1.Molecular biological research and molecular homologous modeling of Bw.03 subgroup
Li WANG ; Yongkui KONG ; Huifang JIN ; Xin LIU ; Ying XIE ; Xue LIU ; Yanli CHANG ; Yafang WANG ; Shumiao YANG ; Di ZHU ; Qiankun YANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(1):112-115
[Objective] To study the molecular biological mechanism for a case of ABO blood group B subtype, and perform three-dimensional modeling of the mutant enzyme. [Methods] The ABO phenotype was identified by the tube method and microcolumn gel method; the ABO gene of the proband was detected by sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP), and the exon 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were sequenced and analyzed. Homologous modeling of Bw.03 glycosyltransferase (GT) was carried out by Modeller and analyzed by PyMOL2.5.0 software. [Results] The weakening B antigen was detected in the proband sample by forward typing, and anti-B antibody was detected by reverse typing. PCR-SSP detection showed B, O gene, and the sequencing results showed c.721 C>T mutation in exon 7 of the B gene, resulting in p. Arg 241 Trp. Compared with the wild type, the structure of Bw.03GT was partially changed, and the intermolecular force analysis showed that the original three hydrogen bonds at 241 position disappeared. [Conclusion] Blood group molecular biology examination is helpful for the accurate identification of ambiguous blood group. Homologous modeling more intuitively shows the key site for the weakening of Bw.03 GT activity. The intermolecular force analysis can explain the root cause of enzyme activity weakening.
2.Research progress on protein lactylation in ophthalmic diseases
Hongliang CHEN ; Long SUO ; Qiankun WANG ; Shuang LIU
International Eye Science 2025;25(5):797-801
Lactylation, a recently identified post-translational modification of proteins, is induced by lactic acid and can occur at multiple lysine residues in both histone and non-histone proteins. This modification plays a role in disease pathogenesis by affecting transcriptional regulation, mitochondrial metabolism, and immune inflammation. Significant advancements have been made in understanding the mechanisms of lactylation in various ophthalmic diseases, including retinal neovascularization, uveitis, melanoma, and myopia. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the relationship between lactic acid and lactylation, the regulatory mechanisms of lactylation, and the role of lactylation in different ocular diseases. Additionally, it addresses current research limitations and future directions, which is of great significance to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of lactylation in eye diseases and improving the diagnosis and targeted treatment of these conditions.
3.USP47 Regulates Excitatory Synaptic Plasticity and Modulates Seizures in Murine Models by Blocking Ubiquitinated AMPAR Degradation.
Juan YANG ; Haiqing ZHANG ; You WANG ; Yuemei LUO ; Weijin ZHENG ; Yong LIU ; Qian JIANG ; Jing DENG ; Qiankun LIU ; Peng ZHANG ; Hao HUANG ; Changyin YU ; Zucai XU ; Yangmei CHEN
Neuroscience Bulletin 2025;41(10):1805-1823
Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder affecting ~65 million individuals worldwide. Abnormal synaptic plasticity is one of the most important pathological features of this condition. We investigated how ubiquitin-specific peptidase 47 (USP47) influences synaptic plasticity and its link to epilepsy. We found that USP47 enhanced excitatory postsynaptic transmission and increased the density of total dendritic spines and the proportion of mature dendritic spines. Furthermore, USP47 inhibited the degradation of the ubiquitinated α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) subunit glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1), which is associated with synaptic plasticity. In addition, elevated levels of USP47 were found in epileptic mice, and USP47 knockdown reduced the frequency and duration of seizure-like events and alleviated epileptic seizures. To summarize, we present a new mechanism whereby USP47 regulates excitatory postsynaptic plasticity through the inhibition of ubiquitinated GluR1 degradation. Modulating USP47 may offer a potential approach for controlling seizures and modifying disease progression in future therapeutic strategies.
