Purpose: Four and a half LIM protein 1 (FHL1) is involved in breast cancer (BC) development, but the regulatory mechanism involved remain unclear. In the present study, we examined the role of FHL1 in BC development. Methods: The expression of FHL1, miR-183-5p, and miR-96-5p in BC tissues was analyzed using StarBase analysis. FHL1 expression in BC tissues, a normal human breast epithelial cell line, and BC cell lines was detected using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The relationship between FHL1 and miR-183-5p/miR-96-5p was analyzed via Pearson's rank correlation, TargetScan, and a dual-luciferase reporter assay. BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with either FHL1 and miR-183-5p mimics, or siFHL1 and a miR-183-5p inhibitor, respectively. The viability, colony number, migration, invasion, and tube length of BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells were examined using cell counting kit-8, colony formation, wound-healing, Transwell, and tube formation assays, respectively. The levels of FHL1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p53, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin were quantified using western blotting and qRT-PCR. Results: FHL1 expression was downregulated in BC tissues and cells, whereas miR-183-5p and miR-96-5p were upregulated in BC tissues (negative correlation with FHL1 expression).FHL1 overexpression inhibited the viability, colony number, migration, and invasion of BC cells and the expression of VEGF, N-cadherin, and vimentin, and increased the expression of FHL1, p53, and E-cadherin in BT549 cells. Furthermore, a miR-183-5p mimic reversed these effects of FHL1 overexpression, whereas FHL1 silencing caused opposite results to those observed in MDA-MB-231 cells; however, this was reversed by a miR-183-5p inhibitor. Conclusion Our study suggests that miR-183-5p promotes cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis by negatively regulating FHL1 in BC.

Ethylene regulates sex expression in cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.). ACC synthase is a key factor during the ethylene biosynthesis. Pairs of PCR primers were synthesized corresponding to the conserved sequences of ACC synthase gene family. The 1 188 bp DNA fragment of ACC synthase gene (CS-ACS2) was amplified from genomic DNA of 8 different sexual phenotypes of cucumber respectively (GenBank accession number is DQ115884～DQ115886 and DQ115875～DQ115879). 8 SNPs have been identified by sequences analysis between 3 monoecious lines and 5 subgynoecious lines and gynoecious lines, which including 4 A←→G and 4 T←→C transition. Of these 8 SNPs, one locus is in intron and 7 loci in exons. Of the 7 SNPs located in exons, 3 SNPs are non-coding SNPs and 4 SNPs are coding SNPs (cSNPs) of which 3 induced changes of encoding amino acid of ACC synthase. The results of SNPs from subgynoecious lines and gynoecious lines suggest that single nucleotide mutation events of CS-ACS2 might be correlated with the development of subgynoecious lines and gynoecious lines in cucumber. Furthermore, CAPS marker C-MT705 was developed for identifying elite subgynoecious cultivar MT-705, which could be valuable in cucumber breeding. Besides, the SNPs and CAPS markers obtained in the study enriched molecular markers of cucumber.