The C2H2 family protein ZAT17 engages in the cadmium stress response by interacting with PRL1 in Arabidopsis.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal and a toxic substance. Soil Cd pollution has emerged as a significant environmental issue that jeopardizes both the safety of agricultural products and human health. PLEIOTROPIC REGULATORY LOCUS 1 (PRL1) has been identified as a crucial factor in Cd stress and a series of defence mechanisms. However, the mechanism through which PRL1 mediates its downstream signalling has remained poorly understood. Here, we discovered a prl1-2 suppressor (sup8) for prl1-2 that complemented the defective development phenotype of prl1-2 under Cd stress. Gene cloning revealed a mutation in the C2H2 transcription factor ZAT17 as the basis for the sup8 phenotype. Genetic and biochemical studies indicated that ZAT17 acts as a negative regulator of Cd tolerance. Transcriptome analysis revealed that ZAT17 influences the alternative splicing (AS) process of multiple Cd-responsive genes by interacting with members of the MAC splicing complex, including PRL1 and CDC5. In conclusion, the identification of the novel gene ZAT17 enriches the understanding of the Cd stress response pathway and provides a valuable candidate locus for breeding Cd-resistant plant varieties.

Grape seed proanthocyanidins inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells through suppressing the protein kinase B/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common oral squamous cell carcinoma. Despite significant advances in combined therapies, the 5-year survival rate of patients with TSCC has not notably improved; this is due to regional recurrences and lymph node metastasis. Grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) are consumed as dietary supplements worldwide and possess anticancer activity against several different types of cancer. However, their effect on TSCC and the underlying mechanisms by which they function remain unclear. In the present study, it was identified that GSPs significantly inhibited the viability and induced the apoptosis of Tca8113 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This was associated with a significantly increased expression of the pro-apoptosis regulator BAX protein and a significantly decreased expression of the anti-apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 protein at 100 µg/ml GSPs. In addition, at non-toxic concentrations GSPs significantly inhibited the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 from Tca8113 cells, as well as their migration and invasion. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that GSPs significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) and IκB kinase, as well as the translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) into the nucleus of Tca8113 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that GSPs inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of Tca8113 cells through suppression of the Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. This indicates that GSPs may be developed as a novel potential chemopreventive agent against TSCC.

Naphthalimide derived fluorescent probes with turn-on response for Au(3+) and the application for biological visualization.

The 4-N,N-dimethyl-1,8-naphthalimide based fluorescent probes have been explored for selective detection of Au(3+). Both probes show a pronounced fluorescence enhancement response to Au(3+). Hydroxy is introduced as ligand of Au(3+) for Probe 1 and the newly designed Probe 2 contains an alkyne moiety to recognize Au(3+) through an irreversible C≡C bond hydrolysis reaction. Probe 1 exhibits higher performance such as faster response, lower detection limit of 0.050µM and the better responsive effect in 99.5% water system compared with most of probes published. The Probe 2 displays high stability to pH, suitable water solubility, wider linear range (0-100µM) to Au(3+), and live-cells imaging with low cytotoxicity.