Pogostemon cablin, the natural source of patchouli alcohol, is an important herb in the Lamiaceae family. Here, we present the entire chloroplast genome of P. cablin. This genome, with 38.24% GC content, is 152,460 bp in length. The genome presents a typical quadripartite structure with two inverted repeats (each 25,417 bp in length), separated by one small and one large single-copy region (17,652 and 83,974 bp in length, respectively). The chloroplast genome encodes 127 genes, of which 107 genes are single-copy, including 79 protein-coding genes, four rRNA genes, and 24 tRNA genes. The genome structure, GC content, and codon usage of this chloroplast genome are similar to those of other species in the family, except that it encodes less protein-coding genes and tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that P. cablin diverged from the Scutellarioideae clade about 29.45 million years ago (Mya). Furthermore, most of the simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are short polyadenine or polythymine repeats that contribute to high AT content in the chloroplast genome. Complete sequences and annotation of P. cablin chloroplast genome will facilitate phylogenic, population and genetic engineering research investigations involving this particular species.

Familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) is a hereditary ocular disorder characterized by incomplete vascularization/abnormality of peripheral retina. Four of the identified disease-causing genes of FEVR were NDP, FZD4, LRP5, and TSPAN12, the protein coded by which were the components of the Norrin/β-catenin signal pathway. In this review, we summarized and discussed the spectrum of mutations involving these four genes. By the end of 2017, the number of FEVR causing mutations reported for NDP, FZD4, LRP5, and TSPAN12 was, respectively, 26, 121, 58, and 40. Three most frequently reported mutations were c. 362G > A (p.R121Q) of NDP, c. 313A > G (p.M105V), and c.1282_1285delGACA (p.D428SfsX2) of FZD4. Mutations have a tendency to cluster in some “hotspots” domains which may be responsible for protein interactions.

Peer reviewed article authored by (Xiao HT, Liao Z, Tong RS). Read article or submit your manuscript for publishing.

Combination treatment through simultaneous delivery of anticancer drugs and gene with nano-formulation has been demonstrated to be an elegant and efficient approach for colorectal cancer therapy. Recently, sorafenib being studied in combination therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) attracted attention of researchers. On the basis of our previous study, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) loaded nanoparticles showed good effect on CRC in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we designed a combination therapy for sorafenib (Sora), a multi-kinase inhibitor and PEDF, a powerful antiangiogenic gene, in a nano-formulation aimed to increase anti-tumor effect on CRC for the first time. Sora and PEDF were simultaneously encapsulated in PEG-PLGA based nanoparticles by a modified double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. The obtained co-encapsulated nanoparticles (Sora@PEDF-NPs) showed high entrapment efficiency of both Sora and PEDF - and exhibited a uniform spherical morphology. The release profiles of Sora and PEDF were in a sustained manner. The most effective tumor growth inhibition in the C26 cells and C26-bearing mice was observed in the Sora@PEDF-NPs in comparison with none-drug nanoparticles, free Sora, mono-drug nanoparticles (Sora-NPs and PEDF-NPs) and the mixture of Sora-NPs and equivalent PEDF-NPs (Mix-NPs). More importantly, Sora@PEDF-NPs showed lower toxicity than free Sora in mice according to the acute toxicity test. The serologic biochemical analysis and mice body weight during therapeutic period revealed that Sora@PEDF-NPs had no obvious toxicity. All the data demonstrated that the simultaneously loaded nanoparticles with multi-kinase inhibitor and anti-angiogenic gene might be one of the most potential formulations in the treatment of colorectal carcinoma in clinic and worthy of further investigation.