Retracted : K‐Ras‐PI3K regulates H3K56ac through PCAF to elevate the occurrence and growth of liver cancer
Authors: Zhaoling Cheng
Haifeng Yuan
Xianrui Gao
Haiwang Zhao
Journal: Journal of Cellular Physiology (2020)
Discipline: MOLECULAR BIOLOGY & GENETICS
Keywords: H3K56ac; Liver cancer; MDM2; PCAF; Ras-PI3K
Affiliations: Department of General Surgery Juancheng People's Hospital Heze China, Department of Gastroenterology Heze Municipal Hospital Heze China, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery Heze Municipal Hospital Heze China

Abstract:  H3 modification is related to a wide range of tumors, including liver cancer. The Ras passageway is actuated in human diseases. Thus, we investigated the roles of Ras in liver cancer cells via acetylation of H3K56. Ras-carrying G12V and Y40C site mutation was transfected into liver cancer cell lines SNU-475 and SK-Hep-1. Acetylation of H3K56 and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), P300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) and Mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) was tested via western blot. Cell activity, colonies, and migration were tested via Cell Counting Kit-8, soft-agar colony formation, and Transwell experiment, respectively. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) and PCAF were tested via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Chromatin immunoprecipitation was employed to test the relationship between Ras and downstream elements. Flow cytometry was employed to test cell cycle series. We found that RasG12V/Y40C transfection reduced the acetylation of H3K56 and activated phosphorylation of protein kinase B. H3K56Q (H3K56ac overexpression) suppressed cell activity, colonies, and migration. H3K56ac changed Ras downstream factors expression. RasG12V/Y40C bound to Ras-PI3K downstream elements' promoters. SIRT6 silencing raised H3K56ac and suppressed cell activity, migration and S phage cell percentage. SIRT6 silence transformed expression of downstream elements. PCAF and H3K56ac demonstrated the close current while MDM2 was conversed. In summary, the Ras-PI3K passageway promoted cell growth and metastasis via decreasing H3K56ac, in which MDM2-mediated PCAF was involved. 

Retracted: Yes

PubPeer comments:
 The Western blots and other figures in this paper have an interesting layout that appears to be shared with many other papers, as discussed in a January 2020 post on Leonid Schneider s blog: https: forbetterscience.com 2020 01 24 the-full-service-paper-mill-and-its-chinese-customers The list of these papers is available here: https: docs.google.com spreadsheets d 1KXqTAyl4j-jVorFPMD2XRpr76LcIKJ0CVyIvRj0exYQ edit?usp=sharing In almost all papers, Western blot panels within the same figure, and across figures and papers, appear to share the same background, while the bands are regularly spaced, all have similar rounded edges without the usual smudges and specks, and with some bands showing a recognizable  jumping sardine shape. Also in almost all papers, bar graphs show a characteristic layout with bars in solid shades of grey, and the left-most bar in black, as well as double-edged error bars. Many papers have  cell viability and  apoptotic cells graphs. To illustrate the recognizable layout of the graphs in this paper, here is Figure 1. ![file] , 
 To illustrate the similarities in the background of the Western blot panels, here is Figure 5D from this paper, enhanced to bring out the background. Note the similar background in all panels, with e.g. small slanted stripes above the left edges of all first bands from the left. ![file] In addition, some panels representing RNA gels, such as Figure 5A here, appear to show the same background panel, suggesting these might be inverted Western blots. ![file] , 
 2021 retraction. https: onlinelibrary.wiley.com doi 10.1002 jcp.30437 Retraction: u201cK-Ras-PI3K regulates H3K56ac through PCAF to elevate the occurrence and growth of liver cancer,u201d by Xianrui Gao, Zhaoling Cheng, Haifeng Yuan, Haiwang Zhao, J Cell Physiol. 2020; 3905-3915: The above article, published online on 22 October 2019 in Wiley Online Library , has been retracted by agreement between the journal s Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Gregg Fields, and Wiley Periodicals LLC. The retraction has been agreed following an investigation based on allegations raised by a third party. Several flaws and inconsistencies between results presented and experimental methods described were found, the editors consider the conclusions of this article to be invalid. The authors collaborated in the investigation initially, but were not available for a final confirmation of the retraction. ,