Animals
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Receptors, AMPA/metabolism*
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Neuronal Plasticity/physiology*
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Seizures/physiopathology*
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Disease Models, Animal
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice
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Ubiquitin Thiolesterase/genetics*
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Male
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Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials/physiology*
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Ubiquitination
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Dendritic Spines/metabolism*
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Hippocampus/metabolism*
4.Identification of the cisAB (c. 796A>C) allele and molecular docking of its transferase
Yongkui KONG ; Shuya WANG ; Huifang JIN ; Jing WANG ; Lu ZHENG ; Yanjie GONG ; Qiankun YANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2025;38(10):1395-1402
Objective: To reveal the molecular basis of the cisAB (p. Met266Leu) glycosyltransferase by studying a proband with cisAB subtype and his family. Methods: A male newborn was selected as the research subject. Tube methods were used to identify ABO blood types of the proband and his family members. PCR-SSP detection, ABO gene sequencing, and cloning analysis were performed on the proband and some family members. The inheritance pattern of the subtype gene in the family was determined through pedigree analysis. Homology modeling was used to analyze the impact of amino acid variations on the structure of the transferase, and molecular docking was used to demonstrate the bifunctional activity of the transferase and the donor-receptor binding conformation. Results: Serological tests showed that the proband and his father had enhanced anti-H agglutination, and the grandmother had a forward and reverse discrepancy. Sequencing of the proband revealed heterozygous variations of c. 297A>G, c. 526C>G, c. 657C>T, c. 703G>A, c. 803G>C, and c. 930G>A compared with A1. 01 (compared with B. 01, lacking the c. 796C>A variation, namely harboring the c. 796A>C variation) and c. 261delG. Combined with cloning analysis, the proband's genotype was determined to be ABO
cisAB (c. 796A>C)/ABO
O. 01. 01, the father's genotype was ABO
cisAB (c. 796A>C)/ABO
O. 01. 02, and the grandmother's genotype was ABO
cisAB (c. 796A>C)/ABO
B102. Pedigree analysis indicated that the cisAB allele in this newborn was inherited from his father and grandmother rather than a natural mutation. Homology modeling showed that the side chain orientation and intermolecular forces of Leu266 in the cisAB (p. Met266Leu) transferase changed, and molecular docking demonstrated that the "binding pocket" of the active center of the variant enzyme could accommodate both UDP-GalNAc and UDP-Gal, indicating that the cisAB enzyme structure has bifunctional activity. Conclusion: The bifunctional activity of this cisAB (p. Met266Leu) enzyme is related to the nucleotide variation of c. 796A>C, and molecular docking indicates that the enzyme has dual affinity for A/B sugar donors.
5.Roles of Müller glial-mesenchymal transition in retinal fibrosis diseases
Qiankun WANG ; Long SUO ; Shuang LIU
International Eye Science 2024;24(11):1747-1752
Glial-mesenchymal transition(GMT)is a biological process of transdifferentiation where endothelial cells gradually adopt the phenotypic characteristics of mesenchymal cells under the influence of various factors. GMT is closely associated with retinal fibrosis diseases. Müller cells, the predominant retinal macroglia, undergo activation and transdifferentiation in response to diverse stimuli and pathological conditions. Researches indicate that GMT plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as diabetic retinopathy(DR), idiopathic epiretinal membrane(iERM), age-related macular degeneration(ARMD), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy(PVR). Although the exact mechanism of GMT is not well understood, it has showed great promise as potential target. Clarifying the research progress of GMT provides new ideas in the early diagnosis and treatments of retinal diseases, which is clinically and scientifically important for revealing interactive effects of cell transdifferentiation families in retinal diseases.
