In-silico investigations of selective miRNA-gene targets and their validation studies in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient cohorts

BackgroundObstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a prevalent form of sleep disordered breathing which results in sleep fragmentation and deprivation. Obesity and cardiovascular disorders are the major risk factors associated with OSA. Molecular analysis of the factors associated with OSA could demarcate the clinical analysis pattern in a population.ObjectiveThis study pertains to in-silico analyses of miRNA and their gene targets with validation for their potential role in OSA as putative biomarker candidates.MethodsmiRDB, TargetScan and miRanda databases were used to identify targets of miR-27 and let-7 that have documented role in OSA and co-related obesity and cardiovascular disorders. Quantitative PCR was used to analyze expression pattern of miR-27 and let-7 in obese and non-obese OSA patient cohorts with respective controls. In-silico analysis was done using PatchDoc to obtain atomic contact energy (ACE) scores that indicated the docked gene targets to the predicted miRNA structures. The docked structures were analysed using Maestro Suite 11 for the hydrogen and aromatic interactions.ResultsDownregulation of miR-27 and let-7 in OSA compared to controls was observed. In-silico data analysis was performed for gene targets (TGFBR1, TGFBR2, SMAD2, SMAD4, CRY2 and CNR1) of the selected miRNAs (miR-27 and let-7). Among all, CNR1 and CRY2 were found to be better targets for miR-27 and let-7 respectively as per ACE scores, ROC scores and expression fold change in OSA.ConclusionOur study gives insights to the expression profiling of miR-27 and let-7 and explore a set of potential target genes (CNR1 and CRY2) of these two miRNAs for a promising clinical relevance in OSA.     

Nucleic Acid Delivery by Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Switchable Lipids: Plasmid DNA vs. Messenger RNA

The development of safe and effective nucleic acid delivery systems remains a challenge, with solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN)-based vectors as one of the most studied systems. In this work, different SLNs were developed, by combination of cationic and ionizable lipids, for delivery of mRNA and pDNA. The influence of formulation factors on transfection efficacy, protein expression and intracellular disposition of the nucleic acid was evaluated in human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). A long-term stability study of the vectors was also performed. The mRNA formulations induced a higher percentage of transfected cells than those containing pDNA, mainly in ARPE-19 cells; however, the pDNA formulations induced a greater protein production per cell in this cell line. Protein production was conditioned by energy-dependent or independent entry mechanisms, depending on the cell line, SLN composition and kind of nucleic acid delivered. Vectors containing 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) as unique cationic lipid showed better stability after seven months, which improved with the addition of a polysaccharide to the vectors. Transfection efficacy and long-term stability of mRNA vectors were more influenced by formulation-related factors than those containing pDNA; in particular, the SLNs containing only DOTAP were the most promising formulations for nucleic acid delivery.     

Thioguanosine Conversion Enables mRNA‐Lifetime Evaluation by RNA Sequencing Using Double Metabolic Labeling (TUC‐seq DUAL)

Temporal information about cellular RNA populations is essential to understand the functional roles of RNA. We have developed the hydrazine/NH₄Cl/OsO₄‐based conversion of 6‐thioguanosine (6sG) into A′, where A′ constitutes a 6‐hydrazino purine derivative. A′ retains the Watson–Crick base‐pair mode and is efficiently decoded as adenosine in primer extension assays and in RNA sequencing. Because 6sG is applicable to metabolic labeling of freshly synthesized RNA and because the conversion chemistry is fully compatible with the conversion of the frequently used metabolic label 4‐thiouridine (4sU) into C, the combination of both modified nucleosides in dual‐labeling setups enables high accuracy measurements of RNA decay. This approach, termed TUC‐seq DUAL, uses the two modified nucleosides in subsequent pulses and their simultaneous detection, enabling mRNA‐lifetime evaluation with unprecedented precision.     

Nanoassembly of Oligopeptides and DNA Mimics the Sequential Disassembly of a Spherical Virus

Protein subunits of a low aspect ratio (width over length) with stimuli‐responsiveness are hallmark building blocks of spherical viruses. The interaction of these repeating subunits enables hierarchical assembly for genome packaging and sequential disassembly for optimal genome release. Here, we mimicked these features and constructed a functional spherical artificial virus. The rationally designed 22‐amino acid peptide containing pH‐sensitive histidines and aromatic residues self‐assembled into homogenous nanodiscs of a low aspect ratio (≈7×7×4 nm). In the presence of DNA, the inter‐nanodisc interactions drove the formation of a viral capsid‐like structure enclosing DNA in the interior. This artificial virus roughly 50 nm in diameter underwent partial disassembly in response to acidic pH. The resulting intermediate with lowered DNA‐binding affinity continued to protect DNA from nuclease digestion. Such nanostructures, which mimic the intricate morphology and the intracellular transformation of spherical viruses, can be useful for constructing synthetic gene delivery vehicles, as evidenced by their efficient transgene expression.     

玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒对姜黄素的包载作用

本文采用反溶剂沉淀法制备了玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒。通过测定玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒对姜黄素的包封率、稳定性及荧光光谱性质,考察了不同浓度吐温-20对玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒包载姜黄素的影响规律。相比玉米蛋白纳米颗粒,玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒能够显著提高姜黄素的包封率、稳定性、荧光发射光谱强度和各向异性。这些结果说明姜黄素通过疏水作用缔合于玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒的疏水微区。吐温-20作为稳定剂不仅有助于生成粒径较小的玉米蛋白/吐温-20复合纳米颗粒,而且吐温-20与玉米蛋白的结合能够为姜黄素提供更适合的疏水缔合环境。     

基于不同电化学探针检测乳腺癌基因片段电化学传感器的研究

构建了以3种不同电活性物质(铁氰化钾平衡电对、亚甲基蓝和六氨合钌)为电化学信号探针,检测乳腺癌基因片段(乳腺癌DNA)的电化学传感器。利用吸附作用将探针ss DNA固定于金纳米-多壁碳纳米管-Nafion复合纳米材料修饰金电极表面,制备了DNA电化学传感器。采用循环伏安法、电化学阻抗法和微分脉冲伏安法,对DNA电化学传感器进行表征和定量分析。实验结果表明,在5 mmol/L K3[Fe(CN)6]-5mmol/L K4[Fe(CN)6]平衡电对电化学探针检测液中,乳腺癌DNA的线性范围为0.1~500.0 nmol/L,其检出限(S/N=3)为0.03 nmol/L。以20μmol/L亚甲基蓝为电化学探针检测液时,乳腺癌DNA的线性范围为1.0~500.0 nmol/L,检出限为0.3 nmol/L。利用50μmol/L六氨合钌电化学探针检测时,乳腺癌DNA的线性范围为1.0~500.0 nmol/L,检出限为0.3 nmol/L。3种电化学探针中,利用铁氰化钾平衡电对探针检测乳腺癌DNA的检出限最低,线性范围最宽。该传感器可用于其他DNA的检测分析。     

蚕丝改性方法概述

天然的蚕丝具有独特的优良性能,但同时也存在性能缺陷,如力学性能（拉伸强度与韧性）差,使用时间短以及色牢度差等。科学家们发展了蚕丝的改性技术,改良蚕丝的性能以达到更好的应用目的。目前常用的蚕丝改性方法主要分为基因改性方法、物理改性法、化学改性法及添食育蚕法等。概述了蚕丝的结构与改性的原理,介绍了4类改性法及其近年来取得的重要进展,总结了目前蚕丝改性研究中的难点,展望了蚕丝改性研究的未来发展方向。     

Polyplex Particles Based on Comb‐Like Polyethylenimine/Poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) Copolymers: Relating Biological Performance with Morphology and Structure

The present contribution is focused on feasibility of using comb‐like copolymers of polyethylenimine with poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxazoline) (LPEI‐comb‐PEtOx) with varying grafting densities and degrees of polymerization of PEI and PEtOx to deliver DNA molecules into cells. The copolymers form small and well‐defined particles at elevated temperatures, which are used as platforms for binding and condensing DNA. The electrostatic interactions between particles and DNA result in formation of sub‐100 nm polyplex particles of narrow size distribution and different morphology and structure. The investigated gene delivery systems exhibit transfection efficiency dependent on the copolymer chain topology, shape of the polyplex particles, and internalization pathway. Flow cytometry shows enhanced transfection efficiency of the polyplexes with elongated and ellipsoidal morphology. The preliminary biocompatibility study on a panel of human cell lines shows that pure copolymers and polyplexes thereof are practically devoid of cytotoxicity.