RNA binding protein (RBP) plays a key role in gene regulation and participate in RNA translation, modification, splicing, transport and other important biological processes. Studies have shown that abnormal expression of RBP is associated with a variety of diseases. The Musashi (Msi) family of mammals is an evolutionarily conserved and powerful RBP, whose members Msi1 and Msi2 play important roles in the regulation of stem cell activity and tumor development. The Msi family members regulate a variety of biological processes by binding and regulating mRNA translation, stability and downstream cell signaling pathways, and among them, Msi2 is closely related to embryonic growth and development, maintenance of tumor stem cells and development of hematological tumors. Accumulating evidence has shown that Msi2 also plays a crucial role in the development of solid tumors, mainly by affecting the proliferation, invasion, metastasis and drug resistance of tumors, involving Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β/SMAD3, Akt/mTOR, JAK/STAT, Numb and their related signaling pathways (Notch, p53, and Hedgehog pathway). Preclinical studies of Msi2 gene as a therapeutic target for tumor have achieved preliminary results. This review summarizes the molecular structure, physiological function, role of Msi2 in the development and progression of various solid tumors and the signaling pathways involved.
Animals ; Hedgehog Proteins ; Mammals/metabolism* ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of NOB1 in colorectal cancer and its relationship with the clinicopathological characteristics.

METHODSThe expression of NOB1 was detected immunohistochemically in 60 primary colorectal cancer tissues and the corresponding normal epithelia (3.0 cm away from the cancer margin) and graded according to the staining intensity and the percentage of positively stained tumor cells.

RESULTSNOB1 overexpression was found in 32 of the 60 cases (53.3%). NOB1 overexpression in the adjacent non-neoplastic tissues was found in 10 of the cases (16.7%), a rate significantly lower than that in the cancer tissues (P<0.05). NOB1 expression was not correlated to such tumor characteristics as gender, age, histological differentiation grade, depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNOB1 expression is higher in colorectal cancer than in normal colorectal tissues, suggesting its involvement in the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of the cellular proteins involved in the process of replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) negative-strand RNA.

METHODSUltraviolet (UV) cross-linking was used to identify the cellular proteins that would bind to the 3'-end of HCV negative-strand RNA. Competition experiment was used to confirm the specificity of this binding, in which excess nonhomologous protein and RNA transcripts were used as competitors. The required binding sequence was determined by mapping, then the binding site was predicted through secondary structure analysis.

RESULTSA cellular protein of 45 kD (p45) was found to bind specifically to the 3'-end of HCV negative-strand RNA by UV cross-linking. Nonhomologous proteins and RNA transcripts could not compete out this binding, whereas the unlabeled 3'-end of HCV negative-strand RNA could. Mapping of the protein-binding site suggested that the 3'-end 131-278nt of HCV negative-strand RNA was the possible protein-binding region. Analysis of RNA secondary structure presumed that the potential binding site was located at 194-GAAAGAAC-201.

CONCLUSIONThe cellular protein p45 could specifically bind to the secondary structure of the 3'-end of HCV intermediate negative-strand RNA, and may play an important role in HCV RNA replication.

Binding Sites ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; RNA, Viral ; chemistry ; metabolism ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; metabolism ; Virus Replication

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

Influenza C virus is an important respiratory pathogen not only infecting people, but also pigs, dogs, and other animals. Polymerase is central to the replication of influenza C virus and is an important target for studying the mechanism of viral replication. However, there is no commercial monoclonal antibody (MAb) targeting influenza C virus polymerase, which hampers the development of relevant research to some extent. In order to prepare MAb targeting the polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2) of influenza C virus, influenza C virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, consists of PB1, PB2 and P3) was co-immunoprecipitated with Flag-tagged human acidic nuclear phosphoprotein 32A (huANP32A-Flag) from 293T cells based on the interaction between huANP32A and influenza virus RdRp. The purified RdRp was used as antigen to immunize BALB/c mice. Six positive hybridoma cell lines (7B11-5, 8A4-5, 13D9-6, 8D4-1, 8D4-3, 9F9-4) that stably secrete and recognize PB2 MAb were screened by indirect ELISA and Western blotting. The subtypes of MAb 7B11-5, 8A4-5, 8D4-1 and 8D4-3 antibody were identified as IgG1, the subtypes of MAb 13D9-6 and 9F9-4 were IgG2a and IgG3, respectively. All the light chains of the MAbs were κ chain. A hybridoma cell line 8D4-1 with high titer was further selected to prepare ascites. The titer of mouse ascites antibody was determined to be 1:64 000. Western blotting results showed that the MAb 8D4-1 had a specific immune response with ICV PB2; laser confocal assay showed that the prepared MAb 8D4-1 accurately detected the subcellular localization of PB2 subunits. Moreover, ICV RdRp was highly enriched by ANP32A. The high specific of the prepared PB2 MAb 8D4-1 may facilitate the polymerase detection, structural analysis and mechanism study of influenza C virus.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/metabolism* ; Ascites ; Humans ; Influenzavirus C/metabolism* ; Mice ; Nuclear Proteins/metabolism* ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase/genetics* ; Viral Proteins/metabolism* ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo screen cellular proteins binding to the core region of hepatitis C virus (HCV) from human hepatoma cells.

METHODSUnlabeled and labeled RNA transcripts were prepared by in vitro transcription. Cytoplasmic extracts were prepared from human hepatoma cells HepG2. Ultraviolet (UV) cross-linking was used to screen the cellular proteins that would bind to the core region of HCV. Competition experiment was performed to confirm the specificity of the binding in which excess unlabeled RNA of HCV core region and plasmid RNA were used as competitors.

