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A novel κ-carrageenase gene (Cly-κ-car) was cloned and heterologously expressed from marine bacterium Cellulophaga lytica strain N5-2. The gene comprised an open reading frame of 1488bp encoding 495 amino acid residues. The deduced protein had a calculated molecular weight of 55.24kDa with an estimated isoelectric point of 9.90. Multiple alignment analysis revealed that Cly-κ-CAR shared identity with κ-carrageenases from Zobellia sp. M-2 (46%), Zobellia galactanivorans (42%) and Rhodopirellula islandica (38%). Recombinant Cly-κ-CAR (R-Cly-κ-CAR) had maximum specific activity of 620.08U/mg at 35°C, pH 7.0, 0.7% κ-carrageenan and in the presence of 0.6% NaCl. It retained >75% of its initial activity after heat treatment below 35°C for 2h. More than 50% of its activity was maintained after incubation at pH 5.0-8.0 and 4°C for 6h. The Km and Vmax values for κ-carrageenan were 0.94mg/ml and 13.42mM/min/mg, respectively. Thin layer chromatographic analysis of the R-Cly-κ-CAR hydrolysis products revealed that the enzyme hydrolyzed κ-carrageenan into neo-κ-carraoctaose and neo-κ-carrahexaose. R-Cly-κ-CAR is a novel κ-carrageenase enzyme and could be a valuable tool to produce high degree of polymerization κ-carrageenan oligosaccharides with various biological activities.

Blood vessels serve an important role in tumor growth and metastasis, and recent studies have shown that certain tumor cancer stem cells may differentiate into endothelial cells and contribute to angiogenesis. In the present study, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was used to induce endothelial differentiation of breast cancer stem‑like cells (BCSLCs), and methods including flow cytometry, western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to study the relationship between autophagy and the endothelial differentiation of BCSLCs. The results showed that BCSLCs could differentiate into endothelial cells under the induction of VEGF in vitro. Subsequently, the role of autophagy in the endothelial differentiation of BCSLCs was examined. Autophagic activity was measured during endothelial differentiation of BCSLCs, and the association between autophagy and endothelial differentiation was investigated using autophagy activators, autophagy inhibitors and autophagy related 5 (Atg5)‑knockdown BCSLCs. Autophagy was increased during endothelial differentiation of BCSLCs, and there was a positive association between autophagy and endothelial differentiation. The ability of cells to undergo endothelial differentiation was reduced in BCSLCs with Atg5 knockdown. Therefore, autophagy was essential for endothelial differentiation of BCSLCs, and the findings of the present study may highlight novel potential avenues for reducing angiogenesis and improving treatment of breast cancer.

Spinal cord injury results in the loss of motor and sensory pathways and spontaneous regeneration of adult mammalian spinal cord neurons is limited. Chitosan and sodium alginate have good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and are suitable to assist the recovery of damaged tissues, such as skin, bone and nerve. Chitosan scaffolds, sodium alginate scaffolds and chitosan-sodium alginate scaffolds were separately transplanted into rats with spinal cord hemisection. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale scores and electrophysiological results showed that chitosan scaffolds promoted recovery of locomotor capacity and nerve transduction of the experimental rats. Sixty days after surgery, chitosan scaffolds retained the original shape of the spinal cord. Compared with sodium alginate scaffolds- and chitosan-sodium alginate scaffolds-transplanted rats, more neurofilament-H-immunoreactive cells (regenerating nerve fibers) and less glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive cells (astrocytic scar tissue) were observed at the injury site of experimental rats in chitosan scaffold-transplanted rats. Due to the fast degradation rate of sodium alginate, sodium alginate scaffolds and composite material scaffolds did not have a supporting and bridging effect on the damaged tissue. Above all, compared with sodium alginate and composite material scaffolds, chitosan had better biocompatibility, could promote the regeneration of nerve fibers and prevent the formation of scar tissue, and as such, is more suitable to help the repair of spinal cord injury.