Protein and Peptide Letters - Volume 29, Issue 7, 2022

Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor-type Q (PTPRQ), a member of the type III tyrosine phosphatase receptor (R3 PTPR) family, is composed of three domains, including 18 extracellular fibronectin type III (FN3) repeats, a transmembrane helix, and a cytoplasmic phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTP) domain. PTPRQ was initially identified as a transcript upregulated in glomerular mesangial cells in a rat model of glo Read More

The coronavirus family consists of pathogens that seriously affect human and animal health. They mostly cause respiratory or enteric diseases, which can be severe and life-threatening, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in humans. The conserved coronaviral papain-like protease is an attractive antiviral drug target beca Read More

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory joint disorder with high incidence rates. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) influence OA development. Objectives: In this research, we attempt to figure out the functions of lncRNA BLACAT1 in human articular chondrocyte (HAC) apoptosis and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation in OA. Methods: Interleukin (IL)-1β was employed to induce HAC damage. Cell viab Read More

Background: The present study was targeted at investigating the effects of hsa_circRNA_0008092 (circ_0008092) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, and its related mechanism. Methods: The gene expression profiles of GSE166678 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and differentially expressed circRNAs in human HCC were screened out. Besi Read More

Background: SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for entering the host cells. Production of the ACE2 molecule is important because of its potency to use as a blocker and therapeutic agent against SARS-CoV-2 for the prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19. Objective: The recombinant human ACE2 (rhACE2) is prone to form an inclusion body when expressed in the bacterial cells. Methods: W Read More

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are pivotal in cancer biology. Nevertheless, the biological functions of circular RNA hsa_circ_0000437 (circ_0000437) have not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we studied the expression characteristics of circ_0000437 in endometrial carcinoma (EC) and explored the roles and potential mechanisms of circ_0000437 in EC progression. Methods: Quantitative real-time po Read More

Objective: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a squamous cell carcinoma. LncRNA CTBP1-AS2 (CTBP1-AS2) has effects on tumor cell growth. This study explored the mechanism of CTBP1-AS2 on NPC cells. Methods: CTBP1-AS2 expressions in immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial (NP69) and 6 human NPC cells were detected by RT-qPCR and SUNE-1/CNE-1 cells with relative high/low expressions were selected. Cell proliferation Read More

Background: Granzyme B can induce apoptosis in target cells by direct and indirect activation of caspases and cleavage of central caspase substrates. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein and its expression increases following prostate cancer progression. Objective: In this study, we designed a fusion protein including mutant granzyme B, the influenza virus hemagglutini Read More