UMAPATHY PRAKASH¹, SUBRAMANIAM RAJESH BHARATHIDEVI^1,*, RAMYA R. NADIG², RAJIV RAMAN², GIRISH SHIV RAO², MUNA BHENDE²

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.7, pp. 1473-1482, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.027804

Abstract Zinc alpha 2 glycoprotein (ZAG) is a 41 KDa secretory soluble glycoprotein found in different body fluids like the serum, saliva, sweat, breast milk, and urine. It is also found in tissues like the testis, epididymis, kidney, spleen, liver, lungs, heart, and brain. ZAG is an adipokine with multiple roles, including lipid mobilization, modulating glucose metabolisms, improving insulin sensitivity, inhibiting tumor proliferation through RNAse activity, and suppressing inflammation. Low levels of zinc and ZAG are linked to metabolic syndrome and are also reported as potential biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy. Interestingly zinc has been found to regulate the binding of ZAG… More >

Amjed Al Fahoum^*, Ala’a Zyout, Hiam Alquran, Isam Abu-Qasmieh

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.76, No.1, pp. 1173-1193, 2023, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2023.038304

Abstract Complex proteins are needed for many biological activities. Folding amino acid chains reveals their properties and functions. They support healthy tissue structure, physiology, and homeostasis. Precision medicine and treatments require quantitative protein identification and function. Despite technical advances and protein sequence data exploration, bioinformatics’ “basic structure” problem—the automatic deduction of a protein’s properties from its amino acid sequence—remains unsolved. Protein function inference from amino acid sequences is the main biological data challenge. This study analyzes whether raw sequencing can characterize biological facts. A massive corpus of protein sequences and the Globin-like superfamily’s related protein families generate a solid vector representation.… More >

Yuanyuan Li^1,#, Jinze Mu^2,#, Qingliang Li¹, Huabing Liu³, Xuefeng Yuan^2,*, Deya Wang^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.7, pp. 2079-2085, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.028237

Abstract Infection of plum bark necrosis stem pitting associated virus (PBNSPaV) has been reported in many Prunus species in several countries, causing significant economic losses. The very small proteins encoded by plant viruses are often overlooked due to their short sequences and uncertain significance. However, numerous studies have indicated that they might play important roles in the pathogenesis of virus infection. The role of small hydrophobic protein P6, encoded by the open reading frame 2 of PBNSPaV, has not been well explored. In this study, we amplified the P6 fragment from a PBNSPaV isolate by RT-PCR using specific primers and found… More >

Xi Liu^1,2,#,*, Chuxuan Zhao^2,#, Di Wang^3,#, Gen Pan⁴, Xiaonan Ji², Su Gao², Tanxiao Du², Yating Feng², Wenjing Chen²

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.7, pp. 2051-2064, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.028196

Abstract Many studies have already shown that dwarfism and moderate delayed leaf senescence positively impact rice yield, but the underlying molecular mechanism of dwarfism and leaf senescence remains largely unknown. Here, using map-based cloning, we identified an allele of DEP2, DDG1, which controls plant height and leaf senescence in rice. The ddg1 mutant displayed dwarfism, short panicles, and delayed leaf senescence. Compared with the wild-type, ddg1 was insensitive to exogenous gibberellins (GA) and brassinolide (BR). DDG1 is expressed in various organs, especially in stems and panicles. Yeast two-hybrid assay, bimolecular fluorescent complementation and luciferase complementation image assay showed that DDG1 interacts… More >

Sang Ik Song^*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.92, No.7, pp. 2017-2034, 2023, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2023.027469

Abstract Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) E3 ligases that facilitate the conjugation of SUMO proteins to target substrates contain an SP-RING domain which is like the RING domain found in ubiquitin E3 ligases. In this study, we isolated and characterized the Oryza sativa protein inhibitor of activated STAT like1 (OsPIAL1) containing SP-RING domains, as the rice homolog of Arabidopsis PIALs. OsPIAL1 interacts with OsSUMO proteins but does not interact with rice SUMO-conjugating enzymes (OsSCEs). An analysis of transgenic rice plant shows that OsPIAL1 is involved in SUMO conjugation to SCEs but not in SUMO conjugation to substrates. In addition, this OsPIAL1 activity… More >

