Review for 10.1186/s12876-018-0752-8 (2018)

Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Expression profiling and intracellular localization studies of the novel pro line-, histidine -, 
and glycine -rich protein 1 suggest an essential role in gastro -intestinal epithelium and a potential  
clinical application in colorectal cancer diagnostics  
 
Version: 0 Date: 04 Apr 2017  
 
Reviewer: Jennifer Hardingham  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This is an interesting well written study characterizing role of PHGR1 in colon cell lines and 
tissues using a variety of techniques. It also describes for the first time I suspect the 
glycosylation of PHGR1 and a chemical method for degl ycosylation (rather than the enzymatic 
method which was ineffective) and provides an interesting insight to potential role of PHGR1 in 
vesicle -mediated transport.  
 
 
I have some corrections/comments to improve the manuscript:  
 
 
Pg 2 line 33 Paneth cells are in small intestine, not colon  
 
 
Pg 4 line 21 'three' cultures - do you mean 'these' cultures.  
 
 
I haven't seen Northern blotting performed for many years - is it necessary here?  
 
 
Pg 10 line 7 Please expand on 1.6 x 106 - what does this mean?  
 
 
In Fig 2C scale bars s hould be included.  
 
 
Pg 12 line 7. High proline..... should be 39% instead of 29% if I count correctly.  
 
 
Fig 2 qPCR should have been done on the same samples as for the northern - do you have a 
reason why this wasn't done?  
 
 
Fig 3 c would benefit by adding arro ws showing the goblet cells with lower expression (pg 14 
lines 18 -20). 
In Fig S3 panel I: no p -values are given; also Fig S4 A,C.  
 
 
In Fig 4 H, I -speckles need to be arrowed, especially in H.  
 
 
In Tables S1, S2 it would be helpful if score and log FC mean were defined somewhere e.g. in a 
footnote  
 
 
Interesting that PHGR1 was not secreted into the media despite being glycosylated but this was 
not discussed - can the authors address this in the discu ssion?  
 
 
 
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
 
 
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