Background/Aims: Ubiquitination is widely involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating various cellular processes. However, systematic strategies for screening core ubiquitin-related genes, clarifying their functions and mechanisms, and ultimately developing potential therapeutics for patients with HCC are still lacking. Methods: Cox and LASSO regression analyses were performed to construct a ubiquitin-related gene prediction model for HCC. Loss- and gain-of-function studies, transcriptomic and metabolomics analysis were used to explore the function and mechanism of UBE2S on HCC cell glycolysis and growth. Results: Based on 1,423 ubiquitin-related genes, a four-gene signature was successfully constructed to evaluate the prognosis of patients with HCC. UBE2S was identified in this signature with the potential to predict the survival of patients with HCC. E2F2 transcriptionally upregulated UBE2S expression by directly binding to its promoter. UBE2S positively regulated glycolysis in a HIF-1α-dependent manner, thus promoting the proliferation of HCC cells. Mechanistically, UBE2S enhanced K11-linkage polyubiquitination at lysine residues 171 and 196 of VHL independent of E3 ligase, thereby indirectly stabilizing HIF-1α protein levels by mediating the degradation of VHL by the proteasome. In particular, the combination of cephalomannine, a small molecule compound that inhibits the expression of UBE2S, and PX-478, an inhibitor of HIF-1α, significantly improved the anti-tumor efficacy. Conclusions UBE2S is identified as a key biomarker in HCC among the thousands of ubiquitin-related genes and promotes glycolysis by E3 enzyme-independent ubiquitination, thus serving as a therapeutic target for the treatment of HCC.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has made a great contribution to treat infertility and support population development. However, more and more studies have found that ART may bring various short-term and long-term health risks to the offspring due to its non-physiological in vitro operation, unnatural reproductive characteristics, and application in the critical period of gametes and embryonic development. Studies have found that the key operations of ART may affect the neurological and psychiatric health of offspring, including disease risk and academic performance, through affecting the gamete, the epigenetic regulatory program of the embryo, and the hormonal environment. This article reviewed the effects of ART on neurodevelopmental disorders, neurological diseases, and mental diseases in offspring, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of mental and neurological diseases and improving the safety of assisted reproduction.

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has made a great contribution to treat infertility and support population development. However, more and more studies have found that ART may bring various short-term and long-term health risks to the offspring due to its non-physiological in vitro operation, unnatural reproductive characteristics, and application in the critical period of gametes and embryonic development. Studies have found that the key operations of ART may affect the neurological and psychiatric health of offspring, including disease risk and academic performance, through affecting the gamete, the epigenetic regulatory program of the embryo, and the hormonal environment. This article reviewed the effects of ART on neurodevelopmental disorders, neurological diseases, and mental diseases in offspring, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of mental and neurological diseases and improving the safety of assisted reproduction.