6.Studies on the effect of the p.Arg352Gln mutation on Bw07 transferase
Yongkui KONG ; Pengfei ZHU ; Xin LIU ; Jie SONG ; Li WANG ; Shuya WANG ; Qiankun YANG
Chinese Journal of Laboratory Medicine 2024;47(3):286-292
Objective:To investigate the molecular biological mechanism of Bw07 allele and its transferase alteration carried by a proband of ABw07 subtype.Methods:A 2-year-old male child was selected as the research object. The peripheral blood of the proband and his parents was identified for ABO blood type by the test tube method, and the ABO subgroup PCR-SSP detection and ABO gene sequencing were performed on the three individuals to determine their blood type genotypes. Finally, the effect of the p.Arg352Gln mutation on Bw07 transferase was verified by virtual mutation, DUET structure prediction, molecular dynamics analysis, and in vitro cellular experiments.Results:The serological phenotypes of the proband and his mother were ABw and Bw, respectively, while his father was normal A. The ABO subgroup PCR-SSP assay identified the three genotypes as Bw07/A, Bw07/O, and A/A, respectively.Sanger sequencing further verified that the proband and his mother carried the Bw07 gene, and virtual mutation showed that the intermolecular forces were weakened by the R352Q mutation. DUET predicted that this p.Arg352Gln mutation could affect the thermodynamic stability of Bw07 transferase. Molecular dynamics analysis confirmed that the alteration of thermodynamic stability was mainly related to the appearance of large fluctuations in the amino acid backbone atoms in the 125-133, 193-198 and 336-354 regions, and in vitro cellular experiments further verified the weakened antigen synthesis of Bw07 transferase.Conclusion:The formation of the ABw07 phenotype is associated with the mutation of the highly conserved Arg352 to Gln in Bw07 transferase.
7.Changes in perioperative blood group antibody of 33 type-A/B recipients in ABO-incompatible kidney transplanta-tion
Huifang JIN ; Yongkui KONG ; Xin LIU ; Shuya WANG ; Liyinghui CHEN ; Hao YANG ; Jinfeng LI ; Qiankun YANG
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2024;37(5):534-540
Objective To statistically analyze the perioperative results of patients with ABO-incompatible kidney trans-plantation(ABOi-KT),in order to explore the changes in blood group antibody of type-A/B recipients.Methods A total of 33 cases of blood group A/B ABOi-KT recipients in our hospital from January 2021 to October 2023 were recruited and divided into two groups of group A(n=18)and group B(n=15)according to the different blood types of recipient.The effects of preoperative plasmapheresis on antibody titer,antibody rebound and renal function after operation(serum urea ni-trogen,creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate on the 1st,3rd,7th and 14th day)were analyzed between the two groups.According to the postoperative rebound of blood type antibodies,33 recipients were divided into antibody rebound group(n=7)and non rebound group(n=26),and the differences in initial blood type antibody titers between the two groups were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in the clearance rate of IgM with preoperative plasma ex-change between the two groups(Z=-0.26,P>0.05);Levels of serum urea nitrogen and creatinine on the 1st,3rd,7th and 14th day after operation between group A and group B were not statistically significant(P>0.05),the same as eGFR.Group B was more prone to rebound antibody compared with group A(P<0.05).There was a significant difference in the in-itial IgM antibody titer between the blood type antibody rebound group and the non rebound group(Z=-2.127,P<0.05),but no statistically significant difference in the initial IgG antibody titer(Z=-1.835,P>0.05)between the two groups was found.Conclusion The patients type B receiving type AB kidney donors are more prone to rebound antibody after ABOi-KT operation compared to the the patients type A receiving type AB.
8.Progress of microbiota-directed food intervention for malnourished children
Qiankun LAI ; Yuying WANG ; Jingmin GUO
International Journal of Pediatrics 2024;51(4):245-249
Maintaining the homeostasis of gut microbes is essential for the maintenance of human health.The evolution of the human gut microbiota is involved in many physiological functions.Besides,changes in gut flora can be traced back to early life.The prevalence of malnutrition in infants and young children is persistently high,especially in low-and middle-income countries.More and more researches have confirmed that the immature development of intestinal microbiota and abnormal metabolites are related to malnutrition.Due to nutritional diet is the most important factor affecting the microbiota,studies have begun to assess the therapeutic potential of microbiota oriented food interventions in improving infant and young child malnutrition.Therefore,this review summarizes the latest advances in the field and recommend further progress towards finding new treatments for the malnutrition of infant and young child.
