5 mC modification of steroid hormone biosynthesis-related genes orchestrates feminization of channel catfish induced by high-temperature.

To elucidate the mechanism behind channel catfish feminization induced by high temperature, gonad samples were collected from XY pseudo-females and wild-type females and subjected to high-throughput sequencing for Whole-Genome-Bisulfite-Seq (WGBS) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). The analysis revealed 50 differentially methylated genes between wild-type females and XY pseudo-females, identified through the analysis of KEGG pathways and GO enrichment in the promoter of the genome and differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Among these genes, multiple differential methylation sites observed within the srd5a2 gene. Repeatability tests confirmed 7 differential methylation sites in the srd5a2 gene in XY pseudo-females compared to normal males, with 1 specific differential methylation site (16608174) distinguishing XY pseudo-females from normal females. Interestingly, the expression of these genes in the transcriptome showed no difference between wild-type females and XY pseudo-females. Our study concluded that methylation of the srd5a2 gene sequence leads to decreased expression, which inhibits testosterone synthesis while promoting the synthesis of 17ß-estradiol from testosterone. This underscores the significance of the srd5a2 gene in the sexual differentiation of channel catfish, as indicated by the ipu00140 KEGG pathway analysis.

The effects of simulation-based education on undergraduate nursing students' competences: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Education in nursing has noticed a positive effect of simulation-based education. There are many studies available on the effects of simulation-based education, but most of those involve a single institution, nonrandomized controlled trials, small sample sizes and subjective evaluations of the effects. The purpose of this multicenter randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of high-fidelity simulation, computer-based simulation, high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation, and case study on undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: A total of 270 nursing students were recruited from five universities in China. Participants were randomly divided into four groups at each institution: the high-fidelity simulation group, the computer-based simulation group, the high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation group, and the case study group. Finally, 239 participants completed the intervention and evaluation, with 58, 67, 57, and 57 participants in each group. The data were collected at three stages: before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. RESULTS: The demographic data and baseline evaluation indices did not significantly differ among the four groups. A statistically significant difference was not observed between the four methods for improving knowledge, interprofessional collaboration, critical thinking, caring, or interest in learning. While skill improvement differed significantly among the different groups after the intervention (p = 0.020), after three months, no difference was observed (p = 0.139). The improvement in skill in the computer-based simulation group was significantly lower at the end of the intervention than that in the high-fidelity simulation group (p = 0.048) or the high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation group (p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students benefit equally from four methods in cultivating their knowledge, interprofessional collaboration, critical thinking, caring, and interest in learning both immediately and over time. High-fidelity simulation and high-fidelity simulation combined with computer-based simulation improve skill more effectively than computer-based simulation in the short term. Nursing educators can select the most suitable teaching method to achieve the intended learning outcomes depending on the specific circumstances. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This clinical trial was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (clinical trial number: ChiCTR2400084880, date of the registration: 27/05/2024).

Aquaculture activities influencing the generation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol: a case study in the aquaculture regions of Hongze Lake, China.

Contamination by odor substances such as geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) was examined in the cultured water from aquaculture farming in the region of the Hongze Lake in 2022, and some factors influencing residual levels of them in the water were analyzed. Geographically, high concentrations of GSM were located mainly in the north and northeast culture areas of the lake, while those of 2-MIB were found in the northeast and southwest. Analysis of the water in the enclosure culture revealed significant differences in the concentrations of GSM and 2-MIB among the cultured species. The mean concentrations of GSM in culture water were ranked in the order: crab > the four major Chinese carps > silver and bighead carp, and silver and bighead carp > crab > the four major Chinese carps for 2-MIB. The concentration of GSM was significantly higher at 38.99 ± 18.93 ng/L in crab culture water compared to other fish culture water. Significant differences were observed in GSM concentrations between crab enclosure culture and pond culture, while 2-MIB levels were comparable. These findings suggest that cultural management practices significantly affect the generation of odor substances. The taste and odor (T&O) assessment revealed that the residual levels of GSM and 2-MIB in most samples were below the odor threshold concentrations (OTCs), although high levels of GSM and 2-MIB in all water bodies were at 30.9% and 27.5%, respectively. Compared with the corresponding data from other places and the regulation guidelines of Japan, USA, and China, the region in the Hongze Lake is generally classified as a slightly T&O area, capable of supporting the aquaculture production scale.

Characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Glyptothorax pallozonus (Siluriformes, Sisoridae).

Glyptothorax pallozonus Lin, 1934 is a small benthic fish belonging to the Sisoridae family that is distributed in the Dongjiang and Rongjiang Rivers of China. In the present study, we sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of G. pallozonus for the first time. The complete mitogenome of G. pallozonus is 16,542 bp in length and includes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). The mitogenome architecture was identical to that of other teleosts. Maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis strongly supported the monophyly of Glyptothorax, which contains two clades. These results advance our understanding of the molecular phylogeny of the genus Glyptothorax.

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Sineleotris saccharae (Perciformes, Odontobutiae).

The freshwater sleeper, Sineleotris saccharae Herre, 1940 is a member of the Odontobutiae family, widely distributed in southern China. In the present study, we determined the complete mitochondrial genome of S. saccharae for the first time and analyzed its evolutionary relationship. The complete mitochondrial genome of S. saccharae was 16,487 bp long, and had 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNAs) and a control region (CR). The mitogenome of S. saccharae shared the same gene organization and orientation as other teleosts. According to phylogenetic research, S. saccharae was sister to S. chalmersi with high support value, providing the monophyly of the genus Sineleotris. These results will be helpful for understanding the systematics of the odontobutids.

Using comparative transcriptome analysis to identify molecular response mechanisms to salinity stress in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are an important global aquaculture species. To explore gene expression patterns and identify adaptive molecular mechanisms in catfish during salinity stress, we performed growth comparison and comparative transcriptome sequencing on liver tissue. Our study revealed that salinity stress has a significant impact on the growth, survival, and antioxidant system of channel catfish. 927 and 1356 significant DEGs were identified in L vs. C group and H vs. C group. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses suggested that both high and low salinity stress affected gene expression related to oxygen carrier activity, hemoglobin complex, and oxygen transport pathways, and also amino acid metabolism, immune responses, and energy and fatty acid metabolism in catfish. Among mechanisms, amino acid metabolism genes were significantly up-regulated in the low salt stress group, immune response genes were significantly up-regulated in the high salt stress group, and fatty acid metabolism genes were significantly up-regulated in both groups. These results provided a platform for unraveling steady-state regulatory mechanisms in channel catfish under salinity stress, and may limit the impact of extreme salinity changes on catfish during aquaculture practices.

Combination of CAR­T cell therapy and radiotherapy: Opportunities and challenges in solid tumors (Review).

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a new and breakthrough cancer immunotherapy. Although CAR-T cell therapy has made significant progress clinically in patients with refractory or drug-resistant hematological malignancies, there are numerous challenges in its application to solid tumor therapy, including antigen escape, severe toxic reactions, abnormal vascularization, tumor hypoxia, insufficient infiltration of CAR-T cells and immunosuppression. As a conventional mode of anti-tumor therapy, radiotherapy has shown promising effects in combination with CAR-T cell therapy by enhancing the specific immunity of endogenous target antigens, which promoted the infiltration and expansion of CAR-T cells and improved the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. This review focuses on the obstacles to the application of CAR-T technology in solid tumor therapy, the potential opportunities and challenges of combined radiotherapy and CAR-T cell therapy, and the review of recent literature to evaluate the best combination for the treatment of solid tumors.

Efficacy and safety of LY01005 versus goserelin implant in Chinese patients with prostate cancer: A multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase III, non-inferiority trial.

