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BACKGROUND: Our study aimed to investigate the Hub genes and their prognostic value in colorectal cancer (CRC) via bioinformatics analysis. METHODS: The data set of colorectal cancer was downloaded from the GEO database (GSE21510, GSE110224 and GSE74602) for differential expression analysis using the GEO2R tool. Hub genes were screened by protein-protein interaction (PPI) comprehensive analysis. GEPIA was used to verify the expression of Hub genes and evaluate its prognostic value. The protein expression of Hub gene in CRC was analyzed using the Human Protein Atlas database. The cBioPortal was used to analyze the type and frequency of Hub gene mutations, and the effects of mutation on the patients' prognosis. The TIMER database was used to study the correlation between Hub genes and immune infiltration in CRC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to explore the biological function and signal pathway of the Hub genes and corresponding co-expressed genes. RESULTS: We identified 346 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 117 upregulated and 229 downregulated. Four Hub genes (AURKA, CCNB1, EXO1 and CCNA2) were selected by survival analysis and differential expression validation. The protein and mRNA expression levels of AURKA, CCNB1, EXO1 and CCNA2 were higher in CRC tissues than in adjacent tissues. There were varying degrees of immune cell infiltration and gene mutation of Hub genes, especially B cells and CD8 + T cells. The results of GSEA showed that Hub genes and their co-expressed genes mainly participated in chromosome segregation, DNA replication, translational elongation and cell cycle. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of AURKA, CCNB1, CCNA2 and EXO1 had a better prognosis for CRC and this effect was correlation with gene mutation and infiltration of immune cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements of magnetization, longitudinal and Hall resistivities are carried out on the intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) topological insulator EuSn2As2. It is confirmed that our EuSn2As2crystal is a heavily hole doping A-type AFM metal with the Néel temperature TN = 24 K, with a metamagnetic transition from an AFM to a ferromagnetic (FM) phase occurring at a certain critical magnetic field for the different field orientations. Meanwhile, we also find that the carrier concentration does not change with the evolution of magnetic order, indicating that the weak interaction between the localized magnetic moments from Eu2+ 4f7orbits and the electronic states near the Fermi level. Although the quantum anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is not observed in our crystals, it is found that a relatively large negative magnetoresistance (−13%) emerges in the AFM phase, and exhibits an exponential dependence upon magnetic field, whose microscopic origin is waiting to be clarified in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurements of magnetization, longitudinal and Hall resistivities are carried out on the intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) topological insulator EuSn2As2. It is confirmed that our EuSn2As2crystal is a heavily hole doping A-type AFM metal with the Néel temperature TN = 24 K, with a metamagnetic transition from an AFM to a ferromagnetic (FM) phase occurring at a certain critical magnetic field for the different field orientations. Meanwhile, we also find that the carrier concentration does not change with the evolution of magnetic order, indicating that the weak interaction between the localized magnetic moments from Eu2+ 4f7orbits and the electronic states near the Fermi level. Although the quantum anomalous Hall effect (AHE) is not observed in our crystals, it is found that a relatively large negative magnetoresistance (−13%) emerges in the AFM phase, and exhibits an exponential dependence upon magnetic field, whose microscopic origin is waiting to be clarified in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spike density and processing quality are important traits in modern wheat production and are controlled by multiple gene loci. The associated genes have been intensively studied and new discoveries have been constantly reported during the past few decades. However, no gene playing a significant role in the development of these two traits has been identified. In the current study, a common wheat mutant with extremely compact spikes and good processing quality was isolated and characterized. A new allele ( Q c1 ) of the Q gene (an important domestication gene) responsible for the mutant phenotype was cloned, and the molecular mechanism for the mutant phenotype was studied. Results revealed that Q c1 originated from a point mutation that interferes with the miRNA172-directed cleavage of Q transcripts, leading to its overexpression. It also reduces the longitudinal cell size of rachises, resulting in an increased spike density. Furthermore, Q c1 increases the number of vascular bundles, which suggests a higher efficiency in the transportation of assimilates in the spikes of the mutant than that of wild type. This accounts for the improved processing quality. The effects of Q c1 on spike density and wheat processing quality were confirmed by analyzing nine common wheat mutants possessing four different Q c alleles. These results deepen our understanding of the key roles of Q gene, and provide new insights for the potential application of Q c alleles in wheat quality breeding., (Copyright © 2018 Xu et al.)