9.Molecular biological identification of a case with A223B subtype
Li WANG ; Qiankun YANG ; Shuya WANG ; Ying XIE ; Xue LIU ; Yanli CHANG ; Yongkui KONG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(8):982-987
Objective:To study the molecular basis for a proband with A subtype B of the ABO blood group and explore the influence of amino acid variant on the activity of glycosyltransferase (GT).Methods:A proband who had presented at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University on July 2, 2020 was selected as the study subject. Serological identification of the ABO blood groups of the proband and her family members were performed by gel card and test tube methods. The ABO gene of the proband was identified by PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) and DNA sequencing. A 3D molecular homologous model was constructed to predict the impact of the variant on the stability of α-(1→3)-D-N-acetylgalactosamine transferase (GTA). Results:The red blood cells of the proband, her mother and two younger brothers showed weak agglutination with anti-A and strong agglutination with anti-B. The sera showed 1~2+ agglutination with Ac and no agglutination with Bc. Based on the serological characteristics, the proband was identified as AwB subtype. Pedigree analysis suggested that the variant was inherited from her mother. The blood group of the proband was identified as A223B type by PCR-SSP. ABO gene sequencing analysis showed that the proband has harbored heterozygous variants of c. 297A>G, c. 467C>T, c. 526C>G, c. 657C>T, c. 703G>A, c. 796C>A, c. 803G>C, c. 930G>A and c. 1055insA. Based on the results of clone sequencing, it was speculated that the genotype was ABO* A223/ ABO* B.01. There were c. 467C>T and c. 1055insA variants compared with ABO* A1.01, and c. 1055insA variant compared with ABO* A1.02. Homologous modeling showed that the C-terminal of A223 GT was significantly prolonged, and the local amino acids and hydrogen bond network have changed. Conclusion:Above results revealed the molecular genetics mechanism of A223B subtype. The c. 1055insA variant carried by the proband may affect the enzymatic activity of GTA and ultimately lead to weakening of A antigen.
10.Molecular study of a case with variant of RHCE*ce allele in haplotype dce resulting in weakened e antigen
Yongkui KONG ; Hecai YANG ; Ming SHAO ; Yinghui CHEN-LI ; Wanjin ZHANG ; Xiaoyan ZHANG ; Jing WANG ; Xianping LYU ; Qiankun YANG
Chinese Journal of Medical Genetics 2024;41(9):1039-1044
Objective:To explore the RH genotype for a female with RhD(-) blood type and its molecular basis. Methods:A 26-year-old female who had attended the outpatient clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in August 2019 was selected as the study subject. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband and her parents for Rh phenotyping with gel card method. PCR-sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT) and DNA sequencing were used to determine the RHD zygosity and RH genotype of the proband and her parents. Homology modeling of Rh proteins was performed with bioinformatic software, and protein structural alterations caused by the variant was simulated by molecular dynamics. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (Ethics No. 2023-KY-0870-003). Results:Serological tests showed that the proband and her father both had weakened e antigen of the Rh phenotype. PCR-SBT and DNA sequencing showed that the genotypes of the proband and her parents were dce/ dCE, dce/ DcE and dCE/ DcE, respectively. And the genotypes of the RHD and RHCE of the proband were RHD*01N.01/ RHD*01N.16, RHCE*01.01/RHCE*04, respectively. Protein simulation and molecular dynamics analysis revealed that the ce_16C variant resulted from RHCE* ce (c.48G>C) may alter the structure of intracellular and extracellular loops, mainly affecting the mobility of extracellular loops 2, 6 and intracellular loops 3, 4. Conclusion:Variant of the RHCE* ce allele c. 48G>C probably underlay the weakened e antigen in this proband.

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