BACKGROUND: LY01005 (Goserelin acetate sustained-release microsphere injection) is a modified gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injected monthly. This phase III trial study aimed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of LY01005 in Chinese patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 49 sites in China. This study included 290 patients with prostate cancer who received either LY01005 or goserelin implants every 28 days for three injections. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percentage of patients with testosterone suppression ≤50 ng/dL at day 29 and the cumulative probability of testosterone ≤50 ng/dL from day 29 to 85. Non-inferiority was prespecified at a margin of -10%. Secondary endpoints included significant castration (≤20 ng/dL), testosterone surge within 72 h following repeated dosing, and changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prostate specific antigen levels. RESULTS: On day 29, in the LY01005 and goserelin implant groups, testosterone concentrations fell below medical-castration levels in 99.3% (142/143) and 100% (140/140) of patients, respectively, with a difference of -0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.9% to 2.0%) between the two groups. The cumulative probabilities of maintaining castration from days 29 to 85 were 99.3% and 97.8%, respectively, with a between-group difference of 1.5% (95% CI, -1.3% to 4.4%). Both results met the criterion for non-inferiority. Secondary endpoints were similar between groups. Both treatments were well-tolerated. LY01005 was associated with fewer injection-site reactions than the goserelin implant (0% vs . 1.4% [2/145]). CONCLUSION: LY01005 is as effective as goserelin implants in reducing testosterone to castration levels, with a similar safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04563936.

The early function of cortisol in liver during Aeromonas hydrophila infection: Dynamics of the transcriptome and accessible chromatin landscapes.

In China, channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is an important aquaculture species; however, haemorrhagic disease (Aeromonas hydrophila induced disease) in these fish has caused tremendous economic loss due to high morbidity and mass mortality in the breeding industry. The role of cortisol in bacterial diseases, particularly in the acute phase, remains unclear. In this study, liver transcriptome (RNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) analyses were employed to investigate the early functional role of cortisol in Aeromonas hydrophila-stimulated responses. Our experiments confirmed that A. hydrophila infection can initially significantly increase serum cortisol levels at 1 h after infection. At this time point, the increased serum cortisol levels can significantly regulate A. hydrophila-regulated genes by affecting both transcriptome and chromatin accessibility. Cross-analysis of RNA-seq and ATAC-seq revealed that a certain gene group (92 target_DEGs) was regulated at an early time point by cortisol. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that the top three pathways according to target_DEGs were cancer, glutathione metabolism, and the Notch signalling pathway. The protein-protein interaction analysis of target_DEGs revealed that they may be primarily involved in cell proliferation, CD8+ T cell function, glutathione synthesis, and activation of the NF-κB signalling pathway. This suggests that after the emergence of immune stress, the early regulation of cortisol is positive against the immune response. It is possible that in this situation, the animal is attempting to avoid dangerous situations and risks and then cope with the imbalance produced by the stressor to ultimately restore homeostasis. Our results will contribute to future research on fish and provide valuable insight regarding the mechanism of immune regulation by cortisol and the study of bacterial haemorrhagic disease in channel catfish.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) genes in response to salinity stress in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) gene family has been systematically described in several fish species, but less so in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), which is an important global aquaculture species. In this study, 16 MAPK genes were identified in the channel catfish genome and classified into three subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis, including six extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) genes, six p38-MAPK genes and four C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) genes. All MAPK genes were distributed unevenly across 10 chromosomes, of which three (IpMAPK8, IpMAPK12 and IpMAPK14) underwent teleost-specific whole genome duplication during evolution. Gene expression profiles in channel catfish during salinity stress were analysed using transcriptome sequencing and qRT-PCR (quantitative reverse transcription PCR). Results from reads per kilobase million (RPKM) analysis showed IpMAPK13, IpMAPK14a and IpMAPK14b genes were differentially expressed when compared with other genes between treatment and control groups. Furthermore, three of these genes were validated by qRT-PCR, of which IpMAPK14a expression levels were significantly upregulated in treatment groups (high and low salinity) when compared with the control group, with the highest expression levels in the low salinity group (P < 0.05). Therefore, IpMAPK14a may have important response roles to salinity stress in channel catfish.

Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, and Expression Profile of the Dmrt (Doublesex and Mab-3 Related Transcription Factor) Gene Family in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

The Dmrt (Doublesex and Mab-3 related transcription factor) gene family is a class of crucial transcription factors characterized by a conserved DM domain related to sex determination and differentiation, which has been systematically described in various teleost fish, but less in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), an important global aquaculture species in the US and China. In this study, seven Dmrt genes from channel catfish genome were identified and analyzed using bioinformatics methods. Seven IpDmrt genes were distributed unevenly across five chromosomes. Synteny analysis revealed that Dmrt1, Dmrt2a, Dmrt2b, Dmrt3, Dmrt4, and Dmrt5 were relatively conserved in teleost fish. Tissue distribution analysis showed that IpDmrt1, IpDmrt2b, IpDmrt5, and IpDmrt6 exhibited sexually dimorphic expression patterns and, among them, IpDmrt1 and IpDmrt6 had high expression levels in the testes, while IpDmrt2b and IpDmrt5 had more significant expression levels in the ovaries than in other tissues. After 17ß-estradiol treatment, IpDmrt2b and IpDmrt5 were significantly up regulated, while the expression of IpDmrt1 and IpDmrt6 was significantly repressed in XY channel catfish ovaries compared with XX channel catfish ovaries. The present study provides a comprehensive insight into the Dmrt gene family of channel catfish. The results suggest that IpDmrt1 and IpDmrt6 may play an important role in testis differentiation/development, while IpDmrt2b and IpDmrt5 are critical in ovary development in this species.

Liver transcriptome analysis and cortisol immune-response modulation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) is an important aquaculture species in China. In channel catfish, diseases such as haemorrhagic, sepsis and tail-rot disease are all caused by bacteria as general in China. Most of the pathogenic bacteria are Gram-negative bacteria. Liver transcriptome analysis of the co-injection of cortisol and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was performed in this study. Preliminary evidence from the results suggest that after the emergence of immune stress, cortisol will up-regulate the complement cascade pathway, down-regulate the coagulation cascade pathway, down-regulate the platelet activation pathway, down-regulate antigen presentation pathway, and show complex regulation relationship to inflammatory factors. At 12 h, the number of differential genes regulated by cortisol was about half less than the number of differential genes regulated by LPS. At 24 h, there was no significant difference between the number of differential genes regulated by cortisol and LPS, but the types of differential genes vary widely. KEGG enrichment analysis found that cortisol regulated LPS-stimulated immune responses mainly focus on cytokines, complement and coagulation cascades pathways, antigen presentation pathways, haematopoiesis, and inflammation. It is suggested that there may be some strategic choice in the regulation of immune response by cortisol. These results will help understand the pathogenesis and host defence system in bacterial disease caused by Gram-negative bacteria.

Multiple Pulmonary and Pleural Metastases in Recurrent Intracranial Meningioma with Genetic Changes: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: According to the 2016 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors, meningiomas are classified into 3 grades: I, II, and III. It has been reported that 2%-10% of meningiomas exhibit aggressive behavior, and 0.1%-1% of all patients with primary meningiomas develop distant metastases. Past studies have shown that genomic instability is strongly correlated with the risk of meningioma recurrence. Because of the rarity of this tumor, few papers have reported the prognosis and treatment of anaplastic meningioma. Under these circumstances, we present a case of multiple pulmonary and pleural metastases from a recurrent intracranial meningioma with some genetic changes. CASE DESCRIPTION: In the case, a previously healthy man aged 39 years was diagnosed with anaplastic meningioma. Postoperatively, due to multiple pulmonary and pleural metastases, adjuvant radiation, chemotherapy, and Gamma knife radiosurgery was subsequently performed. Molecular genetic examination with chromosomal microarray analysis showed that there were chromosomal abnormalities, including amplification in 1q and chr12; loss in 1p, 9p, and 22q; and catastrophe in chr8 and chr17 in both the previous brain meningioma and lung tissues, confirming the diagnosis of pulmonary metastasis of the initial grade III meningioma. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular characterization of meningiomas has identified genetic biomarkers that influence tumor characteristics, such as tumor behavior, malignancy, and location. The combined analyses of genetic and epigenetic changes in meningiomas may allow researchers to unveil a more comprehensive understanding of tumor progression mechanisms.