RESULTSTwo cellular proteins of 6.6 x 10(4) and 5.5 x 10(4) were found binding to the core region of HCV RNA by UV cross-linking assay. The unlabeled core region of HCV RNA could compete out this binding whereas the unlabeled plasmid RNA could not.

CONCLUSIONThe cellular proteins from HepG2 cells could bind to the core region of HCV RNA.

Binding Sites ; Cross-Linking Reagents ; chemistry ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ultraviolet Rays ; Viral Core Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the interaction partners of a new splicing product of LMO2 gene (LMO2-C), and study its function in K562 cells.

METHODSMaltose binding protein (MBP) pull down and mammalian two-hybrid assay (MTHA) were used to identify the interaction partners of LMO2-C in K562 cells. Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of hematopoietic specific gene glycoprotein (GPA) in K562 cells.

RESULTSMBP-LMO2-C fusion protein was expressed and purified in soluble form successfully. Endogenous GATA1 and LDB1 proteins were confirmed to bind to LMO2-C by MBP pull down analysis. The MTHA also showed that LMO2-C had comparable binding affinities to LDB1 with LMO2-L, and over expression of LMO2-C prevented LMO2-L from binding to LDB1, the inhibition rate being (81.13 +/- 0.68)%. RT-PCR results showed that the expression level of GPA was reduced [(51.00 +/- 1.58)%] in K562 cells while LMO2-C overexpressed.

CONCLUSIONLMO2-C can bind endogenous GATA1 and LDB1 protein in K562 cells and down regulates the expression of GPA.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; GATA1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; LIM Domain Proteins ; Maltose-Binding Proteins ; Metalloproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Periplasmic Binding Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; RNA Splicing ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of neural salient serine/arginine-rich protein 1 (NSSR1) in colorectal cancer.

METHODSRT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of NSSR1 mRNA and protein in different mouse tissues and human colorectal cancer, respectively.

RESULTSNSSR1 mRNA was expressed in mouse cerebrum, cerebellum, heart, liver, intestine, kidney and lung tissue, but NSSR1 protein was only expressed in neural tissues. In normal human intestinal mucosa, NSSR1 was expressed in the colorectal epithelial cells. In colorectal cancer, NSSR1 was highly expressed in the nucleus of tumor cells.

CONCLUSIONThe extensive expression of NSSR1 in colorectal cancer cells may hint it's roles in the biological function of colorectal cancer.

Animals ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Colon ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rectum ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors

OBJECTIVETo search for an appropriate animal model that is more closely related to human to study cAMP-response element binding protein target gene Staufen and to identify its location.

METHODSThe phylogenetic tree was constructed with Staufen protein (STAUFEN) sequences of different species, and the most suitable animal model was selected by analyzing relativity among them. The Staufen fragments were amplified with reverse transcription-PCR and inserted into a vector and then the sub-clone was transformed into bacteria, selected, amplified, extracted and sequenced. Staufen probes were in vitro transcribed and hybridized in situ on the cryosections of the mouse brain. The cryosections were stained and observed.

RESULTSThe clustering patterns of the phylogenetic tree indicated that the mouse and human Staufen1 had 99.7% protein sequences similarity. The mRNA of Staufen was located in CA1, CA2, CA3 and DG hippocampus regions shown by in situ hybridization.

CONCLUSIONThe mouse is a preferable animal model for research on Staufen transcription in hippocampus.

Animals ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

In this report, we study the effects of over-expression of Lin28a and Lin28b on let-7 family activity in HeLaS3. Firstly, we constructed pAAV2neo-Lin28a and pAAV2neo-Lin28b to express Lin28a and Lin28b, respectively. Then, pAAV2neo-Lin28a and pAAV2neo-Lin28b were transfected into HeLaS3, selected with G418 and obtained cell lines, HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a and HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b, to express Lin28a and Lin28b stably. Thereafter, we constructed eight plasmid vectors for detection of let-7 family activity based on pAAV2neo-Gluc-(Fluc). These vectors were further packaged into recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) which were used as sensors, nominated as Asensors, to detect inhibition activity of miRNA at post-transcriptional level. Subsequently, with HeLaS3 as a control, we assayed expression levels of Lin28a and Lin28b by Western blot, detected expression levels of let-7 family by QRT-PCR, and tested let-7 family activity by Asensors in HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a and HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b. Results demonstrated that both HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a and HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b could express Lin28a and Lin28b effectively. Compared with HeLaS3, the expression level of let-7 family except let-7e declined in HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a. But declining extent among members of let-7 family was different. The let-7 family activity also decreased while the decreasing extent varied among members. Furthermore, the activity level was not consistent with its expression level for the same member in let-7 family. Compared with HeLaS3, both expression level and activity level of let-7 family in HeLaS3/ pAAV2neo-Lin28b were decreased. However, the decreasing extent of let-7 family expression changes was larger than that of HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a while the decreasing extent of activity changes was similar. In this study, we established a method to detect and compare post-transcriptional inhibition level mediated by miRNA complementary targets. We firstly clarified the effect of Lin28a and Lin28b on let-7 family activity profile and found that this effect was not the same as that at expression level of let-7 family, suggesting that it was more comprehensive to understand miRNA regulation roles to detect both miRNA expression and activity. This paves a way for further research on mechanism of regulation of let-7 family.
Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins