Mrakia terrae sp. nov. and Mrakia soli sp. nov., Two Novel Basidiomycetous Yeast Species Isolated from Soil in Korea

Three strains, YP416 T , YP421 T, and Y422, were isolated from soil samples in Pocheon City, Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The strains belong to two novel yeast species in the genus Mrakia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the strain YP416 T was closely related to Mrakia niccombsii. Still, it differed by 9 nucleotide substitutions with no gap (1.51%) in the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and 14 nucleotide substitutions with 7 gaps (2.36%) in the ITS region. The strain YP421 T differed from the type strain of the most closely related species, Mrakia aquatica, by 5 nucleotide substitutions with no gap (0.81%) in the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA gene and 9 nucleotide substitutions with one gap (1.43%) in the ITS region. The names Mrakia terrae sp. nov. and Mrakia soli sp. nov. are proposed, with type strains YP416 T (KCTC 27886 T ) and YP421 T (KCTC 27890 T ), respectively. MycoBank numbers of the strains YP416 T and YP421 T are MB 836844 and MB 836847, respectively.

Erratum: Identification of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-related Target Genes Induced by the Mutation of Smad3 Linker Phosphorylation

The original version of this article contained error in the URL of the SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS.

Identification of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-related Target Genes Induced by the Mutation of Smad3 Linker Phosphorylation

BACKGROUND: Smad3 linker phosphorylation plays essential roles in tumor progression and metastasis. We have previously reported that the mutation of Smad3 linker phosphorylation sites (Smad3-Erk/Pro-directed kinase site mutant constructs [EPSM]) markedly reduced the tumor progression while increasing the lung metastasis in breast cancer. METHODS: We performed high-throughput RNA-Sequencing of the human prostate cancer cell lines infected with adenoviral Smad3-EPSM to identify the genes regulated by Smad3-EPSM. RESULTS: In this study, we identified genes which are differentially regulated in the presence of Smad3-EPSM. We first confirmed that Smad3-EPSM strongly enhanced a capability of cell motility and invasiveness as well as the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition marker genes, CDH2, SNAI1, and ZEB1 in response to TGF-β1 in human pancreatic and prostate cancer cell lines. We identified GADD45B, CTGF, and JUNB genes in the expression profiles associated with cell motility and invasiveness induced by the Smad3-EPSM. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that inhibition of Smad3 linker phosphorylation may enhance cell motility and invasiveness by inducing expression of GADD45B, CTGF, and JUNB genes in various cancers.

Increased p190RhoGEF expression in activated B cells correlates with the induction of the plasma cell differentiation

Previously, we demonstrated that the p190 Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor (p190RhoGEF) was induced following CD40 stimulation of B cells. In this study, we examined whether p190RhoGEF and a downstream effector molecule RhoA are required for B cell differentiation. Expression of p190RhoGEF positively correlated with the expression of surface markers and transcriptional regulators that are characteristic of mature B cells with plasma cell (PC) phenotypes. Moreover, either the overexpression of p190RhoGEF or the expression of a constitutively active RhoA drove cellular differentiation toward PC phenotypes. B cell maturation was abrogated in cells that overexpressed p190RhoGEF and a dominant-negative form of RhoA simultaneously. CD40-mediated maturation events were also abrogated in cells that overexpressed either dominant-negative p190RhoGEF or RhoA. Together, these data provide evidence that p190RhoGEF signaling through RhoA in CD40-activated B cells drives the induction of the PC differentiation.

Berberine Suppresses Interleukin-1beta-Induced MUC5AC Gene Expression in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate whether berberine suppresses interleukin (IL)-1beta-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells and, if so, to determine which mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are related to MUC5AC gene suppression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MUC5AC mRNA and protein levels were measured using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR, and western blot analysis in cultured NCI-H292 human airway epithelial cells. RESULTS: IL-1beta-induced expressions of MUC5AC mRNA and protein were significantly suppressed in cells pretreated with 25 microM of berberine. Levels of MAPK proteins were determined by western blot analysis after pretreatment with 25 microM berberine. Berberine suppressed phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 MAPK, but there was no change in the expression of JNK. Suppression of IL-1beta-induced MUC5AC mRNA was also observed in cells pretreated with ERK- or p38 MAPK-specific inhibitors, suggesting that berberine suppresses IL-1beta-induced expression of MUC5AC mRNA, which involves the ERK- and p38 MAPK-dependent pathways. CONCLUSION: Berberine suppresses IL-1beta-induced MUC5AC gene expression in human airway epithelial cells via the ERK- and p38 MAPK-dependent pathways; therefore, berberine may be considered as a possible anti-hypersecretory agent for inflammatory airway diseases.