This study explored the mechanism of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction(XSLJZD) in the treatment of functional dyspepsia(FD) based on inositol-requiring enzyme 1(IRE1)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway-mediated autophagy in interstitial cells of Cajal(ICC). Forty-eight SPF-grade male SD suckling rats were randomly divided into a blank group and a modeling group, and the integrated modeling method(iodoacetamide gavage + disturbance of hunger and satiety + swimming exhaustion) was used to replicate the FD rat model. After the model replications were successfully completed, the rats were divided into a model group, high-dose, medium-dose, and low-dose groups of XSLJZD(12, 6, and 3 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and a positive drug group(mosapride of 1.35 mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)), and the intervention lasted for 14 days. The gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats in each group were measured. The histopathological changes in the gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The ultrastructure of ICC was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence double staining technique was used to detect the protein expression of phospho-IRE1(p-IRE1), TNF receptor associated factors 2(TRAF2), phospho-ASK1(p-ASK1), phospho-JNK(p-JNK), p62, and Beclin1 in ICC of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Western blot was used to detect the related protein expression of gastric sinus tissue of rats in each group. Compared with those in the blank group, the rats in the model group showed decreased body weight, gastric emptying rate, and intestinal propulsion rate, and transmission electron microscopy revealed damage to the endoplasmic reticulum structure and increased autophagosomes in ICC. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the ICC of gastric sinus tissue showed a significant elevation of p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins and a significant reduction of p62 protein. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. Compared with the model group, the body weight of rats in the high-dose and medium-dose groups of XSLJZD was increased, and the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate were increased. Transmission electron microscopy observed amelioration of structural damage to the endoplasmic reticulum of ICC and reduction of autophagosomes, and the p-IRE1, TRAF2, p-ASK1, p-JNK, and Beclin1 proteins in the ICC of gastric sinus tissue were significantly decreased. The p62 protein was significantly increased. Western blot revealed that the expression levels of relevant proteins in gastric sinus tissue were consistent with those of proteins in ICC. XSLJZD can effectively treat FD, and its specific mechanism may be related to the inhibition of the expression of molecules related to the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ICC and the improvement of autophagy to promote gastric motility in ICC.
Animals ; Male ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Autophagy/drug effects* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal/metabolism* ; Dyspepsia/physiopathology* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Humans ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes

This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction in regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress via the inositol-requiring enzyme 1α(IRE1α)/apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1(ASK1)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) pathway to improve neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury(CIRI). SPF-grade male sprague-dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into Sham group, model group, Buyang Huanwu Decoction group, and edaravone group. Except for the Sham group, the other groups were subjected to the modified suture method to establish a middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion(MCAO/R) model. After treatment, neurological function was assessed using the Zea Longa scoring system. Gait analysis was used to detect the motor function. Detection of relative infarct area in brain tissue using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride(TTC) staining. Nissl staining was used to observe the structure of neuronal cells. Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-qPCR) were used to detect IRE1α, ASK1, JNK, B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2 related X protein(Bax), and Caspase-3 in the brain tissue. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of IRE1α, ASK1, and JNK. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the fluorescence expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3. The results showed that compared with the Sham group, the model group exhibited increased neurological scores(P<0.01), increased ratio of ground contact area and strength in both forelimbs(P<0.01), enlarged relative infarct area of brain tissue(P<0.05), and a reduced number of Nissl staining-positive cells(P<0.01). The protein and mRNA expression levels of IRE1α, ASK1, JNK, Bax, and Caspase-3 in brain tissue were significantly elevated, while those of Bcl-2 were decreased(P<0.05). Compared with the model group, both the Buyang Huanwu Decoction group and edaravone group showed reduced neurological scores(P<0.05), decreased ratio of ground contact area and strength in both forelimbs(P<0.05), smaller relative infarct area(P<0.05), alleviated neuronal damage, and increased number of Nissl staining-positive cells(P<0.05). The expression levels of IRE1α, ASK1, JNK, Bax, and Caspase-3 protein and mRNA in brain tissue were significantly reduced, while those of Bcl-2 were significantly increased(P<0.05). The results indicated that Buyang Huanwu Decoction can effectively improve brain injury in CIRI rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to regulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress IRE1α/ASK1/JNK signaling pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/administration & dosage* ; Rats ; MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5/genetics* ; Ischemic Stroke/physiopathology* ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System/drug effects* ; Apoptosis/drug effects* ; Endoribonucleases/genetics* ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/genetics* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/drug effects* ; Multienzyme Complexes

OBJECTIVES: To study the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of one child with GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia, along with a review of cases reported in the literature, focusing on clinical phenotypes and treatment characteristics. RESULTS: Among 31 patients, the onset was primarily in the neonatal period or early childhood, characterized by mucocutaneous bleeding. Twenty-six cases presented with macrothrombocytes, and 4 cases progressed to GNE myopathy in adulthood. Overall treatment efficacy was suboptimal, although 5 cases responded well to thrombopoietic agents. CONCLUSIONS GNE gene-related thrombocytopenia is characterized by moderate to severe thrombocytopenia, macrothrombocytes, and a bleeding tendency. Some children may develop secondary GNE myopathy, highlighting the need for early identification and exploration of effective therapies.
Child ; Humans ; Multienzyme Complexes/genetics* ; Thrombocytopenia/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVES: Uridine diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine 2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) myopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease associated with homozygous or compound heterozygous missense mutations in the GNE gene. This study aims to explore the impact of the homozygous p.V543M mutation in on cell phenotype and to gain preliminary insights into the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Human embryonic kidney 293T (HEK 293T) cells were used to construct wild-type (WT-GNE) and mutant (MUT-GNE) GNE overexpression models. Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to assess GNE protein expression levels and subcellular localization. Cell adhesion, proliferation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, crystal violet staining, flow cytometry, Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (PI) staining, and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) staining. Sialic acid synthesis levels and GNE enzymatic activity were measured, and the mRNA expression of sialic acid biosynthesis-related enzymes was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Western blotting confirmed successful establishment of GNE overexpression models. Immunofluorescence showed significantly reduced co-localization of GNE protein with Golgin-97 in the MUT-GNE group compared to WT-GNE (Pearson's correlation coefficient: 0.65±0.08 vs 0.83±0.06, P<0.05). Compared with WT-GNE, cells in the MUT-GNE group exhibited increased adhesion, decreased proliferation, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (P<0.05). No significant differences in apoptosis were observed between groups. The MUT-GNE group showed reduced sialic acid production, significantly decreased kinase activity, and downregulated transcription of sialic acid biosynthesis-related enzymes compared to WT-GNE (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The p.V543M mutation in the GNE gene alters cellular phenotype by reducing GNE enzymatic activity and the transcription of sialic acid biosynthesis enzymes, ultimately impairing sialic acid production.
Humans ; Mutation, Missense ; HEK293 Cells ; Apoptosis/genetics* ; Phenotype ; Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism* ; Cell Proliferation ; Homozygote ; Cell Adhesion/genetics* ; Distal Myopathies/genetics*

L-tyrosine is one of the 20 amino acids that make up proteins and is an essential amino acid for mammals, often used as a nutritional supplement. The conventional methods for synthesizing L-tyrosine have some problems such as the production of many by-products, high requirements for production conditions, and environmental pollution. In this study, we designed and constructed a multi-enzyme cascade for the synthesis of L-tyrosine with alanine, glutamate, ammonium chloride, and phenol as substrates. Initially, the sources of glutamate oxidase, alanine aminotransferase, and tyrosine phenol lyase were screened and analyzed, which was followed by the identification of the rate-limiting enzyme in the reaction process. A colorimetric screening method was established, and the rate-limiting enzyme DbAlaA was engineered to enhance its activity by 40.0%. Subsequently, the reaction conditions, including temperature, pH, cell concentration, and surfactant and coenzyme dosages, were optimized. After optimization, the yield of L-tyrosine reached 9.93 g/L, with a alanine conversion rate of 54.90%. Finally, a feed-batch fermentation strategy was adopted, and the yield of L-tyrosine reached 56.07 g/L after 24 h, with a alanine conversion rate of 65.22%. This study provides a reference for the whole-cell catalytic synthesis of L-tyrosine and its industrialization.
Tyrosine/biosynthesis* ; Escherichia coli/metabolism* ; Tyrosine Phenol-Lyase/genetics* ; Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism* ; Fermentation

Animals ; Autophagy/genetics* ; Cholesterol/metabolism* ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Integrases/metabolism* ; Leydig Cells/metabolism* ; Male ; Mice, Knockout ; Multienzyme Complexes/metabolism* ; Phosphoproteins/metabolism* ; Primary Cell Culture ; Progesterone Reductase/metabolism* ; RNA Splicing Factors/metabolism* ; Scavenger Receptors, Class B/metabolism* ; Sequestosome-1 Protein/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Sirtuin 1/genetics* ; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/metabolism* ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase/metabolism* ; Steroid Isomerases/metabolism* ; Testosterone/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the possible effect of artesunate (ART) on schistosome thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) and cytochrome c peroxidase (CcP) in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.

METHODSA total of 200 laboratory bred male Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups (50 mice in each group). Group I: infected untreated group (Control group) received a vehicle of 1% sodium carbonyl methylcellulose (CMC-Na); Group II: infected then treated with artesunate; Group III: infected then treated with praziquantel, and group IV: infected then treated with artesunate then praziquantel. Adult S. mansoni worms were collected by Animal Perfusion Method, tissue egg counted, TGR, and CcP mRNA Expression were estimated of in S. mansoni adult worms by semi-quantitative rt-PCR.

RESULTSSemi-quantitative rt-PCR values revealed that treatment with artesunate caused significant decrease in expression of schistosome TGR and CcP in comparison to the untreated group. In contrast, the treatment with praziquantel did not cause significant change in expression of these genes. The results showed more reduction in total worm and female worm count in combined ART-PZQ treated group than in monotherapy treated groups by either ART or PZQ. Moreover, complete disappearance (100%) of tissue eggs was recorded in ART-PZQ treated group with a respective reduction rate of 95.9% and 68.4% in ART- and PZQ-treated groups.

CONCLUSIONThe current study elucidated for the first time that anti-schistosomal mechanisms of artesunate is mediated via reduction in expression of schistosome TGR and CcP. Linking these findings, addition of artesunate to praziquantel could achieve complete cure outcome in treatment of schistosomiasis.

Animals ; Artemisinins ; pharmacology ; Cytochrome-c Peroxidase ; drug effects ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Multienzyme Complexes ; drug effects ; genetics ; NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases ; drug effects ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Schistosoma ; drug effects ; enzymology

PURPOSE: Glucosamine (UDP-N-acetyl)-2-epimerase/N-acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) myopathy is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder characterized by early adult-onset weakness of the distal muscles of the lower limbs. The clinical spectrum of GNE myopathy varies, and it is not clear how the same GNE gene mutations can result in different phenotypes. Here, we present clinical, pathological and genetic characteristics of twenty-one Korean patients with GNE myopathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one GNE myopathy patients were included in this study, conducted from 2004 to 2011. Based on medical records, patients' gender, onset age, family history, clinical history, serum creatine kinase (CK) level, neurologic examination, findings of muscle biopsy, muscle imaging findings and electrophysiologic features were extensively reviewed. Mutation of the GNE gene (9p13.3) was confirmed by DNA direct sequencing analysis in all patients. RESULTS: The mean onset age was 23.8+/-8.8 years (mean+/-SD). Patient serum CK levels were slightly to moderately elevated, ranging from 41 to 2610 IU. Among the patients, twelve patients were female and nine patients were male. Except for eight patients, all of the patients presented initially with only distal muscle weakness in the lower extremities. The most common mutation was V572L, followed by C13S. CONCLUSION: The clinical manifestations of our patients with GNE mutations varied. Among twenty-one patients, thirteen patients showed the typical GNE myopathy phenotype. There was no relationship between clinical features and site of mutation. Therefore, we suggest that neither homozygous nor compound heterozygous models are correlated with disease phenotype or disease severity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Creatine Kinase/blood ; Distal Myopathies/diagnosis/*genetics/pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Multienzyme Complexes/*genetics ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The experiment was conducted by directed evolution strategy (error-prone PCR) to improve the activity of aflatoxin detoxifzyme with the high-throughput horse radish peroxidas and recessive brilliant green (HRP-RBG) screening system. We built up a mutant library to the order of 10(4). Two rounds of EP-PCR and HRP-RBG screening were used to obtain three optimum mutant strains A1773, A1476 and A2863. We found that mutant A1773 had upper temperature tolerance of 70 degrees C and that its enzyme activity was 6.5 times higher than that of the parent strain. Mutant strains A1476 worked well at pH 4.0 and its enzyme activity was 21 times higher than that of the parent strain. Mutant A2863 worked well at pH 4.0 and pH 7.5, and its enzyme activity was 12.6 times higher than that of the parent strain. With DNA sequencing we found that mutant A1773 revealed two amino acid substitutions, Glu127Lys and Gln613Arg. Mutant A1476 revealed four amino acid substitutions: Ser46Pro, Lys221Gln, Ile307Leu and Asn471lle. Mutant A2863 revealed four amino acid substitutions: Gly73Ser, Ile307Leu, Va1596Ala and Gln613Arg. The results provided a useful illustration for the deep understanding of the relationship between the function and structure of aflatoxin detoxifzyme.
Aflatoxin B1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; chemistry ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Enzyme Activation ; Enzyme Stability ; Multienzyme Complexes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Protein Engineering

OBJECTIVETo investigate GNE gene mutations in 5 Chinese patients with distal myopathy with rimmed vacuoles (DMRV).

METHODSFive patients with typical clinical and pathological features of DMRV were studied. All the 11 coding exons and the flanking intron sequences of GNE gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Four family members of case 5 were also examined for GNE gene mutations.

RESULTSAll the patients were identified to have different GNE gene mutations: Cases 1-4 had complex heterozygous mutations and case 5 had homozygous mutation. Six reported mutations had been identified, including 1 nonsense mutation (p.R8X) and 5 missense mutations (p.D176V, p.I298T, p.A591T, P.A631V, and p.V696M). A novel mutation (c.317T>C, p.I106T) was identified in case 2.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report of p.R8X, p.I298T, p.A591T and p.V696M mutations in GNE gene in Chinese population, and a novel mutation p.I106T was identified. These findings further expand the clinical and genetic spectrum of DMRV in China.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Distal Myopathies ; enzymology ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Multienzyme Complexes ; genetics ; Mutation ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; genetics ; Young Adult