PiRNA MW557525 Promotes the Vitality and Pluripotency of Piwil2-iCSCs by Regulating NOP56.

Background: CSCs play an important role in tumor development. Some studies have demonstrated that piRNAs participate in the progression of various cancers. However, the detailed function of piRNAs in CSCs requires further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the significance of some piRNAs in Piwil2-iCSCs. Methods and Results: Differentially expressed piRNAs in Piwil2-iCSCs were screened by high-throughput sequencing. Target genes were predicted by the miRanda algorithm and subjected to GO and KEGG analysis. One of the differential piRNAs, novel piRNA MW557525, was transfected and its target gene NOP56 was silenced in Piwil2-iCSCs, respectively. RT-qPCR, western blot and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to investigate the interaction of piRNA MW557525 and NOP56. We identified the effect of piRNA MW557525 and NOP56 knockdown on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis via CCK-8, transwell assay, and flow cytometry. The expressions of CD24, CD133, KLF4, and SOX2 were detected via WB. The results showed that piRNA MW557525 was negatively correlated with NOP56, and it promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibited apoptosis in Piwil2-iCSCs, and it also promoted the expressions of CD24, CD133, KLF4, and SOX2, while NOP56 showed the opposite effect. Conclusions: These findings suggested that novel piRNA MW557525 might be a novel therapeutic target in Piwil2-iCSCs.

NSvc4 Encoded by Rice Stripe Virus Targets Host Chloroplasts to Suppress Chloroplast-Mediated Defense

Our previous research found that NSvc4, the movement protein of rice stripe virus (RSV), could localize to the actin filaments, endoplasmic reticulum, plasmodesmata, and chloroplast, but the roles of NSvc4 played in the chloroplast were opaque. Here, we confirm the accumulation of NSvc4 in the chloroplasts and the N-terminal 1–73 amino acids of NSvc4 are sufficient to localize to chloroplasts. We provide evidence to show that chloroplast-localized NSvc4 can impair the chloroplast-mediated immunity. Expressing NSvc4 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves results in the decreased expression of defense-related genes NbPR1, NbPR2, and NbWRKY12 and the inhibition of chloroplast-derived ROS production. In addition, generation of an infectious clone of potato virus X (PVX) carrying NSvc4 facilitates PVX infection in N. benthamiana plants. Moreover, we identify two chloroplast-related host factors, named NbGAPDH-A and NbPsbQ1, both of which can interact with NSvc4. Knockdown of NbGAPDH-A or NbPsbQ1 can both promote RSV infection. Our results decipher a detailed function of NSvc4 in the chloroplast.

Entanglement entropy with Lifshitz fermions

We investigate fermions with Lifshitz scaling symmetry and study their entanglement entropy in 1+1 dimensions as a function of the scaling exponent z. Remarkably, in the ground state the entanglement entropy vanishes for even values of z, whereas for odd values it is independent of z and equal to the relativistic case with z=1. We show this using the correlation method on the lattice, and also using a holographic cMERA approach. The entanglement entropy in a thermal state is a more detailed function of z and T which we plot using the lattice correlation method. The dependence on the even- or oddness of z still shows for small temperatures, but is washed out for large temperatures or large values of z.

Molecular and Functional Evolution of the Spermatophyte Sesquiterpene Synthases

Sesquiterpenes are important defense and signal molecules for plants to adapt to the environment, cope with stress, and communicate with the outside world, and their evolutionary history is closely related to physiological functions. In this study, the information of plant sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) with identified functions were collected and sorted to form a dataset containing about 500 members. The phylogeny of spermatophyte functional STSs was constructed based on the structural comparative analysis to reveal the sequence–structure–function relationships. We propose the evolutionary history of plant sesquiterpene skeletons, from chain structure to small rings, followed by large rings for the first time and put forward a more detailed function-driven hypothesis. Then, the evolutionary origins and history of spermatophyte STSs are also discussed. In addition, three newly identified STSs CaSTS2, CaSTS3, and CaSTS4 were analyzed in this functional evolutionary system, and their germacrene D products were consistent with the functional prediction. This demonstrates an application of the structure-based phylogeny in predicting STS function. This work will help us to understand evolutionary patterns and dynamics of plant sesquiterpenes and STSs and screen or design STSs with specific product profiles as functional elements for synthetic biology application.

TaCKX2.2 Genes Coordinate Expression of Other TaCKX Family Members, Regulate Phytohormone Content and Yield-Related Traits of Wheat

TaCKX gene family members (GFMs) play essential roles in the regulation of cytokinin during wheat development and significantly influence yield-related traits. However, detailed function of most of them is not known. To characterize the role of TaCKX2.2 genes we silenced all homoeologous copies of both TaCKX2.2.1 and TaCKX2.2.2 by RNAi technology and observed the effect of silencing in 7 DAP spikes of T1 and T2 generations. The levels of gene silencing of these developmentally regulated genes were different in both generations, which variously determined particular phenotypes. High silencing of TaCKX2.2.2 in T2 was accompanied by slight down-regulation of TaCKX2.2.1 and strong up-regulation of TaCKX5 and TaCKX11, and expression of TaCKX1, TaCKX2.1, and TaCKX9 was comparable to the non-silenced control. Co-ordinated expression of TaCKX2.2.2 with other TaCKX GFMs influenced phytohormonal homeostasis. Contents of isoprenoid, active cytokinins, their conjugates, and auxin in seven DAP spikes of silenced T2 plants increased from 1.27 to 2.51 times. However, benzyladenine (BA) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents were significantly reduced and GA3 was not detected. We documented a significant role of TaCKX2.2.2 in the regulation of thousand grain weight (TGW), grain number, and chlorophyll content, and demonstrated the formation of a homeostatic feedback loop between the transcription of tested genes and phytohormones. We also discuss the mechanism of regulation of yield-related traits.

Linker domain function predicts pathogenic MLH1 missense variants

The pathogenic consequences of 369 unique human HsMLH1 missense variants has been hampered by the lack of a detailed function in mismatch repair (MMR). Here single-molecule images show that HsMSH2-HsMSH6 provides a platform for HsMLH1-HsPMS2 to form a stable sliding clamp on mismatched DNA. The mechanics of sliding clamp progression solves a significant operational puzzle in MMR and provides explicit predictions for the distribution of clinically relevant HsMLH1 missense mutations.

Network analysis of the immune state of mice

The mammalian immune system protects individuals from infection and disease. It is a complex system of interacting cells and molecules, which has been studied extensively to investigate its detailed function, principally using laboratory mice. Despite the complexity of the immune system, it is often analysed using a restricted set of immunological parameters. Here we have sought to generate a system-wide view of the murine immune response, which we have done by undertaking a network analysis of 120 immune measures. To date, there has only been limited network analyses of the immune system. Our network analysis identified a relatively low number of communities of immune measure nodes. Some of these communities recapitulate the well-known T helper 1 vs. T helper 2 cytokine polarisation (where ordination analyses failed to do so), which validates the utility of our approach. Other communities we detected show apparently novel juxtapositions of immune nodes. We suggest that the structure of these other communities might represent functional immunological units, which may require further empirical investigation. These results show the utility of network analysis in understanding the functioning of the mammalian immune system.

Rapid active-reflection display on dorsal stripes of Atherinomorus lacunosus

A large number of living creatures are able to use environmental light effectively as a biological display. The biological structural colors are very attractive not only within the coloring species but also to humans. However, the detailed function of bio-reflectors, which constitute the structural color with respect to communication, remains unknown. Atherinomorus lacunosus has alignments of iridophore spots on its dorsal part. Here it is found that a spot with a diameter of approximately 0.1 mm causes a rhythmic blinking of light owing to rapid reflection changes in iridophores existing inside the spot. The iridophores contain reflecting particles which show similar rotational responses to magnetic field under a light exposure. The speed of the intensity change of light at a frequency of approximately 1 Hz is proposed to be controlled by the nervous system of A. lacunosus. This kind of passive illumination may contribute to the development of a new optical device with low energy consumption.

HAND2-AS1 Works as a ceRNA of miR-3118 to Suppress Proliferation and Migration in Breast Cancer by Upregulating PHLPP2

Large quantities of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been verified to exert vital functions in the process of breast cancer (BC). lncRNA heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 2-antisense RNA 1 (HAND2-AS1) was reported to suppress the development of several cancers. However, its detailed function in BC remained unclear. In the current study, HAND2-AS1 was discovered to be low expressed in BC cell lines, and overexpression of HAND2-AS1 could repress proliferation, migration, and invasion but facilitate apoptosis in BC cells. Moreover, HAND2-AS1 was found to act as a sponge of miR-3118 which was detected to be upregulated in BC cell lines. miR-3118 depletion could constrict the progression of BC. HAND-AS1 hindered the course of BC by reducing the expression of miR-3118. Besides, PHLPP2 was treated as a downstream target of miR-3118 under the selection of RNA pull-down assays. HAND2-AS1 inhibited the process of BC by enhancing expression of PHLPP2. In summary, our study testified that HAND2-AS1 suppressed BC growth by targeting the miR-3118/PHLPP2 axis, indicating that HAND2-AS1 could be regarded as a potential target for BC treatment.

Defensive antibacterial coating in revision total hip arthroplasty: new concept and early experience

Background: Infections remains the most feared complication in total hip arthroplasty (THA). New strategies of PJI prevention includes coating of conventional implants. Defensive Antibacterial Coating (DAC), an antibacterial hydrogel coating made of hyaluronan, poly-D and L-lactide can protect biomaterials as an effective barrier at the time of implantation. In addition, it can be used with topical antibiotics to prevent early colonisation of the implant. Scope: This manuscript describes the detailed function of the DAC in general as well as an analysis of its use in revision THA in a series of 28 patients in a short-term follow-up. Its use in patients undergoing cementless re-implantation after 2-staged procedures in THA is described in detail within the manuscript. Conclusion: DAC found to be effective in terms of infection control and safety in our patient cohort and has been expanded for cementless 1-staged revisions in PJI of the hip in our institution.