Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Cell Biosci 2021 Apr 9;11(1):72. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310009, Zhejiang, China.

As the predominant modification in RNA, N-methyladenosine (mA) has attracted increasing attention in the past few years since it plays vital roles in many biological processes. This chemical modification is dynamic, reversible and regulated by several methyltransferases, demethylases and proteins that recognize mA modification. MA modification exists in messenger RNA and affects their splicing, nuclear export, stability, decay, and translation, thereby modulating gene expression. Read More

J Physiol Biochem 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Clinical Medical Research Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi, People's Republic of China.

PKM2, pyruvate kinase type M2, has been shown to play a key role in aerobic glycolysis and to regulate the malignant behaviors of cancer cells. Recently, PKM2 has been revealed to hold dual metabolic and nonmetabolic roles. Working as both a pyruvate kinase with catalytic activity and a protein kinase that phosphorylates its substrates, PKM2 stands at the crossroads of glycolysis and tumor growth. Read More

Cell Mol Life Sci 2021 Apr 9. Epub 2021 Apr 9.

Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.

Emerging evidence shows that mA, one of the most abundant RNA modifications in mammals, is involved in the entire process of spermatogenesis, including mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. "Writers" catalyze mA formation on stage-specific transcripts during male germline development, while "erasers" remove mA modification to maintain a balance between methylation and demethylation. The different functions of RNA-mA transcripts depend on their recognition by "readers". Read More

Front Genet 2021 23;12:571325. Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Animal Science College, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Egg production performance is one of the most important economic traits in pigeon industry. However, little is known regarding how egg production performance is regulated by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in pigeons. To evaluate the lncRNAs and mRNAs in ovaries associated with egg production performance in domestic pigeons, high-throughput RNA sequencing of ovaries between high and low egg production performance groups were performed and analyzed in this study. Read More

Nat Cell Biol 2021 Apr 8;23(4):391-400. Epub 2021 Apr 8.

Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI), Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter (VBC), Vienna, Austria.

Mobile transposable elements (TEs) not only participate in genome evolution but also threaten genome integrity. In healthy cells, TEs that encode all of the components that are necessary for their mobility are specifically silenced, yet the precise mechanism remains unknown. Here, we characterize the mechanism used by a conserved class of chromatin remodelers that prevent TE mobility. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 22;11:646409. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.

Glioma is one of the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system, and its prognosis is extremely poor. Aberrant methylation of lncRNA promoter region is significantly associated with the prognosis of glioma patients. In this study, we investigated the potential impact of methylation of lncRNA promoter region in glioma patients to establish a signature of nine lncRNA methylated genes for determining glioma patient prognosis. Read More

Front Genet 2021 22;12:581726. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Herpes Neuropathogenesis Research Group, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

In <20 years, we have witnessed three different epidemics with coronaviruses, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2 in human populations, causing widespread mortality. SARS-CoV-2, through its rapid global spread, has led to the pandemic that we call COVID-19. As of February 1, 2021, the global infections linked to SARS-CoV-2 stand at 103,503,340, with 2,236,960 deaths, and 75,108,099 recoveries. Read More

Curr Pharm Des 2021 Mar 24. Epub 2021 Mar 24.

College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002. China.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) have been identified as novel molecular regulators in cancers. LncRNA ADAMTS9-AS2 can mediate the occurrence and development of cancer through various ways such as regulating miRNAs, activating the classical signaling pathways in cancer, and so on, which have been studied by many scholars. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of ADAMTS9-AS2 in different human cancers. Read More

Mol Biol Rep 2021 Apr 6. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Odontogenic tumors comprised of complex heterogeneous lesions that diverse from harmatomas to malignant tumors with different behavior and histology. The etiology of odontogenic tumors is not exactly determined and pathologists deal with challenges in diagnosis of odontogenic tumors because they are rare and obtained experiences are difficult to evaluate. In this study, we describe immunohistochemical and molecular markers in diagnosis of odontogenic tumors besides advanced diagnostic technique. Read More

Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021 May 5;376(1825):20200166. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Mollusca are the second largest and arguably most diverse phylum of the animal kingdom. This is in sharp contrast to our very limited knowledge concerning epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation in this invertebrate group. Here, we inferred DNA methylation patterns by analysing the normalized dinucleotide CG content in protein-coding sequences and identified DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1 and 3) in published transcriptomes and genomes of 140 species across all eight classes of molluscs. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 16;13(6). Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Babak Myeloma Group, Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.

