Sample records for protecting rb-e2f-1 complex

  1. Activation of the Rb/E2F1 pathway by the nonproliferative p38 MAPK during Fas (APO1/CD95)-mediated neuronal apoptosis.

    PubMed

    Hou, Sheng T; Xie, Xiaoqi; Baggley, Anne; Park, David S; Chen, Gao; Walker, Teena

    2002-12-13

    Aberrant activation of the Rb/E2F1 pathway in cycling cells, in response to mitogenic or nonmitogenic stress signals, leads to apoptosis through hyperphosphorylation of Rb. To test whether in postmitotic neurons the Rb/E2F1 pathway can be activated by the nonmitogenic stress signaling, we examined the role of the p38 stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) in regulating Rb phosphorylation in response to Fas (CD95/APO1)-mediated apoptosis of cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Anti-Fas antibody induced a dramatic and early activation of p38. Activated p38 was correlated with the induction of hyperphosphorylation of both endogenous and exogenous Rb. The p38-selective inhibitor, SB203580, attenuated such an increase in pRb phosphorylation and significantly protected CGNs from Fas-induced apoptosis. The cyclin-dependent kinase-mediated Rb phosphorylation played a lesser role in this neuronal death paradigm, since cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, such as olomoucine, roscovitine, and flavopiridol, did not significantly prevent anti-Fas antibody-evoked neuronal apoptosis. Hyperphosphorylation of Rb by p38 SAPK resulted in the release of Rb-bound E2F1. Increased E2F1 modulated neuronal apoptosis, since E2F1-/- CGNs were significantly less susceptible to Fas-mediated apoptosis in comparison with the wild-type CGNs. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that neuronal Rb/E2F1 is modulated by the nonproliferative p38 SAPK in Fas-mediated neuronal apoptosis.

  2. Functional synergy between DP-1 and E2F-1 in the cell cycle-regulating transcription factor DRTF1/E2F.

    PubMed Central

    Bandara, L R; Buck, V M; Zamanian, M; Johnston, L H; La Thangue, N B

    1993-01-01

    It is widely believed that the cellular transcription factor DRTF1/E2F integrates cell cycle events with the transcription apparatus because during cell cycle progression in mammalian cells it interacts with molecules that are important regulators of cellular proliferation, such as the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor gene product (pRb), p107, cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. Thus, pRb, which negatively regulates early cell cycle progression and is frequently mutated in tumour cells, and the Rb-related protein p107, bind to and repress the transcriptional activity of DRTF1/E2F. Viral oncoproteins, such as adenovirus E1a and SV40 large T antigen, overcome such repression by sequestering pRb and p107 and in so doing are likely to activate genes regulated by DRTF1/E2F, such as cdc2, c-myc and DHFR. Two sequence-specific DNA binding proteins, E2F-1 and DP-1, which bind to the E2F site, contain a small region of similarity. The functional relationship between them has, however, been unclear. We report here that DP-1 and E2F-1 exist in a DNA binding complex in vivo and that they bind efficiently and preferentially as a heterodimer to the E2F site. Moreover, studies in yeast and Drosophila cells indicate that DP-1 and E2F-1 interact synergistically in E2F site-dependent transcriptional activation. Images PMID:8223441

  3. Aberrant Retinoblastoma (RB)-E2F Transcriptional Regulation Defines Molecular Phenotypes of Osteosarcoma*

    PubMed Central

    Scott, Milcah C.; Sarver, Aaron L.; Tomiyasu, Hirotaka; Cornax, Ingrid; Van Etten, Jamie; Varshney, Jyotika; O'Sullivan, M. Gerard; Subramanian, Subbaya; Modiano, Jaime F.

    2015-01-01

    We previously identified two distinct molecular subtypes of osteosarcoma through gene expression profiling. These subtypes are associated with distinct tumor behavior and clinical outcomes. Here, we describe mechanisms that give rise to these molecular subtypes. Using bioinformatic analyses, we identified a significant association between deregulation of the retinoblastoma (RB)-E2F pathway and the molecular subtype with worse clinical outcomes. Xenotransplantation models recapitulated the corresponding behavior for each osteosarcoma subtype; thus, we used cell lines to validate the role of the RB-E2F pathway in regulating the prognostic gene signature. Ectopic RB resets the patterns of E2F regulated gene expression in cells derived from tumors with worse clinical outcomes (molecular phenotype 2) to those comparable with those observed in cells derived from tumors with less aggressive outcomes (molecular phenotype 1), providing a functional association between RB-E2F dysfunction and altered gene expression in osteosarcoma. DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors similarly reset the transcriptional state of the molecular phenotype 2 cells from a state associated with RB deficiency to one seen with RB sufficiency. Our data indicate that deregulation of RB-E2F pathway alters the epigenetic landscape and biological behavior of osteosarcoma. PMID:26378234

  4. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Binds to E2F1 and Inhibits E2F1-induced Apoptosis

    PubMed Central

    Marlowe, Jennifer L.; Fan, Yunxia; Chang, Xiaoqing; Peng, Li; Knudsen, Erik S.; Xia, Ying

    2008-01-01

    Cellular stress by DNA damage induces checkpoint kinase-2 (CHK2)-mediated phosphorylation and stabilization of the E2F1 transcription factor, leading to induction of apoptosis by activation of a subset of proapoptotic E2F1 target genes, including Apaf1 and p73. This report characterizes an interaction between the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, and E2F1 that results in the attenuation of E2F1-mediated apoptosis. In Ahr−/− fibroblasts stably transfected with a doxycycline-regulated AHR expression vector, inhibition of AHR expression causes a significant elevation of oxidative stress, γH2A.X histone phosphorylation, and E2F1-dependent apoptosis, which can be blocked by small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of E2F1 expression. In contrast, ligand-dependent AHR activation protects these cells from etoposide-induced cell death. In cells expressing both proteins, AHR and E2F1 interact independently of the retinoblastoma protein (RB), because AHR and E2F1 coimmunoprecipitate from extracts of RB-negative cells. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicate that AHR and E2F1 bind to the Apaf1 promoter at a region containing a consensus E2F1 binding site but no AHR binding sites. AHR activation represses Apaf1 and TAp73 mRNA induction by a constitutively active CHK2 expression vector. Furthermore, AHR overexpression blocks the transcriptional induction of Apaf1 and p73 and the accumulation of sub-G0/G1 cells resulting from ectopic overexpression of E2F1. These results point to a proproliferative, antiapoptotic function of the Ah receptor that likely plays a role in tumor progression. PMID:18524851

  5. E2F1 transcription factor and its impact on growth factor and cytokine signaling.

    PubMed

    Ertosun, Mustafa Gokhan; Hapil, Fatma Zehra; Osman Nidai, Ozes

    2016-10-01

    E2F1 is a transcription factor involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. The transactivation capacity of E2F1 is regulated by pRb. In its hypophosphorylated form, pRb binds and inactivates DNA binding and transactivating functions of E2F1. The growth factor stimulation of cells leads to activation of CDKs (cyclin dependent kinases), which in turn phosphorylate Rb and hyperphosphorylated Rb is released from E2F1 or E2F1/DP complex, and free E2F1 can induce transcription of several genes involved in cell cycle entry, induction or inhibition of apoptosis. Thus, growth factors and cytokines generally utilize E2F1 to direct cells to either fate. Furthermore, E2F1 regulates expressions of various cytokines and growth factor receptors, establishing positive or negative feedback mechanisms. This review focuses on the relationship between E2F1 transcription factor and cytokines (IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-6, TGF-beta, G-CSF, LIF), growth factors (EGF, KGF, VEGF, IGF, FGF, PDGF, HGF, NGF), and interferons (IFN-α, IFN-β and IFN-γ). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  6. HTLV-1 bZIP factor protein targets the Rb/E2F-1 pathway to promote proliferation and apoptosis of primary CD4+ T cells

    PubMed Central

    Kawatsuki, A; Yasunaga, J-i; Mitobe, Y; Green, PL; Matsuoka, M

    2016-01-01

    Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic retrovirus that induces a fatal T-cell malignancy, adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Among several regulatory/accessory genes in HTLV-1, HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ) is the only viral gene constitutively expressed in infected cells. Our previous study showed that HBZ functions in two different molecular forms, HBZ protein and HBZ RNA. In this study, we show that HBZ protein targets retinoblastoma protein (Rb), which is a critical tumor suppressor in many types of cancers. HBZ protein interacts with the Rb/E2F-1 complex and activates the transcription of E2F-target genes associated with cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Mouse primary CD4+ T cells transduced with HBZ show accelerated G1/S transition and apoptosis, and importantly, T cells from HBZ transgenic (HBZ-Tg) mice also demonstrate enhanced cell proliferation and apoptosis. To evaluate the functions of HBZ protein alone in vivo, we generated a new transgenic mouse strain that expresses HBZ mRNA altered by silent mutations but encoding intact protein. In these mice, the numbers of effector/memory and Foxp3+ T cells were increased, and genes associated with proliferation and apoptosis were upregulated. This study shows that HBZ protein promotes cell proliferation and apoptosis in primary CD4+ T cells through activation of the Rb/E2F pathway, and that HBZ protein also confers onto CD4+ T-cell immunophenotype similar to those of ATL cells, suggesting that HBZ protein has important roles in dysregulation of CD4+ T cells infected with HTLV-1. PMID:26804169

  7. DPL-1 DP, LIN-35 Rb and EFL-1 E2F act with the MCD-1 zinc-finger protein to promote programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans.

    PubMed

    Reddien, Peter W; Andersen, Erik C; Huang, Michael C; Horvitz, H Robert

    2007-04-01

    The genes egl-1, ced-9, ced-4, and ced-3 play major roles in programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans. To identify genes that have more subtle activities, we sought mutations that confer strong cell-death defects in a genetically sensitized mutant background. Specifically, we screened for mutations that enhance the cell-death defects caused by a partial loss-of-function allele of the ced-3 caspase gene. We identified mutations in two genes not previously known to affect cell death, dpl-1 and mcd-1 (modifier of cell death). dpl-1 encodes the C. elegans homolog of DP, the human E2F-heterodimerization partner. By testing genes known to interact with dpl-1, we identified roles in cell death for four additional genes: efl-1 E2F, lin-35 Rb, lin-37 Mip40, and lin-52 dLin52. mcd-1 encodes a novel protein that contains one zinc finger and that is synthetically required with lin-35 Rb for animal viability. dpl-1 and mcd-1 act with efl-1 E2F and lin-35 Rb to promote programmed cell death and do so by regulating the killing process rather than by affecting the decision between survival and death. We propose that the DPL-1 DP, MCD-1 zinc finger, EFL-1 E2F, LIN-35 Rb, LIN-37 Mip40, and LIN-52 dLin52 proteins act together in transcriptional regulation to promote programmed cell death.

  8. Comparative modeling and docking studies of p16ink4/cyclin D1/Rb pathway genes in lung cancer revealed functionally interactive residue of RB1 and its functional partner E2F1.

    PubMed

    Naqsh e Zahra, Syeda; Khattak, Naureen Aslam; Mir, Asif

    2013-01-01

    Lung cancer is the major cause of mortality worldwide. Major signalling pathways that could play significant role in lung cancer therapy include (1) Growth promoting pathways (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Ras/ PhosphatidylInositol 3-Kinase) (2) Growth inhibitory pathways (p53/Rb/P14ARF, STK11) (3) Apoptotic pathways (Bcl-2/Bax/Fas/FasL). Insilico strategy was implemented to solve the mystery behind selected lung cancer pathway by applying comparative modeling and molecular docking studies. YASARA [v 12.4.1] was utilized to predict structural models of P16-INK4 and RB1 genes using template 4ELJ-A and 1MX6-B respectively. WHAT CHECK evaluation tool demonstrated overall quality of predicted P16-INK4 and RB1 with Z-score of -0.132 and -0.007 respectively which showed a strong indication of reliable structure prediction. Protein-protein interactions were explored by utilizing STRING server, illustrated that CDK4 and E2F1 showed strong interaction with P16-INK4 and RB1 based on confidence score of 0.999 and 0.999 respectively. In order to facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between candidate genes with their functional interactors, GRAMM-X server was used. Protein-protein docking investigation of P16-INK4 revealed four ionic bonds illustrating Arg47, Arg80,Cys72 and Met1 residues as actively participating in interactions with CDK4 while docking results of RB1 showed four hydrogen bonds involving Glu864, Ser567, Asp36 and Arg861 residues which interact strongly with its respective functional interactor E2F1. This research may provide a basis for understanding biological insights of P16-INK4 and RB1 proteins which will be helpful in future to design a suitable drug to inhibit the disease pathogenesis as we have determined the interacting amino acids which can be targeted in order to design a ligand in-vitro to propose a drug for clinical trials. Protein -protein docking of candidate genes and their important interacting residues likely

  9. Differentiation and injury-repair signals modulate the interaction of E2F and pRB proteins with novel target genes in keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Chang, Wing Y; Andrews, Joseph; Carter, David E; Dagnino, Lina

    2006-08-01

    E2F transcription factors are central to epidermal morphogenesis and regeneration after injury. The precise nature of E2F target genes involved in epidermal formation and repair has yet to be determined. Identification of these genes is essential to understand how E2F proteins regulate fundamental aspects of epidermal homeostasis and transformation. We have conducted a genome-wide screen using CpG island microarray analysis to identify novel promoters bound by E2F3 and E2F5 in human keratinocytes. We further characterized several of these genes, and determined that multiple E2F and retinoblastoma (pRb) family proteins associate with them in exponentially proliferating cells. We also assessed the effect on E2F and pRb binding to those genes in response to differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6), or to activation of repair mechanisms induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). These studies demonstrate promoter- and cytokine-specific changes in binding profiles of E2F and/or pRb family proteins. For example, E2F1, 3, 4 and p107 were recruited to the N-myc promoter in cells treated with BMP-6, whereas E2F1, 3, 4, 5, p107 and p130 were bound to this promoter in the presence of TGF-beta. Functionally, these different interactions resulted in transcriptional repression by BMP-6 and TGF-beta of the N-myc gene, via mechanisms that involved E2F binding to the promoter and association with pRb-family proteins. Thus, multiple combinations of E2F and pRb family proteins may associate with and transcriptionally regulate a given target promoter in response to differentiation and injury-repair stimuli in epidermal keratinocytes.

  10. A potent transrepression domain in the retinoblastoma protein induces a cell cycle arrest when bound to E2F sites.

    PubMed Central

    Sellers, W R; Rodgers, J W; Kaelin, W G

    1995-01-01

    An intact T/E1A-binding domain (the pocket) is necessary, but not sufficient, for the retinoblastoma protein (RB) to bind to DNA-protein complexes containing E2F and for RB to induce a G1/S block. Indirect evidence suggests that the binding of RB to E2F may, in addition to inhibiting E2F transactivation function, generate a complex capable of functioning as a transrepressor. Here we show that a chimera in which the E2F1 transactivation domain was replaced with the RB pocket could, in a DNA-binding and pocket-dependent manner, mimic the ability of RB to repress transcription and induce a cell cycle arrest. In contrast, a transdominant negative E2F1 mutant that is capable of blocking E2F-dependent transactivation did not. Fusion of the RB pocket to a heterologous DNA-binding domain unrelated to E2F likewise generated a transrepressor protein when scored against a suitable reporter. These results suggest that growth suppression by RB is due, at least in part, to transrepression mediated by the pocket domain bound to certain promoters via E2F. Images Fig. 4 Fig. 5 PMID:8524800

  11. [miR-503-5p inhibits the proliferation of T24 and EJ bladder cancer cells by interfering with the Rb/E2F signaling pathway].

    PubMed

    Li, Xiaohui; Han, Xingtao; Yang, Jinhui; Sun, Jiantao; Wei, Pengtao

    2017-10-01

    Objective To observe the effect of microRNA-503-5p (miR-503-5p) on the growth of T24 and EJ bladder cancer cells, and explore the possible molecular mechanism. Methods The miR-504-5p mimics or miR-NC was transfected into T24 and EJ cells. The target gene of miR-503-5p was predicted by bioinformatics. The expressions of E2F transcription factor 3 (E2F3) mRNA and Rb/E2F signaling pathway mRNA were detected by the real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). The expressions of Rb/E2F signal pathway proteins E2F3, cyclin E, CDK2, Rb and p-Rb were detected by Western blotting. The cell cycle of bladder cancer cell lines was determined by flow cytometry. MTT assay and plate cloning assay were performed to observe the proliferation ability of bladder cancer cells. Results After miR-503-5p mimics transfection, the expression of miR-503-5p in bladder cancer cells significantly increased. The increased expression of miR-503-5p significantly reduced the expressions of E2F3 mRNA and Rb/E2F signaling pathway mRNA in bladder cancer cells. What's more, the expressions of Rb/E2F signal pathway proteins were down-regulated. The bladder cancer cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase, and their growth was significantly inhibited by miR-503-5p. Conclusion The miR-503-5p over-expression can inhibit the growth of bladder cancer cell lines T24 and EJ by down-regulating the expression of the Rb/E2F signaling pathway.

  12. mTORC1 and CK2 coordinate ternary and eIF4F complex assembly

    PubMed Central

    Gandin, Valentina; Masvidal, Laia; Cargnello, Marie; Gyenis, Laszlo; McLaughlan, Shannon; Cai, Yutian; Tenkerian, Clara; Morita, Masahiro; Balanathan, Preetika; Jean-Jean, Olivier; Stambolic, Vuk; Trost, Matthias; Furic, Luc; Larose, Louise; Koromilas, Antonis E.; Asano, Katsura; Litchfield, David; Larsson, Ola; Topisirovic, Ivan

    2016-01-01

    Ternary complex (TC) and eIF4F complex assembly are the two major rate-limiting steps in translation initiation regulated by eIF2α phosphorylation and the mTOR/4E-BP pathway, respectively. How TC and eIF4F assembly are coordinated, however, remains largely unknown. We show that mTOR suppresses translation of mRNAs activated under short-term stress wherein TC recycling is attenuated by eIF2α phosphorylation. During acute nutrient or growth factor stimulation, mTORC1 induces eIF2β phosphorylation and recruitment of NCK1 to eIF2, decreases eIF2α phosphorylation and bolsters TC recycling. Accordingly, eIF2β mediates the effect of mTORC1 on protein synthesis and proliferation. In addition, we demonstrate a formerly undocumented role for CK2 in regulation of translation initiation, whereby CK2 stimulates phosphorylation of eIF2β and simultaneously bolsters eIF4F complex assembly via the mTORC1/4E-BP pathway. These findings imply a previously unrecognized mode of translation regulation, whereby mTORC1 and CK2 coordinate TC and eIF4F complex assembly to stimulate cell proliferation. PMID:27040916

  13. Modulation of E2F activity in primary mouse B cells following stimulation via surface IgM and CD40 receptors.

    PubMed

    Lam, E W; Glassford, J; van der Sman, J; Banerji, L; Pizzey, A R; Shaun, N; Thomas, B; Klaus, G G

    1999-10-01

    Since signals via CD40 and the B cell receptor are known to synergize to induce B cell activation, we have analyzed the pocket protein/E2F complexes in mouse B lymphocytes following stimulation by anti-IgM, anti-CD40, alone or together. We find that E2F4 and DP1 form the predominant E2F heterodimers in the G0 and G1 phases of the cell cycle, complexed with hypophosphorylated p130. During late G1 and S phase this complex is replaced by at least three different E2F complexes, one of which is an E2F complex containing p107 or pRB as well as two "free" E2F complexes consisting of E2F4/DP1 and E2F1-3/DP1. These effects were mirrored by the levels and phosphorylation status of the three pocket proteins. We also observed an increase in electrophoretic mobility of DP1 and E2F4 as B cells progressed from G0 into early G1, resulting from their dephosphorylation. This is known to correlate with a decrease in DNA binding capacity of these proteins and could also be important for derepression of genes negatively regulated through E2F sites in their promoters. These results therefore indicate that the pRB/E2F pathway integrates proliferative signals emanating from the sIgM and CD40 receptors.

  14. THE ROLE OF THE RETINOBLASTOMA/E2F1 TUMOR SUPPRESSOR PATHWAY IN THE LESION RECOGNITION STEP OF NUCLEOTIDE EXCISION REPAIR

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Patrick S.; McPherson, Lisa A.; Chen, Aubrey Y.; Sage, Julien; Ford, James M.

    2009-01-01

    The retinoblastoma Rb/E2F tumor suppressor pathway plays a major role in the regulation of mammalian cell cycle progression. The pRb protein, along with closely related proteins p107 and p130, exerts its anti-proliferative effects by binding to the E2F family of transcription factors known to regulate essential genes throughout the cell cycle. We sought to investigate the role of the Rb/E2F1 pathway in the lesion recognition step of nucleotide excision repair (NER) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Rb−/−;p107−/−;p130−/− MEFs repaired both cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs) at higher efficiency than did wildtype cells following UV-C irradiation. The expression of damaged DNA binding gene DDB2 involved in the DNA lesion recognition step was elevated in the Rb family-deficient MEFs. To determine if the enhanced DNA repair in the absence of the Rb gene family is due to the derepression of E2F1, we assayed the ability of E2F1-deficient cells to repair damaged DNA and demonstrated that E2F1−/− MEFs are impaired for the removal of both CPDs and 6-4PPs. Furthermore, wildtype cells induced a higher expression of DDB2 and xeroderma pigmentosum gene XPC transcript levels than did E2F1−/− cells following UV-C irradiation. Using an E2F SiteScan algorithm, we uncovered a putative E2F-responsive element in the XPC promoter upstream of the transcription start site. We showed with chromatin immunoprecipitation assays the binding of E2F1 to the XPC promoter in a UV-dependent manner, suggesting that E2F1 is a transcriptional regulator of XPC. Our study identifies a novel E2F1 gene target and further supports the growing body of evidence that the Rb/E2F1 tumor suppressor pathway is involved in the regulation of the DNA lesion recognition step of nucleotide excision repair. PMID:19376752

  15. Inhibition of E2F1 activity and cell cycle progression by arsenic via retinoblastoma protein.

    PubMed

    Sheldon, Lynn A

    2017-01-01

    The regulation of cell cycle progression by steroid hormones and growth factors is important for maintaining normal cellular processes including development and cell proliferation. Deregulated progression through the G1/S and G2/M cell cycle transitions can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation and cancer. The transcription factor E2F1, a key cell cycle regulator, targets genes encoding proteins that regulate cell cycle progression through the G1/S transition as well as proteins important in DNA repair and apoptosis. E2F1 expression and activity is inhibited by inorganic arsenic (iAs) that has a dual role as a cancer therapeutic and as a toxin that leads to diseases including cancer. An understanding of what underlies this dichotomy will contribute to understanding how to use iAs as a more effective therapeutic and also how to treat cancers that iAs promotes. Here, we show that quiescent breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells treated with 17-β estradiol (E2) progress through the cell cycle, but few cells treated with E2 + iAs progress from G1 into S-phase due to a block in cell cycle progression. Our data support a model in which iAs inhibits the dissociation of E2F1 from the tumor suppressor, retinoblastoma protein (pRB) due to changes in pRB phosphorylation which leads to decreased E2F1 transcriptional activity. These findings present an explanation for how iAs can disrupt cell cycle progression through E2F1-pRB and has implications for how iAs acts as a cancer therapeutic as well as how it may promote tumorigenesis through decreased DNA repair.

  16. Adenovirus Small E1A Employs the Lysine Acetylases p300/CBP and Tumor Suppressor Rb to Repress Select Host Genes and Promote Productive Virus Infection

    PubMed Central

    Ferrari, Roberto; Gou, Dawei; Jawdekar, Gauri; Johnson, Sarah A.; Nava, Miguel; Su, Trent; Yousef, Ahmed F.; Zemke, Nathan R.; Pellegrini, Matteo; Kurdistani, Siavash K.; Berk, Arnold J.

    2015-01-01

    SUMMARY Oncogenic transformation by adenovirus small e1a depends on simultaneous interactions with the host lysine acetylases p300/CBP and the tumor suppressor RB. How these interactions influence cellular gene expression remains unclear. We find that e1a displaces RBs from E2F transcription factors and promotes p300 acetylation of RB1 K873/K874 to lock it into a repressing conformation that interacts with repressive chromatin-modifying enzymes. These repressing p300-e1a-RB1 complexes specifically interact with host genes that have unusually high p300 association within the gene body. The TGFβ-, TNF-, and interleukin-signaling pathway components are enriched among such p300-targeted genes. The p300-e1a-RB1 complex condenses chromatin in a manner dependent on HDAC activity, p300 lysine acetylase activity, the p300 bromodomain, and RB K873/K874 and e1a K239 acetylation to repress host genes that would otherwise inhibit productive virus infection. Thus, adenovirus employs e1a to repress host genes that interfere with viral replication. PMID:25525796

  17. Adenovirus small E1A employs the lysine acetylases p300/CBP and tumor suppressor Rb to repress select host genes and promote productive virus infection.

    PubMed

    Ferrari, Roberto; Gou, Dawei; Jawdekar, Gauri; Johnson, Sarah A; Nava, Miguel; Su, Trent; Yousef, Ahmed F; Zemke, Nathan R; Pellegrini, Matteo; Kurdistani, Siavash K; Berk, Arnold J

    2014-11-12

    Oncogenic transformation by adenovirus small e1a depends on simultaneous interactions with the host lysine acetylases p300/CBP and the tumor suppressor RB. How these interactions influence cellular gene expression remains unclear. We find that e1a displaces RBs from E2F transcription factors and promotes p300 acetylation of RB1 K873/K874 to lock it into a repressing conformation that interacts with repressive chromatin-modifying enzymes. These repressing p300-e1a-RB1 complexes specifically interact with host genes that have unusually high p300 association within the gene body. The TGF-β, TNF-, and interleukin-signaling pathway components are enriched among such p300-targeted genes. The p300-e1a-RB1 complex condenses chromatin in a manner dependent on HDAC activity, p300 lysine acetylase activity, the p300 bromodomain, and RB K873/K874 and e1a K239 acetylation to repress host genes that would otherwise inhibit productive virus infection. Thus, adenovirus employs e1a to repress host genes that interfere with viral replication. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. The evaluation of anoxia responsive E2F DNA binding activity in the red eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans.

    PubMed

    Biggar, Kyle K; Storey, Kenneth B

    2018-01-01

    In many cases, the DNA-binding activity of a transcription factor does not change, while its transcriptional activity is greatly influenced by the make-up of bound proteins. In this study, we assessed the protein composition and DNA-binding ability of the E2F transcription factor complex to provide insight into cell cycle control in an anoxia tolerant turtle through the use of a modified ELISA protocol. This modification also permits the use of custom DNA probes that are tailored to a specific DNA binding region, introducing the ability to design capture probes for non-model organisms. Through the use of EMSA and ELISA DNA binding assays, we have successfully determined the in vitro DNA binding activity and complex dynamics of the Rb/E2F cell cycle regulatory mechanisms in an anoxic turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans . Repressive cell cycle proteins (E2F4, Rb, HDAC4 and Suv39H1) were found to significantly increase at E2F DNA-binding sites upon anoxic exposure in anoxic turtle liver. The lack of p130 involvement in the E2F DNA-bound complex indicates that anoxic turtle liver may maintain G 1 arrest for the duration of stress survival.

  19. The evaluation of anoxia responsive E2F DNA binding activity in the red eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans

    PubMed Central

    Biggar, Kyle K.

    2018-01-01

    In many cases, the DNA-binding activity of a transcription factor does not change, while its transcriptional activity is greatly influenced by the make-up of bound proteins. In this study, we assessed the protein composition and DNA-binding ability of the E2F transcription factor complex to provide insight into cell cycle control in an anoxia tolerant turtle through the use of a modified ELISA protocol. This modification also permits the use of custom DNA probes that are tailored to a specific DNA binding region, introducing the ability to design capture probes for non-model organisms. Through the use of EMSA and ELISA DNA binding assays, we have successfully determined the in vitro DNA binding activity and complex dynamics of the Rb/E2F cell cycle regulatory mechanisms in an anoxic turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans. Repressive cell cycle proteins (E2F4, Rb, HDAC4 and Suv39H1) were found to significantly increase at E2F DNA-binding sites upon anoxic exposure in anoxic turtle liver. The lack of p130 involvement in the E2F DNA-bound complex indicates that anoxic turtle liver may maintain G1 arrest for the duration of stress survival. PMID:29770276

  20. Synthesis and structure resolution of RbLaF4.

    PubMed

    Rollet, Anne-Laure; Allix, Mathieu; Veron, Emmanuel; Deschamps, Michael; Montouillout, Valérie; Suchomel, Matthew R; Suard, Emmanuelle; Barre, Maud; Ocaña, Manuel; Sadoc, Aymeric; Boucher, Florent; Bessada, Catherine; Massiot, Dominique; Fayon, Franck

    2012-02-20

    The synthesis and structure resolution of RbLaF(4) are described. RbLaF(4) is synthesized by solid-state reaction between RbF and LaF(3) at 425 °C under a nonoxidizing atmosphere. Its crystal structure has been resolved by combining neutron and synchrotron powder diffraction data refinements (Pnma,a = 6.46281(2) Å, b = 3.86498(1) Å, c = 16.17629(4) Å, Z = 4). One-dimensional (87)Rb, (139)La, and (19)F MAS NMR spectra have been recorded and are in agreement with the proposed structural model. Assignment of the (19)F resonances is performed on the basis of both (19)F-(139)La J-coupling multiplet patterns observed in a heteronuclear DQ-filtered J-resolved spectrum and (19)F-(87)Rb HMQC MAS experiments. DFT calculations of both the (19)F isotropic chemical shieldings and the (87)Rb, (139)La electric field gradient tensors using the GIPAW and PAW methods implemented in the CASTEP code are in good agreement with the experimental values and support the proposed structural model. Finally, the conductivity of RbLaF(4) and luminescence properties of Eu-doped LaRbF(4) are investigated.

  1. Photoluminescence of RbCaF3:Mn2+: the influence of phase transitions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marcode Lucas, M. C.; Rodriguez, F.; Moreno, M.

    1993-03-01

    Precise photoluminescence measurements on an RbCaF3:Mn2+ sample containing only 400 p.p.m. of Mn2+ have been carried out in the 10-300 K temperature range. The results are compared with those obtained in other fluoroperovskites doped with Mn2+. The analysis of the 6A1g(S) to 4T1g(G) excitation peak at room temperature leads to a Mn2+-F- distance R=213.3 pm which is close to that derived from the experimental isotropic superhyperfine constant, As. The plot of the first moment of the emission band, M1, against temperature reveals a slight but sensible change of slope at T=193 K which is associated with the Oh1 to D4h18 structural phase transition of the host lattice. Furthermore, at T=40 K, M1 undergoes an abrupt increase of approximately 100 cm-1. This fact supports the existence of another phase transition involving an increase Delta R/R approximately=0.2% upon cooling, and thus a situation which is similar to that detected in the structural phase transition of KMnF3 at Tc3=81.5 K. To the authors' knowledge this is the first time that clear evidence of both phase transitions in RbCaF3 has been achieved through an optical probe. Finally the variation of the 4A1g(G), 4Eg(G) peak, E3, along the fluoroperovskite series is analysed.

  2. First-principles calculations of two cubic fluoropervskite compounds: RbFeF3 and RbNiF3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mubarak, A. A.; Al-Omari, Saleh

    2015-05-01

    We present first-principles calculations of the structural, elastic, electronic, magnetic and optical properties for RbFeF3 and RbNiF3. The full-potential linear augmented plan wave (FP-LAPW) method within the density functional theory was utilized to perform the present calculations. We employed the generalized gradient approximation as exchange-correlation potential. It was found that the calculated analytical lattice parameters agree with previous studies. The analysis of elastic constants showed that the present compounds are elastically stable and anisotropic. Moreover, both compounds are classified as a ductile compound. The calculations of the band structure and density functional theory revealed that the RbFeF3 compound has a half-metallic behavior while the RbNiF3 compound has a semiconductor behavior with indirect (M-Γ) band gap. The ferromagnetic behavior was studied for both compounds. The optical properties were calculated for the radiation of up to 40 eV. A beneficial optics technology is predicted as revealed from the optical spectra.

  3. The association of mammalian DREAM complex and HPV16 E7 proteins

    PubMed Central

    Rashid, Nurshamimi Nor; Rothan, Hussin A; Yusoff, Mohd Shahrizal Mohd

    2015-01-01

    The mammalian DREAM (Drosophila, RB, E2F, and Myb) complex was discovered in 2004 by several research groups. It was initially identified in Drosophila followed by Caenorhaditis elegans and later in mammalian cells. The composition of DREAM is temporally regulated during cell cycle; being associated with E2F-4 and either p107 or p130 in G0/G1 (repressive DREAM complexes) and with B-myb transcription factor in S/G2 (activator DREAM complex). High risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 oncoproteins expression are important for malignant transformation of cervical cancer cells. In particular, the E7 of high risk HPV binds to pRB family members (pRB, p107 and p130) for degradation. It has recently been discovered that the p107 and p130 ‘pocket proteins’ are members of mammalian DREAM complexes. With this understanding, we would like to hypothesise the mammalian DREAM complex could plays a critical role for malignant transformation in cervical cancer cells. PMID:26885443

  4. The DREAM complex through its subunit Lin37 cooperates with Rb to initiate quiescence

    PubMed Central

    Mages, Christina FS; Wintsche, Axel; Bernhart, Stephan H

    2017-01-01

    The retinoblastoma Rb protein is an important factor controlling the cell cycle. Yet, mammalian cells carrying Rb deletions are still able to arrest under growth-limiting conditions. The Rb-related proteins p107 and p130, which are components of the DREAM complex, had been suggested to be responsible for a continued ability to arrest by inhibiting E2f activity and by recruiting chromatin-modifying enzymes. Here, we show that p130 and p107 are not sufficient for DREAM-dependent repression. We identify the MuvB protein Lin37 as an essential factor for DREAM function. Cells not expressing Lin37 proliferate normally, but DREAM completely loses its ability to repress genes in G0/G1 while all remaining subunits, including p130/p107, still bind to target gene promoters. Furthermore, cells lacking both Rb and Lin37 are incapable of exiting the cell cycle. Thus, Lin37 is an essential component of DREAM that cooperates with Rb to induce quiescence. PMID:28920576

  5. Regulation of RB Transcription In Vivo by RB Family Members▿ ‡

    PubMed Central

    Burkhart, Deborah L.; Ngai, Lynn K.; Roake, Caitlin M.; Viatour, Patrick; Thangavel, Chellappagounder; Ho, Victoria M.; Knudsen, Erik S.; Sage, Julien

    2010-01-01

    In cancer cells, the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor RB is directly inactivated by mutation in the RB gene or functionally inhibited by abnormal activation of cyclin-dependent kinase activity. While variations in RB levels may also provide an important means of controlling RB function in both normal and cancer cells, little is known about the mechanisms regulating RB transcription. Here we show that members of the RB and E2F families bind directly to the RB promoter. To investigate how the RB/E2F pathway may regulate Rb transcription, we generated reporter mice carrying an eGFP transgene inserted into a bacterial artificial chromosome containing most of the Rb gene. Expression of eGFP largely parallels that of Rb in transgenic embryos and adult mice. Using these reporter mice and mutant alleles for Rb, p107, and p130, we found that RB family members modulate Rb transcription in specific cell populations in vivo and in culture. Interestingly, while Rb is a target of the RB/E2F pathway in mouse and human cells, Rb expression does not strictly correlate with the cell cycle status of these cells. These experiments identify novel regulatory feedback mechanisms within the RB pathway in mammalian cells. PMID:20100864

  6. Diabetes and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in E2F1/E2F2 double-mutant mice.

    PubMed

    Iglesias, Ainhoa; Murga, Matilde; Laresgoiti, Usua; Skoudy, Anouchka; Bernales, Irantzu; Fullaondo, Asier; Moreno, Bernardino; Lloreta, José; Field, Seth J; Real, Francisco X; Zubiaga, Ana M

    2004-05-01

    E2F transcription factors are thought to be key regulators of cell growth control. Here we use mutant mouse strains to investigate the function of E2F1 and E2F2 in vivo. E2F1/E2F2 compound-mutant mice develop nonautoimmune insulin-deficient diabetes and exocrine pancreatic dysfunction characterized by endocrine and exocrine cell dysplasia, a reduction in the number and size of acini and islets, and their replacement by ductal structures and adipose tissue. Mutant pancreatic cells exhibit increased rates of DNA replication but also of apoptosis, resulting in severe pancreatic atrophy. The expression of genes involved in DNA replication and cell cycle control was upregulated in the E2F1/E2F2 compound-mutant pancreas, suggesting that their expression is repressed by E2F1/E2F2 activities and that the inappropriate cell cycle found in the mutant pancreas is likely the result of the deregulated expression of these genes. Interestingly, the expression of ductal cell and adipocyte differentiation marker genes was also upregulated, whereas expression of pancreatic cell marker genes were downregulated. These results suggest that E2F1/E2F2 activity negatively controls growth of mature pancreatic cells and is necessary for the maintenance of differentiated pancreatic phenotypes in the adult.

  7. Hydrothermal crystal growth of ABe 2BO 3F 2 (A=K, Rb, Cs, Tl) NLO crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McMillen, Colin D.; Kolis, Joseph W.

    2008-04-01

    Crystals of a family of compounds, ABe 2BO 3F 2 (ABBF, A=K, Rb, Cs, Tl), have been grown hydrothermally. Each of these materials was studied using the powder SHG technique and exhibited promising NLO behavior. Seeded crystal growth was demonstrated and the growth conditions were optimized by modifying the temperature, thermal gradient and mineralizer concentration. RbBe 2BO 3F 2 crystals possessed a particularly good combination of SHG intensity, favorable crystal habit and fast growth rates. High quality crystals suitable for advanced deep-UV NLO studies were grown at rates of 0.11 mm/day on (0 0 1) and 0.12 mm/day perpendicular to (0 0 1).

  8. Synthesis and characterization of new fluoride-containing manganese vanadates A2Mn2V2O7F2 (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn2VO4F

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sanjeewa, Liurukara D.; McGuire, Michael A.; Smith Pellizzeri, Tiffany M.; McMillen, Colin D.; Ovidiu Garlea, V.; Willett, Daniel; Chumanov, George; Kolis, Joseph W.

    2016-09-01

    Large single crystals of A2Mn2V2O7F2 (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn2VO4F were grown using a high-temperature (~600 °C) hydrothermal technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction were utilized to characterize the structures, which both possess MnO4F2 building blocks. The A2Mn2V2O7F2 series crystallizes as a new structure type in space group Pbcn (No. 60), Z=4 (Rb2Mn2V2O7F2: a=7.4389(17) Å, b=11.574(3) Å, c=10.914(2) Å; Cs2Mn2V2O7F2: a=7.5615(15) Å, b=11.745(2) Å, c=11.127(2) Å). The structure is composed of zigzag chains of edge-sharing MnO4F2 units running along the a-axis, and interconnected through V2O7 pyrovanadate groups. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on this interesting one-dimensional structural feature based on Mn2+ indicated that Cs2Mn2V2O7F2 is antiferromagnetic with a Neél temperature, TN=~3 K and a Weiss constant, θ, of -11.7(1) K. Raman and infrared spectra were also analyzed to identify the fundamental V-O vibrational modes in Cs2Mn2V2O7F2. Mn2(VO4)F crystalizes in the monoclinic space group of C2/c (no. 15), Z=8 with unit cell parameters of a=13.559(2) Å, b=6.8036(7) Å, c=10.1408(13) Å and β=116.16(3)°. The structure is associated with those of triplite and wagnerite. Dynamic fluorine disorder gives rise to complex alternating chains of five-and six-coordinate Mn2+. These interpenetrating chains are additionally connected through isolated VO4 tetrahedra to form the condensed structure.

  9. Synthesis and characterization of new fluoride-containing manganese vanadates A 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2 (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn 2VO 4F

    DOE PAGES

    Sanjeewa, Liurukara D.; McGuire, Michael A.; Smith Pellizzeri, Tiffany M.; ...

    2016-05-10

    In large single crystals of A 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2 (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn 2VO 4F were grown using a high-temperature (~600 °C) hydrothermal technique. We utilized single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction in order to characterize the structures, which both possess MnO 4F 2 building blocks. The A 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2 series crystallizes as a new structure type in space group Pbcn (No. 60), Z=4 (Rb 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2: a=7.4389(17) Å, b=11.574(3) Å, c=10.914(2) Å; Cs 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2: a=7.5615(15) Å, b=11.745(2) Å, c=11.127(2) Å). The structure is composed ofmore » zigzag chains of edge-sharing MnO 4F 2 units running along the a-axis, and interconnected through V 2O 7 pyrovanadate groups. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on this interesting one-dimensional structural feature based on Mn 2+ indicated that Cs 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2 is antiferromagnetic with a Neél temperature, TN=~3 K and a Weiss constant, θ, of -11.7(1) K. Raman and infrared spectra were also analyzed to identify the fundamental V–O vibrational modes in Cs 2Mn 2V 2O 7F 2. Mn 2(VO 4)F crystalizes in the monoclinic space group of C2/c (no. 15), Z=8 with unit cell parameters of a=13.559(2) Å, b=6.8036(7) Å, c=10.1408(13) Å and β=116.16(3)°. The structure is associated with those of triplite and wagnerite. Dynamic fluorine disorder gives rise to complex alternating chains of five-and six-coordinate Mn 2+. Our interpenetrating chains are additionally connected through isolated VO 4 tetrahedra to form the condensed structure.« less

  10. Epigenetic involvement of Alien/ESET complex in thyroid hormone-mediated repression of E2F1 gene expression and cell proliferation

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hong, Wei, E-mail: hongwei@tijmu.edu.cn; College of Basic Medicine, Tianjin Medical University, 300070 Tianjin; Li, Jinru

    Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Corepressor Alien interacts with histone methyltransferase ESET in vivo. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Alien/ESET complex is recruited to nTRE of T3-responsive gene by liganded TR{beta}1. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer ESET-mediated H3K9 methylation is required for liganded TR{beta}1-repressed transcription. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer ESET is involved in T3-repressed G1/S phase transition and proliferation. -- Abstract: The ligand-bound thyroid hormone receptor (TR) is known to repress via a negative TRE (nTRE) the expression of E2F1, a key transcription factor that controls the G1/S phase transition. Alien has been identified as a novel interacting factor of E2F1 and acts as a corepressor of E2F1. The detailed molecular mechanism by whichmore » Alien inhibits E2F1 gene expression remains unclear. Here, we report that the histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methyltransferase (HMT) ESET is an integral component of the corepressor Alien complex and the Alien/ESET complex is recruited to both sites, the E2F1 and the nTRE site of the E2F1 gene while the recruitment to the negative thyroid hormone response element (nTRE) is induced by the ligand-bound TR{beta}1 within the E2F1 gene promoter. We show that, overexpression of ESET promotes, whereas knockdown of ESET releases, the inhibition of TR{beta}1-regulated gene transcription upon T3 stimulation; and H3K9 methylation is required for TR{beta}1-repressed transcription. Furthermore, depletion of ESET impairs thyroid hormone-repressed proliferation as well as the G1/S transition of the cell cycle. Taken together, our data indicate that ESET is involved in TR{beta}1-mediated transcription repression and provide a molecular basis of thyroid hormone-induced repression of proliferation.« less

  11. RB1 deficiency in triple-negative breast cancer induces mitochondrial protein translation.

    PubMed

    Jones, Robert A; Robinson, Tyler J; Liu, Jeff C; Shrestha, Mariusz; Voisin, Veronique; Ju, YoungJun; Chung, Philip E D; Pellecchia, Giovanna; Fell, Victoria L; Bae, SooIn; Muthuswamy, Lakshmi; Datti, Alessandro; Egan, Sean E; Jiang, Zhe; Leone, Gustavo; Bader, Gary D; Schimmer, Aaron; Zacksenhaus, Eldad

    2016-10-03

    Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) includes basal-like and claudin-low subtypes for which no specific treatment is currently available. Although the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene (RB1) is frequently lost together with TP53 in TNBC, it is not directly targetable. There is thus great interest in identifying vulnerabilities downstream of RB1 that can be therapeutically exploited. Here, we determined that combined inactivation of murine Rb and p53 in diverse mammary epithelial cells induced claudin-low-like TNBC with Met, Birc2/3-Mmp13-Yap1, and Pvt1-Myc amplifications. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that Rb/p53-deficient tumors showed elevated expression of the mitochondrial protein translation (MPT) gene pathway relative to tumors harboring p53 deletion alone. Accordingly, bioinformatic, functional, and biochemical analyses showed that RB1-E2F complexes bind to MPT gene promoters to regulate transcription and control MPT. Additionally, a screen of US Food and Drug Administration-approved (FDA-approved) drugs identified the MPT antagonist tigecycline (TIG) as a potent inhibitor of Rb/p53-deficient tumor cell proliferation. TIG preferentially suppressed RB1-deficient TNBC cell proliferation, targeted both the bulk and cancer stem cell fraction, and strongly attenuated xenograft growth. It also cooperated with sulfasalazine, an FDA-approved inhibitor of cystine xCT antiporter, in culture and xenograft assays. Our results suggest that RB1 deficiency promotes cancer cell proliferation in part by enhancing mitochondrial function and identify TIG as a clinically approved drug for RB1-deficient TNBC.

  12. RB1 deficiency in triple-negative breast cancer induces mitochondrial protein translation

    PubMed Central

    Jones, Robert A.; Robinson, Tyler J.; Liu, Jeff C.; Shrestha, Mariusz; Voisin, Veronique; Ju, YoungJun; Chung, Philip E.D.; Pellecchia, Giovanna; Fell, Victoria L.; Bae, SooIn; Muthuswamy, Lakshmi; Egan, Sean E.; Jiang, Zhe; Leone, Gustavo; Bader, Gary D.; Schimmer, Aaron

    2016-01-01

    Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) includes basal-like and claudin-low subtypes for which no specific treatment is currently available. Although the retinoblastoma tumor-suppressor gene (RB1) is frequently lost together with TP53 in TNBC, it is not directly targetable. There is thus great interest in identifying vulnerabilities downstream of RB1 that can be therapeutically exploited. Here, we determined that combined inactivation of murine Rb and p53 in diverse mammary epithelial cells induced claudin-low–like TNBC with Met, Birc2/3-Mmp13-Yap1, and Pvt1-Myc amplifications. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that Rb/p53-deficient tumors showed elevated expression of the mitochondrial protein translation (MPT) gene pathway relative to tumors harboring p53 deletion alone. Accordingly, bioinformatic, functional, and biochemical analyses showed that RB1-E2F complexes bind to MPT gene promoters to regulate transcription and control MPT. Additionally, a screen of US Food and Drug Administration–approved (FDA-approved) drugs identified the MPT antagonist tigecycline (TIG) as a potent inhibitor of Rb/p53-deficient tumor cell proliferation. TIG preferentially suppressed RB1-deficient TNBC cell proliferation, targeted both the bulk and cancer stem cell fraction, and strongly attenuated xenograft growth. It also cooperated with sulfasalazine, an FDA-approved inhibitor of cystine xCT antiporter, in culture and xenograft assays. Our results suggest that RB1 deficiency promotes cancer cell proliferation in part by enhancing mitochondrial function and identify TIG as a clinically approved drug for RB1-deficient TNBC. PMID:27571409

  13. Molecular screening of compounds to the predicted Protein-Protein Interaction site of Rb1-E7 with p53- E6 in HPV

    PubMed Central

    Shaikh, Faraz; Sanehi, Parvish; Rawal, Rakesh

    2012-01-01

    Cervical cancer is malignant neoplasm of the cervix uteri or cervical area. Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) which are heterogeneous groups of small double stranded DNA viruses are considered as the primary cause of cervical cancer, involved in 90% of all Cervical Cancers. Two early HPV genes, E6 and E7, are known to play crucial role in tumor formation. E6 binds with p53 and prevents its translocation and thereby inhibit the ability of p53 to activate or repress target genes. E7 binds to hypophosphorylated Rb and thereby induces cells to enter into premature S-phase by disrupting Rb-E2F complexes. The strategy of the research work was to target the site of interaction of Rb1 -E7 & p53-E6. A total of 88 compounds were selected for molecular screening, based on comprehensive literature survey for natural compounds with anti-cancer activity. Molecular docking analysis was carried out with Molegro Virtual Docker, to screen the 88 chosen compounds and rank them according to their binding affinity towards the site of interaction of the viral oncoproteins and human tumor suppressor proteins. The docking result revealed that Nicandrenone a member of Withanolides family of chemical compounds as the most likely molecule that can be used as a candidate drug against HPV induced cervical cancer. Abbreviations HPV - Human Papiloma Virus, HTSP - Human Tumor Suppressor Proteins, VOP - Viral oncoproteins. PMID:22829740

  14. MGA, L3MBTL2 and E2F6 determine genomic binding of the non-canonical Polycomb repressive complex PRC1.6

    PubMed Central

    Stielow, Bastian; Finkernagel, Florian; Stiewe, Thorsten

    2018-01-01

    Diverse Polycomb repressive complexes 1 (PRC1) play essential roles in gene regulation, differentiation and development. Six major groups of PRC1 complexes that differ in their subunit composition have been identified in mammals. How the different PRC1 complexes are recruited to specific genomic sites is poorly understood. The Polycomb Ring finger protein PCGF6, the transcription factors MGA and E2F6, and the histone-binding protein L3MBTL2 are specific components of the non-canonical PRC1.6 complex. In this study, we have investigated their role in genomic targeting of PRC1.6. ChIP-seq analysis revealed colocalization of MGA, L3MBTL2, E2F6 and PCGF6 genome-wide. Ablation of MGA in a human cell line by CRISPR/Cas resulted in complete loss of PRC1.6 binding. Rescue experiments revealed that MGA recruits PRC1.6 to specific loci both by DNA binding-dependent and by DNA binding-independent mechanisms. Depletion of L3MBTL2 and E2F6 but not of PCGF6 resulted in differential, locus-specific loss of PRC1.6 binding illustrating that different subunits mediate PRC1.6 loading to distinct sets of promoters. Mga, L3mbtl2 and Pcgf6 colocalize also in mouse embryonic stem cells, where PRC1.6 has been linked to repression of germ cell-related genes. Our findings unveil strikingly different genomic recruitment mechanisms of the non-canonical PRC1.6 complex, which specify its cell type- and context-specific regulatory functions. PMID:29381691

  15. Novel functions for the transcription factor E2F4 in development and disease

    PubMed Central

    Sage, Julien

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT The E2F family of transcription factors is a key determinant of cell proliferation in response to extra- and intra-cellular signals. Within this family, E2F4 is a transcriptional repressor whose activity is critical to engage and maintain cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 in conjunction with members of the retinoblastoma (RB) family. However, recent observations challenge this paradigm and indicate that E2F4 has a multitude of functions in cells besides this cell cycle regulatory role, including in embryonic and adult stem cells, during regenerative processes, and in cancer. Some of these new functions are independent of the RB family and involve direct activation of target genes. Here we review the canonical functions of E2F4 and discuss recent evidence expanding the role of this transcription factor, with a focus on cell fate decisions in tissue homeostasis and regeneration. PMID:27753528

  16. Thermal, optical, and dielectric properties of fluoride Rb2TaF7

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pogorel'tsev, E. I.; Mel'nikova, S. V.; Kartashev, A. V.; Gorev, M. V.; Flerov, I. N.; Laptash, N. M.

