Publications by authors named "Zheng-Jun Chen"

Macrophages are critical innate immune cells that exhibit remarkable adaptability during pathogen infections. However, the relationship between their morphological plasticity and physiological functions remains largely elusive. Here, we discovered an unprecedented paradigm of macrophage adaptation within a few hours upon severe Gram-negative bacterial infections, characterized by the formation of dendrite-like pseudopods (DLPs).

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The emerging outbreak of monkeypox is closely associated with the viral infection and spreading, threatening global public health. Virus-induced cell migration facilitates viral transmission. However, the mechanism underlying this type of cell migration remains unclear.

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Hydroquinine-6'-boric acid was first synthesized a palladium-catalyzed borylation/silica gel promoted hydrolysis sequence of hydroquinine-derived triflate and bis(pinacolato)diboron. The newly designed chiral building block was subjected to the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction, Petasis reaction, and selenylation reaction, respectively, and all these reactions worked well to afford the corresponding 6'-functionalized hydroquinines with satisfactory results, demonstrating its extraordinary application potency.

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Increased expression of branched-chain amino acid transaminase 1 or 2 (BCAT1 and BCAT2) has been associated with aggressive phenotypes of different cancers. Here we identify a gain of function of BCAT1 glutamic acid to alanine mutation at codon 61 (BCAT1) enriched around 2.8% in clinical gastric cancer samples.

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Human embryonic stem cell-derived β cells (SC-β cells) hold great promise for treatment of diabetes, yet how to achieve functional maturation and protect them against metabolic stresses such as glucotoxicity and lipotoxicity remains elusive. Our single-cell RNA-seq analysis reveals that ZnT8 loss of function (LOF) accelerates the functional maturation of SC-β cells. As a result, ZnT8 LOF improves glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by releasing the negative feedback of zinc inhibition on insulin secretion.

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Folic acid, served as dietary supplement, is closely linked to one-carbon metabolism and methionine metabolism. Previous clinical evidence indicated that folic acid supplementation displays dual effect on cancer development, promoting or suppressing tumor formation and progression. However, the underlying mechanism remains to be uncovered.

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BCAT2-mediated branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism is critical for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development, especially at an early stage. However, whether a high-BCAA diet promotes PDAC development , and the underlying mechanism of BCAT2 upregulation, remain undefined. Here, we find that a high-BCAA diet promotes pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) progression in ; (KC) mice.

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The link between branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and obesity has been known for decades but the functional role of BCAA metabolism in white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese individuals remains vague. Here, we show that mice with adipose tissue knockout of Bcat2, which converts BCAAs to branched-chain keto acids (BCKAs), are resistant to high-fat diet-induced obesity due to increased inguinal WAT browning and thermogenesis. Mechanistically, acetyl-CoA derived from BCKA suppresses WAT browning by acetylation of PR domain-containing protein 16 (PRDM16) at K915, disrupting the interaction between PRDM16 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) to maintain WAT characteristics.

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Objective: To assess the feasibility and validity of the establishment of a modified channel for extraperitoneal robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) through single incision.

Methods: From November 2020 to January 2021, 35 cases of localized PCa were treated by extraperitoneal RARP through single incision in our center. All the operations were performed by the same surgeon, none via the multichannel port for the establishment of the channel.

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To study the protective effects and mechanisms of total saponins of (TSC) on ulcerative colitis in rats. Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, model group, salazosulfadiazine (SASP) positive control group (0.3 g/kg), TSC high- and low-dose experimental groups(1.

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Background: Cavernous hemangioma, as a rare tumor, is difficult to differentiate from retroperitoneal lymphoma and paraganglioma. They are more difficult to excise completely through open surgery and traditional laparoscopic surgery. The study aimed to evaluate the role of DaVinci surgical system in laparoscopic resection of parapelvic cavernous hemangioma.

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Branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism is potentially linked with development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). BCAA transaminase 2 (BCAT2) was essential for the collateral lethality conferred by deletion of malic enzymes in PDAC and the BCAA-BCAT metabolic pathway contributed to non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs) other than PDAC. However, the underlying mechanism remains undefined.

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The prevalence of obesity is growing, and high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity can alter the brain and cognition. However, the link between HFD, hippocampal function, and inflammation is still not fully understood. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family has been implicated in various cellular processes, such as apoptosis, neurogenesis, and innate immune responses.

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This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of Rosiglitazone on the apico-basal polarity in renal epithelial cells. 3D-MDCK model was used to study the lumen formation and localization of polarity proteins at the early stage of the establishment of the apico-basal polarity. The calcium switch model, immunofluorescence staining and measurement of transmembrane electrical impedance are employed to investigate the epithelial apico-basal polarity including the development and maintenance of apical domains and the formation of tight junction.

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The taxonomic position of a novel actinomycete, strain TRM 41337, isolated from sediment of a salt lake, Xiaoerkule Lake, Xinjiang, China, was determined by a polyphasic approach. Strain TRM 41337 grew optimally at 28 °C and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl. It grew at up to pH 12.

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Article Synopsis
  • Platinum (Pt) is the top catalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), but its high cost and poor performance in alkaline solutions limit its use.* -
  • Researchers have developed a new nanocomposite catalyst, Pt/NiO@Ni/NF, which combines Pt with NiO to enhance performance and reduce costs, based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations.* -
  • The new Pt/NiO@Ni/NF catalyst not only shows better and more stable HER activity in alkaline conditions compared to commercial Pt/C but also uses significantly less platinum, only about 0.1 mg/cm.*
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A novel actinomycete, strain TRM 41495T, was isolated from lake sediment of Xiaoerkule lake in Xinjiang province, China, and was examined using a polyphasic approach. Strain TRM 41495T was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, growing best on ISP medium 7 with abundant white aerial mycelium formed and brown soluble pigments produced. The optimum NaCl concentration for growth was 3.

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Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) is a multi-transmembrane protein that mediates the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol through vesicular endocytosis. The subcellular localization of NPC1L1 is regulated by cholesterol. Cholesterol depletion induces the transport of NPC1L1 to plasma membrane (PM) from endocytic recycling compartment that requires MyoVb·Rab11a·Rab11-FIP2 triple complex, and cholesterol-replenishment renders the internalization of NPC1L1 together with cholesterol.

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Arginine kinase (AK) is a key enzyme for cellular energy metabolism, catalyzing the reversible phosphoryl transfer from phosphoarginine to ADP in invertebrates. In this study, the inter-subunit hydrogen bonds between the Q53 and D200 and between D57 and D200 were disrupted to explore their roles in the activity and structural stability of Stichopus japonicus (S. japonicus) AK.

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A novel actinomycete strain, designated TRM 40137(T), was isolated from a hypersaline habitat in Xinjiang Province, north-west China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The strain was aerobic, Gram-positive and the optimum NaCl concentration for growth was 4-5% (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain TRM 40137(T) has a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.

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A novel actinomycete strain, designated TRM F103(T), was isolated from a hypersaline habitat of the Tarim basin in Xinjiang province, north-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Amycolatopsis and was most closely related to Amycolatopsis halophila YIM 93223(T) (99.3% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity).

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Members of the RNase superfamily participate in a diverse array of biological processes, including RNA degradation, antipathogen activities, angiogenesis, and digestion. In the present study, we cloned the rat RNase9 gene by in silico methods and genome walking based on homology to the Macaca mulatta (rhesus monkey) epididymal RNase9. The gene is located on chromosome 15p14, spanning two exons, and is clustered with other members of the RNase A superfamily.

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To gain new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we searched for HCC-specific molecules through screening genes that are differentially expressed between cancerous and noncancerous counterparts of liver and identified a novel HCC-associated gene, HCCA1 encoding a approximately 80 kDa cytoplasmic protein that contains several proline-rich motifs likely for SH3-binding. HCCA1 transcript, albeit present in some adult tissues, is up-regulated selectively in HCC but not in other tumor cells. High expression of HCCA1 occurs as a late event frequently (89.

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