Biology subjects

Zhou, Q.

Publications and source records attributed to Zhou, Q..

293 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Lung Cancer Explorer (LCE): an open web portal to explore gene expression and clinical associations in lung cancer

We constructed a lung cancer-specific database housing expression data and clinical data from over 6,700 patients in 56 studies. Expression data from 23 \"whole-genome\" based platforms were carefully processed and quality controlled, whereas clinical data were standardized and rigorously curated. Empowered by this lung cancer database, we created an open access web resource - the Lung Cancer Explorer (LCE), which enables researchers and clinicians to explore these data and perform analyses. Users can perform meta-analyses on LCE to gain a quick overview of the results on tumor vs normal differential gene expression and expression-survival association. Individual dataset-based survival analysis, comparative analysis, and correlation analysis are also provided with flexible options to allow for customized analyses from the user.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Bi-clustering interpretation and prediction of correlation between gene expression and protein abundance

Most organisms transcript and protein level only moderately correlate for various reasons, such as regulation of transcription and protein degradation. Better prediction and understanding the correlation between gene expression and protein abundance has been possible by harnessing the matching RNA/protein datasets produced by modern high-throughput RNA-Seq and mass spectrometry methods. In this work, we have utilized some well-studied matching RNA/protein datasets, and explored for the first time a bi-clustering method to cluster genes that have consistent correlation patterns between gene expression and protein abundance. The clustering results have been interpreted from the perspective of both transcriptomic and proteomic features, which show that mRNA half-life, protein half-life and protein structure in concert significantly affect the correlation of gene expression and protein abundance. With these and other carefully selected features, a prediction model based on individual clusters, called Cluster-based Linear prediction Model (CLM), was built and tested on mouse liver mitochondrial, mouse brainstem mitochondrial, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Danio rerio datasets. CLM could find genes for which protein abundance can be predicted from mRNA data. In summary, based on bi-clustering, feature selection and CLM model, we have established a new and valuable cluster-based protein abundance prediction method.

bioinformatics↗

bioRxiv2018

miRNAs play important roles in aroma weakening during the shelf life of ‘Nanguo’ pear after cold storage

Cold storage is commonly employed to delay senescence in Nanguo pears after harvest. However, this technique also causes fruit aroma weakening. MicroRNAs play important roles in plant development and in eliciting responses to abiotic environmental stressors. In this study, the miRNA transcript profile of the fruit at the first day (C0, LT0) move in and out of cold storage and the optimum tasting period (COTP, LTOTP) during shelf life at room temperature were analyzed, respectively. More than 300 known miRNAs were identified in Nanguo pears; 176 and 135 miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed on the C0 vs. LT0 and on the COTP vs. LTOTP, respectively. After prediction the target genes of these miRNAs, LOX2S, LOX1_5, HPL, and ADH1 were found differentially expressed, which were the key genes during aroma formation. The expression pattern of these target genes and the related miRNAs were identified by RT-PCR. Mdm-miR172a-h, mdm-miR159a/b/c, mdm-miR160a-e, mdm-miR395a-i, mdm/ppe-miR399a, mdm/ppe-miR535a/b, and mdm-miR7120a/b negatively regulated target gene expression. These results indicate that miRNAs play key roles in aroma weakening in refrigerated Nanguo pear and provide valuable information for studying the molecular mechanisms of miRNAs in the aroma weakening of fruits due to cold storage.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2017

RNA-dependent intergenerational inheritance of enhanced synaptic plasticity after environmental enrichment

Physical exercise in combination with cognitive training is known to enhance synaptic plasticity and lower the risk for various complex diseases including Alzheimers disease. Here we show that exposure of adult male mice to an environmental enrichment paradigm leads to long-lasting enhancement of synaptic plasticity that is also passed on to the next generation. We show that the effect is mediated through sperm RNA and is explained by microRNAs 212/132. In conclusion, our study reports intergenerational inheritance of an acquired cognitive benefit and points to specific microRNAs as candidates mechanistically involved in this type of transmission.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2016

Exploring the mutational robustness of nucleic acidsby searching genotype neighbourhoods in sequencespace

To assess the mutational robustness of nucleic acids, many genome- and protein-level studies have been performed; in these investigations, nucleic acids are treated as genetic information carriers and transferrers. However, the molecular mechanism through which mutations alter the structural, dynamic and functional properties of nucleic acids is poorly understood. Here, we performed SELEX in silico study to investigate the fitness distribution of the nucleic acid genotype neighborhood in a sequence space for L-Arm binding aptamer. Although most mutants of the L-Arm-binding aptamer failed to retain their ligand-binding ability, two novel functional genotype neighborhoods were isolated by SELEX in silico and experimentally verified to have similar binding affinity (Kd = 69.3 M and 110.7 M) as the wild-type aptamer (Kd = 114.4 M). Based on data from the current study and previous research, mutational robustness is strongly influenced by the local base environment and ligand-binding mode, whereas bases distant from the binding pocket provide potential evolutionary pathways to approach global fitness maximum. Our work provides an example of successful application of SELEX in silico to optimize an aptamer and demonstrates the strong sensitivity of mutational robustness to the site of genetic variation.

evolutionary biology↗