MicroRNAs are small non-coding single-stranded RNA molecules regulating gene expression on a post-transcriptional level based on the seed sequence similarity. They are frequently clustered; thus, they are either simultaneously transcribed into a single polycistronic transcript or they may be transcribed independently. Importantly, microRNA families that contain the same seed region and thus target related signaling proteins, may be localized in one or more clusters, which are in a close relationship. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 12;13(6). Epub 2021 Mar 12.

Program of Hepatology, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain.

Research in the last decades has demonstrated the relevance of epigenetics in controlling gene expression to maintain cell homeostasis, and the important role played by epigenome alterations in disease development. Moreover, the reversibility of epigenetic marks can be harnessed as a therapeutic strategy, and epigenetic marks can be used as diagnosis biomarkers. Epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications (PTMs), and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) expression have been associated with the process of hepatocarcinogenesis. Read More

Genes (Basel) 2021 Mar 5;12(3). Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia.

Breast cancer commonly affects women of older age; however, in developing countries, up to 20% of breast cancer cases present in young women (younger than 40 years as defined by oncology literature). Breast cancer in young women is often defined to be aggressive in nature, usually of high histological grade at the time of diagnosis and negative for endocrine receptors with poor overall survival rate. Several researchers have attributed this aggressive nature to a hidden unique biology. Read More

J Pers Med 2021 Mar 23;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 23.

Department of Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.

Bladder cancer (BC) is characterized by high incidence and recurrence rates together with genomic instability and elevated mutation degree. Currently, cystoscopy combined with cytology is routinely used for diagnosis, prognosis and disease surveillance. Such an approach is often associated with several side effects, discomfort for the patient and high economic burden. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 4;13(5). Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of cancer in terms of incidence and the second in terms of mortality worldwide. CRC develops over several years, thus highlighting the importance of early diagnosis. National screening programs based on fecal occult blood tests and subsequent colonoscopy have reduced the incidence and mortality, however improvements are needed since the participation rate remains low and the tests present a high number of false positive results. Read More

J Pers Med 2021 Mar 1;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 1.

Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-236 Lodz, Poland.

Recent studies imply that there is a tight association between epigenetics and a molecular mechanism of major depressive disorder (MDD). Epigenetic modifications, i.e. Read More

Genes (Basel) 2021 Mar 15;12(3). Epub 2021 Mar 15.

SA-MRC/UP Precision Prevention & Novel Drug Targets for HIV-Associated Cancers Extramural Unit, Pan African Cancer Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South Africa.

Head and neck cancers include cancers that originate from a variety of locations. These include the mouth, nasal cavity, throat, sinuses, and salivary glands. These cancers are the sixth most diagnosed cancers worldwide. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 15;22(6). Epub 2021 Mar 15.

German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Core-Center, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding master regulators of transcriptome that could act as tumor suppressors (TSs) or oncogenes (oncomiRs). We aimed to systematically investigate the relevance of miRs as prognostic biomarkers in primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treated with postoperative radio(chemo)therapy (PORT). For hypothesis generation, tumor miR expression by Agilent 8x15K human microRNA microarrays and survival data from 482 GBM patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA cohort) were analyzed using Cox-PH models. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 9;22(5). Epub 2021 Mar 9.

Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.

Tumor aggressiveness and progression is highly dependent on the process of metastasis, regulated by the coordinated interplay of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Metastasis involves several steps of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), anoikis resistance, intra- and extravasation, and new tissue colonization. EMT is considered as the most critical process allowing cancer cells to switch their epithelial characteristics and acquire mesenchymal properties. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 3;13(5). Epub 2021 Mar 3.

Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90014 Oulu, Finland.

Background: To evaluate the occurrence of mutations affecting post-translational modification (PTM) sites in matrisome genes across different tumor types, in light of their genomic and functional contexts and in comparison with the rest of the genome.

Methods: This study spans 9075 tumor samples and 32 tumor types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Pan-Cancer cohort and identifies 151,088 non-silent mutations in the coding regions of the matrisome, of which 1811 affecting known sites of hydroxylation, phosphorylation, N- and O-glycosylation, acetylation, ubiquitylation, sumoylation and methylation PTM.

Results: PTM-disruptive mutations (PTM) in the matrisome are less frequent than in the rest of the genome, seem independent of cell-of-origin patterns but show dependence on the nature of the matrisome protein affected and the background PTM types it generally harbors. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 10;13(6). Epub 2021 Mar 10.

The Guy Hilton Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Stoke on Trent ST4 7QB, UK.

Telomerase was first described by Greider and Blackburn in 1984, a discovery ultimately recognized by the Nobel Prize committee in 2009. The three decades following on from its discovery have been accompanied by an increased understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of telomerase activity, and its role in telomere biology. Telomerase has a clearly defined role in telomere length maintenance and an established influence on DNA replication, differentiation, survival, development, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, and a further role in therapeutic resistance in human stem and cancer cells including those of breast and cervical origin. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 2;22(5). Epub 2021 Mar 2.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.

Background: The molecular regulation of increased expression in human brain tumors, the associated regulatory elements, and linkages of these to its epigenetic silencing are not understood. Because the heightened expression or non-expression of plays a pivotal role in glioma therapeutics, we applied bioinformatics and experimental tools to identify the regulatory elements in the and neighboring gene loci.

Results: Extensive genome database analyses showed that the MGMT genomic space was rich in and harbored many undescribed RNA regulatory sequences and recognition motifs. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2021 Mar 21;13(6). Epub 2021 Mar 21.

Institute of Health Research, INCLIVA, 46010 Valencia, Spain.

The gene, which is up-regulated in colorectal cancer, plays a role in cell dissemination and metastasis. It encodes a zinc-finger protein, which interacts with histone methyltransferases G9A and EZH2. The expression of the two major mRNA isoforms 1 (coding for the full protein) and 2 was quantified by RT-qPCR in a cohort of 66 patients. Read More

PLoS Genet 2021 Apr 1;17(4):e1009395. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Univ Rennes, CNRS, IGDR (Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes)-UMR6290, Rennes, France.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare but aggressive cancer in both humans and dogs. The spontaneous canine model, which has clinical, epidemiological, and histological similarities with human HS and specific breed predispositions, provides a unique opportunity to unravel the genetic basis of this cancer. In this study, we aimed to identify germline risk factors associated with the development of HS in canine-predisposed breeds. Read More

Front Cell Dev Biol 2021 15;9:647527. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has high malignancy and limited treatment, so novel molecular therapeutic targets are urgently needed. Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) promotes progression in breast cancer, but its role and inherent mechanisms in TNBC are yet to be elucidated. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) may be a potential mechanism. Read More

Front Cell Dev Biol 2021 15;9:641052. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are believed to be the main source of cancer relapse and metastasis. PIWI-interacting small non-coding RNAs (piRNAs) have been recently recognized to be relevant to cancer biology. Whether and how piRNAs regulate human CSCs remain unknown. Read More

Front Oncol 2021 15;11:653037. Epub 2021 Mar 15.

Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, United States.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal and complex malignancy strongly influenced by the surrounding tumor microenvironment. The HCC microenvironment comprises hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), stromal and endothelial cells, and the underlying extracellular matrix (ECM). Emerging evidence demonstrates that epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in altering numerous components of the HCC tumor microenvironment. Read More

Mol Cancer Ther 2021 Mar 30. Epub 2021 Mar 30.

Medical Sciences, Indiana University School of Medicine

Ovarian cancer is a chemoresponsive tumor with very high initial response rates to standard therapy consisting of platinum/paclitaxel. However, most women eventually develop recurrence, which rapidly evolves into chemo-resistant disease. Persistence of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSC) at the end of therapy has been shown to contribute to resistant tumors. Read More

Plant Biotechnol J 2021 Mar 29. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallés), C/ de la Vall Moronta, CRAG Building, Barcelona, 08193, Spain.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that direct post-transcriptional gene silencing in plant development and stress responses through cleavage or translational repression of target mRNAs. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of a new member of the miR812 family in rice (named as miR812w) involved in disease resistance. miR812w is present in cultivated Oryza species, both japonica and indica subspecies, and wild rice species within the Oryza genus, but not in dicotyledonous species. Read More

Arch Microbiol 2021 Mar 26. Epub 2021 Mar 26.

Praj-Matrix-R and D Centre (Division of Praj Industries Limited), 402/403/1098, Urawade, Pirangut, Mulshi, Pune, 412115, India.

Bacillus velezensis MTCC 10456, is a marine mesophilic heterotrophic bacterium, isolated from edible red seaweed, Laurenciae papillosa, with a potential for plant growth promotion and biocontrol activity. We report the genome sequence analysis of strain MTCC 10456, which has a genome size of 4.19 Mb with an average G + C content of 45. Read More