Wang Jinke

Predicting Putative Target Genes of Activator Protein 1 Based on the dsDNA Microarray Data

Large scale identification of APltarget genes will be helpful for elucidating the whole biological function. But in natural enhancer regions, the sequences of API regulatory elements often deviate from the optimal recognition consensus sequence TGA(C/G) TCA. We therefore fabricated a double- stranded DNA (dsDNA) microarray with all possible single- nucleotide mutated (SNM) sequences of API consensus site and explored the binding affinity of these SNM sequences with one of API family protein, c-Jun. We selected the top four highest binding affinity SNM sequences and scanned their existences in the upstream 5 kb sequence of the known human genes in Homo sapiens. Those genes with the highest binding affinity sequence were deduced as putative target genes (PTGs) of API. Annotated with GO term relating with tumorigenesis we got some API PTGs likely correlated with carcinogenesis.

Screening NF-κB Inhibitors from Chinese Traditional Medicine by Using dsDNA-Coupled Plate

In order to investigate the feasibility of screening the NF-κB inhibitors from the Chinese traditional medicine by using dsDNA-coupled microplate (dsDNA-plate), the HeLa cells were treated with small active molecule from the herbs and stimulated with TNF-α for activating NF-kappaB. The nuclear extracts were then prepared from HeLa cells and the activated NF-κB in nuclear extracts were assayed with dsDNA-plate to find whether small active molecules regulate the activity of NF-κB. The results showed that dsDNA-plate can reveal the NF-κB inhibitory activities of dexamethasone and curcumin which were demonstrated by previous studies. The dsDNA-plate assays also showed that two small active molecules, rescogenine and diosgentin can inhibit the activity of NF-κB. These results suggest that the dsDNA-plate may provide a new platform for screening NF-κB inhibitors from Chinese traditional medicine.