Construction of a High-Density Linkage Map and QTL Fine Mapping for Growth- and Sex-Related Traits in Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

A high-density genetic linkage map is of particular importance in the fine mapping for important economic traits and whole genome assembly in aquaculture species. The channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a species native to North America, is one of the most important commercial freshwater fish in the world. Outside of the United States, China has become the major producer and consumer of channel catfish after experiencing rapid development in the past three decades. In this study, based on restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), a high-density genetic linkage map of channel catfish was constructed by using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a F1 family composed of 156 offspring and their two parental individuals. A total of 4,768 SNPs were assigned to 29 linkage groups (LGs), and the length of the linkage map reached 2,480.25 centiMorgans (cM) with an average distance of 0.55 cM between loci. Based on this genetic linkage map, 223 genomic scaffolds were anchored to the 29 LGs of channel catfish, and a total length of 704.66 Mb was assembled. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association analysis identified 10 QTLs of sex-related and six QTLs of growth-related traits at LG17 and LG28, respectively. Candidate genes associated with sex dimorphism, including spata2, spata5, sf3, zbtb38, and fox, were identified within QTL intervals on the LG17. A sex-linked marker with simple sequence repeats (SSR) in zbtb38 gene of the LG17 was validated for practical verification of sex in the channel catfish. Thus, the LG17 was considered as a sex-related LG. Potential growth-related genes were also identified, including important regulators such as megf9, npffr1, and gas1. In a word, we constructed the high-density genetic linkage map and developed the sex-linked marker in channel catfish, which are important genetic resources for future marker-assisted selection (MAS) of this economically important teleost.

Whole-Genome Sequencing of Chinese Yellow Catfish Provides a Valuable Genetic Resource for High-Throughput Identification of Toxin Genes.

Naturally derived toxins from animals are good raw materials for drug development. As a representative venomous teleost, Chinese yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) can provide valuable resources for studies on toxin genes. Its venom glands are located in the pectoral and dorsal fins. Although with such interesting biologic traits and great value in economy, Chinese yellow catfish is still lacking a sequenced genome. Here, we report a high-quality genome assembly of Chinese yellow catfish using a combination of next-generation Illumina and third-generation PacBio sequencing platforms. The final assembly reached 714 Mb, with a contig N50 of 970 kb and a scaffold N50 of 3.65 Mb, respectively. We also annotated 21,562 protein-coding genes, in which 97.59% were assigned at least one functional annotation. Based on the genome sequence, we analyzed toxin genes in Chinese yellow catfish. Finally, we identified 207 toxin genes and classified them into three major groups. Interestingly, we also expanded a previously reported sex-related region (to ≈6 Mb) in the achieved genome assembly, and localized two important toxin genes within this region. In summary, we assembled a high-quality genome of Chinese yellow catfish and performed high-throughput identification of toxin genes from a genomic view. Therefore, the limited number of toxin sequences in public databases will be remarkably improved once we integrate multi-omics data from more and more sequenced species.

Complete mitochondrial genome of freshwater goby Rhinogobius cliffordpopei (Perciformes, Gobiidae): genome characterization and phylogenetic analysis.

Freshwater gobies Rhinogobius cliffordpopei and R. giurinus are invasive species with particular concern because they have become dominant and were fierce competitors in the invaded areas in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau (southwest of China). Information about genetic characteristics of R. giurinus have been published, but there were still no relevant reports about R. cliffordpopei. In present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of R. cliffordpopei was determined, which was 16,511 bp in length with A + T content of 51.1%, consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, 2 ribosomal RNAs, and a control region. The gene composition and the structural arrangement of the R. cliffordpopei complete mtDNA were identical to most of other teleosts. Phylogenetic analyses placed R. cliffordpopei in a well-supported monophyletic cluster with other Rhinogobius fish. But the phylogenetic relationship between genus Rhinogobius and Tridentiger remained to be resolved.

Dynamics of the bacterial community in a channel catfish nursery pond with a cage-pond integration system.

