High expression of PI4K2A predicted poor prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) and correlated with immunity

Abstract Background PI4K2A has been found to have a tumor‐promoting role in various solid tumors and be involved in various biological procedures. In this article, we aim to investigate the prognostic values of PI4K2A and provide new insights in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, Human Protein Atlas online database, and UALCAN database were used to analyze the expression of PI4K2A in COAD and the survival of patients. Univariate and multifactorial Cox regression analyses were used to assess the prognosis of PI4K2A on COAD. GSEA was used to explore PI4K2A‐related signaling pathways. In addition, the effect of PI4K2A on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment was investigated by constructing a TIDE model and predicting the association between PI4K2A and anticancer drug sensitivity through the CellMiner database. Results In the TCGA database, PI4K2A was highly expressed in COAD and the similar results were verified by qRT‐PCR. Survival analysis, utilizing Kaplan–Meier curves, revealed that COAD patients with high PI4K2A expression had a worse prognosis. In addition, PI4K2A expression was discovered to have been associated with T‐stage, N‐stage, and pathological stage by logistic analysis. Next, we utilized univariate and multifactorial Cox regression analyses to identify PI4K2A as an independent predictor. Additionally, GSEA analysis indicates that PI4K2A is enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, Toll‐like receptor signaling pathway, etc. In COAD, PI4K2A was remarkably associated with the tumor immune microenvironment. In addition, by constructing a TIDE model, we discovered that COAD patients in the PI4K2A low‐expression cohort were better treated with ICI. Finally, analysis of the CellMiner database predicted that PI4K2A was adversely correlated with the sensitivity of various anticancer drugs. Conclusions Our study suggests that PI4K2A may be a potential predictor of poor prognosis in COAD and a potential biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment

Functional analysis of a tyrosinase gene involved in early larval shell biogenesis in Crassostrea angulata and its response to ocean acidification

The formation of the primary shell is a vital process in marine bivalves. Ocean acidification largely influences shell formation. It has been reported that enzymes involved in phenol oxidation, such as tyrosinase and phenoloxidases, participate in the formation of the periostracum. In the present study, we cloned a tyrosinase gene from Crassostrea angulata named Ca-tyrA1, and its potential function in early larval shell biogenesis was investigated. The Ca-tyrA1 gene has a full-length cDNA of 2430 bp in size, with an open reading frame of 1896 bp in size, which encodes a 631-amino acid protein that includes a 24-amino acid putative signal peptide. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that Ca-tyrA1 transcription mainly occurs at the trochophore stage, and the Ca-tyrA1 mRNA levels in the 3000 ppm treatment group were significantly upregulated in the early D-veliger larvae. WMISH and electron scanning microscopy analyses showed that the expression of Ca-tyrA1 occurs at the gastrula stage, thereby sustaining the early D-veliger larvae, and the shape of its signal is saddle-like, similar to that observed under an electron scanning microscope. Furthermore, the RNA interference has shown that the treatment group has a higher deformity rate than that of the control, thereby indicating that Ca-tyrA1 participates in the biogenesis of the primary shell. In conclusion, and our results indicate that Ca-tyrA1 plays a vital role in the formation of the larval shell and participates in the response to larval shell damages in Crassostrea angulata that were induced by ocean acidification

Study on the characteristics of airflow at the top of the building with parapet

The presence of the roof structure affects airflow patterns around the building. The recirculation area formed in the roof area is different from the original due to the presence of parapets and billboards. So the traditional formula no longer applies. Pollutant gases emitted by buildings can accumulate in recirculation areas, causing air short circuits and polluting indoor air. However, studies on the flow characteristics of building roofs with parapets are still lacking. In this paper, cfd simulation is used to study the influence of parapets of different heights and summer thermal effects on airflow. The results show that as the height of the parapet increases, the size of the vortex generated at the top also increases gradually. As the temperature difference between the top and the air increases, that is, the Ri increases, the vortices formed on the top will decrease significantly and the amount of reduction is not linear with the temperature difference

Optimization of Fermentation Process for New Anti-Inflammatory Glycosylceramide Metabolite from <i>Aspergillus</i> sp.

A novel ceramide compound, named Aspercerebroside A (AcA), was successfully isolated from the ethyl acetate layer of the marine symbiotic fungus Aspergillus sp. AcA exhibited notable anti-inflammatory activity by effectively inhibiting the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations of 30 μg/mL and 40 μg/mL, offering a promising avenue for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. To optimize the yield of glycosylceramide (AcA), a series of techniques, including single-factor experiments, orthogonal experiments, and response surface optimization, were systematically employed to fine-tune the composition of the fermentation medium. Initially, the optimal carbon source (sucrose), nitrogen source (yeast extract powder), and the most suitable medium salinity (14 ppt) were identified through single-factor experiments. Subsequently, orthogonal experiments, employing an orthogonal table for planning and analyzing multifactor experiments, were conducted. Finally, a mathematical model, established using a Box–Behnken design, comprehensively analyzed the interactions between the various factors to determine the optimal composition of the fermentation medium. According to the model’s prediction, when the sucrose concentration was set at 37.47 g/L, yeast extract powder concentration at 19.66 g/L, and medium salinity at 13.31 ppt, the predicted concentration of glycosylceramide was 171.084 μg/mL. The experimental results confirmed the model’s accuracy, with the actual average concentration of glycosylceramide under these conditions measured at 171.670 μg/mL, aligning closely with the predicted value

Molecular Analysis of Atypical Family 18 Chitinase from Fujian Oyster Crassostrea angulata and Its Physiological Role in the Digestive System.

Chitinolytic enzymes have an important physiological significance in immune and digestive systems in plants and animals, but chitinase has not been identified as having a role in the digestive system in molluscan. In our study, a novel chitinase homologue, named Ca-Chit, has been cloned and characterized as the oyster Crassostrea angulate. The 3998bp full-length cDNA of Ca-Chit consisted of 23bp 5-UTR, 3288 ORF and 688bp 3-UTR. The deduced amino acids sequence shares homologue with the chitinase of family 18. The molecular weight of the protein was predicted to be 119.389 kDa, with a pI of 6.74. The Ca-Chit protein was a modular enzyme composed of a glycosyl hydrolase family 18 domain, threonine-rich region profile and a putative membrane anchor domain. Gene expression profiles monitored by quantitative RT-PCR in different adult tissues showed that the mRNA of Ca-Chit expressed markedly higher visceral mass than any other tissues. The results of the whole mount in-situ hybridization displayed that Ca-Chit starts to express the visceral mass of D-veliger larvae and then the digestive gland forms a crystalline structure during larval development. Furthermore, the adult oysters challenged by starvation indicated that the Ca-Chit expression would be regulated by feed. All the observations made suggest that Ca-Chit plays an important role in the digestive system of the oyster, Crassostrea angulate

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of adrenergic like receptor during larval metamorphosis in Crassostrea angulata

National Basic Research Program of China [2010CB126403]; NSFC [41176113]; Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University [IRT0941]; Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System [nycytx-47]Numerous reports have associated the catecholamines with larval settlement and metamorphosis in bivalve mollusks. However, little information about the receptors during larval development is available. In this study, for the first time we clone and characterize the cDNAs designated as adrenergic-like receptor (AR(cga)) from Crassostrea angulata. The deduced protein AR(cga) has high similarity with alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(2)-AR) from Ixodes scapularis, and includes three major domains composed of a transmembrane domain with seven transmembrane motifs, a relatively long third cytoplasmic loop and a short fourth inner terminal domain. Using a real-time PCR approach, expression profiles of the AR(cga) were analyzed in adult tissues and during larval development. In adult oyster, the AR(cga) was expressed ubiquitously, although transcript levels varied between organs; the highest mRNA level was detected in labium followed by mantle and gonad. AR(cga) expression increased during larval development and reached the highest level at eyespot larvae, and then the expressions were maintained in a high level during metamorphosis. The temporal and spatial expression profile of mRNA was examined from trochophore to eyespot larva stages by whole mount in situ hybridization. In the four stages, AR(cga) mRNA was mainly detected in the cerebral ganglion and or the apical organ, the pedal ganglion and around the heart. The ganglion differentiation was found in the early umbo-veliger larva. To evaluate the possible regulation of AR(cga) by adrenaline in the oyster metamorphosis, competent larvae were exposed to the neurotransmitter adrenaline. AR(cga) expression increased for the first 12 h after treatment and then AR(cga) mRNA level decreases gradually to the same level of untreated control group. Overall, these results suggest that AR(cga) might play a considerable role in signal transduction during the larval metamorphosis of C. angulata (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Molecular characterization and functional analysis of adrenergic like receptor during larval metamorphosis in Crassostrea angulata

