Project description:Mining the Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.) Seed Transcriptome by 454 Analysis of Non-Normalized and Normalized cDNA Populations for Conjugated Fatty Acid Metabolism-Related Genes
Project description:Bladder cancer (BC) is notably prevalent, particularly among men. Emerging evidence highlights that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has distinct anticancer properties. This study focuses on recombinant MAP30, a key active constituent of bitter melon extract, recognized for its antiviral, immunomodulatory, and antitumor effects. We discovered that MAP30 suppresses BC cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in a dose-responsive manner. It also hinders cell migration, as evidenced by Transwell and wound healing assays. In nude mice, MAP30 injections adjacent to tumors significantly curtail tumor growth. Molecular analyses after MAP30 exposure show elevated SA-β-Gal activity and increased expression of cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p16 in BC cells. Integrating TCGA BC data, MAP30 appears to correct dysregulated gene expression associated with the cell cycle, senescence, apoptosis, and key pathways such as FOXO, TNF, and MAPK. Proteomic analysis identifies CENPA as a central molecule inhibited by MAP30. Correlation studies reveal CENPA’s significant association with oncogenic and immune-modulatory gene expression and immune cell infiltration. CENPA knockdown diminishes BC cell growth and motility, while its overexpression in MAP30-treated cells reverses these effects, suggesting CENPA’s pivotal role in MAP30’s anticancer activity and its potential as a therapeutic target. In conclusion, recombinant MAP30 effectively hampers bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration via CENPA downregulation and induces apoptosis and senescence, offering therapeutic potential against bladder cancer.
Project description:Metabolic effects of lyophilized bitter melon juice (BMJ) extract (oral gavage 200mg/kg/body weight-daily for 40 days) intake were evaluated in diet-induced obese C57BL/6J male mice [fed-high fat diet (HFD), 60 kcal% fat]. Changes in gene expression in the hepatic transcriptome (microarray analysis using Affymetrix Mouse Exon 1.0 ST arrays) Expression estimates for individual genes were estimated using Affymetrix Power Tools and the RMA-sketch algorithm. Probe sets were grouped into gene clusters using Ensembl gene annotation (version GRCm38). A probe set was included in a gene cluster if all of its associated probes aligned to a region completely contained within the exonic region of the gene.
Project description:Bitter pit is the most important physiological disorder affecting apples. In order to ascertain the genetic bases of its incidence in apple fruit, a mapping population of ‘Braeburn’ (susceptible to bitter pit) × ‘Cameo’ (resistant to bitter pit) cultivars was used to map the trait over two growing seasons. RNA-Seq on pools of RNA extracted from fruits of three resistant and three susceptible to bitter pit progenies at post-fertilization and full maturity stages, permitted us to identify a number of candidate genes underlying genetic resistance/susceptibility to bitter pit.