The changes in the bacterial community composition in a channel catfish nursery pond with a cage-pond integration system were investigated by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene through Illumina MiSeq sequencing platforms. A total of 1 362 877 sequences and 1440 operational taxonomic units were obtained. Further analysis showed that the dominant phyla in the cage and pond groups were similar, including Actinobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, although a significant difference was detected between them by ANOSIM (P < 0.05). Temporal changes and site variation were significantly related to the variation of the bacterial community. A comprehensive analysis of the diversity and evenness of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, redundancy analysis (RDA), and partial Mantel test showed that the bacterial community composition in a cage-pond integration system was shaped more by temporal variation than by site variation. RDA also indicated that water temperature, total dissolved solids, and Secchi depth had the largest impact on bacterial populations.

Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 suppresses human hepatocellular carcinoma by inducing apoptosis.

Increasing evidence has shown that THZ1, a covalent cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor, exhibits therapeutic effects in various tumors. However, the possible effect of THZ1 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Our study was to investigate the roles of THZ1 in HCC cells and in subcutaneous HCC model and illustrate the molecular mechanisms. The phosphorylation levels of Ser2, Ser5, and Ser7 within RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) C-terminal domain (CTD) and the expression levels of Ki67, Mcl-1, survivin, XIAP, and p53 in HCC cells under different conditions were examined by Western blot analysis. Cell growth and apoptosis were assessed via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Tumor volume was assessed in HCC mice with THZ1 or vehicle treatment and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis was conducted on excised tumors. THZ1 significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of Ser2, Ser5, and Ser7 within RNAPII-CTD in the dose-dependent and irreversible manner. MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis showed that THZ1 inhibited HCC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, respectively. Western blot analysis indicated THZ1 significantly upregulated p53 expression and downregulated the expressions of Mcl-1, survivin, XIAP, and Ki67. THZ1 suppressed tumor growth in Hep3B xenografted mice in a time-dependent manner. IHC analysis indicated that tumors in THZ1 group had less Ki67+ cells and more cleaved caspase-3+ cells than those in vehicle group. THZ1 exhibited anti-HCC effects through irreversibly inhibiting CDK7 activity, decreasing RNAPII-CTD phosphorylation, inducing p53 expression and inhibiting antiapoptotic gene expressions, which subsequently induced apoptosis and inhibited proliferation of HCC cells.

Genome-wide identification, phylogeny and expressional profile of the Sox gene family in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

The Sox gene family has been systematically characterized in some fish species but not in catfish Ictalurus punctatus. In this study, 25 Sox genes were identified in the channel catfish genome and classified into seven families based on their conserved domains as follows: eight genes in SoxB group (six in SoxB1 subgroup and two in SoxB2 subgroup); five genes in SoxC group; three genes in SoxD and SoxF groups; four genes in SoxE group; and one gene in SoxH and SoxK groups. The mammalian Sox groups SoxA, G, I, and J were not present in catfish. The number of introns in channel catfish Sox genes varied from zero to 13. Sox genes were distributed unevenly across 17 chromosomes. Five members of the ancestral vertebrate Sox genes (Sox1, Sox4, Sox9, Sox11 and Sox19) experienced teleost-specific whole genome duplication during evolution, and now have two copies on different chromosomes. Expression profiles analyses indicated that the accumulation of Sox genes was associated with different tissues, and the expression pattern also differed among each Sox gene group and duplicated gene. This study constitutes a comprehensive overview of the Sox gene family in channel catfish and provides new insights into the evolution of this gene family.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Odontobutis haifengensis (Perciformes, Odontobutiae): A unique rearrangement of tRNAs and additional non-coding regions identified in the genus Odontobutis.

Herein, the complete mitochondrial genome of Odontobutis haifengensis was sequenced for the first time. The O. haifengensis mitogenome was 17,016bp in length and included 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). The genome organization, base composition, codon usage, and gene rearrangement was similar to other Odontobutis species. Furthermore, a tRNA gene rearrangement within the SLH cluster was found to be identical to other Odontobutis species. Moreover, the gene order and the positions of additional intergenic non-coding regions suggests that the observed unique gene rearrangement resulted from a tandem duplication and random loss of large-scale gene regions. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis showed that Odontobutis species form a monophyletic clade due to the conserved mitochondrial gene rearrangement. This study provides useful information that aids in a better understanding of mitogenomic diversity and evolutionary patterns of Odontobutidae species.