Biology-Basel最新文献

Stroke leads to significant disability in most patients, whereas cancer elevates the occurrence of stroke. The incidence of cancer-associated stroke (CAS) is projected to rise as a result of improvements in cancer therapies. Various forms of cancer have been demonstrated to be linked to ischemic stroke. Cancer might influence stroke pathophysiology either directly or through coagulation that creates a hypercoagulative state, in addition to infections. Treatment methods for cancer, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, have all been demonstrated to increase the risk of stroke as well. This review discusses the subtypes, epidemiology, pathophysiology, mechanisms of stroke within cancer patients, biomarkers, and signaling pathways of stroke in cancer while providing vital information on the involved transcription factors, treatment, and management of patients with cancer-associated ischemic stroke. Atherosclerosis, extracellular vesicles (EVs), and signaling biomolecules can also affect CAS. Overall, stroke is a significant and not uncommon complication of cancer, and there is an immediate demand for neurologists and oncologists to create strategies for screening and preventing strokes in cancer patients.

Global warming poses a significant threat to aquaculture, particularly for cold-water species like rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses is crucial for developing resilient strains. This study investigates the dual stress of salinity and temperature response of "Shuike No. 1" (SK), a pioneering commercially bred rainbow trout strain in China, using RNA-sequencing of gill, intestine, and liver tissues from fish exposed to four treatment combinations: freshwater at 16 °C, freshwater at 25 °C, saltwater (30‱) at 16 °C, and saltwater at 25 °C. Differential gene expression analysis identified a substantial number of DEGs, with the liver showing the most pronounced response and a clear synergistic effect observed under combined high-temperature and salinity stress. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed stress-responsive gene modules and identified hub genes, primarily associated with gene expression, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function, disease immunity, energy metabolism, and substance transport. Key hub genes included klf9, fkbp5a, fkbp5b, ef2, cirbp, atp1b1, atp1b2, foxi3b, smoc1, and arf1. Functional enrichment analysis confirmed the prominent role of ER stress, particularly the pathway "protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum." Our results reveal complex, tissue-specific responses to dual stress, with high temperature exerting a stronger influence than salinity. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning dual stress responses in SK, informing future breeding programs for enhanced resilience in the face of climate change.

Alterations in epigenetic modifications, like DNA methylation, in peripheral blood could serve as a useful, minimally invasive biomarker of the effects of anti-aging interventions. This study explores this potential with a water extract of the botanical Centella asiatica (CAW). Eighteen-month-old mice were treated with CAW in their drinking water for 5 weeks alongside vehicle-treated eighteen-month-old C57BL6 mice. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was used to identify genome-wide differential methylation in the blood of CAW-treated aged mice compared to vehicle-treated aged mice. Our results showed a distinct enrichment of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) nearby genes involved in biological processes relevant to aging (i.e., antioxidant response, metabolic regulation, cellular metabolism). A distinct difference was observed between males and females in both the number of methylation sites and the state of methylation. Moreover, genes nearby or overlapping DMRs were found to be enriched for biological processes related to previously described cellular effects of CAW in the mouse brain (i.e., antioxidant response, metabolic regulation, calcium regulation, and circadian rhythm). Together, our data suggest that the peripheral blood methylation signature of CAW in the blood could be a useful, and readily accessible, biomarker of CAW's effects in aging.

This study characterizes the evolution of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) across vertebrate lineages, both cyclostomes and gnathostomes, by combining sequence similarity and synteny data for the genes from 23 model species. The available evidence supports a simple model in which most of the diversity found in living species can be attributed to the expansion of four genes found in an ancestor of all vertebrates before the first of the genome duplications that occurred in the vertebrate lineages. It is inferred that the ancestor of all cyclostomes possessed only six TNFSF genes. A cyclostome-specific genome triplication had little effect on the total number of these genes. The ancestor of all gnathostomes, due to the effect of a second genome duplication plus additional single-gene duplications, already had 21 TNFSF genes. In several gnathostome lineages, particularly in some tetrapods, the TNF superfamily has significantly contracted due to numerous gene losses. This evolutionary model provides a framework for exploring functional data, showing that the descendants of different ancestral genes have acquired distinct roles, most prominently in the innate and adaptive immune systems, which led to a species-specific refinement of which TNFSF genes were conserved or lost. Several data hitherto difficult to interpret (the interactions of very different TNFSF ligands with the same receptors; the ability of the same ligands to bind alternative receptors, with or without death domains; and the cooperation of different ligands in specific functions) can be explained as consequences of the evolutionary history of the TNF superfamily.

Urinary schistosomiasis is caused by the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium, which is predominantly found in Africa. The freshwater snail Bulinus globosus is its main intermediate host. The species that make up the B. globosus group are genetically complex, and their taxonomic status remains controversial. Genetic variation, heterozygosity, and DNA recombination in B. globosus were examined using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and the intron 3 region of the arginine kinase gene (AkInt3). A total of 81 B. globosus snails were collected from three different localities in Kwale County, Kenya. Genomic diversity, heterozygosity, DNA recombination, and haplotype network were calculated using AkInt3 sequences. Low polymorphism in the COI sequence divided B. globosus into six haplotypes (C1-C6). However, AkInt3 sequencing studies showed high polymorphisms, classifying 81 B. globosus snails into 44 haplotypes (H1-H44). These haplotypes were separated into three haplogroups (I-III). AkInt3 sequence heterozygosity was also found. DNA recombination haplotypes between haplogroups were commonly found in heterozygous samples. AkInt3 sequence studies showed high levels of genetic polymorphism and heterozygosity, supporting its use as a genetic marker for elucidating the population genetics of B. globosus. Furthermore, our study showed that B. globosus populations in Kenya form a "species complex".

