Biology subjects

JIANG, L.

Publications and source records attributed to JIANG, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Systematic toxicological study of PFOS/PFOA co-exposure driving prostate cancer: Core target identification, TME immune remodeling, and combination drug prediction

BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), particularly perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are persistent organic pollutants ubiquitous in the environment. Epidemiological evidence has closely linked them to an elevated risk of prostate cancer (PCa). However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which combined PFOS/PFOA exposure promotes prostate cancer and their dynamic effects on the tumor microenvironment remain unclear. MethodsThis study constructed a multi-module analytical framework integrating network pharmacology and computational biology: (1) Through ADMET toxicity prediction, multi-database target collection (three-way Venn analysis), panoramic GO/KEGG enrichment, focused androgen receptor (AR) axis analysis, GWAS genetic association validation, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction, machine learning-based independent screening, and a relaxed intersection strategy, we systematically identified PFOS/PFOA-prostate cancer core targets. (2) Subsequently, a PFAS-PTS score weighted purely by Cox coefficients was employed to drive gene set variation analysis (GSVA)-based pathway enrichment, tumor microenvironment (TME) deconvolution, ordinary differential equation (ODE)-based kinetic modeling, and drug intervention prediction. ResultsTarget collection identified 100 shared PFOS/PFOA-prostate cancer targets, from which 18 core targets were determined after multi-module screening. These targets were significantly enriched in the AR signaling axis, the PI3K-AKT pathway, and cell cycle regulation. Molecular docking confirmed strong binding affinities of PFOS/PFOA with AR (-9.49/-8.56 kcal/mol), AKT1 (-7.56/-6.93 kcal/mol), and PTEN (-6.36/-6.08 kcal/mol). GSVA revealed that the G2M checkpoint and E2F target gene pathways were significantly upregulated in the high-risk group (padj < 0.001), whereas the androgen response pathway was downregulated (padj = 4.8e-4). TME deconvolution (GSE141445, NNLS) revealed a significantly increased proportion of tumor cells (PCa) (p = 2.4e-4) and markedly reduced CD8+ T cell infiltration (p = 5.7e-4) in the high-risk group, indicating immunosuppressive microenvironment remodeling. ODE-based kinetic modeling confirmed that PFAS promoted tumor cell proliferation and suppressed immune surveillance in a dose-dependent manner. Drug intervention simulation demonstrated that the combination of enzalutamide and Alpelisib achieved optimal tumor cell inhibition (33.9% predicted by the ODE model). ConclusionPFOS/PFOA promote prostate cancer progression primarily through multi-target synergy involving AR axis disruption, PI3K-AKT pathway activation, and cell cycle dysregulation, while reshaping an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The integrative computational framework established in this study provides systematic computational evidence for risk assessment and therapeutic intervention in PFAS-associated prostate cancer.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2025

Tryptophan Chemistry Driven by a Widespread Cytochrome P422 Enzyme Family

Tryptophan serves as a versatile biosynthetic precursor across living organisms. While heme-binding proteins (HBPs) mediate key reactions in tryptophan transformation, the full diversity of HBPs remains largely unexplored. Here, we developed the novel Cofactor-Integrative Structural Inspector (CISSspector) to systematically identify HBPs in the extensive extant microbial genomic sequence database, which revealed several uncharacterized HBP families. We experimentally characterized one of the most prominent families, the cytochrome P422 (formerly DUF6875) family, distributed throughout the prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Strikingly, we discovered that this enzyme family orchestrates four chemically distinct and biochemically unprecedented transformations, with regioselectivity, including N1-, C6-, and C7-hydroxylations and intramolecular C-S bond formations. Notably, the discovery of enzymes capable of Trp N1- and C7-hydroxylation addresses a long-standing gap in the natural enzyme arsenal. Structural analysis of the representative cytochrome P422 enzyme Mc170 revealed a structurally unique HBP fold in which conserved residues form a substrate "clamp" that positions the tryptophan indole ring for selective modification. Our work unveils a hidden enzymatic repertoire of HBPs, expands the known landscape of tryptophan metabolism, and establishes an artificial intelligence-augmented framework for discovering cryptic enzymes with broad implications for synthetic biology and natural product discovery.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2025

A bibliometric analysis of research on the mitochondrial roles in prostate cancer and the virtual design of LONP1 - specific antibodies using the GeoBiologics platform

BackgroundProstate cancer remains one of the most prevalent malignancies among men globally, with its incidence showing an upward trend worldwide. Mitochondria, as central regulators of cellular energy metabolism, play crucial roles in prostate cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance mechanisms. While mitochondria-targeted therapeutic strategies have emerged as a significant focus in cancer research in recent years, comprehensive bibliometric analyses mapping the evolving landscape of this field remain scarce. This study systematically investigates research trends in mitochondrial-prostate cancer interactions through bibliometric methods, identifying LONP1 as an emerging research focus in mitochondria-related prostate cancer therapy. Building on these findings, we employed artificial intelligence to virtually design a LONP1-specific antibody, proposing novel therapeutic targeting strategies for this field. MethodsUtilizing the Web of Science Core Collection database (2015-2023), we conducted visualization analyses through CiteSpace and VOSviewer to map network relationships among countries, institutions, journals, authors, and keywords. Building on this foundation, a humanized antibody targeting LONP1 was computationally designed and screened through the GeoBiologics platform. ResultsAnalysis of 452 included publications revealed the United States and China as leading contributors in this research domain. The field has progressively transitioned from fundamental mechanistic investigations to clinical applications, particularly focusing on drug resistance mechanisms, and combination therapy. LONP1 was identified as a critical mitochondrial regulator strongly associated with prostate cancer progression. Our AI-designed antibody (Antibody_82) demonstrated superior binding affinity and stability through effective targeting of LONP1s ATP-binding site. ConclusionThis bibliometric study delineates evolving research trends in mitochondrial involvement in prostate cancer. The developed LONP1-targeting antibody shows promising therapeutic potential for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients, potentially offering more effective treatment alternatives.

cancer biology↗