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Objective: In this study, the effects of exogenous additives on gel properties of myofibrillar protein were explored to improve the property of surimi from fresh-water fish. Methods: The myofibrillar protein of loach was mixed with various contents of soybean protein isolate and carrageenan to prepare composite gel. Its properties were investigated by texture analyzer, color difference analyzer, scanning electron microscope and infrared spectroscopy. Results: With increased content of soybean protein isolate, the gel hardness of myofibrillar protein from loach decreased firstly and then increased; while gel springiness increased firstly and then decreased. Soybean protein isolate could enhance the water holding capacity of gel and decrease its cooking loss. Holes in gel network became larger and the relative contents of secondary structure also changed. However, carrageenan could weaken the hardness and springiness of gel, while improve the whiteness as well as cooking loss. The gel network structure became regular and the unordered structure disappeared. Conclusion: The effects of soybean protein isolate on gel of myofibrillar protein from loach is more obvious than that of carrageenan, and the composite gel formed by soybean protein isolate have better properties.

Growing evidence supports the critical role of tumour microenvironment (TME) in tumour progression, metastases, and treatment response. However, the in-situ interplay among various TME components, particularly between immune and tumour cells, are largely unknown, hindering our understanding of how tumour progresses and responds to treatment. While mainstream single-cell omics techniques allow deep, single-cell phenotyping, they lack crucial spatial information for in-situ cell-cell interaction analysis. On the other hand, tissue-based approaches such as hematoxylin and eosin and chromogenic immunohistochemistry staining can preserve the spatial information of TME components but are limited by their low-content staining. High-content spatial profiling technologies, termed spatial omics, have greatly advanced in the past decades to overcome these limitations. These technologies continue to emerge to include more molecular features (RNAs and/or proteins) and to enhance spatial resolution, opening new opportunities for discovering novel biological knowledge, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. These advancements also spur the need for novel computational methods to mine useful TME insights from the increasing data complexity confounded by high molecular features and spatial resolution. In this review, we present state-of-the-art spatial omics technologies, their applications, major strengths, and limitations as well as the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in TME studies.

Neurofibromatosis type 1, including the highly aggressive malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), is featured by the loss of functional neurofibromin 1 (NF1) protein resulting from genetic alterations. A major function of NF1 is suppressing Ras activities, which is conveyed by an intrinsic GTPase-activating protein-related domain (GRD). In this study, we explored the feasibility of restoring Ras GTPase via exogenous expression of various GRD constructs, via gene delivery using a panel of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors in MPNST and human Schwann cells (HSCs). We demonstrated that several AAV serotypes achieved favorable transduction efficacies in those cells and a membrane-targeting GRD fused with an H-Ras C-terminal motif (C10) dramatically inhibited the Ras pathway and MPNST cells in a NF1-specific manner. Our results opened up a venue of gene replacement therapy in NF1-related tumors.

Abstract Cell senescence is a basic aging mechanism. Previous studies have found that the cellular senescence in adipose tissue and other tissues, such as the pancreas, muscle and liver, is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of type 2 diabetes; however, strong evidence of whether diabetes directly causes neuronal senescence in the brain is still lacking. In this study, we constructed a high glucose and palmitic acid (HGP) environment on PC12 neuronal cells and primary mouse cortical neurons to simulate diabetes. Our results showed that after HGP exposure, neurons exhibited obvious senescence-like phenotypes, including increased NRSF/REST level, mTOR activation and cell autophagy suppression. Downregulation of NRSF/REST could remarkably alleviate p16, p21 and γH2A.X upregulations induced by HGP treatment, and enhance mTOR-autophagy of neurons. Our results suggested that the diabetic condition could directly induce neuronal senescence, which is mediated by the upregulation of NRSF/REST and subsequent reduction of mTOR-autophagy.

Objective: In order to develop composite edible film with excellent performance, the effects of different types of polysaccharides on collagen edible film's properties were evaluated with collagen from loach skin being the basic raw material. Methods: Pectin （acidic polysaccharose）, pullulan （neutral polysaccharide） as well as chitosan （alkaline polysaccharide） were used to compose the film with collagen, respectively. The composite film's properties including basic properties, mechanical properties and barrier properties were measured and analyzed. Results: Pullulan had less effect on the thickness, water content and opacity of collagen edible film compared with pectin. Three kinds of polysaccharides could all reduce the water solubility and increase the swelling rate of collagen edible film to different degrees. In terms of mechanical properties, chitosan and little pullulan could improve the comprehensive mechanical properties of collagen edible film, while pectin increased the elongation at break but greatly reduced tensile strength of collagen edible film. In terms of barrier property, proper amount of chitosan could improve the water-resistance and oil-resistance performance of collagen edible film, while pectin and pullulan could only improve its oil-resistance performance. Conclusion: Compared with pullulan and chitosan, the effect of pectin on film's mechanical properties and barrier properties is different or even opposite.