We have previously reported the generation of Rassf6 knockout mice using CRISPR/Cas technology. Furthermore, we have reported that RASSF6 is implicated in the regulation of the canonical nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway and that 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced skin inflammation in Rassf6 knockout mice more remarkably than in wild-type mice. In this study, we investigated the role of RASSF6 in skin tumorigenesis using a two-stage carcinogenesis model in Rassf6 knockout mice. Rassf6 knockout mice initially developed significantly more papillomas than did the control wild-type mice. Additionally, macrophages were detected and the canonical NF-κB signal was elevated in papillomas of Rassf6 knockout mice. These results indicated that canonical NF-κB signaling may be involved in papilloma formation. The suppression of NF-κB signaling may have implications for preventing cancer initiation and progression. The findings of this study indicate a tumor suppressive role of RASSF6.

4-Methyl-5-pentylbenzene-1,3-diol (MPBD) (1) and dictyoquinone (DQ or 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-6-pentyl-1,4-benzoquinone) (2) are two polyketides involved in the cell development of Dictyostelium discoideum. We synthesized several MPBD and DQ analogs and tested their ability to recover the cell aggregation delay in the stlA null strain. According to the findings, the alkyl side chain of both compounds facilitates their activity. The parent n-pentyl side chain is required for the cell aggregation.

Nanomaterials are central to nanotechnology and have many useful properties. Cerium(IV) oxide nanoparticles (nCeO) have catalytic and antioxidant activity, and hold promise in industrial and medical products. However, the potential biological hazards of nCeO have not been addressed. We therefore investigated the in vivo effects and drug interactions of nCeO. Tail vein administration of nCeO did not induce liver and kidney injury in mice but induced liver or kidney damage when co-administered with paraquat, cisplatin or acetaminophen. Therefore, our findings indicate that nCeO are potentially hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic due to drug interactions.