Objective To analyze the relationship between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)C677T,A1298C and methionine synthase reductase(MTRR)gene polymorphism with abnormal pregnancy history.Methods 549 normal women (control group)and 300 women with the abnormal pregnancy history(observation group)were taken as the subjects by adopting the case control research method.The oral mucosa epithelial cells were collected for extracting genomic DNA.The MTHFR and MTRR gene polymorphisms were detected by the gene sequencing method.Results The distribution frequency of MTHFR 677TT genotype in the abnormal pregnancy group was significantly increased compared with the control group (10.00% vs.3.46%,χ2 =15.25,P <0.01);the distribution frequency of MTHFR-1298CC genotype in the abnormal pregnancy group was significantly in-creased compared with the control group (11.00 vs.4.01%,χ2 =15.66,P <0.01);the distribution frequency of MTRR A66G gen-otype had no statistical difference between the two groups(χ2 =3.02,P =0.082).The interactive analysis of 2 genes indicated that simultaneous carrying the MTHFR A1298C mutation site and MTRR A66G mutation site increased the possibility of abnormal pregnancy occurrence (OR=1.52,P =0.011).Conclusion MTHFR C677T and A1298C have a certain correlation with female ab-normal pregnancy occurrence.

Objective To prepare and identify rabbit polyclonal antibody against embryonic liver fordrin 3(ELF3),and investigate the distribution of ELF3 in mice tissue.Methods ELF3 specific N-terminal peptide was synthesized,and conjugated to Keyhole limpet hemocyanin(KLH)as immunogen.The ELF3-KLH complex was injected into rabbits subcutaneously,and then ELF3 antibody was purified using affinity chromatography.The titer of the antibody was evaluated by ELISA.The specificity of antibody against ELF3 and immunolocalization of ELF3 were evaluated by using Western blot and immunohistochemistry.Results Rabbit polyclonal antibody against ELF3 was prepared by the immunization of ELF3-KLH complex.ELISA and Western blot results showed the antibody against ELF3 had high titer and specificity.Western blot and immunohistochemical studies demonstrated ELF3 was expressed in the mouse heart,liver,brain and kidney tissue,particular on the cell membrane.Conclusion The preparation of polyclonal antibody against ELF3 was successful due to its high titer and specificity;ELF3 was expressed in the mice heart,liver,and kidney,particular on the cell membrane.It will provide an excellent tool for further study on the ELF3 function.

Host genetic, environmental and viral factors are classified as three categories that determine clinical outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The objective of this study was to detect the associations between polymorphisms rs346473 and rs346482 in Rho GTPase-activating protein 24 (ARHGAP24) gene and disease progression of HBV infection in Han Chinese population. These two SNPs were found by our DNA pooling using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human Mapping SNP6.0 Array in HBV carriers, and verified by using TaqMan 7900HT Sequence Detection System with 758 progressed HBV carriers versus 300 asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC) in a discovery phase and 971 progressed HBV carriers versus 328 AsC in a replication phase. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that individuals with genotype TT at variant rs346473 displayed remarkable correlations with disease progression of HBV infection both in the discovery phase (OR, 2.693; 95% CI, 1.928-3.760; P=6.2×10(-9); additive model) and the replication phase (OR, 1.490; 95% CI, 1.104-2.012; P=9.0×10(-3); additive model). These two SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium with D'=0.99 and r (2)=0.951, and haplotype TT disclosed an increased susceptibility to HBV progression (OR, 1.980; 95% CI, 1.538-2.545; P=8.1×10(-8)). These findings suggest that polymorphism rs346473 in the ARHGAP24 gene might be a part of the genetic variants underlying the susceptibility of HBV carriers to disease progression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between nonsyndromic deafness and mitochondrial 12s rRNA A839G mutation.

METHODSAccording to the clinical manifestations of mitochondrial DNA sequencing and analysis to find and determine family containing mitochondrial 12s rRNA A839G mutation. Harvested its family members blood and transferred their lymphocytes into lymphoblastoid cell lines, followed by cells cultured, cell doubling experiment, susceptibility testing, cellular oxygen consumption rate experiment, ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential experimental tests were progressed to explore the correlation between the A839G mutation and nonsyndromic deafness.

RESULTSThe mitochondrial 12s rRNA A839G mutation pedigrees were determined through the full sequence detections of the Mitochondrial DNA, further phylogenetic analysis showed that 839 point conservative index (CI) up to 78.6%; in RPMI-galactose medium containing A839G gene mutant cell line, the doubling time was significantly longer than the control group, and the difference was significant (P = 0.033). The effect to cell lines containing the A839G mutation of aminoglycoside drugs was not obvious. When compared with the control group, cell lines containing the A839G mutation significantly reduced cellular oxygen consumption rate(P = 0.033); compared with the control group, the ROS levels of cell lines containing the A839G mutation appeared more substantial elevated with significan difference (P < 0.01). The mitochondrial membrane potential of cells of experimental group was significantly reduced than the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe present study proved that the mitochondria 12s rRNA A839G mutations affect the function of the mitochondrial respiratory chain at the cell level, which might reduce the growth rate of the mutant cell lines, result in hearing.