National Basic Research Program of China [2010CB126403]; NSFC [41176113]; Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University [IRT0941]; Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System [nycytx-47]Numerous reports have associated the catecholamines with larval settlement and metamorphosis in bivalve mollusks. However, little information about the receptors during larval development is available. In this study, for the first time we clone and characterize the cDNAs designated as adrenergic-like receptor (AR(cga)) from Crassostrea angulata. The deduced protein AR(cga) has high similarity with alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor (alpha(2)-AR) from Ixodes scapularis, and includes three major domains composed of a transmembrane domain with seven transmembrane motifs, a relatively long third cytoplasmic loop and a short fourth inner terminal domain. Using a real-time PCR approach, expression profiles of the AR(cga) were analyzed in adult tissues and during larval development. In adult oyster, the AR(cga) was expressed ubiquitously, although transcript levels varied between organs; the highest mRNA level was detected in labium followed by mantle and gonad. AR(cga) expression increased during larval development and reached the highest level at eyespot larvae, and then the expressions were maintained in a high level during metamorphosis. The temporal and spatial expression profile of mRNA was examined from trochophore to eyespot larva stages by whole mount in situ hybridization. In the four stages, AR(cga) mRNA was mainly detected in the cerebral ganglion and or the apical organ, the pedal ganglion and around the heart. The ganglion differentiation was found in the early umbo-veliger larva. To evaluate the possible regulation of AR(cga) by adrenaline in the oyster metamorphosis, competent larvae were exposed to the neurotransmitter adrenaline. AR(cga) expression increased for the first 12 h after treatment and then AR(cga) mRNA level decreases gradually to the same level of untreated control group. Overall, these results suggest that AR(cga) might play a considerable role in signal transduction during the larval metamorphosis of C. angulata (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Characterization of receptor of activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) and functional analysis during larval metamorphosis of the oyster Crassostrea angulata

National Basic Research Program of China [2010CB126403]; NSFC [41176113]; Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University [IRT0941]; Earmarked Fund for Modern Agro-industry Technology Research System [nycytx-47]During a large-scale screen of the larval transcriptome library of the Portuguese oyster, Crassostrea angulata, the oyster gene RACK, which encodes a receptor of activated protein kinase C protein was isolated and characterized. The cDNA is 1148 bp long and has a predicted open reading frame encoding 317 aa. The predicted protein shows high sequence identity to many RACK proteins of different organisms including molluscs, fish, amphibians and mammals, suggesting that it is conserved during evolution. The structural analysis of the Ca-RACK1 genomic sequence implies that the Ca-RACK1 gene has seven exons and six introns, extending approximately 6.5 kb in length. It is expressed ubiquitously in many oyster tissues as detected by RT-PCR analysis. The Ca-RACK1 mRNA expression pattern was markedly increased at larval metamorphosis; and was further increased along with Ca-RACK1 protein synthesis during epinephrine-induced metamorphosis. These results indicate that the Ca-RACK1 plays an important role in tissue differentiation and/or in cell growth during larval metamorphosis in the oyster, C angulata. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Lysine-attached anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)-silica affinity membrane for bilirubin removal

National Nature Science Foundation of China [30870648, 30870617, 30500127]; Natural Science Found of Fujian Province [C0510005]; Nature Science Fund of Tianjin [07JCZDJC01400]Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)-silica composite membrane was prepared by depositing silica onto the AAO membrane through sol-gel method. The obtained composite membrane exhibited excellent uniformities, low nonspecific adsorption and good hydraulic permeability. Lysine (Lys) as ligand was immobilized onto the AAO-silica composite membranes by activating with glutaraldehyde. The content of Lys of Lys-attached affinity membranes was similar to 5.6 mg/g membrane. Such Lys-attached affinity membranes were used to adsorb bilirubin from the bilirubin-phosphate solution and bilirubin-albumin solution. The adsorption mechanism of bilirubin and the effects of temperature, initial concentration of bilirubin, albumin concentration and ionic strength on adsorption were investigated by batch experiments. The results showed that the adsorption capacity increased with increasing the temperature while decreased with increasing the NaCl concentration and albumin concentration, and the adsorption isotherm fitted the Langmuir model well. The result of dynamic experiment showed Lys-attached affinity membranes can well remove the bilirubin from the bilirubin-albumin solution. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved