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Biomedical subjects

Yuan Yang

Publications and source records attributed to Yuan Yang.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

A base editor for the long-term restoration of auditory function in mice with recessive profound deafness.

A prevalent recessive mutation (c.2485C>T, p.Q829X) within the OTOF gene leads to profound prelingual hearing loss. Here we show that in Otof mice harbouring a mutation (c.2482C>T, p.Q828X) homozygous to human OTOF that faithfully mimics the hearing-loss phenotype, a base editor (consisting of the deaminase ABE7.10max and the Cas9 variant SpCas9-NG) packaged in adeno-associated viruses and injected into the inner ear of the mice via the round-window membrane effectively corrected the pathogenic mutation, with no apparent off-target effects. The treatment restored the levels of the otoferlin protein in 88% of the inner hair cells and stably rescued the auditory function of the mice to near-wild-type levels for over 1.5 years while improving synaptic exocytosis in the inner hair cells. We also show that an adenine base editor that targets the prevalent human OTOF mutation restored hearing in humanized mice to levels comparable to those of the wild-type counterparts. Base editors may be effective for the treatment of hereditary deafness.

Animals↗

First estimation of C4-H bond dissociation energies of NADH and its radical cation in aqueous solution.

The heterolytic and homolytic C4-H bond dissociation energies of NADH and its radical cation (NADH*+) in aqueous solution were estimated according to the reaction of NADH with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine radical cation perchlorate (TMPA*+) in aqueous solution. The results show that the values of the heterolytic and homolytic C4-H bond dissociation energies of NADH in aqueous solution are 53.6 and 79.3 kcal/mol, respectively; the values of the heterolytic and homolytic C4-H bond dissociation energies of NADH*+*+ in aqueous solution are 5.1 and 36.3 kcal/mol, respectively, which, to our knowledge, is first reported. This energetic information disclosed in the present work should be believed to furnish hints to the understanding of the mechanisms for the redox interconversions of coenzyme couple NADH/NAD+ in vivo.

Cations↗

Thermodynamics and kinetics of the hydride-transfer cycles for 1-aryl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide and its 1,2-dihydroisomer.

Five 1-(p-substituted phenyl)-1,4-dihydronicotinamides (GPNAH-1,4-H(2)) and five 1-(p-substituted phenyl)-1,2-dihydronicotinamides (GPNAH-1,2-H(2)) were synthesized, which were used to mimic NAD(P)H coenzyme and its 1,2-dihydroisomer reductions, respectively. When the 1,4-dihydropyridine (GPNAH-1,4-H(2)) and the 1,2-dihydroisomer (GPNAH-1,2-H(2)) were treated with p-trifluoromethylbenzylidenemalononitrile (S) as a hydride acceptor, both reactions gave the same products: pyridinium derivative (GPNA(+)) and carbanion SH(-) by a hydride one-step transfer. Thermodynamic analysis on the two reactions shows that the hydride transfer from the 1,2-dihydropyridine is much more favorable than the hydride transfer from the corresponding 1,4-dihydroisomer, but the kinetic examination displays that the former reaction is remarkably slower than the latter reaction, which is mainly due to much more negative activation entropy for the former reaction. When the formed pyridinium derivative (GPNA(+)) was treated with SH(-), the major reduced product was the corresponding 1,4-dihydropyridine along with a trace of the 1,2-dihydroisomer. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses on the hydride transfer from SH(-) to GPNA(+) all suggest that the 4-position on the pyridinium ring in GPNA(+) is much easier to accept the hydride than the 2-position, which indicates that when the 1,4-dihydropyridine is used the hydride donor to react with S, the formed pyridinium derivative GPNA(+) may return to the 1,4-dihydropyridine by a hydride transfer cycle; but when the 1,2-dihydropyridine is used as the hydride donor, the formed pyridinium derivative can not return to the 1,2-dihydropyridine by the hydride reverse transfer from SH(-) to GPNA(+). These results clearly show that the hydride-transfer cycle is favorable for the 1,4-dihydronicotinamides, but unfavorable for the corresponding 1,2-dihydroisomers.

Electron Transport↗

Determination of the C4-H bond dissociation energies of NADH models and their radical cations in acetonitrile.

Heterolytic and homolytic bond dissociation energies of the C4-H bonds in ten NADH models (seven 1,4-dihydronicotinamide derivatives, two Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives, and 9,10-dihydroacridine) and their radical cations in acetonitrile were evaluated by titration calorimetry and electrochemistry, according to the four thermodynamic cycles constructed from the reactions of the NADH models with N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine radical cation perchlorate in acetonitrile (note: C9-H bond rather than C4-H bond for 9,10-dihydroacridine; however, unless specified, the C9-H bond will be described as a C4-H bond for convenience). The results show that the energetic scales of the heterolytic and homolytic bond dissociation energies of the C4-H bonds cover ranges of 64.2-81.1 and 67.9-73.7 kcal mol(-1) for the neutral NADH models, respectively, and the energetic scales of the heterolytic and homolytic bond dissociation energies of the (C4-H)(.+) bonds cover ranges of 4.1-9.7 and 31.4-43.5 kcal mol(-1) for the radical cations of the NADH models, respectively. Detailed comparison of the two sets of C4-H bond dissociation energies in 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH), Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine (HEH), and 9,10-dihydroacridine (AcrH(2)) (as the three most typical NADH models) shows that for BNAH and AcrH(2), the heterolytic C4-H bond dissociation energies are smaller (by 3.62 kcal mol(-1)) and larger (by 7.4 kcal mol(-1)), respectively, than the corresponding homolytic C4-H bond dissociation energy. However, for HEH, the heterolytic C4-H bond dissociation energy (69.3 kcal mol(-1)) is very close to the corresponding homolytic C4-H bond dissociation energy (69.4 kcal mol(-1)). These results suggests that the hydride is released more easily than the corresponding hydrogen atom from BNAH and vice versa for AcrH(2), and that there are two almost equal possibilities for the hydride and the hydrogen atom transfers from HEH. Examination of the two sets of the (C4-H)(.+) bond dissociation energies shows that the homolytic (C4-H)(.+) bond dissociation energies are much larger than the corresponding heterolytic (C4-H)(.+) bond dissociation energies for the ten NADH models by 23.3-34.4 kcal mol(-1); this suggests that if the hydride transfer from the NADH models is initiated by a one-electron transfer, the proton transfer should be more likely to take place than the corresponding hydrogen atom transfer in the second step. In addition, some elusive structural information about the reaction intermediates of the NADH models was obtained by using Hammett-type linear free-energy analysis.

Acetonitriles↗

[Studies on molecular epidemiology of Y chromosome azoospermia factor microdeletions in Chinese patients with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia].

OBJECTIVE: To determine microdeletion loci and the characteristic of Y chromosome azoospermia factor(AZF) associated with Chinese idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia and hence to provide a theoretic basis for gene diagnosis of AZF microdeletion in Chinese infertility men. METHODS: The subjects of this study included 134 cases of azoospermia and 118 severe oligozoospermia, and 210 healthy male controls. With multiplex PCR technique, an analysis of 15 sequence tag sites(STS) in AZFa, AZFb and AZFc microdeletion was performed. RESULTS: No microdeletion was detected in controls whereas 13 STS loci microdeletions existed in cases, including sY84 and sY86 in AZFa; sY121, sY123, sY124, sY127, sY134 and sy133 in AZFb; sY152, sY242, sY254, sY255 and sY157 in AZFc. Five azoospermia patients were involved in AZFa microdeletions, 7 azoospermia and 3 severe oligozoospermia patients in AZFb, and 14 azoospermia and 18 severe oligozoospermia patients in AZFc. The prevalence rates of microdeletion in AZFa, AZFb and AZFc were 2.0%,4.0% and 12.7% respectively. The microdeletion rate showed statistically significant difference between the cases and controls. CONCLUSION: This study revealed an association between the microdeletion of 13 STS loci of AZF region and the idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia in Chinese. There is no evidence to identify the genetic polymorphism of the above STS loci. The frequency and distribution characteristic of AZF microdeletion are similar to those of Caucasians. As candidate loci the 13 STS are useful in clinical gene diagnosis for the detection of AZF microdeletion in Chinese idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia.

China↗

[Research for locating the mitochondrial DNA deletions of aged guinea-pigs].

OBJECTIVE: To locate the mtDNA deletions of aged guinea-pigs. METHODS: By reference to the common law of mtDNA deletions in humans and rats, the possible locations of mtDNA deletions in guinea-pigs were examined by PCR and DNA sequencing. The cochlear Cortis, auditory nerve and brain tissues were harvested and the total DNA was extracted. RESULTS: It was discovered for the first time that there are 4568 bps deletions of mtDNA between nt8636-nt13203 in guinea-pigs. The mtDNA deletion incidence of the aged group was significantly higher than that of the young control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There exist 4568 bps deletions between CO III and ND5 genes of mtDNA in aged guinea-pigs; mtDNA4568 deletions of guinea-pig possibly contribute to aging.

Aging↗

[Detection of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism in preeclampsia].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism and preeclampsia. METHODS: The study included the samples from 62 subjects (15 preeclampsia pregnant women with their infants and 16 normal pregnant women with their infants). Screening for the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphism, the 27-bp repeat in intron 4 (eNOS4), was carried out by analysis of polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The frequency of the b allele (420 bp) in the 62 samples was 91.93%, the frequency of the a allele (393 bp) was 6.45%, and that of the c allele (447 bp) was 1.61%. The frequencies of eNOS 4 b/b, eNOS 4 a/b and eNOS4 c/b were 83.83%, 12.90% and 3.27%, respectively. There was no significant difference of eNOS4 polymorphism between the preeclampsia pregnant women and the normal pregnant women, between their infants, and between the preeclampsia pregnant women and their infants. CONCLUSION: The eNOS 4 polymorphism may be not associated with preeclampsia. Further studies are needed to confirm the eNOS gene polymorphism with preeclampsia.

Adult↗

Cloning and high expression of hbFGF with a new strategy.

Computer program DNASIS v2.5 was used to help designing the site-directed mutations for optimizing the expression of hbFGF in E. coli. The secondary structure of the translation initiation region (TIR) is a determinant factor for translation initiation rate, meanwhile, codon preference plays an important role, too. According to the two principles, 4 sites in 5' end of hbFGF cDNA were definitely changed, and another 4 sites randomly changed. These mutations will lead to potential variation in the secondary structure of TIR. Then computer program DNASIS v2.5 was utilized to analyse the total 32 TIR sequences resulted from the combination of the 4 randomly mutated sites. Ten sequences with highest free formation energy (delta G0) were chosen for subsequent cloning. By PCR using synthetic primers containing the 8 changed sites described above, ten hbFGF cDNA were amplified and cloned to pET-3c respectively. E. coli strain BL21 (DE3) was transformed and induced to express recombinant hbFGF. Two high-expression clones were obtained by SDS-PAGE and MTT assay, indicating that computer program-aided design for optimizing expression of foreign genes in E. coli is useful.

Cloning, Molecular↗

[Fluorescence probe two-hybridization technique and its application in medical genechips].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new nucleic acid hybridization detection technique which may be used in medical genechips. METHODS: The specific DNA fragment was detected by sequential two hybridization of fluorescence probe with template DNA and fixed DNA probe. RESULTS: Fluorescence probe two-hybridization (FPTH) was applied to genechips for the detection of sex-transmitted pathogens from culture strains, and the results showed that the values of fluorescence density of the positive groups decreased remarkably when compared with those of the negative group. Both the sensitivity and specificity for detecting clinical samples are higher than 90%. There is no need of any additional reagent in hybridization procedure, and the hybridization detection can be accomplished in 40 minutes. CONCLUSION: The FPTH technique is rapid, simple and reliable, it can also make the clinical detection process completely automatic and integrative.

