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Anomalies of eye development can lead to the rare eye malformations microphthalmia and anophthalmia (small or absent ocular globes), which are genetically very heterogeneous. Several genes have been associated with microphthalmia and anophthalmia, and exome sequencing has contributed to the identification of new genes. Very recently, homozygous variations within ALDH1A3 have been associated with autosomal recessive microphthalmia with or without cysts or coloboma, and with variable subphenotypes of developmental delay/autism spectrum disorder in eight families. In a consanguineous family where three of the five siblings were affected with microphthalmia/coloboma, we identified a novel homozygous missense mutation in ALDH1A3 using exome sequencing. Of the three affected siblings, one had intellectual disability and one had intellectual disability and autism, while the last one presented with normal development. This study contributes further to the description of the clinical spectrum associated with ALDH1A3 mutations, and illustrates the interfamilial clinical variation observed in individuals with ALDH1A3 mutations.

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Circular RNA (circRNA) is a kind of novel endogenous noncoding RNA formed through back-splicing of mRNA precursor. The biogenesis, degradation, nucleus–cytoplasm transport, location, and even translation of circRNA are controlled by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Therefore, circRNAs and the chaperoned RBPs play critical roles in biological functions that significantly contribute to normal animal development and disease. In this review, we systematically characterize the possible molecular mechanism of circRNA–protein interactions, summarize the latest research on circRNA–protein interactions in muscle development and myocardial disease, and discuss the future application of circRNA in treating muscle diseases. Finally, we provide several valid prediction methods and experimental verification approaches. Our review reveals the significance of circRNAs and their protein chaperones and provides a reference for further study in this field.

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BackgroundThe purpose of our study was to investigate the role of microRNA (miR)-148b in cervical cancer.Material/MethodsThe expression of miR-148b was determined in HPV-16-immortalized cervical epithelial cell line CRL-2614 cells and in cervical cancer cell line HeLa cells. The miR-148b mimics or scrambled RNA were then transfected into Hela cells. Forty-eight hours after transfection, the mRNA expression of miR-148b and DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) were confirmed. Cell proliferation ability (cell viability and colony formation ability), invasion ability, and apoptosis were assessed after transfection with miR-148b mimics or scrambled RNA, as well as the protein expression of cyclin D1 and caspase-3.ResultsThe expression of miR-148b was significantly downregulated in HeLa cells compared with CRL2614 cells (P<0.05), but was statistically upregulated by transfection with miR-148b mimics compared with the cells transfected with scrambled RNA (P<0.05). Also, we found that the expression of DNMT1 was significantly decreased by transfection with miR-148b mimics (P<0.05). Additionally, miR-148b mimics significantly decreased the cell proliferation ability and invasion ability, and statistically induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of cyclin D1 protein was significantly decreased and the expression of caspase-3 protein was significantly increased by miR-148b mimics compared with that in the cells transfected with scrambled RNA (P<0.05).ConclusionsOur results suggest that overexpression of miR-148b protects against cervical cancer by inducing G1/S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through caspase-3-dependent manner, and overexpression of miR-148b might develop a therapeutic intervention for cervical cancer.

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