Aminoglycosides ; Cell Line ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Deafness ; genetics ; Galactose ; Hearing Tests ; Mitochondria ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal ; genetics

Host genetic,environmental and viral factors are classified as three categories that determine clinical outcomes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.The objective of this study was to detect the associations between polymorphisms rs346473 and rs346482 in Rho GTPase-activating protein 24 (ARHGAP24) gene and disease progression of HBV infection in Han Chinese population.These two SNPs were found by our DNA pooling using Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human Mapping SNP6.0 Array in HBV carriers,and verified by using TaqMan 7900HT Sequence Detection System with 758 progressed HBV carriers versus 300 asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC) in a discovery phase and 971 progressed HBV carriers versus 328 AsC in a replication phase.Multivariable logistic regression revealed that individuals with genotype TT at variant rs346473 displayed remarkable correlations with disease progression of HBV infection both in the discovery phase (OR,2.693; 95％ CI,1.928-3.760; P=6.2× 10-9;additive model) and the replication phase (OR,1.490; 95％ CI,1.104-2.012; P=9.0× 10-3; additive model).These two SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium with D'=0.99 and r2=0.951,and haplotype TT disclosed an increased susceptibility to HBV progression (OR,1.980; 95％ CI,1.538-2.545;P=8.1× 10-8).These findings suggest that polymorphism rs346473 in the ARHGAP24 gene might be a part of the genetic variants underlying the susceptibility of HBV carriers to disease progression.

β-glucosidase has important applications in food, pharmaceutics, biomass conversion and other fields, exploring β-glucosidase with strong adaptability and excellent properties thus has received extensive interest. In this study, a novel glucosidase from the GH1 family derived from Cuniculiplasma divulgatum was cloned, expressed, and characterized, aiming to find a better β-glucosidase. The amino acid sequences of GH1 family glucosidase derived from C. divulgatum were obtained from the NCBI database, and a recombinant plasmid pET-30a(+)-CdBglA was constructed. The recombinant protein was induced to express in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). The enzymatic properties of the purified CdBglA were studied. The molecular weight of the recombinant CdBglA was 56.0 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature were 5.5 and 55 ℃, respectively. The enzyme showed good pH stability, 92.33% of the initial activity could be retained when treated under pH 5.5-11.0 for 1 h. When pNPG was used as a substrate, the kinetic parameters K_m, V_max and K_cat/K_m were 0.81 mmol, 291.99 μmol/(mg·min), and 387.50 s^-1 mmol^-1, respectively. 90.33% of the initial enzyme activity could be retained when CdBglA was placed with various heavy metal ions at a final concentration of 5 mmol/L. The enzyme activity was increased by 28.67% under 15% ethanol solution, remained unchanged under 20% ethanol, and 43.68% of the enzyme activity could still be retained under 30% ethanol. The enzyme has an obvious activation effect at 0-1.5 mol/L NaCl and can tolerate 0.8 mol/L glucose. In conclusion, CdBglA is an acidic and mesophilic enzyme with broad pH stability and strong tolerance to most metal ions, organic solvents, NaCl and glucose. These characteristics may facilitate future theoretical research and industrial production.
beta-Glucosidase ; Sodium Chloride ; Temperature ; Glucose ; Ethanol/chemistry* ; Ions ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Enzyme Stability ; Substrate Specificity

Cancer stands as one of the predominant causes of mortality globally, necessitating ongoing efforts to develop innovative therapeutics. Historically, natural products have been foundational in the quest for anticancer agents. Bulbocodin D (BD) and Bulbocodin C (BC), two bibenzyls derived from Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, have demonstrated notable in vitro anticancer activity. In human lung cancer A549 cells, the IC_50s for BD and BC were 11.63 and 11.71 μmol·L^-1, respectively. BD triggered apoptosis, as evidenced by an upsurge in Annexin V-positive cells and elevated protein expression of cleaved-PARP in cancer cells. Furthermore, BD and BC markedly inhibited the migratory and invasive potentials of A549 cells. The altered genes identified through RNA-sequencing analysis were integrated into the CMap dataset, suggesting BD's role as a potential signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) inhibitor. SwissDock and MOE analyses further revealed that both BD and BC exhibited a commendable binding affinity with STAT3. Additionally, a surface plasmon resonance assay confirmed the direct binding affinity between these compounds and STAT3. Notably, treatment with either BD or BC led to a significant reduction in p-STAT3 (Tyr 705) protein levels, regardless of interleukin-6 stimulation in A549 cells. In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was activated after BD or BC treatment. An enhancement in cancer cell mortality was observed upon combined treatment of BD and U0126, the MEK1/2 inhibitor. In conclusion, BD and BC emerge as promising novel STAT3 inhibitors with potential implications in cancer therapy.
Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/metabolism* ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry* ; A549 Cells ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation