BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer(OC)is the most lethal gynecological cancer among females,and its early diagnosis could help for better outcomes of the patients.AIM To investigate the utility of serum insulin-like growth fac...BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer(OC)is the most lethal gynecological cancer among females,and its early diagnosis could help for better outcomes of the patients.AIM To investigate the utility of serum insulin-like growth factors-binding proteins 2(IGFBP2),secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1),thrombospondin 1 protein(TSP1)and D-dimer levels in addition to currently used biomarkers[cancer antigen 125(CA125)and human epididymis protein 4(HE4)]in the diagnosis of epithelial OC(EOC).METHODS This is a case-control study that included fifty females diagnosed with EOC,10 females with benign ovarian masses recruited from the Egyptian National Cancer Institute,and 30 healthy females as a control group.All subjects were assessed for serum HE4,CA125,IGFBP2,TSP1 and SPP1 measurement by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay.RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in serum levels between EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding CA125 and SPP1(P<0.001 for both markers),while HE4 and IGFBP2 increased significantly in EOC compared to healthy control groups(P<0.001 for all markers)with no significant difference between EOC and benign ovarian masses groups.However,there was no statistically significant difference among EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding the TSP1 serum levels(P=0.051).Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that combined assessment of SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 increased the diagnosis of EOC patients to a sensitivity,specificity,and area under curve of(93.3%,100%,0.968;respectively,P<0.001).CONCLUSION SPP1 may be a potential marker for the differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses,while IGFBP2 can differentiate between healthy females and females with ovarian masses.Combining SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 provides high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of EOC patients.展开更多
This article summarizes recent advances in the understanding of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs),with a focus on their roles in exercise-induced mRNA regulation and their implications for schizophrenia(SZ).RBPs are critical...This article summarizes recent advances in the understanding of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs),with a focus on their roles in exercise-induced mRNA regulation and their implications for schizophrenia(SZ).RBPs are critical regulators of mRNA stability,splicing,transport,translation,and degradation,directly influencing gene expression through sequence-and structure-specific binding.In the nervous system,RBPs sustain synaptic plasticity,neural development,and neuronal homeostasis.Emerging evidence shows that exercise modulates the expression and activity of RBPs,thereby influencing mRNA translation and neurotransmitter signaling,which may underlie its beneficial effects on brain function.Dysregulation of specific RBPs has been identified in SZ,implicating them in disrupted synaptic transmission,impaired plasticity,and neuroinflammation.RBPs involved in memory and emotional regulation show marked dysfunction in SZ patients.Some RBPs have been proposed as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.Moreover,therapeutic modulation of RBPs,through pharmacological or behavioral interventions such as exercise,may restore neuronal function by targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation.Exercise,as a non-invasive modulator of RBP expression,holds promise as an adjunctive strategy in SZ treatment,particularly in early stages.Further research into RBP-mediated pathways may offer novel insights into SZ pathophysiology and inform the development of targeted interventions.展开更多
Biomolecular condensates,also known as membraneless organelles,play a crucial role in cellular organization by concentrating or sequestering biomolecules.Despite their importance,synthetically mimicking these organell...Biomolecular condensates,also known as membraneless organelles,play a crucial role in cellular organization by concentrating or sequestering biomolecules.Despite their importance,synthetically mimicking these organelles using non-peptidic small organic molecules has posed a significant challenge.The present study reports the discovery of D008,a self-assembling small molecule that sequesters a unique subset of RNA-binding proteins.Analysis and screening of a comprehensive collection of approximately 1 million compounds in the Chinese National Compound Library(Shanghai)identified 44 self-assembling small molecules in aqueous solutions.Subsequent screening of the focused library,coupled with proteome analysis,led to the discovery of D008 as a small organic molecule with the ability to condensate a specific subset of RNA-binding proteins.In vitro experiments demonstrated that the D008-induced sequestration of RNA-binding proteins impeded mRNA translation.D008 may offer a unique opportunity for studying the condensations of RNA-binding proteins and for developing an unprecedented class of small molecules that control gene expression.展开更多
Objective Recent studies have overturned the traditional concept of the lung as a “sterile organ” revealing that pulmonary microbiota dysbiosis and abnormal surfactant proteins(SPs) expression are involved in the pr...Objective Recent studies have overturned the traditional concept of the lung as a “sterile organ” revealing that pulmonary microbiota dysbiosis and abnormal surfactant proteins(SPs) expression are involved in the progression of silicosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between abnormal SPs expression and dysbiosis of lung microbiota in silica-induced lung fibrosis, providing insights into mechanisms of silicosis.Methods Lung pathology, SPs expression, and microbiota composition were evaluated in silicaexposed mice. A mouse model of antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion was established, and alveolar structure and SPs expression were assessed. The roles of the lung microbiota and SPs in silicosis progression were further evaluated in mice with antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion, both with and without silica exposure.Results Silica exposure induced lung inflammation and fibrosis, along with increased expression of SPA expression. Antibiotics(Abx)-induced microbiota depletion elevated SP-A and SP-D expression.Furthermore, silica exposure altered lung microbiota composition, enriching potentially pathogenic taxa.However, antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion prior to silica exposure reduced silica-mediated lung fibrosis and inflammation.Conclusion Lung microbiota is associated with silica-induced lung injury. Overproduction of SP-A and SP-D, induced by Abx-induced microbiota depletion, may enhance the resistance of mouse lung tissue to silica-induced injury.展开更多
Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face in...Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face increasing restrictions due to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.This study investigates the application of bivalent heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)H)constructs(BL1.2 and BL2.2)targeting ETEC virulence factors,administered in feed to mitigate ETEC-induced PWD in weaned piglets.Results The supplementation of BL1.2 and BL2.2 in both mash and pelleted feed significantly reduced the diarrhea incidence and fecal shedding of F4^(+)ETEC in challenged piglets.Pelleted feed containing V_(H)H constructs helped to preserve gut barrier integrity by maintaining levels of the tight junction protein occludin in the small intestine.Additionally,the constructs maintained blood granulocyte counts at a similar level to the non-challenged control group,including neutrophils,and ameliorated the acute phase protein response after challenge.Notably,even at low feed intake immediately after weaning,V_(H)H constructs helped maintain piglet health by mitigating ETEC-induced inflammation and the resulting diarrhea.Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that using V_(H)H constructs as feed additives could serve as an effective strategy to help manage ETEC-associated PWD,by reducing F4^(+)ETEC gut colonization and supporting gut barrier function of weaned piglets.The high stability of these V_(H)H constructs supports their incorporation into industrial feed manufacturing processes,offering a more sustainable preventive strategy compared to traditional antimicrobial interventions,which could contribute to sustainable farming practices.展开更多
Tyrosine residues in proteins can be nitrated to form 3-nitrotyrosine(3-NT)under the influence of ozone(O_(3))and nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2))in the air,which may introduce health impacts.A selective and sensitive enzyme-...Tyrosine residues in proteins can be nitrated to form 3-nitrotyrosine(3-NT)under the influence of ozone(O_(3))and nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2))in the air,which may introduce health impacts.A selective and sensitive enzyme-linked-immunoassay(ELISA)method was developed to determine 3-NT in modified model protein(bovine serum albumin,BSA)and ambient aerosol samples.The nitration degrees(NDs)of BSA in the exposure experiments with different durations were detected by both the ELISA and spectrophotometric methods(i.e.,ND_(ELISA) and ND_(SEC-PDA)),which show good coincidence.The kinetic investigation by both ΔND_(ELISA) and ΔND_(SEC-PDA) in the exposure experiments shows that the rate coefficients(k)of the pseudo-first-order kinetic rate reactions of protein nitration were comparable.These results indicate that direct detection of 3-NT by the ELISA method can be applied for laboratory exposure samples analysis for kinetic studies.Based on the selective detection of 3-NT,ND_(ELISA) provides a promising measure for the assessment of ND in model proteins.3-NT was alsomeasured in PM_(2.5) samples in summer in Guangzhou,southern China,ranging from 10.1 to 404 pg/m^(3),providing clear evidence of protein nitration in ambient aerosols.We further proposed that 3-NT/protein can be used as a proxy to evaluate protein nitration in ambient aerosols.A significant correlationwas observed between 3-NT/protein and O_(3),confirming the crucial role of O_(3) in protein nitration.Our results show that the direct detection of 3-NT by the ELISA method can be more widely applied in the laboratory and field-based studies for understanding the mechanisms of protein nitration.展开更多
Bromodomain(BRD)-containing proteins are central mediators of gene regulation,serving as key components of chromatin remodeling complexes and histone recognition scaffolds.By specifically recognizing acetylated lysine...Bromodomain(BRD)-containing proteins are central mediators of gene regulation,serving as key components of chromatin remodeling complexes and histone recognition scaffolds.By specifically recognizing acetylated lysine residues on histones(Kac)via their conserved BRD,these proteins influence chromatin structure and gene expression.Although their overarching role is well-established,the precise molecular functions and mechanisms of individual BRD proteins remain incompletely characterized.The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila,a unicellular eukaryote with a transcriptionally active macronucleus enriched in histone acetylation,is an excellent model for exploring the significance of BRD-containing proteins.In this comprehensive review,all BRD-containing proteins encoded in the T.thermophila genome are systematically examined,including their expression profiles,histone acetylation targets,interacting proteins,and potential roles.This review lays the groundwork for future investigations into the complex roles of BRD proteins in chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation,offering insights into basic eukaryotic biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying BRD-linked diseases.展开更多
Vesicles of lipid bilayer can adopt a variety of shapes due to different coating proteins.The ability of proteins to reshape membrane is typically characterized by inducing spontaneous curvature of the membrane at the...Vesicles of lipid bilayer can adopt a variety of shapes due to different coating proteins.The ability of proteins to reshape membrane is typically characterized by inducing spontaneous curvature of the membrane at the coated area.BAR family proteins are known to have a crescent shape and can induce membrane curvature along their concaved body axis but not in the perpendicular direction.We model this type of proteins as a rod-shaped molecule with an orientation and induce normal curvature along its orientation in the tangential plane of the membrane surface.We show how a ring of these proteins reshapes an axisymmetric vesicle when the protein curvature or orientation is varied.A discontinuous shape transformation from a protrusion shape without a neck to a one with a neck is found.Increasing the rigidity of the protein ring is able to smooth out the transition.Furthermore,we show that varying the protein orientation is able to induce an hourglass-shaped neck,which is significantly narrower than the reciprocal of the protein curvature.Our results offer a new angle to rationalize the helical structure formed by many proteins that carry out membrane fission functions.展开更多
Essential proteins are crucial for biological processes and can be identified through both experimental and computational methods.While experimental approaches are highly accurate,they often demand extensive time and ...Essential proteins are crucial for biological processes and can be identified through both experimental and computational methods.While experimental approaches are highly accurate,they often demand extensive time and resources.To address these challenges,we present a computational ensemble learning framework designed to identify essential proteins more efficiently.Our method begins by using node2vec to transform proteins in the protein–protein interaction(PPI)network into continuous,low-dimensional vectors.We also extract a range of features from protein sequences,including graph-theory-based,information-based,compositional,and physiochemical attributes.Additionally,we leverage deep learning techniques to analyze high-dimensional position-specific scoring matrices(PSSMs)and capture evolutionary information.We then combine these features for classification using various machine learning algorithms.To enhance performance,we integrate the outputs of these algorithms through ensemble methods such as voting,weighted averaging,and stacking.This approach effectively addresses data imbalances and improves both robustness and accuracy.Our ensemble learning framework achieves an AUC of 0.960 and an accuracy of 0.9252,outperforming other computational methods.These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in accurately identifying essential proteins and highlight its superior feature extraction capabilities.展开更多
Bioactive peptides and proteins(BAPPs)are promising therapeutic agents for tissue repair with considerable advantages,including multifunctionality,specificity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability.However,the high com...Bioactive peptides and proteins(BAPPs)are promising therapeutic agents for tissue repair with considerable advantages,including multifunctionality,specificity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability.However,the high complexity of tissue microenvironments and their inherent deficiencies such as short half-live and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation,adversely affect their therapeutic efficacy and clinical applications.Investigating the fundamental mechanisms by which BAPPs modulate the microenvironment and developing rational delivery strategies are essential for optimizing their administration in distinct tissue repairs and facilitating clinical translation.This review initially focuses on the mechanisms through which BAPPs influence the microenvironment for tissue repair via reactive oxygen species,blood and lymphatic vessels,immune cells,and repair cells.Then,a variety of delivery platforms,including scaffolds and hydrogels,electrospun fibers,surface coatings,assisted particles,nanotubes,two-dimensional nanomaterials,and nanoparticles engineered cells,are summarized to incorporate BAPPs for effective tissue repair,modification strategies aimed at enhancing loading efficiencies and release kinetics are also reviewed.Additionally,the delivery of BAPPs can be precisely regulated by endogenous stimuli(glucose,reactive oxygen species,enzymes,pH)or exogenous stimuli(ultrasound,heat,light,magnetic field,and electric field)to achieve on-demand release tailored for specific tissue repair needs.Furthermore,this review focuses on the clinical potential of BAPPs in facilitating tissue repair across various types,including bone,cartilage,intervertebral discs,muscle,tendons,periodontal tissues,skin,myocardium,nervous system(encompassing brain,spinal cord,and peripheral nerve),endometrium,as well as ear and ocular tissue.Finally,current challenges and prospects are discussed.展开更多
Intrinsically disordered proteins(IDPs)and their regions(IDRs)play crucial roles in cellular func-tions despite their lack of stable three-dimensional structures.In this study,we investigate the interac-tions between ...Intrinsically disordered proteins(IDPs)and their regions(IDRs)play crucial roles in cellular func-tions despite their lack of stable three-dimensional structures.In this study,we investigate the interac-tions between the C-terminal do-main of protein 4.1G(4.1G CTD)and the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein(NuMA)under varying pH and salt ion conditions to under-stand the regulatory mechanisms affecting their binding.4.1G CTD and NuMA bind effec-tively under neutral and alkaline conditions,but their interaction is disrupted under acidic conditions(pH 3.6).The protonation of positively charged residues at the C-terminal of 4.1G CTD under acidic conditions leads to increased electrostatic repulsion,weakening the overall binding free energy.Secondary structure analysis shows that specific regions of 4.1G CTD re-main stable under both pH conditions,but the C-terminal region(aa 990−1000)and the N-terminal region of NuMA(aa 1800−1810)exhibit significant reductions in secondary struc-ture probability under acidic conditions.Contact map analysis and solvent-accessible surface area analysis further support these findings by showing a reduced contact probability be-tween these regions under pH 3.6.These results provide a comprehensive understanding of how pH and ionic strength regulate the binding dynamics of 4.1G CTD and NuMA,emphasiz-ing the regulatory role of electrostatic interactions.展开更多
AIM:To explore the causal links among circulating inflammatory proteins(CIPs)and the varying severities of diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:This research utilized a two sample Mendelian randomization(MR)approach to ex...AIM:To explore the causal links among circulating inflammatory proteins(CIPs)and the varying severities of diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:This research utilized a two sample Mendelian randomization(MR)approach to explore the causal relationships between 91 CIPs and various severities of DR:background DR(BDR)or non-proliferative DR(NPDR),and proliferative DR(PDR).Single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)related to the 91 CIPs as exposure factors were identified.These SNPs were selected from an extensive genome-wide association study(GWAS)analyzing large genomic datasets.Genetic variation data of various DR phenotypes provided by the FinnGen collaboration were utilized as outcomes.Inverse-variance weighting(IVW)was used as the main MR analysis.Robustness of study results was evaluated through a series of sensitivity analyses,employing the MR-pleiotropy-test and mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier(MR-PRESSO)to confirm the absence of pleiotropy.RESULTS:In a bidirectional MR analysis,we uncovered a complex relationship between CIPs and DR.Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14(TNFSF14),latency associated peptide transforming growth factors beta-1(LAP-TGF-beta1),interleukin-10(IL-10),and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)were associated with a reduced risk of NPDR.Conversely,elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF-23)were associated with an increased risk of NPDR.Concentrations of adenosine deaminase(ADA),matrix metalloproteinase-10(MMP-10),eotaxin,and IL-10 showed elevated levels and were linked to a reduced risk of NPDR.On the other hand,the levels of oncostatin-M,beta-nerve growth factor(β-NGF),and interleukin-7(IL-7)were elevated and associated with an increased risk of SNPDR.Elevated levels of ADA,MMP-10,and macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1(CSF1)were linked to a lower likelihood of PDR.Conversely,elevated levels of Caspase 8 and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)were associated with an increased risk of PDR.In reverse MR analysis,DR affected the expression of these factors.CONCLUSION:Our research demonstrates evidence supporting a potential causal link between key inflammatory factors and the risk and prognosis of various DR phenotypes.These findings emphasize the regulation of inflammatory factors responses as a strategic approach for preventing and managing DR.Altogether,our results validate the pathogenic role of inflammatory factors dysregulation in DR and support the rationale for exploring immunotherapeutic targets further.展开更多
Essential proteins are an indispensable part of cells and play an extremely significant role in genetic disease diagnosis and drug development.Therefore,the prediction of essential proteins has received extensive atte...Essential proteins are an indispensable part of cells and play an extremely significant role in genetic disease diagnosis and drug development.Therefore,the prediction of essential proteins has received extensive attention from researchers.Many centrality methods and machine learning algorithms have been proposed to predict essential proteins.Nevertheless,the topological characteristics learned by the centrality method are not comprehensive enough,resulting in low accuracy.In addition,machine learning algorithms need sufficient prior knowledge to select features,and the ability to solve imbalanced classification problems needs to be further strengthened.These two factors greatly affect the performance of predicting essential proteins.In this paper,we propose a deep learning framework based on temporal convolutional networks to predict essential proteins by integrating gene expression data and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network.We make use of the method of network embedding to automatically learn more abundant features of proteins in the PPI network.For gene expression data,we treat it as sequence data,and use temporal convolutional networks to extract sequence features.Finally,the two types of features are integrated and put into the multi-layer neural network to complete the final classification task.The performance of our method is evaluated by comparing with seven centrality methods,six machine learning algorithms,and two deep learning models.The results of the experiment show that our method is more effective than the comparison methods for predicting essential proteins.展开更多
Background The aim of this study was to determine whether and how Zn proteinate with moderate chelation strength(Zn-Prot M)can alleviate heat stress(HS)-induced intestinal barrier function damage of broilers.A complet...Background The aim of this study was to determine whether and how Zn proteinate with moderate chelation strength(Zn-Prot M)can alleviate heat stress(HS)-induced intestinal barrier function damage of broilers.A completely randomized design was used for comparatively testing the effects of Zn proteinate on HS and non-HS broilers.Under high temperature(HT),a 1(Control,HT-CON)+2(Zn source)×2(added Zn level)factorial arrangement of treatments was used.The 2 added Zn sources were Zn-Prot M and Zn sulfate(ZnS),and the 2 added Zn levels were 30 and 60 mg/kg.Under normal temperature(NT),a CON group(NT-CON)and pair-fed group(NT-PF)were included.Results The results showed that HS significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of claudin-1,occludin,junctional adhesion molecule-A(JAMA),zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)and zinc finger protein A20(A20)in the jejunum,and HS also remarkably increased serum fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran(FITC-D),endotoxin and interleukin(IL)-1βcontents,serum diamine oxidase(DAO)and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 activities,nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)p65 mRNA expression level,and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 and MMP-2 in the jejunum.However,dietary supplementation with Zn,especially organic Zn as Zn-Prot M at 60 mg/kg,significantly decreased serum FITC-D,endotoxin and IL-1βcontents,serum DAO and MMP-2 activities,NF-κB p65 mRNA expression level,and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 and MMP-2 in the jejunum of HS broilers,and notably promoted mRNA and protein expression levels of claudin-1,ZO-1 and A20.Conclusions Our results suggest that dietary Zn,especially 60 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Prot M,can alleviate HS-induced intestinal barrier function damage by promoting the expression of TJ proteins possibly via induction of A20-mediated suppression of the NF-κB p65/MMP-2 pathway in the jejunum of HS broilers.展开更多
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormalities in the prion protein(PrP),the most common form of human prion disease.Although Genome-Wide Association Studies(GWAS)hav...Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormalities in the prion protein(PrP),the most common form of human prion disease.Although Genome-Wide Association Studies(GWAS)have identified numerous risk genes for CJD,the mechanisms underlying these risk loci remain poorly understood.This study aims to elucidate novel genetically prioritized candidate proteins associated with CJD in the human brain through an integrative analytical pipeline.Utilizing datasets from Protein Quantitative Trait Loci(pQTL)(NpQTL1=152,NpQTL2=376),expression QTL(eQTL)(N=452),and the CJD GWAS(NCJD=4110,NControls=13569),we implemented a systematic analytical pipeline.This pipeline included Proteome-Wide Association Study(PWAS),Mendelian randomization(MR),Bayesian colocalization,and Transcriptome-Wide Association Study(TWAS)to identify novel genetically prioritized candidate proteins implicated in CJD pathogenesis within the brain.Through PWAS,we identified that the altered abundance of six brain proteins was significantly associated with CJD.Two genes,STX6 and PDIA4,were established as lead causal genes for CJD,supported by robust evidence(False Discovery Rate<0.05 in MR analysis;PP4/(PP3+PP4)≥0.75 in Bayesian colocalization).Specifically,elevated levels of STX6 and PDIA4 were associated with an increased risk of CJD.Additionally,TWAS demonstrated that STX6 and PDIA4 were associated with CJD at the transcriptional level.展开更多
The awn can contribute to photosynthesis and carbohydrates,enhancing grain yield in wheat.We mapped QAwn.sxau-5A,a major QTL for awn development in wheat(Triticum aestivum).This QTL was delimited to a 994-kb interval ...The awn can contribute to photosynthesis and carbohydrates,enhancing grain yield in wheat.We mapped QAwn.sxau-5A,a major QTL for awn development in wheat(Triticum aestivum).This QTL was delimited to a 994-kb interval at the B1 locus on chromosome 5A,which included the candidate gene encoding a zinc finger protein(TraesCS5A01G542800)as an awn length inhibitor(ALI).The Ali-A1 allele for the awnless trait showed abundant sequence differences in the promoter regions compared to the ali-A1 allele for the long-awn trait.The results of the swap experiment on the promoters from the two ALI-A1 alleles showed that the two promoters caused a difference in the protein level,indicating the gene was regulated at the transcript level.However,the ali-A1 allele contained an SNP that caused a premature stop codon in its coding region,resulting in a truncated protein compared to the functional Ali-A1 protein.The Ali-A1 protein contained two ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression(EAR)motifs,one at the N terminus(EAR-N)and the other at the C terminus(EAR-C),and they were involved in interactions with the wheat co-repressor protein TOPLESS(TPL1).The ali-A1 protein retained the EAR-N motif but lost the EAR-C motif,resulting in the attenuated ability to interact with TPL1.The tpl1 mutant produced a longer awn compared to the wild type.Ali-A1 repressed the transcription of two downstream genes,TaLRP-A1 and TaARF-B1,involved in endogenous auxin concentrations and auxin responses in wheat.We concluded that the awn length is regulated not only by the ALI-A1 gene at transcript levels but also by Ali-A1 and TPL1 at the protein level in wheat.展开更多
Introduction:Diet intervention,especially supplementation with high-quality protein,is considered to be a critical strategy in sarcopenia.However,different sources and types of protein have different health impacts.Ob...Introduction:Diet intervention,especially supplementation with high-quality protein,is considered to be a critical strategy in sarcopenia.However,different sources and types of protein have different health impacts.Objectives:The aim of this study is to explore the differences in the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of different sources and types of proteins on sarcopenia,providing an optimal path for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.Methods:A sarcopenia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone(5 mg/kg).Sixty male C57BL/6 mice(8 months old)were randomly divided into the normal control,sarcopenia,goat whey protein,goat milk casein,bovine whey protein,and bovine milk casein groups.Animals were treated for 8 consecutive weeks.Organism-level and molecular phenotypes,16S rRNA gene sequencing,and untargeted metabolomics profiling based on GC-TOF/MS were employed to investigate the correlation between host metabolism,microbial metabolism,autophagy and inflammation and their influence on sarcopenia in C57BL/6 male mice.Results:All 4 proteins increased muscle mass,and goat whey protein improved muscle strength in sarcopenic mice.Goat and bovine milk proteins promoted muscle regeneration by increasing MyoD1 and MyoG expression,and the former had a more distinct effect in inducing autophagy and decreasing inflammation than the latter.In addition,goat whey protein and casein could modulate hostmicrobial arginine co-metabolism.Notably,goat milk proteins responded well to sarcopenia comorbidities,including sarcopenic obesity,osteosarcopenia,and osteoarthritis.Conclusion:The study confirmed that goat milk proteins were more effective than bovine milk proteins for the control of sarcopenia.Moreover,we found that whey protein and casein could modulate host-microbial arginine co-metabolism,which shows their potential as precision nutritional supplements for the management of sarcopenia.Our study provides theoretical support for the prevention and control of sarcopenia.展开更多
Meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes involves nuclear and organelle structural changes,notably the chromatin configuration transition from a non-surrounding nucleolus(NSN)to surrounding nucleolus(SN)in germinal ves...Meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes involves nuclear and organelle structural changes,notably the chromatin configuration transition from a non-surrounding nucleolus(NSN)to surrounding nucleolus(SN)in germinal vesicle oocytes.In the current study,we found that nuclear speckles(NSs),a subnuclear structure mainly composed of serine-arginine(SR)proteins,changed from a diffuse spotted distribution in mouse NSN oocytes to an aggregated pattern in SN oocytes.We also found that the SR protein-specific kinase 1(SRPK1),an enzyme that phosphorylates SR proteins,co-localized with NSs at the SN stage,and that NSN oocytes failed to transition to SN oocytes after the inhibition of SRPK1 activity.Furthermore,the typical structure of the chromatin ring around the nucleolus in SN oocytes collapsed after treatment with an SRPK1 inhibitor.Mechanistically,phosphorylated SR proteins were found to be related to chromatin as shown by a salt extraction experiment,and in situ DNaseⅠassay showed that the accessibility of chromatin was enhanced in SN oocytes when SRPK1 was inhibited,accompanied by a decreased repressive modification on histone and the abnormal recurrence of a transcriptional signal.In conclusion,our results indicated that SRPK1-regulated phosphorylation of SR proteins was involved in the NSN-SN transition and played an important role in maintaining the condensed nucleus of SN oocytes via interacting with chromatin.展开更多
Chemical modification of native peptides and proteins is a versatile strategy to facilitate late-stage diversification for functional studies.Among the proteogenic amino acids,lysine is extensively involved in posttra...Chemical modification of native peptides and proteins is a versatile strategy to facilitate late-stage diversification for functional studies.Among the proteogenic amino acids,lysine is extensively involved in posttranslational modifications and the binding of ligands to target proteins,making its selective modification attractive.However,lysine’s high natural abundance and solvent accessibility,as well as its relatively low reactivity to cysteine,necessitate addressing chemoselectivity and regioselectivity for the Lys modification of native proteins.Although Lys chemoselective modification methods have been well developed,achieving site-selective modification of a specific Lys residue remains a great challenge.In this review,we discussed the challenges of Lys selective modification,presented recent examples of Lys chemoselective modification,and summarized the currently known methods and strategies for Lys site-selective modification.We also included an outlook on potential solutions for Lys site-selective labeling and its potential applications in chemical biology and drug development.展开更多
The soil-resident pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae, infects cruciferous crops, causing obligate parasitic clubroot disease and posing a significant threat to the Brassica vegetable industry in China. To learn more a...The soil-resident pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae, infects cruciferous crops, causing obligate parasitic clubroot disease and posing a significant threat to the Brassica vegetable industry in China. To learn more about its pathogenesis, we reported a Nanopore sequencing-derived25.3 Mb high-quality genome sequence of P. brassicae pathotype 4 strain(P.b 4). Comparing the P.b 4 genome with that of the published P.brassicae e3 genome(P.b e3) identified single nucleotide polymorphisms, structural variations, and small insertions and deletions. We then carried out RNA-sequencing of root samples from a clubroot-susceptible line at 5, 14, and 28 days after inoculation(DAI), and classified genes into five categories based on their expression patterns. Interestingly, 158 genes were highly expressed at 14 DAI, which were enriched in budding cell isotropic bud growth, ascospore wall assembly, spore wall assembly, spore wall biogenesis, and ascospore wall biogenesis.Subsequently, we bioinformatically predicted 555 secreted effector candidates, among which only 125 were expressed during infection and had amino acid lengths less than 400. The putative effector Pb010018, which was highly expressed at 14 DAI, was validated to have a signal peptide using a yeast secretion system. Luciferase activity and co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Pb010018 interacts with serine hydroxymethyltransferase BrSHMT1, and expression analysis showed that SHMT1 was upregulated in both Arabidopsis and B. rapa during infection. Furthermore, after infection, the Arabidopsis shmt1 mutant(atshmt1) showed reduced severity of clubroot disease, together with downregulated expression of Pb010018. Our results offer new insights into plant-pathogen interaction mechanisms, and provide the possibility for improving Brassica resistance to clubroot disease.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer(OC)is the most lethal gynecological cancer among females,and its early diagnosis could help for better outcomes of the patients.AIM To investigate the utility of serum insulin-like growth factors-binding proteins 2(IGFBP2),secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1),thrombospondin 1 protein(TSP1)and D-dimer levels in addition to currently used biomarkers[cancer antigen 125(CA125)and human epididymis protein 4(HE4)]in the diagnosis of epithelial OC(EOC).METHODS This is a case-control study that included fifty females diagnosed with EOC,10 females with benign ovarian masses recruited from the Egyptian National Cancer Institute,and 30 healthy females as a control group.All subjects were assessed for serum HE4,CA125,IGFBP2,TSP1 and SPP1 measurement by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay.RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in serum levels between EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding CA125 and SPP1(P<0.001 for both markers),while HE4 and IGFBP2 increased significantly in EOC compared to healthy control groups(P<0.001 for all markers)with no significant difference between EOC and benign ovarian masses groups.However,there was no statistically significant difference among EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding the TSP1 serum levels(P=0.051).Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that combined assessment of SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 increased the diagnosis of EOC patients to a sensitivity,specificity,and area under curve of(93.3%,100%,0.968;respectively,P<0.001).CONCLUSION SPP1 may be a potential marker for the differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses,while IGFBP2 can differentiate between healthy females and females with ovarian masses.Combining SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 provides high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of EOC patients.
文摘This article summarizes recent advances in the understanding of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs),with a focus on their roles in exercise-induced mRNA regulation and their implications for schizophrenia(SZ).RBPs are critical regulators of mRNA stability,splicing,transport,translation,and degradation,directly influencing gene expression through sequence-and structure-specific binding.In the nervous system,RBPs sustain synaptic plasticity,neural development,and neuronal homeostasis.Emerging evidence shows that exercise modulates the expression and activity of RBPs,thereby influencing mRNA translation and neurotransmitter signaling,which may underlie its beneficial effects on brain function.Dysregulation of specific RBPs has been identified in SZ,implicating them in disrupted synaptic transmission,impaired plasticity,and neuroinflammation.RBPs involved in memory and emotional regulation show marked dysfunction in SZ patients.Some RBPs have been proposed as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.Moreover,therapeutic modulation of RBPs,through pharmacological or behavioral interventions such as exercise,may restore neuronal function by targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation.Exercise,as a non-invasive modulator of RBP expression,holds promise as an adjunctive strategy in SZ treatment,particularly in early stages.Further research into RBP-mediated pathways may offer novel insights into SZ pathophysiology and inform the development of targeted interventions.
基金supported by JSPS(No.22H00350 to M.U.)Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea(Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute,No.HI19C1234 to H.K.)+3 种基金JST(the Establishment of University Fellowships towards the Creation of Science Technology Innovation,No.JPMJFS2123 to K.T.)supported and inspired by the International Collaborative Research Program of Institute for Chemical Research,Kyoto University(No.2024-84)Kyoto University On-Site Lab(Fudan-Kyoto Shanghai Lab)the international and interdisciplinary environments of JSPS CORE-to-CORE Program“Asian Chemical Biology Initiative”.
文摘Biomolecular condensates,also known as membraneless organelles,play a crucial role in cellular organization by concentrating or sequestering biomolecules.Despite their importance,synthetically mimicking these organelles using non-peptidic small organic molecules has posed a significant challenge.The present study reports the discovery of D008,a self-assembling small molecule that sequesters a unique subset of RNA-binding proteins.Analysis and screening of a comprehensive collection of approximately 1 million compounds in the Chinese National Compound Library(Shanghai)identified 44 self-assembling small molecules in aqueous solutions.Subsequent screening of the focused library,coupled with proteome analysis,led to the discovery of D008 as a small organic molecule with the ability to condensate a specific subset of RNA-binding proteins.In vitro experiments demonstrated that the D008-induced sequestration of RNA-binding proteins impeded mRNA translation.D008 may offer a unique opportunity for studying the condensations of RNA-binding proteins and for developing an unprecedented class of small molecules that control gene expression.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Joint Fund for Regional Innovation and Development(Grant numbers [U21A20334])the Postgraduate Innovation Funding Project of Hebei Province(Grant numbers [CXZZBS2022116])。
文摘Objective Recent studies have overturned the traditional concept of the lung as a “sterile organ” revealing that pulmonary microbiota dysbiosis and abnormal surfactant proteins(SPs) expression are involved in the progression of silicosis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between abnormal SPs expression and dysbiosis of lung microbiota in silica-induced lung fibrosis, providing insights into mechanisms of silicosis.Methods Lung pathology, SPs expression, and microbiota composition were evaluated in silicaexposed mice. A mouse model of antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion was established, and alveolar structure and SPs expression were assessed. The roles of the lung microbiota and SPs in silicosis progression were further evaluated in mice with antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion, both with and without silica exposure.Results Silica exposure induced lung inflammation and fibrosis, along with increased expression of SPA expression. Antibiotics(Abx)-induced microbiota depletion elevated SP-A and SP-D expression.Furthermore, silica exposure altered lung microbiota composition, enriching potentially pathogenic taxa.However, antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion prior to silica exposure reduced silica-mediated lung fibrosis and inflammation.Conclusion Lung microbiota is associated with silica-induced lung injury. Overproduction of SP-A and SP-D, induced by Abx-induced microbiota depletion, may enhance the resistance of mouse lung tissue to silica-induced injury.
基金financially supported by the Green Development and Demonstration Programme(GUDP)(case number 34009-19-1585)。
文摘Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face increasing restrictions due to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.This study investigates the application of bivalent heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)H)constructs(BL1.2 and BL2.2)targeting ETEC virulence factors,administered in feed to mitigate ETEC-induced PWD in weaned piglets.Results The supplementation of BL1.2 and BL2.2 in both mash and pelleted feed significantly reduced the diarrhea incidence and fecal shedding of F4^(+)ETEC in challenged piglets.Pelleted feed containing V_(H)H constructs helped to preserve gut barrier integrity by maintaining levels of the tight junction protein occludin in the small intestine.Additionally,the constructs maintained blood granulocyte counts at a similar level to the non-challenged control group,including neutrophils,and ameliorated the acute phase protein response after challenge.Notably,even at low feed intake immediately after weaning,V_(H)H constructs helped maintain piglet health by mitigating ETEC-induced inflammation and the resulting diarrhea.Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that using V_(H)H constructs as feed additives could serve as an effective strategy to help manage ETEC-associated PWD,by reducing F4^(+)ETEC gut colonization and supporting gut barrier function of weaned piglets.The high stability of these V_(H)H constructs supports their incorporation into industrial feed manufacturing processes,offering a more sustainable preventive strategy compared to traditional antimicrobial interventions,which could contribute to sustainable farming practices.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41975156).
文摘Tyrosine residues in proteins can be nitrated to form 3-nitrotyrosine(3-NT)under the influence of ozone(O_(3))and nitrogen dioxide(NO_(2))in the air,which may introduce health impacts.A selective and sensitive enzyme-linked-immunoassay(ELISA)method was developed to determine 3-NT in modified model protein(bovine serum albumin,BSA)and ambient aerosol samples.The nitration degrees(NDs)of BSA in the exposure experiments with different durations were detected by both the ELISA and spectrophotometric methods(i.e.,ND_(ELISA) and ND_(SEC-PDA)),which show good coincidence.The kinetic investigation by both ΔND_(ELISA) and ΔND_(SEC-PDA) in the exposure experiments shows that the rate coefficients(k)of the pseudo-first-order kinetic rate reactions of protein nitration were comparable.These results indicate that direct detection of 3-NT by the ELISA method can be applied for laboratory exposure samples analysis for kinetic studies.Based on the selective detection of 3-NT,ND_(ELISA) provides a promising measure for the assessment of ND in model proteins.3-NT was alsomeasured in PM_(2.5) samples in summer in Guangzhou,southern China,ranging from 10.1 to 404 pg/m^(3),providing clear evidence of protein nitration in ambient aerosols.We further proposed that 3-NT/protein can be used as a proxy to evaluate protein nitration in ambient aerosols.A significant correlationwas observed between 3-NT/protein and O_(3),confirming the crucial role of O_(3) in protein nitration.Our results show that the direct detection of 3-NT by the ELISA method can be more widely applied in the laboratory and field-based studies for understanding the mechanisms of protein nitration.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32200399 to Y.W.,32125006 to S.G.)Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2024ZD40 to S.G.,ZR2024MC112 to Y.W.)+4 种基金Young Talent of Lifting Engineering for Science and Technology in Shandong,China(SDAST2024QTA008 to Y.W.)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(202441014 to Y.W.)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(CPSF)(GZC20232503 to Y.L.)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2024M753050 to Y.L.)Laoshan Laboratory(LSKJ202203203 to S.G.)。
文摘Bromodomain(BRD)-containing proteins are central mediators of gene regulation,serving as key components of chromatin remodeling complexes and histone recognition scaffolds.By specifically recognizing acetylated lysine residues on histones(Kac)via their conserved BRD,these proteins influence chromatin structure and gene expression.Although their overarching role is well-established,the precise molecular functions and mechanisms of individual BRD proteins remain incompletely characterized.The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila,a unicellular eukaryote with a transcriptionally active macronucleus enriched in histone acetylation,is an excellent model for exploring the significance of BRD-containing proteins.In this comprehensive review,all BRD-containing proteins encoded in the T.thermophila genome are systematically examined,including their expression profiles,histone acetylation targets,interacting proteins,and potential roles.This review lays the groundwork for future investigations into the complex roles of BRD proteins in chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation,offering insights into basic eukaryotic biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying BRD-linked diseases.
基金support from the the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12474199(RM)and 12374213(YC))Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of China(Grant No.20720240144(RM))111 Project(Grant No.B16029).
文摘Vesicles of lipid bilayer can adopt a variety of shapes due to different coating proteins.The ability of proteins to reshape membrane is typically characterized by inducing spontaneous curvature of the membrane at the coated area.BAR family proteins are known to have a crescent shape and can induce membrane curvature along their concaved body axis but not in the perpendicular direction.We model this type of proteins as a rod-shaped molecule with an orientation and induce normal curvature along its orientation in the tangential plane of the membrane surface.We show how a ring of these proteins reshapes an axisymmetric vesicle when the protein curvature or orientation is varied.A discontinuous shape transformation from a protrusion shape without a neck to a one with a neck is found.Increasing the rigidity of the protein ring is able to smooth out the transition.Furthermore,we show that varying the protein orientation is able to induce an hourglass-shaped neck,which is significantly narrower than the reciprocal of the protein curvature.Our results offer a new angle to rationalize the helical structure formed by many proteins that carry out membrane fission functions.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2022YFF1202600)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82301158)+4 种基金Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan of Shanghai Science and Technology Committee(Grant No.22015820100)Two-hundred Talent Support(Grant No.20152224)Translational Medicine Innovation Project of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(Grant No.TM201915)Clinical Research Project of Multi-Disciplinary Team,Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(Grant No.201914)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2023M742332)。
文摘Essential proteins are crucial for biological processes and can be identified through both experimental and computational methods.While experimental approaches are highly accurate,they often demand extensive time and resources.To address these challenges,we present a computational ensemble learning framework designed to identify essential proteins more efficiently.Our method begins by using node2vec to transform proteins in the protein–protein interaction(PPI)network into continuous,low-dimensional vectors.We also extract a range of features from protein sequences,including graph-theory-based,information-based,compositional,and physiochemical attributes.Additionally,we leverage deep learning techniques to analyze high-dimensional position-specific scoring matrices(PSSMs)and capture evolutionary information.We then combine these features for classification using various machine learning algorithms.To enhance performance,we integrate the outputs of these algorithms through ensemble methods such as voting,weighted averaging,and stacking.This approach effectively addresses data imbalances and improves both robustness and accuracy.Our ensemble learning framework achieves an AUC of 0.960 and an accuracy of 0.9252,outperforming other computational methods.These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in accurately identifying essential proteins and highlight its superior feature extraction capabilities.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82372405,81871752)the Key Research and Development Program of Hubei Province(2022BCA052)+2 种基金the Key Research and Development Program of Wuhan City(2024020702030105)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2042023kf0199)the Translational Medicine and Interdisciplinary Research Joint Fund of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University(ZNJC202014).
文摘Bioactive peptides and proteins(BAPPs)are promising therapeutic agents for tissue repair with considerable advantages,including multifunctionality,specificity,biocompatibility,and biodegradability.However,the high complexity of tissue microenvironments and their inherent deficiencies such as short half-live and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation,adversely affect their therapeutic efficacy and clinical applications.Investigating the fundamental mechanisms by which BAPPs modulate the microenvironment and developing rational delivery strategies are essential for optimizing their administration in distinct tissue repairs and facilitating clinical translation.This review initially focuses on the mechanisms through which BAPPs influence the microenvironment for tissue repair via reactive oxygen species,blood and lymphatic vessels,immune cells,and repair cells.Then,a variety of delivery platforms,including scaffolds and hydrogels,electrospun fibers,surface coatings,assisted particles,nanotubes,two-dimensional nanomaterials,and nanoparticles engineered cells,are summarized to incorporate BAPPs for effective tissue repair,modification strategies aimed at enhancing loading efficiencies and release kinetics are also reviewed.Additionally,the delivery of BAPPs can be precisely regulated by endogenous stimuli(glucose,reactive oxygen species,enzymes,pH)or exogenous stimuli(ultrasound,heat,light,magnetic field,and electric field)to achieve on-demand release tailored for specific tissue repair needs.Furthermore,this review focuses on the clinical potential of BAPPs in facilitating tissue repair across various types,including bone,cartilage,intervertebral discs,muscle,tendons,periodontal tissues,skin,myocardium,nervous system(encompassing brain,spinal cord,and peripheral nerve),endometrium,as well as ear and ocular tissue.Finally,current challenges and prospects are discussed.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22073018,No.22377015).
文摘Intrinsically disordered proteins(IDPs)and their regions(IDRs)play crucial roles in cellular func-tions despite their lack of stable three-dimensional structures.In this study,we investigate the interac-tions between the C-terminal do-main of protein 4.1G(4.1G CTD)and the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein(NuMA)under varying pH and salt ion conditions to under-stand the regulatory mechanisms affecting their binding.4.1G CTD and NuMA bind effec-tively under neutral and alkaline conditions,but their interaction is disrupted under acidic conditions(pH 3.6).The protonation of positively charged residues at the C-terminal of 4.1G CTD under acidic conditions leads to increased electrostatic repulsion,weakening the overall binding free energy.Secondary structure analysis shows that specific regions of 4.1G CTD re-main stable under both pH conditions,but the C-terminal region(aa 990−1000)and the N-terminal region of NuMA(aa 1800−1810)exhibit significant reductions in secondary struc-ture probability under acidic conditions.Contact map analysis and solvent-accessible surface area analysis further support these findings by showing a reduced contact probability be-tween these regions under pH 3.6.These results provide a comprehensive understanding of how pH and ionic strength regulate the binding dynamics of 4.1G CTD and NuMA,emphasiz-ing the regulatory role of electrostatic interactions.
