Abstract:Proteases play a key role in embryogenesis, immune defense, tissue damage repair, angiogenesis, tumor metastasis and other biological processes related to cell migration. In recent years, the mechanisms of protease-medicated tumor cells invasion and migration have been gradually becoming topic of great interest, but the mechanisms of tumor cells escape immune surveillance, proliferation, migration, invasion and ectopic colonization is still not clear. As a result, study on relevant proteases function and mechanism is of importance. In this paper, we summarized the development of studies on the role of relevant proteases in the migration of tumor cells from the normal physiological functions, so as to provide clues and new ideas on the screening and R&D of novel protease inhibitor drugs to target tumor invasion and migration process.

Abstract:Cell migration is an essential progress in multicellular organisms and critical for many processes such as angiogenesis, inflammation, development and wound healing. Besides, cell migration is also involved invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. The heat shock protein 27(HSP27) is one of the most widely studied members of small heat shock protein family, which is ubiquitous in organisms. HSP27 is a multifunctional protein, which is involved in cell migration process by regulating focal adhesion and actin polymerization. In addition, HSP27 could also regulate epithelial mesenchymal transition in the early phase of tumor progression and metastasis. This review focuses on the recent researches about the role of HSP27 in cell migration and related tumor metastasis, and also suggests the potential value of HSP27 in clinical treatment.

Abstract:Serotonergic neurons in the raphe nuclei are involved in a variety of brain functions by their extensive neural innervation, including depression, anxiety, sleep-wake cycles, reward, patience in decision making, and sexual preference. Serotonergic projections from the dorsal and median raphe nucleus densely innervate the olfactory bulb, where they can modulate the initial representation and processing of olfactory information. In recent years, with the application of electrophysiology, optical imaging and optogenetic techniques, numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the effects of serotonergic modulation from the raphe on the olfactory bulb and olfaction related behaviors, and revealed the underlying neural mechanisms. This article reviewed the most recent progresses about the modulatory effects of serotonergic projections from the raphe neuclei on defined cell types in the olfactory bulb.

Abstract:Short linear motifs (SLiMs) are important interaction modules of intrinsically disordered proteins. Characterized with structural flexibility and short sequence, SLiMs are promiscuous and mediate transient, reversible protein-protein interactions. With the advancement of experimental measures and motif-search tools, an increasing number of short linear motifs are being discovered. The BH3 domain of the Bcl-2 family, for example, was recently redefined as a short linear motif. Here, we review the characteristics of SLiMs in structure, function and evolution. Subsequent studies about their functions will shed new light on cell signaling networks researches, therapeutic targets identification and drug discovery.

Abstract:The formation of foam cells in atherosclerotic plaques is closely related to the cholesterol transport of macrophages, which is an important process in reverse cholesterol transport. The cholesterol transport is key procedure for eliminating excess cholesterol from peripheral tissue, maintaining cholesterol homeostasis and delaying the development of atherosclerosis. The cholesterol transport of macrophages is mediated by multiple proteins, such as ATP binding cassette transporter A1/G1, apolipoprotein A-Ⅰ, cholesteroyl ester transfer protein and lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase. This review focuses on the current views on cholesterol transport process in macrophages and various functions of transporter proteins, in order to provide the new therapeutic ways for atherosclerosis-related diseases.

Abstract:Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP), also known as p23 and histamine releasing factor (HRF), is highly conserved and homologous among plants and animals. It plays a crucial role in cell apoptosis, cell proliferation and differentiation, cytoskeleton rearrangement, inflammation, and other important biological events. TCTP also correlates with tumor progression. Research on TCTP will not only contribute to a more comprehensive knowledge of physiology and pathology cycle of many tumors, but also discover a novel therapeutic target for removing tumors. In this paper, the structure, biological features and the role of TCTP in various tumors are reviewed.

Abstract:MicroRNA Target Mimics (TM) interfere with regulation of miRNA to its target mRNA by competitively binding the miRNA．Previously, we found that Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) as a vector expressing a TM sequence effectively inhibited the activity or stability of somemiRNAs in plants, thereby impaired their regulation to the targets．However, the miRNAs binding to their TM sequences carried by CMV inhibited accumulation of the virus to some extent. To analyze underlying reason of the inhibition to virus accumulation when a miRNA binds to its TM sequence in CMV genome, we analyzed influence of various miRNA TM sequences in CMV genome on virus accumulation using RNA blotting．Then, using GFP as a reporter gene, effect of the TM sequences on virus accumulation was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and RNA blotting．Subsequently, using GFP as a reporter gene again, we analyzed effect of the TM sequences on GFP translation．Finally, the influence of the TM sequences on virus negative-strand RNA synthesis was tested using CMV trans-replication system．The results showed that targeting of five plant endogenous miRNA species tested to their TM sequences carried by CMV genome inhibited virus accumulation to a varied extent．Binding of the miRNAs to their TM sequences suppressed translation of the GFP protein and synthesis of the negative strand. Plant endogenous miRNAs targeting to their target mimics carried by viral genome inhibits translation of viral protein and synthesis of negative strand, thus reduces virus accumulation．The data present here provide possibility for developing a new antiviral methods.

Abstract:Simulation and modeling is becoming more and more important when studying complex biochemical systems. Most often, ordinary differential equations are employed for this purpose. However, these are only applicable when the numbers of participating molecules in the biochemical systems are large enough to be treated as concentrations. For smaller systems, stochastic simulations based on discrete particle are more accurate. Unfortunately, there are no general rules for determining which method should be employed for a specific problem to get the most realistic result. Therefore, we study the transition from stochastic to deterministic behavior in a widely studied system by calcium oscillation transmission signals. Used stochastic effects of calcium oscillations on glycogen phosphorylase activation in hepatocytes as an example, we attempted to solve the problem of simulation and modeling in the biochemical system with small number of molecules by stochastic differential equation. The possible role of Ca²⁺ released from the inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate (IP₃) receptor channel in the regulation of the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle process involved in glycogen degradation by glycogen phosphorylase have theoretically investigated using stochastic the Li-Rinzel model for cytosolic Ca²⁺ oscillations. The results show that the fraction of active phosphorylase is decreased with the total number of receptor channel IP3R increasing and for the small concentration of IP₃ with appearance of coherence resonance.