultured ACC-2 cells were subdivided into different groups, namely, negative control (untreated ACC-2) and experimental group (stressed for 3, 6, 12, 24 h under pressure of 7.551, 7.649, 7.747 kPa). CCK-8 and immunofluorescence of Ki67 were used to reflect proliferation ability. Transwell chamber assay was performed to observe the invasion ability of cells.

RESULTSThe proliferation ability was positively correlated with treatment time, and the peak value was obtained after the cells were subjected to 7.649 kPa of stress for 24 h. The invasion ability of ACC-2 cells was upregulated under stress.

CONCLUSIONWe successfully developed an in vitro model of IFP and found that high IFP can stimulate cell proliferation ability and upregulate invasion ability.

Tetrazanbigen (TNBG) is a novel synthetic antitumor drug with significant antitumor effects on common solid tumors in vitro and in vivo. It may lead to death of cancer cells through a tumor-associated lipoidosis mechanism, and result in lipid droplets (LDs) accumulation at the cytoplasm. In this study, the effects of TNBG on protein expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7701 were studied for elucidating its antitumor mechanism. The proteins extracted from TNBG-treated human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7701 were analyzed and compared with control cells by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The differential proteins were identified by matrix-associated laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass (MALDI-TOF-MS) spectrometry. Two proteins of interest, the levels of which were significantly increased in TNBG-treated cells, were further characterized by Western blot analysis. The results showed a total of 846+/-23 spots in control cells and 853+/-30 spots in TNBG-treated cells. Twenty-six up-regulated or down-regulated proteins were found by analyzing differential proteomic 2-DE map. Eleven of them were identified by mass spectrometry. They were protein disulfide-isomerase precursor, 94 kD glucose-regulated protein, heat shock protein (HSP) 90-alpha, ATP-citrate lyase, HMG-CoA reductase, glucose-6-phosphate 1-dehydrogenase, very-long-chain specific acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, squalene synthetase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase A, and peroxiredoxin-1. These up-regulated or down-regulated proteins are mostly related to lipid metabolism. The TNBG antitumor mechanism is probably to influence tumor lipid metabolism, resulting in accumulation of LDs in tumor cells.
Antineoplastic Agents/*pharmacology ; Azo Compounds/*pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gonanes/*pharmacology ; Liver Neoplasms/*pathology ; Proteins/*metabolism ; Proteome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of stress imposed on adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), therefore to clarify the molecular basis and mechanism of ACC's malignant phenotype under the elevated tumor interstitial fluid pressure.

METHODSACC cells were cultured under pressure (103.74 kPa), and were divided into four groups (3 h group, 6 h group, 12 h group, 24 h group) according the pressure time. Untreated ACC2 was as negative control group, untreated ACCM was as positive control group. The level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was detected by semiquantitative analysis of immunochemistry. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and EGFR mRNA expression were assessed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. EGFR, phosphorylation epidermal growth factor receptor (P-EGFR), MMP9, keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and phosphorylation extracellular signal-regulated kinase (P-ERK) protein expressions were assessed by Western blot.

RESULTSAs the extension of pressure time, the expression of EGFR, P-EGFR, MMP9, KGF, P-ERK in ACC2 gradually increased, which were positive correlation with pressure time, and were higher than that of negative control group.

CONCLUSIONUnder the stimulation of pressure, the mRNA and protein levels of adhesion molecules and metastatic relative molecules in ACC2 were sharply elevated.