    2017-05-01

    The thermal, optical, and dielectric properties of fluoride Rb2TaF7 were investigated. It was observed that the variation in chemical pressure in fluorides A 2 +TaF7 caused by the cation substitution of rubidium for ammonium does not affect the ferroelastic nature of structural distortions, but leads to stabilization of the high- and low-temperature phases and enhancement of birefringence. The entropy of the phase transition P4/nmm ↔ Cmma is typical of the shift transformations, which is consistent with a model of the initial and distorted phase structures. The anisotropy of chemical pressure causes the change of signs of the anomalous strain and baric coefficient dT/ dp of Rb2TaF7 as compared with the values for its ammonium analog.

  17. CDH1 regulates E2F1 degradation in response to differentiation signals in keratinocytes

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Randeep K.; Dagnino, Lina

    2017-01-01

    The E2F1 transcription factor plays key roles in skin homeostasis. In the epidermis, E2F1 expression is essential for normal proliferation of undifferentiated keratinocytes, regeneration after injury and DNA repair following UV radiation-induced photodamage. Abnormal E2F1 expression promotes nonmelanoma skin carcinoma. In addition, E2F1 must be downregulated for proper keratinocyte differentiation, but the relevant mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. We show that differentiation signals induce a series of post-translational modifications in E2F1 that are jointly required for its downregulation. Analysis of the structural determinants that govern these processes revealed a central role for S403 and T433. In particular, substitution of these two amino acid residues with non-phosphorylatable alanine (E2F1 ST/A) interferes with E2F1 nuclear export, K11- and K48-linked polyubiquitylation and degradation in differentiated keratinocytes. In contrast, replacement of S403 and T433 with phosphomimetic aspartic acid to generate a pseudophosphorylated E2F1 mutant protein (E2F1 ST/D) generates a protein that is regulated in a manner indistinguishable from that of wild type E2F1. Cdh1 is an activating cofactor that interacts with the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin E3 ligase, promoting proteasomal degradation of various substrates. We found that Cdh1 associates with E2F1 in keratinocytes. Inhibition or RNAi-mediated silencing of Cdh1 prevents E2F1 degradation in response to differentiation signals. Our results reveal novel regulatory mechanisms that jointly modulate post-translational modifications and downregulation of E2F1, which are necessary for proper epidermal keratinocyte differentiation. PMID:27903963

  18. CDH1 regulates E2F1 degradation in response to differentiation signals in keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Singh, Randeep K; Dagnino, Lina

    2017-01-17

    The E2F1 transcription factor plays key roles in skin homeostasis. In the epidermis, E2F1 expression is essential for normal proliferation of undifferentiated keratinocytes, regeneration after injury and DNA repair following UV radiation-induced photodamage. Abnormal E2F1 expression promotes nonmelanoma skin carcinoma. In addition, E2F1 must be downregulated for proper keratinocyte differentiation, but the relevant mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. We show that differentiation signals induce a series of post-translational modifications in E2F1 that are jointly required for its downregulation. Analysis of the structural determinants that govern these processes revealed a central role for S403 and T433. In particular, substitution of these two amino acid residues with non-phosphorylatable alanine (E2F1 ST/A) interferes with E2F1 nuclear export, K11- and K48-linked polyubiquitylation and degradation in differentiated keratinocytes. In contrast, replacement of S403 and T433 with phosphomimetic aspartic acid to generate a pseudophosphorylated E2F1 mutant protein (E2F1 ST/D) generates a protein that is regulated in a manner indistinguishable from that of wild type E2F1. Cdh1 is an activating cofactor that interacts with the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) ubiquitin E3 ligase, promoting proteasomal degradation of various substrates. We found that Cdh1 associates with E2F1 in keratinocytes. Inhibition or RNAi-mediated silencing of Cdh1 prevents E2F1 degradation in response to differentiation signals. Our results reveal novel regulatory mechanisms that jointly modulate post-translational modifications and downregulation of E2F1, which are necessary for proper epidermal keratinocyte differentiation.

  19. E2F1 and E2F2 prevent replicative stress and subsequent p53-dependent organ involution.

    PubMed

    Iglesias-Ara, A; Zenarruzabeitia, O; Buelta, L; Merino, J; Zubiaga, A M

    2015-10-01

    Tissue homeostasis requires tight regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. E2F1 and E2F2 transcription factors share a critical role in tissue homeostasis, since their combined inactivation results in overall organ involution, specially affecting the pancreatic gland, which subsequently triggers diabetes. We have examined the mechanism by which these E2Fs regulate tissue homeostasis. We show that pancreas atrophy in E2F1/E2F2 double-knockout (DKO) mice is associated with mitochondrial apoptosis and activation of the p53 pathway in young animals, before the development of diabetes. A deregulated expression of E2F target genes was detected in pancreatic cells of young DKO animals, along with unscheduled DNA replication and activation of a DNA damage response. Importantly, suppression of DNA replication in vivo with aphidicolin led to a significant inhibition of the p53 pathway in DKO pancreas, implying a causal link between DNA replication stress and p53 activation in this model. We further show that activation of the p53 pathway has a key role in the aberrant phenotype of DKO mice, since targeted inactivation of p53 gene abrogated cellular apoptosis and prevented organ involution and insulin-dependent diabetes in mice lacking E2F1/E2F2. Unexpectedly, p53 inactivation unmasked oncogenic features of E2F1/E2F2-depleted cells, as evidenced by an accelerated tumor development in triple-knockout mice compared with p53(-/-) mice. Collectively, our data reveal a role for E2F1 and E2F2 as suppressors of replicative stress in differentiating cells, and uncover the existence of a robust E2F-p53 regulatory axis to enable tissue homeostasis and prevent tumorigenesis. These findings have implications in the design of approaches targeting E2F for cancer therapy.

  20. E2F1 and E2F2 induction in response to DNA damage preserves genomic stability in neuronal cells.

    PubMed

    Castillo, Daniela S; Campalans, Anna; Belluscio, Laura M; Carcagno, Abel L; Radicella, J Pablo; Cánepa, Eduardo T; Pregi, Nicolás

    2015-01-01

    E2F transcription factors regulate a wide range of biological processes, including the cellular response to DNA damage. In the present study, we examined whether E2F family members are transcriptionally induced following treatment with several genotoxic agents, and have a role on the cell DNA damage response. We show a novel mechanism, conserved among diverse species, in which E2F1 and E2F2, the latter specifically in neuronal cells, are transcriptionally induced after DNA damage. This upregulation leads to increased E2F1 and E2F2 protein levels as a consequence of de novo protein synthesis. Ectopic expression of these E2Fs in neuronal cells reduces the level of DNA damage following genotoxic treatment, while ablation of E2F1 and E2F2 leads to the accumulation of DNA lesions and increased apoptotic response. Cell viability and DNA repair capability in response to DNA damage induction are also reduced by the E2F1 and E2F2 deficiencies. Finally, E2F1 and E2F2 accumulate at sites of oxidative and UV-induced DNA damage, and interact with γH2AX DNA repair factor. As previously reported for E2F1, E2F2 promotes Rad51 foci formation, interacts with GCN5 acetyltransferase and induces histone acetylation following genotoxic insult. The results presented here unveil a new mechanism involving E2F1 and E2F2 in the maintenance of genomic stability in response to DNA damage in neuronal cells.

  1. E2F1 and E2F2 induction in response to DNA damage preserves genomic stability in neuronal cells

    PubMed Central

    Castillo, Daniela S; Campalans, Anna; Belluscio, Laura M; Carcagno, Abel L; Radicella, J Pablo; Cánepa, Eduardo T; Pregi, Nicolás

    2015-01-01

    E2F transcription factors regulate a wide range of biological processes, including the cellular response to DNA damage. In the present study, we examined whether E2F family members are transcriptionally induced following treatment with several genotoxic agents, and have a role on the cell DNA damage response. We show a novel mechanism, conserved among diverse species, in which E2F1 and E2F2, the latter specifically in neuronal cells, are transcriptionally induced after DNA damage. This upregulation leads to increased E2F1 and E2F2 protein levels as a consequence of de novo protein synthesis. Ectopic expression of these E2Fs in neuronal cells reduces the level of DNA damage following genotoxic treatment, while ablation of E2F1 and E2F2 leads to the accumulation of DNA lesions and increased apoptotic response. Cell viability and DNA repair capability in response to DNA damage induction are also reduced by the E2F1 and E2F2 deficiencies. Finally, E2F1 and E2F2 accumulate at sites of oxidative and UV-induced DNA damage, and interact with γH2AX DNA repair factor. As previously reported for E2F1, E2F2 promotes Rad51 foci formation, interacts with GCN5 acetyltransferase and induces histone acetylation following genotoxic insult. The results presented here unveil a new mechanism involving E2F1 and E2F2 in the maintenance of genomic stability in response to DNA damage in neuronal cells. PMID:25892555

  2. E2F1 and E2F2 prevent replicative stress and subsequent p53-dependent organ involution

    PubMed Central

    Iglesias-Ara, A; Zenarruzabeitia, O; Buelta, L; Merino, J; Zubiaga, A M

    2015-01-01

    Tissue homeostasis requires tight regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. E2F1 and E2F2 transcription factors share a critical role in tissue homeostasis, since their combined inactivation results in overall organ involution, specially affecting the pancreatic gland, which subsequently triggers diabetes. We have examined the mechanism by which these E2Fs regulate tissue homeostasis. We show that pancreas atrophy in E2F1/E2F2 double-knockout (DKO) mice is associated with mitochondrial apoptosis and activation of the p53 pathway in young animals, before the development of diabetes. A deregulated expression of E2F target genes was detected in pancreatic cells of young DKO animals, along with unscheduled DNA replication and activation of a DNA damage response. Importantly, suppression of DNA replication in vivo with aphidicolin led to a significant inhibition of the p53 pathway in DKO pancreas, implying a causal link between DNA replication stress and p53 activation in this model. We further show that activation of the p53 pathway has a key role in the aberrant phenotype of DKO mice, since targeted inactivation of p53 gene abrogated cellular apoptosis and prevented organ involution and insulin-dependent diabetes in mice lacking E2F1/E2F2. Unexpectedly, p53 inactivation unmasked oncogenic features of E2F1/E2F2-depleted cells, as evidenced by an accelerated tumor development in triple-knockout mice compared with p53−/− mice. Collectively, our data reveal a role for E2F1 and E2F2 as suppressors of replicative stress in differentiating cells, and uncover the existence of a robust E2F-p53 regulatory axis to enable tissue homeostasis and prevent tumorigenesis. These findings have implications in the design of approaches targeting E2F for cancer therapy. PMID:25656653

  3. Comparison of the fluorescence kinetics of detergent-solubilized and membrane-reconstituted LH2 complexes from Rps. acidophila and Rb. sphaeroides.

    PubMed

    Pflock, Tobias; Dezi, Manuela; Venturoli, Giovanni; Cogdell, Richard J; Köhler, Jürgen; Oellerich, Silke

    2008-01-01

    Picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy has been used in order to compare the fluorescence kinetics of detergent-solubilized and membrane-reconstituted light-harvesting 2 (LH2) complexes from the purple bacteria Rhodopseudomonas (Rps.) acidophila and Rhodobacter (Rb.) sphaeroides. LH2 complexes were reconstituted in phospholipid model membranes at different lipid:protein-ratios and all samples were studied exciting with a wide range of excitation densities. While the detergent-solubilized LH2 complexes from Rps. acidophila showed monoexponential decay kinetics (tau(f )= 980 ps) for excitation densities of up to 3.10(13) photons/(pulse.cm(2)), the membrane-reconstituted LH2 complexes showed multiexponential kinetics even at low excitation densities and high lipid:protein-ratios. The latter finding indicates an efficient clustering of LH2 complexes in the phospholipid membranes. Similar results were obtained for the LH2 complexes from Rb. sphaeroides.

  4. Two novel nonlinear optical carbonates in the deep-ultraviolet region: KBeCO3F and RbAlCO3F2

    PubMed Central

    Kang, Lei; Lin, Zheshuai; Qin, Jingui; Chen, Chuangtian

    2013-01-01

    With the rapid developments of the all-solid-state deep-ultraviolet (deep-UV) lasers, the good nonlinear optical (NLO) crystal applied in this spectral region is currently lacking. Here, we design two novel NLO carbonates KBeCO3F and RbAlCO3F2 from the first-principles theory implemented in the molecular engineering expert system especially for NLO crystals. Both structurally stable crystals possess very large energy band gaps and optical anisotropy, so they would become the very promising deep-UV NLO crystals alternative to KBBF. Recent experimental results on MNCO3F (M = K, Rb, Cs; N = Ca, Sr, Ba) not only confirm our calculations, but also suggest that the synthesis of the KBeCO3F and RbAlCO3F2 crystals is feasible. PMID:23455618

  5. Observation of Quantum Beating in rb at 2.1 THz and 18.2 THz: Long-Range Rb^{*}-Rb Interactions.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goldshlag, William; Ricconi, Brian J.; Eden, J. Gary

    2017-06-01

    The interaction of Rb 7s ^{2}S_{1/2}, 5d ^{2}D_{3/2,5/2} and 5p ^{2}P_{3/2} atoms with the background species at long range (100-1000Å) has been observed by pump-probe ultrafast laser spectroscopy. Parametric four-wave mixing in Rb vapor with pairs of 50-70 fs pulses produces coherent Rb 6P-5S emission at 420 nm that is modulated by Rb quantum beating. The two dominant beating frequencies are 18.2 THz and 2.07 THz, corresponding to quantum beating between 7S and 5D states and to the (5D-5P_{3/2})-(5P_{3/2}-5S) defect, respectively. Analysis of Rabi oscillations in these pump-probe experiments allows for the mean interaction energy at long range to be determined. The figure shows Fourier transform spectra of representative Rabi oscillation waveforms. The waveform and spectrum at left illustrate quantum beating in Rb at 2.1 THz. The spectrum at right is dominated by the 18.2 THz frequency component generated by 7S-5D beating in Rb. Insets show respective temporal behaviors of the 6P-5S line near the coherent transient (zero interpulse delay).

  6. Therapeutic Strategies Against Cyclin E1 Amplified Ovarian Cancers

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-10-01

    interaction will lead to enhancement of RB/E2F interaction and suppression of E2F- dependent oncogenic activity resulting in activity against CCNE1-amplified...relevant for CCNE1-amplified ovarian tumors which are dependent on hyperactive HR and are sensitive to suppression of BRCA1. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Ovarian...enhancement of RB/E2F interaction and suppression of E2F- dependent oncogenic activity resulting in activity against CCNE1-amplified cells. In the third

  7. Pumilio and nanos RNA-binding proteins counterbalance the transcriptional consequences of RB1 inactivation.

    PubMed

    Miles, Wayne O; Dyson, Nicholas J

    2014-01-01

    The ability of the retinoblastoma protein (RB) tumor suppressor to repress transcription stimulated by the E2 promoter binding factors (E2F) is integral to its biological functions. Our recent report described a conserved feedback mechanism mediated by the RNA-binding proteins Pumilio and Nanos that increases in importance following RB loss and helps cells to tolerate deregulated E2F.

  8. Stochastic E2F activation and reconciliation of phenomenological cell-cycle models.

    PubMed

    Lee, Tae J; Yao, Guang; Bennett, Dorothy C; Nevins, Joseph R; You, Lingchong

    2010-09-21

    The transition of the mammalian cell from quiescence to proliferation is a highly variable process. Over the last four decades, two lines of apparently contradictory, phenomenological models have been proposed to account for such temporal variability. These include various forms of the transition probability (TP) model and the growth control (GC) model, which lack mechanistic details. The GC model was further proposed as an alternative explanation for the concept of the restriction point, which we recently demonstrated as being controlled by a bistable Rb-E2F switch. Here, through a combination of modeling and experiments, we show that these different lines of models in essence reflect different aspects of stochastic dynamics in cell cycle entry. In particular, we show that the variable activation of E2F can be described by stochastic activation of the bistable Rb-E2F switch, which in turn may account for the temporal variability in cell cycle entry. Moreover, we show that temporal dynamics of E2F activation can be recast into the frameworks of both the TP model and the GC model via parameter mapping. This mapping suggests that the two lines of phenomenological models can be reconciled through the stochastic dynamics of the Rb-E2F switch. It also suggests a potential utility of the TP or GC models in defining concise, quantitative phenotypes of cell physiology. This may have implications in classifying cell types or states.

  9. Synthesis and properties of Rb2GeF6:Mn4+ red-emitting phosphors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sakurai, Shono; Nakamura, Toshihiro; Adachi, Sadao

    2018-02-01

    Rb2GeF6:Mn4+ red-emitting phosphors were synthesized by coprecipitation and their structural and optical properties were investigated by laser microscopy observation, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, photoluminescence (PL) analysis, PL excitation (PLE) spectroscopy, and PL decay measurement. Single-crystalline ingots in the form of a hexagonal pyramid were prepared with a basal plane diameter of ˜2 mm. The XRD analysis suggested that Rb2GeF6 crystallizes in the hexagonal structure (C6v4 = P63mc) with a = 0.5955 nm and c = 0.9672 nm. The phosphor exhibited the strong Mn4+-related zero-phonon line (ZPL) emission peak typically observed in host crystals with piezoelectrically active lattices such as a hexagonal lattice. The quantum efficiencies of the bulk ingot and powdered samples were 87 and 74%, respectively, with nearly the same luminescence decay time of ˜6 ms. The exact ZPL energies and related crystal-field and Racah parameters were obtained from the PL and PLE spectra by Franck-Condon analysis. Temperature-dependent PL intensities were analyzed from T = 20 to 500 K using a thermal quenching model by considering Bose-Einstein phonon statistics. A comparative discussion on the phosphor properties of Rb2GeF6:Mn4+ and Rb2MF6:Mn4+ with M = Si and Ti was also given.

  10. Pumilio and nanos RNA-binding proteins counterbalance the transcriptional consequences of RB1 inactivation

    PubMed Central

    Miles, Wayne O; Dyson, Nicholas J

    2014-01-01

    The ability of the retinoblastoma protein (RB) tumor suppressor to repress transcription stimulated by the E2 promoter binding factors (E2F) is integral to its biological functions. Our recent report described a conserved feedback mechanism mediated by the RNA-binding proteins Pumilio and Nanos that increases in importance following RB loss and helps cells to tolerate deregulated E2F. PMID:27308363

  11. Synthesis and characterization of new fluoride-containing manganese vanadates A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn{sub 2}VO{sub 4}F

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sanjeewa, Liurukara D.; McGuire, Michael A.; Smith Pellizzeri, Tiffany M.

    2016-09-15

    Large single crystals of A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn{sub 2}VO{sub 4}F were grown using a high-temperature (~600 °C) hydrothermal technique. Single crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction were utilized to characterize the structures, which both possess MnO{sub 4}F{sub 2} building blocks. The A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} series crystallizes as a new structure type in space group Pbcn (No. 60), Z=4 (Rb{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2}: a=7.4389(17) Å, b=11.574(3) Å, c=10.914(2) Å; Cs{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2}: a=7.5615(15) Å, b=11.745(2) Å, c=11.127(2) Å). The structure is composed of zigzag chains ofmore » edge-sharing MnO{sub 4}F{sub 2} units running along the a-axis, and interconnected through V{sub 2}O{sub 7} pyrovanadate groups. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements on this interesting one-dimensional structural feature based on Mn{sup 2+} indicated that Cs{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} is antiferromagnetic with a Neél temperature, T{sub N}=~3 K and a Weiss constant, θ, of −11.7(1) K. Raman and infrared spectra were also analyzed to identify the fundamental V–O vibrational modes in Cs{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2}. Mn{sub 2}(VO{sub 4})F crystalizes in the monoclinic space group of C2/c (no. 15), Z=8 with unit cell parameters of a=13.559(2) Å, b=6.8036(7) Å, c=10.1408(13) Å and β=116.16(3)°. The structure is associated with those of triplite and wagnerite. Dynamic fluorine disorder gives rise to complex alternating chains of five-and six-coordinate Mn{sup 2+}. These interpenetrating chains are additionally connected through isolated VO{sub 4} tetrahedra to form the condensed structure. - Graphical abstract: New vanadate fluorides A{sub 2}Mn{sub 2}V{sub 2}O{sub 7}F{sub 2} (A=Rb, Cs) and Mn{sub 2}(VO{sub 4})F have been synthesized hydrothermally. Upon cooling, the one-dimensional Mn(II) substructure results in

  12. E2F1 and NF-κB: Key Mediators of Inflammation-associated Cancers and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yulin; Chen, Rui; Zhou, Jianwei

    2016-01-01

    Inflammation is the fundamental protective response; however disordered immuno-response can cause chronic human disease, including cancer. Inflammatory cells and mediators are essential to the tumor microenvironment and dissection of this complex molecular and cellular milieu may elucidate a connection between cancer and inflammation and help to identify potential novel therapeutic targets. Thus, focusing on transcription factor NF-κB and E2F1 in inflammation-associated cancer is urgent. NF-κB activation is prevalent in carcinomas, mainly driven by inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. E2F1 is also involved in regulating immune responses. Understanding the crosstalk between the two pathways may contribute to the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

  13. Molecular pathways: regulation of metabolism by RB.

    PubMed

    Clem, Brian F; Chesney, Jason

    2012-11-15

    The discovery of the retinoblastoma (RB-1) gene as a tumor suppressor that is disrupted in a majority of human cancers either via direct or indirect genetic alterations has resulted in increased interest in its functions and downstream effectors. Although the canonical pathway that links this tumor suppressor to human cancers details its interaction with the E2F transcription factors and cell-cycle progression, recent studies have shown an essential role for RB-1 in the suppression of glycolytic and glutaminolytic metabolism. Characterization of the precise metabolic transporters and enzymes suppressed by the RB-E2F axis should enable the identification of small molecule antagonists that have selective and potent antitumor properties. ©2012 AACR.

  14. TFDP3 was expressed in coordination with E2F1 to inhibit E2F1-mediated apoptosis in prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Ma, Yueyun; Xin, Yijuan; Li, Rui; Wang, Zhe; Yue, Qiaohong; Xiao, Fengjing; Hao, Xiaoke

    2014-03-10

    TFDP3 has been previously identified as an inhibitor of E2F molecules. It has been shown to suppress E2F1-induced apoptosis dependent P53 and to play a potential role in carcinogenesis. However, whether it indeed helps cancer cells tolerate apoptosis stress in cancer tissues remains unknown. TFDP3 expression was assessed by RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in normal human tissues, cancer tissues and prostate cancer tissues. The association between TFDP3 and E2F1 in prostate cancer development was analyzed in various stages. Apoptosis was evaluated with annexin-V and propidium iodide staining and flow-cytometry. The results show that, in 96 samples of normal human tissues, TFDP3 could be detected in the cerebrum, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, bronchus, breast, ovary, uterus, and skin, but seldom in the lung, muscles, prostate, and liver. In addition, TFDP3 was highly expressed in numerous cancer tissues, such as brain-keratinous, lung squamous cell carcinoma, testicular seminoma, cervical carcinoma, skin squamous cell carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, liver cancer, and prostate cancer. Moreover, TFDP3 was positive in 23 (62.2%) of 37 prostate cancer samples regardless of stage. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry results show that TFDP3 was always expressed in coordination with E2F1 at equivalent expression levels in prostate cancer tissues, and was highly expressed particularly in samples of high stage. When E2F1 was extrogenously expressed in LNCap cells, TFDP3 could be induced, and the apoptosis induced by E2F1 was significantly decreased. It was demonstrated that TFDP3 was a broadly expressed protein corresponding to E2F1 in human tissues, and suggested that TFDP3 is involved in prostate cancer cell survival by suppressing apoptosis induced by E2F1. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. E2F1-mediated upregulation of p19INK4d determines its periodic expression during cell cycle and regulates cellular proliferation.

    PubMed

    Carcagno, Abel L; Marazita, Mariela C; Ogara, María F; Ceruti, Julieta M; Sonzogni, Silvina V; Scassa, María E; Giono, Luciana E; Cánepa, Eduardo T

    2011-01-01

    A central aspect of development and disease is the control of cell proliferation through regulation of the mitotic cycle. Cell cycle progression and directionality requires an appropriate balance of positive and negative regulators whose expression must fluctuate in a coordinated manner. p19INK4d, a member of the INK4 family of CDK inhibitors, has a unique feature that distinguishes it from the remaining INK4 and makes it a likely candidate for contributing to the directionality of the cell cycle. p19INK4d mRNA and protein levels accumulate periodically during the cell cycle under normal conditions, a feature reminiscent of cyclins. In this paper, we demonstrate that p19INK4d is transcriptionally regulated by E2F1 through two response elements present in the p19INK4d promoter. Ablation of this regulation reduced p19 levels and restricted its expression during the cell cycle, reflecting the contribution of a transcriptional effect of E2F1 on p19 periodicity. The induction of p19INK4d is delayed during the cell cycle compared to that of cyclin E, temporally separating the induction of these proliferative and antiproliferative target genes. Specific inhibition of the E2F1-p19INK4d pathway using triplex-forming oligonucleotides that block E2F1 binding on p19 promoter, stimulated cell proliferation and increased the fraction of cells in S phase. The results described here support a model of normal cell cycle progression in which, following phosphorylation of pRb, free E2F induces cyclin E, among other target genes. Once cyclinE/CDK2 takes over as the cell cycle driving kinase activity, the induction of p19 mediated by E2F1 leads to inhibition of the CDK4,6-containing complexes, bringing the G1 phase to an end. This regulatory mechanism constitutes a new negative feedback loop that terminates the G1 phase proliferative signal, contributing to the proper coordination of the cell cycle and provides an additional mechanism to limit E2F activity.

  16. E2F1-Mediated Upregulation of p19INK4d Determines Its Periodic Expression during Cell Cycle and Regulates Cellular Proliferation

    PubMed Central

    Carcagno, Abel L.; Marazita, Mariela C.; Ogara, María F.; Ceruti, Julieta M.; Sonzogni, Silvina V.; Scassa, María E.; Giono, Luciana E.; Cánepa, Eduardo T.

    2011-01-01

    Background A central aspect of development and disease is the control of cell proliferation through regulation of the mitotic cycle. Cell cycle progression and directionality requires an appropriate balance of positive and negative regulators whose expression must fluctuate in a coordinated manner. p19INK4d, a member of the INK4 family of CDK inhibitors, has a unique feature that distinguishes it from the remaining INK4 and makes it a likely candidate for contributing to the directionality of the cell cycle. p19INK4d mRNA and protein levels accumulate periodically during the cell cycle under normal conditions, a feature reminiscent of cyclins. Methodology/Principal Findings In this paper, we demonstrate that p19INK4d is transcriptionally regulated by E2F1 through two response elements present in the p19INK4d promoter. Ablation of this regulation reduced p19 levels and restricted its expression during the cell cycle, reflecting the contribution of a transcriptional effect of E2F1 on p19 periodicity. The induction of p19INK4d is delayed during the cell cycle compared to that of cyclin E, temporally separating the induction of these proliferative and antiproliferative target genes. Specific inhibition of the E2F1-p19INK4d pathway using triplex-forming oligonucleotides that block E2F1 binding on p19 promoter, stimulated cell proliferation and increased the fraction of cells in S phase. Conclusions/Significance The results described here support a model of normal cell cycle progression in which, following phosphorylation of pRb, free E2F induces cyclin E, among other target genes. Once cyclinE/CDK2 takes over as the cell cycle driving kinase activity, the induction of p19 mediated by E2F1 leads to inhibition of the CDK4,6-containing complexes, bringing the G1 phase to an end. This regulatory mechanism constitutes a new negative feedback loop that terminates the G1 phase proliferative signal, contributing to the proper coordination of the cell cycle and provides an

  17. Signalling in the epidermis: the E2F cell cycle regulatory pathway in epidermal morphogenesis, regeneration and transformation.

    PubMed

    Ivanova, Iordanka A; D'Souza, Sudhir J A; Dagnino, Lina

    2005-01-01

    The epidermis is the outermost layer in the skin, and it is the first line of defence against the environment. The epidermis also provides a barrier against loss of fluids and electrolytes, which is crucial for life. Essential in the maintenance of this tissue is its ability to continually self-renew and regenerate after injury. These two characteristics are critically dependent on the ability of the principal epidermal cell type, the keratinocyte, to proliferate and to respond to differentiation cues. Indeed, the epidermis is a multilayered tissue composed of keratinocyte stem cells and their differentiated progeny. Central for the control of cell proliferation is the E2F transcription factor regulatory network. This signaling network also includes cyclins, cdk, cdk inhibitors and the retinoblastoma (pRb) family of proteins. The biological importance of the E2F/pRb pathway is emphasized by the fact that a majority of human tumours exhibit alterations that disrupt the ability of pRb proteins to inhibit E2F, leading to permanent activation of the latter. Further, E2F is essential for normal epidermal regeneration after injury. Other member of the E2F signaling pathway are also involved in epidermal development and pathophysiology. Thus, whereas the pRb family of proteins is essential for epidermal morphogenesis, abnormal regulation of cyclins and E2F proteins results in tumorgenesis in this tissue. In this review, we discuss the role of each member of this important growth regulatory network in epidermal formation, homeostasis and carcinogenesis.

  18. Signalling In The Epidermis: The E2f Cell Cycle Regulatory Pathway In Epidermal Morphogenesis, Regeneration And Transformation

    PubMed Central

    2005-01-01

    The epidermis is the outermost layer in the skin, and it is the first line of defence against the environment. The epidermis also provides a barrier against loss of fluids and electrolytes, which is crucial for life. Essential in the maintenance of this tissue is its ability to continually self-renew and regenerate after injury. These two characteristics are critically dependent on the ability of the principal epidermal cell type, the keratinocyte, to proliferate and to respond to differentiation cues. Indeed, the epidermis is a multilayered tissue composed of keratinocyte stem cells and their differentiated progeny. Central for the control of cell proliferation is the E2F transcription factor regulatory network. This signaling network also includes cyclins, cdk, cdk inhibitors and the retinoblastoma (pRb) family of proteins. The biological importance of the E2F/pRb pathway is emphasized by the fact that a majority of human tumours exhibit alterations that disrupt the ability of pRb proteins to inhibit E2F, leading to permanent activation of the latter. Further, E2F is essential for normal epidermal regeneration after injury. Other member of the E2F signaling pathway are also involved in epidermal development and pathophysiology. Thus, whereas the pRb family of proteins is essential for epidermal morphogenesis, abnormal regulation of cyclins and E2F proteins results in tumorgenesis in this tissue. In this review, we discuss the role of each member of this important growth regulatory network in epidermal formation, homeostasis and carcinogenesis. PMID:15951853

  19. GTSE1: a novel TEAD4-E2F1 target gene involved in cell protrusions formation in triple-negative breast cancer cell models

    PubMed Central

    Stelitano, Debora; Leticia, Yamila Peche; Dalla, Emiliano; Monte, Martin; Piazza, Silvano; Schneider, Claudio

    2017-01-01

    GTSE1 over-expression has been reported as a potential marker for metastasis in various types of malignancies, including breast cancer. Despite this, the transcriptional regulation of this protein and the causes of its misregulation in tumors remain largely unknown. The aims of this work were to elucidate how GTSE1 is regulated at the transcriptional level and to clarify the mechanism underlying GTSE1-dependent cell functions in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here, we identified GTSE1 as a novel target gene of the TEAD4 transcription factor, highlighting a role for the YAP and TAZ coactivators in the transcriptional regulation of GTSE1. Moreover, we found that TEAD4 controls the formation of cell protrusions required for cell migration through GTSE1, unveiling a relevant effector role for this protein in the TEAD-dependent cellular functions and confirming TEAD4 role in promoting invasion and metastasis in breast cancer. Finally, we highlighted a role for the pRb-E2F1 pathway in the control of GTSE1 transcription and observed that treatment with drugs targeting the pRb-E2F1 or YAP/TAZ-TEAD pathways dramatically downregulated the expression levels of GTSE1 and of other genes involved in the formation of metastasis, suggesting their potential use in the treatment of TNBC. PMID:28978043

  20. Ginsenoside Rb1 protects against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative stress by increasing heme oxygenase-1 expression through an estrogen receptor-related PI3K/Akt/Nrf2-dependent pathway in human dopaminergic cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Hwang, Yong Pil; College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju; Jeong, Hye Gwang, E-mail: hgjeong@cnu.ac.k

    Phytoestrogens are polyphenolic non-steroidal plant compounds with estrogen-like biological activity. Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), is a popular traditional herbal medicine. Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1), an active component commonly found in ginseng root, is a phytoestrogen that exerts estrogen-like activity. In this study, we demonstrate that the phytoestrogen Rb1 inhibits 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced oxidative injury via an ER-dependent Gbeta1/PI3K/Akt and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway. Pretreatment of SH-SY5Y cells with Rb1 significantly reduced 6-OHDA-induced caspase-3 activation and subsequent cell death. Rb1 also up-regulated HO-1 expression, which conferred cytoprotection against 6-OHDA-induced oxidative injury. Moreover, Rb1 induced both Nrf2 nuclear translocation,more » which is upstream of HO-1 expression and PI3K activation, a pathway that is involved in induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation, HO-1 expression and cytoprotection. Also, Rb1-mediated increases in PI3K activation and HO-1 induction were reversed by co-treatment with ICI 182,780 and pertussis toxin. Taken together, these results suggest that Rb1 augments the cellular antioxidant defenses through ER-dependent HO-1 induction via the Gbeta1/PI3K/Akt-Nrf2 signaling pathway, thereby protecting cells from oxidative stress. Thus our study indicates that Rb1 has a partial cytoprotective role in dopaminergic cell culture systems.« less

  1. E2f1–3 Are Critical for Myeloid Development*

    PubMed Central

    Trikha, Prashant; Sharma, Nidhi; Opavsky, Rene; Reyes, Andres; Pena, Clarissa; Ostrowski, Michael C.; Roussel, Martine F.; Leone, Gustavo

    2011-01-01

    Hematopoietic development involves the coordinated activity of differentiation and cell cycle regulators. In current models of mammalian cell cycle control, E2f activators (E2f1, E2f2, and E2f3) are portrayed as the ultimate transcriptional effectors that commit cells to enter and progress through S phase. Using conditional gene knock-out strategies, we show that E2f1–3 are not required for the proliferation of early myeloid progenitors. Rather, these E2fs are critical for cell survival and proliferation at two distinct steps of myeloid development. First, E2f1–3 are required as transcriptional repressors for the survival of CD11b+ myeloid progenitors, and then they are required as activators for the proliferation of CD11b+ macrophages. In bone marrow macrophages, we show that E2f1–3 respond to CSF1-Myc mitogenic signals and serve to activate E2f target genes and promote their proliferation. Together, these findings expose dual functions for E2f1–3 at distinct stages of myeloid development in vivo, first as repressors in cell survival and then as activators in cell proliferation. In summary, this work places E2f1–3 in a specific signaling cascade that is critical for myeloid development in vivo. PMID:21115501

  2. HBV core promoter mutations promote cellular proliferation through E2F1-mediated upregulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 transcription.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yuehua; Tai, Andrew W; Tong, Shuping; Lok, Anna S F

    2013-06-01

    Hepatitis B virus (HBV) core promoter (CP) mutations have been associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in clinical studies. We previously reported that a combination of CP mutations seen in HCC patients, expressed in HBx gene, increased SKP2 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 2) expression, thereby promoting cellular proliferation. Here, we investigate the possible mechanisms by which CP mutations upregulate SKP2. We used immunoblotting and ATPlite assay to validate the effect of CP mutations in full-length HBV genome on cell cycle regulator levels and cell proliferation. Activation of SKP2 mRNA was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR in primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and HCC cell lines. Effect of CP mutations on SKP2 promoter activity was determined by luciferase assay. Target regulation of E2F1 on SKP2 was analyzed by siRNAs. CP mutations in full-length HBV genome upregulated SKP2 expression, thereby downregulating cell cycle inhibitors and accelerating cellular proliferation. CP mutations enhanced SKP2 promoter activity but had no effect on SKP2 protein stability. Mapping of the SKP2 promoter identified a region necessary for activation by CP mutations that contains an E2F1 response element. Knocking down E2F1 reduced the effects of CP mutations on SKP2 and cellular proliferation. The effect of CP mutations on E2F1 might be mediated through hyperphosphorylation of RB. HBV CP mutations enhance SKP2 transcription by activating the E2F1 transcription factor and in turn downregulate cell cycle inhibitors, thus providing a potential mechanism for an association between CP mutations and HCC. Copyright © 2013 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Tandem E2F Binding Sites in the Promoter of the p107 Cell Cycle Regulator Control p107 Expression and Its Cellular Functions

    PubMed Central

    Burkhart, Deborah L.; Wirt, Stacey E.; Zmoos, Anne-Flore; Kareta, Michael S.; Sage, Julien

    2010-01-01

    The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (Rb) is a potent and ubiquitously expressed cell cycle regulator, but patients with a germline Rb mutation develop a very specific tumor spectrum. This surprising observation raises the possibility that mechanisms that compensate for loss of Rb function are present or activated in many cell types. In particular, p107, a protein related to Rb, has been shown to functionally overlap for loss of Rb in several cellular contexts. To investigate the mechanisms underlying this functional redundancy between Rb and p107 in vivo, we used gene targeting in embryonic stem cells to engineer point mutations in two consensus E2F binding sites in the endogenous p107 promoter. Analysis of normal and mutant cells by gene expression and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that members of the Rb and E2F families directly bound these two sites. Furthermore, we found that these two E2F sites controlled both the repression of p107 in quiescent cells and also its activation in cycling cells, as well as in Rb mutant cells. Cell cycle assays further indicated that activation of p107 transcription during S phase through the two E2F binding sites was critical for controlled cell cycle progression, uncovering a specific role for p107 to slow proliferation in mammalian cells. Direct transcriptional repression of p107 by Rb and E2F family members provides a molecular mechanism for a critical negative feedback loop during cell cycle progression and tumorigenesis. These experiments also suggest novel therapeutic strategies to increase the p107 levels in tumor cells. PMID:20585628

  4. E2F transcription factors and digestive system malignancies: how much do we know?

    PubMed

    Evangelou, Konstantinos; Havaki, Sophia; Kotsinas, Athanassios

    2014-08-07

    The E2F proteins comprise a family of 8 members that function as transcription factors. They are key targets of the retinoblastoma protein (RB) and were initially divided into groups of activators and repressors. Accumulating data suggest that there is no specific role for each individual E2F member. Instead, each E2F can exert a variety of cellular effects, some of which represent opposing ones. For instance, specific E2Fs can activate transcription and repression, promote or hamper cell proliferation, augment or inhibit apoptosis, all being dependent on the cellular context. This complexity reflects the importance that these transcription factors have on a cell's fate. Thus, delineating the specific role for each E2F member in specific malignancies, although not easy, is a challenging and continuously pursued task, especially in view of potential E2F targeted therapies. Therefore, several reviews are continuously trying to evaluate available data on E2F status in various malignancies. Such reviews have attempted to reach a consensus, often in the simplistic form of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes for the E2Fs. However they frequently miss spatial and temporal alterations of these factors during tumor development, which should also be considered in conjunction with the status of the regulatory networks that these factors participate in. In the current ''Letter to the Editor'', we comment on the flaws, misinterpretations and omissions in one such review article published recently in the World Journal of Gastroenterology regarding the role of E2Fs in digestive system malignancies.

  5. Low Work Function 2.81 eV Rb2CO3-Doped Polyethylenimine Ethoxylated for Inverted Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

    PubMed

    Kim, Jeonggi; Kim, Hyo-Min; Jang, Jin

    2018-06-06

    We report a low work function (2.81 eV), Rb 2 CO 3 -doped polyethyleneimine ethoxylated (PEIE) which is used for highly efficient and long-lifetime, inverted organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Doping Rb 2 CO 3 into PEIE decreases the work function of Li-doped ZnO (LZO) by 1.0 eV and thus significantly improves electron injection ability into the emission layer (EML). The inverted OLED with PEIE:Rb 2 CO 3 interfacial layer (IL) exhibits higher efficiency and longer operation lifetime than those of the device with a PEIE IL. It is found also that Mg-doped ZnO (MZO) can be used instead of LZO as electron transporting layer. Rb 2 CO 3 shows a low work function of 2.81 eV. The OLED with MZO/PEIE:Rb 2 CO 3 exhibits low operating voltage of 5.0 V at 1000 cd m -2 and low efficiency roll-off of 11.8% at high luminance of 10 000 cd m -2 . The results are due to the suppressed exciton quenching at the MZO/organic EML interface.

  6. E2F1 interactions with hHR23A inhibit its degradation and promote DNA repair.

    PubMed

    Singh, Randeep K; Dagnino, Lina

    2016-05-03

    Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a major mechanism for removal of DNA lesions induced by exposure to UV radiation in the epidermis. Recognition of damaged DNA sites is the initial step in their repair, and requires multiprotein complexes that contain XPC and hHR23 proteins, or their orthologues. A variety of transcription factors are also involved in NER, including E2F1. In epidermal keratinocytes, UV exposure induces E2F1 phosphorylation, which allows it to recruit various NER factors to sites of DNA damage. However, the relationship between E2F1 and hHR23 proteins vis-à-vis NER has remained unexplored. We now show that E2F1 and hHR23 proteins can interact, and this interaction stabilizes E2F1, inhibiting its proteasomal degradation. Reciprocally, E2F1 regulates hHR23A subcellular localization, recruiting it to sites of DNA photodamage. As a result, E2F1 and hHR23A enhance DNA repair following exposure to UV radiation, contributing to genomic stability in the epidermis.

  7. E2F1 interactions with hHR23A inhibit its degradation and promote DNA repair

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Randeep K.; Dagnino, Lina

    2016-01-01

    Nucleotide excision repair (NER) is a major mechanism for removal of DNA lesions induced by exposure to UV radiation in the epidermis. Recognition of damaged DNA sites is the initial step in their repair, and requires multiprotein complexes that contain XPC and hHR23 proteins, or their orthologues. A variety of transcription factors are also involved in NER, including E2F1. In epidermal keratinocytes, UV exposure induces E2F1 phosphorylation, which allows it to recruit various NER factors to sites of DNA damage. However, the relationship between E2F1 and hHR23 proteins vis-à-vis NER has remained unexplored. We now show that E2F1 and hHR23 proteins can interact, and this interaction stabilizes E2F1, inhibiting its proteasomal degradation. Reciprocally, E2F1 regulates hHR23A subcellular localization, recruiting it to sites of DNA photodamage. As a result, E2F1 and hHR23A enhance DNA repair following exposure to UV radiation, contributing to genomic stability in the epidermis. PMID:27028861

  8. Post-transcriptional gene expression control by NANOS is up-regulated and functionally important in pRb-deficient cells

    PubMed Central

    Miles, Wayne O; Korenjak, Michael; Griffiths, Lyra M; Dyer, Michael A; Provero, Paolo; Dyson, Nicholas J

    2014-01-01

    Inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (pRb) is a common oncogenic event that alters the expression of genes important for cell cycle progression, senescence, and apoptosis. However, in many contexts, the properties of pRb-deficient cells are similar to wild-type cells suggesting there may be processes that counterbalance the transcriptional changes associated with pRb inactivation. Therefore, we have looked for sets of evolutionary conserved, functionally related genes that are direct targets of pRb/E2F proteins. We show that the expression of NANOS, a key facilitator of the Pumilio (PUM) post-transcriptional repressor complex, is directly repressed by pRb/E2F in flies and humans. In both species, NANOS expression increases following inactivation of pRb/RBF1 and becomes important for tissue homeostasis. By analyzing datasets from normal retinal tissue and pRb-null retinoblastomas, we find a strong enrichment for putative PUM substrates among genes de-regulated in tumors. These include pro-apoptotic genes that are transcriptionally down-regulated upon pRb loss, and we characterize two such candidates, MAP2K3 and MAP3K1, as direct PUM substrates. Our data suggest that NANOS increases in importance in pRb-deficient cells and helps to maintain homeostasis by repressing the translation of transcripts containing PUM Regulatory Elements (PRE). PMID:25100735

  9. Post-transcriptional gene expression control by NANOS is up-regulated and functionally important in pRb-deficient cells.

    PubMed

    Miles, Wayne O; Korenjak, Michael; Griffiths, Lyra M; Dyer, Michael A; Provero, Paolo; Dyson, Nicholas J

    2014-10-01

    Inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (pRb) is a common oncogenic event that alters the expression of genes important for cell cycle progression, senescence, and apoptosis. However, in many contexts, the properties of pRb-deficient cells are similar to wild-type cells suggesting there may be processes that counterbalance the transcriptional changes associated with pRb inactivation. Therefore, we have looked for sets of evolutionary conserved, functionally related genes that are direct targets of pRb/E2F proteins. We show that the expression of NANOS, a key facilitator of the Pumilio (PUM) post-transcriptional repressor complex, is directly repressed by pRb/E2F in flies and humans. In both species, NANOS expression increases following inactivation of pRb/RBF1 and becomes important for tissue homeostasis. By analyzing datasets from normal retinal tissue and pRb-null retinoblastomas, we find a strong enrichment for putative PUM substrates among genes de-regulated in tumors. These include pro-apoptotic genes that are transcriptionally down-regulated upon pRb loss, and we characterize two such candidates, MAP2K3 and MAP3K1, as direct PUM substrates. Our data suggest that NANOS increases in importance in pRb-deficient cells and helps to maintain homeostasis by repressing the translation of transcripts containing PUM Regulatory Elements (PRE). © 2014 The Authors.

  10. Compact setup for the production of {sup 87}Rb |F = 2, m{sub F} = + 2〉 Bose-Einstein condensates in a hybrid trap

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nolli, Raffaele; Venturelli, Michela; Marmugi, Luca, E-mail: l.marmugi@ucl.ac.uk

    We present a compact experimental apparatus for Bose-Einstein condensation of {sup 87}Rb in the |F  =  2, m{sub F} = + 2〉 state. A pre-cooled atomic beam of {sup 87}Rb is obtained by using an unbalanced magneto-optical trap, allowing controlled transfer of trapped atoms from the first vacuum chamber to the science chamber. Here, atoms are transferred to a hybrid trap, as produced by overlapping a magnetic quadrupole trap with a far-detuned optical trap with crossed beam configuration, where forced radiofrequency evaporation is realized. The final evaporation leading to Bose-Einstein condensation is then performed by exponentially lowering the optical trapmore » depth. Control and stabilization systems of the optical trap beams are discussed in detail. The setup reliably produces a pure condensate in the |F = 2, m{sub F} = + 2〉 state in 50 s, which includes 33 s loading of the science magneto-optical trap and 17 s forced evaporation.« less

  11. Rb-Raf-1 interaction disruptor RRD-251 induces apoptosis in metastatic melanoma cells and synergizes with dacarbazine

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Sandeep; Davis, Rebecca; Alamanda, Vignesh; Pireddu, Roberta; Pernazza, Daniel; Sebti, Said; Lawrence, Nicholas; Chellappan, Srikumar

    2010-01-01

    Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive cancer with very low response rate against conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as dacarbazine (DTIC). Inhibitor of Rb-Raf-1 interaction (RRD-251) was tested against the melanoma cell lines SK-MEL-28, SK-MEL-5 and SK-MEL-2. RRD-251 was found to be a potent inhibitor of melanoma cell proliferation, irrespective of V600E B-Raf mutation status of the cell lines. In a SK-MEL-28 xenograft experiment, RRD-251 exerted a significant suppression of tumor growth compared to vehicle (p=0.003). Similar to in vitro effects, tumors from RRD-251 treated animals showed decreased Rb-Raf-1 interaction in vivo. Growth suppressive effects of RRD-251 were associated with induction of apoptosis as well as a G1 arrest, with an accompanying decrease in S-phase cells. RRD-251 inhibited Rb phosphorylation, and downregulated E2F1 protein levels in these cells. Real-time PCR analysis showed that RRD-251 caused downregulation of cell cycle regulatory genes thymidylate synthase (TS) and cdc6 as well as anti-apoptotic gene Mcl-1. Combinatorial treatment of RRD-251 and DTIC resulted in a significantly higher apoptosis in DTIC resistant cell lines SK-MEL-28 and SK-MEL-5, as revealed by increased Caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage. Since aberrant Rb/E2F pathway is associated with melanoma progression and resistance to apoptosis, these results suggest that the Rb-Raf-1 inhibitor could be an effective agent for melanoma treatment, either alone or in combination with DTIC. PMID:21139044

  12. Rb-Raf-1 interaction disruptor RRD-251 induces apoptosis in metastatic melanoma cells and synergizes with dacarbazine.

    PubMed

    Singh, Sandeep; Davis, Rebecca; Alamanda, Vignesh; Pireddu, Roberta; Pernazza, Daniel; Sebti, Said; Lawrence, Nicholas; Chellappan, Srikumar

    2010-12-01

    Metastatic melanoma is an aggressive cancer with very low response rate against conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as dacarbazine (DTIC). Inhibitor of Rb-Raf-1 interaction RRD-251 was tested against the melanoma cell lines SK-MEL-28, SK-MEL-5, and SK-MEL-2. RRD-251 was found to be a potent inhibitor of melanoma cell proliferation, irrespective of V600E B-Raf mutation status of the cell lines. In a SK-MEL-28 xenograft experiment, RRD-251 exerted a significant suppression of tumor growth compared with vehicle (P = 0.003). Similar to in vitro effects, tumors from RRD-251-treated animals showed decreased Rb-Raf-1 interaction in vivo. Growth suppressive effects of RRD-251 were associated with induction of apoptosis as well as a G(1) arrest, with an accompanying decrease in S-phase cells. RRD-251 inhibited Rb phosphorylation and downregulated E2F1 protein levels in these cells. Real-time PCR analysis showed that RRD-251 caused downregulation of cell-cycle regulatory genes thymidylate synthase (TS) and cdc6 as well as the antiapoptotic gene Mcl-1. Combinatorial treatment of RRD-251 and DTIC resulted in a significantly higher apoptosis in DTIC resistant cell lines SK-MEL-28 and SK-MEL-5, as revealed by increased caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage. Because aberrant Rb/E2F pathway is associated with melanoma progression and resistance to apoptosis, these results suggest that the Rb-Raf-1 inhibitor could be an effective agent for melanoma treatment, either alone or in combination with DTIC. ©2010 AACR.

  13. RB1 is the crucial target of the Merkel cell polyomavirus Large T antigen in Merkel cell carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Hesbacher, Sonja; Pfitzer, Lisa; Wiedorfer, Katharina; Angermeyer, Sabrina; Borst, Andreas; Haferkamp, Sebastian; Scholz, Claus-Jürgen; Wobser, Marion; Schrama, David; Houben, Roland

    2016-05-31

    The pocket protein (PP) family consists of the three members RB1, p107 and p130 all possessing tumor suppressive properties. Indeed, the PPs jointly control the G1/S transition mainly by inhibiting E2F transcription factors. Notably, several viral oncoproteins are capable of binding and inhibiting PPs. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is considered as etiological factor for Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) with expression of the viral Large T antigen (LT) harboring an intact PP binding domain being required for proliferation of most MCC cells. Therefore, we analyzed the interaction of MCPyV-LT with the PPs. Co-IP experiments indicate that MCPyV-LT binds potently only to RB1. Moreover, MCPyV-LT knockdown-induced growth arrest in MCC cells can be rescued by knockdown of RB1, but not by p107 or p130 knockdown. Accordingly, cell cycle arrest and E2F target gene repression mediated by the single PPs can only in the case of RB1 be significantly reverted by MCPyV-LT expression. Moreover, data from an MCC patient indicate that loss of RB1 rendered the MCPyV-positive MCC cells LT independent. Thus, our results suggest that RB1 is the dominant tumor suppressor PP in MCC, and that inactivation of RB1 by MCPyV-LT is largely sufficient for its growth supporting function in established MCPyV-positive MCC cells.

  14. Interaction of the Retinoblastoma Protein with Orc1 and Its Recruitment to Human Origins of DNA Replication

    PubMed Central

    Mendoza-Maldonado, Ramiro; Paolinelli, Roberta; Galbiati, Laura; Giadrossi, Sara; Giacca, Mauro

    2010-01-01

    Background The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) is a crucial regulator of cell cycle progression by binding with E2F transcription factor and repressing the expression of a variety of genes required for the G1-S phase transition. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we show that Rb and E2F1 directly participate in the control of initiation of DNA replication in human HeLa, U2OS and T98G cells by specifically binding to origins of DNA replication in a cell cycle regulated manner. We show that, both in vitro and inside the cells, the largest subunit of the origin recognition complex (Orc1) specifically binds hypo-phosphorylated Rb and that this interaction is competitive with the binding of Rb to E2F1. The displacement of Rb-bound Orc1 by E2F1 at origins of DNA replication marks the progression of the G1 phase of the cell cycle toward the G1-S border. Conclusions/Significance The participation of Rb and E2F1 in the formation of the multiprotein complex that binds origins of DNA replication in mammalian cells appears to represent an effective mechanism to couple the expression of genes required for cell cycle progression to the activation of DNA replication. PMID:21085491

  15. Red-emitting phosphor Rb2TiF6:Mn4+ with high thermal-quenching resistance for wide color-gamut white light-emitting diodes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Zhengliang; Yang, Zhiyu; Tan, Huiying; Brik, Mikhail G.; Zhou, Qiang; Chen, Guo; Liang, Hongbin

    2017-10-01

    Red-emitting phosphor plays a critical role in improving performance of the phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes (pc-WLEDs). Herein, a red-emitting phosphor, Rb2TiF6:Mn4+, was synthesized via the ion exchange method under mild condition. The crystal structure and morphology were characterized by the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Rietveld refinements of Rb2TiF6:Mn4+ indicate that this sample is of single phase with hexagonal crystal structure. The as-prepared Rb2TiF6:Mn4+ has sharp red emissions with broad excitation band at ∼460 nm. The luminescent behavior of Mn4+ was discussed in detail. The temperature-dependent emission spectra of Rb2TiF6:Mn4+ indicate that this phosphor shares high thermal quenching resistance and excellent color stability. A series of WLEDs with tunable color rendering index and color temperature were fabricated by combining commercial Y3Al5O12:Ce3+ and Rb2TiF6:Mn4+ on blue GaN-LED chips. With the addition of Rb2TiF6:Mn4+, WLED with wide gamut was obtained with low color temperature (3123 K), high color rendering index (91.5) and high luminous efficacy (187.9 lm/W). These findings show this phosphor could be a promising commercial red phosphor in wide color-gamut WLEDs.

  16. New high performing scintillators: RbSr2Br5:Eu and RbSr2I5:Eu

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stand, L.; Zhuravleva, M.; Johnson, J.; Koschan, M.; Lukosi, E.; Melcher, C. L.

    2017-11-01

    We report the crystal growth and scintillation properties of two new ternary metal halide scintillators, RbSr2Br5 and RbSr2I5, activated with divalent europium. Transparent 7 mm diameter single crystals with 2.5% Eu2+ were grown in evacuated quartz ampoules via the Bridgman technique. RbSr2Br5 and RbSr2I5 have monoclinic crystal structures with densities of 4.18 g/cm3 and 4.55 g/cm3 respectively. These materials are hygroscopic and have some intrinsic radioactivity due to the presence of 87Rb. Luminescence properties typical of the 5d-4f radiative transition in Eu2+ were observed. The X-ray excited emissions consisted of singular peaks centered at 429 nm for RbSr2Br5:Eu 2.5% and 445 nm for RbSr2I4:Eu 2.5%. RbSr2Br5:Eu 2.5% had a light yield of 64,700 photons/MeV, with an energy resolution of 4.0%, and RbSr2I5:Eu 2.5% had a light yield of 90,400 ph/MeV with an energy resolution of 3.0% at 662 keV. Both crystals have an excellent proportional response over a wide range of gamma-ray energies.

  17. Differentiation-associated microRNAs antagonize the Rb–E2F pathway to restrict proliferation

    PubMed Central

    Marzi, Matteo J.; Puggioni, Eleonora M. R.; Dall'Olio, Valentina; Bucci, Gabriele; Bernard, Loris; Bianchi, Fabrizio; Crescenzi, Marco

    2012-01-01

    The cancer-associated loss of microRNA (miRNA) expression leads to a proliferative advantage and aggressive behavior through largely unknown mechanisms. Here, we exploit a model system that recapitulates physiological terminal differentiation and its reversal upon oncogene expression to analyze coordinated mRNA/miRNA responses. The cell cycle reentry of myotubes, forced by the E1A oncogene, was associated with a pattern of mRNA/miRNA modulation that was largely reciprocal to that induced during the differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes. The E1A-induced mRNA response was preponderantly Retinoblastoma protein (Rb)-dependent. Conversely, the miRNA response was mostly Rb-independent and exerted through tissue-specific factors and Myc. A subset of these miRNAs (miR-1, miR-34, miR-22, miR-365, miR-29, miR-145, and Let-7) was shown to coordinately target Rb-dependent cell cycle and DNA replication mRNAs. Thus, a dual level of regulation—transcriptional regulation via Rb–E2F and posttranscriptional regulation via miRNAs—confers robustness to cell cycle control and provides a molecular basis to understand the role of miRNA subversion in cancer. PMID:23027903

  18. Insight into the architecture of the NuRD complex: structure of the RbAp48-MTA1 subcomplex.

    PubMed

    Alqarni, Saad S M; Murthy, Andal; Zhang, Wei; Przewloka, Marcin R; Silva, Ana P G; Watson, Aleksandra A; Lejon, Sara; Pei, Xue Y; Smits, Arne H; Kloet, Susan L; Wang, Hongxin; Shepherd, Nicholas E; Stokes, Philippa H; Blobel, Gerd A; Vermeulen, Michiel; Glover, David M; Mackay, Joel P; Laue, Ernest D

    2014-08-08

    The nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex is a widely conserved transcriptional co-regulator that harbors both nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase activities. It plays a critical role in the early stages of ES cell differentiation and the reprogramming of somatic to induced pluripotent stem cells. Abnormalities in several NuRD proteins are associated with cancer and aging. We have investigated the architecture of NuRD by determining the structure of a subcomplex comprising RbAp48 and MTA1. Surprisingly, RbAp48 recognizes MTA1 using the same site that it uses to bind histone H4, showing that assembly into NuRD modulates RbAp46/48 interactions with histones. Taken together with other results, our data show that the MTA proteins act as scaffolds for NuRD complex assembly. We further show that the RbAp48-MTA1 interaction is essential for the in vivo integration of RbAp46/48 into the NuRD complex. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  19. G1 arrest and differentiation can occur independently of Rb family function

    PubMed Central

    Wirt, Stacey E.; Adler, Adam S.; Gebala, Véronique; Weimann, James M.; Schaffer, Bethany E.; Saddic, Louis A.; Viatour, Patrick; Vogel, Hannes; Chang, Howard Y.; Meissner, Alex

    2010-01-01

    The ability of progenitor cells to exit the cell cycle is essential for proper embryonic development and homeostasis, but the mechanisms governing cell cycle exit are still not fully understood. Here, we tested the requirement for the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and its family members p107 and p130 in G0/G1 arrest and differentiation in mammalian cells. We found that Rb family triple knockout (TKO) mouse embryos survive until days 9–11 of gestation. Strikingly, some TKO cells, including in epithelial and neural lineages, are able to exit the cell cycle in G0/G1 and differentiate in teratomas and in culture. This ability of TKO cells to arrest in G0/G1 is associated with the repression of key E2F target genes. Thus, G1 arrest is not always dependent on Rb family members, which illustrates the robustness of cell cycle regulatory networks during differentiation and allows for the identification of candidate pathways to inhibit the expansion of cancer cells with mutations in the Rb pathway. PMID:21059851

  20. The RB-related gene Rb2/p130 in neuroblastoma differentiation and in B-myb promoter down-regulation.

    PubMed

    Raschellà, G; Tanno, B; Bonetto, F; Negroni, A; Claudio, P P; Baldi, A; Amendola, R; Calabretta, B; Giordano, A; Paggi, M G

    1998-05-01

    The retinoblastoma family of nuclear factors is composed of RB, the prototype of the tumour suppressor genes and of the strictly related genes p107 and Rb2/p130. The three genes code for proteins, namely pRb, p107 and pRb2/p130, that share similar structures and functions. These proteins are expressed, often simultaneously, in many cell types and are involved in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation. We determined the expression and the phosphorylation of the RB family gene products during the DMSO-induced differentiation of the N1E-115 murine neuroblastoma cells. In this system, pRb2/p130 was strongly up-regulated during mid-late differentiation stages, while, on the contrary, pRb and p107 resulted markedly decreased at late stages. Differentiating N1E-115 cells also showed a progressive decrease in B-myb levels, a proliferation-related protein whose constitutive expression inhibits neuronal differentiation. Transfection of each of the RB family genes in these cells was able, at different degrees, to induce neuronal differentiation, to inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation and to down-regulate the activity of the B-myb promoter.

  1. Role of Acentric Displacements on the Crystal Structure and Second-Harmonic Generating Properties of RbPbCO3F and CsPbCO3F

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    Two lead fluorocarbonates, RbPbCO3F and CsPbCO3F, were synthesized and characterized. The materials were synthesized through solvothermal and conventional solid-state techniques. RbPbCO3F and CsPbCO3F were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and exhibit three-dimensional (3D) crystal structures consisting of corner-shared PbO6F2 polyhedra. For RbPbCO3F, infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis measurements were performed. RbPbCO3F is a new noncentrosymmetric material and crystallizes in the achiral and nonpolar space group P6̅m2 (crystal class 6̅m2). Powder second-harmonic generation (SHG) measurements on RbPbCO3F and CsPbCO3F using 1064 nm radiation revealed an SHG efficiency of approximately 250 and 300 × α-SiO2, respectively. Charge constants d33 of approximately 72 and 94 pm/V were obtained for RbPbCO3F and CsPbCO3F, respectively, through converse piezoelectric measurements. Electronic structure calculations indicate that the nonlinear optical response originates from the distorted PbO6F2 polyhedra, because of the even–odd parity mixing of the O 2p states with the nearly spherically symmetric 6s electrons of Pb2+. The degree of inversion symmetry breaking is quantified using a mode-polarization vector analysis and is correlated with cation size mismatch, from which it is possible to deduce the acentric properties of 3D alkali-metal fluorocarbonates. PMID:24867361

  2. Bioactive constituents from Chinese natural medicines. XXII. Absolute structures of new megastigmane glycosides, sedumosides E1, E2, E3, F1, F2, and G, from Sedum sarmentosum (Crassulaceae).

    PubMed

    Morikawa, Toshio; Zhang, Yi; Nakamura, Seikou; Matsuda, Hisashi; Muraoka, Osamu; Yoshikawa, Masayuki

    2007-03-01

    Six new megastigmane glycosides, sedumosides E1, E2, E3, F1, F2, and G, were isolated from the whole plant of Sedum sarmentosum (Crassulaceae). The structures of new constituents including the absolute configuration were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence.

  3. E2F1 transcription is induced by genotoxic stress through ATM/ATR activation.

    PubMed

    Carcagno, Abel L; Ogara, María F; Sonzogni, Silvina V; Marazita, Mariela C; Sirkin, Pablo F; Ceruti, Julieta M; Cánepa, Eduardo T

    2009-05-01

    E2F1, a member of the E2F family of transcription factors, plays a critical role in controlling both cell cycle progression and apoptotic cell death in response to DNA damage and oncogene activation. Following genotoxic stresses, E2F1 protein is stabilized by phosphorylation and acetylation driven to its accumulation. The aim of the present work was to examine whether the increase in E2F1 protein levels observed after DNA damage is only a reflection of an increase in E2F1 protein stability or is also the consequence of enhanced transcription of the E2F1 gene. The data presented here demonstrates that UV light and other genotoxics induce the transcription of E2F1 gene in an ATM/ATR dependent manner, which results in increasing E2F1 mRNA and protein levels. After genotoxic stress, transcription of cyclin E, an E2F1 target gene, was significantly induced. This induction was the result of two well-differentiated effects, one of them dependent on de novo protein synthesis and the other on the protein stabilization. Our results strongly support a transcriptional effect of DNA damaging agents on E2F1 expression. The results presented herein uncover a new mechanism involving E2F1 in response to genotoxic stress.

  4. The eIF4F and eIFiso4F Complexes of Plants: An Evolutionary Perspective

    PubMed Central

    Patrick, Ryan M.; Browning, Karen S.

    2012-01-01

    Translation initiation in eukaryotes requires a number of initiation factors to recruit the assembled ribosome to mRNA. The eIF4F complex plays a key role in initiation and is a common target point for regulation of protein synthesis. Most work on the translation machinery of plants to date has focused on flowering plants, which have both the eIF4F complex (eIF4E and eIF4G) as well as the plant-specific eIFiso4F complex (eIFiso4E and eIFiso4G). The increasing availability of plant genome sequence data has made it possible to trace the evolutionary history of these two complexes in plants, leading to several interesting discoveries. eIFiso4G is conserved throughout plants, while eIFiso4E only appears with the evolution of flowering plants. The eIF4G N-terminus, which has been difficult to annotate, appears to be well conserved throughout the plant lineage and contains two motifs of unknown function. Comparison of eIFiso4G and eIF4G sequence data suggests conserved features unique to eIFiso4G and eIF4G proteins. These findings have answered some questions about the evolutionary history of the two eIF4F complexes of plants, while raising new ones. PMID:22611336

  5. Arginine methylation-dependent reader-writer interplay governs growth control by E2F-1

    PubMed Central

    Zheng, Shunsheng; Moehlenbrink, Jutta; Lu, Yi-Chien; Zalmas, Lykourgos-Panagiotis; Sagum, Cari A.; Carr, Simon; McGouran, Joanna F.; Alexander, Leila; Fedorov, Oleg; Munro, Shonagh; Kessler, Benedikt; Bedford, Mark T.; Yu, Qiang; La Thangue, Nicholas B.

    2014-01-01

    Summary The mechanisms that underlie and dictate the different biological outcomes of E2F-1 activity have yet to be elucidated. We describe the residue-specific methylation of E2F-1 by the asymmetric dimethylating protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) 1 and symmetric dimethylating PRMT5, and relate the marks to different functional consequences of E2F-1 activity. Methylation by PRMT1 hinders methylation by PRMT5, which augments E2F-1-dependent apoptosis, whereas PRMT5-dependent methylation favours proliferation by antagonising methylation by PRMT1. The ability of E2F-1 to prompt apoptosis in DNA damaged cells coincides with enhanced PRMT1 methylation. In contrast, cyclin A binding to E2F-1 impedes PRMT1 methylation and augments PRMT5 methylation, thus ensuring that E2F-1 is locked into its cell cycle progression mode. The Tudor domain protein p100-TSN reads the symmetric methylation mark, and binding of p100-TSN down-regulates E2F-1 apoptotic activity. Our results define an exquisite level of precision in the reader-writer interplay that governs the biological outcome of E2F-1 activity. PMID:24076217

  6. RB Loss Promotes Prostate Cancer Metastasis

    PubMed Central

    Thangavel, Chellappagounder; Boopathi, Ettickan; Liu, Yi; Haber, Alex; Ertel, Adam; Bhardwaj, Anshul; Addya, Sankar; Williams, Noelle; Ciment, Stephen J.; Cotzia, Paolo; Dean, Jeffry L.; Snook, Adam; McNair, Chris; Price, Matt; Hernandez, James R.; Zhao, Shuang G.; Birbe, Ruth; McCarthy, James B.; Turley, Eva A.; Pienta, Kenneth J.; Feng, Felix Y.; Dicker, Adam P.; Knudsen, Karen E.; Den, Robert B.

    2017-01-01

    RB loss occurs commonly in neoplasia but its contributions to advanced cancer have not been assessed directly. Here we show that RB loss in multiple murine models of cancer produces a prometastatic phenotype. Gene expression analyses showed that regulation of the cell motility receptor RHAMM by the RB/E2F pathway was critical for epithelial–mesenchymal transition, motility, and invasion by cancer cells. Genetic modulation or pharmacologic inhibition of RHAMM activity was sufficient and necessary for metastatic phenotypes induced by RB loss in prostate cancer. Mechanistic studies in this setting established that RHAMM stabilized F-actin polymerization by controlling ROCK signaling. Collectively, our findings show how RB loss drives metastatic capacity and highlight RHAMM as a candidate therapeutic target for treating advanced prostate cancer. PMID:27923835

  7. Rapid kinetics of iron responsive element (IRE) RNA/iron regulatory protein 1 and IRE-RNA/eIF4F complexes respond differently to metal ions.

    PubMed

    Khan, Mateen A; Ma, Jia; Walden, William E; Merrick, William C; Theil, Elizabeth C; Goss, Dixie J

    2014-06-01

    Metal ion binding was previously shown to destabilize IRE-RNA/IRP1 equilibria and enhanced IRE-RNA/eIF4F equilibria. In order to understand the relative importance of kinetics and stability, we now report rapid rates of protein/RNA complex assembly and dissociation for two IRE-RNAs with IRP1, and quantitatively different metal ion response kinetics that coincide with the different iron responses in vivo. kon, for FRT IRE-RNA binding to IRP1 was eight times faster than ACO2 IRE-RNA. Mn(2+) decreased kon and increased koff for IRP1 binding to both FRT and ACO2 IRE-RNA, with a larger effect for FRT IRE-RNA. In order to further understand IRE-mRNA regulation in terms of kinetics and stability, eIF4F kinetics with FRT IRE-RNA were determined. kon for eIF4F binding to FRT IRE-RNA in the absence of metal ions was 5-times slower than the IRP1 binding to FRT IRE-RNA. Mn(2+) increased the association rate for eIF4F binding to FRT IRE-RNA, so that at 50 µM Mn(2+) eIF4F bound more than 3-times faster than IRP1. IRP1/IRE-RNA complex has a much shorter life-time than the eIF4F/IRE-RNA complex, which suggests that both rate of assembly and stability of the complexes are important, and that allows this regulatory system to respond rapidly to change in cellular iron. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

  8. ATM Mediates pRB Function To Control DNMT1 Protein Stability and DNA Methylation

    PubMed Central

    Suzuki, Misa; Hayashi, Naoyuki; Kobayashi, Masahiko; Sasaki, Nobunari; Nishiuchi, Takumi; Doki, Yuichiro; Okamoto, Takahiro; Kohno, Susumu; Muranaka, Hayato; Kitajima, Shunsuke; Yamamoto, Ken-ichi

    2013-01-01

    The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor gene (RB) product has been implicated in epigenetic control of gene expression owing to its ability to physically bind to many chromatin modifiers. However, the biological and clinical significance of this activity was not well elucidated. To address this, we performed genetic and epigenetic analyses in an Rb-deficient mouse thyroid C cell tumor model. Here we report that the genetic interaction of Rb and ATM regulates DNMT1 protein stability and hence controls the DNA methylation status in the promoters of at least the Ink4a, Shc2, FoxO6, and Noggin genes. Furthermore, we demonstrate that inactivation of pRB promotes Tip60 (acetyltransferase)-dependent ATM activation; allows activated ATM to physically bind to DNMT1, forming a complex with Tip60 and UHRF1 (E3 ligase); and consequently accelerates DNMT1 ubiquitination driven by Tip60-dependent acetylation. Our results indicate that inactivation of the pRB pathway in coordination with aberration in the DNA damage response deregulates DNMT1 stability, leading to an abnormal DNA methylation pattern and malignant progression. PMID:23754744

  9. XNP-1/ATR-X acts with RB, HP1 and the NuRD complex during larval development in C. elegans.

    PubMed

    Cardoso, Carlos; Couillault, Carole; Mignon-Ravix, Cecile; Millet, Anne; Ewbank, Jonathan J; Fontés, Michel; Pujol, Nathalie

    2005-02-01

    Mutations in the XNP/ATR-X gene cause several X-linked mental retardation syndromes in humans. The XNP/ATR-X gene encodes a DNA-helicase belonging to the SNF2 family. It has been proposed that XNP/ATR-X might be involved in chromatin remodelling. The lack of a mouse model for the ATR-X syndrome has, however, hampered functional studies of XNP/ATR-X. C. elegans possesses one homolog of the XNP/ATR-X gene, named xnp-1. By analysing a deletion mutant, we show that xnp-1 is required for the development of the embryo and the somatic gonad. Moreover, we show that abrogation of xnp-1 function in combination with inactivation of genes of the NuRD complex, as well as lin-35/Rb and hpl-2/HP1 leads to a stereotyped block of larval development with a cessation of growth but not of cell division. We also demonstrate a specific function for xnp-1 together with lin-35 or hpl-2 in the control of transgene expression, a process known to be dependent on chromatin remodelling. This study thus demonstrates that in vivo XNP-1 acts in association with RB, HP1 and the NuRD complex during development.

  10. Cubic-to-tetragonal structural phase transition in Rb1-xCsxCaF3 solid solutions: Thermal expansion and EPR studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lahoz, F.; Villacampa, B.; Alcalá, R.; Marquina, C.; Ibarra, M. R.

    1997-04-01

    The influence of crystal mixing on the structural phase transitions in Rb1-xCsxCaF3 (01) fluoroperovskite crystals has been studied by thermal expansion and EPR measurements of Ni2+ and Ni3+ paramagnetic probes. A cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition has been detected in crystals with x=0, 0.1, 0.21, 0.27, and 0.35. The critical temperature and the tetragonal distortion decrease as x increases. No transition was observed for x>=0.44. This transition shows a weak first-order component in the x=0 and 0.1 samples, which is progressively smeared out for x>0.1, indicating a spatial distribution of the critical temperature in those crystals with high ionic substitution rate. In RbCaF3 , another structural phase transition was observed at 20 K with a thermal hysteresis between 20 and 40 K. This transition has not been found in any of the mixed crystals.

  11. A2TiF 5· nH 2O ( A=K, Rb, or Cs; n=0 or 1): Synthesis, structure, characterization, and calculations of three new uni-dimensional titanium fluorides

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jo, Vinna; Woo Lee, Dong; Koo, Hyun-Joo; Ok, Kang Min

    2011-04-01

    Three new uni-dimensional alkali metal titanium fluoride materials, A2TiF 5· nH 2O ( A=K, Rb, or Cs; n=0 or 1) have been synthesized by hydrothermal reactions. The structures of A2TiF 5· nH 2O have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The Ti 4+ cations have been reduced to Ti 3+ during the synthesis reactions. All three A2TiF 5· nH 2O materials contain novel 1-D chain structures that are composed of the slightly distorted Ti 3+F 6 corner-sharing octahedra attributable to the Jahn-Teller distortion. The coordination environment of the alkali metal cations plays an important role to determine the degree of turning in the chain structures. Complete structural analyses, Infrared and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and thermal analyses are presented, as are electronic structure calculations.

  12. Noble-Gas Difluoride Complexes of Mercury(II): The Syntheses and Structures of Hg(OTeF 5) 2·1.5NgF 2 (Ng = Xe, Kr) and Hg(OTeF 5) 2

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    DeBackere, John R.; Mercier, Helene P. A; Schrobilgen, Gary J.

    2014-02-03

    The synthesis of high-purity Hg(OTeF 5) 2 has resulted in its structural characterization in the solid state by Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in solution by 19F NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of Hg(OTeF 5) 2 (-173 °C) consists of discrete Hg(OTeF 5) 2 units having gauche-conformations that interact through long Hg---O and Hg---F intramolecular contacts to give a chain structure. Furthermore, the Lewis acidity of Hg(OTeF 5) 2 toward NgF 2 (Ng = Xe, Kr) was investigated in SO 2ClF solvent and shown to form stable coordination complexes with NgF 2 at -78 °C. Both complexesmore » were characterized by low-temperature Raman spectroscopy (-155 °C) and single-crystal XRD. The complexes are isostructural and are formulated as Hg(OTeF 5) 2·1.5NgF 2. The Hg(OTeF 5) 2 units of Hg(OTeF 5) 2·1.5NgF 2 also have gauche-conformations and are linked through bridging NgF 2 molecules, also resulting in chain structures. The complexes represent the only examples of coordination compounds where NgF 2 coordinates to mercury in a neutral covalent compound and the only example of mercury coordinated to KrF 2. Moreover, the Hg(OTeF 5) 2·1.5KrF 2 complex is the only KrF 2 complex known to contain a bridging KrF 2 ligand. Energy-minimized gas-phase geometries and vibrational frequencies for the model compounds, [Hg(OTeF5) 2] 3 and [Hg(OTeF 5) 2] 3·2NgF 2, were obtained and provide good approximations of the local environments of Hg(OTeF 5) 2 and NgF 2 in the crystal structures of Hg(OTeF5)2 and Hg(OTeF 5) 2·1.5NgF 2. Assignments of the Raman spectra of Hg(OTeF 5) 2 and Hg(OTeF 5) 2·1.5NgF 2 are based on the calculated vibrational frequencies of the model compounds. Natural bond orbital analyses provided the associated bond orders, valencies, and natural population analysis charges.« less

  13. Raman spectra and phase transitions in Rb{sub 2}KInF{sub 6} elpasolite

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Krylov, A. S.; Krylova, S. N., E-mail: slanky@iph.krasn.ru; Vtyurin, A. N.

    2011-01-15

    The Raman spectra of Rb{sub 2}KInF{sub 6} elpasolite crystal have been studied in a wide temperature range, including two phase transitions: from the cubic phase to the tetragonal phase and then to the monoclinic phase. Several anomalies of internal modes of InF{sub 6} octahedra and low-frequency lattice vibrations, which are related to the structural changes at the transition points, have been found and quantitatively analyzed. The results of a quantitative analysis of the temperature dependences of the parameters of spectral lines are in good agreement with the thermodynamic data on the phase transitions.

  14. E2F1-mediated human POMC expression in ectopic Cushing's syndrome.

    PubMed

    Araki, Takako; Liu, Ning-Ai; Tone, Yukiko; Cuevas-Ramos, Daniel; Heltsley, Roy; Tone, Masahide; Melmed, Shlomo

    2016-11-01

    Cushing's syndrome is caused by excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion derived from pituitary corticotroph tumors (Cushing disease) or from non-pituitary tumors (ectopic Cushing's syndrome). Hypercortisolemic features of ectopic Cushing's syndrome are severe, and no definitive treatment for paraneoplastic ACTH excess is available. We aimed to identify subcellular therapeutic targets by elucidating transcriptional regulation of the human ACTH precursor POMC (proopiomelanocortin) and ACTH production in non-pituitary tumor cells and in cell lines derived from patients with ectopic Cushing's syndrome. We show that ectopic hPOMC transcription proceeds independently of pituitary-specific Tpit/Pitx1 and demonstrate a novel E2F1-mediated transcriptional mechanism regulating hPOMC We identify an E2F1 cluster binding to the proximal hPOMC promoter region (-42 to +68), with DNA-binding activity determined by the phosphorylation at Ser-337. hPOMC mRNA expression in cancer cells was upregulated (up to 40-fold) by the co-expression of E2F1 and its heterodimer partner DP1. Direct and indirect inhibitors of E2F1 activity suppressed hPOMC gene expression and ACTH by modifying E2F1 DNA-binding activity in ectopic Cushing's cell lines and primary tumor cells, and also suppressed paraneoplastic ACTH and cortisol levels in xenografted mice. E2F1-mediated hPOMC transcription is a potential target for suppressing ACTH production in ectopic Cushing's syndrome. © 2016 Society for Endocrinology.

  15. Magnetic field-induced modification of selection rules for Rb D 2 line monitored by selective reflection from a vapor nanocell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Klinger, Emmanuel; Sargsyan, Armen; Tonoyan, Ara; Hakhumyan, Grant; Papoyan, Aram; Leroy, Claude; Sarkisyan, David

    2017-08-01

    Magnetic field-induced giant modification of the probabilities of five transitions of 5S1 / 2,Fg = 2 → 5P3 / 2,Fe = 4 of 85Rb and three transitions of 5S1 / 2,Fg = 1 → 5P3 / 2,Fe = 3 of 87Rb forbidden by selection rules for zero magnetic field has been observed experimentally and described theoretically for the first time. For the case of excitation with circularly-polarized (σ+) laser radiation, the probability of Fg = 2,mF = - 2 → Fe = 4,mF = - 1 transition becomes the largest among the seventeen transitions of 85Rb Fg = 2 → Fe = 1,2,3,4 group, and the probability of Fg = 1, mF = - 1 → Fe = 3,mF = 0 transition becomes the largest among the nine transitions of 87Rb Fg = 1 → Fe = 0,1,2,3 group, in a wide range of magnetic field 200-1000 G. Complete frequency separation of individual Zeeman components was obtained by implementation of derivative selective reflection technique with a 300 nm-thick nanocell filled with Rb, allowing formation of narrow optical resonances. Possible applications are addressed. The theoretical model is well consistent with the experimental results.

  16. Deregulation of RB1 expression by loss of imprinting in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Anwar, Sumadi Lukman; Krech, Till; Hasemeier, Britta; Schipper, Elisa; Schweitzer, Nora; Vogel, Arndt; Kreipe, Hans; Lehmann, Ulrich

    2014-08-01

    The tumour suppressor gene RB1 is frequently silenced in many different types of human cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, mutations of the RB1 gene are relatively rare in HCC. A systematic screen for the identification of imprinted genes deregulated in human HCC revealed that RB1 shows imprint abnormalities in a high proportion of primary patient samples. Altogether, 40% of the HCC specimens (16/40) showed hyper- or hypomethylation at the CpG island in intron 2 of the RB1 gene. Re-analysis of publicly available genome-wide DNA methylation data confirmed these findings in two independent HCC cohorts. Loss of correct DNA methylation patterns at the RB1 locus leads to the aberrant expression of an alternative RB1-E2B transcript, as measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Demethylation at the intron 2 CpG island by DNMT1 knock-down or aza-deoxycytidine (DAC) treatment stimulated expression of the RB1-E2B transcript, accompanied by diminished RB1 main transcript expression. No aberrant DNA methylation was found at the RB1 locus in hepatocellular adenoma (HCA, n = 10), focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH, n = 5) and their corresponding adjacent liver tissue specimens. Deregulated RB1 expression due to hyper- or hypomethylation in intron 2 of the RB1 gene is found in tumours without loss of heterozygosity and is associated with a decrease in overall survival (p = 0.032) if caused by hypermethylation of CpG85. This unequivocally demonstrates that loss of imprinting represents an important additional mechanism for RB1 pathway inactivation in human HCC, complementing well-described molecular defects. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  17. Protective properties of ginsenoside Rb1 against UV-B radiation-induced oxidative stress in human dermal keratinocytes.

    PubMed

    Oh, Sun-Joo; Kim, Kyunghoon; Lim, Chang-Jin

    2015-06-01

    Ginsenosides, also known as ginseng saponins, are responsible for most pharmacological effect of ginseng. Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) exerts a variety of pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antistress, anti-aging and anti-neurodegenerative activities. The aim of the present work was to assess the skin anti-photoaging properties of Rb1 in human dermal keratinocyte HaCaT cells. The anti-photoaging activity was evaluated by analyzing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as well as cell viability for HaCaT cells under UV-B irradiation. Rb1 was able to suppress the ROS levels which were elevated under UV-B irradiation, and unable to influence cellular survival in UV-B-irradiated HaCaT cells. Rb1 diminished the enhancement of MMP-2 gelatinolytic activity in conditioned medium, which corresponded with the decreased MMP-2 protein levels in both conditioned medium and cellular lysate prepared from UV-B-irradiated HaCaT cultures. Rb1 could restore the total glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity diminished in UV-B-irradiated HaCaT cells. Ginsenoside Rb1 possesses skin anti-photoaging properties through scavenging ROS and decreasing MMP-2 levels possibly by enhancing antioxidant activity in keratinocytes under UV-B irradiation.

  18. Silencing of RB1 and RB2/P130 during adipogenesis of bone marrow stromal cells results in dysregulated differentiation.

    PubMed

    Capasso, Stefania; Alessio, Nicola; Di Bernardo, Giovanni; Cipollaro, Marilena; Melone, Mariarosa Ab; Peluso, Gianfranco; Giordano, Antonio; Galderisi, Umberto

    2014-01-01

    Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is different from fat found elsewhere in the body, and only recently have some of its functions been investigated. BMAT may regulate bone marrow stem cell niche and plays a role in energy storage and thermogenesis. BMAT may be involved also in obesity and osteoporosis onset. Given the paramount functions of BMAT, we decided to better clarify the human bone marrow adipogenesis by analyzing the role of the retinoblastoma gene family, which are key players in cell cycle regulation. Our data provide evidence that the inactivation of RB1 or RB2/P130 in uncommitted bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) facilitates the first steps of adipogenesis. In cultures with silenced RB1 or RB2/P130, we observed an increase of clones with adipogenic potential and a higher percentage of cells accumulating lipid droplets. Nevertheless, the absence of RB1 or RB2/P130 impaired the terminal adipocyte differentiation and gave rise to dysregulated adipose cells, with alteration in lipid uptake and release. For the first time, we evidenced that RB2/P130 plays a role in bone marrow adipogenesis. Our data suggest that while the inactivation of retinoblastoma proteins may delay the onset of last cell division and allow more BMSC to be committed to adipocyte, it did not allow a permanent cell cycle exit, which is a prerequisite for adipocyte terminal maturation.

  19. Silencing of RB1 and RB2/P130 during adipogenesis of bone marrow stromal cells results in dysregulated differentiation

    PubMed Central

    Capasso, Stefania; Alessio, Nicola; Di Bernardo, Giovanni; Cipollaro, Marilena; Melone, Mariarosa AB; Peluso, Gianfranco; Giordano, Antonio; Galderisi, Umberto

    2014-01-01

    Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is different from fat found elsewhere in the body, and only recently have some of its functions been investigated. BMAT may regulate bone marrow stem cell niche and plays a role in energy storage and thermogenesis. BMAT may be involved also in obesity and osteoporosis onset. Given the paramount functions of BMAT, we decided to better clarify the human bone marrow adipogenesis by analyzing the role of the retinoblastoma gene family, which are key players in cell cycle regulation. Our data provide evidence that the inactivation of RB1 or RB2/P130 in uncommitted bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC) facilitates the first steps of adipogenesis. In cultures with silenced RB1 or RB2/P130, we observed an increase of clones with adipogenic potential and a higher percentage of cells accumulating lipid droplets. Nevertheless, the absence of RB1 or RB2/P130 impaired the terminal adipocyte differentiation and gave rise to dysregulated adipose cells, with alteration in lipid uptake and release. For the first time, we evidenced that RB2/P130 plays a role in bone marrow adipogenesis. Our data suggest that while the inactivation of retinoblastoma proteins may delay the onset of last cell division and allow more BMSC to be committed to adipocyte, it did not allow a permanent cell cycle exit, which is a prerequisite for adipocyte terminal maturation. PMID:24281253

  20. Site preference for luminescent activator ions in doped fluoroperovskite RbZnF3.

    PubMed

    Saroj, Sanjay Kumar; Nagarajan, Rajamani

    2018-08-05

    With the dual objective of investigating the site preferences of larger sized activator ions and to append luminescence property to the perovskite structured RbZnF 3 , doping of manganese(II), cerium(III), europium(III) and terbium(III) ions (5 mol%) was carried out. Although cubic symmetry of RbZnF 3 was preserved for all the doped samples, site preference of rare-earth ions for the A-site Rb + leading to an inverse perovskite arrangement has been noticed from careful analysis of lattice parameters from refinement of powder X-ray diffraction data. Undoped RbZnF 3 exhibited rod-like morphology in the transmission electron microscopic image. In addition to an intense band around 230 nm assignable to the charge transfer from ZnF 3 - to Rb + , typical transitions of respective dopant ions were observed in their UV-visible spectra. The doped samples showed luminescence in blue, green and red regions and time decay experiments suggested uniform dispersion of them without any clustering effect. The lower phonon energy of RbZnF 3 matrix by virtue of the presence of heavier rubidium at the A-site together with its doping with rare-earth ions resulting in an inverse perovskite like arrangement could favour their utility in various practical applications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Inactivation of the RB family prevents thymus involution and promotes thymic function by direct control of Foxn1 expression

    PubMed Central

    Garfin, Phillip M.; Min, Dullei; Bryson, Jerrod L.; Serwold, Thomas; Edris, Badreddin; Blackburn, Clare C.; Richie, Ellen R.; Weinberg, Kenneth I.; Manley, Nancy R.; Viatour, Patrick

    2013-01-01

    Thymic involution during aging is a major cause of decreased production of T cells and reduced immunity. Here we show that inactivation of Rb family genes in young mice prevents thymic involution and results in an enlarged thymus competent for increased production of naive T cells. This phenotype originates from the expansion of functional thymic epithelial cells (TECs). In RB family mutant TECs, increased activity of E2F transcription factors drives increased expression of Foxn1, a central regulator of the thymic epithelium. Increased Foxn1 expression is required for the thymic expansion observed in Rb family mutant mice. Thus, the RB family promotes thymic involution and controls T cell production via a bone marrow–independent mechanism, identifying a novel pathway to target to increase thymic function in patients. PMID:23669396

  2. Electronic structure and fundamental absorption edges of KPb2Br5, K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5, and RbPb2Br5 single crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tarasova, A. Yu.; Isaenko, L. I.; Kesler, V. G.; Pashkov, V. M.; Yelisseyev, A. P.; Denysyuk, N. M.; Khyzhun, O. Yu.

    2012-05-01

    X-ray photoelectron core-level and valence-band spectra for pristine and Ar+-ion irradiated (001) surfaces of KPb2Br5, K0.5Rb0.5Pb2Br5, and RbPb2Br5 single crystals grown by the Bridgman method have been measured and fundamental absorption edges of the ternary bromides have been recorded in the polarized light at 300 K and 80 K. The present X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results reveal high chemical stability of (001) surfaces of KxRb1-xPb2Br5 (x=0, 0.5, and 1.0) single crystals. Substitution of potassium for rubidium in KxRb1-xPb2Br5 does not cause any changes of binding energy values and shapes of the XPS constituent element core-level spectra. Measurements of the fundamental absorption edges indicate that band gap energy, Eg, increases by about 0.14 and 0.19 eV when temperature decreases from 300 K to 80 K in KPb2Br5 and RbPb2Br5, respectively. Furthermore, there is no dependence of the Eg value for KPb2Br5 upon the light polarization, whilst the band gap energy value for RbPb2Br5 is bigger by 0.03-0.05 eV in the case of E‖c compared to those in the cases of E‖a and E‖b.

  3. Involvement of GSK3 and PP2A in ginsenoside Rb1's attenuation of aluminum-induced tau hyperphosphorylation.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Hai-hua; Di, Jing; Liu, Wen-su; Liu, Hui-li; Lai, Hong; Lü, Yong-li

    2013-03-15

    Environmental agent aluminum, a well-known neurotoxin, has been proposed to play a role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and produced clinical and pathological features which were strikingly similar to those seen in AD brain, such as neurofibrillary tangles. Ginsenoside Rb1, highly abundant active component of ginseng, has been demonstrated to be neuroprotective against various neurotoxins. In this study we investigated the effect of Rb1 on aluminum-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in ICR mice. Mice were exposed to aluminum chloride (200 mg/kg/day) for 6 months followed by a post treatment of Rb1 (20 mg/kg/day) for another 4 months. Aluminum exposure induced the cognitive ability by Morris water maze, and upregulated the tau phosphorylation level at Ser396 accompanied by increasing p-GSK and decreasing PP2A level in motor, sensory cortex and hippocampal formation. Post treatment of Rb1 significantly improved the learning and memory and reduced the tau phosphorylation by reversing the p-GSK3 and PP2A level. Our results indicate that ginsenoside Rb1 protected mice against Al-induced toxicity. The possible mechanism may be its role in preventing tau hyperphosphorylation by regulating p-GSK3 and PP2A level, which implicate Rb1 as the potential preventive drug candidate for AD and other tau pathology-related neuronal degenerative diseases. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  4. Mott localization in a pure stripe antiferromagnet Rb 1 - δ Fe 1.5 - σ S 2

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Meng; Yi, Ming; Cao, Huibo

    A combination of neutron diffraction and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements on a pure antiferromagnetic stripe Rb 1-δFe 1.5-σS 2 is reported. A neutron diffraction experiment on a powder sample shows that a 98% volume fraction of the sample is in the antiferromagnetic stripe phase with rhombic iron vacancy order and a refined composition of Rb 0.66Fe 1.36S 2, and that only 2% of the sample is in the block antiferromagnetic phase with √5×√5 iron vacancy order. Furthermore, a neutron diffraction experiment on a single crystal shows that there is only a single phase with the stripe antiferromagnetic order with themore » refined composition of Rb 0.78Fe 1.35S 2, while the phase with block antiferromagnetic order is absent. Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy measurements on the same crystal with the pure stripe phase reveal that the electronic structure is gapped at the Fermi level with a gap larger than 0.325 eV. The data collectively demonstrate that the extra 10% iron vacancies in addition to the rhombic iron vacancy order effectively impede the formation of the block antiferromagnetic phase; the data also suggest that the stripe antiferromagnetic phase with rhombic iron vacancy order is a Mott insulator.« less

  5. Skin Tumors Rb(eing) Uncovered

    PubMed Central

    Costa, Clotilde; Paramio, Jesús M.; Santos, Mirentxu

    2013-01-01

    The Rb1 gene was the first bona fide tumor suppressor identified and cloned more than 25 years ago. Since then, a plethora of studies have revealed the functions of pRb and the existence of a sophisticated and strictly regulated pathway that modulates such functional roles. An emerging paradox affecting Rb1 in cancer connects the relatively low number of mutations affecting Rb1 gene in specific human tumors, compared with the widely functional inactivation of pRb in most, if not in all, human cancers. The existence of a retinoblastoma family of proteins pRb, p107, and p130 and their potential unique and overlapping functions as master regulators of cell cycle progression and transcriptional modulation by similar processes, may provide potential clues to explain such conundrum. Here, we will review the development of different genetically engineered mouse models, in particular those affecting stratified epithelia, and how they have offered new avenues to understand the roles of the Rb family members and their targets in the context of tumor development and progression. PMID:24381932

  6. A Noncanonical Role for the CKI-RB-E2F Cell Cycle Signaling Pathway in Plant Effector-Triggered Immunity

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Shui; Gu, Yangnan; Zebell, Sophia G.; Anderson, Lisa K.; Wang, Wei; Mohan, Rajinikanth; Dong, Xinnian

    2014-01-01

    SUMMARY Effector-triggered immunity (ETI), the major host defense mechanism in plants, is often associated with programmed cell death (PCD). Plants lack close homologs of caspases, the key mediators of PCD in animals. So although the NB-LRR receptors involved in ETI are well studied, how they activate PCD and confer disease resistance remains elusive. We show that the Arabidopsis nuclear envelope protein, CPR5, negatively regulates ETI and the associated PCD through a physical interaction with CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE INHIBITORs (CKIs). Upon ETI induction, CKIs are released from CPR5 to cause over-activation of another core cell cycle regulator, E2F. In cki and e2f mutants, ETI responses induced by both TIR-NB-LRR and CC-NB-LRR classes of immune receptors are compromised. We further show that E2F is deregulated during ETI probably through CKI-mediated hyperphosphorylation of RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED 1 (RBR1). This study demonstrates that canonical cell cycle regulators also play important noncanonical roles in plant immunity. PMID:25455564

  7. YB-1, the E2F Pathway, and Regulation of Tumor Cell Growth

    PubMed Central

    Samuel, Weini; Cao, Helen; Patel, Rachna; Mehta, Reena; Stern, J. Lewis; Reid, Glen; Woolley, Adele G.; Miller, Lance D.; Black, Michael A; Shelling, Andrew N.; Print, Cristin G.; Braithwaite, Antony W.

    2012-01-01

    Background Y-box binding factor 1 (YB-1) has been associated with prognosis in many tumor types. Reduced YB-1 expression inhibits tumor cell growth, but the mechanism is unclear. Methods YB-1 mRNA levels were compared with tumor grade and histology using microarray data from 771 breast cancer patients and with disease-free survival and distant metastasis–free survival using data from 375 of those patients who did not receive adjuvant therapy. Microarrays were further searched for genes that had correlated expression with YB-1 mRNA. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to study the effects of reduced YB-1 expression on growth of three tumor cell lines (MCF-7 breast, HCT116 colon, and A549 lung cancer cells), on tumorigenesis by A549 cells in nude mice, and on global transcription in the three cancer cell lines. Reporter gene assays were used to determine whether YB-1 siRNAs affected the expression of E2F1, and chromatin immunoprecipitation was used to determine whether YB-1 bound to various E2F promoters as well as E2F1-regulated promoters. All P values were from two-sided tests. Results YB-1 levels were elevated in more aggressive tumors and were strongly associated with poor disease-free survival and distant metastasis–free survival. YB-1 expression was often associated with the expression of genes with E2F sites in their promoters. Cells expressing YB-1 siRNA grew substantially more slowly than control cells and formed tumors less readily in nude mice. Transcripts that were altered in cancer cell lines with YB-1 siRNA included 32 genes that are components of prognostic gene expression signatures. YB-1 regulated expression of an E2F1 promoter–reporter construct in A549 cells (eg, relative E2F1 promoter activity with control siRNA = 4.04; with YB-1 siRNA = 1.40, difference= −2.64, 95% confidence interval = −3.57 to −1.71, P < .001) and bound to the promoters of several well-defined E2F1 target genes. Conclusion YB-1 expression is associated with the

  8. Autochthonous tumors driven by Rb1 loss have an ongoing requirement for the RBP2 histone demethylase.

    PubMed

    McBrayer, Samuel K; Olenchock, Benjamin A; DiNatale, Gabriel J; Shi, Diana D; Khanal, Januka; Jennings, Rebecca B; Novak, Jesse S; Oser, Matthew G; Robbins, Alissa K; Modiste, Rebecca; Bonal, Dennis; Moslehi, Javid; Bronson, Roderick T; Neuberg, Donna; Nguyen, Quang-De; Signoretti, Sabina; Losman, Julie-Aurore; Kaelin, William G

    2018-04-17

    Inactivation of the retinoblastoma gene ( RB1 ) product, pRB, is common in many human cancers. Targeting downstream effectors of pRB that are central to tumorigenesis is a promising strategy to block the growth of tumors harboring loss-of-function RB1 mutations. One such effector is retinoblastoma-binding protein 2 (RBP2, also called JARID1A or KDM5A), which encodes an H3K4 demethylase. Binding of pRB to RBP2 has been linked to the ability of pRB to promote senescence and differentiation. Importantly, genetic ablation of RBP2 is sufficient to phenocopy pRB's ability to induce these cellular changes in cell culture experiments. Moreover, germline Rbp2 deletion significantly impedes tumorigenesis in Rb1 +/- mice. The value of RBP2 as a therapeutic target in cancer, however, hinges on whether loss of RBP2 could block the growth of established tumors as opposed to simply delaying their onset. Here we show that conditional, systemic ablation of RBP2 in tumor-bearing Rb1 +/- mice is sufficient to slow tumor growth and significantly extend survival without causing obvious toxicity to the host. These findings show that established Rb1 -null tumors require RBP2 for growth and further credential RBP2 as a therapeutic target in human cancers driven by RB1 inactivation.

  9. E2F1 promote the aggressiveness of human colorectal cancer by activating the ribonucleotide reductase small subunit M2

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fang, Zejun; Gong, Chaoju; Liu, Hong

    2015-08-21

    As the ribonucleotide reductase small subunit, the high expression of ribonucleotide reductase small subunit M2 (RRM2) induces cancer and contributes to tumor growth and invasion. In several colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, we found that the expression levels of RRM2 were closely related to the transcription factor E2F1. Mechanistic studies were conducted to determine the molecular basis. Ectopic overexpression of E2F1 promoted RRM2 transactivation while knockdown of E2F1 reduced the levels of RRM2 mRNA and protein. To further investigate the roles of RRM2 which was activated by E2F1 in CRC, CCK-8 assay and EdU incorporation assay were performed. Overexpression ofmore » E2F1 promoted cell proliferation in CRC cells, which was blocked by RRM2 knockdown attenuation. In the migration and invasion tests, overexpression of E2F1 enhanced the migration and invasion of CRC cells which was abrogated by silencing RRM2. Besides, overexpression of RRM2 reversed the effects of E2F1 knockdown partially in CRC cells. Examination of clinical CRC specimens demonstrated that both RRM2 and E2F1 were elevated in most cancer tissues compared to the paired normal tissues. Further analysis showed that the protein expression levels of E2F1 and RRM2 were parallel with each other and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (LNM), TNM stage and distant metastasis. Consistently, the patients with low E2F1 and RRM2 levels have a better prognosis than those with high levels. Therefore, we suggest that E2F1 can promote CRC proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis by regulating RRM2 transactivation. Understanding the role of E2F1 in activating RRM2 transcription will help to explain the relationship between E2F1 and RRM2 in CRC and provide a novel predictive marker for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. - Highlights: • E2F1 promotes RRM2 transactivation in CRC cells. • E2F1 promotes the proliferation of CRC cells by activating RRM2. • E2F1 promotes the migration

  10. Single Cell Analysis to locate the Restriction Point with respect to E2F Expression

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pimienta, R.; Johnson, A.

    2011-12-01

    The restriction point is a G1-phase checkpoint that regulates passage through the cell cycle and is misregulated in all known types of cancer. The Rb-E2F switch is thought to be one of the most relevant molecular mechanisms which regulate the restriction point in mammalian cells. However, recent experiments have brought the timing of the restriction point into question. In previous studies, cells were analyzed as populations and this prevented an accurate determination of the restriction point. By creating and analyzing an E2F-GFP reporter in single cells, we can pinpoint the timing of E2F activation and determine whether it coincides with the restriction point. Using calcium phosphate and Fugene,we transfected human embryonic kidney (293T) cells with a CMV-GFP plasmid and an E2F-GFP reporter. Based on our results, it appears that calcium phosphate is more effective than Fugene at transfecting mammalian cells. The calcium phosphate transfection had 9.59% more fluorescent cells than Fugene. However, this result only occurred with the CMV-GFP plasmid and not the E2F-GFP reporter, which was not properly expressed in human embryonic kidney (293T) cells. We will continue troubleshooting to fix this reporter as we proceed with our research. Once the reporter is properly cloned, we will transfect it into retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE1-hTERT) cells using the calcium phosphate method. RPE1-hTERT cells are an immortalized with telomerase and are more close to normal cells than tumor-derived cell lines. Through this research we will better comprehend commitment to the mammalian cell cycle.

  11. Photoluminescence, optically stimulated luminescence, and thermoluminescence study of RbMgF3:Eu2+

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dotzler, C.; Williams, G. V. M.; Rieser, U.; Robinson, J.

    2009-01-01

    Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence are observed in polycrystalline RbMgF3:Eu2+ after x-ray, γ-ray, or β irradiation. The main electron traps are F-centers but there are other unidentified traps. The main hole traps at room temperature are probably Eu3+ and thermal or optical stimulation leads to electron-hole recombination at the Eu3+ site and Eu2+ emissions arising from P6J to S87/2 and 4f5d(Eg) to S87/2 transitions. We find that some of the electron traps can be emptied by infrared stimulation and all of the electron traps can be emptied by white light stimulation. The OSL dark decay is long and exceeds 5 days for traps that are emptied by white light stimulation after initial infrared bleaching. Our results show that this compound can be used as a radiation dosimeter for intermediate dose levels where the R87b self-dose does not significantly affect the dose reading.