基金Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province(No.2023AFC019,No.2020CFB240)Hubei Key Laboratories Opening Project(No.2023KFH019,No.2021KFY055)Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities(No.2042020kf0065).
文摘AIM:To explore the causal links among circulating inflammatory proteins(CIPs)and the varying severities of diabetic retinopathy(DR).METHODS:This research utilized a two sample Mendelian randomization(MR)approach to explore the causal relationships between 91 CIPs and various severities of DR:background DR(BDR)or non-proliferative DR(NPDR),and proliferative DR(PDR).Single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)related to the 91 CIPs as exposure factors were identified.These SNPs were selected from an extensive genome-wide association study(GWAS)analyzing large genomic datasets.Genetic variation data of various DR phenotypes provided by the FinnGen collaboration were utilized as outcomes.Inverse-variance weighting(IVW)was used as the main MR analysis.Robustness of study results was evaluated through a series of sensitivity analyses,employing the MR-pleiotropy-test and mendelian randomization pleiotropy residual sum and outlier(MR-PRESSO)to confirm the absence of pleiotropy.RESULTS:In a bidirectional MR analysis,we uncovered a complex relationship between CIPs and DR.Elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 14(TNFSF14),latency associated peptide transforming growth factors beta-1(LAP-TGF-beta1),interleukin-10(IL-10),and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)were associated with a reduced risk of NPDR.Conversely,elevated levels of fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF-23)were associated with an increased risk of NPDR.Concentrations of adenosine deaminase(ADA),matrix metalloproteinase-10(MMP-10),eotaxin,and IL-10 showed elevated levels and were linked to a reduced risk of NPDR.On the other hand,the levels of oncostatin-M,beta-nerve growth factor(β-NGF),and interleukin-7(IL-7)were elevated and associated with an increased risk of SNPDR.Elevated levels of ADA,MMP-10,and macrophage colony-stimulating factor 1(CSF1)were linked to a lower likelihood of PDR.Conversely,elevated levels of Caspase 8 and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF)were associated with an increased risk of PDR.In reverse MR analysis,DR affected the expression of these factors.CONCLUSION:Our research demonstrates evidence supporting a potential causal link between key inflammatory factors and the risk and prognosis of various DR phenotypes.These findings emphasize the regulation of inflammatory factors responses as a strategic approach for preventing and managing DR.Altogether,our results validate the pathogenic role of inflammatory factors dysregulation in DR and support the rationale for exploring immunotherapeutic targets further.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11861045 and 62162040)。
文摘Essential proteins are an indispensable part of cells and play an extremely significant role in genetic disease diagnosis and drug development.Therefore,the prediction of essential proteins has received extensive attention from researchers.Many centrality methods and machine learning algorithms have been proposed to predict essential proteins.Nevertheless,the topological characteristics learned by the centrality method are not comprehensive enough,resulting in low accuracy.In addition,machine learning algorithms need sufficient prior knowledge to select features,and the ability to solve imbalanced classification problems needs to be further strengthened.These two factors greatly affect the performance of predicting essential proteins.In this paper,we propose a deep learning framework based on temporal convolutional networks to predict essential proteins by integrating gene expression data and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network.We make use of the method of network embedding to automatically learn more abundant features of proteins in the PPI network.For gene expression data,we treat it as sequence data,and use temporal convolutional networks to extract sequence features.Finally,the two types of features are integrated and put into the multi-layer neural network to complete the final classification task.The performance of our method is evaluated by comparing with seven centrality methods,six machine learning algorithms,and two deep learning models.The results of the experiment show that our method is more effective than the comparison methods for predicting essential proteins.
基金Key International Cooperation Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32120103011)Jiangsu Shuang Chuang Tuan Dui program(JSSCTD202147)+1 种基金Jiangsu Shuang Chuang Ren Cai program(JSSCRC2021541)Initiation Funds of Yangzhou University for Distinguished Scientists.
文摘Background The aim of this study was to determine whether and how Zn proteinate with moderate chelation strength(Zn-Prot M)can alleviate heat stress(HS)-induced intestinal barrier function damage of broilers.A completely randomized design was used for comparatively testing the effects of Zn proteinate on HS and non-HS broilers.Under high temperature(HT),a 1(Control,HT-CON)+2(Zn source)×2(added Zn level)factorial arrangement of treatments was used.The 2 added Zn sources were Zn-Prot M and Zn sulfate(ZnS),and the 2 added Zn levels were 30 and 60 mg/kg.Under normal temperature(NT),a CON group(NT-CON)and pair-fed group(NT-PF)were included.Results The results showed that HS significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of claudin-1,occludin,junctional adhesion molecule-A(JAMA),zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)and zinc finger protein A20(A20)in the jejunum,and HS also remarkably increased serum fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran(FITC-D),endotoxin and interleukin(IL)-1βcontents,serum diamine oxidase(DAO)and matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-2 activities,nuclear factor kappa-B(NF-κB)p65 mRNA expression level,and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 and MMP-2 in the jejunum.However,dietary supplementation with Zn,especially organic Zn as Zn-Prot M at 60 mg/kg,significantly decreased serum FITC-D,endotoxin and IL-1βcontents,serum DAO and MMP-2 activities,NF-κB p65 mRNA expression level,and protein expression levels of NF-κB p65 and MMP-2 in the jejunum of HS broilers,and notably promoted mRNA and protein expression levels of claudin-1,ZO-1 and A20.Conclusions Our results suggest that dietary Zn,especially 60 mg Zn/kg as Zn-Prot M,can alleviate HS-induced intestinal barrier function damage by promoting the expression of TJ proteins possibly via induction of A20-mediated suppression of the NF-κB p65/MMP-2 pathway in the jejunum of HS broilers.
文摘Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease(CJD)is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by abnormalities in the prion protein(PrP),the most common form of human prion disease.Although Genome-Wide Association Studies(GWAS)have identified numerous risk genes for CJD,the mechanisms underlying these risk loci remain poorly understood.This study aims to elucidate novel genetically prioritized candidate proteins associated with CJD in the human brain through an integrative analytical pipeline.Utilizing datasets from Protein Quantitative Trait Loci(pQTL)(NpQTL1=152,NpQTL2=376),expression QTL(eQTL)(N=452),and the CJD GWAS(NCJD=4110,NControls=13569),we implemented a systematic analytical pipeline.This pipeline included Proteome-Wide Association Study(PWAS),Mendelian randomization(MR),Bayesian colocalization,and Transcriptome-Wide Association Study(TWAS)to identify novel genetically prioritized candidate proteins implicated in CJD pathogenesis within the brain.Through PWAS,we identified that the altered abundance of six brain proteins was significantly associated with CJD.Two genes,STX6 and PDIA4,were established as lead causal genes for CJD,supported by robust evidence(False Discovery Rate<0.05 in MR analysis;PP4/(PP3+PP4)≥0.75 in Bayesian colocalization).Specifically,elevated levels of STX6 and PDIA4 were associated with an increased risk of CJD.Additionally,TWAS demonstrated that STX6 and PDIA4 were associated with CJD at the transcriptional level.