Astaxanthin is a useful pigmentation source in fish aquaculture. It has strong antioxidative activity and therefore has potential application in delaying aging and degenerative diseases in human and animals. In recent years, there is a growing demand for astaxanthin. The red yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (called Phaffia rhodozyma before) is one of the most promising microorganisms for the commercial production of astaxanthin. During fermentation, X. dendrorhous shows the Crabtree effect. Higher glucose concentration will cause significant reductions in biomass and astaxanthin production. Therefore, fed-batch processes are particularly useful. In this paper, effects of glucose-feeding strategies on astaxanthin production by X. dendrorhous were studied. Based on the substrate inhibition model, an optimized two-stage feeding strategy for astaxanthin production of high-cell-density fermentation was proposed. Glucose concentration was first controlled at about 25 g/L during the lag phase and the early exponential phase. In such case, biomass could reach its maximum value in relatively short time. Then the glucose concentration was controlled at about 5 g/L in the later exponential phase and stationary phase. The synthesis of astaxanthin could be effectively prolonged. The results showed that the optimized two-stage feeding strategy was the best among all the feeding strategies, and could obtain the highest biomass (23.8 g/L) and astaxanthin production (29.05 mg/L), which was a significant increase (52.8% and 109% respectively) compared with a batch process.
Basidiomycota ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Kinetics ; Models, Biological ; Xanthophylls ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 15 STRs loci in Chinese E Wen-ke population. METHODS: DNA samples from 99 unrelated individuals in Chinese E Wen-ke population were screened by Power Plex 16 System and ABI3100 Genetic Analyzer. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of these 15 STR loci meet the Hardy-Weinberg expectation. The Matching probability of 15 STRs loci were between 0.0205-0.1733, discriminating power (DP) at 0.8267-0.9795, heterozygosity (Ho) at 0.6061-0.9091, power of exclusion (PE) at 0.4038-0.7690, polymorphism information content (PIC) at 0.5985-0.8734. The total DP of 15 STRs loci is 0.9999999999998. CONCLUSION Our results showed that the 15 STRs loci of Power Plex 16 System are valuable STR loci genetic marker system having high DP and are useful in forensic case work in Chinese E Wen-ke population.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China/ethnology* ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; Forensic Medicine ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 15 STRs loci in Chinese East Mongolian population. METHODS: DNA samples from 105 unrelated individuals in Chinese East Mongolian population were screened by Power Plex 16 System and ABI3100 Genetic Analyzer. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of these 15 STR loci meet the Hardy-Weinberg expectation. The Matching probability of 15 STRs loci were between 0.0084-0.2169, discriminating power (DP) at 0.7831-0.9916, heterozygosity (H) at 0.5619-0.9231, power of exclusion (PE) at 0.4490-0.8444, polymorphism information content (PIC) at 0.5438-0.9178. The total DP of 15 STRs loci is 0.9999999999998. CONCLUSION Our results showed that the 15 STRs loci of Power Plex 16 System are valuable STR loci genetic marker system having high DP and are useful in forensic case work in Chinese East Mongolian population.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; DNA/isolation & purification* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mongolia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

Microorganisms in nature have rich variety, whose sizes are from nano scale to micro scale. Therefore, microbes can be used as natural "building blocks" in nano/micro multi-level fabrication processes. At present, most of the bio-manufacturing methods do not apply to direct control of living microbes. Their microbiological global functions and superiorities are not available. In this paper, two novel nano/micro bio-fabrication approaches, micro-fluidic control method and magnetic control method have been established. The living microbes could be manipulated to form micro-scaled patterns or to move orientedly. By these approaches, living microbes are taken as nano/micro robots. We could employ their specific biological functions and regulate their controllable self-assembly, which is expected to design and create a series of new special functional materials and devices.
Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biomimetics ; methods ; Biotechnology ; Fungi ; metabolism ; Gluconacetobacter xylinus ; metabolism ; Industrial Microbiology ; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ; methods ; Microtubules ; Nanotechnology ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of the branches and leaves of (Jvariu kurzii.

METHODCompounds were isolated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their chemical structures were identified on the basis of physicoc hemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTNineteen compounds were isolated and identified as: beta-sitosterol hexadecanoate (1), stigmasterol hexadecanoate (2), beta-acetylsitosterol (3), beta-acetylstigmasterul (4), tetratriacontanol (5), dotriacontanoic acid (6), beta-sitosterol (7), stigmasterol (8), 5alpha-stigmast-3 , 6-dione (9) , 5alpha-stigmast-22-ene-3,6-dione (10), vanillic acid (11), protocatechuic acid (12), N-(p-trans-collmaroyl) tyramine (13). kaempferol-3-O-beta-D-(6"-O-p-coumaryoyl) galactopyraunoside (14), kaempferol-3-O-rutinoide (15), rutin (16), daucosterol (17), L-quebrachitol (18), allantoin (19), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-6, 9, 10, 13, 18, 19 were isolated from Annonaceac plants; Compounds 14-16 were obtained from the gemis Uvaria; an 7, 8, 11, 12, 17 were separated from this plant respectively for the first time.

d per-oxiredoxin-1. These up-regulated or down-regulated proteins are mostly related to lipid metabolism. The TNBG antitumor mechanism is probably to influence tumor lipid metabolism, resulting in accu-mulation of LDs in tumor cells.