Expression profiles and prognostic values of BolA family members in ovarian cancer

Background The BOLA gene family, comprising three members, is mainly involved in regulating intracellular iron homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that BolA family member 2 plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and hepatic cellular carcinoma progression. However, there was less known about its role in ovarian cancer. Methods In the present study, we investigated the expression profiles, prognostic roles, and genetic alterations of three BolA family members in patients with ovarian cancer through several public databases, containing Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan–Meier plotter and cBioPortal. Then, we constructed the protein-protein interaction networks of BOLA proteins and their interactors by using the String database and Cytoscape software. In addition, we performed the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment by the Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery database. Finally, we explored the mechanisms underlying BolA family members’ involvement in OC by using gene set enrichment analysis. Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of BOLA2 and BOLA3 were heavily higher in ovarian cancer tissues than in normal ovarian tissues. Dysregulated mRNA expressions of three BolA family members were significantly associated with prognosis in overall or subgroup analysis. Moreover, genetic alterations also occurred in three BolA family members in ovarian cancer. GO analysis indicated that BolA family members might regulate the function of metal ion binding and protein disulfide oxidoreductase activity. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that BolA family members were mainly associated with oxidative phosphorylation, proteasome, protein export, and glutathione metabolism in ovarian cancer. Conclusion In brief, our finding may contribute to increasing currently limited prognostic biomarkers and treatment options for ovarian cancer.

Expression Profiles and Prognostic Values of BOLA Family members in Ovarian Cancer

Background: The BOLA gene family, comprising 3 members, is mainly involved in the regulation of intracellular iron homeostasis. Emerging evidence suggests that BOLA family member 2 play vital roles in tumorigenesis and progression of hepatic cellular carcinoma. However, little known about its roles in ovarian cancer. Methods: In present study, we investigated the expression profiles, prognostic roles, and genetic alterations of three BOLA family members in patients with ovarian cancer through several public databases, containing Oncomine and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan–Meier plotter and cBioPortal. Then, we constructed the protein–protein interaction networks of BOLA proteins and their interactors by using String database and Cytoscape software. In addition, we performed the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment by the Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery database. Finally, we explored the mechanisms underlying the involvement of BOLA family members in OC by using gene set enrichment analysis. Results: The mRNA and protein expression levels of BOLA2 and BOLA3 were heavily higher in ovarian cancer tissues than that in normal ovarian tissues. Dysregulated mRNA expressions of three BOLA family members were significantly associated with prognosis in overall or subgroup analysis. Moreover, genetic alterations also occurred in three BOLA family members in ovarian cancer. Network analysis and enrichment analysis indicated that three BOLA family members and their 20 interactors were mainly associated with metal-ion binding and protein disulfide oxidoreductase activity. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated that BOLA family members were mainly associated with oxidative phosphorylation, proteasome, protein export and glutathione metabolism in ovarian cancer. Conclusions: In brief, the present comprehensive bioinformatics analysis revealed that BOLA1, 2, and 3 may be new prognostic biomarkers, and BOLA2 and BOLA3 may be a potential therapeutic target of precision therapy for patients with ovarian cancer, but further studies are demanded to certify this notion.

Enzymatic Antioxidant Signatures in Hyperthermophilic Archaea

To fight reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by both the metabolism and strongly oxidative habitats, hyperthermophilic archaea are equipped with an array of antioxidant enzymes whose role is to protect the biological macromolecules from oxidative damage. The most common ROS, such as superoxide radical (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), are scavenged by superoxide dismutase, peroxiredoxins, and catalase. These enzymes, together with thioredoxin, protein disulfide oxidoreductase, and thioredoxin reductase, which are involved in redox homeostasis, represent the core of the antioxidant system. In this review, we offer a panorama of progression of knowledge on the antioxidative system in aerobic or microaerobic (hyper)thermophilic archaea and possible industrial applications of these enzymes.