There are three FAM98 family proteins (FAM98A/B/C) in humans and mice. Their physiological functions remain largely unknown. We have previously reported that Fam98a interacts with Plekhm1 in murine osteoclasts and functions in lysosome trafficking/secretion and bone resorption in osteoclasts in vitro. In this study, we found that all three Fam98 genes were expressed in precursor and mature osteoclasts. While the knockdown of Fam98c by a specific short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) in osteoclast precursors attenuated osteoclastogenesis, depletion of Fam98b by an shRNA specifically disrupted osteoclast lysosome trafficking and bone resorption with phenotypes similar to Fam98a shRNA-knockdown in our previous study. Loss of Fam98a in myeloid osteoclast precursors was dispensable for trabecular and cortical bone mass in mice, as well as osteoclastogenesis/bone resorption in vitro, possibly due to compensation by increased Fam98b expression in Fam98a-null osteoclasts. These findings indicate that the three Fam98 proteins play distinct roles in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function and need further investigation in future studies.

Rice false smut (RFS) is pervasive and has emerged as the primary disease affecting rice productivity. Due to the lack of effective chemical control, disease-resistant varieties are the primary method of managing the disease. This study aimed to investigate the influence of biological characteristics such as hyphal growth rate, spore production and germination ability on the pathogenicity of Ustilaginoidea virens. The genetic diversity of 86 U. virens isolates was analyzed, and the tolerant varieties were identified using Rep-PCR molecular markers. The results indicated that among the U. virens isolates analyzed, about 31, 27 and 28 strains exhibited fast, medium and slow mycelium growth rates, respectively. Among the U. virens isolates analyzed, about 33, 27 and 26 strains exhibited strong, medium and weak sporulation abilities, respectively. In addition, among the U. virens isolates analyzed, about 29, 30 and 27 strains exhibited strong, medium and weak spore germination, respectively. No significant correlation was noted between mycelium growth rate and pathogenicity, but sporulation ability, spore germination ability and liquid culture were positively correlated (p < 0.05). Moreover, the genetic structure of U. virens was diverse and complex. There was a significant correlation between the genetic differentiation and pathogenicity of U. virens in Heilongjiang Province, China, with a maximum coefficient of 0.1786 and a minimum coefficient of 0.0129 between Harbin and Suihua, but no significant correlation was found with gene groups or geographical regions. The study found that genes and geographical population variation were primarily within the population, with 95.63% and 4.37% variation (p > 0.05), respectively, while pathogenicity population variation was mainly within the population, with 86.08% and 13.92% variation (p > 0.05), respectively. Pathogenicity had a significant effect on the differentiation of U. virens. Most rice varieties were susceptible, with 3 resistant, 8 moderately resistant, 9 moderately susceptible, 8 susceptible and 12 highly susceptible to RFS disease. Collectively, these results indicate that the tolerance of rice against U. virens is poor, which merits further investigation.

Understanding the drivers of invasive species' success is essential for predicting and managing their ecological impacts. Symphyotrichum squamatum, a South American species first recorded in Bucharest in 2015, is currently expanding into urban and peri-urban areas of Romania, raising concerns about its invasive potential. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of its invasiveness by integrating species distribution modeling, a reproductive trait analysis, and morpho-structural evaluations. To deepen our understanding, we compare S. squamatum with S. ciliatum, a species already invasive in Romania, to identify shared traits potentially driving their invasiveness. Using R software (version 4.3.0) with bioclimatic variables, we modeled the potential distribution of both species. The reproductive success of S. squamatum was evaluated through germination tests on seeds from distinct Romanian populations, while anatomical analyses revealed adaptations potentially linked to invasiveness. Our findings indicate that S. squamatum shares traits with successful invaders, as highlighted by its comparison with the invasive S. ciliatum. However, its expansion in Romania appears to be constrained by environmental factors, with continentality emerging as a key determinant influencing the distribution of both species. This study highlights the importance of combining ecological modeling with trait-based analyses to assess invasive potential, offering a robust framework for managing alien species.

Poly(A) polymerase (PAP 1) from Escherichia coli is the primary enzyme responsible for synthesizing poly(A) tails on RNA molecules, signaling RNA degradation in bacterial cells. In vitro, PAP 1 is used to prepare libraries for RNAseq and to produce mRNA vaccines. However, E. coli PAP 1's toxicity and instability in low-salt buffers complicate its expression and purification. Here, we optimized the conditions for the production of recombinant PAP 1. For that, E. coli PAP 1 was expressed in seven E. coli strains with different origins and genetic backgrounds, followed by assessment of the overall protein yield, solubility, and enzymatic activity. Among the tested strains, BL21 (DE3) pLysS achieved the best balance of cell density, total PAP 1 yield, solubility, and specific activity. Rosetta 2 (DE3) and Rosetta Blue (DE3) hosting the pRARE plasmid exhibited the lowest solubility, likely due to excessive translation efficiency. Higher induction temperatures (>18 °C) exacerbated PAP 1's insolubility. Interestingly, PAP 1 accumulation correlated with an increase in the plasmid copy number encoding the enzyme, indicating its potential utility as a surrogate marker of PAP 1 activity. These findings provide insights into optimizing E. coli PAP 1 production for biotechnological applications.

Almost all organisms, from the simplest bacteria to advanced mammals, havea near 24 h circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythms are highly conserved across different life forms and are regulated by circadian genes as well as by related transcription factors. Transcription factors are fundamental to circadian rhythms, influencing gene expression, behavior in plants and animals, and human diseases. This review examines the foundational research on transcriptional regulation of circadian rhythms, emphasizing histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and Pol II pausing control. These studies have enhanced our understanding of transcriptional regulation within biological circadian rhythms and the importance of circadian biology in human health. Finally, we summarize the progress and challenges in these three areas of regulation to move the field forward.