DNA Probes↗

[Time-dependent effects of interleukin-8 gene expression in endothelial cells exposed on fluid shear stress].

Fluid shear stress plays an important role in vascular biology. In vivo, endothelial cells are continuously exposed to mechanical shear stress generated by the flowing blood. Previous studies have identified the exposure of vascular endothelial cells to fluid mechanical forces can modulate the expression of many genes involved in vascular physiology and pathophysiology. To investigate the role of fluid shear stress on IL-8 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we employed quantitative reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to assay the expression of IL-8 mRNA. Here we show that IL-8 mRNA did not express in HUVECs untreated with fluid shear stress. IL-8 mRNA expression increased when HUVECs exposed to fluid shear stress for 1 h, and it reached the summit when HUVECs exposed to fluid shear stress for 2 h. Then IL-8 expression gradually decreased at 3 h of stimulation by shear stress and remained at a constant level throughout the time course of the study. The increase of IL-8 expression by shear stress was time-dependent. The biphasic response of IL-8 gene expression was found in experiments in which the applied shear stress was 2.23 dyne/cm2, 4.20 dyne/cm2, or 6.08 dyne/cm2. IL-8 gene expression in response to shear stress was very similar to NF-kappa B in response to shear stress. The induction of IL-8 gene expression by fluid shear stress is probably due to the activation of NF-kappa B. This in vitro study demonstrates the expression of IL-8 gene can be regulated by shear stress. Fluid shear stress induces a biphasic response of human IL-8 gene expression in HUVECs. These considerations suggest that IL-8 expression induced by fluid shear stress in HUVECs may play an important role in the genesis and development of both inflammation and arterioatherosclerosis.

Cells, Cultured↗

[Nested coamplification polymerase chain reaction].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple and reliable method for intensifying the hybridization signals of gene chips. METHODS: The authors added EDTA and another FAM-labeled probe to the normal PCR products, denatured the mixture by heat, and then let the mixture hybridize with the fastened probes on the chip. RESULTS: With the use of EDTA and another FAM-labeled probe, the hybridization signals increased by 6 times or greater. CONCLUSION: Adding EDTA and another probe to the normal PCR products is a simple and efficient method to intensify the hybridization signal of chips.

Base Sequence↗

[Force-dependent effects of interleukin-8 gene expression in endothelial cells exposed on fluid shear stress].

Fluid shear stress plays an important role in many physiological and pathophysiological processes of the cardiovascular system. Previous studies have identified the exposure of vascular endothelial cells to fluid mechanical forces can modulate the expression of many genes, including IL-8 gene expression, and IL-8 expression induced by fluid shear stress was time-dependent. To investigate the role of intensity of fluid shear stress on IL-8 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we had HUVECs exposed to shear stress 2.23, 4.20, 6.08, 8.19, 9.67, 12.15, 14.40, 16.87, and 19.29 dyne/cm2 respectively and employed quantitative reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to assay the expression of IL-8 mRNA. The results show that IL-8 mRNA did not express in HUVECs untreated with fluid shear stress. The IL-8 mRNA expression by shear stress was force intensity-dependent. After HUVECs exposed to low fluid shear stress (2.23 dyne/cm2) for 1 h or 2 h, IL-8 mRNA expression increased near 68 or 52 times as that of HUVECs exposed to high fluid shear stress (19.29 dyne/cm2). The linear regression equations between IL-8 mRNA expression (log (copies), y) and shear stress (dyne/cm2, x) are: y = 7.57 - 0.11x, r = 0.97 (for 1 h); y = 7.92 - 0.10x, r = 0.96 (for 2 h). This in vitro study demonstrates the expression of IL-8 gene can be regulated by fluid shear stress. The low shear stress could induces much more expression of IL-8 mRNA, which plays probably an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and arteroatherosclerosis.

Cells, Cultured↗