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1-Deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase and 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoismerase are considered two key enzymes in the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol-4-phosphate pathway of terpenoid biosynthesis and are related to the synthesis and accumulation of sesquiterpenoids. We cloned two DXS and DXR genes from Atractylodes lancea and analysed their expression in different tissues and in response to methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Subcellular localisation analysis revealed that the AlDXS and AlDXR1 proteins are located in the chloroplasts and cytoplasm, whereas AlDXR2 is only located in the chloroplasts. pET-AlDXS-28a and pGEX-AlDXR-4T-1 were expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and BL21, respectively. Based on the abiotic stress analysis, the growth rate of the recombinant pGEX-AlDXR-4T-1 was higher than that of the control in HCl and NaOH. AlDXS exhibited the highest expression level in rhizomes of A. lancea from Hubei but was highest in leaves from Henan. In contrast, AlDXR showed maximum expression in the leaves of A. lancea from Hubei and Henan. Moreover, DXS and DXR gene expression, enzyme activities, and antioxidant enzyme activities oscillated in response to MeJA, with expression peaks appearing at different time points. Our findings indicated that the characterisation and function of AlDXS and AlDXR could be useful for further elucidating the functions of DXR and DXR genes in A. lancea. Key words: Atractylodes lancea, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase, 1-deoxy-d-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoismerase, subcellular localisation, gene expression, Introduction Terpenoids have a wide variety of pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiallergenic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties (Kuang et al. 2021). For example, the sesquiterpene lactone, artemisinin, from Artemisia annua [...]

C2H2-zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) genes are involved in various biological processes in plants including stress response; however, they lack characterization in Brassica napus. We identified 267 C2H2-ZF genes in B. napus and deciphered their physiological properties, subcellular localization, structure, synteny, and phylogeny and investigated the expression of 20 genes in response to different stresses and phytohormone treatments. The 267 genes were distributed on 19 chromosomes; phylogenetic analysis categorized them into five clades. They varied from 0.41 to 9.2 kb in length, had stress-responsive cis-acting elements in promoter regions, and their protein length varied from 9 to 1366 amino acids. About 42% of the genes had one exon, and 88% genes had orthologs in Arabidopsis thaliana. About 97% of the genes were located in nucleus and 3% in cytoplasmic organelles. qRT-PCR analysis showed a different expression pattern of these genes in response to biotic stresses (Plasmodiophora brassicae and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) and abiotic stresses (cold, drought, and salinity) and hormonal treatments. Differential expression of the same gene was observed under multiple stress conditions, and a few genes showed similar expression in response to more than one phytohormones. Our results suggest that the C2H2-ZF genes can be targeted for the improvement of stress tolerance in canola. Key words: C2H2-zinc finger genes, Brassica napus, transcription factors, stress response, gene expression, 1. Introduction The genus Brassica includes 39 economically important vegetable and oilseed crop species (for review, see Warwick et al. 2006). Among them, Brassica napus (2n = 38, AACC), commonly [...]

Since the discovery that cGAS/STING recognizes endogenous DNA released from dying cancer cells and induces type I interferon and antitumor T cell responses, efforts to understand and therapeutically target the STING pathway in cancer have ensued. Relative to other cancer types, the glioma immune microenvironment harbors few infiltrating T cells, but abundant tumor-associated myeloid cells, possibly explaining disappointing responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapies in cohorts of patients with glioblastoma. Notably, unlike most extracranial tumors, STING expression is absent in the malignant compartment of gliomas, likely due to methylation of the STING promoter. Nonetheless, several preclinical studies suggest that inducing cGAS/STING signaling in the glioma immune microenvironment could be therapeutically beneficial, and cGAS/STING signaling has been shown to mediate inflammatory and antitumor effects of other modalities either in use or being developed for glioblastoma therapy, including radiation, tumor-treating fields, and oncolytic virotherapy. In this Review, we discuss cGAS/STING signaling in gliomas, its implications for glioma immunobiology, compartment-specific roles for STING signaling in influencing immune surveillance, and efforts to target STING signaling--either directly or indirectly--for antiglioma therapy., Introduction Cues from the innate immune system determine the priming, recruitment, and functionality of adaptive immunity. This crosstalk is generally mediated through antigen-independent pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling and results [...]

Melanocytes play a major role in the formation of mammalian fur color and are regulated by several genes. Despite playing the pivotal role in the study of melanoma, the mechanistic role of NRAS (neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog) in the formation of mammalian epidermal color is still elusive. First of all, the expression levels of NRAS mRNA and protein in the dorsal skin of different colored Rex rabbits were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Then, the subcellular localization of NRAS was identified in melanocytes by indirect immunofluorescence. Next, the expression of NRAS was overexpressed and knocked down in melanocytes, and its efficiency was verified by qRT-PCR and Western blot. Subsequently, NaOH, CCK-8, and Annexin V-FITC were used to verify the changes in melanin content, proliferation, and apoptosis in melanocytes. Finally, we analyzed the regulation of NRAS on other genes (MITF, TYR, DCT, PMEL, and CREB) that affect melanin production. In silico studies showed NRAS as a stable and hydrophilic protein, and it is localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus of melanocytes. The mRNA and protein expression levels of NRAS were significantly different in skin of different colored Rex rabbits, and the highest level was found in black skin (P < 0.01). Moreover, the NRAS demonstrated impact on the proliferation, apoptosis, and melanin production of melanocytes (P < 0.05), and the strong correlation of NRAS with melanin-related genes was evidently observed (P < 0.05). Our results suggested that NRAS can be used as a gene that regulates melanin production and controls melanocyte proliferation and apoptosis, providing a new theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of mammalian fur color formation. Key words: NRAS, melanocytes, melanin, Rex rabbit, melanin-related genes, Introduction Melanin is a biological pigment synthesized by melanocytes, which is transported outside the cells and deposited in various tissues such as hair, skin, and eyes through a specific transport [...]

* Context.--Appropriate patient management requires precise and meaningful tumor classification. Breast cancer classification continues to evolve from traditional morphologic evaluation to more sophisticated systems with the integration of new knowledge from research being translated into practice. Breast cancer is heterogeneous at the molecular level, with diversified patterns of gene expression, which is presumably responsible for the difference in tumor behavior and prognosis. Since the beginning of this century, new molecular technology has been gradually applied to breast cancer research on issues pertinent to prognosis (prognostic signature) and therapeutic prediction (predictive signature), and much progress has been made. Objective.--To summarize the current state and the prospective future of molecular classification of breast cancer. Data Sources.--Sources include recent medical literature on molecular classification of breast cancer. Conclusions.--Identification of intrinsic tumor subtypes has set a foundation for refining the breast cancer molecular classification. Studies have explored the genetic features within the intrinsic cancer subtypes and have identified novel molecular targets that led to the innovation of clinical assays to predict a patient's prognosis and to provide specific guidelines for therapeutic decisions. With the development and implication of these molecular tools, we have remarkably advanced our knowledge and enhanced our power to provide optimal management to patients. However, challenges still exist. Besides accurate prediction of prognosis, we are still in urgent need of more molecular predictors for tumor response to therapeutic regimes. Further exploration along this path will be critical for improving a patient's prognosis., Breast cancer is a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors with diversified morphology, biologic behavior, clinical course and prognosis, and accurate tumor classification is critical for a patient's care. Theoretically, a [...]