基金supported by the Grand Science and Technology Special Project in Shanxi Province(202201140601025-2)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201749)supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2022-68013-36439(WheatCAP)from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
文摘The awn can contribute to photosynthesis and carbohydrates,enhancing grain yield in wheat.We mapped QAwn.sxau-5A,a major QTL for awn development in wheat(Triticum aestivum).This QTL was delimited to a 994-kb interval at the B1 locus on chromosome 5A,which included the candidate gene encoding a zinc finger protein(TraesCS5A01G542800)as an awn length inhibitor(ALI).The Ali-A1 allele for the awnless trait showed abundant sequence differences in the promoter regions compared to the ali-A1 allele for the long-awn trait.The results of the swap experiment on the promoters from the two ALI-A1 alleles showed that the two promoters caused a difference in the protein level,indicating the gene was regulated at the transcript level.However,the ali-A1 allele contained an SNP that caused a premature stop codon in its coding region,resulting in a truncated protein compared to the functional Ali-A1 protein.The Ali-A1 protein contained two ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression(EAR)motifs,one at the N terminus(EAR-N)and the other at the C terminus(EAR-C),and they were involved in interactions with the wheat co-repressor protein TOPLESS(TPL1).The ali-A1 protein retained the EAR-N motif but lost the EAR-C motif,resulting in the attenuated ability to interact with TPL1.The tpl1 mutant produced a longer awn compared to the wild type.Ali-A1 repressed the transcription of two downstream genes,TaLRP-A1 and TaARF-B1,involved in endogenous auxin concentrations and auxin responses in wheat.We concluded that the awn length is regulated not only by the ALI-A1 gene at transcript levels but also by Ali-A1 and TPL1 at the protein level in wheat.
基金supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(7232236)the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFF1100104)。
文摘Introduction:Diet intervention,especially supplementation with high-quality protein,is considered to be a critical strategy in sarcopenia.However,different sources and types of protein have different health impacts.Objectives:The aim of this study is to explore the differences in the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of different sources and types of proteins on sarcopenia,providing an optimal path for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.Methods:A sarcopenia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone(5 mg/kg).Sixty male C57BL/6 mice(8 months old)were randomly divided into the normal control,sarcopenia,goat whey protein,goat milk casein,bovine whey protein,and bovine milk casein groups.Animals were treated for 8 consecutive weeks.Organism-level and molecular phenotypes,16S rRNA gene sequencing,and untargeted metabolomics profiling based on GC-TOF/MS were employed to investigate the correlation between host metabolism,microbial metabolism,autophagy and inflammation and their influence on sarcopenia in C57BL/6 male mice.Results:All 4 proteins increased muscle mass,and goat whey protein improved muscle strength in sarcopenic mice.Goat and bovine milk proteins promoted muscle regeneration by increasing MyoD1 and MyoG expression,and the former had a more distinct effect in inducing autophagy and decreasing inflammation than the latter.In addition,goat whey protein and casein could modulate hostmicrobial arginine co-metabolism.Notably,goat milk proteins responded well to sarcopenia comorbidities,including sarcopenic obesity,osteosarcopenia,and osteoarthritis.Conclusion:The study confirmed that goat milk proteins were more effective than bovine milk proteins for the control of sarcopenia.Moreover,we found that whey protein and casein could modulate host-microbial arginine co-metabolism,which shows their potential as precision nutritional supplements for the management of sarcopenia.Our study provides theoretical support for the prevention and control of sarcopenia.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32070838 and 82301874)Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine,Nanjing Medical University(Grant No.SKLRM K202102)。
文摘Meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes involves nuclear and organelle structural changes,notably the chromatin configuration transition from a non-surrounding nucleolus(NSN)to surrounding nucleolus(SN)in germinal vesicle oocytes.In the current study,we found that nuclear speckles(NSs),a subnuclear structure mainly composed of serine-arginine(SR)proteins,changed from a diffuse spotted distribution in mouse NSN oocytes to an aggregated pattern in SN oocytes.We also found that the SR protein-specific kinase 1(SRPK1),an enzyme that phosphorylates SR proteins,co-localized with NSs at the SN stage,and that NSN oocytes failed to transition to SN oocytes after the inhibition of SRPK1 activity.Furthermore,the typical structure of the chromatin ring around the nucleolus in SN oocytes collapsed after treatment with an SRPK1 inhibitor.Mechanistically,phosphorylated SR proteins were found to be related to chromatin as shown by a salt extraction experiment,and in situ DNaseⅠassay showed that the accessibility of chromatin was enhanced in SN oocytes when SRPK1 was inhibited,accompanied by a decreased repressive modification on histone and the abnormal recurrence of a transcriptional signal.In conclusion,our results indicated that SRPK1-regulated phosphorylation of SR proteins was involved in the NSN-SN transition and played an important role in maintaining the condensed nucleus of SN oocytes via interacting with chromatin.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82373722,22077144)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.2023JJ30527)+2 种基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023B1515040006)Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction Foundation(No.2023B1212060022)Key Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(No.2020B1111110003).
文摘Chemical modification of native peptides and proteins is a versatile strategy to facilitate late-stage diversification for functional studies.Among the proteogenic amino acids,lysine is extensively involved in posttranslational modifications and the binding of ligands to target proteins,making its selective modification attractive.However,lysine’s high natural abundance and solvent accessibility,as well as its relatively low reactivity to cysteine,necessitate addressing chemoselectivity and regioselectivity for the Lys modification of native proteins.Although Lys chemoselective modification methods have been well developed,achieving site-selective modification of a specific Lys residue remains a great challenge.In this review,we discussed the challenges of Lys selective modification,presented recent examples of Lys chemoselective modification,and summarized the currently known methods and strategies for Lys site-selective modification.We also included an outlook on potential solutions for Lys site-selective labeling and its potential applications in chemical biology and drug development.
基金supported by the Youth Foundation of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences[Grant No.QNJJ202242]the Excellent Young Scholars of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences[Grant No.YXQN202205]+3 种基金the Beijing Nova Program[Grant No.20220484052]the National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant No.31801852]the Collaborative Innovation Center of Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences[Grant No.KJCX201907-2]the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System[Grant No.CARS-23-A-05].
文摘The soil-resident pathogen, Plasmodiophora brassicae, infects cruciferous crops, causing obligate parasitic clubroot disease and posing a significant threat to the Brassica vegetable industry in China. To learn more about its pathogenesis, we reported a Nanopore sequencing-derived25.3 Mb high-quality genome sequence of P. brassicae pathotype 4 strain(P.b 4). Comparing the P.b 4 genome with that of the published P.brassicae e3 genome(P.b e3) identified single nucleotide polymorphisms, structural variations, and small insertions and deletions. We then carried out RNA-sequencing of root samples from a clubroot-susceptible line at 5, 14, and 28 days after inoculation(DAI), and classified genes into five categories based on their expression patterns. Interestingly, 158 genes were highly expressed at 14 DAI, which were enriched in budding cell isotropic bud growth, ascospore wall assembly, spore wall assembly, spore wall biogenesis, and ascospore wall biogenesis.Subsequently, we bioinformatically predicted 555 secreted effector candidates, among which only 125 were expressed during infection and had amino acid lengths less than 400. The putative effector Pb010018, which was highly expressed at 14 DAI, was validated to have a signal peptide using a yeast secretion system. Luciferase activity and co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Pb010018 interacts with serine hydroxymethyltransferase BrSHMT1, and expression analysis showed that SHMT1 was upregulated in both Arabidopsis and B. rapa during infection. Furthermore, after infection, the Arabidopsis shmt1 mutant(atshmt1) showed reduced severity of clubroot disease, together with downregulated expression of Pb010018. Our results offer new insights into plant-pathogen interaction mechanisms, and provide the possibility for improving Brassica resistance to clubroot disease.
