Alternative role of noncoding RNAs: coding and noncoding properties / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have played a critical role in cellular biological functions. Recently, some peptides or proteins originating from annotated ncRNAs were identified in organism development and various diseases. Here, we briefly review several novel peptides translated by annotated ncRNAs and related key functions. In addition, we summarize the potential mechanism of bifunctional ncRNAs and propose a specific "switch" triggering the transformation from the noncoding to the coding state under certain stimuli or cellular stress. The coding properties of ncRNAs and their peptide products may provide a novel horizon in proteomic research and can be regarded as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of various diseases.

Cloning and characterization of a novel glutathione transferase gene from Penicillium chrysogenum / 生物工程学报

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are a family of multifunctional proteins that mainly catalyze the conjugation of intracellular glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds. GSTs play important roles in stress tolerance and in the detoxification metabolism in organisms. A novel GST gene, Pc gstB, was cloned from penicillin producing fungus Penicillium chrysogenum using RT-PCR. The open reading frame (ORF) of Pc gstB was 651 bp and encoded a peptide of 216 residues. The deduced amino acids sequence had conserved GST domain and showed 65% identity to the characterized Aspergillus fumigutus gstB. The entire ORF of Pc gstB was inserted into vector pTrc99A and transformed into Escherichia coli DH5alpha. Recombinant PcGstB was overexpressed and its GST activity toward substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was validated.