LncRNA MALAT1 Aggravates the Progression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Stimulating the Expression of COMMD8 via Targeting miR-613.

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common malignant tumor in humans. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) involved in cancer progression has been reported frequently. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of lncRNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) and explore a novel mechanism in NSCLC development. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of MALAT1, copper metabolism MURR1 domain-containing 8 (COMMD8) and microRNA-613 (miR-613) was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The protein levels of COMMD8, Cyclin D1, Ki67, B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), CD63 and CD81 were determined by Western blot. Cell proliferation, the number of colonies and cell apoptosis were assessed by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation and flow cytometry assays, respectively. Glycolysis was distinguished based on glucose consumption, lactate production and LDHA activity. The role of MALAT1 in vivo was verified by animal experiments. The relationship between miR-613 and MALAT1 or COMMD8 was predicted by the bioinformatics tool starbase and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The exosomes were isolated using the corresponding kit and identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). RESULTS: MALAT1 and COMMD8 were aberrantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. MALAT1 or COMMD8 knockdown blocked cell proliferation, colony formation and glycolysis but accelerated cell apoptosis in vitro. Besides, MALAT1 knockdown reduced tumor growth in vivo. We found that miR-613 was a target of MALAT1, and miR-613 could bind to the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of COMMD8. MALAT1 regulated the expression of COMMD8 by absorbing miR-613. Moreover, the extracellular MALAT1 was transmitted by wrapping into exosomes. CONCLUSION: MALAT1 promoted malignant activities of NSCLC cells through targeting miR-613/COMMD8 axis, and exosome-mediated transfer of NSCLC might be a novel approach for NSCLC treatment.

A single molecular sensor for selective and differential colorimetric/ratiometric detection of Cu2+ and Pd2+ in 100% aqueous solution.

A novel salicylaldehyde bis-Schiff-base probe decorated with imidazolium ionic liquid moieties at both ends (SAS-IMIs) was designed and facilely synthesized as a colorimetric/ratiometric sensor to visually detect Cu2+ and Pd2+ in pure aqueous media. Due to the positively charged characters of its head and tail, the SAS-IMIs exhibited high water solubility with a potential advantage in minimizing the self-aggregation. More importantly, simply by varying the solution pH, colorimetric/ratiometric sensing detection of individual metal ion (Cu2+ or Pd2+) was realized without any mutual interference. Subsequently, sensitive, selective, and differential detections for Cu2+ (LOD: 0.080 µM) and Pd2+ (LOD: 0.076 µM) in 100% aqueous solutions were achieved, which proved to be applicable for real water samples. Results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations unveiled the Cu2+/Pd2+-binding properties of SAS-IMIs, which were in accordance with the experimental observations. Furthermore, a SAS-IMIs-based solid phase sensor was fabricated, which manifested satisfactory detection abilities for Cu2+ and Pd2+.

3D Metallic Ti@Ni0.85 Se with Triple Hierarchy as High-Efficiency Electrocatalyst for Overall Water Splitting.

In this study, Ti@Ni0.85 Se electrodes with a triple hierarchy architecture were designed, and their applications in electrocatalytic water splitting were studied. The 3D electrode is comprised of three types of structures including the bottom square Ti mesh structure as the conductive substrate, a vertical and uniform Ni0.85 Se nanosheet arrays structure in the intermediate section, and the topmost Ni0.85 Se flower structure. This triple hierarchy architecture is binder-free, conductive, and has a particular feature of enlarged surface areas, exposing more active sites, promoting mass- and charge-transfer, and accelerating dissipation of gases generated during water electrolysis. Moreover, DFT calculations confirmed that the Ni0.85 Se possesses metallic character, which further promotes the charge transfer of the electrocatalyst. Benefiting from this special structure and metallic character, the electrode displays a superior activity of 10 mA cm-2 at 120 mV hydrogen evolution reaction overpotential and 30 mA cm-2 at 270 mV oxygen evolution reaction overpotential. By using this electrode as a bifunctional electrocatalyst, an alkali electrolyzer affords a water splitting current of 10 mA cm-2 at a cell voltage of 1.66 V.

Photocatalytic degradation of an azo dye using N-doped NaTaO3 synthesized by one-step hydrothermal process.

N-doped NaTaO(3) compounds (NaTaO(3-)(x)N(x)) with nano-cubic morphology were successfully synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method and Methyl Orange (MO) was used as a model dye to evaluate their photocatalytic efficiency under visible-light irradiation. The as-prepared NaTaO(3-)(x)N(x) samples were characterized by various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra and GC-MS. The results indicate that NaTaO(3-)(x)N(x) displays a pure perovskite structure when the synthesis temperature is higher than 180°C. Moreover, as observed by SEM images, the particles of resultant NaTaO(3-)(x)N(x) show cubic morphology with the edge length of 200-500nm, which can be easily removed by filtration after photocatalytic reaction. Doping of N increases the photocatalytic activity of NaTaO(3), and NaTaO(2.953)N(0.047) shows the highest visible-light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MO. Based on the experiment results, a possible mechanism of the photocatalysis over NaTaO(3-)(x)N(x) and the photodegradation pathway of MO were proposed.

Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of N-doped NaTaO3 compounds calcined at low temperature.

N-doped NaTaO(3) compounds (NaTaO(3-x)N(x)) were successfully synthesized using NaTaO(3) prepared at low calcination temperature as starting material and melamine (C(3)H(6)N(6)) as nitrogen source. The as-prepared NaTaO(3-x)N(x) samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The XRD results indicate that the crystallization temperature of NaTaO(3) is up to 700 degrees C and the doping of N does not lead to significant structural changes. Moreover, as observed by SEM images, the particle sizes of resultant NaTaO(3-x)N(x) are in the range of 100-150 nm, which are much smaller than NaTaO(3) particles synthesized by traditional solid state reaction method. The photocatalytic activities of NaTaO(3-x)N(x) were examined by methylene blue (MB) aqueous solution under UV light. It is found that the photocatalytic activity of NaTaO(3-x)N(x) depend strongly on the doping content of N, and sample NaTaO(2.961)N(0.039) shows the highest photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB. Furthermore, it is also found that NaTaO(3-x)N(x) catalysts display super structural stabilities during photocatalytic degradation, and could recover their photocatalytic activity after calcination at 500 degrees C, suggesting a promising utilization of such photocatalyst.