NING AN^1,#, HEQING PENG^2,#, MIN HOU³, DUOFENG SU², LIU WANG⁴, XIAOGANG SHEN^5,*, MING ZHANG^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 307-316, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.028564

Abstract Zinc-finger proteins play different roles in cancer; however, the function of zinc-finger protein ZNF575 in cancer remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to determine the function and expression of ZNF575 in colorectal cancer. Proliferation assay, colony formation assay, and tumor model in mice were used to investigate the function of ZNF575 after ectopic expression of ZNF575 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. RNA sequencing, ChIP, and luciferase assays were used to investigate the mechanism behind ZNF575 regulation of CRC cell growth. The expression of ZNF575 was determined by IHC staining in 150 pairs of malignant CRC tissues, followed by… More > Graphic Abstract

YU LU¹, TSUTOMU MIYAMOTO^1,*, HODAKA TAKEUCHI¹, FUMI TSUNODA¹, NAOKI TANAKA^2,3,4, TANRI SHIOZAWA¹

Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 239-253, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.026067

Abstract Endometrial carcinoma (EMC) is associated with obesity; however, the underlying mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is a nuclear receptor that is involved in lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism. PPARα reportedly functions as a tumor suppressor through its effects on lipid metabolism; however, the involvement of PPARα in the development of EMC remains unclear. The present study demonstrated that the immunohistochemical expression of nuclear PPARα was lower in EMC than in normal endometrial tissues, suggesting the tumor suppressive nature of PPARα. A treatment with the PPARα activator, irbesartan, inhibited the EMC cell lines, Ishikawa and… More >

QIOU GU, TIAN ZHAN, XIAO GUAN, CHUILIN LAI, NA LU, GUOGUANG WANG, LEI XU, XIANG GAO, JIANPING ZHANG^*

Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 287-297, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.028124

Abstract Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignancy with the worst prognosis that seriously threatens human health, especially in East Asia. Apolipoprotein C1 (apoc1) belongs to the apolipoprotein family. In addition, apoc1 has been associated with various tumors. However, its role in GC remains unclear. Methods: Firstly, we quantified its expression in GC and adjacent tumor tissues, using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Next, we assessed cell invasion and migration abilities. Finally, we revealed the role of apoc1 in the tumor microenvironment (TME), immune cell infiltration and drug sensitivity. Results: Firstly, in TCGA database, it has been shown that elevated expression… More >

YUSEN ZHANG^1,2,3, LIPING LIU^1,2,3, BIWEI LUO^1,2,3, HONGGUI TANG^1,2,3, XIAOFANG YU^1,2,3, SHIYUN BAO^1,2,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 317-331, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.028418

Abstract Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents the epithelial cell cancer with high aggressiveness whose five-year survival rate is poor with standard treatment. Calcyclin-binding protein (CACYBP) shows aberrant expression within several malignant tumors, but the role of CACYBP in CCA remains unknown. Methods: Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was used to identify CACYBP overexpression in clinical samples of CCA patients. Moreover, its correlation with clinical outcome was revealed. Furthermore, CACYBP’s effect on CCA cell growth and invasion was investigated in vitro and in vivo using loss-of-function experiments. Results: CACYBP showed up-regulation in CCA, which predicts the dismal prognostic outcome. CACYBP had an important effect on… More >

RYAN STARK^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1191-1198, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.027838

Abstract Protein-mediated interactions are the fundamental mechanism through which cells regulate health and disease. These interactions require physical contact between proteins and their respective targets of interest. These targets include not only other proteins but also nucleic acids and other important molecules as well. These proteins are often involved in multibody complexes that work dynamically to regulate cellular health and function. Various techniques have been adapted to study these important interactions, such as affinity-based assays, mass spectrometry, and fluorescent detection. The application of these techniques has led to a greater understanding of how protein interactions are responsible for both the instigation… More >