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Zheng J, Chen L, Jia Y, Chi M, Li F, Cheng S, Liu S, Liu Y, Gu Z. Genomic structure, expression, and functional characterization of the Fem-1 gene family in the redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022; 316:113961. [PMID: 34861280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The Fem-1 (Feminization-1) gene, encoding an intracellular protein with conserved ankyrin repeat motifs, has been proven to play a key role in sex differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans. In the present study, three members of the Fem-1 gene family (designating Fem-1A, Fem-1B, and Fem-1C, respectively) were cloned and characterized in the redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. Sequence analysis showed that all three Fem-1 genes contained the highly conserved ankyrin repeat motifs with variant repeat numbers, which shared similarity with other reported crustaceans. In addition, a phylogenetic tree revealed that the Fem-1 proteins from C. quadricarinatus were clustered with the crustacean Fem-1 homologs, and had the closest evolutionary relationship with Eriocheir sinensis. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results demonstrated that Fem-1B exhibited a significant higher expression abundance in the ovary than in other tissues. In addition, a regular mRNA expression pattern of the Fem-1B gene appeared in the reproductive cycle of ovarian development. Furthermore, RNA interference experiments were employed to investigate the role of Fem-1B in ovarian development. Moreover, knockdown of Fem-1B by RNAi decreased the expression of VTG in the ovaries and hepatopancreas. In summary, this study pointed out that Fem-1B was involved in the sex differentiation process through regulating VTG expression in C. quadricarinatus, and provided new insights into the role of Fem-1B in ovary development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Leran Chen
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongyi Jia
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Meili Chi
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Fei Li
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Shun Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Shili Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Yinuo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China
| | - Zhimin Gu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding, Zhejiang Institute of Freshwater Fisheries, Huzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Freshwater Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquaculture, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Fisheries Science Education, College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Galindo-Torres P, Ventura-López C, Llera-Herrera R, Ibarra AM. A natural antisense transcript of the fem-1 gene was found expressed in female gonads during the characterization, expression profile, and cellular localization of the fem-1 gene in Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei. Gene 2019; 706:19-31. [PMID: 31028869 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2019.04.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The fem-1 gene in Caenorhabditis elegans is involved in sex differentiation; it is specifically required for all aspects of male development. In this study, the full-length cDNA of the fem-1 (Pvfem-1) gene was isolated from the Pacific whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei. The Pvfem-1 transcript is 3778 nt long and encodes a putative protein (PvFEM-1) of 638 amino acids that presented eight ankyrin repeats. The translated protein showed a significant (P < 0.05) structural similitude by superposition with C. elegans FEM-1 protein. Pvfem-1 expression was evaluated by qPCR and in situ hybridization (ISH) during embryogenesis, larval development, and gonads of both genders in subadult and adult life stages. Pvfem-1 was found expressed in brain, intestine, hepatopancreas, and in the gonads of both genders in subadults and adults when quantified by RT-qPCR. A significant finding was the discovery of a natural antisense transcript (NAT) of Pvfem-1 by ISH. It was present in the oocyte nucleus of subadult female shrimp gonads but was not seen within oocytes from adult females, although it was detected in follicular cells, suggesting a possible post-transcriptional regulation of Pvfem-1 in female gonad. Conversely, in males, no NAT was observed, and Pvfem-1 was found expressed in spermatogonia of both, subadult and adult shrimps indicating a function in male sexual differentiation and gametes generation. This study represents the first step for future functional analysis that is expected to contribute to clarifying the role of Pvfem-1 in sex differentiation and determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavel Galindo-Torres
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
| | - Claudia Ventura-López
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Raúl Llera-Herrera
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
| | - Ana M Ibarra
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Aquaculture Genetics and Breeding Laboratory, Ave. Instituto Politécnico Nacional No. 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita, 23096 La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
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Wang S, Xia W, Qiu M, Wang X, Jiang F, Yin R, Xu L. Atlas on substrate recognition subunits of CRL2 E3 ligases. Oncotarget 2018; 7:46707-46716. [PMID: 27107416 PMCID: PMC5216831 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Cullin2-type ubiquitin ligases belong to the Cullin-Ring Ligase (CRL) family, which is a crucial determinant of proteasome-based degradation processes in eukaryotes. Because of the finding of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL), the Cullin2-type ubiquitin ligases gain focusing in the research of many diseases, especially in tumors. These multisubunit enzymes are composed of the Ring finger protein, the Cullin2 scaffold protein, the Elongin B&C linker protein and the variant substrate recognition subunits (SRSs), among which the Cullin2 scaffold protein is the determining factor of the enzyme mechanism. Substrate recognition of Cullin2-type ubiquitin ligases depends on SRSs and results in the degradation of diseases associated substrates by intracellular signaling events. This review focuses on the diversity and the multifunctionality of SRSs in the Cullin2-type ubiquitin ligases, including VHL, LRR-1, FEM1b, PRAME and ZYG11. Recently, as more SRSs are being discovered and more aspects of substrate recognition have been illuminated, insight into the relationship between Cul2-dependent SRSs and substrates provides a new area for cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenjia Xia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mantang Qiu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China.,The Fourth Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China
| | - Rong Yin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Cancer Institute of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, China
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4
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Lei J, Li Q, Gao Y, Zhao L, Liu Y. Increased PKCα activity by Rack1 overexpression is responsible for chemotherapy resistance in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia-derived cell line. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33717. [PMID: 27644318 PMCID: PMC5028770 DOI: 10.1038/srep33717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemoresistant mechanisms in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) patients are not clarified. The apoptotic signaling mediated by receptor of activated C kinase 1 (Rack1), protein kinase C (PKC) and FEM1 homolog b (FEM1b) was investigated in two T-ALL-derived cell lines (Jurkat and CCRF-CEM) following treatment with chemotherapy drugs vincristine and prednisone. Serum starvation or chemotherapeutic drugs significantly reduced Rack1 level and PKC activation, while promoted cellular apoptosis in both cell lines. Rack1 overexpression protected T-ALL cell against starvation or chemotherapeutic drug-induced apoptosis. Moreover, Rack1 overexpression reduced the level of cytochrome c and active caspase 3 as well as FEM1b and apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), and inhibited induction of cellular apoptosis in chemotherapeutic drug-treated Jurkat cell. Interaction of Rack1 and PKCα, not PKCβ, was detected in both cell lines. Of note, Rack1 overexpression abrogated reduction of PKC kinase activity in chemotherapeutic drug-treated T-ALL cell. PKC kinase inhibitor Go6976 or siPKCα inhibited downregulation of FEM1b and/or Apaf-1, and thus increased cellular apoptosis in Rack1-overexpressed T-ALL cell receiving chemotherapeutic drugs. Accordingly, our data provided evidence that increased Rack1-mediated upregulation of PKC kinase activity may be responsible for the development of chemoresistance in T-ALL-derived cell line potentially by reducing FEM1b and Apaf-1 level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Lei
- Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, PR China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, PR China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Shaanxi Province, Shaanxi, XiAn, PR China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, PR China
| | - Yanbo Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, PR China
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5
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Transcriptome analysis of male and female mature gonads of Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessonsis. Genes Genomics 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13258-016-0449-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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6
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Molecular characterization and expression profile of three Fem-1 genes in Eriocheir sinensis provide a new insight into crab sex-determining mechanism. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2015; 189:6-14. [PMID: 26188322 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The FEM-1 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans plays a crucial role in the nematode sex-determination pathway. Here, we reported the characterization of three members of Fem-1 gene family in Eriocheir sinensis (designated EsFem-1a, EsFem-1b, and EsFem-1c), which were homologs of the nematode FEM-1 protein. The amino acid sequences of EsFem-1a, EsFem-1b, and EsFem-1c contained eight, nine, and eight ankyrin repeats, respectively. None of the ankyrin repeats had its own specific signature, and the evolution of ankyrin repeat was not completely independent. The predicted three-dimensional structure of EsFem-1 proteins exhibited highly similar superhelical conformation, especially the N-terminal six contiguous ankyrin repeats, which provided a binding surface for the protein-protein interaction. Phylogenetic tree based on the amino acid sequences revealed that EsFem-1a, EsFem-1b, and EsFem-1c were divided into three obvious separated clades. EsFem-1 genes were highly expressed in fertilized egg, 2-4 cell and blastula stage comparing with larval stage (P<0.01), which suggested they might be maternal genes. They also showed a certain degree of sexually dimorphic expression in some tissues. Notably, the highest expression of EsFem-1a was in the hepatopancreas, with EsFem-1b in testes and EsFem-1c in muscle (P<0.05), which indicated their potential role in a broad array of tissues. In addition, the genes initially involved in sex differentiation were not limited to those specifically expressed in the developing gonad. Taken together, these results suggested that EsFem-1 might function in crab early sex determination and late gonad development. The identification of Fem-1 gene family in E. sinensis provides a new insight into crab sex-determination mechanism.
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Teaniniuraitemoana V, Huvet A, Levy P, Klopp C, Lhuillier E, Gaertner-Mazouni N, Gueguen Y, Le Moullac G. Gonad transcriptome analysis of pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera: identification of potential sex differentiation and sex determining genes. BMC Genomics 2014; 15:491. [PMID: 24942841 PMCID: PMC4082630 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black pearl farming is based on culture of the blacklip pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera (Mollusca, lophotrochozoa), a protandrous hermaphrodite species. At first maturation, all individuals are males. The female sex appears progressively from two years old, which represents a limitation for broodstock conditioning for aquaculture production. In marine mollusks displaying hermaphroditic features, data on sexual determinism and differentiation, including the molecular sex determining cascade, are scarce. To increase genomic resources and identify the molecular mechanisms whereby gene expression may act in the sexual dimorphism of P. margaritifera, we performed gonad transcriptome analysis. RESULTS The gonad transcriptome of P. margaritifera was sequenced from several gonadic samples of males and females at different development stages, using a Next-Generation-Sequencing method and RNAseq technology. After Illumina sequencing, assembly and annotation, we obtained 70,147 contigs of which 62.2% shared homologies with existing protein sequences, and 9% showed functional annotation with Gene Ontology terms. Differential expression analysis identified 1,993 differentially expressed contigs between the different categories of gonads. Clustering methods of samples revealed that the sex explained most of the variation in gonad gene expression. K-means clustering of differentially expressed contigs showed 815 and 574 contigs were more expressed in male and female gonads, respectively. The analysis of these contigs revealed the presence of known specific genes coding for proteins involved in sex determinism and/or differentiation, such as dmrt and fem-1 like for males, or foxl2 and vitellogenin for females. The specific gene expression profiles of pmarg-fem1-like, pmarg-dmrt and pmarg-foxl2 in different reproductive stages (undetermined, sexual inversion and regression) suggest that these three genes are potentially involved in the sperm-oocyte switch in P. margaritifera. CONCLUSIONS The study provides a new transcriptomic tool to study reproduction in hermaphroditic marine mollusks. It identifies sex differentiation and potential sex determining genes in P. margaritifera, a protandrous hermaphrodite species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Gilles Le Moullac
- Ifremer, UMR 241 EIO, Labex CORAIL, BP 7004, 98719 Taravao, Tahiti, Polynésie Française.
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Subauste MC, Ventura-Holman T, Lu D, Du L, Sansom OJ, Maher JF. Fem1b antigen in the stool of ApcMin mice as a biomarker of early Wnt signaling activation in intestinal neoplasia. Cancer Epidemiol 2011; 35:97-100. [PMID: 20952268 DOI: 10.1016/j.canep.2010.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2010] [Revised: 09/02/2010] [Accepted: 09/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is preventable by early detection and removal of precursor lesions. Central to early stages of colorectal neoplasia is activation of Wnt signaling, usually due to inactivation of the Apc tumor suppressor gene for which there is an established animal model, the Apc(Min) mouse. Immunodetection in stool of proteins up-regulated by aberrant Wnt signaling, within intestinal epithelial cells shed into the lumen, could be a rational approach to identify biomarkers of early intestinal neoplasia. Fem1b gene expression is up-regulated, following inactivation of Apc, in mouse intestinal epithelium. METHODS We initially screened pooled random stool samples by immunoblotting and found that we could detect, in Apc(Min) mice but not wild-type mice, a fragment of Fem1b protein with an antibody (Li-50) directed against an epitope near the middle of the protein, but not with antibodies directed against N-terminus or C-terminus epitopes. We then evaluated freshly voided individual stool samples collected on four consecutive days from four each of male and female Apc(Min) mice and their wild-type littermates. RESULTS The Fem1b antigen was detected with the Li-50 antibody in 15/16 samples from male Apc(Min) mice compared to 0/16 samples from male wild-type mice, and in 5/16 samples from female Apc(Min) mice compared to 0/16 samples from female wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof-of-principle that fragments of proteins, whose expression is increased by aberrant Wnt signaling early in intestinal neoplasia, can be immunodetected in stool. Excreted Fem1b protein fragments may be a useful biomarker for epithelial Wnt signaling and early intestinal neoplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cecilia Subauste
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-8591, USA
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9
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Proteomic profiles of mesenchymal stem cells induced by a liver differentiation protocol. Int J Mol Sci 2010; 11:4905-15. [PMID: 21614181 PMCID: PMC3100820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms11124905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2010] [Revised: 10/31/2010] [Accepted: 11/11/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The replacement of disease hepatocytes and the stimulation of endogenous or exogenous regeneration by human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidates for liver-directed cell therapy. In this study, we isolated MSCs from adult bone marrow by plastic adhesion and induced differentiation with a liver differentiation protocol. Western blot analyses were used to assess the expression of liver-specific markers. Next, MSC-specific proteins were analyzed with two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-time of flight (TOF)-mass spectrometry (MS). To confirm the results from the proteomic study, semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses were performed. We demonstrated that MSCs treated with the liver differentiation protocol expressed significantly more albumin, CK19 and CK20, than did undifferentiated cells. In addition the results of proteomic study demonstrated increases expression of FEM1B, PSMC2 and disulfide-isomerase A3 in MSCs treated with the liver differentiation protocol. These results from proteomic profiling will not only provide insight into the global responses of MSCs to hepatocyte differentiation, but will also lead to in-depth studies on the mechanisms of proteomic changes in MSCs.
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Subauste MC, Sansom OJ, Porecha N, Raich N, Du L, Maher JF. Fem1b, a proapoptotic protein, mediates proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of human colon cancer cells. Mol Carcinog 2010; 49:105-13. [PMID: 19908242 DOI: 10.1002/mc.20594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
In the treatment of colon cancer, the development of resistance to apoptosis is a major factor in resistance to therapy. New molecular approaches to overcome apoptosis resistance, such as selectively upregulating proapoptotic proteins, are needed in colon cancer therapy. In a mouse model with inactivation of the adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc) tumor suppressor gene, reflecting the pathogenesis of most human colon cancers, the gene encoding feminization-1 homolog b (Fem1b) is upregulated in intestinal epithelium following Apc inactivation. Fem1b is a proapoptotic protein that interacts with apoptosis-inducing proteins Fas, tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1), and apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1). Increasing Fem1b expression induces apoptosis of cancer cells, but effects on colon cancer cells have not been reported. Fem1b is a homolog of feminization-1 (FEM-1), a protein in Caenorhabditis elegans that is regulated by proteasomal degradation, but whether Fem1b is likewise regulated by proteasomal degradation is unknown. Herein, we found that Fem1b protein is expressed in primary human colon cancer specimens, and in malignant SW620, HCT-116, and DLD-1 colon cancer cells. Increasing Fem1b expression, by transfection of a Fem1b expression construct, induced apoptosis of these cells. We found that proteasome inhibitor treatment of SW620, HCT-116, and DLD-1 cells caused upregulation of Fem1b protein levels, associated with induction of apoptosis. Blockade of Fem1b upregulation with morpholino antisense oligonucleotide suppressed the proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of these cells. In conclusion, the proapoptotic protein Fem1b is downregulated by the proteasome in malignant colon cancer cells and mediates proteasome inhibitor-induced apoptosis of these cells. Therefore, Fem1b could represent a novel molecular target to overcome apoptosis resistance in therapy of colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cecilia Subauste
- McDermott Center for Human Growth & Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-8591, USA
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Sun TP, Shieh SY. Human FEM1B is required for Rad9 recruitment and CHK1 activation in response to replication stress. Oncogene 2009; 28:1971-81. [DOI: 10.1038/onc.2009.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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12
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Wang X, Desai N, Hu YP, Price SM, Abate-Shen C, Shen MM. Mouse Fem1b interacts with the Nkx3.1 homeoprotein and is required for proper male secondary sexual development. Dev Dyn 2008; 237:2963-72. [PMID: 18816836 PMCID: PMC2779857 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies of epithelial cell growth and differentiation in the prostate gland have identified the homeodomain protein Nkx3.1 as a central regulator of prostate development and carcinogenesis. To understand the molecular mechanisms of Nkx3.1 function, we have used yeast two-hybrid analysis to identify Nkx3.1 interacting proteins, and have isolated Fem1b, a mammalian homolog of the C. elegans sex-determining gene Fem-1. In mice, the Fem1b and Nkx3.1 genes encode proteins that interact in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays, and are co-expressed in the prostate and testis of neonatal mice. Null mutants for Fem1b generated by gene targeting display defects in prostate ductal morphogenesis and secretory protein expression, similar to phenotypes found in Nkx3.1 mutants. We propose that Fem1b may have a conserved role in the generation of sexual dimorphism through its interaction with Nkx3.1 in the developing prostate gland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics & Development, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
| | - Nishita Desai
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Ya-Ping Hu
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Sandy M. Price
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Cory Abate-Shen
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Department of Urology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
| | - Michael M. Shen
- Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, Departments of Pediatrics, UMDNJ–Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics & Development, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032
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Ventura-Holman T, Hahn H, Subauste JS, Maher JF. The Fem1a gene is downregulated in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Tumour Biol 2005; 26:294-9. [PMID: 16254458 DOI: 10.1159/000089261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2005] [Accepted: 05/13/2005] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue neoplasm of children, and those metastatic at presentation have a poor prognosis. RMS development is related to defective skeletal muscle differentiation, involving a variety of cell signaling and transcriptional control pathways, including aberrant hedgehog signaling. Here we evaluate Fem1a, a gene highly expressed in skeletal muscle, as a candidate for involvement in RMS. Fem1a is a homolog of fem-1, which controls cell fate decisions in the sex determination pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans, a pathway with homology to mammalian hedgehog signaling. We show that Fem1a expression is activated during myocyte differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts, and this expression is largely confined to the terminally differentiating pool, not to the satellite-cell-like quiescent reserve cell pool. We find that the human homolog, FEM1A, is downregulated in all of 8 different human RMS cell lines, including those derived from embryonal and alveolar RMS. Using mouse genetic models of RMS development, we further show that Fem1a is consistently downregulated in primary RMS from Ptch1+/- mice, from p53-/- mice, from p53+/-; Ptch1+/- mice, and from HGF/SF-Ink4a/Arf-/- mice. Therefore, Fem1a downregulation may be involved in, and/or a marker of, an early cell fate defect fundamental to RMS pathogenesis.
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Lu D, Ventura-Holman T, Li J, McMurray RW, Subauste JS, Maher JF. Abnormal glucose homeostasis and pancreatic islet function in mice with inactivation of the Fem1b gene. Mol Cell Biol 2005; 25:6570-7. [PMID: 16024793 PMCID: PMC1190348 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.25.15.6570-6577.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disorder of glucose homeostasis involving complex gene and environmental interactions that are incompletely understood. Mammalian homologs of nematode sex determination genes have recently been implicated in glucose homeostasis and type 2 diabetes mellitus. These are the Hedgehog receptor Patched and Calpain-10, which have homology to the nematode tra-2 and tra-3 sex determination genes, respectively. Here, we have developed Fem1b knockout (Fem1b-KO) mice, with targeted inactivation of Fem1b, a homolog of the nematode fem-1 sex determination gene. We show that the Fem1b-KO mice display abnormal glucose tolerance and that this is due predominantly to defective glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Arginine-stimulated insulin secretion is also affected. The Fem1b gene is expressed in pancreatic islets, within both beta cells and non-beta cells, and is highly expressed in INS-1E cells, a pancreatic beta-cell line. In conclusion, these data implicate Fem1b in pancreatic islet function and insulin secretion, strengthening evidence that a genetic pathway homologous to nematode sex determination may be involved in glucose homeostasis and suggesting novel genes and processes as potential candidates in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyin Lu
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center-Research Svc. (151), 1500 E. Woodrow Wilson Blvd., Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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15
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Oyhenart J, Benichou S, Raich N. Putative Homeodomain Transcription Factor 1 Interacts with the Feminization Factor Homolog Fem1b in Male Germ Cells1. Biol Reprod 2005; 72:780-7. [PMID: 15601915 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.035964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The Phtf1 gene encodes a membrane protein abundantly expressed in male germinal cells. Using a two-hybrid screening procedure we have identified FEM1B, an ortholog of the C. elegans feminization factor 1 (FEM-1), as a binding partner for PHTF1. We studied FEM1B expression in the rodent testis and found that Fem1b mRNA is present at high levels during meiosis and after, during spermiogenesis, in a similar manner to Phtf1 mRNA. Accordingly, Western blot and immunofluorescence revealed the presence of PHTF1 and FEM1B in the same cell types, and by coimmunoprecipitation we demonstrated the association between these proteins. We characterized some aspects of this interaction and showed that the ANK domain of FEM1B is necessary for the interaction with the amino extremity of PHTF1. Next, we found that FEM1B can bind several intracellular organelles and demonstrated that PHTF1 would recruit FEM1B to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Previous in vitro experiments had suggested that the human FEM1B was involved in apoptosis. After comparing expression profiles of FEM1B and PHTF1 with apoptotic events occurring in the normal seminiferous tubules, we suggest that neither FEM1B nor PHTF1 are directly implicated in apoptosis in this tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Oyhenart
- INSERM U.567 CNRS-UMR 8104, Département d'Hématologie, Maternité de Port-Royal
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16
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Wadhwa R, Yaguchi T, Kaur K, Suyama E, Kawasaki H, Taira K, Kaul SC. Use of a Randomized Hybrid Ribozyme Library for Identification of Genes Involved in Muscle Differentiation. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:51622-9. [PMID: 15448151 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m407428200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
We have employed the hybrid hammerhead ribozyme-based gene discovery system for identification of genes functionally involved in muscle differentiation using in vitro myoblast differentiation assay. The major muscle regulatory genes (MyoD1, Mylk, myosin, myogenin, and Myf5) were identified endorsing the validity of this method. Other gene targets included tumor suppressors and cell cycle regulators (p19ARF and p21WAF1), FGFR-4, fibronectin, Prkg2, Pdk4, fem, and six novel proteins. Functional involvement of three of the identified targets in myoblast differentiation was confirmed by their specific knockdown using ribozymes and siRNA. Besides demonstrating a simple and an effective method of isolation of gene functions involved in muscle differentiation, we report for the first time that overexpression of Fem, a member of the sex-determining family of proteins, caused accelerated myotube formation, and its targeting deferred myoblast differentiation. This functional gene screening is not only helpful in understanding the molecular pathways of muscle differentiation but also to design molecular strategies for myopathologic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renu Wadhwa
- Gene Function Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8562, Japan
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17
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Schlamp CL, Thliveris AT, Li Y, Kohl LP, Knop C, Dietz JA, Larsen IV, Imesch P, Pinto LH, Nickells RW. Insertion of the beta Geo promoter trap into the Fem1c gene of ROSA3 mice. Mol Cell Biol 2004; 24:3794-803. [PMID: 15082774 PMCID: PMC387761 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.24.9.3794-3803.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
ROSA3 mice were developed by retroviral insertion of the beta Geo gene trap vector. Adult ROSA3 mice exhibit widespread expression of the trap gene in epithelial cells found in most organs. In the central nervous system the highest expression of beta Geo is found in CA1 pyramidal cells of the hippocampus, Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, and ganglion cells of the retina. Characterization of the genomic insertion site for beta Geo in ROSA3 mice shows that the trap vector is located in the first intron of Fem1c, a gene homologous to the sex-determining gene fem-1 of Caenorhabditis elegans. Transcription of the Rosa3 allele (R3) yields a spliced message that includes the first exon of Fem1c and the beta Geo coding region. Although normal processing of the Fem1c transcript is disrupted in homozygous Rosa3 (Fem1c(R3/R3)) mice, some tissues show low levels of a partially processed transcript containing exons 2 and 3. Since the entire coding region of Fem1c is located in these two exons, Fem1c(R3/R3) mice may still be able to express a putative FEM1C protein. To this extent, Fem1c(R3/R3) mice show no adverse effects in their sexual development or fertility or in the attenuation of neuronal cell death, another function that has been attributed to both fem-1 and a second mouse homolog, Fem1b. Examination of beta Geo expression in ganglion cells after exposure to damaging stimuli indicates that protein levels are rapidly depleted prior to cell death, making the beta Geo reporter gene a potentially useful marker to study early molecular events in damaged neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra L Schlamp
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53704, USA
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18
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Ventura-Holman T, Lu D, Si X, Izevbigie EB, Maher JF. The Fem1c genes: conserved members of the Fem1 gene family in vertebrates. Gene 2003; 314:133-9. [PMID: 14527725 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(03)00712-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The fem-1 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans functions in a signaling pathway that controls sex determination. Homologs of fem-1 in mammals have been characterized, consisting of two family members, Fem1a and Fem1b. We report here on Fem1c, a third member of the Fem1 gene family, in three vertebrate species: human, mouse, and zebrafish. The proteins encoded by these Fem1c genes share >99% amino acid identity between human and mouse, 79% amino acid identity between mouse and zebrafish, and end with a C-terminal Arginine residue, which distinguishes them from other FEM-1 proteins reported thus far. The human and mouse Fem1c coding regions show conservation of intron-exon structure and expression pattern in adult tissues. Human FEM1C maps to 5q22, mouse Fem1c maps to chromosome 18, and zebrafish fem1c maps to Linkage Group 8. The Fem1c genes in vertebrates may play a conserved role in the development and/or physiologic function of these organisms.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5/genetics
- Cloning, Molecular
- Conserved Sequence/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/chemistry
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- Exons
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Genes/genetics
- Humans
- Introns
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Proteins/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes
- Vertebrates/genetics
- Zebrafish/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Tereza Ventura-Holman
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA
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19
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Chan SL, Yee KS, Tan KM, Yu VC. The Caenorhabditis elegans sex determination protein FEM-1 is a CED-3 substrate that associates with CED-4 and mediates apoptosis in mammalian cells. J Biol Chem 2000; 275:17925-8. [PMID: 10764728 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.c000146200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-specific elimination of cells by apoptosis plays a role in sex determination in Caenorhabditis elegans. Recently, a mammalian pro-apoptotic protein named F1Aalpha has been identified. F1Aalpha shares extensive homology throughout the entire protein with the C. elegans protein, FEM-1, which is essential for achieving all aspects of the male phenotype in the nematode. In this report, the role of FEM-1 in apoptosis was investigated. Overexpression of FEM-1 induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in mammalian cells. FEM-1 is cleaved in vitro by the C. elegans caspase, CED-3, generating an N-terminal cleavage product that corresponds to the minimal effector domain for apoptosis. Furthermore, CED-4 associates with FEM-1 in vitro and in vivo in mammalian cells and potentiates FEM-1-mediated apoptosis. Similarly, Apaf-1, the mammalian homologue of CED-4 was found to associate with F1Aalpha. These data suggest that FEM-1 and F1Aalpha may mediate apoptosis by communicating directly with the core machinery of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Chan
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 30 Medical Dr., Singapore 117609, Republic of Singapore
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Ventura-Holman T, Haider NB, Maher JF. Rapid communication: the human FEM1B gene maps to chromosome 15q22 and is excluded as the gene for Bardet-Biedl syndrome, type 4. Am J Med Sci 2000; 319:268-70. [PMID: 10768616 DOI: 10.1097/00000441-200004000-00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We have identified a novel human gene, FEM1B, that encodes a protein virtually identical to that encoded by the mouse gene Fem1b. These mammalian proteins are homologs of the FEM-1 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans, which acts as a signal-transduction component within the nematode sex-determination pathway. We report here the mapping of FEM1B to chromosome 15q22, a region that is homologous to the region of mouse chromosome 9, where Fem1b resides. The BBS4 locus, one of the loci causing the autosomal recessive Bardet-Biedl syndrome, maps to this region of chromosome 15. Therefore, we sought to determine whether the FEM1B gene might be involved in this disorder. Radiation hybrid mapping demonstrates that FEM1B does not reside within the interval of chromosome 15 containing the BBS4 locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ventura-Holman
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, USA
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Ventura-Holman T, Haider NB, Maher JF. Rapid Communication: The Human FEMI B Gene Maps to Chromosome lSq22 and Is Excluded as the Gene for Bardet-Biedl Syndrome, Type 4. Am J Med Sci 2000. [DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9629(15)40743-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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