  12. Shifting in optoelectronic properties from pure K2O and Rb2O compounds to their V- and Cr-doped alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Monir, Mohammed El Amine; Ullah, Hayat; Baltach, Hadj; Mouchaal, Younes; Merabiha, Omar; Bahnes, Aicha; Rached, Djamel

    2018-04-01

    First principle calculations within the density functional theory (DFT) have been used in this approach to study the electronic and optical properties of vanadium (V) and chromium (Cr) doped K2O and Rb2O compounds. Based on the structure properties reported in our previous work, the study of electronic and optoelectronic properties of V- and Cr-doped K2O and Rb2O alloys have been vastly investigated. K2O and Rb2O are found to be semiconductors while their V- and Cr-alloys are metallic in nature. The optical functions like complex dielectric constant, complex index of refraction, absorption coefficient, and reflectivity of these alloys are computed and compared with those of pure K2O and Rb2O compounds. It has been shown that due to TM-doping (TM = V and Cr transition metals), many distinguished peaks appeared in the lower energy part (infrared) of the spectrum. The negative value of 𝜀1 (ω) in this energy range confirmed the metallic behavior of these alloys. Furthermore, the frequency-dependent optical conductivity is also predicted in the entire spectrum, where it increases with increasing photon energy for all the studied alloys. The significant results of α (ω) predict that all these compounds are useful in different optoelectronic applications in a wide part of the spectrum (between 13 eV and 27 eV).

  13. Automatic 3D registration of dynamic stress and rest (82)Rb and flurpiridaz F 18 myocardial perfusion PET data for patient motion detection and correction.

    PubMed

    Woo, Jonghye; Tamarappoo, Balaji; Dey, Damini; Nakazato, Ryo; Le Meunier, Ludovic; Ramesh, Amit; Lazewatsky, Joel; Germano, Guido; Berman, Daniel S; Slomka, Piotr J

    2011-11-01

    The authors aimed to develop an image-based registration scheme to detect and correct patient motion in stress and rest cardiac positron emission tomography (PET)/CT images. The patient motion correction was of primary interest and the effects of patient motion with the use of flurpiridaz F 18 and (82)Rb were demonstrated. The authors evaluated stress/rest PET myocardial perfusion imaging datasets in 30 patients (60 datasets in total, 21 male and 9 female) using a new perfusion agent (flurpiridaz F 18) (n = 16) and (82)Rb (n = 14), acquired on a Siemens Biograph-64 scanner in list mode. Stress and rest images were reconstructed into 4 ((82)Rb) or 10 (flurpiridaz F 18) dynamic frames (60 s each) using standard reconstruction (2D attenuation weighted ordered subsets expectation maximization). Patient motion correction was achieved by an image-based registration scheme optimizing a cost function using modified normalized cross-correlation that combined global and local features. For comparison, visual scoring of motion was performed on the scale of 0 to 2 (no motion, moderate motion, and large motion) by two experienced observers. The proposed registration technique had a 93% success rate in removing left ventricular motion, as visually assessed. The maximum detected motion extent for stress and rest were 5.2 mm and 4.9 mm for flurpiridaz F 18 perfusion and 3.0 mm and 4.3 mm for (82)Rb perfusion studies, respectively. Motion extent (maximum frame-to-frame displacement) obtained for stress and rest were (2.2 ± 1.1, 1.4 ± 0.7, 1.9 ± 1.3) mm and (2.0 ± 1.1, 1.2 ±0 .9, 1.9 ± 0.9) mm for flurpiridaz F 18 perfusion studies and (1.9 ± 0.7, 0.7 ± 0.6, 1.3 ± 0.6) mm and (2.0 ± 0.9, 0.6 ± 0.4, 1.2 ± 1.2) mm for (82)Rb perfusion studies, respectively. A visually detectable patient motion threshold was established to be ≥2.2 mm, corresponding to visual user scores of 1 and 2. After motion correction, the average

  14. Synergistic cooperation of MDM2 and E2F1 contributes to TAp73 transcriptional activity

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kasim, Vivi, E-mail: vivikasim78@gmail.com; Huang, Can; Zhang, Jing

    2014-07-04

    Highlights: • MDM2 is a novel positive regulator of TAp73 transcriptional activity. • MDM2 colocalizes together and physically interacts with E2F1. • Synergistic cooperation of MDM2 and E2F1 is crucial for TAp73 transcription. • MDM2 regulates TAp73 transcriptional activity in a p53-independent manner. - Abstract: TAp73, a structural homologue of p53, plays an important role in tumorigenesis. E2F1 had been reported as a transcriptional regulator of TAp73, however, the detailed mechanism remains to be elucidated. Here we reported that MDM2-silencing reduced the activities of the TAp73 promoters and the endogenous TAp73 expression level significantly; while MDM2 overexpression upregulated them. Wemore » further revealed that the regulation of TAp73 transcriptional activity occurs as a synergistic effect of MDM2 and E2F1, most probably through their physical interaction in the nuclei. Furthermore, we also suggested that MDM2 might be involved in DNA damage-induced TAp73 transcriptional activity. Finally, we elucidated that MDM2-silencing reduced the proliferation rate of colon carcinoma cells regardless of the p53 status. Our data show a synergistic effect of MDM2 and E2F1 on TAp73 transcriptional activity, suggesting a novel regulation pathway of TAp73.« less

  15. KDM4A Coactivates E2F1 to Regulate the PDK-Dependent Metabolic Switch between Mitochondrial Oxidation and Glycolysis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Ling-Yu; Hung, Chiu-Lien; Chen, Yun-Ru; Yang, Joy C; Wang, Junjian; Campbell, Mel; Izumiya, Yoshihiro; Chen, Hong-Wu; Wang, Wen-Ching; Ann, David K; Kung, Hsing-Jien

    2016-09-13

    The histone lysine demethylase KDM4A/JMJD2A has been implicated in prostate carcinogenesis through its role in transcriptional regulation. Here, we describe KDM4A as a E2F1 coactivator and demonstrate a functional role for the E2F1-KDM4A complex in the control of tumor metabolism. KDM4A associates with E2F1 on target gene promoters and enhances E2F1 chromatin binding and transcriptional activity, thereby modulating the transcriptional profile essential for cancer cell proliferation and survival. The pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases (PDKs) PDK1 and PDK3 are direct targets of KDM4A and E2F1 and modulate the switch between glycolytic metabolism and mitochondrial oxidation. Downregulation of KDM4A leads to elevated activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial oxidation, resulting in excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species. The altered metabolic phenotypes can be partially rescued by ectopic expression of PDK1 and PDK3, indicating a KDM4A-dependent tumor metabolic regulation via PDK. Our results suggest that KDM4A is a key regulator of tumor metabolism and a potential therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Effects of Al content and annealing on the phases formation, lattice parameters, and magnetization of A lxF e2B2 (x =1.0 ,1.1 ,1.2 ) alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Levin, E. M.; Jensen, B. A.; Barua, R.; Lejeune, B.; Howard, A.; McCallum, R. W.; Kramer, M. J.; Lewis, L. H.

    2018-03-01

    AlF e2B2 is a ferromagnet with the Curie temperature around 300 K and has the potential to be an outstanding rare-earth free candidate for magnetocaloric applications. However, samples prepared from the melt contain additional phases which affect the functional response of the AlF e2B2 phase. We report on the effects of Al content in samples with the initial (nominal) composition of A lxF e2B2 , where x =1.0 , 1.1, and 1.2 prepared by arc-melting followed by suction casting and annealing. The as-cast A lxF e2B2 alloys contain AlF e2B2 as well as additional phases, including the primary solidifying FeB and A l13F e4 compounds, which are ferromagnetic and paramagnetic, respectively, at 300 K. The presence of these phases makes it difficult to extract the intrinsic magnetic properties of AlF e2B2 phase. Annealing of A lxF e2B2 alloys at 1040 °C for 3 days allows for reaction of the FeB with A l13F e4 to form the AlF e2B2 phase, significantly reduces the amount of additional phases, and results in nearly pure AlF e2B2 phase as confirmed with XRD, magnetization, scanning electron microscopy, and electronic transport. The values of the magnetization, effective magnetic moment per Fe atom, specific heat capacity, electrical resistivity, and Seebeck coefficient for the AlF e2B2 compound have been established.

  17. Microbial transformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to compound K by Lactobacillus paralimentarius.

    PubMed

    Quan, Lin-Hu; Kim, Yeon-Ju; Li, Guan Hao; Choi, Kwang-Tea; Yang, Deok-Chun

    2013-06-01

    In this study, the major ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed into the more pharmacologically active minor compound K by food grade Lactobacillus paralimentarius LH4, which was isolated from kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented food. The enzymatic reaction was analyzed by TLC, HPLC, and NMR. Using the cell-free enzyme of Lactobacillus paralimentarius LH4 at optimal conditions for 30 °C at pH 6.0, 1.0 mg ml(-1) ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed into 0.52 mg ml(-1) compound K within 72 h, with a corresponding molar conversion yield of 88 %. The cell-free enzyme hydrolyzed the two glucose moieties attached to the C-3 position and the outer glucose moiety attached to the C-20 position of the ginsenoside Rb1. The cell-free enzyme hydrolyzed the ginsenoside Rb1 along the following pathway: ginsenoside Rb1 → gypenoside XVII and ginsenoside Rd → ginsenoside F2 → compound K. Our results indicate that Lactobacillus paralimentarius LH4 has the potential to be applied for the preparation of compound K in the food industry.

  18. ATM/RB1 mutations predict shorter overall survival in urothelial cancer.

    PubMed

    Yin, Ming; Grivas, Petros; Emamekhoo, Hamid; Mendiratta, Prateek; Ali, Siraj; Hsu, JoAnn; Vasekar, Monali; Drabick, Joseph J; Pal, Sumanta; Joshi, Monika

    2018-03-30

    Mutations of DNA repair genes, e.g. ATM/RB1 , are frequently found in urothelial cancer (UC) and have been associated with better response to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Further external validation of the prognostic value of ATM/RB1 mutations in UC can inform clinical decision making and trial designs. In the discovery dataset, ATM/RB1 mutations were present in 24% of patients and were associated with shorter OS (adjusted HR 2.67, 95% CI, 1.45-4.92, p = 0.002). There was a higher mutation load in patients carrying ATM/RB1 mutations (median mutation load: 6.7 versus 5.5 per Mb, p = 0.072). In the validation dataset, ATM/RB1 mutations were present in 22.2% of patients and were non-significantly associated with shorter OS (adjusted HR 1.87, 95% CI, 0.97-3.59, p = 0.06) and higher mutation load (median mutation load: 8.1 versus 7.2 per Mb, p = 0.126). Exome sequencing data of 130 bladder UC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset were analyzed as a discovery cohort to determine the prognostic value of ATM/RB1 mutations. Results were validated in an independent cohort of 81 advanced UC patients. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to compare overall survival (OS). ATM/RB1 mutations may be a biomarker of poor prognosis in unselected UC patients and may correlate with higher mutational load. Further studies are required to determine factors that can further stratify prognosis and evaluate predictive role of ATM/RB1 mutation status to immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.

  19. EBP1 is a novel E2F target gene regulated by transforming growth factor-β.

    PubMed

    Judah, David; Chang, Wing Y; Dagnino, Lina

    2010-11-10

    Regulation of gene expression requires transcription factor binding to specific DNA elements, and a large body of work has focused on the identification of such sequences. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that eukaryotic transcription factors can exhibit widespread, nonfunctional binding to genomic DNA sites. Conversely, some of these proteins, such as E2F, can also modulate gene expression by binding to non-consensus elements. E2F comprises a family of transcription factors that play key roles in a wide variety of cellular functions, including survival, differentiation, activation during tissue regeneration, metabolism, and proliferation. E2F factors bind to the Erb3-binding protein 1 (EBP1) promoter in live cells. We now show that E2F binding to the EBP1 promoter occurs through two tandem DNA elements that do not conform to typical consensus E2F motifs. Exogenously expressed E2F1 activates EBP1 reporters lacking one, but not both sites, suggesting a degree of redundancy under certain conditions. E2F1 increases the levels of endogenous EBP1 mRNA in breast carcinoma and other transformed cell lines. In contrast, in non-transformed primary epidermal keratinocytes, E2F, together with the retinoblastoma family of proteins, appears to be involved in decreasing EBP1 mRNA abundance in response to growth inhibition by transforming growth factor-β1. Thus, E2F is likely a central coordinator of multiple responses that culminate in regulation of EBP1 gene expression, and which may vary depending on cell type and context.

  20. Structural diversities induced by cation sizes in a series of fluorogermanophosphates: A2[GeF2(HPO4)2] (A = Na, K, Rb, NH4, and Cs).

    PubMed

    Chen, Zhang-Gai; Huang, Xia; Zhuang, Rong-Chuan; Zhang, Yu; Liu, Xin; Shi, Tao; Wang, Shuai-Hua; Wu, Shao-Fan; Mi, Jin-Xiao; Huang, Ya-Xi

    2017-09-12

    Germanophosphates, in comparison with other metal phosphates, have been less studied but potentially exhibit more diverse structural chemistry with wide applications. Herein we applied a hydro-/solvo-fluorothermal route to make use of both the "tailor effect" of fluoride for the formation of low dimensional anionic clusters and the presence of alkali cations of different sizes to align the anionic clusters to control the overall crystal symmetries of germanophosphates. The synergetic effects of fluoride and alkali cations led to structural changes from chain-like structures to layered structures in a series of five novel fluorogermanophosphates: A 2 [GeF 2 (HPO 4 ) 2 ] (A = Na, K, Rb, NH 4 , and Cs, denoted as Na, K, Rb, NH4, and Cs). Although these fluorogermanophosphates have stoichiometrically equivalent formulas, they feature different anionic clusters, diverse structural dimensionalities, and contrasting crystal symmetries. Chain-like structures were observed for the compounds with the smaller sized alkali ions (Na + , K + , and Rb + ), whereas layered structures were found for those containing the larger sized cations ((NH 4 ) + and Cs + ). Specifically, monoclinic space groups were observed for the Na, K, Rb, and NH4 compounds, whereas a tetragonal space group P4/mbm was found for the Cs compound. These compounds provide new insights into the effects of cation sizes on the anionic clusters built from GeO 4 F 2 octahedra and HPO 4 tetrahedra as well as their influences on the overall structural symmetries in germanophosphates. Further characterization including IR spectroscopy and thermal analyses for all five compounds is also presented.

  1. Repression of transcriptional activity of C/EBPalpha by E2F-dimerization partner complexes.

    PubMed

    Zaragoza, Katrin; Bégay, Valérie; Schuetz, Anja; Heinemann, Udo; Leutz, Achim

    2010-05-01

    The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha) coordinates proliferation arrest and the differentiation of myeloid progenitors, adipocytes, hepatocytes, keratinocytes, and cells of the lung and placenta. C/EBPalpha transactivates lineage-specific differentiation genes and inhibits proliferation by repressing E2F-regulated genes. The myeloproliferative C/EBPalpha BRM2 mutant serves as a paradigm for recurrent human C-terminal bZIP C/EBPalpha mutations that are involved in acute myeloid leukemogenesis. BRM2 fails to repress E2F and to induce adipogenesis and granulopoiesis. The data presented here show that, independently of pocket proteins, C/EBPalpha interacts with the dimerization partner (DP) of E2F and that C/EBPalpha-E2F/DP interaction prevents both binding of C/EBPalpha to its cognate sites on DNA and transactivation of C/EBP target genes. The BRM2 mutant, in addition, exhibits enhanced interaction with E2F-DP and reduced affinity toward DNA and yet retains transactivation potential and differentiation competence that becomes exposed when E2F/DP levels are low. Our data suggest a tripartite balance between C/EBPalpha, E2F/DP, and pocket proteins in the control of proliferation, differentiation, and tumorigenesis.

  2. Pressure-induced magnetic collapse and metallization of TlF e1.6S e2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naumov, P. G.; Filsinger, K.; Shylin, S. I.; Barkalov, O. I.; Ksenofontov, V.; Qi, Y.; Palasyuk, T.; Schnelle, W.; Medvedev, S. A.; Greenblatt, M.; Felser, C.

    2017-08-01

    The crystal structure, magnetic ordering, and electrical resistivity of TlF e1.6S e2 were studied at high pressures. Below ˜7 GPa , TlF e1.6S e2 is an antiferromagnetically ordered semiconductor with a ThC r2S i2 -type structure. The insulator-to-metal transformation observed at a pressure of ˜7 GPa is accompanied by a loss of magnetic ordering and an isostructural phase transition. In the pressure range ˜7.5 -11 GPa a remarkable downturn in resistivity, which resembles a superconducting transition, is observed below 15 K. We discuss this feature as the possible onset of superconductivity originating from a phase separation in a small fraction of the sample in the vicinity of the magnetic transition.

  3. lncRNA-HIT promotes cell proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer by association with E2F1.

    PubMed

    Yu, L; Fang, F; Lu, S; Li, X; Yang, Y; Wang, Z

    2017-05-01

    Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death around the world. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) has pivotal roles in cancer occurrence and development. However, only a few lncRNAs have been functionally characterized. In the present study, we investigated the effects of lncRNA-HIT (HOXA transcript induced by TGFβ) expression on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell phenotype with the gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays. We found that ectopic expression or knockdown of lncRNA-HIT markedly increased or decreased NSCLC cell proliferation, respectively. Moreover, we also showed that lncRNA-HIT interacted with E2F1 to regulate its target genes, such as Survivin, FOXM1, SKP2, NELL2 and DOK1. Collectively, our findings indicated that lncRNA-HIT affected the proliferation of NSCLC cells at least in part via regulating the occupancy of E2F1 in the promoter regions of its target genes. The lncRNA-HIT-E2F1 complex may be a potential target for NSCLC treatment.

  4. [Experimental investigation of mechanisms of forming RbH by irradiating a Rb+H2 mixture with laser light].

    PubMed

    Shen, Xiao-Yan; Liu, Jing; Dai, Kang; Shen, Yi-Fan

    2008-11-01

    The radiation of a laser photoexcited Rb atoms from the ground state to the 5P3/2 level in a mixture of Rb vapor and hydrogen. The energy-pooling collision 5P3/2 + 5P3/2 --> 5S1/2 + 5D producted 5D state. The Rb (5P3/2) density and spatial distribution were mapped by monitoring the absorption of a counter-propagating laser beam, tuned to the 5P3/2 --> 7S1/2 transition, which could be translated parallel to the pump beam. In the presence of radiation trapping, the spontaneous radiation rate is multiplied by the transmission factor T5P3/2 --> 5S1/2, which describes the average probability that photons emitted within the fluorescence detection region can pass through the optically thick vapor without being absorbed. The T5P3/2 --> 5S1/2 is related to the frequency dependent absorption cross section and the density and spatial distribution of atoms in the level of the transition. The effective radiative rates of the Rb D2 line as a function of the H2 pressure were obtained. These quantities were combined with the measured excited atom density and fluorescence ratio to yield absolute energy-pooling rate coefficient. The quenching collision Rb (5P3/2) + H2 (v = 0) --> Rb(5S) + H2 (v = 2) producted state H2 (v= 2). This process is at least 16 times faster than the Rb (5P3/2) radiative decay rate. The reverse process of this process is relatively unlikely due to their large translational energy defect. The cross section for the process H2 (v = 2) + H2 (v = 0) --> H2 (vn = 1) + H2 (v = 0) + 3 920.2 cm(-1) is 7.7 x 10(-19) cm2. Hence the relaxation rate of this vibrational level is relatively slow and the nuclear spin statistics is conserved. The H2 (v = 2) density was determined by using the cross section for Rb (5P3/2)-H2 quenching. RbH was fromed by the Rb(5D) + H2 and Rb (5P3/2) + H2 (v = 2) reactions and observed by laser absorption. The ratio of 5D --> 5P3/2 to 5P3/2 --> 5S1/2 fluorescence was measured as a function of the H2 density. The absorption of the laser beam

  5. Copy number variations of E2F1: a new genetic risk factor for testicular cancer.

    PubMed

    Rocca, Maria Santa; Di Nisio, Andrea; Marchiori, Arianna; Ghezzi, Marco; Opocher, Giuseppe; Foresta, Carlo; Ferlin, Alberto

    2017-03-01

    Testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) is one of the most heritable forms of cancer. In last years, many evidence suggested that constitutional genetic factors, mainly single nucleotide polymorphisms, can increase its risk. However, the possible contribution of copy number variations (CNVs) in TGCT susceptibility has not been substantially addressed. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have focused on the effect of CNVs on gene expression and on the role of these structural genetic variations as risk factors for different forms of cancer. E2F1 is a transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and response to DNA damage. Therefore, deficiency or overexpression of this protein might significantly influence fundamental biological processes involved in cancer development and progression, including TGCT. We analyzed E2F1 CNVs in 261 cases with TGCT and 165 controls. We found no CNVs in controls, but 17/261 (6.5%) cases showed duplications in E2F1 Blot analysis demonstrated higher E2F1 expression in testicular samples of TGCT cases with three copies of the gene. Furthermore, we observed higher phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR in samples with E2F1 duplication. Interestingly, normal, non-tumoral testicular tissue in patient with E2F1 duplication showed lower expression of E2F1 and lower AKT/mTOR phosphorylation with respect to adjacent tumor tissue. Furthermore, increased expression of E2F1 obtained in vitro in NTERA-2 testicular cell line induced increased AKT/mTOR phosphorylation. This study suggests for the first time an involvement of E2F1 CNVs in TGCT susceptibility and supports previous preliminary data on the importance of AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in this cancer. © 2017 Society for Endocrinology.

  6. Electron affinities of the alkali dimers - Na2, K2, and Rb2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Partridge, H.; Dixon, D. A.; Walch, S. P.; Bauschlicher, C. W., Jr.; Gole, J. L.

    1983-01-01

    Ab initio calculations on the ground states of the alkali dimers, Na2, K2, and Rb2, and their anions are reported. The calculations employ large Gaussian basis sets and account for nearly all of the valence correlation energy. The calculated atomic electron affinities are within 0.02 eV of experiment and the calculated adiabatic electron affinities for Na2, K2, and Rb2 are, respectively, 0.470, 0.512, and 0.513 eV.

  7. E2F mediates induction of the Sp1-controlled promoter of the human DNA polymerase ɛ B-subunit gene POLE2

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Deqi; Jokela, Maarit; Tuusa, Jussi; Skog, Sven; Poikonen, Kari; Syväoja, Juhani E.

    2001-01-01

    The B-subunits of replicative DNA polymerases from Archaea to humans belong to the same protein family, suggesting that they share a common fundamental function. We report here the gene structure for the B-subunit of human DNA polymerase ɛ (POLE2), whose expression and transcriptional regulation is typical for replication proteins with some unique features. The 75 bp core promoter region, located within exon 1, contains an Sp1 element that is a critical determinant of promoter activity as shown by the luciferase reporter, electrophoretic mobility shift and DNase I footprinting assays. Two overlapping E2F elements adjacent to the Sp1 element are essential for full promoter activity and serum response. Binding sites for E2F1 and NF-1 reside immediately downstream from the core promoter region. Our results suggest that human POLE2 is regulated by two E2F–pocket protein complexes, one associated with Sp1 and the other with NF-1. So far, only one replicative DNA polymerase B-subunit gene promoter, POLA2 encoding the B-subunit of DNA polymerase α, has been characterized. Mitogenic activation of the POLE2 promoter by an E2F-mediated mechanism resembles that of POLA2, but the regulation of basal promoter activity is different between these two genes. PMID:11433027

  8. The effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on endothelial damage and ghrelin expression induced by hyperhomocysteine.

    PubMed

    Xu, Zhiwei; Lan, Taohua; Wu, Weikang; Wu, Yiling

    2011-01-01

    Studies have indicated that ginsenoside Rb1 and ghrelin could both prevent homocysteine (Hcy)-induced endothelial dysfunction through the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) mechanism. This study investigated whether endogenous ghrelin mediates the endothelial protection of ginsenosidee Rb1 through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Rats were randomized into a control group, a hyperhomocysteine (HHcy) model group with a high methionine diet, a ginsenosides (GS) group, and HHcy plus GS group. Plasma ghrelin was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Aortic rings for control and HHcy groups were treated with ghrelin or not. Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation function was evaluated by the aortic ring assay, and the structural changes were visualized by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured, and the experimental conditions were optimized according to NO production. After treatment, the NO, ghrelin, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels in the media were detected and analyzed with linear regression. Ghrelin and eNOS expression were observed by cell immunohistochemical staining. Ghrelin receptor antagonist was used to detect the mechanism of ginsenoside Rb1 on NO production, which was reflected by diacetylated 4,5-diaminofluorescein-2 diacetate fluorescence. In vivo experiments demonstrated that plasma ghrelin levels in the HHcy group were significantly elevated vs controls (P < .05) and were significantly increased in the HHcy plus GS group (P < .01). Compared with control, endothelium-dependent vasodilatation function was greatly reduced in the HHcy group (P < .01), which was significantly increased in HHcy plus ghrelin group compared with HHcy group (P < .01). The arterial walls of HHcy group exhibited characteristic pathologic changes, which were repaired in HHcy plus ghrelin group. In vivo, compared with Hcy (200 μM) group, HUVECs pretreated with ginsenoside Rb1 (10 μM) for 30

  9. Observation of Feshbach resonances between ultracold Na and Rb atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Fudong; Xiong, Dezhi; Li, Xiaoke; Wang, Dajun

    2013-03-01

    Absolute ground-state 23Na87Rb molecule has a large electric dipole moment of 3.3 Debye and its two body exchange chemical reaction is energetically forbidden at ultracold temperatures. It is thus a nice candidate for studying quantum gases with dipolar interactions. We have built an experiment setup to investigate ultracold collisions between Na and Rb atoms as a first step toward the production of ground state molecular samples. Ultracold mixtures are first obtained by evaporative cooling of Rb and sympathetic cooling of Na. They are then transferred to a crossed dipole trap and prepared in different spin combinations for Feshbach resonance study. Several resonances below 1000 G are observed with both atoms prepared in either | F = 1,mF = 1 > or | F = 1,mF = - 1 > hyperfine states. Most of them are within 30 G of predicted values§ based on potentials obtained by high quality molecular spectroscopy studies. This work is supported by RGC Hong Kong. § E. Tiemann, private communications

  10. The DREAM complex: Master coordinator of cell cycle dependent gene expression

    PubMed Central

    Sadasivam, Subhashini; DeCaprio, James A.

    2014-01-01

    Preface The dimerization partner (DP), retinoblastoma (RB)-like, E2F and MuvB (DREAM) complex provides a previously unsuspected unifying role in the cell cycle by directly linking p130, p107, E2F, BMYB and FOXM1. DREAM mediates gene repression during G0 and coordinates periodic gene expression with peaks during G1/S and G2/M. Perturbations in DREAM regulation shift the balance from quiescence towards proliferation and contribute to increased mitotic gene expression levels frequently observed in cancers with poor prognosis. PMID:23842645

  11. Parameters to Maximize 2f2-f1 Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emission Levels

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Horn, Jennifer H.; Pratt, Shiela R.; Durrant, John D.

    2008-01-01

    Purpose: Past research has established parameters for the 2f1-f2 distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) that enhance response levels (e.g., L1 - L2 = 10 dB; f2/f1 = 1.22; L1, L2 = 65, 55 dB SPL). These same parameters do not optimize 2f2-f1 DPOAEs. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate more completely those parameters that…

  12. THE E2/FRB PATHWAY REGULATION OF DNA REPLICATION AND PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS

    EPA Science Inventory

    The E2F/Rb pathway plays a pivotal role in the control of cell cycle progression and regulates the expression of genes required for Gl/S transition. Our study examines the genomic response in Drosophila embryos after overexpression and mutation of E2F/Rb pathway molecules. Hierar...

  13. Synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity of substituted benzyl iminoether Pt(II) complexes of the type cis- and trans-[PtCl2{E-N(H)=C(OMe)CH2-C6H4-p-R}2] (R=Me, OMe, F). X-ray structure of trans-[PtCl2{E-N(H)=C(OMe)CH2-C6H4-p-F}2].

    PubMed

    Mazzega Sbovata, Silvia; Bettio, Frazia; Marzano, Christine; Tassan, Augusto; Mozzon, Mirto; Bertani, Roberta; Benetollo, Franco; Michelin, Rino A

    2008-04-01

    New substituted benzyl iminoether derivatives of the type cis- and trans-[PtCl(2){E-N(H)C(OMe)CH(2)-C(6)H(4)-p-R}(2)] (R=Me (1a, 2a), OMe (3a, 4a), F (5a, 6a)) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR spectroscopy and NMR techniques. The iminoether ligands are in the E configuration, which is stable in solution and in the solid state, as confirmed by the (1)H NMR data. Complex trans-[PtCl(2){E-N(H)C(OMe)CH(2)-C(6)H(4)-p-F}(2)] (6a) was also characterized by an X-ray diffraction study. Complexes 1a-6a have been tested against a panel of human tumor cell lines in order to evaluate their cytotoxic activity. cis-Isomers were significant more potent than the corresponding trans-isomers against all tumor cell lines tested; moreover, complexes 1a and 5a showed IC(50) values from about 2-fold to 6-fold lower than those exhibited by cisplatin, used as reference platinum anticancer drug.

  14. Determination of the Mn2+ -F- distance from the isotropic superhyperfine constant for [MnF6]4- in ionic lattices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barriuso, M. T.; Moreno, M.

    1984-03-01

    This paper is devoted to establish a quantitative nonempirical relation between the experimental isotropic superhyperfine constant As and the metal-ligand distance R for [MnF6]4- placed in different ionic host lattices. By inspection of the theoretical molecular-orbital calculations performed on [MnF6]4-, it is proposed that λs, the 2s (F-) admixture coefficient in the antibonding e*g orbital, is just given by cSs where Ss is the corresponding group overlap integral while the value of the constant c, which is independent of R, should be close to 1.3. In a first step, we have determined R for Mn2+ in fluoroperovskite lattices from the experimental As values using a value c=1.269+/-0.017 derived from the NMR data for KMnF3 and RbMnF3. By means of this procedure, it is predicted that R=2.084+/-0.11 Å for KZnF3:Mn2+ and that R=2.124+/-0.012 Å for RbCdF3:Mn2+, which are in good agreement with recent extended x-ray-absorption fine-structure measurements on such systems. On the other hand, from the As values measured at room temperature and at 4.2 K, we have derived a thermal-expansion coefficient α=(17+/-5)×10-6 K-1 for [MnF6]4- in the KZnF3 lattice which is comparable to the value α=16.52×10-6 K-1 measured at 300 K for RbMnF3. The present method gives also reasonable results for slightly distorted [MnF6]4- clusters. In view of this, it is predicted that R=2.126+/-0.012 Å for the long Mn-F bond in K2MnF4. From this work, it is seen that if R0 (which corresponds to the metal-ligand distance of the host lattice) is less than 2.10 Å, an outward relaxation occurs, whereas the opposite happens if R0 is higher than 2.12 Å-a fact which is consistent with the mainly ionic bond between Mn2+ and F-. Along this line of reasoning it is shown that a significant inwards relaxation ΔRR0=22.1% (ΔR=R-R0) occurs for RbF:Mn2+. The foundations of the method, which is able to detect changes in R down to about 2×10-4 Å, are thoroughly examined in this work. In particular, the

  15. E3L and F1L Gene Functions Modulate the Protective Capacity of Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Immunization in Murine Model of Human Smallpox.

    PubMed

    Volz, Asisa; Jany, Sylvia; Freudenstein, Astrid; Lantermann, Markus; Ludwig, Holger; Sutter, Gerd

    2018-01-04

    The highly attenuated Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) lacks most of the known vaccinia virus (VACV) virulence and immune evasion genes. Today MVA can serve as a safety-tested next-generation smallpox vaccine. Yet, we still need to learn about regulatory gene functions preserved in the MVA genome, such as the apoptosis inhibitor genes F1L and E3L . Here, we tested MVA vaccine preparations on the basis of the deletion mutant viruses MVA-ΔF1L and MVA-ΔE3L for efficacy against ectromelia virus (ECTV) challenge infections in mice. In non-permissive human tissue culture the MVA deletion mutant viruses produced reduced levels of the VACV envelope antigen B5. Upon mousepox challenge at three weeks after vaccination, MVA-ΔF1L and MVA-ΔE3L exhibited reduced protective capacity in comparison to wildtype MVA. Surprisingly, however, all vaccines proved equally protective against a lethal ECTV infection at two days after vaccination. Accordingly, the deletion mutant MVA vaccines induced high levels of virus-specific CD8+ T cells previously shown to be essential for rapidly protective MVA vaccination. These results suggest that inactivation of the anti-apoptotic genes F1L or E3L modulates the protective capacity of MVA vaccination most likely through the induction of distinct orthopoxvirus specific immunity in the absence of these viral regulatory proteins.

  16. Luminescence and Excitation Spectra of U 3+ doped RbY 2 Cl 7 Single Crystals

    DOE PAGES

    Karbowiak, M.; Murdoch, K.; Drożdżyński, J.; ...

    1996-08-01

    Uranium(3+) doped single crystals of RbY 2 Cl 7 with a uranium concentration of 0.05% and 0.2% were grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method using RbU 2 Cl 7 as the doping substance. Polished plates of ca. 5 mm in diameter were used for measurements of luminescence and excitation spectra. And since the U 3+ ions occupy two somewhat different site symmetries, a splitting of all observed f-f bands was observed. Furthermore, the analysis of the spectra enabled definitively an assignment of 22 crystal field bands for both site symmetries as well as the total crystal field splitting of the groundmore » level, equal to 473 cm -1 and 567 cm -1 for the first and second site symmetry, respectively.« less

  17. The E2F3—Oncomir 1 axis is activated in Wilms Tumor

    PubMed Central

    Kort, Eric J.; Farber, Leslie; Tretiakova, Maria; Petillo, David; Furge, Kyle A.; Yang, Ximing J.; Cornelius, Albert; Teh, Bin T.

    2008-01-01

    Oncomir-1 is an oncogenic cluster of microRNAs located on chromosome 13. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that it is transcriptionally regulated by the transcription factor E2F3. In this report we combine expression profiling of both messenger RNA (mRNA) and micro RNAs (miRNA) in Wilms tumor (WT) samples to provide the first evidence that the E2F3—Oncomir 1 axis, previously identified in cell culture, is deregulated in primary human tumors. Analysis of RNA expression signatures demonstrated that an E2F3 gene signature was activated in all Wilms tumor samples analyzed, in contrast to other kidney tumors. This finding was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on the protein level. Expression of E2F3 was lowest in early stage tumors, and highest in metastatic tissue. Expression profiling of miRNAs in WT showed that expression of each measured member of the Oncomir-1 family was highest in WT relative to other kidney tumor subtypes. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed that these microRNAs were overexpressed in Wilms tumor relative to normal kidney tissue. These results suggest that the E2F3—Oncomir-1 axis is activated in Wilms tumor. Our study also demonstrates the utility of integrated genomics combining gene signature analysis with miRNA expression profiling to identify protein-miRNA interactions that are perturbed in disease states. PMID:18519660

  18. Cubic-to-tetragonal structural phase transition in Rb{sub 1{minus}x}Cs{sub x}CaF{sub 3} solid solutions: Thermal expansion and EPR studies

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lahoz, F.; Villacampa, B.; Alcala, R.

    1997-04-01

    The influence of crystal mixing on the structural phase transitions in Rb{sub 1{minus}x}Cs{sub x}CaF{sub 3} (0{lt}x{lt}1) fluoroperovskite crystals has been studied by thermal expansion and EPR measurements of Ni{sup 2+} and Ni{sup 3+} paramagnetic probes. A cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition has been detected in crystals with x=0, 0.1, 0.21, 0.27, and 0.35. The critical temperature and the tetragonal distortion decrease as x increases. No transition was observed for x{ge}0.44. This transition shows a weak first-order component in the x=0 and 0.1 samples, which is progressively smeared out for x{gt}0.1, indicating a spatial distribution of the critical temperature in those crystals withmore » high ionic substitution rate. In RbCaF{sub 3}, another structural phase transition was observed at 20 K with a thermal hysteresis between 20 and 40 K. This transition has not been found in any of the mixed crystals.« less

  19. Determination of the electric field gradient in RbCaF3 near the phase transition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hepp, M. A.; Man, P. P.; Trokiner, A.; Zanni, H.; Fraissard, J.

    1992-12-01

    The fluoroperovskite, RbCaF 3 undergoes a phase transition at 195.5K from a cubic to a tetragonal phase. The order parameter for this transition is directly related to the electric field gradient which arises in the tetragonal phase. In this work, we have used three NMR methods to measure the electric field gradient at the 87Rb site in a single crystal of RbCaF 3, very near this transition. These experiments are based on recent theoretical developments which allow the measurement of quadrupole parameters even for nuclei in a weak electric field gradient.

  20. Competing E2 and SN2 Mechanisms for the F- + CH3CH2I Reaction.

    PubMed

    Yang, Li; Zhang, Jiaxu; Xie, Jing; Ma, Xinyou; Zhang, Linyao; Zhao, Chenyang; Hase, William L

    2017-02-09

    Anti-E2, syn-E2, inv-, and ret-S N 2 reaction channels for the gas-phase reaction of F - + CH 3 CH 2 I were characterized with a variety of electronic structure calculations. Geometrical analysis confirmed synchronous E2-type transition states for the elimination of the current reaction, instead of nonconcerted processes through E1cb-like and E1-like mechanisms. Importantly, the controversy concerning the reactant complex for anti-E2 and inv-S N 2 paths has been clarified in the present work. A positive barrier of +19.2 kcal/mol for ret-S N 2 shows the least feasibility to occur at room temperature. Negative activation energies (-16.9, -16.0, and -4.9 kcal/mol, respectively) for inv-S N 2, anti-E2, and syn-E2 indicate that inv-S N 2 and anti-E2 mechanisms significantly prevail over the eclipsed elimination. Varying the leaving group for a series of reactions F - + CH 3 CH 2 Y (Y = F, Cl, Br, and I) leads to monotonically decreasing barriers, which relates to the gradually looser TS structures following the order F > Cl > Br > I. The reactivity of each channel nearly holds unchanged except for the perturbation between anti-E2 and inv-S N 2. RRKM calculation reveals that the reaction of the fluorine ion with ethyl iodide occurs predominately via anti-E2 elimination, and the inv-S N 2 pathway is suppressed, although it is energetically favored. This phenomenon indicates that, in evaluating the competition between E2 and S N 2 processes, the kinetic or dynamical factors may play a significant role. By comparison with benchmark CCSD(T) energies, MP2, CAM-B3LYP, and M06 methods are recommended to perform dynamics simulations of the title reaction.

  1. The assembly, activation, and substrate specificity of Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes

    PubMed Central

    Jahn, Stephan C.; Law, Mary E.; Corsino, Patrick E.; Rowe, Thomas C.; Davis, Bradley J.; Law, Brian K.

    2013-01-01

    Previous studies have shown conflicting data regarding Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes and, considering the widespread overexpression of Cyclin D1 in cancer, it is important to fully understand their relevance. While many have shown Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes to form active complexes, others have failed to show activity or association. Here, using a novel p21-PCNA fusion protein as well as p21 mutant proteins, we show that p21 is a required scaffolding protein, with Cyclin D1 and Cdk2 failing to complex in its absence. These p21/Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes are active and also bind the trimeric PCNA complex, with each trimer capable of independently binding distinct Cyclin/Cdk complexes. We also show that increased p21 levels due to treatment with chemotherapeutic agents result in increased formation and kinase activity of Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes, and that Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes are able to phosphorylate a number of substrates in addition to Rb. Nucleophosmin and Cdh1, two proteins important for centrosome replication and implicated in the chromosomal instability of cancer are shown to be phosphorylated by Cyclin D1/Cdk2 complexes. Additionally, PSF is identified as a novel Cdk2 substrate, being phosphorylated by Cdk2 complexed with either Cyclin E or Cyclin D1, and given the many functions of PSF, it could have important implications on cellular activity. PMID:23627734

  2. Special K: testing the potassium link between radioactive rubidium (86Rb) turnover and metabolic rate.

    PubMed

    Tomlinson, Sean; Mathialagan, Priya D; Maloney, Shane K

    2014-04-01

    The measurement of (86)Rb turnover recently has been suggested as a useful method for measuring field metabolic rate in small animals. We investigated a proposed mechanism of (86)Rb turnover, its analogy to K(+), by comparing the turnover of (86)Rb in a model insect, the rhinoceros beetle Xylotrupes gideon, fed a diet of plum jam or plum jam enriched with K(+) or Rb(+). The turnover of (86)Rb in the beetles on the K(+) and the Rb(+) diets was higher than that for beetles on the jam diet (F2,311=32.4; P=1.58×10(-13)). We also exposed the beetles to different ambient temperatures to induce differences in metabolic rate ( ) while feeding them the jam and K(+) diets. was higher at higher ambient temperature (Ta) for both jam (F1,11=14.56; P=0.003) and K(+) (F1,8=15.39; P=0.004) dietary groups, and the turnover of (86)Rb was higher at higher Ta for both jam (F1,11=10.80; P=0.007) and K(+) (F1,8=12.34; P=0.008) dietary groups. There was a significant relationship between (86)Rb turnover and for both the jam (F1,11=35.00; P=1.0×10(-3)) and the K(+) (F1,8=64.33; P=4.3×10(-5)) diets, but the relationship differed between the diets (F1,19=14.07; P=0.001), with a higher (86)Rb turnover in beetles on the K(+)-enriched than on the jam diet at all Ta. We conclude that (86)Rb turnover is related to K(+) metabolism, and that this is the mechanism of the relationship between (86)Rb turnover and . Studies relating (86)Rb turnover to should maintain dietary [K] as close as possible to that of natural diets for the most accurate calibrations for free-ranging animals.

  3. Bandwidth and Electron Correlation-Tuned Superconductivity in Rb 0.8 Fe 2 ( Se 1 - z S z ) 2

    DOE PAGES

    Yi, M.; Wang, Meng; Kemper, A. F.; ...

    2015-12-15

    Here, we present a systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of the substitution dependence of the electronic structure of Rb 0.8Fe 2(Se 1-zS z) 2 (z = 0, 0.5, 1), where superconductivity is continuously suppressed into a metallic phase. Going from the nonsuperconducting Rb 0.8Fe 2S 2 to superconducting Rb 0.8Fe 2Se 2, we observe little change of the Fermi surface topology, but a reduction of the overall bandwidth by a factor of 2. Hence, for these heavily electron-doped iron chalcogenides, we have identified electron correlation as explicitly manifested in the quasiparticle bandwidth to be the important tuning parameter for superconductivity,more » and that moderate correlation is essential to achieving high T C.« less

  4. E2F8 as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Lung Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Park, Sin-Aye; Platt, James; Lee, Jong Woo; López-Giráldez, Francesc; Herbst, Roy S.

    2015-01-01

    Background: The E2F members have been divided into transcription activators (E2F1-E2F3) and repressors (E2F4-E2F8). E2F8 with E2F7 has been known to play an important physiologic role in embryonic development and cell cycle regulation by repressing E2F1. However, the function of E2F8 in cancer cells is unknown. Methods: E2F8 expression was assessed by immunoblotting or immunofluorescence staining in human lung cancer (LC) cells and tissues from LC patients (n = 45). Cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion analysis were performed to evaluate the role of E2F8 in LC. Microarray analysis was used to determine the target genes of E2F8. The regulation of E2F8 on the expression of ubiquitin-like PHD and RING domain-containing 1 (UHRF1), one of E2F8 target genes, was determined using chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter activity assays. Human LC xenograft models were used to determine the effects of inhibiting E2F8 by siRNAs (n = 7 per group) or antisense morpholino (n = 8 per group) on tumor growth. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and group differences by the Student’s t test. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: LC tumors overexpressed E2F8 compared with normal lung tissues. Depletion of E2F8 inhibited cell proliferation and tumor growth. E2F8 knockdown statistically significantly reduced the expression of UHRF1 (~60%-70%, P < .001), and the direct binding of E2F8 on the promoter of UHRF1 was identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis with a public database showed prognostic significance of aberrant E2F8 expression in LC (HR = 1.91 95% CI = 1.21 to 3.01 in chemo-naïve patients, P = .0047). Conclusions: We demonstrated that E2F8 is overexpressed in LC and is required for the growth of LC cells. These findings implicate E2F8 as a novel therapeutic target for LC treatment. PMID:26089541

  5. Triptolide abrogates growth of colon cancer and induces cell cycle arrest by inhibiting transcriptional activation of E2F.

    PubMed

    Oliveira, Amanda; Beyer, Georg; Chugh, Rohit; Skube, Steven J; Majumder, Kaustav; Banerjee, Sulagna; Sangwan, Veena; Li, Lihua; Dawra, Rajinder; Subramanian, Subbaya; Saluja, Ashok; Dudeja, Vikas

    2015-06-01

    Despite significant progress in diagnostics and therapeutics, over 50 thousand patients die from colorectal cancer annually. Hence, there is urgent need for new lines of treatment. Triptolide, a natural compound isolated from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii, is effective against multiple cancers. We have synthesized a water soluble analog of triptolide, named Minnelide, which is currently in phase I trial against pancreatic cancer. The aims of the current study were to evaluate whether triptolide/Minnelide is effective against colorectal cancer and to elucidate the mechanism by which triptolide induces cell death in colorectal cancer. Efficacy of Minnelide was evaluated in subcutaneous xenograft and liver metastasis model of colorectal cancer. For mechanistic studies, colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29 were treated with triptolide and the effect on viability, caspase activation, annexin positivity, lactate dehydrogenase release, and cell cycle progression was evaluated. Effect of triptolide on E2F transcriptional activity, mRNA levels of E2F-dependent genes, E2F1- retinoblastoma protein (Rb) binding, and proteins levels of regulator of G1-S transition was also measured. DNA binding of E2F1 was evaluated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Triptolide decreased colon cancer cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Minnelide markedly inhibited the growth of colon cancer in the xenograft and liver metastasis model of colon cancer and more than doubles the median survival of animals with liver metastases from colon cancer. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that at low concentrations triptolide induces apoptotic cell death but at higher concentrations it induces cell cycle arrest. Our data suggest that triptolide is able to induce G1 cell cycle arrest by inhibiting transcriptional activation of E2F1. Our data also show that triptolide downregulates E2F activity by potentially modulating events downstream of DNA binding. Therefore, we conclude

  6. Breakpoint structure of the Anopheles gambiae 2Rb chromosomal inversion.

    PubMed

    Lobo, Neil F; Sangaré, Djibril M; Regier, Allison A; Reidenbach, Kyanne R; Bretz, David A; Sharakhova, Maria V; Emrich, Scott J; Traore, Sekou F; Costantini, Carlo; Besansky, Nora J; Collins, Frank H

    2010-10-25

    Alternative arrangements of chromosome 2 inversions in Anopheles gambiae are important sources of population structure, and are associated with adaptation to environmental heterogeneity. The forces responsible for their origin and maintenance are incompletely understood. Molecular characterization of inversion breakpoints provides insight into how they arose, and provides the basis for development of molecular karyotyping methods useful in future studies. Sequence comparison of regions near the cytological breakpoints of 2Rb allowed the molecular delineation of breakpoint boundaries. Comparisons were made between the standard 2R+b arrangement in the An. gambiae PEST reference genome and the inverted 2Rb arrangements in the An. gambiae M and S genome assemblies. Sequence differences between alternative 2Rb arrangements were exploited in the design of a PCR diagnostic assay, which was evaluated against the known chromosomal banding pattern of laboratory colonies and field-collected samples from Mali and Cameroon. The breakpoints of the 7.55 Mb 2Rb inversion are flanked by extensive runs of the same short (72 bp) tandemly organized sequence, which was likely responsible for chromosomal breakage and rearrangement. Application of the molecular diagnostic assay suggested that 2Rb has a single common origin in An. gambiae and its sibling species, Anopheles arabiensis, and also that the standard arrangement (2R+b) may have arisen twice through breakpoint reuse. The molecular diagnostic was reliable when applied to laboratory colonies, but its accuracy was lower in natural populations. The complex repetitive sequence flanking the 2Rb breakpoint region may be prone to structural and sequence-level instability. The 2Rb molecular diagnostic has immediate application in studies based on laboratory colonies, but its usefulness in natural populations awaits development of complementary molecular tools.

  7. Evidence for Chemical and Electronic Nonuniformities in the Formation of the Interface of RbF-Treated Cu(In,Ga)Se2 with CdS.

    PubMed

    Nicoara, Nicoleta; Kunze, Thomas; Jackson, Philip; Hariskos, Dimitrios; Duarte, Roberto Félix; Wilks, Regan G; Witte, Wolfram; Bär, Marcus; Sadewasser, Sascha

    2017-12-20

    We report on the initial stages of CdS buffer layer formation on Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGSe) thin-film solar cell absorbers subjected to rubidium fluoride (RbF) postdeposition treatment (PDT). A detailed characterization of the CIGSe/CdS interface for different chemical bath deposition (CBD) times of the CdS layer is obtained from spatially resolved atomic and Kelvin probe force microscopy and laterally integrating X-ray spectroscopies. The observed spatial inhomogeneity in the interface's structural, chemical, and electronic properties of samples undergoing up to 3 min of CBD treatments is indicative of a complex interface formation including an incomplete coverage and/or nonuniform composition of the buffer layer. It is expected that this result impacts solar cell performance, in particular when reducing the CdS layer thickness (e.g., in an attempt to increase the collection in the ultraviolet wavelength region). Our work provides important findings on the absorber/buffer interface formation and reveals the underlying mechanism for limitations in the reduction of the CdS thickness, even when an alkali PDT is applied to the CIGSe absorber.

  8. E2F8 as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Lung Cancer.

    PubMed

    Park, Sin-Aye; Platt, James; Lee, Jong Woo; López-Giráldez, Francesc; Herbst, Roy S; Koo, Ja Seok

    2015-09-01

    The E2F members have been divided into transcription activators (E2F1-E2F3) and repressors (E2F4-E2F8). E2F8 with E2F7 has been known to play an important physiologic role in embryonic development and cell cycle regulation by repressing E2F1. However, the function of E2F8 in cancer cells is unknown. E2F8 expression was assessed by immunoblotting or immunofluorescence staining in human lung cancer (LC) cells and tissues from LC patients (n = 45). Cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion analysis were performed to evaluate the role of E2F8 in LC. Microarray analysis was used to determine the target genes of E2F8. The regulation of E2F8 on the expression of ubiquitin-like PHD and RING domain-containing 1 (UHRF1), one of E2F8 target genes, was determined using chromatin immunoprecipitation and promoter activity assays. Human LC xenograft models were used to determine the effects of inhibiting E2F8 by siRNAs (n = 7 per group) or antisense morpholino (n = 8 per group) on tumor growth. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and group differences by the Student's t test. All statistical tests were two-sided. LC tumors overexpressed E2F8 compared with normal lung tissues. Depletion of E2F8 inhibited cell proliferation and tumor growth. E2F8 knockdown statistically significantly reduced the expression of UHRF1 (~60%-70%, P < .001), and the direct binding of E2F8 on the promoter of UHRF1 was identified. Kaplan-Meier analysis with a public database showed prognostic significance of aberrant E2F8 expression in LC (HR = 1.91 95% CI = 1.21 to 3.01 in chemo-naïve patients, P = .0047). We demonstrated that E2F8 is overexpressed in LC and is required for the growth of LC cells. These findings implicate E2F8 as a novel therapeutic target for LC treatment. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  9. A novel mechanism of E2F1 regulation via nucleocytoplasmic shuttling: determinants of nuclear import and export.

    PubMed

    Ivanova, Iordanka A; Vespa, Alisa; Dagnino, Lina

    2007-09-01

    E2F1 is a transcription factor central for cell survival, proliferation, and repair following genomic insult. Depending on the cell type and conditions, E2F1 can induce apoptosis in transformed cells, behaving as a tumour suppressor, or impart growth advantages favouring tumour formation. The pleiotropic functions of E2F1 are a likely consequence of its ability to transcriptionally control a wide variety of target genes, and require tight regulation of its activity at multiple levels. Although sequestration of proteins to particular cellular compartments is a well-established regulatory mechanism, virtually nothing is known about its contribution to modulation of E2F1 target gene expression. We have examined the subcellular trafficking of E2F1 and, contrary to the widely held notion that this factor is constitutively nuclear, we now demonstrate that it is subjected to continuous nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. We have also defined two nuclear localization domains and a nuclear export region, which mediates CRM1-dependent transit out of the nucleus. The predominant subcellular location of E2F1 is likely determined by the balance between the activity of nuclear import and export domains, and can be modulated by differentiation stimuli in epidermal cells. Thus, we have identified a hitherto unrecognized mechanism to control E2F1 function through modulation of its subcellular localization.

  10. Magnetism of the spin-1 tetramer compound A2Ni2Mo3O12(A =Rb or K)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hase, Masashi; Matsuo, Akira; Kindo, Koichi; Matsumoto, Masashige

    2017-12-01

    We measured the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility χ (T ) and the specific heat C (T ) and the magnetic-field dependence of the magnetization M (H ) of A2Ni2Mo3O12 (A = Rb or K) powder. We consider that the probable spin model is an interacting spin-1 antiferromagnetic tetramer model. We evaluated values of the intratetramer interactions as J1=9 K and J2=18 K, and the effective intertetramer interaction as Jeff=4 K for Rb2Ni2Mo3O12 . The susceptibility and magnetization at 1.3 K of K2Ni2Mo3O12 are very close to those of Rb2Ni2Mo3O12 . We observed a phase transition to a magnetically ordered state in C (T )/T in magnetic fields above 3 T. The transition temperature increases with magnetic field. Probably, the ordered state appears around 1.8 K even in 0 T. The ordered state in 0 T, however, is not stable enough like an order in the vicinity of a quantum critical point. Longitudinal-mode magnetic excitations may be observable in single crystalline A2Ni2Mo3O12 (A = Rb or K).

  11. ROS Production Is Essential for the Apoptotic Function of E2F1 in Pheochromocytoma and Neuroblastoma Cell Lines

    PubMed Central

    Espada, Lilia; Meo-Evoli, Nathalie; Sancho, Patricia; Real, Sebastian; Fabregat, Isabel; Ambrosio, Santiago; Tauler, Albert

    2012-01-01

    In this study we demonstrate that accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is essential for E2F1 mediated apoptosis in ER-E2F1 PC12 pheochromocytoma, and SH-SY5Y and SK-N-JD neuroblastoma stable cell lines. In these cells, the ER-E2F1 fusion protein is expressed in the cytosol; the addition of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) induces its translocation to the nucleus and activation of E2F1target genes. Previously we demonstrated that, in ER-E2F1 PC12 cells, OHT treatment induced apoptosis through activation of caspase-3. Here we show that caspase-8 activity did not change upon treatment with OHT. Moreover, over-expression of Bcl-xL arrested OHT-induced apoptosis; by contrast, over-expression of c-FLIP, did not have any effect on OHT-induced apoptosis. OHT addition induces BimL expression, its translocation to mitochondria and activation of Bax, which is paralleled by diminished mitochondrial enrichment of Bcl-xL. Treatment with a Bax-inhibitory peptide reduced OHT-induced apoptosis. These results point out the essential role of mitochondria on the apoptotic process driven by E2F1. ROS accumulation followed E2F1 induction and treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, inhibited E2F1-induced Bax translocation to mitochondria and subsequent apoptosis. The role of ROS in mediating OHT-induced apoptosis was also studied in two neuroblastoma cell lines, SH-SY5Y and SK-N-JD. In SH-SY5Y cells, activation of E2F1 by the addition of OHT induced ROS production and apoptosis, whereas over-expression of E2F1 in SK-N-JD cells failed to induce either response. Transcriptional profiling revealed that many of the genes responsible for scavenging ROS were down-regulated following E2F1-induction in SH-SY5Y, but not in SK-N-JD cells. Finally, inhibition of GSK3β blocked ROS production, Bax activation and the down regulation of ROS scavenging genes. These findings provide an explanation for the apparent contradictory role of E2F1 as an apoptotic agent versus a cell cycle activator

  12. MicroRNA-188 suppresses G1/S transition by targeting multiple cyclin/CDK complexes.

    PubMed

    Wu, Jiangbin; Lv, Qing; He, Jie; Zhang, Haoxiang; Mei, Xueshuang; Cui, Kai; Huang, Nunu; Xie, Weidong; Xu, Naihan; Zhang, Yaou

    2014-10-11

    Accelerated cell cycle progression is the common feature of most cancers. MiRNAs can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors by directly modulating cell cycle machinery. It has been shown that miR-188 is upregulated in UVB-irradiated mouse skin and human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE cells under hypoxic stress. However, little is known about the function of miR-188 in cell proliferation and growth control. Overexpression of miR-188 inhibits cell proliferation, tumor colony formation and G1/S cell cycle transition in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CNE cells. Using bioinformatics approach, we identify a series of genes regulating G1/S transition as putative miR-188 targets. MiR-188 inhibits both mRNA and protein expression of CCND1, CCND3, CCNE1, CCNA2, CDK4 and CDK2, suppresses Rb phosphorylation and downregulates E2F transcriptional activity. The expression level of miR-188 also inversely correlates with the expression of miR-188 targets in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tissues. Moreover, studies in xenograft mouse model reveal that miR-188 is capable of inhibiting tumor initiation and progression by suppressing target genes expression and Rb phosphorylation. This study demonstrates that miR-188 exerts anticancer effects, via downregulation of multiple G1/S related cyclin/CDKs and Rb/E2F signaling pathway.

  13. E6/E7-P53-POU2F1-CTHRC1 axis promotes cervical cancer metastasis and activates Wnt/PCP pathway

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Rong; Lu, Huan; Lyu, Yuan-yuan; Yang, Xiao-mei; Zhu, Lin-yan; Yang, Guang-dong; Jiang, Peng-cheng; Re, Yuan; Song, Wei-wei; Wang, Jin-hao; Zhang, Can-can; Gu, Fei; Luo, Tian-jiao; Wu, Zhi-yong; Xu, Cong-jian

    2017-01-01

    Cervical cancer is an infectious cancer and the most common gynecologic cancer worldwide. E6/E7, the early genes of the high-risk mucosal human papillomavirus type, play key roles in the carcinogenic process of cervical cancer. However, little was known about its roles in modulating tumor microenvironment, particular extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we found that E6/E7 could regulate multiple ECM proteins, especially collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1). CTHRC1 is highly expressed in cervical cancer tissue and serum and closely correlated with clinicopathological parameters. CTHRC1 promotes cervical cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo. E6/E7 regulates the expression of CTHRC1 in cervical cancer by E6/E7-p53-POU2F1 (POU class 2 homeobox 1) axis. Futhermore, CTHRC1 activates Wnt/PCP signaling pathway. Take together, E6/E7-p53-POU2F1-CTHRC1 axis promotes cervical cancer cell invasion and metastasis and may act as a potential therapeutic target for interventions against cervical cancer invasion and metastasis. PMID:28303973

  14. Transformation of EIA to EIT by incoherent pumping of the 85Rb D1 line

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Hoon; Kim, Jung Dong; Jung, Tae Young; Kim, Jung Bog

    2012-10-01

    We have observed a transformation from electromagnetically-induced absorption (EIA) to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in open systems of the 85Rb D1 line by adding an incoherent optical pumping laser. This result raises a new question about recent theoretical work which does not address the degree of open. The pump beam only plays a role in transferring atoms by a spontaneous transition into the interacting system for EIT observation, which is an incoherent process. The dependence of the absorption spectra on the intensity and the polarization of each laser beam were observed. We have found the same tendencies in all transitions except the F = 2F' = 3 transition of the 85Rb D1 line, which is the system that almost satisfies conventional EIA conditions.

  15. Structural and Biochemical Insights into MLL1 Core Complex Assembly

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Avdic, Vanja; Zhang, Pamela; Lanouette, Sylvain

    2012-05-02

    Histone H3 Lys-4 methylation is predominantly catalyzed by a family of methyltransferases whose enzymatic activity depends on their interaction with a three-subunit complex composed of WDR5, RbBP5, and Ash2L. Here, we report that a segment of 50 residues of RbBP5 bridges the Ash2L C-terminal domain to WDR5. The crystal structure of WDR5 in ternary complex with RbBP5 and MLL1 reveals that both proteins binds peptide-binding clefts located on opposite sides of WDR5s {beta}-propeller domain. RbBP5 engages in several hydrogen bonds and van der Waals contacts within a V-shaped cleft formed by the junction of two blades on WDR5. Mutational analysesmore » of both the WDR5 V-shaped cleft and RbBP5 residues reveal that the interactions between RbBP5 and WDR5 are important for the stimulation of MLL1 methyltransferase activity. Overall, this study provides the structural basis underlying the formation of the WDR5-RbBP5 subcomplex and further highlight the crucial role of WDR5 in scaffolding the MLL1 core complex.« less

  16. E2F1/TS Immunophenotype and Survival of Patients with Colorectal Cancer Treated with 5FU-Based Adjuvant Therapy.

    PubMed

    Sulzyc-Bielicka, Violetta; Domagala, Pawel; Bielicki, Dariusz; Safranow, Krzysztof; Rogowski, Wojciech; Domagala, Wenancjusz

    2016-07-01

    The predictive value of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression alone for 5FU-based treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clinically confirmed. Little is known on the association of expression of E2F1, which controls the transcription of genes encoding proteins engaged in DNA synthesis including TS, and survival of patients with CRC. The purpose of this study is to assess the correlation between expression of both E2F1 and TS in CRCs and survival of patients administered adjuvant 5FU-based chemotherapy, in order to find a better predictor of treatment outcome than expression of TS or E2F1 alone. Nuclear TS and E2F1 were detected by immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays from 190 CRCs (Astler-Coller stage B2 or C). Multivariate analysis identified significant association of the combined E2F1+TS+ immunophenotype with worse OS (HR = 3,78, P = 0,009) and DFS (HR = 2,30, P = 0,03) of patients with colon cancer. There were significant differences between E2F1+TS+ and E2F1-TS- Kaplan-Meier survival curves in relation to DFS (P = 0.008) and OS (P = 0.01). About 37 and 31 % difference in 3-year DFS and OS respectively were seen between patients with E2F1+TS+ vs. E2F1-TS- colon cancer immunophenotype. The E2F1+TS+ immunophenotype may be a marker of poor prognosis (the worst DFS and OS) of patients with colon cancer treated with 5FU-based adjuvant therapy. A subgroup of patients with this immunophenotype may require different and perhaps more aggressive treatment than 5FU-based chemotherapy. Thus, the combined E2F1/TS immunophenotype could be a potential indicator of colon cancer sensitivity to 5FU.

  17. Neuroprotective effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on high glucose-induced neurotoxicity in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons.

    PubMed

    Liu, Di; Zhang, Hong; Gu, Wenjuan; Liu, Yuqin; Zhang, Mengren

    2013-01-01

    Ginsenoside Rb1 is one of the main active principles in traditional herb ginseng and has been reported to have a wide variety of neuroprotective effects. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, so the present study aimed to observe the effects of ginsenoside Rb1 on ER stress signaling pathways in high glucose-treated hippocampal neurons. The results from MTT, TUNEL labeling and Annexin V-FITC/PI/Hoechst assays showed that incubating neurons with 50 mM high glucose for 72 h decreased cell viability and increased the number of apoptotic cells whereas treating neurons with 1 μM Rb1 for 72 h protected the neurons against high glucose-induced cell damage. Further molecular mechanism study demonstrated that Rb1 suppressed the activation of ER stress-associated proteins including protein kinase RNA (PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK) and C/EBP homology protein (CHOP) and downregulation of Bcl-2 induced by high glucose. Moreover, Rb1 inhibited both the elevation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by high glucose. In addition, the high glucose-induced cell apoptosis, activation of ER stress, ROS accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction can also be attenuated by the inhibitor of ER stress 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) and anti-oxidant N-acetylcysteine(NAC). In conclusion, these results suggest that Rb1 may protect neurons against high glucose-induced cell injury through inhibiting CHOP signaling pathway as well as oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

  18. First-principles study on the bulk and (1 1 1) surface half-metallicity of KS and RbS in CsCl structure

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Li, Lei; Lei, Gang; Gao, Qiang

    2015-08-15

    Graphical abstract: Spin-polarized total and atomic DOS at S-(1 1 1) terminated slab and bulk in CsCl-type RbS. - Highlights: • The half metallic properties of CsCl-type RbS and KS have been studied. • The RbS's and KS's (1 1 1) slabs have been investigated. • Surface energy of RbS's and KS's (1 1 1) slabs are calculated. - Abstract: The electronic and magnetic properties of RbS and KS in CsCl structure have been investigated by using the full-potential local-orbital minimum-basis method. Calculating the relation between the total energies and lattice parameters for RbS and KS, we find out thatmore » the equilibrium lattice parameters are 4.02 Å and 3.84 Å for RbS and KS, respectively. According to our calculations in generalized gradient approximation approximation, both RbS and KS are half-metallic ferromagnets with the magnetic moments of 1 μ{sub B} per formula unit, and band gap of 4.287 eV for RbS and 4.395 eV for KS. We also have studied the electronic and magnetic properties of (1 1 1) surfaces of RbS and KS, and have found out that the half-metallicity of their bulk is preserved in all of those surfaces. Finally, through the calculations of formation energy of RbS and KS, it is found that their thin films are stable in the equilibrium conditions, and the Rb-terminated (1 1 1) slab of RbS and the K-terminated (1 1 1) slab of KS are more stable than their S-terminated (1 1 1) slabs. All of the above properties lead the compounds of RbS and KS in CsCl structure to be promising candidates for spintronic applications.« less

  19. E2F8 is essential for polyploidization in mammalian cells.

    PubMed

    Pandit, Shusil K; Westendorp, Bart; Nantasanti, Sathidpak; van Liere, Elsbeth; Tooten, Peter C J; Cornelissen, Peter W A; Toussaint, Mathilda J M; Lamers, Wouter H; de Bruin, Alain

    2012-11-01

    Polyploidization is observed in all mammalian species and is a characteristic feature of hepatocytes, but its molecular mechanism and biological significance are unknown. Hepatocyte polyploidization in rodents occurs through incomplete cytokinesis, starts after weaning and increases with age. Here, we show in mice that atypical E2F8 is induced after weaning and required for hepatocyte binucleation and polyploidization. A deficiency in E2f8 led to an increase in the expression level of E2F target genes promoting cytokinesis and thereby preventing polyploidization. In contrast, loss of E2f1 enhanced polyploidization and suppressed the polyploidization defect of hepatocytes deficient for atypical E2Fs. In addition, E2F8 and E2F1 were found on the same subset of target promoters. Contrary to the long-standing hypothesis that polyploidization indicates terminal differentiation and senescence, we show that prevention of polyploidization through inactivation of atypical E2Fs has, surprisingly, no impact on liver differentiation, zonation, metabolism and regeneration. Together, these results identify E2F8 as a repressor and E2F1 as an activator of a transcriptional network controlling polyploidization in mammalian cells.

  20. The association of GSK3 beta with E2F1 facilitates nerve growth factor-induced neural cell differentiation.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Fangfang; Zhang, Long; Wang, Aijun; Song, Bo; Gong, Kai; Zhang, Lihai; Hu, Min; Zhang, Xiufang; Zhao, Nanming; Gong, Yandao

    2008-05-23

    It is widely acknowledged that E2F1 and GSK3beta are both involved in the process of cell differentiation. However, the relationship between E2F1 and GSK3beta in cell differentiation has yet to be discovered. Here, we provide evidence that in the differentiation of PC12 cells induced by nerve growth factor (NGF), GSK3beta was increased at both the mRNA and protein levels, whereas E2F1 at these two levels was decreased. Both wild-type GSK3beta and its kinase-defective mutant GSK3beta KM can inhibit E2F1 by promoting its ubiquitination through physical interaction. In addition, the colocalization of GSK3beta and E2F1 and their subcellular distribution, regulated by NGF, were observed in the process of PC12 differentiation. At the tissue level, GSK3beta colocalized and interacted with E2F1 in mouse hippocampus. Furthermore, GSK3beta facilitated neurite outgrowth by rescuing the promoter activities of Cdk inhibitors p21 and p15 from the inhibition caused by E2F1. To summarize, our findings suggest that GSK3beta can promote the ubiquitination of E2F1 via physical interaction and thus inhibit its transcription activity in a kinase activity independent manner, which plays an important role in the NGF-induced PC12 differentiation.

  1. A WAVE2-Abi1 complex mediates CSF-1-induced F-actin-rich membrane protrusions and migration in macrophages.

    PubMed

    Kheir, Wassim Abou; Gevrey, Jean-Claude; Yamaguchi, Hideki; Isaac, Beth; Cox, Dianne

    2005-11-15

    Colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) is an important physiological chemoattractant for macrophages. The mechanisms by which CSF-1 elicits the formation of filamentous actin (F-actin)-rich membrane protrusions and induces macrophage migration are not fully understood. In particular, very little is known regarding the contribution of the different members of the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome protein (WASP) family of actin regulators in response to CSF-1. Although a role for WASP itself in macrophage chemotaxis has been previously identified, no data was available regarding the function of WASP family verprolin-homologous (WAVE) proteins in this cell type. We found that WAVE2 was the predominant isoform to be expressed in primary macrophages and in cells derived from the murine monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cell line (RAW/LR5). CSF-1 treatment of macrophages resulted in WAVE2 accumulation in F-actin-rich protrusions induced by CSF-1. Inhibition of WAVE2 function by expressing a dominant-negative mutant or introducing anti-WAVE2 antibodies in RAW/LR5 cells, as well as reduction of endogenous WAVE2 expression by RNA-mediated interference (RNAi), resulted in a significant reduction of CSF-1-elicited F-actin protrusions. WAVE2 was found in a protein complex together with Abelson kinase interactor 1 (Abi1) in resting or stimulated cells. Both WAVE2 and Abi1 were recruited to and necessary for the formation of F-actin protrusions in response to CSF-1. Reducing the levels of WAVE2, directly or by targeting Abi1, resulted in an impaired cell migration to CSF-1. Altogether these data identify a WAVE2-Abi1 complex crucial for the normal actin cytoskeleton reorganization and migration of macrophages in response to CSF-1.

  2. Spacer capture and integration by a type I-F Cas1-Cas2-3 CRISPR adaptation complex.

    PubMed

    Fagerlund, Robert D; Wilkinson, Max E; Klykov, Oleg; Barendregt, Arjan; Pearce, F Grant; Kieper, Sebastian N; Maxwell, Howard W R; Capolupo, Angela; Heck, Albert J R; Krause, Kurt L; Bostina, Mihnea; Scheltema, Richard A; Staals, Raymond H J; Fineran, Peter C

    2017-06-27

    CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems capture DNA fragments from invading bacteriophages and plasmids and integrate them as spacers into bacterial CRISPR arrays. In type I-E and II-A CRISPR-Cas systems, this adaptation process is driven by Cas1-Cas2 complexes. Type I-F systems, however, contain a unique fusion of Cas2, with the type I effector helicase and nuclease for invader destruction, Cas3. By using biochemical, structural, and biophysical methods, we present a structural model of the 400-kDa Cas1 4 -Cas2-3 2 complex from Pectobacterium atrosepticum with bound protospacer substrate DNA. Two Cas1 dimers assemble on a Cas2 domain dimeric core, which is flanked by two Cas3 domains forming a groove where the protospacer binds to Cas1-Cas2. We developed a sensitive in vitro assay and demonstrated that Cas1-Cas2-3 catalyzed spacer integration into CRISPR arrays. The integrase domain of Cas1 was necessary, whereas integration was independent of the helicase or nuclease activities of Cas3. Integration required at least partially duplex protospacers with free 3'-OH groups, and leader-proximal integration was stimulated by integration host factor. In a coupled capture and integration assay, Cas1-Cas2-3 processed and integrated protospacers independent of Cas3 activity. These results provide insight into the structure of protospacer-bound type I Cas1-Cas2-3 adaptation complexes and their integration mechanism.

  3. Loss of the retinoblastoma binding protein 2 (RBP2) histone demethylase suppresses tumorigenesis in mice lacking Rb1 or Men1

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Wenchu; Cao, Jian; Liu, Jiayun; Beshiri, Michael L.; Fujiwara, Yuko; Francis, Joshua; Cherniack, Andrew D.; Geisen, Christoph; Blair, Lauren P.; Zou, Mike R.; Shen, Xiaohua; Kawamori, Dan; Liu, Zongzhi; Grisanzio, Chiara; Watanabe, Hideo; Minamishima, Yoji Andrew; Zhang, Qing; Kulkarni, Rohit N.; Signoretti, Sabina; Rodig, Scott J.; Bronson, Roderick T.; Orkin, Stuart H.; Tuck, David P.; Benevolenskaya, Elizaveta V.; Meyerson, Matthew; Kaelin, William G.; Yan, Qin

    2011-01-01

    Aberrations in epigenetic processes, such as histone methylation, can cause cancer. Retinoblastoma binding protein 2 (RBP2; also called JARID1A or KDM5A) can demethylate tri- and dimethylated lysine 4 in histone H3, which are epigenetic marks for transcriptionally active chromatin, whereas the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) tumor suppressor promotes H3K4 methylation. Previous studies suggested that inhibition of RBP2 contributed to tumor suppression by the retinoblastoma protein (pRB). Here, we show that genetic ablation of Rbp2 decreases tumor formation and prolongs survival in Rb1+/− mice and Men1-defective mice. These studies link RBP2 histone demethylase activity to tumorigenesis and nominate RBP2 as a potential target for cancer therapy. PMID:21788502

  4. Regulation of Retinoschisin Secretion in Weri-Rb1 Cells by the F-Actin and Microtubule Cytoskeleton

    PubMed Central

    Kitamura, Eiko; Gribanova, Yekaterina E.; Farber, Debora B.

    2011-01-01

    Retinoschisin is encoded by the gene responsible for X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), an early onset macular degeneration that results in a splitting of the inner layers of the retina and severe loss in vision. Retinoschisin is predominantly expressed and secreted from photoreceptor cells as a homo-oligomer protein; it then associates with the surface of retinal cells and maintains the retina cellular architecture. Many missense mutations in the XLRS1 gene are known to cause intracellular retention of retinoschisin, indicating that the secretion process of the protein is a critical step for its normal function in the retina. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying retinoschisin's secretion remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the role of the F-actin cytoskeleton in the secretion of retinoschisin by treating Weri-Rb1 cells, which are known to secrete retinoschisin, with cytochalasin D, jasplakinolide, Y-27632, and dibutyryl cGMP. Our results show that cytochalasin D and jasplakinolide inhibit retinoschisin secretion, whereas Y-27632 and dibutyryl cGMP enhance secretion causing F-actin alterations. We also demonstrate that high concentrations of taxol, which hyperpolymerizes microtubules, inhibit retinoschisin secretion. Our data suggest that retinoschisin secretion is regulated by the F-actin cytoskeleton, that cGMP or inhibition of ROCK alters F-actin structure enhancing the secretion, and that the microtubule cytoskeleton is also involved in this process. PMID:21738583

  5. Proteomic analysis of the gamma human papillomavirus type 197 E6 and E7 associated cellular proteins

    PubMed Central

    Grace, Miranda; Munger, Karl

    2016-01-01

    Gamma HPV197 was the most frequently identified HPV when human skin cancer specimens were analyzed by deep sequencing. To gain insight into the biological activities of HPV197, we investigated the cellular interactomes of HPV197 E6 and E7. HPV197 E6 protein interacts with a broad spectrum of cellular LXXLL domain proteins, including UBE3A and MAML1. HPV197 E6 also binds and inhibits the TP53 tumor suppressor and interacts with the CCR4-NOT ubiquitin ligase and deadenylation complex. Despite lacking a canonical retinoblastoma (RB1) tumor suppressor binding site, HPV197 E7 binds RB1 and activates E2F transcription. Hence, HPV197 E6 and E7 proteins interact with a similar set of cellular proteins as E6 and E7 proteins encoded by HPVs that have been linked to human carcinogenesis and/or have transforming activities in vitro. PMID:27771561

  6. Painful Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 2E/1F due to a novel NEFL mutation.

    PubMed

    Doppler, Kathrin; Kunstmann, Erdmute; Krüger, Stefan; Sommer, Claudia

    2017-05-01

    Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT) 2E/1F is caused by mutations in the neurofilament light-chain polypeptide (NEFL) gene. Giant axons are a histological hallmark frequently seen in nerves of patients with CMT2E. We describe the case of a 43-year-old patient with a painful, predominantly sensory neuropathy. The patient's sural nerve biopsy showed multiple giant axons. Genetic sequencing of the NEFL gene revealed that the patient was heterozygous for an altered sequence of the gene, c.816C>G, p.Asn272Lys, which has not yet been described in CMT2E/1F. In contrast to other cases of CMT2E/1F, where motor symptoms are predominant, pain was the most disabling symptom in this patient. Muscle Nerve 55: 752-755, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. The role of LANP and ataxin 1 in E4F-mediated transcriptional repression

    PubMed Central

    Cvetanovic, Marija; Rooney, Robert J; Garcia, Jesus J; Toporovskaya, Nataliya; Zoghbi, Huda Y; Opal, Puneet

    2007-01-01

    The leucine-rich acidic nuclear protein (LANP) belongs to the INHAT family of corepressors that inhibits histone acetyltransferases. The mechanism by which LANP restricts its repression to specific genes is unknown. Here, we report that LANP forms a complex with transcriptional repressor E4F and modulates its activity. As LANP interacts with ataxin 1—a protein mutated in the neurodegenerative disease spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1)—we tested whether ataxin 1 can alter the E4F–LANP interaction. We show that ataxin 1 relieves the transcriptional repression induced by the LANP–E4F complex by competing with E4F for LANP. These results provide the first functional link, to our knowledge, between LANP and ataxin 1, and indicate a potential mechanism for the transcriptional aberrations observed in SCA1. PMID:17557114

  8. Spin waves and magnetic exchange interactions in insulating Rb(0.89)Fe(1.58)Se(2).

    PubMed

    Wang, Miaoyin; Fang, Chen; Yao, Dao-Xin; Tan, GuoTai; Harriger, Leland W; Song, Yu; Netherton, Tucker; Zhang, Chenglin; Wang, Meng; Stone, Matthew B; Tian, Wei; Hu, Jiangping; Dai, Pengcheng

    2011-12-06

    The parent compounds of iron pnictide superconductors are bad metals with a collinear antiferromagnetic structure and Néel temperatures below 220 K. Although alkaline iron selenide A(y)Fe(1.6+x)Se(2) (A=K, Rb, Cs) superconductors are isostructural with iron pnictides, in the vicinity of the undoped limit they are insulators, forming a block antiferromagnetic order and having Néel temperatures of roughly 500 K. Here we show that the spin waves of the insulating antiferromagnet Rb(0.89)Fe(1.58)Se(2) can be accurately described by a local moment Heisenberg Hamiltonian. A fitting analysis of the spin wave spectra reveals that the next-nearest neighbour couplings in Rb(0.89)Fe(1.58)Se(2), (Ba,Ca,Sr)Fe(2)As(2), and Fe(1.05)Te are of similar magnitude. Our results suggest a common origin for the magnetism of all the Fe-based superconductors, despite having different ground states and antiferromagnetic orderings.

  9. AML1 is overexpressed in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and mediates JAK2V617F-independent overexpression of NF-E2

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Wei; Schwemmers, Sven; Hexner, Elizabeth O.

    2010-01-01

    The transcription factor NF-E2 is overexpressed in the majority of patients with polycythemia vera (PV). Concomitantly, 95% of these patients carry the JAK2V617F mutation. Although NF-E2 levels correlate with JAK2V671F allele burden in some PV cohorts, the molecular mechanism causing aberrant NF-E2 expression has not been described. Here we show that NF-E2 expression is also increased in patients with essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis independent of the presence of the JAK2V617F mutation. Characterization of the NF-E2 promoter revealed multiple functional binding sites for AML1/RUNX-1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated AML1 binding to the NF-E2 promoter in vivo. Moreover, AML1 binding to the NF-E2 promoter was significantly increased in granulocytes from PV patients compared with healthy controls. AML1 mRNA expression was elevated in patients with PV, essential thrombocythemia, and primary myelofibrosis both in the presence and absence of JAK2V617F. In addition, AML1 and NF-E2 expression were highly correlated. RNAi-mediated suppression of either AML1 or of its binding partner CBF-β significantly decreased NF-E2 expression. Moreover, expression of the leukemic fusion protein AML/ETO drastically decreased NF-E2 protein levels. Our data identify NF-E2 as a novel AML1 target gene and delineate a role for aberrant AML1 expression in mediating elevated NF-E2 expression in MPN patients. PMID:20339092

  10. LINE-1 silencing by retinoblastoma proteins is effected through the nucleosomal and remodeling deacetylase multiprotein complex.

    PubMed

    Montoya-Durango, Diego E; Ramos, Kenneth A; Bojang, Pasano; Ruiz, Lorell; Ramos, Irma N; Ramos, Kenneth S

    2016-01-25

    Long Interspersed Nuclear Element-1 (L1) is an oncogenic mammalian retroelement silenced early in development via tightly controlled epigenetic mechanisms. We have previously shown that the regulatory region of human and murine L1s interact with retinoblastoma (RB) proteins to effect retroelement silencing. The present studies were conducted to identify the corepressor complex responsible for RB-mediated silencing of L1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and silencing RNA technology were used to identify the repressor complex that silences L1 in human and murine cells. Components of the Nucleosomal and Remodeling Deacetylase (NuRD) multiprotein complex specifically enriched the L1 5'-untranslated DNA sequence in human and murine cells. Genetic ablation of RB proteins in murine cells destabilized interactions within the NuRD macromolecular complex and mediated nuclear rearrangement of Mi2-β, an ATP-dependent helicase subunit with nucleosome remodeling activity. Depletion of Mi2-β, RbAP46 and HDAC2 reduced the repressor activity of the NuRD complex and reactivated a synthetic L1 reporter in human cells. Epigenetic reactivation of L1 in RB-null cells by DNA damage was markedly enhanced compared to wild type cells. RB proteins stabilize interactions of the NuRD corepressor complex within the L1 promoter to effect L1 silencing. L1 retroelements may serve as a scaffold on which RB builds heterochromatic regions that regulate chromatin function.

  11. Elevated autophagy gene expression in adipose tissue of obese humans: A potential non-cell-cycle-dependent function of E2F1

    PubMed Central

    Haim, Yulia; Blüher, Matthias; Slutsky, Noa; Goldstein, Nir; Klöting, Nora; Harman-Boehm, Ilana; Kirshtein, Boris; Ginsberg, Doron; Gericke, Martin; Guiu Jurado, Esther; Kovsan, Julia; Tarnovscki, Tanya; Kachko, Leonid; Bashan, Nava; Gepner, Yiftach; Shai, Iris; Rudich, Assaf

    2015-01-01

    Autophagy genes' expression is upregulated in visceral fat in human obesity, associating with obesity-related cardio-metabolic risk. E2F1 (E2F transcription factor 1) was shown in cancer cells to transcriptionally regulate autophagy. We hypothesize that E2F1 regulates adipocyte autophagy in obesity, associating with endocrine/metabolic dysfunction, thereby, representing non-cell-cycle function of this transcription factor. E2F1 protein (N=69) and mRNA (N=437) were elevated in visceral fat of obese humans, correlating with increased expression of ATG5 (autophagy-related 5), MAP1LC3B/LC3B (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 β), but not with proliferation/cell-cycle markers. Elevated E2F1 mainly characterized the adipocyte fraction, whereas MKI67 (marker of proliferation Ki-67) was elevated in the stromal-vascular fraction of adipose tissue. In human visceral fat explants, chromatin-immunoprecipitation revealed body mass index (BMI)-correlated increase in E2F1 binding to the promoter of MAP1LC3B, but not to the classical cell cycle E2F1 target, CCND1 (cyclin D1). Clinically, omental fat E2F1 expression correlated with insulin resistance, circulating free-fatty-acids (FFA), and with decreased circulating ADIPOQ/adiponectin, associations attenuated by adjustment for autophagy genes. Overexpression of E2F1 in HEK293 cells enhanced promoter activity of several autophagy genes and autophagic flux, and sensitized to further activation of autophagy by TNF. Conversely, mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF)-derived adipocytes from e2f1 knockout mice (e2f1−/−) exhibited lower autophagy gene expression and flux, were more insulin sensitive, and secreted more ADIPOQ. Furthermore, e2f1−/− MEF-derived adipocytes, and autophagy-deficient (by Atg7 siRNA) adipocytes were resistant to cytokines-induced decrease in ADIPOQ secretion. Jointly, upregulated E2F1 sensitizes adipose tissue autophagy to inflammatory stimuli, linking visceral obesity to adipose and systemic

  12. Ginsenoside Rb2 Alleviates Hepatic Lipid Accumulation by Restoring Autophagy via Induction of Sirt1 and Activation of AMPK.

    PubMed

    Huang, Qi; Wang, Ting; Yang, Liu; Wang, He-Yao

    2017-05-19

    Although Panax ginseng is a famous traditional Chinese medicine and has been widely used to treat a variety of metabolic diseases including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hepatosteatosis, the effective mediators and molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this study we found that ginsenoside Rb2, one of the major ginsenosides in Panax ginseng, was able to prevent hepatic lipid accumulation through autophagy induction both in vivo and in vitro. Treatment of male db/db mice with Rb2 significantly improved glucose tolerance, decreased hepatic lipid accumulation, and restored hepatic autophagy. In vitro, Rb2 (50 µmol/L) obviously increased autophagic flux in HepG2 cells and primary mouse hepatocytes, and consequently reduced the lipid accumulation induced by oleic acid in combination with high glucose. Western blotting analysis showed that Rb2 partly reversed the high fatty acid in combination with high glucose (OA)-induced repression of autophagic pathways including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and silent information regulator 1 (sirt1). Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of the sirt1 or AMPK pathways attenuated these beneficial effects of Rb2 on hepatic autophagy and lipid accumulation. Taken together, these results suggested that Rb2 alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation by restoring autophagy via the induction of sirt1 and activation of AMPK, and resulted in improved nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and glucose tolerance.

  13. Chemical disorder and 207Pb hyperfine fields in the magnetoelectric multiferroic Pb (F e1 /2S b1 /2 ) O3 and its solid solution with Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2) O3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zagorodniy, Yu. O.; Kuzian, R. O.; Kondakova, I. V.; Maryško, M.; Chlan, V.; Štěpánková, H.; Olekhnovich, N. M.; Pushkarev, A. V.; Radyush, Yu. V.; Raevski, I. P.; Zalar, B.; Laguta, V. V.; Stephanovich, V. A.

    2018-01-01

    We report on the results of magnetic susceptibility, electron paramagnetic resonance, and 207Pb nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of the magnetoelectric multiferroic Pb (F e1 /2S b1 /2 ) O3 (PFS) ceramic, as well as its solid solution with Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2) O3 (PFN) of different degrees of the 1:1 ordering of magnetic F e3 + and nonmagnetic S b5 + ions. The ordering has been studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and NMR methods. In particular, two spectral lines, originating from the ordered and disordered regions, respectively, are resolved in the 207Pb NMR spectra. This demonstrates the presence of spatially heterogeneous ordering where ordered regions are embedded into a disordered matrix. Combining XRD and NMR data, we have determined both the long-range order parameter s and the volume fraction of ordered regions s' for all investigated samples. The values vary in the range s =0 -0.93 and s'=0 -1 . We have found that the 207Pb Fermi contact interaction strongly depends on the disorder in the Fe/Sb positions: whereas it reaches 7.08 MHz in the ordered lattice, it is almost zero in the disordered environment. These results are further supported by the studies of PFS-PFN solid solutions. The analysis of experimental data in terms of density functional theory reveals a noticeably higher hybridization between Pb 6s and Fe 3d orbitals in the ordered case. The ordering of magnetic and nonmagnetic ions has a strong impact on the magnetic properties of PFS, leading to a transformation of the long-range ordered antiferromagnetic phase in chemically ordered samples to the spin glass state already in partially (s =0.35 ) disordered specimens. In our opinion, the difference in the magnetic properties of PFN and PFS is related to the fact that PFN is completely disordered, in contrast to PFS, which is only partially disordered, with small ordered regions existing in the disordered matrix that prevent the percolation of the nearest-neighbor Fe-Fe exchange interaction

  14. Overlapping and distinct pRb pathways in the mammalian auditory and vestibular organs

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Mingqian; Sage, Cyrille; Tang, Yong; Lee, Sang Goo; Petrillo, Marco; Hinds, Philip W

    2011-01-01

    Retinoblastoma gene (Rb1) is required for proper cell cycle exit in the developing mouse inner ear and its deletion in the embryo leads to proliferation of sensory progenitor cells that differentiate into hair cells and supporting cells. In a conditional hair cell Rb1 knockout mouse, Pou4f3-Cre-pRb™/™, pRb™/™ utricular hair cells differentiate and survive into adulthood whereas differentiation and survival of pRb™/™ cochlear hair cells are impaired. To comprehensively survey the pRb pathway in the mammalian inner ear, we performed microarray analysis of pRb™/™ cochlea and utricle. The comparative analysis shows that the core pathway shared between pRb™/™ cochlea and utricle is centered on e2F, the key pathway that mediates pRb function. A majority of differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways are not shared but uniquely associated with pRb™/™ cochlea or utricle. In pRb™/™ cochlea, pathways involved in early inner ear development such as Wnt/β-catenin and Notch were enriched, whereas pathways involved in proliferation and survival are enriched in pRb™/™ utricle. Clustering analysis showed that the pRb™/™ inner ear has characteristics of a younger control inner ear, an indication of delayed differentiation. We created a transgenic mouse model (ER-Cre-pRbflox/flox) in which Rb1 can be acutely deleted postnatally. Acute Rb1 deletion in the adult mouse fails to induce proliferation or cell death in inner ear, strongly indicating that Rb1 loss in these postmitotic tissues can be effectively compensated for, or that pRb-mediated changes in the postmitotic compartment result in events that are functionally irreversible once enacted. This study thus supports the concept that pRb-regulated pathways relevant to hair cell development, encompassing proliferation, differentiation and survival, act predominantly during early development. PMID:21239885

  15. E2F1 somatic mutation within miRNA target site impairs gene regulation in colorectal cancer.

    PubMed

    Lopes-Ramos, Camila M; Barros, Bruna P; Koyama, Fernanda C; Carpinetti, Paola A; Pezuk, Julia; Doimo, Nayara T S; Habr-Gama, Angelita; Perez, Rodrigo O; Parmigiani, Raphael B

    2017-01-01

    Genetic studies have largely concentrated on the impact of somatic mutations found in coding regions, and have neglected mutations outside of these. However, 3' untranslated regions (3' UTR) mutations can also disrupt or create miRNA target sites, and trigger oncogene activation or tumor suppressor inactivation. We used next-generation sequencing to widely screen for genetic alterations within predicted miRNA target sites of oncogenes associated with colorectal cancer, and evaluated the functional impact of a new somatic mutation. Target sequencing of 47 genes was performed for 29 primary colorectal tumor samples. For 71 independent samples, Sanger methodology was used to screen for E2F1 mutations in miRNA predicted target sites, and the functional impact of these mutations was evaluated by luciferase reporter assays. We identified germline and somatic alterations in E2F1. Of the 100 samples evaluated, 3 had germline alterations at the MIR205-5p target site, while one had a somatic mutation at MIR136-5p target site. E2F1 gene expression was similar between normal and tumor tissues bearing the germline alteration; however, expression was increased 4-fold in tumor tissue that harbored a somatic mutation compared to that in normal tissue. Luciferase reporter assays revealed both germline and somatic alterations increased E2F1 activity relative to wild-type E2F1. We demonstrated that somatic mutation within E2F1:MIR136-5p target site impairs miRNA-mediated regulation and leads to increased gene activity. We conclude that somatic mutations that disrupt miRNA target sites have the potential to impact gene regulation, highlighting an important mechanism of oncogene activation.

  16. Notch signaling inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma following inactivation of the RB pathway

    PubMed Central

    Viatour, Patrick; Ehmer, Ursula; Saddic, Louis A.; Dorrell, Craig; Andersen, Jesper B.; Lin, Chenwei; Zmoos, Anne-Flore; Mazur, Pawel K.; Schaffer, Bethany E.; Ostermeier, Austin; Vogel, Hannes; Sylvester, Karl G.; Thorgeirsson, Snorri S.; Grompe, Markus

    2011-01-01

    Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cancer killer worldwide with >600,000 deaths every year. Although the major risk factors are known, therapeutic options in patients remain limited in part because of our incomplete understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms influencing HCC development. Evidence indicates that the retinoblastoma (RB) pathway is functionally inactivated in most cases of HCC by genetic, epigenetic, and/or viral mechanisms. To investigate the functional relevance of this observation, we inactivated the RB pathway in the liver of adult mice by deleting the three members of the Rb (Rb1) gene family: Rb, p107, and p130. Rb family triple knockout mice develop liver tumors with histopathological features and gene expression profiles similar to human HCC. In this mouse model, cancer initiation is associated with the specific expansion of populations of liver stem/progenitor cells, indicating that the RB pathway may prevent HCC development by maintaining the quiescence of adult liver progenitor cells. In addition, we show that during tumor progression, activation of the Notch pathway via E2F transcription factors serves as a negative feedback mechanism to slow HCC growth. The level of Notch activity is also able to predict survival of HCC patients, suggesting novel means to diagnose and treat HCC. PMID:21875955

  17. Protection of Medical Equipment against Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP): phase I

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-06-12

    case condition. The current in the power cord path due to the EMP pin threat is computed frorn: VEMP I(RS+RBI +RB2+RL+RB3 +ZC+RB4+R+RB5 R +RB6 + RB 7...base-emitter, causing darage. 44 I NN4154 100 B-C vEMP _ 2N4401 S B-E 2N4401 270 Figure 7.5 ESA: Patient monitor path to ground. 45 7.1.3 Foot Switch...computed from: VEMP Z Rs. RB) VVBD (7.5) 1800 = l(100 25) + 50 (7.6) The resulting threat current is 14A. The rectifier diode threshold is 3.7A at f

  18. Crystal structure of the Agrobacterium virulence complex VirE1-VirE2 reveals a flexible protein that can accommodate different partners.

    PubMed

    Dym, Orly; Albeck, Shira; Unger, Tamar; Jacobovitch, Jossef; Branzburg, Anna; Michael, Yigal; Frenkiel-Krispin, Daphna; Wolf, Sharon Grayer; Elbaum, Michael

    2008-08-12

    Agrobacterium tumefaciens infects its plant hosts by a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. This capability has led to its widespread use in artificial genetic transformation. In addition to DNA, the bacterium delivers an abundant ssDNA binding protein, VirE2, whose roles in the host include protection from cytoplasmic nucleases and adaptation for nuclear import. In Agrobacterium, VirE2 is bound to its acidic chaperone VirE1. When expressed in vitro in the absence of VirE1, VirE2 is prone to oligomerization and forms disordered filamentous aggregates. These filaments adopt an ordered solenoidal form in the presence of ssDNA, which was characterized previously by electron microscopy and three-dimensional image processing. VirE2 coexpressed in vitro with VirE1 forms a soluble heterodimer. VirE1 thus prevents VirE2 oligomerization and competes with its binding to ssDNA. We present here a crystal structure of VirE2 in complex with VirE1, showing that VirE2 is composed of two independent domains presenting a novel fold, joined by a flexible linker. Electrostatic interactions with VirE1 cement the two domains of VirE2 into a locked form. Comparison with the electron microscopy structure indicates that the VirE2 domains adopt different relative orientations. We suggest that the flexible linker between the domains enables VirE2 to accommodate its different binding partners.

  19. E2F transcription factor-1 deficiency reduces pathophysiology in the mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy through increased muscle oxidative metabolism.

    PubMed

    Blanchet, Emilie; Annicotte, Jean-Sébastien; Pradelli, Ludivine A; Hugon, Gérald; Matecki, Stéfan; Mornet, Dominique; Rivier, François; Fajas, Lluis

    2012-09-01

    E2F1 deletion leads to increased mitochondrial number and function, increased body temperature in response to cold and increased resistance to fatigue with exercise. Since E2f1-/- mice show increased muscle performance, we examined the effect of E2f1 genetic inactivation in the mdx background, a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). E2f1-/-;mdx mice demonstrated a strong reduction of physiopathological signs of DMD, including preservation of muscle structure, decreased inflammatory profile, increased utrophin expression, resulting in better endurance and muscle contractile parameters, comparable to normal mdx mice. E2f1 deficiency in the mdx genetic background increased the oxidative metabolic gene program, mitochondrial activity and improved muscle functions. Interestingly, we observed increased E2F1 protein levels in DMD patients, suggesting that E2F1 might represent a promising target for the treatment of DMD.

  20. Simultaneous determination of ginsenoside Rb1, naringin, ginsenoside Rb2 and oridonin in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Weifuchun tablet.

    PubMed

    Jin, Yiran; Tian, Tingting; Ma, Yinghua; Xu, Huijun; Du, Yingfeng

    2015-09-01

    A sensitive, specific and rapid liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed and validated for analysis of ginsenoside Rb1, naringin, ginsenoside Rb2 and oridonin in rat plasma using sulfamethoxazole as an internal standard (IS). Separation was conducted out on an Agilent Eclipse XDB C18 column with liner gradient elution using acetonitrile (A) and 0.1% aqueous acetic acid (B). A tandem mass spectrometric detection was conducted using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) via an electrospray ionization (ESI) source. A novel multi-determination-periods program was executed to achieve a higher sensitivity by setting three scanning periods. All analytes exhibited good linearity within the concentration range (r>0.9973). The lower limits of quantitation (LLOQ) of ginsenoside Rb1, naringin, ginsenoside Rb2 and oridonin were 2.64, 4.32, 2.32 and 1.56ng/mL, respectively. Intra-day and inter-day precisions of the investigated components exhibited an RSD within 8.3%, and the accuracy (RE) ranged from -8.6% to 6.0% at all quality control levels. The developed method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of ginsenoside Rb1, naringin, ginsenoside Rb2 and oridonin in rats after oral administration of a Weifuchun tablet. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Microwave Spectroscopic Investigations of the C-H\\cdotsπ Containing Complexes CH_2F_2\\cdotsPROPYNE and CH_2ClF\\cdotsPROPYNE

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peebles, Rebecca A.; Peebles, Sean A.; Christenholz, Cori L.; Ernst, Anthony A.; Dhahir, Yasser J.

    2013-06-01

    The spectra of the CH_2F_2\\cdotspropyne and CH_2ClF\\cdotspropyne complexes have been studied by chirped-pulse and resonant cavity Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy and by ab initio calculations at the MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. Both complexes contain C-H\\cdotsπ contacts, with the halogen atoms angled towards the methyl group end of the propyne. While CH_2F_2\\cdotspropyne has C_s symmetry, CH_2ClF\\cdotspropyne has C_1 symmetry, with the fluorine and chlorine atoms straddling the propyne. Investigation of four single ^{13}C and the DC≡CCH_3 isotopologues in CH_2F_2\\cdotspropyne has allowed a detailed structural determination, while only the ^{35}Cl and ^{37}Cl isotopologues have so far been assigned for CH_2ClF\\cdotspropyne. Experimental data will be compared with ab initio results and with the analogous acetylene complexes, both of which have C_s symmetry structures, with double C-H\\cdotsπ interactions.

  2. Infrared spectroscopy of solid normal hydrogen doped with CH3F and O2 at 4.2 K: CH3F:O2 complex and CH3F migration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abouaf-Marguin, L.; Vasserot, A.-M.

    2011-04-01

    Double doping of solid normal hydrogen with CH3F and O2 at about 4.2 K gives evidence of (ortho-H2)n:CH3F clusters and of O2:CH3F complex formation. FTIR analysis of the time evolution of the spectra in the region of the v3 C-F stretching mode indicates that these clusters behave very differently from (ortho-H2)n:H2O clusters. The main point is the observed migration of CH3F molecules in solid para-H2 at 4.2 K which differs from that of H2O under identical experimental conditions. This is confirmed by an increase over time of the integrated intensity of the CH3F:O2 complex with a rate constant K = 2.7(2) . 10-4 s-1.

  3. Sirt1 regulates glial progenitor proliferation and regeneration in white matter after neonatal brain injury

    PubMed Central

    Jablonska, Beata; Gierdalski, Marcin; Chew, Li-Jin; Hawley, Teresa; Catron, Mackenzie; Lichauco, Arturo; Cabrera-Luque, Juan; Yuen, Tracy; Rowitch, David; Gallo, Vittorio

    2016-01-01

    Regenerative processes in brain pathologies require the production of distinct neural cell populations from endogenous progenitor cells. We have previously demonstrated that oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) proliferation is crucial for oligodendrocyte (OL) regeneration in a mouse model of neonatal hypoxia (HX) that reproduces diffuse white matter injury (DWMI) of premature infants. Here we identify the histone deacetylase Sirt1 as a Cdk2 regulator in OPC proliferation and response to HX. HX enhances Sirt1 and Sirt1/Cdk2 complex formation through HIF1α activation. Sirt1 deacetylates retinoblastoma (Rb) in the Rb/E2F1 complex, leading to dissociation of E2F1 and enhanced OPC proliferation. Sirt1 knockdown in culture and its targeted ablation in vivo suppresses basal and HX-induced OPC proliferation. Inhibition of Sirt1 also promotes OPC differentiation after HX. Our results indicate that Sirt1 is an essential regulator of OPC proliferation and OL regeneration after neonatal brain injury. Therefore, enhancing Sirt1 activity may promote OL recovery after DWMI. PMID:27991597

  4. The effect of FeF2 on the magneto-optic response in FeF2/Fe/FeF2 sandwiches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pištora, J.; Lesňák, M.; Lišková, E.; Višňovský, Š.; Harward, I.; Maslankiewicz, P.; Balin, K.; Celinski, Z.; Mistrík, J.; Yamaguchi, T.; Lopusnik, R.; Vlček, J.

    2010-04-01

    The room temperature optical constants n and k of MBE grown FeF2 films are reported. Because of poor chemical stability, FeF2 had to be coated with a protective Au layer. Reflection spectral ellipsometry in the photon energy range between 1.3 and 5.2 eV was performed on structures with a typical profile Au(0.5 nm)/FeF2(120 nm)/Au(30 nm)/Ag(20 nm)/Fe(0.6 nm) grown on GaAs(0 0 1) substrate. The spectra of n and k in FeF2 were subsequently employed in the design of FeF2/Fe/FeF2 sandwiches considered as magneto-optic (MO) sensors for weak microwave currents. Their MO response was evaluated using reflection MO (Kerr) spectroscopy at polar magnetization. The present results may be of interest in MO studies of magnetic nanostructures with Fe/FeF2/Fe, including MO magnetometry and MO magnetic domain imaging.

  5. A strategy for optical properties investigation in ABe2BO3F2 (A=K, Rb, Cs) using finite field methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mushahali, Hahaer; Mu, Baoxia; Wang, Qian; Mamat, Mamatrishat; Cao, Haibin; Yang, Guang; Jing, Qun

    2018-07-01

    The finite-field methods can be used to intuitively learn about the optical response and find out the atomic contributions to the birefringence and SHG tensors. In this paper, the linear and second-order nonlinear optical properties of ABe2BO3F2 family (A = K, Rb, Cs) compounds are investigated using the finite-field methods within different exchange-correlation functionals. The results show that the obtained birefringence and SHG tensors are in good agreement with the experimental values. The atomic contribution to the total birefringence was further investigated using the variation of the atomic charges, and the Born effective charges. The results show that the boron-oxygen groups give main contribution to the anisotropic birefringence.

  6. RB1CC1 protein suppresses type II collagen synthesis in chondrocytes and causes dwarfism.

    PubMed

    Nishimura, Ichiro; Chano, Tokuhiro; Kita, Hiroko; Matsusue, Yoshitaka; Okabe, Hidetoshi

    2011-12-23

    RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1) functions in various processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, senescence, apoptosis, and autophagy. The conditional transgenic mice with cartilage-specific RB1CC1 excess that were used in the present study were made for the first time by the Cre-loxP system. Cartilage-specific RB1CC1 excess caused dwarfism in mice without causing obvious abnormalities in endochondral ossification and subsequent skeletal development from embryo to adult. In vitro and in vivo analysis revealed that the dwarf phenotype in cartilaginous RB1CC1 excess was induced by reductions in the total amount of cartilage and the number of cartilaginous cells, following suppressions of type II collagen synthesis and Erk1/2 signals. In addition, we have demonstrated that two kinds of SNPs (T-547C and C-468T) in the human RB1CC1 promoter have significant influence on the self-transcriptional level. Accordingly, human genotypic variants of RB1CC1 that either stimulate or inhibit RB1CC1 transcription in vivo may cause body size variations.

  7. RB1CC1 Protein Suppresses Type II Collagen Synthesis in Chondrocytes and Causes Dwarfism*

    PubMed Central

    Nishimura, Ichiro; Chano, Tokuhiro; Kita, Hiroko; Matsusue, Yoshitaka; Okabe, Hidetoshi

    2011-01-01

    RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1) functions in various processes, such as cell growth, differentiation, senescence, apoptosis, and autophagy. The conditional transgenic mice with cartilage-specific RB1CC1 excess that were used in the present study were made for the first time by the Cre-loxP system. Cartilage-specific RB1CC1 excess caused dwarfism in mice without causing obvious abnormalities in endochondral ossification and subsequent skeletal development from embryo to adult. In vitro and in vivo analysis revealed that the dwarf phenotype in cartilaginous RB1CC1 excess was induced by reductions in the total amount of cartilage and the number of cartilaginous cells, following suppressions of type II collagen synthesis and Erk1/2 signals. In addition, we have demonstrated that two kinds of SNPs (T-547C and C-468T) in the human RB1CC1 promoter have significant influence on the self-transcriptional level. Accordingly, human genotypic variants of RB1CC1 that either stimulate or inhibit RB1CC1 transcription in vivo may cause body size variations. PMID:22049074

  8. The NAMPT/E2F2/SIRT1 axis promotes proliferation and inhibits p53-dependent apoptosis in human melanoma cells.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Hailong; Tang, Weiwei; Chen, Xiaowen; Wang, Siyu; Wang, Xianyan; Xu, Haiyan; Li, Lijuan

    2017-11-04

    Melanoma is the most common primary malignant neoplasm in adults, causing more deaths than any other skin cancer, necessitating the development of new target-based approaches. Current evidence suggests SIRT1, the mammalian nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + )-dependent protein deacetylase, and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting NAD + biosynthetic enzyme, together comprise a novel systemic regulatory network to play a pivotal role in cell proliferation and apoptosis. Nevertheless, how the regulation of this cofactor interfaces with signal transduction network remains poorly understood in melanoma. Here, we report NAMPT is highly expressed in melanomaassociated with poor overall survival in patients. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of NAMPT decreased NAD + levels and melanoma cell proliferation capacity, and NAMPT knockdown induced apoptosis through the activity of the tumor suppressor p53. Next, we demonstrate NAMPT regulates the transcription factor E2F family member 2 (E2F2) in the apoptosis process. Downstream, E2F2 control the mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1. Finally, we find NAMPT mediates the apoptosis resistance of melanoma cells through NAMPT-E2F2-SIRT1 axis, more than NAD + -driven transcriptional program. Accordingly, our results demonstrated that NAMPT is a prognostic marker in melanoma, and the identificationofNAMPT-E2F2-SIRT1 pathway establishes another link between NAMPT and apoptosis events in melanoma, with therapeutic implications for this deadly cancer. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. ATM-dependent E2F1 accumulation in the nucleolus is an indicator of ribosomal stress in early response to DNA damage

    PubMed Central

    Jin, Ya-Qiong; An, Guo-Shun; Ni, Ju-Hua; Li, Shu-Yan; Jia, Hong-Ti

    2014-01-01

    The nucleolus plays a major role in ribosome biogenesis. Most genotoxic agents disrupt nucleolar structure and function, which results in the stabilization/activation of p53, inducing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Likewise, transcription factor E2F1 as a DNA damage responsive protein also plays roles in cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, or apoptosis in response to DNA damage through transcriptional response and protein–protein interaction. Furthermore, E2F1 is known to be involved in regulating rRNA transcription. However, how E2F1 displays in coordinating DNA damage and nucleolar stress is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that ATM-dependent E2F1 accumulation in the nucleolus is a characteristic feature of nucleolar stress in early response to DNA damage. We found that at the early stage of DNA damage, E2F1 accumulation in the nucleolus was an ATM-dependent and a common event in p53-suficient and -deficient cells. Increased nucleolar E2F1 was sequestered by the nucleolar protein p14ARF, which repressed E2F1-dependent rRNA transcription initiation, and was coupled with S phase. Our data indicate that early accumulation of E2F1 in the nucleolus is an indicator for nucleolar stress and a component of ATM pathway, which presumably buffers elevation of E2F1 in the nucleoplasm and coordinates the diversifying mechanisms of E2F1 acts in cell cycle progression and apoptosis in early response to DNA damage. PMID:24675884

  10. ATM-dependent E2F1 accumulation in the nucleolus is an indicator of ribosomal stress in early response to DNA damage.

    PubMed

    Jin, Ya-Qiong; An, Guo-Shun; Ni, Ju-Hua; Li, Shu-Yan; Jia, Hong-Ti

    2014-01-01

    The nucleolus plays a major role in ribosome biogenesis. Most genotoxic agents disrupt nucleolar structure and function, which results in the stabilization/activation of p53, inducing cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Likewise, transcription factor E2F1 as a DNA damage responsive protein also plays roles in cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, or apoptosis in response to DNA damage through transcriptional response and protein-protein interaction. Furthermore, E2F1 is known to be involved in regulating rRNA transcription. However, how E2F1 displays in coordinating DNA damage and nucleolar stress is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that ATM-dependent E2F1 accumulation in the nucleolus is a characteristic feature of nucleolar stress in early response to DNA damage. We found that at the early stage of DNA damage, E2F1 accumulation in the nucleolus was an ATM-dependent and a common event in p53-suficient and -deficient cells. Increased nucleolar E2F1 was sequestered by the nucleolar protein p14ARF, which repressed E2F1-dependent rRNA transcription initiation, and was coupled with S phase. Our data indicate that early accumulation of E2F1 in the nucleolus is an indicator for nucleolar stress and a component of ATM pathway, which presumably buffers elevation of E2F1 in the nucleoplasm and coordinates the diversifying mechanisms of E2F1 acts in cell cycle progression and apoptosis in early response to DNA damage.

  11. Detection of Hearing Loss Using 2f2-f1 and 2f1-f2 Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emissions

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fitzgerald, Tracy S.; Prieve, Beth A.

    2005-01-01

    Although many distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) may be measured in the ear canal in response to 2 pure tone stimuli, the majority of clinical studies have focused exclusively on the DPOAE at the frequency 2f1-f2. This study investigated another DPOAE, 2f2-f1, in an attempt to determine the following: (a) the optimal stimulus…

  12. Rb1 loss modifies but does not initiate alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS) is a myogenic childhood sarcoma frequently associated with a translocation-mediated fusion gene, Pax3:Foxo1a. Methods We investigated the complementary role of Rb1 loss in aRMS tumor initiation and progression using conditional mouse models. Results Rb1 loss was not a necessary and sufficient mutational event for rhabdomyosarcomagenesis, nor a strong cooperative initiating mutation. Instead, Rb1 loss was a modifier of progression and increased anaplasia and pleomorphism. Whereas Pax3:Foxo1a expression was unaltered, biomarkers of aRMS versus embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma were both increased, questioning whether these diagnostic markers are reliable in the context of Rb1 loss. Genome-wide gene expression in Pax3:Foxo1a,Rb1 tumors more closely approximated aRMS than embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Intrinsic loss of pRb function in aRMS was evidenced by insensitivity to a Cdk4/6 inhibitor regardless of whether Rb1 was intact or null. This loss of function could be attributed to low baseline Rb1, pRb and phospho-pRb expression in aRMS tumors for which the Rb1 locus was intact. Pax3:Foxo1a RNA interference did not increase pRb or improve Cdk inhibitor sensitivity. Human aRMS shared the feature of low and/or heterogeneous tumor cell pRb expression. Conclusions Rb1 loss from an already low pRb baseline is a significant disease modifier, raising the possibility that some cases of pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma may in fact be Pax3:Foxo1a-expressing aRMS with Rb1 or pRb loss of function. PMID:24274149

  13. Transcription factors ETF, E2F, and SP-1 are involved in cytokine-independent proliferation of murine hepatocytes.

    PubMed

    Zellmer, Sebastian; Schmidt-Heck, Wolfgang; Godoy, Patricio; Weng, Honglei; Meyer, Christoph; Lehmann, Thomas; Sparna, Titus; Schormann, Wiebke; Hammad, Seddik; Kreutz, Clemens; Timmer, Jens; von Weizsäcker, Fritz; Thürmann, Petra A; Merfort, Irmgard; Guthke, Reinhard; Dooley, Steven; Hengstler, Jan G; Gebhardt, Rolf

    2010-12-01

    The cellular basis of liver regeneration has been intensely investigated for many years. However, the mechanisms initiating hepatocyte "plasticity" and priming for proliferation are not yet fully clear. We investigated alterations in gene expression patterns during the first 72 hours of C57BL/6N mouse hepatocyte culture on collagen monolayers (CM), which display a high basal frequency of proliferation in the absence of cytokines. Although many metabolic genes were down-regulated, genes related to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and cell cycle were up-regulated. The latter genes showed an overrepresentation of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) for ETF (TEA domain family member 2), E2F1 (E2F transcription factor 1), and SP-1 (Sp1 transcription factor) (P < 0.001), all depending on MAPK signaling. Time-dependent increase of ERK1/2 phosphorylation occurred during the first 48 hours (and beyond) in the absence of cytokines, accompanied by an enhanced bromodeoxyuridine labeling index of 20%. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 blunted these effects indicating MAPK signaling as major trigger for this cytokine-independent proliferative response. In line with these in vitro findings, liver tissue of mice challenged with CCl(4) displayed hepatocytes with intense p-ERK1/2 staining and nuclear SP-1 and E2F1 expression. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes in mice after partial hepatectomy contained overrepresented TFBS for ETF, E2F1, and SP-1 and displayed increased expression of E2F1. Cultivation of murine hepatocytes on CM primes cells for proliferation through cytokine-independent activation of MAPK signaling. The transcription factors ETF, E2F1, and SP-1 seem to play a pronounced role in mediating proliferation-dependent differential gene expression. Similar events, but on a shorter time-scale, occur very early after liver damage in vivo. Copyright © 2010 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

  14. The protective effects of ginsenosides on human erythrocytes against hemin-induced hemolysis.

    PubMed

    Li, Guo-Xiang; Liu, Zai-Qun

    2008-03-01

    Panax ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to enhance stamina and capacity to deal with fatigue and physical stress. Many reports have been devoted to the effects of ginsenosides on many in vitro or in vivo experimental systems. The major aim of this work is to investigate the protective effects of 12 individual ginsenosides including Rb1, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg1, Rg2, Rg3, Rh1, Rh2, R1 and pseudoginsenoside F11, together with the central structures of aforementioned ginsenosides, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PD) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PT), on hemin-induced hemolysis of human erythrocytes. This is because hemin can induce hemolysis by accelerating the potassium leakage, dissociating skeletal proteins and prohibiting some enzymes in the membrane of erythrocyte. Thus, the structure-activity-relationship (SAR) between ginsenosides and protective effects has been screened in this in vitro experimental system. It is found that Rh2 and Rg3 intensify hemolysis in the presence of hemin, and initiate hemolysis even in the absence of hemin. All the other ginsenosides protect human erythrocytes against hemin-induced hemolysis more or less. The overall sequence is Rc>Rd>Re approximately Rb1>Rg1 approximately Rh1>Rb3 approximately Rg2 approximately R1 approximately F11 approximately PT. In addition, the protective effects of PD and PT have been detected, and found that PD promotes hemolysis appreciably, whereas PT protects erythrocytes efficiently. Moreover, the protective effects of PT ginsenosides are similar to PT itself, and the protective effects of PD ginsenosides vary remarkably, demonstrating that the positions of the sugar moieties make the protective activities of ginsenosides complicated. Especially, sugar moiety at 20-position is critical for PD ginsenosides to inhibit hemolysis, whereas hydroxyl group at 3-position is important for PT ginsenosides. The present result may be useful for understanding the SAR of ginsenosides.

  15. AMP-activated protein kinase α2 and E2F1 transcription factor mediate doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity by forming a positive signal loop in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and non-carcinoma cells.

    PubMed

    Yang, Wookyeom; Park, In-Ja; Yun, Hee; Im, Dong-Uk; Ock, Sangmi; Kim, Jaetaek; Seo, Seon-Mi; Shin, Ha-Yeon; Viollet, Benoit; Kang, Insug; Choe, Wonchae; Kim, Sung-Soo; Ha, Joohun

    2014-02-21

    Doxorubicin is one of the most widely used anti-cancer drugs, but its clinical application is compromised by severe adverse effects in different organs including cardiotoxicity. In the present study we explored mechanisms of doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity by revealing a novel role for the AMP-activated protein kinase α2 (AMPKα2) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Doxorubicin robustly induced the expression of AMPKα2 in MEFs but slightly reduced AMPKα1 expression. Our data support the previous notion that AMPKα1 harbors survival properties under doxorubicin treatment. In contrast, analyses of Ampkα2(-/-) MEFs, gene knockdown of AMPKα2 by shRNA, and inhibition of AMPKα2 activity with an AMPK inhibitor indicated that AMPKα2 functions as a pro-apoptotic molecule under doxorubicin treatment. Doxorubicin induced AMPKα2 at the transcription level via E2F1, a transcription factor that regulates apoptosis in response to DNA damage. E2F1 directly transactivated the Ampkα2 gene promoter. In turn, AMPKα2 significantly contributed to stabilization and activation of E2F1 by doxorubicin, forming a positive signal amplification loop. AMPKα2 directly interacted with and phosphorylated E2F1. This signal loop was also detected in H9c2, C2C12, and ECV (human epithelial cells) cells as well as mouse liver under doxorubicin treatment. Resveratrol, which has been suggested to attenuate doxorubicin-induced cytotoxicity, significantly blocked induction of AMPKα2 and E2F1 by doxorubicin, leading to protection of these cells. This signal loop appears to be non-carcinoma-specific because AMPKα2 was not induced by doxorubicin in five different tested cancer cell lines. These results suggest that AMPKα2 may serve as a novel target for alleviating the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin.

  16. Aryl-1H-imidazole[4,5f][1,10]phenanthroline Cu(II) complexes: Electrochemical and DNA interaction studies.

    PubMed

    Rajebhosale, Bharati S; Dongre, Shivali N; Deshpande, Sameer S; Kate, Anup N; Kumbhar, Anupa A

    2017-10-01

    The reaction of aryl imidazo[4,5f] [1,10]phenanthrolines with Cu(NO 3 ) 2 lead to the formation of Cu(II) complexes of the type [Cu(L)(NO 3 ) 2 ] where L=PIP, 2-(phenyl) [4,5f] imidazo phenanthroline; HPIP=2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo [4,5f] phenanthroline and NIP=2-(naphthyl) [4,5f] imidazo phenanthroline. The interaction of these complexes with calf thymus DNA has been studied using viscosity measurements, UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. Chemical nuclease activity of these complexes has also been investigated. All complexes cleave DNA via oxidative pathway involving singlet oxygen. Molecular docking studies revealed that these complexes bind to DNA through minor groove. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Proto-oncogene FBI-1 (Pokemon/ZBTB7A) represses transcription of the tumor suppressor Rb gene via binding competition with Sp1 and recruitment of co-repressors.

    PubMed

    Jeon, Bu-Nam; Yoo, Jung-Yoon; Choi, Won-Il; Lee, Choong-Eun; Yoon, Ho-Geun; Hur, Man-Wook

    2008-11-28

    FBI-1 (also called Pokemon/ZBTB7A) is a BTB/POZ-domain Krüppel-like zinc-finger transcription factor. Recently, FBI-1 was characterized as a proto-oncogenic protein, which represses tumor suppressor ARF gene transcription. The expression of FBI-1 is increased in many cancer tissues. We found that FBI-1 potently represses transcription of the Rb gene, a tumor suppressor gene important in cell cycle arrest. FBI-1 binds to four GC-rich promoter elements (FREs) located at bp -308 to -188 of the Rb promoter region. The Rb promoter also contains two Sp1 binding sites: GC-box 1 (bp -65 to -56) and GC-box 2 (bp -18 to -9), the latter of which is also bound by FBI-1. We found that FRE3 (bp -244 to -236) is also a Sp1 binding element. FBI-1 represses transcription of the Rb gene not only by binding to the FREs, but also by competing with Sp1 at the GC-box 2 and the FRE3. By binding to the FREs and/or the GC-box, FBI-1 represses transcription of the Rb gene through its POZ-domain, which recruits a co-repressor-histone deacetylase complex and deacetylates histones H3 and H4 at the Rb gene promoter. FBI-1 inhibits C2C12 myoblast cell differentiation by repressing Rb gene expression.

  18. Adenovirus E1a prevents the retinoblastoma gene product from repressing the activity of a cellular transcription factor.

    PubMed Central

    Zamanian, M; La Thangue, N B

    1992-01-01

    The retinoblastoma (Rb) gene product forms a complex with the cellular transcription factor DRTF1, a property assumed to be important for mediating negative growth control because certain viral oncogenes, such as adenovirus E1a, prevent this interaction and mutant Rb alleles, which have lost the capacity to regulate growth, encode proteins that fail to associate with DRTF1. In this study, we show that the wild-type Rb protein can specifically repress transcription from promoters driven by DRTF1 whereas a naturally occurring mutant Rb protein cannot. Furthermore, Rb-mediated transcriptional repression can be overridden by adenovirus E1a; this requires regions in E1a necessary for cellular transformation. The Rb protein therefore acts in trans to repress the transcriptional activity of DRTF1 whereas adenovirus E1a prevents this interaction and thus maintains DRTF1 in a constitutively active state. The Rb protein and adenovirus E1a therefore have opposite effects on the activity of a common molecular target. Transcriptional repression mediated by the Rb protein and inactivation of repression by the E1a protein are likely to play an important role in mediating their biological effects. Images PMID:1385776

  19. Immune Responses and Protection against Experimental Brucella suis biovar 1 Challenge in Non-vaccinated or RB51-Vaccinated Cattle

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Twenty Hereford heifers, approximately 9 months of age, were vaccinated with saline (control) or 2 x 10**10 CFU of Brucella abortus strain RB51 (RB51) vaccine. Immunologic responses after inoculation demonstrated significantly greater (P<0.05) antibody and proliferative responses to RB51 antigens i...

  20. Pnicogen bonded complexes of PO2X (X = F, Cl) with nitrogen bases.

    PubMed

    Alkorta, Ibon; Elguero, José; Del Bene, Janet E

    2013-10-10

    An ab initio MP2/aug'-cc-pVTZ study has been carried out on complexes formed between PO2X (X = F and Cl) as the Lewis acids and a series of nitrogen bases ZN, including NH3, H2C═NH, NH2F, NP, NCH, NCF, NF3, and N2. Binding energies of these complexes vary from -10 to -150 kJ/mol, and P-N distances from 1.88 to 2.72 Å. Complexes ZN:PO2F have stronger P(...)N bonds and shorter P-N distances than the corresponding complexes ZN:PO2Cl. Charge transfer from the N lone pair through the π-hole to the P-X and P-O σ* orbitals leads to stabilization of these complexes, although charge-transfer energies can be evaluated only for complexes with binding energies less than -71 kJ/mol. Complexation of PO2X with the strongest bases leads to P···N bonds with a significant degree of covalency, and P-N distances that approach the P-N distances in the molecules PO2NC and PO2NH2. In these complexes, the PO2X molecules distort from planarity. Changes in (31)P absolute chemical shieldings upon complexation do not correlate with changes in charges on P, although they do correlate with the binding energies of the complexes. EOM-CCSD spin-spin coupling constants (1p)J(P-N) are dominated by the Fermi-contact term, which is an excellent approximation to total J. (1p)J(P-N) values are small at long distances, increase as the distance decreases, but then decrease at short P-N distances. At the shortest distances, values of (1p)J(P-N) approach (1)J(P-N) for the molecules PO2NC and PO2NH2.

  1. Transformation of arachidonate into 6-oxoprostaglandin F1 alpha, thromboxane B2 and prostaglandin E2 by sheep lung microsomal fraction.

    PubMed Central

    Tai, H H; Yuan, B; Wu, A T

    1978-01-01

    In the presence of haemoglobin and isoproterenol, the microsomal fraction of sheep lung catalysed the conversion of arachidonate predominantly into thromboxane B2 and to a lesser extent into 6-oxoprostaglandin F1alpha. Very little prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2alpha were formed. If reduced glutathione was added in combination with haemoglobin and isoproterenol, the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 was favoured over that of thromboxane B2 and 6-oxoprostaglandin F1alpha. The identities of these products were confirmed by t.l.c. and by combined g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. These results indicate that microsomal fraction of sheep lung possesses active prostaglandin synthase, prostacyclin synthase and thromboxane synthase activities. PMID:637853

  2. Excited States and Luminescent Properties of UO 2F 2 and Its Solvated Complexes in Aqueous Solution

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Su, Jing; Wang, Zheming; Pan, Duoqiang

    2014-07-21

    The electronic absorption and emission spectra of free UO 2F 2 and its water solvated complexes below 32 000 cm –1 are investigated at the levels of ab initio CASPT2 and CCSD(T) with inclusion of scalar relativistic and spin–orbit coupling effects. The influence of the water coordination on the electronic spectra of UO 2F 2 is explored by investigating the excited states of solvated complexes (H 2O) nUO 2F 2 (n = 1–3). In these uranyl complexes, water coordination is found to have appreciable influence on the 3Δ (Ω = 1 g) character of the luminescent state and on themore » electronic spectral shape. The simulated luminescence spectral curves based on the calculated spectral parameters of (H 2O) nUO 2F 2 from CCSD(T) approach agree well with experimental spectra in aqueous solution at both near-liquid-helium temperature and room temperature. The possible luminescence spectra of free UO 2F 2 in gas phase are predicted on the basis of CASPT2 and CCSD(T) results, respectively, by considering three symmetric vibration modes. Finally, the effect of competition between spin–orbit coupling and ligand field repulsion on the luminescent state properties is discussed.« less

  3. Human biodistribution and radiation dosimetry of 82Rb.

    PubMed

    Senthamizhchelvan, Srinivasan; Bravo, Paco E; Esaias, Caroline; Lodge, Martin A; Merrill, Jennifer; Hobbs, Robert F; Sgouros, George; Bengel, Frank M

    2010-10-01

    Prior estimates of radiation-absorbed doses from (82)Rb, a frequently used PET perfusion tracer, yielded discrepant results. We reevaluated (82)Rb dosimetry using human in vivo biokinetic measurements. Ten healthy volunteers underwent dynamic PET/CT (6 contiguous table positions, each with separate (82)Rb infusion). Source organ volumes of interest were delineated on the CT images and transferred to the PET images to obtain time-integrated activity coefficients. Radiation doses were estimated using OLINDA/EXM 1.0. The highest mean absorbed organ doses (μGy/MBq) were observed for the kidneys (5.81), heart wall (3.86), and lungs (2.96). Mean effective doses were 1.11 ± 0.22 and 1.26 ± 0.20 μSv/MBq using the tissue-weighting factors of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), publications 60 and 103, respectively. Our current (82)Rb dosimetry suggests reasonably low radiation exposure. On the basis of this study, a clinical (82)Rb injection of 2 × 1,480 MBq (80 mCi) would result in a mean effective dose of 3.7 mSv using the weighting factors of the ICRP 103-only slightly above the average annual natural background exposure in the United States (3.1 mSv).

  4. Ion mobility and conductivity in the M{sub 0.5–x}Pb{sub x}Bi{sub 0.5}F{sub 2+x} (M=K, Rb) solid solutions with fluorite structure

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kavun, V. Ya., E-mail: kavun@ich.dvo.ru; Uvarov, N.F.; Slobodyuk, A.B.

    Ionic mobility and conductivity in the K{sub 0.5–x}Pb{sub x}Bi{sub 0.5}F{sub 2+x} and Rb{sub 0.5–x}Pb{sub x}Bi{sub 0.5}F{sub 2+x} (x=0.05, 0.09) solid solutions with the fluorite structure have been investigated using the methods of {sup 19}F NMR, X-ray diffraction and impedance spectroscopy. Types of ionic motions in the fluoride sublattice of solid solutions have been established and temperature ranges of their realization have been determined (150–450 K). Diffusion of fluoride ions is a dominating type of ionic motions in the fluoride sublattice of solid solutions under study above 350 K. Due to high ionic conductivity, above 10{sup –3} S/cm at 450 K,more » these solid solutions can be used as solid electrolytes in various electrochemical devices and systems. - Graphical abstract: Temperature dependence of the concentration of mobile (2, 4) and immobile (1, 3) F ions in the K{sub 0.5–x}Pb{sub x}Bi{sub 0.5}F{sub 2+x} solid solutions. - Highlights: • Studied the ion mobility, conductivity in M{sub 0.5–x}Pb{sub x}Bi{sub 0.5}F{sub 2+x} solid solutions (M=K, Rb). • An analysis of {sup 19}F NMR spectra made it possible to identify types of ion mobility. • The main type of ion motion above 300 K in solid solutions is a diffusion of ions F{sup –}. • The ionic conductivity of the solid solutions studied more than 10{sup –3} S/cm at 450 K.« less

  5. Structural and electrochemical studies of TiO2 complexes with (4,4'-((1E,1'E)-(2,5-bis(octyloxy)-1,4-phenylene)bis(ethene-2,1-diyl))bis-(E)-N-(2,5-bis(octyloxy)benzylidene)) imine derivative bases towards organic devices.

    PubMed

    Rozycka, Anna; Iwan, Agnieszka; Bogdanowicz, Krzysztof Artur; Filapek, Michal; Górska, Natalia; Hreniak, Agnieszka; Marzec, Monika

    2018-06-12

    Three (4,4'-((1E,1'E)-(2,5-bis(octyloxy)-1,4-phenylene)bis(ethene-2,1-diyl))bis-(E)-N-(2,5-bis(octyloxy)benzylidene)) imine derivatives were synthesized via a condensation reaction with p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. The effects of the end groups and vinylene (-HC[double bond, length as m-dash]CH-) moieties on the structural, thermal, optical, electrochemical and photovoltaic properties of imines were investigated to check the influence of TiO2 on the imine properties. The thermal behavior of imines and their complexes with TiO2 was widely investigated using FT-IR, XRD, DSC and POM methods in order to determine the order type in the imine structure. All imines present the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels of about -5.39 eV (SAI1 and SAI2) and -5.27 eV (SAI3) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels at about -3.17 eV. The difference of the end groups in the imines in each case did not affect redox properties. Generally, both oxidation and reduction are easier after TiO2 addition and it also changes the HOMO-LUMO levels of imines. Moreover, changes in the characteristic bands for imines in the region 1500-1700 cm-1 observed as a drastic decrease of intensity or even disappearance of bands in the imine : TiO2 mixture suggest the formation of a complex (C[double bond, length as m-dash]N)-TiO2. Organic devices with the configuration of ITO/TiO2/SAIx (or SAIx : TiO2)/Au were fabricated and investigated in the presence and absence of visible light irradiation with an intensity of 93 mW cm-2. In all imines and complexes with TiO2, the generation of the photocurrent indicates their use as photodiodes and the best result was observed for SAI3 : TiO2 complexes.

  6. Silencing of E2F3 suppresses tumor growth of Her2+ breast cancer cells by restricting mitosis.

    PubMed

    Lee, Miyoung; Oprea-Ilies, Gabriela; Saavedra, Harold I

    2015-11-10

    The E2F transcriptional activators E2F1, E2F2 and E2F3a regulate many important cellular processes, including DNA replication, apoptosis and centrosome duplication. Previously, we demonstrated that silencing E2F1 or E2F3 suppresses centrosome amplification (CA) and chromosome instability (CIN) in Her2+ breast cancer cells without markedly altering proliferation. However, it is unknown whether and how silencing a single E2F activator, E2F3, affects malignancy of human breast cancer cells. Thus, we injected HCC1954 Her2+ breast cancer cells silenced for E2F3 into mammary fat pads of immunodeficient mice and demonstrated that loss of E2F3 retards tumor growth. Surprisingly, silencing of E2F3 led to significant reductions in mitotic indices relative to vector controls, while the percentage of cells undergoing S phase were not affected. Nek2 is a mitotic kinase commonly upregulated in breast cancers and a critical regulator of Cdk4- or E2F-mediated CA. In this report, we found that Nek2 overexpression rescued back the CA caused by silencing of shE2F3. However, the effects of Nek2 overexpression in affecting tumor growth rates of shE2F3 and shE2F3; GFP cells were inconclusive. Taken together, our results indicate that E2F3 silencing decreases mammary tumor growth by reducing percentage of cells undergoing mitosis.

  7. Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Deficiency Prevents Neointima Formation Through Chromatin Silencing of E2F1 Target Genes.

    PubMed

    Endorf, Elizabeth B; Qing, Hua; Aono, Jun; Terami, Naoto; Doyon, Geneviève; Hyzny, Eric; Jones, Karrie L; Findeisen, Hannes M; Bruemmer, Dennis

    2017-02-01

    Aberrant proliferation of smooth muscle cells (SMC) in response to injury induces pathological vascular remodeling during atherosclerosis and neointima formation. Telomerase is rate limiting for tissue renewal and cell replication; however, the physiological role of telomerase in vascular diseases remains to be determined. The goal of the present study was to determine whether telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) affects proliferative vascular remodeling and to define the molecular mechanism by which TERT supports SMC proliferation. We first demonstrate high levels of TERT expression in replicating SMC of atherosclerotic and neointimal lesions. Using a model of guidewire-induced arterial injury, we demonstrate decreased neointima formation in TERT-deficient mice. Studies in SMC isolated from TERT-deficient and TERT overexpressing mice with normal telomere length established that TERT is necessary and sufficient for cell proliferation. TERT deficiency did not induce a senescent phenotype but resulted in G1 arrest albeit hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. This proliferative arrest was associated with stable silencing of the E2F1-dependent S-phase gene expression program and not reversed by ectopic overexpression of E2F1. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation and accessibility assays revealed that TERT is recruited to E2F1 target sites and promotes chromatin accessibility for E2F1 by facilitating the acquisition of permissive histone modifications. These data indicate a previously unrecognized role for TERT in neointima formation through epigenetic regulation of proliferative gene expression in SMC. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  8. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the mode of protein recognition by Skp1 and the F-box domain in the SCF complex.

    PubMed

    Chandra Dantu, Sarath; Nathubhai Kachariya, Nitin; Kumar, Ashutosh

    2016-01-01

    Polyubiquitination of the target protein by a ubiquitin transferring machinery is key to various cellular processes. E3 ligase Skp1-Cul1-F-box (SCF) is one such complex which plays crucial role in substrate recognition and transfer of the ubiquitin molecule. Previous computational studies have focused on S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), cullin, and RING-finger proteins of this complex, but the roles of the adapter protein Skp1 and F-box domain of Skp2 have not been determined. Using sub-microsecond molecular dynamics simulations of full-length Skp1, unbound Skp2, Skp2-Cks1 (Cks1: Cyclin-dependent kinases regulatory subunit 1), Skp1-Skp2, and Skp1-Skp2-Cks1 complexes, we have elucidated the function of Skp1 and the F-box domain of Skp2. We found that the L16 loop of Skp1, which was deleted in previous X-ray crystallography studies, can offer additional stability to the ternary complex via its interactions with the C-terminal tail of Skp2. Moreover, Skp1 helices H6, H7, and H8 display vivid conformational flexibility when not bound to Skp2, suggesting that these helices can recognize and lock the F-box proteins. Furthermore, we observed that the F-box domain could rotate (5°-129°), and that the binding partner determined the degree of conformational flexibility. Finally, Skp1 and Skp2 were found to execute a domain motion in Skp1-Skp2 and Skp1-Skp2-Cks1 complexes that could decrease the distance between ubiquitination site of the substrate and the ubiquitin molecule by 3 nm. Thus, we propose that both the F-box domain of Skp2 and Skp1-Skp2 domain motions displaying preferential conformational control can together facilitate polyubiquitination of a wide variety of substrates. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. [Application of gene capture technology on mutation screening of RB1 gene in retinoblastoma patients].

    PubMed

    Meng, Q Y; Huang, L Z; Wang, B; Li, X X; Liang, J H

    2017-06-11

    Objectives: To analyze RB1 gene mutation in retinoblastoma (RB) patients using gene capture technology. Methods: Experimental research. The clinical data of 17 RB patients were collected at Department of Ophthalmology, Peking University People's Hospital from June 2010 to Jun 2014. Peripheral blood samples of seventeen RB patients and their parents were collected and genomic DNA were extracted. DNA library from RB patients was mixed with designed gene capture probe of RB1 exons and its flanking sequences. The data were analyzed using bioinformatics software. To avoid the false positive, the abnormal sites were verified using the Sanger sequencing method. Results: Totally, there were 17 RB patients, including 12 males and 5 females, from 0.5 to 23 years old, average ages were (3.2±5.2) years old. Both eyes were involved in 6 patients. The other 11 cases were only one eye was attacked. Four RB patients were found to have germline mutations, among whom 2 had bilateral tumors and 2 had unilateral tumors. 2 novel missense mutations were identified, including 15(th) exon c.1408A>T (p. Ile470Phe) and c.1960G>C (p. Val654Leu) at 19(th) exon. No RB1 mutation was identified in any of their parents. We also identified 2 mutations reported previously. One is c.1030C>T termination mutation at 10(th) exon in a bilateral RB patients and his father, who was diagnosed with unilateral RB. The other is c.371-372delTA frame shift mutation at 3(rd) exon. No mutation was found in their parents. Conclusions: Two novel germline RB1 mutations were found using gene capture technology, which enriched RB1 mutations library. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 455-459) .

  10. Proto-oncogene FBI-1 (Pokemon/ZBTB7A) Represses Transcription of the Tumor Suppressor Rb Gene via Binding Competition with Sp1 and Recruitment of Co-repressors*S⃞

    PubMed Central

    Jeon, Bu-Nam; Yoo, Jung-Yoon; Choi, Won-Il; Lee, Choong-Eun; Yoon, Ho-Geun; Hur, Man-Wook

    2008-01-01

    FBI-1 (also called Pokemon/ZBTB7A) is a BTB/POZ-domain Krüppel-like zinc-finger transcription factor. Recently, FBI-1 was characterized as a proto-oncogenic protein, which represses tumor suppressor ARF gene transcription. The expression of FBI-1 is increased in many cancer tissues. We found that FBI-1 potently represses transcription of the Rb gene, a tumor suppressor gene important in cell cycle arrest. FBI-1 binds to four GC-rich promoter elements (FREs) located at bp –308 to –188 of the Rb promoter region. The Rb promoter also contains two Sp1 binding sites: GC-box 1 (bp –65 to –56) and GC-box 2 (bp –18 to –9), the latter of which is also bound by FBI-1. We found that FRE3 (bp –244 to –236) is also a Sp1 binding element. FBI-1 represses transcription of the Rb gene not only by binding to the FREs, but also by competing with Sp1 at the GC-box 2 and the FRE3. By binding to the FREs and/or the GC-box, FBI-1 represses transcription of the Rb gene through its POZ-domain, which recruits a co-repressor-histone deacetylase complex and deacetylates histones H3 and H4 at the Rb gene promoter. FBI-1 inhibits C2C12 myoblast cell differentiation by repressing Rb gene expression. PMID:18801742

  11. (2 + 1) resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization of H2 via the E,F 1Sigma(+)g state

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rudolph, H.; Lynch, D. L.; Dixit, S. N.; Mckoy, V.; Huo, Winifred M.

    1987-01-01

    In this paper, the results of ab initio calculations of photoelectron angular distributions and vibrational branching ratios for the (2 + 1) resonant enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) of H2 via the E,F 1Sigma(+)g state are reported, and these are compared with the experimental data of Anderson et al. (1984). These results show that the observed non-Franck-Condon behavior is predominantly due to the R dependence of the transition matrix elements, and to a lesser degree to the energy dependence. This work presents the first molecular REMPI study employing a correlated wave function to describe the Rydberg-valence mixing in the resonant intermediate state.

  12. Epitaxial growth of lithium fluoride on the (1 1 1) surface of CaF 2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Klumpp, St; Dabringhaus, H.

    1999-08-01

    Growth of lithium fluoride by molecular beam epitaxy on the (1 1 1) surface of calcium fluoride crystals was studied by TEM and LEED for crystal temperatures from 400 to 773 K and impinging lithium fluoride fluxes from 3×10 11 to 3×10 14 cm -2 s -1. Growth starts, usually, at the <1 1 0> steps on the (1 1 1) surface of CaF 2. For larger step distances and at later growth stages also growth on the terraces between the steps is found. Preferably, longish, roof-like crystallites are formed, which can be interpreted by growth of LiF(2 0 1¯)[0 1 0] parallel to CaF 2(1 1 1)[ 1¯ 0 1]. To a lesser extent square crystallites, i.e. growth with LiF(0 0 1), and, rarely, three-folded pyramidal crystallites, i.e. growth with LiF(1 1 1) parallel to CaF 2(1 1 1), are observed. While the pyramidal crystallites show strict epitaxial orientation with LiF[ 1¯ 0 1]‖CaF 2[ 1¯ 0 1] and LiF[ 1¯ 0 1]‖CaF 2[1 2¯ 1], only about 80% of the square crystallites exhibit an epitaxial alignment, where LiF[1 0 0]‖CaF 2[ 1¯ 0 1] is preferred to LiF[1 1 0]‖CaF 2[ 1¯ 0 1]. The epitaxial relationships are discussed on the basis of theoretically calculated adsorption positions of the lithium fluoride monomer and dimer on the terrace and at the steps of the CaF 2(1 1 1) surface.

  13. A lentiviral vector with expression controlled by E2F-1: A potential tool for the study and treatment of proliferative diseases

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Strauss, Bryan E.; Patricio, Juliana Rotelli; Program in Biotechnology, University of Sao Paulo

    2006-10-06

    We have constructed a lentiviral vector with expression limited to cells presenting active E2F-1 protein, a potential advantage for gene therapy of proliferative diseases. For the FE2FLW vector, the promoter region of the human E2F-1 gene was utilized to drive expression of luciferase cDNA, included as a reporter of viral expression. Primary, immortalized, and transformed cells were transduced with the FE2FLW vector and cell cycle alterations were induced with serum starvation/replacement, contact inhibition or drug treatment, revealing cell cycle-dependent changes in reporter activity. Forced E2F-1 expression, but not E2F-2 or E2F-3, increased reporter activity, indicating a major role for thismore » factor in controlling expression from the FE2FLW virus. We show the utility of this vector as a reporter of E2F-1 and proliferation-dependent cellular alterations upon cytotoxic/cytostatic treatment, such as the introduction of tumor suppressor genes. We propose that the FE2FLW vector may be a starting point for the development of gene therapy strategies for proliferative diseases, such as cancer or restinosis.« less

  14. E2F Activators Signal and Maintain Centrosome Amplification in Breast Cancer Cells

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Mi-Young; Moreno, Carlos S.

    2014-01-01

    Centrosomes ensure accurate chromosome segregation by directing spindle bipolarity. Loss of centrosome regulation results in centrosome amplification, multipolar mitosis and aneuploidy. Since centrosome amplification is common in premalignant lesions and breast tumors, it is proposed to play a central role in breast tumorigenesis, a hypothesis that remains to be tested. The coordination between the cell and centrosome cycles is of paramount importance to maintain normal centrosome numbers, and the E2Fs may be responsible for regulating these cycles. However, the role of E2F activators in centrosome amplification is unclear. Because E2Fs are deregulated in Her2+ cells displaying centrosome amplification, we addressed whether they signal this abnormal process. Knockdown of E2F1 or E2F3 in Her2+ cells decreased centrosome amplification without significantly affecting cell cycle progression, whereas the overexpression of E2F1, E2F2, or E2F3 increased centrosome amplification in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. Our results revealed that E2Fs affect the expression of proteins, including Nek2 and Plk4, known to influence the cell/centrosome cycles and mitosis. Downregulation of E2F3 resulted in cell death and delays/blocks in cytokinesis, which was reversed by Nek2 overexpression. Nek2 overexpression enhanced centrosome amplification in Her2+ breast cancer cells silenced for E2F3, revealing a role for the E2F activators in maintaining centrosome amplification in part through Nek2. PMID:24797070

  15. E2F activators signal and maintain centrosome amplification in breast cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Lee, Mi-Young; Moreno, Carlos S; Saavedra, Harold I

    2014-07-01

    Centrosomes ensure accurate chromosome segregation by directing spindle bipolarity. Loss of centrosome regulation results in centrosome amplification, multipolar mitosis and aneuploidy. Since centrosome amplification is common in premalignant lesions and breast tumors, it is proposed to play a central role in breast tumorigenesis, a hypothesis that remains to be tested. The coordination between the cell and centrosome cycles is of paramount importance to maintain normal centrosome numbers, and the E2Fs may be responsible for regulating these cycles. However, the role of E2F activators in centrosome amplification is unclear. Because E2Fs are deregulated in Her2(+) cells displaying centrosome amplification, we addressed whether they signal this abnormal process. Knockdown of E2F1 or E2F3 in Her2(+) cells decreased centrosome amplification without significantly affecting cell cycle progression, whereas the overexpression of E2F1, E2F2, or E2F3 increased centrosome amplification in MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. Our results revealed that E2Fs affect the expression of proteins, including Nek2 and Plk4, known to influence the cell/centrosome cycles and mitosis. Downregulation of E2F3 resulted in cell death and delays/blocks in cytokinesis, which was reversed by Nek2 overexpression. Nek2 overexpression enhanced centrosome amplification in Her2(+) breast cancer cells silenced for E2F3, revealing a role for the E2F activators in maintaining centrosome amplification in part through Nek2.

  16. DEPDC1 promotes cell proliferation and tumor growth via activation of E2F signaling in prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Huang, Lin; Chen, Keng; Cai, Zhao-Peng; Chen, Fu-Chao; Shen, Hui-Yong; Zhao, Wei-Hua; Yang, Song-Jie; Chen, Xu-Biao; Tang, Guo-Xue; Lin, Xi

    2017-08-26

    DEP domain containing 1 (DEPDC1) is recently reported to be overexpressed in several types of human cancer; however the role of DEPDC1 in prostate cancer remains to be investigated. Herein, we identified that the DEPDC1 mRNA and protein expression levels were dramatically increased in prostate cancer tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of DEPDC1 promoted, but depletion of DEPDC1 inhibited cell proliferation by regulating the G1-S phase cell cycle transition. Importantly, we found that DEPDC1 was essential for the tumor growth and formation of bone metastases of prostate cancer cells in vivo. Finally, we demonstrated that DEPDC1 interacted with E2F1 and increased its transcriptional activity, leading to hyper-activation of E2F signaling in prostate cancer cells. Our findings reveal an oncogenic role of DEPDC1 in prostate cancer progression via activation of E2F signaling, and suggest DEPDC1 might be a potential therapeutic target against the disease. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Spectroscopy of Rb{sub 2} dimers in solid {sup 4}He

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Moroshkin, P.; Hofer, A.; Ulzega, S.

    We present experimental and theoretical studies of the absorption, emission, and photodissociation spectra of Rb{sub 2} molecules in solid helium. We have identified 11 absorption bands of Rb{sub 2}. All laser-excited molecular states are quenched by the interaction with the He matrix. The quenching results in efficient population of a metastable (1) {sup 3}{pi}{sub u} state, which emits fluorescence at 1042 nm. In order to explain the fluorescence at the forbidden transition and its time dependence we propose a new molecular exciplex Rb{sub 2}({sup 3}{pi}{sub u})He{sub 2}. We have also found evidence for the formation of diatomic bubble states followingmore » photodissociation of Rb{sub 2}.« less

  18. Mitochondrial ribosomal protein S18-2 is highly expressed in endometrial cancers along with free E2F1

    PubMed Central

    Iurchenko, Natalia; Kovalevska, Larysa; Stip, Maria C; Budnikova, Daria; Andersson, Sonia; Polischuk, Ludmila; Buchynska, Lubov; Kashuba, Elena

    2016-01-01

    Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most frequent causes of cancer death among women in developed countries. Histopathological diagnosis and imaging techniques for EC are limited, thus new prognostic markers are needed to offer patients the best treatment and follow-up. In the present paper we showed that the level of mitochondrial ribosomal protein MRPS18-2 (S18-2) increased in EC compared with the normal endometrium and hyperplasia, based on a study of 42 patient biopsies. Importantly, high expression of free E2F1 in EC correlates well with high S18-2 expression. The EC cell line HEC-1-A, which overexpresses S18-2 constitutively, showed an increased proliferation capacity in vitro and in vivo (in SCID mice). Moreover, pan-keratin, beta-catenin and E-cadherin signals are diminished in these cells, compared to the parental HEC-1-A line, in contrast to vimentin signal that is increased. This may be associated with epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition (EMT). We conclude that high expression of S18-2 and free E2F1, and low pan-keratin, beta-catenin, and E-cadherin signals might be a good set of prognostic markers for EC. PMID:26959119

  19. Interrupted E2F1-miR-34c-SCF negative feedback loop by hyper-methylation promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Shu; Wu, Bo; Sun, Haimei; Ji, Fengqing; Sun, Tingyi; Zhao, Yan; Zhou, Deshan

    2015-01-01

    Tumour suppressor miR-34c deficiency resulted from hyper-methylation in its promoter is believed to be one of the main causes of colorectal cancer (CRC). Till date, miR-34c has been validated as a direct target of p53; but previous evidence suggested other transcription factor(s) must be involved in miR-34c transcription. In the present study, we in the first place identified a core promoter region (−1118 to −883 bp) of pre-miR-34c which was embedded within a hyper-methylated CpG island. Secondly, E2F1 promoted miR-34c transcription by physical interaction with the miR-34c promoter at site −897 to −889 bp. The transcriptional activating effect of E2F1 on miR-34c was in a p53 independent manner but profoundly promoted in the presence of p53 with exposure to 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DAC). Thirdly, stem cell factor (SCF), a miR-34c target, was specifically reduced upon an introduction of E2F1 which lead to suppression of CRC cell proliferation. The E2F1-suppressed cell proliferation was partially abrogated by additional miR-34c inhibitor, indicating that the anti-proliferation effect of E2F1 was probably through activating miR-34c-SCF axis. Finally, SCF/KIT signalling increased E2F1 production by reducing its proteosomal degradation dependent on PI3K/Akt-GSK3β pathway. In conclusion, our results suggested the existence of E2F1-miR-34c-SCF negative feedback loop which was interrupted by the hyper-methylation of miR-34c promoter in CRC cells and increased cell proliferation. PMID:26704889

  20. Cytoplasmic E2f4 forms organizing centres for initiation of centriole amplification during multiciliogenesis

    PubMed Central

    Mori, Munemasa; Hazan, Renin; Danielian, Paul S.; Mahoney, John E.; Li, Huijun; Lu, Jining; Miller, Emily S.; Zhu, Xueliang; Lees, Jacqueline A.; Cardoso, Wellington V.

    2017-01-01

    Abnormal development of multiciliated cells is a hallmark of a variety of human conditions associated with chronic airway diseases, hydrocephalus and infertility. Multiciliogenesis requires both activation of a specialized transcriptional program and assembly of cytoplasmic structures for large-scale centriole amplification that generates basal bodies. It remains unclear, however, what mechanism initiates formation of these multiprotein complexes in epithelial progenitors. Here we show that this is triggered by nucleocytoplasmic translocation of the transcription factor E2f4. After inducing a transcriptional program of centriole biogenesis, E2f4 forms apical cytoplasmic organizing centres for assembly and nucleation of deuterosomes. Using genetically altered mice and E2F4 mutant proteins we demonstrate that centriole amplification is crucially dependent on these organizing centres and that, without cytoplasmic E2f4, deuterosomes are not assembled, halting multiciliogenesis. Thus, E2f4 integrates nuclear and previously unsuspected cytoplasmic events of centriole amplification, providing new perspectives for the understanding of normal ciliogenesis, ciliopathies and cancer. PMID:28675157

  1. A luminescence-optical spectroscopy study of Rb2KTiOF5 single crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pustovarov, V. A.; Ogorodnikov, I. N.; Kozlov, A. V.; Isaenko, L. I.

    2018-06-01

    Large single crystals of Rb2KTiOF5 (RKTF), grown by slow solidification method, were studied (7-400 K) for various types of optical and radiation effects. The optical absorption spectra, the parameters of the Urbach rule at 293 K (σ = 0.24 and EU = 105 meV), the low-temperature reflection spectra (T = 7 K, E = 3.7-22 eV) were determined. The luminescence spectra (1.2-6.2 eV) and luminescence decay kinetics are studied upon excitation by a nanosecond electron beam (PCL), ultraviolet and vacuum ultraviolet light (PL), or X-rays radiation (XRL). PL excitation spectra under selective photoexcitation by synchrotron radiation (E = 3.7-22 eV, T = 7 K), temperature dependences of the intensity of steady-state XRL in different emission bands, as well as thermoluminescence (7-400 K) are studied. In the visible spectral region, we detected three luminescence bands that were attributed to radiative annihilation of intrinsic excitons (2.25 eV), recombination-type luminescence (2.1 eV) and luminescence of higher TiOF5 complexes (1.9 eV). The exponential component with lifetime of about 19 μs was revealed in the PCL decay kinetics at 2.25 eV. The low-energy onset of the intrinsic host absorption Ec = 3.55 eV was determined on the basis of the experimental data obtained. Spectra of optical constants were calculated by the Kramers-Krönig method, the energy of the onset of the interband transitions Eg = 4.2 eV was determined, and the main peaks of the optical spectra were identified.

  2. Investigation of the 2f1-f2 and 2f2-f1 distortion product otoacoustic emissions using a computational model of the gerbil ear.

    PubMed

    Wen, Haiqi; Bowling, Thomas; Meaud, Julien

    2018-05-19

    In this work, a three-dimensional computational model of the gerbil ear is used to investigate the generation of the 2f 1 -f 2 and 2f 2 -f 1 distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). In order to predict both the distortion and reflection sources, cochlear roughness is modeled by introducing random inhomogeneities in the outer hair cell properties. The model was used to simulate the generation of DPOAEs in response to a two-tone stimulus for various primary stimulus levels and frequency ratios. As in published experiments, the 2f 1 -f 2 DPOAEs are mostly dominated by the distortion component while the 2f 2 -f 1 DPOAEs are dominated by the reflection component; furthermore, the influence of the levels and frequency ratio of the primaries are consistent with measurements. Analysis of the intracochlear response shows that the distortion component has the highest magnitude at all longitudinal locations for the 2f 1 -f 2 distortion product (DP) while the distortion component only dominates close to the DP best place in the case of the 2f 2 -f 1 DP. Decomposition of the intracochlear DPs into forward and reverse waves demonstrates that the 2f 1 -f 2 DP generates reverse waves for both the distortion and reflection components; however, a reverse wave is only generated for the reflection component in the case of the 2f 2 -f 1 DP. As in experiments in the gerbil, the group delay of the reflection component of the DPOAE is between 1× and 2× the forward group delay, which is consistent with the propagation of DP towards the stapes as slow reverse waves. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. Structure of a Glomulin-RBX1-CUL1 Complex: Inhibition of a RING E3 Ligase through Masking of Its E2-Binding Surface

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Duda, David M.; Olszewski, Jennifer L.; Tron, Adriana E.

    2012-11-01

    The approximately 300 human cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) are multisubunit E3s in which a RING protein, either RBX1 or RBX2, recruits an E2 to catalyze ubiquitination. RBX1-containing CRLs also can bind Glomulin (GLMN), which binds RBX1's RING domain, regulates the RBX1-CUL1-containing SCF{sup FBW7} complex, and is disrupted in the disease Glomuvenous Malformation. Here we report the crystal structure of a complex between GLMN, RBX1, and a fragment of CUL1. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal that GLMN adopts a HEAT-like repeat fold that tightly binds the E2-interacting surface of RBX1, inhibiting CRL-mediated chain formation by the E2 CDC34. The structure explains themore » basis for GLMN's selectivity toward RBX1 over RBX2, and how disease-associated mutations disrupt GLMN-RBX1 interactions. Our study reveals a mechanism for RING E3 ligase regulation, whereby an inhibitor blocks E2 access, and raises the possibility that other E3s are likewise controlled by cellular proteins that mask E2-binding surfaces to mediate inhibition.« less

  4. Structure of a Glomulin-RBX1-CUL1 complex: inhibition of a RING E3 ligase through masking of its E2-binding surface

    PubMed Central

    Duda, David M.; Olszewski, Jennifer L.; Tron, Adriana E.; Hammel, Michal; Lambert, Lester J.; Waddell, M. Brett; Mittag, Tanja; DeCaprio, James A.; Schulman, Brenda A.

    2012-01-01

    Summary The ~300 human Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs) are multisubunit E3s in which a RING protein, either RBX1 or RBX2, recruits an E2 to catalyze ubiquitination. RBX1-containing CRLs also can bind Glomulin (GLMN), which binds RBX1’s RING domain, regulates the RBX1-CUL1-containing SCFFBW7 complex, and is disrupted in the disease Glomuvenous Malformation. Here we report the crystal structure of a complex between GLMN, RBX1, and a fragment of CUL1. Structural and biochemical analyses reveal that GLMN adopts a HEAT-like repeat fold that tightly binds the E2-interacting surface of RBX1, inhibiting CRL-mediated chain formation by the E2 CDC34. The structure explains the basis for GLMN’s selectivity toward RBX1 over RBX2, and how disease-associated mutations disrupt GLMN-RBX1 interactions. Our study reveals a mechanism for RING E3 ligase regulation whereby an inhibitor blocks E2 access, and raises the possibility that other E3s are likewise controlled by cellular proteins that mask E2-binding surfaces to mediate inhibition. PMID:22748924

  5. Krüppel-like factor 1 mutations and expression of hemoglobins F and A2 in homozygous hemoglobin E syndrome.

    PubMed

    Tepakhan, Wanicha; Yamsri, Supawadee; Fucharoen, Goonnapa; Sanchaisuriya, Kanokwan; Fucharoen, Supan

    2015-07-01

    The basis for variability of hemoglobin (Hb) F in homozygous Hb E disease is not well understood. We have examined multiple mutations of the Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) gene; an erythroid specific transcription factor and determined their associations with Hbs F and A2 expression in homozygous Hb E. Four KLF1 mutations including G176AfsX179, T334R, R238H, and -154 (C-T) were screened using specific PCR assays on 461 subjects with homozygous Hb E and 100 normal controls. None of these four mutations were observed in 100 normal controls. Among 461 subjects with homozygous Hb E, 306 had high (≥5 %) and 155 had low (<5 %) Hb F. DNA analysis identified the KLF1 mutations in 35 cases of the former group with high Hb F, including the G176AfsX179 mutation (17/306 = 5.6 %), T334R mutation (9/306 = 2.9 %), -154 (C-T) mutation (7/306 = 2.3 %), and R328H mutation (2/306 = 0.7 %). Only two subjects in the latter group with low Hb F carried the G176AfsX179 and -154 (C-T) mutations. Significant higher Hb A2 level was observed in those of homozygous Hb E with the G176AfsX179 mutation as compared to those without KLF1 mutations. These results indicate that KLF1 is among the genetic factors associated with increased Hbs F and A2, and in combination with other factors could explain the variabilities of these Hb expression in Hb E syndrome.

  6. Constrained Surface Complexation Modeling: Rutile in RbCl, NaCl, and NaCF 3SO 3 Media to 250 °C

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Machesky, Michael L.; Předota, Milan; Ridley, Moira K.

    In this paper, a comprehensive set of molecular-level results, primarily from classical molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations, are used to constrain CD-MUSIC surface complexation model (SCM) parameters describing rutile powder titrations conducted in RbCl, NaCl, and NaTr (Tr = triflate, CF 3SO 3 –) electrolyte media from 25 to 250 °C. Rb + primarily occupies the innermost tetradentate binding site on the rutile (110) surface at all temperatures (25, 150, 250 °C) and negative charge conditions (-0.1 and -0.2 C/m 2) probed via CMD simulations, reflecting the small hydration energy of this large, monovalent cation. Consequently, variable SCM parameters (Stern-layer capacitancemore » values and intrinsic Rb + binding constants) were adjusted relatively easily to satisfactorily match the CMD and titration data. The larger hydration energy of Na + results in a more complex inner-sphere distribution, which shifts from bidentate to tetradentate binding with increasing negative charge and temperature, and this distribution was not matched well for both negative charge conditions, which may reflect limitations in the CMD and/or SCM approaches. Finally, in particular, the CMD axial density profiles for Rb + and Na + reveal that peak binding distances shift toward the surface with increasing negative charge, suggesting that the CD-MUSIC framework may be improved by incorporating CD or Stern-layer capacitance values that vary with charge.« less

  7. Constrained Surface Complexation Modeling: Rutile in RbCl, NaCl, and NaCF 3SO 3 Media to 250 °C

    DOE PAGES

    Machesky, Michael L.; Předota, Milan; Ridley, Moira K.; ...

    2015-06-01

    In this paper, a comprehensive set of molecular-level results, primarily from classical molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations, are used to constrain CD-MUSIC surface complexation model (SCM) parameters describing rutile powder titrations conducted in RbCl, NaCl, and NaTr (Tr = triflate, CF 3SO 3 –) electrolyte media from 25 to 250 °C. Rb + primarily occupies the innermost tetradentate binding site on the rutile (110) surface at all temperatures (25, 150, 250 °C) and negative charge conditions (-0.1 and -0.2 C/m 2) probed via CMD simulations, reflecting the small hydration energy of this large, monovalent cation. Consequently, variable SCM parameters (Stern-layer capacitancemore » values and intrinsic Rb + binding constants) were adjusted relatively easily to satisfactorily match the CMD and titration data. The larger hydration energy of Na + results in a more complex inner-sphere distribution, which shifts from bidentate to tetradentate binding with increasing negative charge and temperature, and this distribution was not matched well for both negative charge conditions, which may reflect limitations in the CMD and/or SCM approaches. Finally, in particular, the CMD axial density profiles for Rb + and Na + reveal that peak binding distances shift toward the surface with increasing negative charge, suggesting that the CD-MUSIC framework may be improved by incorporating CD or Stern-layer capacitance values that vary with charge.« less

  8. T cells play an essential role in anti-F1 mediated rapid protection against bubonic plague.

    PubMed

    Levy, Yinon; Flashner, Yehuda; Tidhar, Avital; Zauberman, Ayelet; Aftalion, Moshe; Lazar, Shirley; Gur, David; Shafferman, Avigdor; Mamroud, Emanuelle

    2011-09-16

    Plague, which is initiated by Yersinia pestis infection, is a fatal disease that progresses rapidly and leads to high mortality rates if not treated. Antibiotics are an effective plague therapy, but antibiotic-resistant Y. pestis strains have been reported and therefore alternative countermeasures are needed. In the present study, we assessed the potential of an F1 plus LcrV-based vaccine to provide protection shortly pre- or post-exposure to a lethal Y. pestis infection. Mice vaccinated up to one day before or even several hours after subcutaneous challenge were effectively protected. Mice immunized one or three days pre-challenge were protected even though their anti-F1 and anti-LcrV titers were below detection levels at the day of challenge. Moreover, using B-cell deficient μMT mice, we found that rapidly induced protective immunity requires the integrity of the humoral immune system. Analysis of the individual contributions of vaccine components to protection revealed that rF1 is responsible for the observed rapid antibody-mediated immunity. Applying anti-F1 passive therapy in the mouse model of bubonic plague demonstrated that anti-F1 F(ab')(2) can delay mortality, but it cannot provide long-lasting protection, as do intact anti-F1 molecules. Fc-dependent immune components, such as the complement system and (to a lesser extent) neutrophils, were found to contribute to mouse survival. Interestingly, T cells but not B cells were found to be essential for the recovery of infected animals following passive anti-F1 mediated therapy. These data extend our understanding of the immune mechanisms required for the development of a rapid and effective post-exposure therapy against plague. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Human 2-Oxoglutarate Dehydrogenase Complex E1 Component Forms a Thiamin-derived Radical by Aerobic Oxidation of the Enamine Intermediate*

    PubMed Central

    Nemeria, Natalia S.; Ambrus, Attila; Patel, Hetalben; Gerfen, Gary; Adam-Vizi, Vera; Tretter, Laszlo; Zhou, Jieyu; Wang, Junjie; Jordan, Frank

    2014-01-01

    Herein are reported unique properties of the human 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex (OGDHc), a rate-limiting enzyme in the Krebs (citric acid) cycle. (a) Functionally competent 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (E1o-h) and dihydrolipoyl succinyltransferase components have been expressed according to kinetic and spectroscopic evidence. (b) A stable free radical, consistent with the C2-(C2α-hydroxy)-γ-carboxypropylidene thiamin diphosphate (ThDP) cation radical was detected by electron spin resonance upon reaction of the E1o-h with 2-oxoglutarate (OG) by itself or when assembled from individual components into OGDHc. (c) An unusual stability of the E1o-h-bound C2-(2α-hydroxy)-γ-carboxypropylidene thiamin diphosphate (the “ThDP-enamine”/C2α-carbanion, the first postdecarboxylation intermediate) was observed, probably stabilized by the 5-carboxyl group of OG, not reported before. (d) The reaction of OG with the E1o-h gave rise to superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide (reactive oxygen species (ROS)). (e) The relatively stable enzyme-bound enamine is the likely substrate for oxidation by O2, leading to the superoxide anion radical (in d) and the radical (in b). (f) The specific activity assessed for ROS formation compared with the NADH (overall complex) activity, as well as the fraction of radical intermediate occupying active centers of E1o-h are consistent with each other and indicate that radical/ROS formation is an “off-pathway” side reaction comprising less than 1% of the “on-pathway” reactivity. However, the nearly ubiquitous presence of OGDHc in human tissues, including the brain, makes these findings of considerable importance in human metabolism and perhaps disease. PMID:25210035

  10. Metabolism of styrene to styrene oxide and vinylphenols in cytochrome P450 2F2- and P450 2E1-knockout mouse liver and lung microsomes

    PubMed Central

    Shen, Shuijie; Li, Lei; Ding, Xinxin; Zheng, Jiang

    2014-01-01

    Pulmonary toxicity of styrene is initiated by cytochromes P450-dependent metabolic activation. P450 2E1 and P450 2F2 are considered to be two main cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes responsible for styrene metabolism in mice. The objective of the current study was to determine the correlation between the formation of styrene metabolites (i.e. styrene oxide and 4-vinylphenol) and pulmonary toxicity of styrene, using Cyp2e1- and Cyp2f2-null mouse models. Dramatic decrease in the formation of styrene glycol and 4-vinylphenol was found in Cyp2f2-null mouse lung microsomes, relative to that in the wild-type mouse lung microsomes. However, no significant difference in the production of the styrene metabolites was observed between lung microsomes obtained from Cyp2e1-null and the wild-type mice. The knock–out and wild-type mice were treated with styrene (6.0 mmol/kg, ip), and cell counts and LDH activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were monitored to evaluate the pulmonary toxicity induced by styrene. Cyp2e1-null mice displayed similar susceptibility to lung toxicity of styrene as the wild-type animals. However, Cyp2f2-null mice were resistant to styrene-induced pulmonary toxicity. In conclusion, both P450 2E1 and P450 2F2 are responsible for the metabolic activation of styrene. The latter enzyme plays an important role in styrene-induced pulmonary toxicity. Both styrene oxide and 4-vinylphenol are suggested to participate in the development of lung injury induced by styrene. PMID:24320693

  11. Metabolism of styrene to styrene oxide and vinylphenols in cytochrome P450 2F2- and P450 2E1-knockout mouse liver and lung microsomes.

    PubMed

    Shen, Shuijie; Li, Lei; Ding, Xinxin; Zheng, Jiang

    2014-01-21

    Pulmonary toxicity of styrene is initiated by cytochromes P450-dependent metabolic activation. P450 2E1 and P450 2F2 are considered to be two main cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for styrene metabolism in mice. The objective of the current study was to determine the correlation between the formation of styrene metabolites (i.e., styrene oxide and 4-vinylphenol) and pulmonary toxicity of styrene, using Cyp2e1- and Cyp2f2-null mouse models. A dramatic decrease in the formation of styrene glycol and 4-vinylphenol was found in Cyp2f2-null mouse lung microsomes relative to that in the wild-type mouse lung microsomes; however, no significant difference in the production of the styrene metabolites was observed between lung microsomes obtained from Cyp2e1-null and the wild-type mice. The knockout and wild-type mice were treated with styrene (6.0 mmol/kg, ip), and cell counts and LDH activity in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were monitored to evaluate the pulmonary toxicity induced by styrene. Cyp2e1-null mice displayed a susceptibility to lung toxicity of styrene similar to that of the wild-type animals; however, Cyp2f2-null mice were resistant to styrene-induced pulmonary toxicity. In conclusion, both P450 2E1 and P450 2F2 are responsible for the metabolic activation of styrene. The latter enzyme plays an important role in styrene-induced pulmonary toxicity. Both styrene oxide and 4-vinylphenol are suggested to participate in the development of lung injury induced by styrene.

  12. Anharmonic Vibrational Spectroscopy of the F-(H20)n, complexes, n=1,2

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Chaban, Galina M.; Xantheas, Sotiris; Gerber, R. Benny; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

    2003-01-01

    We report anharmonic vibrational spectra (fundamentals, first overtones) for the F-(H(sub 2)O) and F-(H(sub 2)O)2 clusters computed at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory with basis sets of triple zeta quality. Anharmonic corrections were estimated via the correlation-corrected vibrational self-consistent field (CC-VSCF) method. The CC-VSCF anharmonic spectra obtained on the potential energy surfaces evaluated at the CCSD(T) level of theory are the first ones reported at a correlated level beyond MP2. We have found that the average basis set effect (TZP vs. aug-cc-pVTZ) is on the order of 30-40 cm(exp -1), whereas the effects of different levels of electron correlation [MP2 vs. CCSD(T)] are smaller, 20-30 cm(exp -1). However, the basis set effect is much larger in the case of the H-bonded O-H stretch of the F-(H(sub 2)O) cluster amounting to 100 cm(exp -1) for the fundamentals and 200 cm (exp -1) for the first overtones. Our calculations are in agreement with the limited available set of experimental data for the F-(H(sub 2)O) and F-(H(sub 2)O)2 systems and provide additional information that can guide further experimental studies.

  13. Dynamical interferences to probe short-pulse photoassociation of Rb atoms and stabilization of Rb{sub 2} dimers

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mur-Petit, Jordi; Luc-Koenig, Eliane; Masnou-Seeuws, Francoise

    2007-06-15

    We analyze the formation of Rb{sub 2} molecules with short photoassociation pulses applied to a cold {sup 85}Rb sample. A pump laser pulse couples a continuum level of the ground electronic state X {sup 1}{sigma}{sub g}{sup +} with bound levels in the 0{sub u}{sup +}(5S+5P{sub 1/2}) and 0{sub u}{sup +}(5S+5P{sub 3/2}) vibrational series. The nonadiabatic coupling between the two excited channels induces time-dependent beatings in the populations. We propose to take advantage of these oscillations to design further laser pulses that probe the photoassociation process via photoionization or that optimize the stabilization in deep levels of the ground state.

  14. Analysis of E2F factors during epidermal differentiation.

    PubMed

    Chang, Wing Y; Dagnino, Lina

    2005-01-01

    The multigene E2F family of transcription factors is central in the control of cell cycle progression. The expression and activity of E2F proteins is tightly regulated transcriptionally and posttranslationally as a function of the proliferation and differentiation status of the cell. In this chapter, we review protocols designed to determine E2F mRNA abundance in tissues by in situ hybridization techniques. The ability to culture primary epidermal keratinocytes and maintain them as either undifferentiated or terminally differentiated cells allows the biochemical and molecular characterization of changes in E2F expression and activity. Thus, we also discuss in detail methods to analyze E2F protein abundance by immunoblot and their ability to bind DNA in cultured cells using electrophoretic mobility shift assays.

  15. AgPO2F2 and Ag9(PO2F2)14: the first Ag(i) and Ag(i)/Ag(ii) difluorophosphates with complex crystal structures.

    PubMed

    Malinowski, Przemysław J; Kurzydłowski, Dominik; Grochala, Wojciech

    2015-12-07

    The reaction of AgF2 with P2O3F4 yields a mixed valence Ag(I)/Ag(II) difluorophosphate salt with AgAg(PO2F2)14 stoichiometry - the first Ag(ii)-PO2F2 system known. This highly moisture sensitive brown solid is thermally stable up to 120 °C, which points at further feasible extension of the chemistry of Ag(ii)-PO2F2 systems. The crystal structure shows a very complex bonding pattern, comprising of polymeric Ag(PO2F2)14(4-) anions and two types of Ag(I) cations. One particular Ag(II) site present in the crystal structure of Ag9(PO2F2)14 is the first known example of square pyramidal penta-coordinated Ag(ii) in an oxo-ligand environment. Ag(i)PO2F2 - the product of the thermal decomposition of Ag9(PO2F2)14 - has also been characterized by thermal analysis, IR spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. It has a complicated crystal structure as well, which consists of infinite 1D [Ag(I)O4/2] chains which are linked to more complex 3D structures via OPO bridges. The PO2F2(-) anions bind to cations in both compounds as bidentate oxo-ligands. The terminal F atoms tend to point inside the van der Waals cavities in the crystal structure of both compounds. All important structural details of both title compounds were corroborated by DFT calculations.

  16. Retinoblastoma protein (pRB) was significantly phosphorylated through a Ras-to-MAPK pathway in mutant K-ras stably transfected human adrenocortical cells.

    PubMed

    Chen, Y-F; Chiu, H-H; Wu, C-H; Wang, J-Y; Chen, F-M; Tzou, W-H; Shin, S-J; Lin, S-R

    2003-10-01

    by 2.1 times. In all significant differentially expressed genes, preliminary analysis by bioinformatics revealed that after induced K-ras mutant expression by isopropyl thiogalctoside (IPTG), the downregulation of RBBP1 gene was most correlated to cell proliferation. RBBP1 can bind with RB/E2F to form a mSIN3-HDAC complex, which induces cell cycle arrest in the G1/G0 stage by repressing transcription of E2F-regulated genes. The result of a Northern blot showed that RBBP1 were inhibited after an induction of IPTG for 36 h. Another Northern blot analysis proved that mRNA levels of cyclin D1 and c-myc increased in proportion to K-ras expression. Finally, Western blot was carried out, and the results showed that phosphorylated pRB also increased. Taken together, we infer that the mutant K-ras oncogene promoted the cells to proceed to the G1/S stage by the inhibiting the formation of RB/RBBP1-dependent repressor complex from binding with the SIN3-HDAC complex, which resulted in the acetylation of histone to active transcription of E2F-regulated genes. However, the roles of the other differentially expressed genes involved in cell proliferation, cell morphologic change, tumorigenesis, or steroidogenesis still need further investigation.

  17. First somatic mutation of E2F1 in a critical DNA binding residue discovered in well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Well differentiated papillary mesothelioma of the peritoneum (WDPMP) is a rare variant of epithelial mesothelioma of low malignancy potential, usually found in women with no history of asbestos exposure. In this study, we perform the first exome sequencing of WDPMP. Results WDPMP exome sequencing reveals the first somatic mutation of E2F1, R166H, to be identified in human cancer. The location is in the evolutionarily conserved DNA binding domain and computationally predicted to be mutated in the critical contact point between E2F1 and its DNA target. We show that the R166H mutation abrogates E2F1's DNA binding ability and is associated with reduced activation of E2F1 downstream target genes. Mutant E2F1 proteins are also observed in higher quantities when compared with wild-type E2F1 protein levels and the mutant protein's resistance to degradation was found to be the cause of its accumulation within mutant over-expressing cells. Cells over-expressing wild-type E2F1 show decreased proliferation compared to mutant over-expressing cells, but cell proliferation rates of mutant over-expressing cells were comparable to cells over-expressing the empty vector. Conclusions The R166H mutation in E2F1 is shown to have a deleterious effect on its DNA binding ability as well as increasing its stability and subsequent accumulation in R166H mutant cells. Based on the results, two compatible theories can be formed: R166H mutation appears to allow for protein over-expression while minimizing the apoptotic consequence and the R166H mutation may behave similarly to SV40 large T antigen, inhibiting tumor suppressive functions of retinoblastoma protein 1. PMID:21955916

  18. The prohibitin-repressive interaction with E2F1 is rapidly inhibited by androgen signalling in prostate cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    Koushyar, S; Economides, G; Zaat, S; Jiang, W; Bevan, C L; Dart, D A

    2017-01-01

    Prohibitin (PHB) is a tumour suppressor molecule with pleiotropic activities across several cellular compartments including mitochondria, cell membrane and the nucleus. PHB and the steroid-activated androgen receptor (AR) have an interplay where AR downregulates PHB, and PHB represses AR. Additionally, their cellular locations and chromatin interactions are in dynamic opposition. We investigated the mechanisms of cell cycle inhibition by PHB and how this is modulated by AR in prostate cancer. Using a prostate cancer cell line overexpressing PHB, we analysed the gene expression changes associated with PHB-mediated cell cycle arrest. Over 1000 gene expression changes were found to be significant and gene ontology analysis confirmed PHB-mediated repression of genes essential for DNA replication and synthesis, for example, MCMs and TK1, via an E2F1 regulated pathway—agreeing with its G1/S cell cycle arrest activity. PHB is known to inhibit E2F1-mediated transcription, and the PHB:E2F1 interaction was seen in LNCaP nuclear extracts, which was then reduced by androgen treatment. Upon two-dimensional western blot analysis, the PHB protein itself showed androgen-mediated charge differentiation (only in AR-positive cells), indicating a potential dephosphorylation event. Kinexus phosphoprotein array analysis indicated that Src kinase was the main interacting intracellular signalling hub in androgen-treated LNCaP cells, and that Src inhibition could reduce this AR-mediated charge differentiation. PHB charge change may be associated with rapid dissociation from chromatin and E2F1, allowing the cell cycle to proceed. The AR and androgens may deactivate the repressive functions of PHB upon E2F1 leading to cell cycle progression, and indicates a role for AR in DNA replication licensing. PMID:28504694

  19. The relationship between the electronic structure and thermoelectric properties of Zintl compounds M2Zn5As4 (M = K, Rb).

    PubMed

    Yang, Gui; Yang, Jueming; Yan, Yuli; Wang, Yuanxu

    2014-03-28

    The electronic structure and the thermoelectric properties of M2Zn5As4 (M = K, Rb) are studied by the first principles and the semiclassical BoltzTraP theory. It is determined that they are semiconductors with an indirect band gap of about 1 eV, which is much larger than that of Ca5Al2Sb6 (0.50 eV). The calculated electronic localization function indicates that they are typical Zintl bonding compounds. The combination of heavy and light bands near the valence band maximum may improve their thermoelectric performance. Rb2Zn5As4 exhibits relatively large Seebeck coefficients, high electrical conductivities, and the large "maximum" thermoelectric figures of merit (ZeT). Compared with Ca5Al2Sb6, the highest ZeT of Rb2Zn5As4 appears at relatively low carrier concentration. For Rb2Zn4As5, the p-type doping may achieve a higher thermoelectric performance than n-type doping. The thermoelectric properties of Rb2Zn5As4 are possibly superior to those of Ca5Al2Sb6.

  20. Papillomavirus E7 protein binding to the retinoblastoma protein is not required for viral induction of warts.

    PubMed Central

    Defeo-Jones, D; Vuocolo, G A; Haskell, K M; Hanobik, M G; Kiefer, D M; McAvoy, E M; Ivey-Hoyle, M; Brandsma, J L; Oliff, A; Jones, R E

    1993-01-01

    Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are the etiologic agents responsible for benign epithelial proliferative disorders including genital warts and are a contributory factor in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. HPVs demonstrate strict species and cell-type specificity, which is manifested by the inability of these viruses to induce disease in any species other than humans. The natural history of HPV infection in humans is closely mimicked by cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) infection in domestic laboratory rabbits. The CRPV E7 gene is known to play an essential role in virus-mediated induction of papillomas. We now show by mutational analysis that the CRPV E7 protein's biochemical and biological properties, including binding to the retinoblastoma suppressor protein (pRB), transcription factor E2F transactivation of the adenovirus E2 promoter, disruption of pRB-E2F complexes, and cellular transformation as measured by growth in soft agar, mimic those of the HPV E7 protein. Intradermal injection of CRPV DNA lacking E7 gene sequences critical for the binding of the CRPV E7 protein to pRB induced papillomas in rabbits. These studies indicate that E7 protein binding to pRB is not required in the molecular pathogenesis of virally induced warts and suggest that other properties intrinsic to the E7 protein are necessary for papilloma formation. Images PMID:8380462

  1. Vaccinia virus proteins A36 and F12/E2 show strong preferences for different kinesin light chain isoforms.

    PubMed

    Gao, William N D; Carpentier, David C J; Ewles, Helen A; Lee, Stacey-Ann; Smith, Geoffrey L

    2017-08-01

    Vaccinia virus (VACV) utilizes microtubule-mediated trafficking at several stages of its life cycle, of which virus egress is the most intensely studied. During egress VACV proteins A36, F12 and E2 are involved in kinesin-1 interactions; however, the roles of these proteins remain poorly understood. A36 forms a direct link between virions and kinesin-1, yet in its absence VACV egress still occurs on microtubules. During a co-immunoprecipitation screen to seek an alternative link between virions and kinesin, A36 was found to bind isoform KLC1 rather than KLC2. The F12/E2 complex associates preferentially with the C-terminal tail of KLC2, to a region that overlaps the binding site of cellular 14-3-3 proteins. F12/E2 displaces 14-3-3 from KLC and, unlike 14-3-3, does not require phosphorylation of KLC for its binding. The region determining the KLC1 specificity of A36 was mapped to the KLC N-terminal heptad repeat region that is responsible for its association with kinesin heavy chain. Despite these differing binding properties F12/E2 can co-operatively enhance A36 association with KLC, particularly when using a KLC1-KLC2 chimaera that resembles several KLC1 spliceforms and can bind A36 and F12/E2 efficiently. This is the first example of a pathogen encoding multiple proteins that co-operatively associate with kinesin-1. © 2017 The Authors. Traffic published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  2. Topologically identical, but geometrically isomeric layers in hydrous α-, β-Rb[UO2(AsO3OH)(AsO2(OH)2)]·H2O and anhydrous Rb[UO2(AsO3OH)(AsO2(OH)2)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yu, Na; Klepov, Vladislav V.; Villa, Eric M.

    The hydrothermal reaction of uranyl nitrate with rubidium nitrate and arsenic (III) oxide results in the formation of polymorphic α- and β-Rb[UO2(AsO3OH)(AsO2(OH)2)]·H2O (α-, β-RbUAs) and the anhydrous phase Rb[UO2(AsO3OH)(AsO2(OH)2)] (RbUAs). These phases were structurally, chemically and spectroscopically characterized. The structures of all three compounds are based upon topologically identical, but geometrically isomeric layers. The layers are linked with each other by means of the Rb cations and hydrogen bonding. Dehydration experiments demonstrate that water deintercalation from hydrous α- and β-RbUAs yields anhydrous RbUAs via topotactic reactions.

  3. Synthesis, structural characterization, superoxide dismutase and antimicrobial activities studies of copper (II) complexes with 2-(E)-(2-(2-aminoethylamino) methyl)-4-bromophenol and (19E, 27E)-N1, N2-bis (phenyl (pyridine-2-yl)-methylene)-ethane-1, 2-diamine as ligands

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Choudhary, Mukesh; Patel, R. N.; Rawat, S. P.

    2014-07-01

    Three new copper (II) complexes, [Cu(L)(H2O)]ClO4 (1), [Cu(L1)(ClO4)]+ (2) and [Cu(L1)]2+ (3), where HL = 2-(E)-(2-(2-aminoethylamino)methyl)-4-bromophenol, L1 =(19E, 27E)-N1,N2-bis(phenyl(pyridine-2-yl)-methylene)-ethane-1, 2-diamine, have been synthesized and characterized by using various physic-chemical and spectroscopic methods. The solid-state structures of 1 and 2 were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. Infrared spectra, ligand field spectra and magnetic susceptibility measurements agree with the observed crystal structures. The molecular structure of copper complexes showed that the ligands occupies the basal plane of square pyramidal geometry with the H2O of 1 or the ClO4 of 2 occupying the remaining apical position. Complexes 1 and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic system of the space group P21/c, a = 10.5948(6)Å, b = 19.6164(11)Å, c = 8.6517(5)Å, α = 90°, β = 108.213(2)°, γ = 90° and Z = 4 for 1, a = 9.5019(3)Å, b = 11.3 801(3)Å, c = 25.3168(14)Å, α = 90°, β = 100.583(4)°, γ = 90°, and Z = 4 for 2. The synthesized Schiff base (HL/L1) was behaves as tetradentate ON3/N4 ligands with donor groups suitable placed for forming 2 or 3 five membered chelate rings. Copper (II) complexes display X-band EPR spectra in 100% DMSO at 77 K giving g|| > g⊥ > 2.0023 indicating dx2-y2 ground state. The half-wave potential values for Cu (II)/Cu (I) redox couple obtained in the reaction of the copper (II) complexes with molecular oxygen and superoxide radical (O2-) electronegated in DMSO are in agreement with the SOD-like activity of the copper (II) complexes. In vitro antimicrobial activities of the complexes against the two bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi) and the two fungi (Penicillium, Aspergillus sp.) have been investigated comparing with the Schiff base ligands.

  4. The E7 oncoprotein associates with Mi2 and histone deacetylase activity to promote cell growth.

    PubMed

    Brehm, A; Nielsen, S J; Miska, E A; McCance, D J; Reid, J L; Bannister, A J; Kouzarides, T

    1999-05-04

    E7 is the main transforming protein of human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) which is implicated in the formation of cervical cancer. The transforming activity of E7 has been attributed to its interaction with the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumour suppressor. However, Rb binding is not sufficient for transformation by E7. Mutations within a zinc finger domain, which is dispensable for Rb binding, also abolish E7 transformation functions. Here we show that HPV16 E7 associates with histone deacetylase in vitro and in vivo, via its zinc finger domain. Using a genetic screen, we identify Mi2beta, a component of the recently identified NURD histone deacetylase complex, as a protein that binds directly to the E7 zinc finger. A zinc finger point mutant which is unable to bind Mi2beta and histone deacetylase but is still able to bind Rb fails to overcome cell cycle arrest in osteosarcoma cells. Our results suggest that the binding to a histone deacetylase complex is an important parameter for the growthpromoting activity of the human papilloma virus E7 protein. This provides the first indication that viral oncoproteins control cell proliferation by targeting deacetylation pathways.

  5. Crown Ether Complexes of Alkali-Metal Chlorides from SO2.

    PubMed

    Reuter, Kirsten; Rudel, Stefan S; Buchner, Magnus R; Kraus, Florian; von Hänisch, Carsten

    2017-07-18

    The structures of alkali-metal chloride SO 2 solvates (Li-Cs) in conjunction with 12-crown-4 or 1,2-disila-12-crown-4 show strong discrepancies, despite the structural similarity of the ligands. Both types of crown ethers form 1:1 complexes with LiCl to give [Li(1,2-disila-12-crown-4)(SO 2 Cl)] (1) and [Li(12-crown-4)Cl]⋅4 SO 2 (2). However, 1,2-disila-12-crown-4 proved unable to coordinate cations too large for the cavity diameter, for example, by the formation of sandwich-type complexes. As a result, 12-crown-4 reacts exclusively with the heavier alkali-metal chlorides NaCl, KCl and RbCl. Compounds [Na(12-crown-4) 2 ]Cl⋅4 SO 2 (3) and [M(12-crown-4) 2 (SO 2 )]Cl⋅4 SO 2 (4: M=K; 5: M=Rb) all showed S-coordination to the chloride ions through four SO 2 molecules. Compounds 4 and 5 additionally exhibit the first crystallographically confirmed non-bridging O,O'-coordination mode of SO 2 . Unexpectedly, the disila-crown ether supports the dissolution of RbCl and CsCl in the solvent and gives the homoleptic SO 2 -solvated alkali-metal chlorides [MCl⋅3 SO 2 ] (6: M=Rb; 7: M=Cs), which incorporate bridging μ-O,O'-coordinating moieties and the unprecedented side-on O,O'-coordination mode. All compounds were characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crown ether complexes were additionally studied by using NMR spectroscopy, and the presence of SO 2 at ambient temperature was revealed by IR spectroscopy of the neat compounds. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  6. Synthesis and structure of R{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}] (R = Rb or Cs)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Serezhkin, V. N., E-mail: lserezh@samsu.ru; Peresypkina, E. V.; Grigor’eva, V. A.

    2015-01-15

    Crystals Rb{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}] (I) and Cs{sub 2}[UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}] (II) have been synthesized and studied by IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Crystals I are monoclinic, with the following parameters: a = 12.2118(5) Å, b = 10.2545(3) Å, c = 11.8754(4) Å, β = 110.287(1)°, sp. gr. C2/c, Z = 4, and R = 0.0523. Crystals II are orthorhombic, with a = 13.7309(3) Å, b = 10.5749(2) Å, c = 10.1891(2) Å, sp. gr. Pnma, Z = 4, and R = 0.0411. The basic structural units of crystals I and II are one-core complexes [UO{submore » 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}]{sup 2−}, which belong to the crystallochemical group cis-AB{sub 2}{sup 01}M{sub 2}{sup 1} (A = UO{sub 2}{sup 2+}, B{sup 01} = NO{sub 3}{sup −}, M{sup 1} = NCS{sup −}), which are combined into a framework via electrostatic interactions with ions of alkaline metals R (R = Rb or Cs). The structural features of crystals I and II, which condition the formation of [UO{sub 2}(NO{sub 3}){sub 2}(NCS){sub 2}]{sup 2−} complexes with a cis rather than a trans position of isothiocyanate ions in the coordination sphere of uranyl ions, are discussed.« less

  7. Biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside C-K by endophytic fungus Arthrinium sp. GE 17-18 isolated from Panax ginseng.

    PubMed

    Fu, Y; Yin, Z-H; Wu, L-P; Yin, C-R

    2016-09-01

    This research aimed to isolate β-glycosidase-producing endophytic fungus in Panax ginseng to achieve biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 to ginsenoside C-K. Of these 15 β-glucosidase-producing endophytic fungus isolated from ginseng roots, a β-glucosidase-producing endophytic fungi GE 17-18 could hydrolyse major ginsenosides Rb1 to minor ginsenoside C-K with metabolic pathways: ginsenoside Rb1→ginsenoside Rd→ginsenoside F2→ginsenoside C-K. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS gene sequences indicated that the strain GE 17-18 belongs to the genus Arthrinium and is most closely related to Arthrinium sp. HQ832803.1. This is the first study to provide information of cultivable β-glycosidase-producing Endophytic fungus in Panax ginseng. The strain GE 17-18 has potential to be applied on the preparation for minor ginsenoside C-K in pharmaceutical industry. © 2016 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

  8. HER2 signaling drives DNA anabolism and proliferation through SRC-3 phosphorylation and E2F1-regulated genes

    PubMed Central

    Nikolai, Bryan C.; Lanz, Rainer B.; York, Brian; Dasgupta, Subhamoy; Mitsiades, Nicholas; Creighton, Chad J.; Tsimelzon, Anna; Hilsenbeck, Susan G.; Lonard, David M.; Smith, Carolyn L.; O’Malley, Bert W.

    2016-01-01

    Approximately 20% of early-stage breast cancers display amplification or overexpression of the ErbB2/HER2 oncogene, conferring poor prognosis and resistance to endocrine therapy. Targeting HER2+ tumors with trastuzumab or the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitor lapatinib significantly improves survival, yet tumor resistance and progression of metastatic disease still develop over time. While the mechanisms of cytosolic HER2 signaling are well studied, nuclear signaling components and gene regulatory networks that bestow therapeutic resistance and limitless proliferative potential are incompletely understood. Here, we use biochemical and bioinformatic approaches to identify effectors and targets of HER2 transcriptional signaling in human breast cancer. Phosphorylation and activity of the Steroid Receptor Coactivator-3 (SRC-3) is reduced upon HER2 inhibition, and recruitment of SRC-3 to regulatory elements of endogenous genes is impaired. Transcripts regulated by HER2 signaling are highly enriched with E2F1 binding sites and define a gene signature associated with proliferative breast tumor subtypes, cell cycle progression, and DNA replication. We show that HER2 signaling promotes breast cancer cell proliferation through regulation of E2F1-driven DNA metabolism and replication genes together with phosphorylation and activity of the transcriptional coactivator SRC-3. Furthermore, our analyses identified a cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) signaling node that, when targeted using the CDK4/6 inhibitor Palbociclib, defines overlap and divergence of adjuvant pharmacological targeting. Importantly, lapatinib and palbociclib strictly block de novo synthesis of DNA, mostly through disruption of E2F1 and its target genes. These results have implications for rational discovery of pharmacological combinations in pre-clinical models of adjuvant treatment and therapeutic resistance. PMID:26833126

  9. ERBB2 Deficiency Alters an E2F-1-Dependent Adaptive Stress Response and Leads to Cardiac Dysfunction

    PubMed Central

    Perry, Marie-Claude; Dufour, Catherine R.; Eichner, Lillian J.; Tsang, David W. K.; Deblois, Geneviève; Muller, William J.

    2014-01-01

    The tyrosine kinase receptor ERBB2 is required for normal development of the heart and is a potent oncogene in breast epithelium. Trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting ERBB2, improves the survival of breast cancer patients, but cardiac dysfunction is a major side effect of the drug. The molecular mechanisms underlying how ERBB2 regulates cardiac function and why trastuzumab is cardiotoxic remain poorly understood. We show here that ERBB2 hypomorphic mice develop cardiac dysfunction that mimics the side effects observed in patients treated with trastuzumab. We demonstrate that this phenotype is related to the critical role played by ERBB2 in cardiac homeostasis and physiological hypertrophy. Importantly, genetic and therapeutic reduction of ERBB2 activity in mice, as well as ablation of ERBB2 signaling by trastuzumab or siRNAs in human cardiomyocytes, led to the identification of an impaired E2F-1-dependent genetic program critical for the cardiac adaptive stress response. These findings demonstrate the existence of a previously unknown mechanistic link between ERBB2 and E2F-1 transcriptional activity in heart physiology and trastuzumab-induced cardiac dysfunction. PMID:25246633

  10. Charging Properties of Cassiterite (alpha-SnO2) Surfaces in NaCl and RbCl Ionic Media.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rosenqvist, Jorgen K; Machesky, Michael L.; Vlcek, Lukas

    2009-01-01

    The acid-base properties of cassiterite ({alpha}-SnO{sub 2}) surfaces at 10-50 C were studied using potentiometric titrations of powder suspensions in aqueous NaCl and RbCl media. The proton sorption isotherms exhibited common intersection points in the pH range of 4.0-4.5 under all conditions, and the magnitude of charging was similar but not identical in NaCl and RbCl. The hydrogen bonding configuration at the oxide-water interface, obtained from classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, was analyzed in detail, and the results were explicitly incorporated in calculations of protonation constants for the reactive surface sites using the revised MUSIC model. The calculations indicated thatmore » the terminal SnOH{sub 2} group is more acidic than the bridging Sn{sub 2}OH group, with protonation constants (log K{sub H}) of 3.60 and 5.13 at 25 C, respectively. This is contrary to the situation on the isostructural {alpha}-TiO{sub 2} (rutile), apparently because of the difference in electronegativity between Ti and Sn. MD simulations and speciation calculations indicated considerable differences in the speciation of Na{sup +} and Rb{sup +}, despite the similarities in overall charging. Adsorbed sodium ions are almost exclusively found in bidentate surface complexes, whereas adsorbed rubidium ions form comparable numbers of bidentate and tetradentate complexes. Also, the distribution of adsorbed Na{sup +} between the different complexes shows a considerable dependence on the surface charge density (pH), whereas the distribution of adsorbed Rb{sup +} is almost independent of pH. A surface complexation model (SCM) capable of accurately describing both the measured surface charge and the MD-predicted speciation of adsorbed Na{sup +}/Rb{sup +} was formulated. According to the SCM, the deprotonated terminal group (SnOH{sup -0.40}) and the protonated bridging group (Sn{sub 2}OH{sup +0.36}) dominate the surface speciation over the entire pH range of this study (2

  11. Charging Properties of Cassiterite (alpha-SnO2) surfaces in NaCl and RbCl Ionic Media.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Rosenqvist, Jorgen K; Machesky, Michael L.; Vlcek, Lukas

    2009-01-01

    The acid-base properties of cassiterite (alpha-SnO2) surfaces at 10-50 degrees C were studied using potentiometric titrations of powder suspensions in aqueous NaCl and RbCl media. The proton sorption isotherms exhibited common intersection points in the pH range of 4.0-4.5 under all conditions, and the magnitude of charging was similar but not identical in NaCl and RbCl. The hydrogen bonding configuration at the oxide-water interface, obtained from classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, was analyzed in detail, and the results were explicitly incorporated in calculations of protonation constants for the reactive surface sites using the revised MUSIC model. The calculations indicated thatmore » the terminal SnOH2 group is more acidic than the bridging Sn2OH group, with protonation constants (log KH) of 3.60 and 5.13 at 25 degrees C, respectively. This is contrary to the situation on the isostructural alpha-TiO2 (rutile), apparently because of the difference in electronegativity between Ti and Sn. MD simulations and speciation calculations indicated considerable differences in the speciation of Na+ and Rb+, despite the similarities in overall charging. Adsorbed sodium ions are almost exclusively found in bidentate surface complexes, whereas adsorbed rubidium ions form comparable numbers of bidentate and tetradentate complexes. Also, the distribution of adsorbed Na+ between the different complexes shows a considerable dependence on the surface charge density (pH), whereas the distribution of adsorbed Rb+ is almost independent of pH. A surface complexation model (SCM) capable of accurately describing both the measured surface charge and the MD-predicted speciation of adsorbed Na+/Rb+ was formulated. According to the SCM, the deprotonated terminal group (SnOH(-0.40)) and the protonated bridging group (Sn2OH+0.36) dominate the surface speciation over the entire pH range of this study (2.7-10). The complexation of medium cations increases significantly with

  12. E2f1 mediates high glucose-induced neuronal death in cultured mouse retinal explants.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yujiao; Zhou, Yi; Xiao, Lirong; Zheng, Shijie; Yan, Naihong; Chen, Danian

    2017-10-02

    Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common complication of diabetes and remains one of the major causes of blindness in the world; infants born to diabetic mothers have higher risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). While hyperglycemia is a major risk factor, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying DR and diabetic ROP are poorly understood. To explore the consequences of retinal cells under high glucose, we cultured wild type or E2f1 -/- mouse retinal explants from postnatal day 8 with normal glucose, high osmotic or high glucose media. Explants were also incubated with cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) to mimic the hypoxic condition. We showed that, at 7 days post exposure to high glucose, retinal explants displayed elevated cell death, ectopic cell division and intact retinal vascular plexus. Cell death mainly occurred in excitatory neurons, such as ganglion and bipolar cells, which were also ectopically dividing. Many Müller glial cells reentered the cell cycle; some had irregular morphology or migrated to other layers. High glucose inhibited the hyperoxia-induced blood vessel regression of retinal explants. Moreover, inactivation of E2f1 rescued high glucose-induced ectopic division and cell death of retinal neurons, but not ectopic cell division of Müller glial cells and vascular phenotypes. This suggests that high glucose has direct but distinct effects on retinal neurons, glial cells and blood vessels, and that E2f1 mediates its effects on retinal neurons. These findings shed new light onto mechanisms of DR and the fetal retinal abnormalities associated with maternal diabetes, and suggest possible new therapeutic strategies.

  13. Glutaredoxin 2 prevents H(2)O(2)-induced cell apoptosis by protecting complex I activity in the mitochondria.

    PubMed

    Wu, Hongli; Xing, Kuiyi; Lou, Marjorie F

    2010-10-01

    Glutaredoxin 2 (Grx2) belongs to the oxidoreductase family and is an isozyme of glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) present in the mitochondria, however its function is not well understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential anti-apoptotic function of Grx2 by examining its ability to protect complex I in the mitochondrial electron transport system using human lens epithelial cells as a model. We found that cells treated with 200muM hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) for 24h exhibited decreased viability and became apoptotic with corresponding Bax up-regulation, Bcl-2 down-regulation, caspase 3 activation and mitochondrial cytochrome c leakage. Grx2 over-expression (OE) could protect cells against H(2)O(2)-induced damage while Grx2 knockdown (KD) showed the opposite effect. Under the same conditions, H(2)O(2) treatment caused 50% inactivation of complex I activity in control cells (vector only), 75% in Grx2 KD cells but only 20% in Grx2 OE cells. Furthermore, the inactivated complex I in the H(2)O(2)-treated cells could be protected mostly by importing the purified nascent Grx2 protein, but not the Grx2 protein mutated at the active site with C70S, or C73S, or with C70S plus C73S. Immunoprecipitation study also revealed that Grx2 co-precipitated with complex I, but not complex II, in the mitochondrial lysate. Thus, the mechanism of Grx2 protection against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis is likely associated with its ability to preserve complex I. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  14. Cell cycle regulator E2F4 is essential for the development of the ventral telencephalon.

    PubMed

    Ruzhynsky, Vladimir A; McClellan, Kelly A; Vanderluit, Jacqueline L; Jeong, Yongsu; Furimsky, Marosh; Park, David S; Epstein, Douglas J; Wallace, Valerie A; Slack, Ruth S

    2007-05-30

    Early forebrain development is characterized by extensive proliferation of neural precursors coupled with complex structural transformations; however, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which these processes are integrated. Here, we show that deficiency of the cell cycle regulatory protein, E2F4, results in the loss of ventral telencephalic structures and impaired self-renewal of neural precursor cells. The mechanism underlying aberrant ventral patterning lies in a dramatic loss of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression specifically in this region. The E2F4-deficient phenotype can be recapitulated by interbreeding mice heterozygous for E2F4 with those lacking one allele of Shh, suggesting a genetic interaction between these pathways. Treatment of E2F4-deficient cells with a Hh agonist rescues stem cell self-renewal and cells expressing the homeodomain proteins that specify the ventral telencephalic structures. Finally, we show that E2F4 deficiency results in impaired activity of Shh forebrain-specific enhancers. In conclusion, these studies establish a novel requirement for the cell cycle regulatory protein, E2F4, in the development of the ventral telencephalon.

  15. Observation of coherent backscattering of light in ultracold ^85Rb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kulatunga, P.; Sukenik, C. I.; Havey, M. D.; Kupriyanov, D. V.; Sokolov, I. M.

    2002-05-01

    We report investigation of multiple coherent light scattering from ^85Rb atoms confined in a magneto-optic trap. In experimental studies, measurements are made of coherent backscattering of a low-intensity probe beam tuned near the F = 3 - F' = 4 transition in ^85Rb atoms. Polarization of backscattered light is determined by a backscattering polarimeter; the spatial distribution of light intensity is measured by a liquid-nitrogen cooled CCD camera set in the focal plane of the analyzing optics. The instrument has angular resolution of about 100 micro-radians, and a polarization analyzing power of roughly 1000. In this paper we describe the instrument details, including calibration procedures, and our measurements of atomic coherent backscattering. In a theoretical study of intensity enhancement of near-resonant backscattered light from cold ^85,87Rb atoms, we consider scattering orders up to 8 and a Gaussian atom distribution in the MOT. Enhancement factors are calculated for all D1 and D2 hyperfine components and for both isotopes.

  16. Reactions in 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone triggered by low energy electrons (0-10 eV): from simple bond cleavages to complex unimolecular reactions.

    PubMed

    Illenberger, Eugen; Meinke, Martina C

    2014-08-21

    The impact of low energy electrons (0-10 eV) to 1,1,1-trifluoroacetone yields a variety of fragment anions which are formed via dissociative electron attachment (DEA) through three pronounced resonances located at 0.8 eV, near 4 eV, and in the energy range 8-9 eV. The fragment ions arise from different reactions ranging from the direct cleavage of one single or double bond (formation of F(-), CF3(-), O(-), (M-H)(-), and M-F)(-)) to remarkably complex unimolecular reactions associated with substantial geometric and electronic rearrangement in the transitory intermediate (formation of OH(-), FHF(-), (M-HF)(-), CCH(-), and HCCO(-). The ion CCH(-), for example, is formed by an excision of unit from the target molecule through the concerted cleavage of four bonds and recombination to H2O within the neutral component of the reaction.

  17. Manipulation of ultracold Rb atoms using a single linearly chirped laser pulse.

    PubMed

    Collins, T A; Malinovskaya, S A

    2012-06-15

    At ultracold temperatures, atoms are free from thermal motion, which makes them ideal objects of investigations aiming to advance high-precision spectroscopy, metrology, quantum computation, producing Bose condensates, etc. The quantum state of ultracold atoms may be created and manipulated by making use of quantum control methods employing low-intensity pulses. We theoretically investigate population dynamics of ultracold Rb vapor induced by nanosecond linearly chirped pulses having kW/cm2 beam intensity and show a possibility of controllable population transfer between hyperfine (HpF) levels of 5(2)/S(1/2) state through Raman transitions. Satisfying the one-photon resonance condition with the lowest of the HpF states of 5(2)/P(1/2) or 5(2)/P(3/2) state allows us to enter the adiabatic region of population transfer at very low field intensities, such that corresponding Rabi frequencies are less than or equal to the HpF splitting. This methodology provides a robust way to create a specifically designed superposition state in Rb in the basis of HpF levels and perform state manipulation controllable on the picosecond-to-nanosecond time scale.

  18. Identification of novel posttranscriptional targets of the BCR/ABL oncoprotein by ribonomics: requirement of E2F3 for BCR/ABL leukemogenesis

    PubMed Central

    Eiring, Anna M.; Neviani, Paolo; Santhanam, Ramasamy; Oaks, Joshua J.; Chang, Ji Suk; Notari, Mario; Willis, William; Gambacorti-Passerini, Carlo; Volinia, Stefano; Marcucci, Guido; Caligiuri, Michael A.; Leone, Gustavo W.

    2008-01-01

    Several RNA binding proteins (RBPs) have been implicated in the progression of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) from the indolent chronic phase to the aggressively fatal blast crisis. In the latter phase, expression and function of specific RBPs are aberrantly regulated at transcriptional or posttranslational levels by the constitutive kinase activity of the BCR/ABL oncoprotein. As a result, altered expression/function of RBPs leads to increased resistance to apoptotic stimuli, enhanced survival, growth advantage, and differentiation arrest of CD34+ progenitors from patients in CML blast crisis. Here, we identify the mRNAs bound to the hnRNP-A1, hnRNP-E2, hnRNP-K, and La/SSB RBPs in BCR/ABLtransformed myeloid cells. Interestingly, we found that the mRNA encoding the transcription factor E2F3 associates to hnRNP-A1 through a conserved binding site located in the E2F3 3′ untranslated region (UTR). E2F3 levels were up-regulated in CML-BCCD34+ in a BCR/ABL kinase– and hnRNP-A1 shuttling–dependent manner. Moreover, by using shRNA-mediated E2F3 knock-down and BCR/ABL-transduced lineage-negative bone marrow cells from E2F3+/+ and E2F3−/− mice, we show that E2F3 expression is important for BCR/ABL clonogenic activity and in vivo leukemogenic potential. Thus, the complexity of the mRNA/RBP network, together with the discovery of E2F3 as an hnRNP-A1–regulated factor, outlines the relevant role played by RBPs in posttranscriptional regulation of CML development and progression. PMID:17925491

  19. Laser cooling of nuclear spin 0 alkali 78Rb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Behr, J. A.; Gorelov, A.; Anholm, M.

    2015-05-01

    The textbook example for sub-Doppler cooling is a J = 1/2 I = 0 alkali atom in lin ⊥ lin molasses. In the σ+ σ- configuration of a standard MOT, the main sub-Doppler cooling mechanism relies on changing alignment (MF2 population) with the summed linear polarization orientation, but there is no such variation in AC Stark shift for F = 1/2. We have nevertheless looked for signs of sub-Doppler cooling by trapping I = 0 78Rb in a standard MOT and measuring the cloud size as a function of laser detuning and intensity. The 78Rb cloud size does not change significantly with lowered intensity, and expands slightly with detuning, consistent with minimal to no sub-Doppler cooling. Our geometry does show the well-known substantially smaller cloud size with detuning and intensity for I = 3/2 87Rb. Maintaining an I = 0 alkali cloud size with lowered intensity will help our planned β- ν correlation experiments in 38mK decay by suppressing possible production of photoassisted dimers. Supported by NSERC and NRC Canada through TRIUMF.

  20. E2F transcription factors and digestive system malignancies: how much do we know?

    PubMed

    Xanthoulis, Athanasios; Tiniakos, Dina G

    2013-06-07

    E2F family of transcription factors regulates various cellular functions related to cell cycle and apoptosis. Its individual members have traditionally been classified into activators and repressors, based on in vitro studies. However their contribution in human cancer is more complicated and difficult to predict. We review current knowledge on the expression of E2Fs in digestive system malignancies and its clinical implications for patient prognosis and treatment. E2F1, the most extensively studied member and the only one with prognostic value, exhibits a tumor-suppressing activity in esophageal, gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma, and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), whereas in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma may function as a tumor-promoter. In the latter malignancies, E2F1 immunohistochemical expression has been correlated with higher tumor grade and worse patient survival, whereas in esophageal, gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas is a marker of increased patient survival. E2F2 has only been studied in colorectal cancer, where its role is not considered significant. E2F4's role in colorectal, gastric and hepatic carcinogenesis is tumor-promoting. E2F8 is strongly upregulated in human HCC, thus possibly contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis. Adenoviral transfer of E2F as gene therapy to sensitize pancreatic cancer cells for chemotherapeutic agents has been used in experimental studies. Other therapeutic strategies are yet to be developed, but it appears that targeted approaches using E2F-agonists or antagonists should take into account the tissue-dependent function of each E2F member. Further understanding of E2Fs' contribution in cellular functions in vivo would help clarify their role in carcinogenesis.

  1. E2F function in muscle growth is necessary and sufficient for viability in Drosophila

    PubMed Central

    Zappia, Maria Paula; Frolov, Maxim V.

    2016-01-01

    The E2F transcription factor is a key cell cycle regulator. However, the inactivation of the entire E2F family in Drosophila is permissive throughout most of animal development until pupation when lethality occurs. Here we show that E2F function in the adult skeletal muscle is essential for animal viability since providing E2F function in muscles rescues the lethality of the whole-body E2F-deficient animals. Muscle-specific loss of E2F results in a significant reduction in muscle mass and thinner myofibrils. We demonstrate that E2F is dispensable for proliferation of muscle progenitor cells, but is required during late myogenesis to directly control the expression of a set of muscle-specific genes. Interestingly, E2f1 provides a major contribution to the regulation of myogenic function, while E2f2 appears to be less important. These findings identify a key function of E2F in skeletal muscle required for animal viability, and illustrate how the cell cycle regulator is repurposed in post-mitotic cells. PMID:26823289

  2. Faraday effect on the Rb D{sub 1} line in a cell with a thickness of half the wavelength of light

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sargsyan, A., E-mail: sarmeno@mail.ru, E-mail: sargsyanarmen85@gmail.com; Pashayan-Leroy, Y.; Leroy, C.

    2016-09-15

    The rotation of the radiation polarization plane in a longitudinal magnetic field (Faraday effect) on the D{sub 1} line in atomic Rb vapor has been studied with the use of a nanocell with the thickness L varying in the range of 100–900 nm. It has been shown that an important parameter is the ratio L/λ, where λ = 795 nm is the wavelength of laser radiation resonant with the D{sub 1} line. The best parameters of the signal of rotation of the radiation polarization plane have been obtained at the thickness L = λ/2 = 397.5 nm. The fabricated nanocellmore » had a large region with such a thickness. The spectral width of the signal reached at the thickness L = 397.5 nm is approximately 30 MHz, which is much smaller than the spectral width (≈ 500 MHz) reached with ordinary cells with a thickness in the range of 1–100 mm. The parameters of the Faraday rotation signal have been studied as functions of the temperature of the nanocell, the laser power, and the magnetic field strength. The signal has been reliably detected at the laser power P{sub L} ≥ 1 μW, magnetic field strength B ≥ 0.5 G, and the temperature of the nanocell T ≥ 100°C. It has been shown that the maximum rotation angle of the polarization plane in the longitudinal magnetic field is reached on the F{sub g} = 3 → F{sub e} = 2 transition of the {sup 85}Rb atom. The spectral profile of the Faraday rotation signal has a specific shape with a sharp peak, which promotes its applications. In particular, Rb atomic transitions in high magnetic fields about 1000 G are split into a large number of components, which are completely spectrally resolved and allow the study of the behavior of an individual transition.« less

  3. Molecular Spectra of RbSr: Helium Droplet Assisted Preparation of a Diatomic Molecule

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lackner, Florian; Krois, Günter; Buchsteiner, Thomas; Pototschnig, Johann V.; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

    2014-06-01

    We report on the first spectroscopic investigation of the ground and excited states of RbSr. The molecules are prepared in their vibronic ground state (X^2Σ^+1/2, ν" = 0) in a sequential pickup process on the surface of helium nanodroplets, confined in a cold (0.38 K) and weakly perturbing superfluid environment. Utilizing resonance-enhanced multi-photon ionization time-of-flight (REMPI-TOF) spectroscopy and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy our investigations cover the spectral regime of 11500 cm-1 - 23000 cm-1. The weak interaction between molecules and helium droplets causes a broadening of the observed transitions. For spectrally resolved band systems the helium droplet isolation approach facilitates the determination of molecular constants. Our assignment is assisted by theoretical calculations of potential energy curves based on a multireference configuration interaction (MRCI) approach. Several strong transitions could be identified; the most prominent spectral feature is a vibrational resolved band system at 14000 cm-1. In contrast to the excitation spectra, dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra are not influenced by the helium environment, because the molecules leave the droplets upon photoexcitation, revealing detailed insights into the electronic structure of the free RbSr molecule. G. Krois, J.V. Pototschnig, F. Lackner and W.E. Ernst, J. Phys. Chem. A, 117 (50), 13719-13731 (2013) C. Callegari and W. E. Ernst, Helium Droplets as Nanocryostats for Molecular Spectroscopy - from the Vacuum Ultraviolet to the Microwave Regime, in: Handbook of High-Resolution Spectroscopy, eds. M. Quack and F. Merkt, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, (2011) P.S. Żuchowski, R. Guerout, and O. Dulieu, arXiv preprint arXiv:1402.0702 (2014) B. Pasquiou, A. Bayerle, S.M. Tzanova, S. Stellmer, J. Szczepkowski, M. Parigger, R. Grimm, and F. Schreck, Phys. Rev. A, 88 (2), 023601 (2013).

  4. Transient development of Zeeman electromagnetically induced transparency during propagation of Raman-Ramsey pulses through Rb buffer gas cell

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nikolić, S. N.; Radonjić, M.; Lučić, N. M.; Krmpot, A. J.; Jelenković, B. M.

    2015-02-01

    We investigate, experimentally and theoretically, time development of Zeeman electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) during propagation of two time separated polarization laser pulses, preparatory and probe, through Rb vapour. The pulses were produced by modifying laser intensity and degree of elliptical polarization. The frequency of the single laser beam is locked to the hyperfine {{F}g}=2\\to {{F}e}=1 transition of the D1 line in 87Rb. Transients in the intensity of {{σ }-} component of the transmitted light are measured or calculated at different values of the external magnetic field, during both preparatory and probe pulse. Zeeman EIT resonances at particular time instants of the pulse propagation are reconstructed by appropriate sampling of the transients. We observe how laser intensity, Ramsey sequence and the Rb cell temperature affect the time dependence of EIT line shapes, amplitudes and linewidths. We show that at early times of the probe pulse propagation, several Ramsey fringes are present in EIT resonances, while at later moments a single narrow peak prevails. Time development of EIT amplitudes are determined by the transmitted intensity of the {{σ }-} component during the pulse propagation.

  5. Three-dimensional structure of thymidine phosphorylase from E. coli in complex with 3'-azido-2'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxyuridine

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Timofeev, V. I.; Abramchik, Yu. A.; Fateev, I. V.; Zhukhlistova, N. E.; Murav'eva, T. I.; Kuranova, I. P.; Esipov, R. S.

    2013-11-01

    The three-dimensional structures of thymidine phosphorylase from E. coli containing the bound sulfate ion in the phosphate-binding site and of the complex of thymidine phosphorylase with sulfate in the phosphate-binding site and the inhibitor 3'-azido-2'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (N3F-ddU) in the nucleoside-binding site were determined at 1.55 and 1.50 Å resolution, respectively. The amino-acid residues involved in the ligand binding and the hydrogen-bond network in the active site occupied by a large number of bound water molecules are described. A comparison of the structure of thymidine phosphorylase in complex with N3F-ddU with the structure of pyrimidine nucleoside phosphorylase from St. Aureus in complex with the natural substrate thymidine (PDB_ID: 3H5Q) shows that the substrate and the inhibitor in the nucleoside-binding pocket have different orientations. It is suggested that the position of N3F-ddU can be influenced by the presence of the azido group, which prefers a hydrophobic environment. In both structures, the active sites of the subunits are in the open conformation.

  6. THE INTERSECTION OF STABLE AND NON-EQUILIBRIUM TETRAHEDRA IN A MUTUAL 7- COMPONENT SYSTEM OF Li, Na, Rb, T1/Br, C1, NO$sub 3$, SO$sub 4$ (in Russian)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dombrovskaya, N.S.; Khakhlova, N.V.; Alekseeva, E.A.

    1961-04-21

    The most stable configuration of the mixture of the 16 salts formed from Li, Na, Rb, Tl/Br, Cl, NO/sub 3/, and S0/sub 4/ con ture which however interact, resulting in a stable mixture. On the basis of exchange reactions the following equation has been derived: LiBr + NaNO/sub 3/ + RbCl + 1/2Tl/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ = 1/ 2LiSO/sub 4/ + NaCl + RbNO/sub 3/ + TlBr. In addition, several binary complexes are also formed, such as Li/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ - Rb/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, 4Li/sub 2/SO/ sub 4/ - RbSO /sub 4/, RbCl - 2Li/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and possible others. Inmore » view of the great interest, the intersection of stable and non-equilibrium tetrahedra consisting of components of both, was experimentally studied by thermai analysis. On the basis of cooling curves the following deflection points have been observed: 453 deg C, precipitation of the first Li/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ crystals; 409 deg , coprecipitation of Li/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ and NaCl; 391 deg , coprecipitation of Li/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, NaCl snd TlBr; and finally at 107 deg , formation of the quaternary eutectic with the previously mentioned salts + RbNO/sub 3/. The microstructures of the stable and non-equilibrium phases are quite similar. (TTT)« less

  7. The E7 oncoprotein associates with Mi2 and histone deacetylase activity to promote cell growth.

    PubMed Central

    Brehm, A; Nielsen, S J; Miska, E A; McCance, D J; Reid, J L; Bannister, A J; Kouzarides, T

    1999-01-01

    E7 is the main transforming protein of human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16) which is implicated in the formation of cervical cancer. The transforming activity of E7 has been attributed to its interaction with the retinoblastoma (Rb) tumour suppressor. However, Rb binding is not sufficient for transformation by E7. Mutations within a zinc finger domain, which is dispensable for Rb binding, also abolish E7 transformation functions. Here we show that HPV16 E7 associates with histone deacetylase in vitro and in vivo, via its zinc finger domain. Using a genetic screen, we identify Mi2beta, a component of the recently identified NURD histone deacetylase complex, as a protein that binds directly to the E7 zinc finger. A zinc finger point mutant which is unable to bind Mi2beta and histone deacetylase but is still able to bind Rb fails to overcome cell cycle arrest in osteosarcoma cells. Our results suggest that the binding to a histone deacetylase complex is an important parameter for the growthpromoting activity of the human papilloma virus E7 protein. This provides the first indication that viral oncoproteins control cell proliferation by targeting deacetylation pathways. PMID:10228159

  8. The H2O-CH3F Complex: a Combined Microwave and Infrared Spectroscopic Study Supported by Structure Calculations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gnanasekar, Sharon Priya; Goubet, Manuel; Arunan, Elangannan; Georges, Robert; Soulard, Pascale; Asselin, Pierre; Huet, T. R.; Pirali, Olivier

    2015-06-01

    The H2O-CH3F complex could have two geometries, one with a hydrogen bond and one with the newly proposed carbon bond. While in general carbon bonds are weaker than hydrogen bonds, this complex appears to have comparable energies for the two structures. Infrared (IR) and microwave (MW) spectroscopic measurements using, respectively, the Jet-AILES apparatus and the FTMW spectrometer at the PhLAM laboratory, have been carried out to determine the structure of this complex. The IR spectrum shows the formation of the CH3F- H2O hydrogen bonded complex and small red-shifts in OH frequency most probably due to (CH3F)m-(H2O)n clusters. Noticeably, addition of CH_3F in the mixture promotes the formation of small water clusters. Preliminary MW spectroscopic measurements indicate the formation of the hydrogen bonded complex. So far, we have no experimental evidence for the carbon bonded structure. However, calculations of the Ar-CH3F complex show three energetically equivalent structures: a T-shape, a "fluorine" bond and a carbon bond. The MW spectrum of the (Ar)n-CH3F complexes is currently under analysis. Mani, D; Arunan, E. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2013, 15, 14377. Cirtog, M; Asselin, P; Soulard, P; Tremblay, B; Madebene, B; Alikhani, M. E; Georges, R; Moudens, A; Goubet, M; Huet, T.R; Pirali, O; Roy, P. J. Phys. Chem. A. 2011, 115, 2523 Kassi, S; Petitprez, D; Wlodarczak, G. J. Mol. Struct. 2000, 517-518, 375

  9. A density functional study of silicon fullerene endohedral X@Si20F20 and exohedral X-Si20F20 (X=O2-, S2-, Se2-) complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Behzadi, Hadi; Esrafili, Mehdi D.; Manzetti, Sergio; Roonasi, Payman

    2014-02-01

    This study reports the structure and electronic properties of three stable endohedral X@Si20F20 and exohedral X-Si20F20 (X=O2-, S2-, Se2-) complexes. The study revealed that the endohedral complexes with S2- and Se2- result as energy minimum structures, with the guest anion located in the cage center. In the case of endohedral O2--complexes, the pattern is quite different whereas the O2- complexes dramatically deviated from the architecture of S2- and Se2-, by having O2- located toward one of silicon atoms in the cage. With respect to the exohedral form, the energy minimized structure is obtained by positioning the anion between two silicon atoms and forming two Si-X bonds. For both cases, the strength of the interactions is calculated to increase accordingly to the pattern: Se2-@Si20F20 (Se2--Si20F20)2-@Si20F20 (S2--Si20F20)2-@Si20F20 (O2--Si20F20). Additionally, the calculated HOMO-LUMO energy gaps of the exohedral complexes show lower values than endohedral forms, indicating higher chemical reactivity. This study reports relevant details for the synthesis and structuring of silica based endohedral complexes and serves for the further developments of silica-based particles for energy and microengineering purposes.

  10. Cyclin A and the retinoblastoma gene product complex with a common transcription factor.

    PubMed

    Bandara, L R; Adamczewski, J P; Hunt, T; La Thangue, N B

    1991-07-18

    The retinoblastoma gene (Rb) product is a negative regulator of cellular proliferation, an effect that could be mediated in part at the transcriptional level through its ability to complex with the sequence-specific transcription factor DRTF1. This interaction is modulated by adenovirus E1a, which sequesters the Rb protein and several other cellular proteins, including cyclin A, a molecule that undergoes cyclical accumulation and destruction during each cell cycle and which is required for cell cycle progression. Cyclin A, which also complexes with DRTF1, facilitates the efficient assembly of the Rb protein into the complex. This suggests a role for cyclin A in regulating transcription and defines a transcription factor through which molecules that regulate the cell cycle in a negative fashion, such as Rb, and in a positive fashion, such as cyclin A, interact. Mutant loss-of-function Rb alleles, which occur in a variety of tumour cells, also fail to complex with E1a and large T antigen. Here we report on a naturally occurring loss-of-function Rb allele encoding a protein that fails to complex with DRTF1. This might explain how mutation in the Rb gene prevents negative growth control.

  11. Ionic ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} (A=Li, Na, K and Rb) stabilized by the covalent Si–N bonding: First-principles calculations

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Huijun; Ren, Jiadong, E-mail: jdren@ysu.edu.cn; Wu, Lailei

    The structural, elastic and electronic properties of LiSi{sub 2}N{sub 3} and its substitutions by Na, K and Rb were investigated through first-principles computations. The expansion of lattice parameters of ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} from Li, Na, K to Rb is found to be determined by the bond angle of Si–N1–Si, which suggests a possible way to improve the lithium ionic conductivity by substitutions. ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} (A=Li, Na, K and Rb) shows the similar elastic behaviors, while the electronic band gap gradually decreases from 5.1 to 3.4 eV from LiSi{sub 2}N{sub 3} to RbSi{sub 2}N{sub 3}. Interestingly, the analysis of electronicmore » structure, crystal orbital Hamiltonian populations and Bader charges shows that the covalence of Si–N bonding is critical for the stability of ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} phase. Among ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} phases, there is a relatively high ionicity in NaSi{sub 2}N{sub 3}; the Si–N bond strength in [Si{sub 2}N{sub 3}]{sup −} net for KSi{sub 2}N{sub 3} and RbSi{sub 2}N{sub 3} is comparable to LiSi{sub 2}N{sub 3}, but stronger than NaSi{sub 2}N{sub 3}. - Graphic abstract: Universal trend of structural and electronic properties in alkaline metal silicon nitrides, ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3}, A=Li, Na, K and Rb. - Highlights: • Trend in structure, electronic and mechanical properties of ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} (A=Li-Rb) were predicted. • Lattice expansion of ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3} induced by the bond angle of Si–N1–Si was found. • Calculated band gap decreases from 5.1 to 3.4 eV from LiSi{sub 2}N{sub 3} to RbSi{sub 2}N{sub 3}. • Covalent Si–N bonding is critical for the stability of ASi{sub 2}N{sub 3}.« less

  12. K(86Rb) transport heterogeneity in the low-density fraction of sickle cell anemia red blood cells.

    PubMed

    Etzion, Z; Lew, V L; Bookchin, R M

    1996-10-01

    Previous studies have suggested ion transport heterogeneity among sickle cell anemia (SS) reticulocytes that could influence their dehydration susceptibility. We examined Ca2(+)-independent K transport in the lowest density (F1), reticulocyte-rich SS cells, measuring the effects of acidification, ouabain, and bumetanide on their unidirectional K(86Rb) fluxes. Unlike those of normal red blood cells and SS discocytes, the SS-F1 K(86Rb) fluxes were highly nonlinear, with large 5-min flux components (previously unobserved) and a more gradual decline over 60 min. Analysis revealed two distinct K pools: a rapid-turnover pool in a small fraction of cells, whose major ouabain-resistant K(86Rb) transport path showed distinctive properties including inhibition by high concentrations of bumetanide (> or = 1 mM) and stimulation at pH 7.0, and another heterogeneous, relatively slow-turnover pool, in most of the F1 cells, whose main ouabain-resistant K(86Rb) path was insensitive to bumetanide but was stimulated at pH 7.0, which is consistent with heterogeneous expression of the acid-sensitive K-Cl cotransport and with both rapid and slower generation of dehydrated SS cells.

  13. Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 Tax and cell cycle progression: role of cyclin D-cdk and p110Rb.

    PubMed

    Neuveut, C; Low, K G; Maldarelli, F; Schmitt, I; Majone, F; Grassmann, R; Jeang, K T

    1998-06-01

    Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 is etiologically linked to the development of adult T-cell leukemia and various human neuropathies. The Tax protein of human T-cell leukemia virus type I has been implicated in cellular transformation. Like other oncoproteins, such as Myc, Jun, and Fos, Tax is a transcriptional activator. How it mechanistically dysregulates the cell cycle is unclear. Previously, it was suggested that Tax affects cell-phase transition by forming a direct protein-protein complex with p16(INK4a), thereby inactivating an inhibitor of G1-to-S-phase progression. Here we show that, in T cells deleted for p16(INK4a), Tax can compel an egress of cells from G0/G1 into S despite the absence of serum. We also show that in undifferentiated myocytes, expression of Tax represses cellular differentiation. In both settings, Tax expression was found to increase cyclin D-cdk activity and to enhance pRb phosphorylation. In T cells, a Tax-associated increase in steady-state E2F2 protein was also documented. In searching for a molecular explanation for these observations, we found that Tax forms a protein-protein complex with cyclin D3, whereas a point-mutated and transcriptionally inert Tax mutant failed to form such a complex. Interestingly, expression of wild-type Tax protein in cells was also correlated with the induction of a novel hyperphosphorylated cyclin D3 protein. Taken together, these findings suggest that Tax might directly influence cyclin D-cdk activity and function, perhaps by a route independent of cdk inhibitors such as p16(INK4a).

  14. Transcription factor FBI-1 acts as a dual regulator in adipogenesis by coordinated regulation of cyclin-A and E2F-4.

    PubMed

    Laudes, Matthias; Bilkovski, Roman; Oberhauser, Frank; Droste, Andrea; Gomolka, Matthias; Leeser, Uschi; Udelhoven, Michael; Krone, Wilhelm

    2008-05-01

    Generation of new adipocytes plays a major role in the development of obesity. We previously have shown that transcriptional repressor factor that binds to IST (FBI)-1 exerts a dual effect in the process of adipogenesis by inhibiting proliferation and promoting differentiation of preadipocytes. The aim of the present study was to identify FBI-1 regulated molecular effectors that could account for these effects. Overexpressing FBI-1 in preadipocytes resulted in reduced expression of the cell cycle regulator cyclin A, which may explain FBI-1 induced inhibition of proliferation. Interestingly, FBI-1 repressed cyclin A promoter activity through an indirect mechanisms that did not involve direct binding of FBI-1 to the promoter sequence, but rather FBI-1 inhibition of transcriptional activator Sp1 binding to a regulatory element at -452 to -443. We also show that FBI-1 promotes terminal preadipocyte differentiation through a mechanism involving decreased levels of expression of the PPARgamma inhibitor E2F-4. FBI-1 significantly reduced E2F-4 promoter activity. Contrary to cyclin A, we found FBI-1-induced repression of E2F-4 is mediated by a direct mechanism via a FBI-1 regulatory element at -11 to -5. As function of transcriptional repressors normally depends on the presence of regulatory co-factors we also performed expression profiling of potential FBI-1 co-repressors throughout adipogenesis. In these experiments Sin3A and histon deacetylase (HDAC)-1 showed a similar expression pattern compared to FBI-1. Strikingly, co-immunoprecipitation studies revealed that FBI-1 binds Sin3A and HDAC-1 to form a repressor complex. Furthermore, by mutational analysis the amino terminal Poxvirus (POZ) domain of FBI-1 was found to be important for Sin3A and HDAC-1 binding. Taken together, FBI-1 is the first transcriptional repressor shown to act as a dual regulator in adipogenesis exerting repressor activities on target genes by both, direct and indirect mechanisms.

  15. A Functional Role of RB-Dependent Pathway in the Control of Quiescence in Adult Epidermal Stem Cells Revealed by Genomic Profiling

    PubMed Central

    Lorz, Corina; García-Escudero, Ramón; Segrelles, Carmen; Garín, Marina I.; Ariza, José M.; Santos, Mirentxu; Ruiz, Sergio; Lara, María F.; Martínez-Cruz, Ana B.; Costa, Clotilde; Buitrago-Pérez, Águeda; Saiz-Ladera, Cristina; Dueñas, Marta

    2010-01-01

    Continuous cell renewal in mouse epidermis is at the expense of a pool of pluripotent cells that lie in a well defined niche in the hair follicle known as the bulge. To identify mechanisms controlling hair follicle stem cell homeostasis, we developed a strategy to isolate adult bulge stem cells in mice and to define their transcriptional profile. We observed that a large number of transcripts are underexpressed in hair follicle stem cells when compared to non-stem cells. Importantly, the majority of these downregulated genes are involved in cell cycle. Using bioinformatics tools, we identified the E2F transcription factor family as a potential element involved in the regulation of these transcripts. To determine their functional role, we used engineered mice lacking Rb gene in epidermis, which showed increased expression of most E2F family members and increased E2F transcriptional activity. Experiments designed to analyze epidermal stem cell functionality (i.e.: hair regrowth and wound healing) imply a role of the Rb-E2F axis in the control of stem cell quiescence in epidermis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12015-010-9139-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. PMID:20376578

  16. A theoretical investigation on Cu/Ag/Au bonding in XH2P⋯MY(X = H, CH3, F, CN, NO2; M = Cu, Ag, Au; Y = F, Cl, Br, I) complexes

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Zhaoxu; Liu, Yi; Zheng, Baishu; Zhou, Fengxiang; Jiao, Yinchun; Liu, Yuan; Ding, XunLei; Lu, Tian

    2018-05-01

    Intermolecular interaction of XH2P...MY (X = H, CH3, F, CN, NO2; M = Cu, Ag, Au; Y = F, Cl, Br, I) complexes was investigated by means of an ab initio method. The molecular interaction energies are in the order Ag < Cu < Au and increased with the decrease of RP...M. Interaction energies are strengthened when electron-donating substituents X connected to XH2P, while electron-withdrawing substituents produce the opposite effect. The strongest P...M bond was found in CH3H2P...AuF with -70.95 kcal/mol, while the weakest one was found in NO2H2P...AgI with -20.45 kcal/mol. The three-center/four-electron (3c/4e) resonance-type of P:-M-:Y hyperbond was recognized by the natural resonance theory and the natural bond orbital analysis. The competition of P:M-Y ↔ P-M:Y resonance structures mainly arises from hyperconjugation interactions; the bond order of bP-M and bM-Y is in line with the conservation of the idealized relationship bP-M + bM-Y ≈ 1. In all MF-containing complexes, P-M:F resonance accounted for a larger proportion which leads to the covalent characters for partial ionicity of MF. The interaction energies of these Cu/Ag/Au complexes are basically above the characteristic values of the halogen-bond complexes and close to the observed strong hydrogen bonds in ionic hydrogen-bonded species.

  17. In contrast to conventional inactivated influenza vaccines, 4xM2e.HSP70c fusion protein fully protected mice against lethal dose of H1, H3 and H9 influenza A isolates circulating in Iran

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ebrahimi, Seyyed Mahmoud, E-mail: smebrahimi@shirazu.ac.ir; Research Center of Virus and Vaccine, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science, P.O.Box 14155-3651, Tehran; Dabaghian, Mehran

    Ideal vaccines against influenza viruses should elicit not only a humoral response, but also a cellular response. Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP70 (mHSP70) have been found to promote immunogenic APCs function, elicit a strong cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, and prevent the induction of tolerance. Moreover, it showed linkage of antigens to the C-terminus of mHSP70 (mHSP70c) can represent them as vaccines resulted in more potent, protective antigen specific responses in the absence of adjuvants or complex formulations. Hence, recombinant fusion protein comprising C-terminus of mHSP70 genetically fused to four tandem repeats of the ectodomain of the conserved influenza matrix protein M2more » (M2e) was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified under denaturing condition, refolding, and then confirmed by SDS-PAGE, respectively. The recombinant fusion protein, 4xM2e.HSP70c, retained its immunogenicity and displayed the protective epitope of M2e by ELISA and FITC assays. A prime-boost administration of 4xM2e.HSP70c formulated in F105 buffer by intramuscular route in mice (Balb/C) provided full protection against lethal dose of mouse-adapted H1N1, H3N2, or H9N2 influenza A isolates from Iran compared to 0-33.34% survival rate of challenged unimmunized and immunized mice with the currently in use conventional vaccines designated as control groups. However, protection induced by immunization with 4xM2e.HSP70c failed to prevent weight loss in challenged mice; they experienced significantly lower weight loss, clinical symptoms and higher lung viral clearance in comparison with protective effects of conventional influenza vaccines in challenged mice. These data demonstrate that C-terminal domain of mHSP70 can be a superior candidate to deliver the adjuvant function in M2e-based influenza A vaccine in order to provide significant protection against multiple influenza A virus strains.« less

  18. Constraining the 40K decay constant with 87Rb-87Sr - 40K-40Ca chronometer intercomparison

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Naumenko-Dèzes, Maria O.; Nägler, Thomas F.; Mezger, Klaus; Villa, Igor M.

    2018-01-01

    A literature survey reveals that the K-Ar chronometer gives ages that are ca. 1% younger than U-Pb ages. This offset is generally attributed to an inaccurate 40K decay constant. Three geological samples selected from a shortlist of eight with known U-Pb ages were investigated using detailed petrological methods and subsequently the Rb-Sr and K-Ca chronometers in order (a) to evaluate if they meet the requirement of a geological history reflecting a ;point-like; event (i.e. isochronous formation and subsequent ideal closure of chronometers) and (b) to narrow down the systematic uncertainty on the 40K decay constant by investigating the metrologically traceable K-Ca decay branch. Lepidolite of the Rubikon pegmatite, Namibia, was dated with Rb-Sr at 504.7 ± 4.2 Ma and the phlogopite and apatite from the Phalaborwa carbonatite complex, South Africa, yielded a Rb-Sr age of 2058.9 ± 5.2 Ma. Both Rb-Sr ages agree with published U-Pb ages. The Rb-Sr age of the late Archean Siilinjärvi carbonatite, Finland, records a later regional metamorphic event at 1869 ± 10 Ma. Only the samples from the Phalaborwa complex represent a ;point-like; magmatic event and meet all the criteria to make them suitable for the 40K decay constant intercalibration. The Phalaborwa K-Ca isochron has a slope of 1.878 ± 0.012. Forcing the K-Ca isochron to coincide with the U-Pb and Rb-Sr ages gives one equation with two unknowns. Assuming that the branching ratio of the K-Ca branch, BCa, lies in the interval (k = 2) of all published references, 0.8925 < BCa < 0.8963, then the most reliable uncertainty interval (k = 2) for the total 40K decay constant, λtot, is calculated as 5.484 × 10-10 a-1 < λtot < 5.498 × 10-10 a-1. This confirms that the currently used IUGS recommendation is inaccurate.

  19. The Role of a Novel Nucleolar Protein in Regulation of E2F1 in Breast Cancer

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2009-09-01

    publication and successful defense of a PhD. 8 References 1. Paik JC, Wang B, Liu K, Lue J , Lin WC. Regulation of E2F1-induced apoptosis by...the nucleolar protein RRP1B. J Biol Chem. 2009 Dec 29. [E-pub ahead of print] 2. Hsieh SM, Look MP, Sieuwerts AM, Foekens JA, Hunter KW. Distinct...factor. J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 16;284(42):28660-73. 4. Crawford NP, Walker RC, Lukes L, Officewala JS, Williams RW, Hunter KW. The Diasporin Pathway: a

  20. Study of complex formation of 5,5'-(2 E, 2' E)-2,2'-(ethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(hydrazine-1-yl-2-ylidene)bis(4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol) (HYT) macrocyclic ligand with Cd2+ cation in non-aqueous solution by spectroscopic and conductometric methods

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mallaekeh, Hassan; Shams, Alireza; Shaker, Mohammad; Bahramzadeh, Ehsan; Arefi, Donya

    2014-12-01

    In this paper the complexation reaction of the 5,5'-(2 E,2' E)-2,2'-(ethane-1,2-diylidene)bis(hydrazine-1-yl-2-ylidene)bis(4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol) ligand (HYT) with Cd2+ education was studied in some binary mixtures of methanol (MeOH), n-propanol (PrOH) and dimethyl-formamide (DMF) at different temperatures using the conductometry and spectrophotometry. The stability constants of the complex was determined using a GENPLOT computer program. The conductance data and absorbance-mole ratio plots show that in all solvent systems, the stoichiometry of the complex formed between (HYT) and Cd2+ cation is 1: 1. The obtained results show that the stability of (HYT)-Cd complex is sensitive to the mixed solvents composition. The values of thermodynamic parameters (Δ G ∘, Δ H ∘, and Δ S ∘) for formation of (HYT)-Cd complex were obtained from temperature dependence of the stability constant using the van't Hoff plots. The results show that in most cases, the complex are enthalpy destabilized but entropy stabilized and the complex formation is affected by pH, time, temperature and the nature of the solvent.

  1. Atypical E2f functions are critical for pancreas polyploidization

    PubMed Central

    Moreno, Eva; Toussaint, Mathilda J. M.; Tooten, Peter C. J.; van Essen, Saskia C.; van Liere, Elsbeth A.; Youssef, Sameh A.; Bongiovanni, Laura; de Bruin, Alain

    2018-01-01

    The presence of polyploid cells in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas has been reported for four decades. In rodents, pancreatic polyploidization is initiated after weaning and the number of polyploid cells increases with age. Surprisingly the molecular regulators and biological functions of polyploidization in the pancreas are still unknown. We discovered that atypical E2f activity is essential for polyploidization in the pancreas, using an inducible Cre/LoxP approach in new-born mice to delete ubiquitously the atypical E2f transcription factors, E2f7 and E2f8. In contrast to its critical role in embryonic survival, conditional deletion of both of both atypical E2fs in newborn mice had no impact on postnatal survival and mice lived until old age. However, deficiency of E2f7 or E2f8 alone was sufficient to suppress polyploidization in the pancreas and associated with only a minor decrease in blood serum levels of glucose, insulin, amylase and lipase under 4 hours starvation condition compared to wildtype littermates. In mice with fewer pancreatic polyploid cells that were fed ad libitum, no major impact on hormones or enzymes levels was observed. In summary, we identified atypical E2fs to be essential for polyploidization in the pancreas and discovered that postnatal induced loss of both atypical E2fs in many organs is compatible with life until old age. PMID:29329320

  2. Atypical E2f functions are critical for pancreas polyploidization.

    PubMed

    Matondo, Ramadhan B; Moreno, Eva; Toussaint, Mathilda J M; Tooten, Peter C J; van Essen, Saskia C; van Liere, Elsbeth A; Youssef, Sameh A; Bongiovanni, Laura; de Bruin, Alain

    2018-01-01

    The presence of polyploid cells in the endocrine and exocrine pancreas has been reported for four decades. In rodents, pancreatic polyploidization is initiated after weaning and the number of polyploid cells increases with age. Surprisingly the molecular regulators and biological functions of polyploidization in the pancreas are still unknown. We discovered that atypical E2f activity is essential for polyploidization in the pancreas, using an inducible Cre/LoxP approach in new-born mice to delete ubiquitously the atypical E2f transcription factors, E2f7 and E2f8. In contrast to its critical role in embryonic survival, conditional deletion of both of both atypical E2fs in newborn mice had no impact on postnatal survival and mice lived until old age. However, deficiency of E2f7 or E2f8 alone was sufficient to suppress polyploidization in the pancreas and associated with only a minor decrease in blood serum levels of glucose, insulin, amylase and lipase under 4 hours starvation condition compared to wildtype littermates. In mice with fewer pancreatic polyploid cells that were fed ad libitum, no major impact on hormones or enzymes levels was observed. In summary, we identified atypical E2fs to be essential for polyploidization in the pancreas and discovered that postnatal induced loss of both atypical E2fs in many organs is compatible with life until old age.

  3. Process for the production of .sup.18 F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose

    DOEpatents

    Elmaleh, David R.; Levy, Shlomo; Shiue, Chyng-Yann; Wolf, Alfred P.

    1986-01-01

    Process for the production of 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose and the corresponding .sup.18 F-compound in which methyl 4,6-O-benzylidine-3-O-methyl-2-O-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-.beta.-D-mannopy ranoside is reacted with a triflating reagent, the resulting compound reacted with CsHF.sub.2, RbF or the corresponding .sup.18 F-compounds, and thereafter the alkyl groups removed by hydrolysis.

  4. Spectroscopy of LiCa and RbSr Molecules on Helium Nanodroplets

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lackner, Florian; Krois, Gunter; Ernst, Wolfgang E.

    2013-06-01

    We report on the investigation of mixed alkali metal (Ak) - alkaline earth metal (Ake) molecules on the surface of helium nanodroplets (He_{N}). These molecules have recently attracted considerable attention as candidates for the formation of ultracold molecules with a magnetic and an electronic dipole moment. In our experiments, LiCa and RbSr molecules are formed in a sequential pick-up process in their X^{2}Σ^{+} ground state and cool down rapidly to the droplet temperature of 0.38 K. Excitation spectra of LiCa and RbSr were recorded by using resonance enhanced multi-photon ionization time-of-flight (REMPI-TOF) spectroscopy and laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy. On the helium droplet, vibronic transitions in Ak-Ake molecules are broadened and show a characteristic asymmetric peak form, which is caused by the interaction between the molecule and the superfluid He_{N} environment. For the lower electronic transitions in LiCa and RbSr progressions of vibrational bands excited from the X^{2}Σ^{+} (ν'' = 0) state are observed. The LiCa spectra can be compared to molecular beam experiments, which enables the assignment of three band systems near 15260 cm^{-1}, 19300 cm^{-1} and 22120 cm^{-1} as ^{2}Σ^{+}, ^{2}Π_{Ω} and ^{2}Π band, respectively. In the RbSr excitation spectrum we observe a vibrationally resolved band system near 14020 cm^{-1}. Upon electronic excitation, a fraction of the molecules desorb from the droplet surface and dispersed fluorescence spectra allow to study the X^{2}Σ^{+} ground state and excited states of free Ak-Ake molecules. H. Hara, Y. Takasu, Y. Yamaoka, J.M. Doyle, Y. Takahashi, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 205304 (2011) C. Callegari and W. E. Ernst, Helium Droplets as Nanocryostats for Molecular Spectroscopy - from the Vacuum Ultraviolet to the Microwave Regime, in: Handbook of High-Resolution Spectroscopy, eds. M. Quack and F. Merkt, John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, (2011) L. M. Russon, G. K. Rothschopf, M. D. Morse, A. I

  5. Forming Rb(+) snowballs in the center of He nanodroplets.

    PubMed

    Theisen, Moritz; Lackner, Florian; Ernst, Wolfgang E

    2010-12-07

    Helium nanodroplets doped with rubidium atoms are ionized by applying a resonant two-step ionization scheme. Subsequent immersion of rubidium ions is observed in time-of-flight mass spectra. While alkali-metal atoms usually desorb from the surface of a helium nanodroplet upon electronic excitation, rubidium in its excited 5(2)P(1/2) state provides an exception from this rule (Auböck et al., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2008, 101, 35301). In our new experiment, Rb atoms are selectively excited either to the 5(2)P(1/2) or to the 5(2)P(3/2) state. From there they are ionized by a laser pulse. Time-of-flight mass spectra of the ionization products reveal that the intermediate population of the 5(2)P(1/2) state does not only make the ionization process Rb-monomer selective, but also gives rise to a very high yield of Rb(+)-He(N) complexes. Ions with masses of up to several thousand amu have been monitored, which can be explained by an immersion of the single Rb ion into the He nanodroplet, where most likely a snowball is formed in the center of the He nanodroplet. As the most stable position for an ion is in the center of a He nanodroplet, our results agree well with theory.

  6. Design and synthesis of metal complexes of (2E)-2-[(2E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ylidene]hydrazinecarbothioamide and their photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

    PubMed

    Krishna, P Murali; Reddy, N B Gopal; Kottam, Nagaraju; Yallur, B C; Katreddi, Hussain Reddy

    2013-01-01

    The photocatalytic degradation has been considered to be an efficient process for the degradation of organic pollutants, which are present in the effluents released by industries. The photocatalytic bleaching of cationic dye methylene blue was carried out spectrometrically on irradiation of UV light using Cu(II), Ni(II), and Co(II) complexes of (2E)-2-[(2E)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-ylidene]hydrazinecarbothioamide (HL). The effects of pH and metal ion were studied on the efficiency of the reaction. Cu(II) complex shows better catalytic activity and the highest percentage degradation (~88.8%) of methylene blue was observed at pH 12. A tentative mechanism has also been proposed for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue.

  7. [Induced abortion using prostaglandin E2 and F2alpha gel].

    PubMed

    Lippert, T H; Modly, T

    1974-01-01

    In this study of 20 patients in the 13th-17th week of pregnancy abortion was induced with intrauterine, extraamniotic application of prostaglandins (PG) E2 or F2 in gel form. The gel composition was as follows: 4% tylose MH 300, 2% glycerine, 1% chlorhexidine digluconate, 83% sterile distilled water and 10% PG stock solution. Both PGE2 and PGF2 gels were used. Final concentration was 2.5 mg E2 or 2.5 mg F2 per g of gel. Gel was applied via transcervical, extraamniotic polyethylene catheter every 2-3 hours. Results: PGE2-gel was used in 14 cases. After 3-4 applications both fetus and placenta were expelled. Average dose used was 4.6 mg E2/patient. First contractions started in 30 minutes; induction to expulsion time was 11 hours 35 minutes. F2-gel given to 6 patients resulted in expulsion of the fetus in all cases but placenta needed removal by curettage in 4 patients. Average dose per patient was 17.7 mg of F2; first contractions in 30 minutes, average expulsion time 17 hours 38 minutes. With both PGs there were painful contractions which were controlled with a combination of pentazocine and Valium. PGE2 caused vomiting in 5 patients. No increased bleeding or postabortion infection occurred. Follow-up curettage was done in all patients to ensure removal of all tissues. Overall evaluation of the PG-gels was considered good. PG stability in gel form is good; during 8 months of preservation in sterile aluminum tubes at -25 degrees Celsius no decline in clinical effectiveness was noted. The gel application is less expensive than the slow-injection pump method.

  8. Transactivation of micrornA-320 by microRNA-383 regulates granulosa cell functions by targeting E2F1 and SF-1 proteins.

    PubMed

    Yin, Mianmian; Wang, Xiaorong; Yao, Guidong; Lü, Mingrong; Liang, Meng; Sun, Yingpu; Sun, Fei

    2014-06-27

    Our previous studies have shown that microRNA-320 (miR-320) is one of the most down-regulated microRNAs (miRNA) in mouse ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) after TGF-β1 treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms of miR-320 involved in GC function during follicular development remain unknown. In this study, we found that pregnant mare serum gonadotropin treatment resulted in the suppression of miR-320 expression in a time-dependent manner. miR-320 was mainly expressed in GCs and oocytes of mouse ovarian follicles in follicular development. Overexpression of miR-320 inhibited estradiol synthesis and proliferation of GCs through targeting E2F1 and SF-1. E2F1/SF-1 mediated miR-320-induced suppression of GC proliferation and of GC steroidogenesis. FSH down-regulated the expression of miR-320 and regulated the function of miR-320 in mouse GCs. miR-383 promoted the expression of miR-320 and enhanced miR-320-mediated suppression of GC proliferation. Injection of miR-320 into the ovaries of mice partially promoted the production of testosterone and progesterone but inhibited estradiol release in vivo. Moreover, the expression of miR-320 and miR-383 was up-regulated in the follicular fluid of polycystic ovarian syndrome patients, although the expression of E2F1 and SF-1 was down-regulated in GCs. These data demonstrated that miR-320 regulates the proliferation and steroid production by targeting E2F1 and SF-1 in the follicular development. Understanding the regulation of miRNA biogenesis and function in the follicular development will potentiate the usefulness of miRNA in the treatment of reproduction and some steroid-related disorders. © 2014 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  9. Preparation of minor ginsenosides C-Mc, C-Y, F2, and C-K from American ginseng PPD-ginsenoside using special ginsenosidase type-I from Aspergillus niger g.848.

    PubMed

    Liu, Chun-Ying; Zhou, Rui-Xin; Sun, Chang-Kai; Jin, Ying-Hua; Yu, Hong-Shan; Zhang, Tian-Yang; Xu, Long-Quan; Jin, Feng-Xie

    2015-07-01

    Minor ginsenosides, those having low content in ginseng, have higher pharmacological activities. To obtain minor ginsenosides, the biotransformation of American ginseng protopanaxadiol (PPD)-ginsenoside was studied using special ginsenosidase type-I from Aspergillus niger g.848. DEAE (diethylaminoethyl)-cellulose and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were used in enzyme purification, thin-layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used in enzyme hydrolysis and kinetics; crude enzyme was used in minor ginsenoside preparation from PPD-ginsenoside; the products were separated with silica-gel-column, and recognized by HPLC and NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). The enzyme molecular weight was 75 kDa; the enzyme firstly hydrolyzed the C-20 position 20-O-β-D-Glc of ginsenoside Rb1, then the C-3 position 3-O-β-D-Glc with the pathway Rb1→Rd→F2→C-K. However, the enzyme firstly hydrolyzed C-3 position 3-O-β-D-Glc of ginsenoside Rb2 and Rc, finally hydrolyzed 20-O-L-Ara with the pathway Rb2→C-O→C-Y→C-K, and Rc→C-Mc1→C-Mc→C-K. According to enzyme kinetics, K m and V max of Michaelis-Menten equation, the enzyme reaction velocities on ginsenosides were Rb1 > Rb2 > Rc > Rd. However, the pure enzyme yield was only 3.1%, so crude enzyme was used for minor ginsenoside preparation. When the crude enzyme was reacted in 3% American ginseng PPD-ginsenoside (containing Rb1, Rb2, Rc, and Rd) at 45°C and pH 5.0 for 18 h, the main products were minor ginsenosides C-Mc, C-Y, F2, and C-K; average molar yields were 43.7% for C-Mc from Rc, 42.4% for C-Y from Rb2, and 69.5% for F2 and C-K from Rb1 and Rd. Four monomer minor ginsenosides were successfully produced (at low-cost) from the PPD-ginsenosides using crude enzyme.

  10. E4F1 deficiency results in oxidative stress–mediated cell death of leukemic cells

    PubMed Central

    Hatchi, Elodie; Rodier, Genevieve; Lacroix, Matthieu; Caramel, Julie; Kirsh, Olivier; Jacquet, Chantal; Schrepfer, Emilie; Lagarrigue, Sylviane; Linares, Laetitia Karine; Lledo, Gwendaline; Tondeur, Sylvie; Dubus, Pierre

    2011-01-01

    The multifunctional E4F1 protein was originally discovered as a target of the E1A viral oncoprotein. Growing evidence indicates that E4F1 is involved in key signaling pathways commonly deregulated during cell transformation. In this study, we investigate the influence of E4F1 on tumorigenesis. Wild-type mice injected with fetal liver cells from mice lacking CDKN2A, the gene encoding Ink4a/Arf, developed histiocytic sarcomas (HSs), a tumor originating from the monocytic/macrophagic lineage. Cre-mediated deletion of E4F1 resulted in the death of HS cells and tumor regression in vivo and extended the lifespan of recipient animals. In murine and human HS cell lines, E4F1 inactivation resulted in mitochondrial defects and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that triggered massive cell death. Notably, these defects of E4F1 depletion were observed in HS cells but not healthy primary macrophages. Short hairpin RNA–mediated depletion of E4F1 induced mitochondrial defects and ROS-mediated death in several human myeloid leukemia cell lines. E4F1 protein is overexpressed in a large subset of human acute myeloid leukemia samples. Together, these data reveal a role for E4F1 in the survival of myeloid leukemic cells and support the notion that targeting E4F1 activities might have therapeutic interest. PMID:21708927

  11. Protection against experimental bubonic and pneumonic plague by a recombinant capsular F1-V antigen fusion protein vaccine.

    PubMed

    Heath, D G; Anderson, G W; Mauro, J M; Welkos, S L; Andrews, G P; Adamovicz, J; Friedlander, A M

    1998-07-01

    The current human whole-cell vaccine is ineffective against pneumonic plague caused by typical F1 capsule positive (F1+) strains of Yersinia pestis. The authors found this vaccine to also be ineffective against F1-negative (F1-) Y. pestis strains, which have been isolated from a human case and from rodents. For these reasons, the authors developed a recombinant vaccine composed of a fusion protein of F1 with a second protective immunogen, V antigen. This vaccine protected experimental mice against pneumonic as well as bubonic plague produced by either an F1+ or F1- strain of Y. pestis, gave better protection than F1 or V alone against the F1+ strain, and may provide the basis for an improved human plague vaccine.

  12. Nuclear localization of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex-E2 (PDC-E2), a mitochondrial enzyme, and its role in signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5)-dependent gene transcription.

    PubMed

    Chueh, Fu-Yu; Leong, King-Fu; Cronk, Robert J; Venkitachalam, Srividya; Pabich, Samantha; Yu, Chao-Lan

    2011-07-01

    STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins play a critical role in cellular response to a wide variety of cytokines and growth factors by regulating specific nuclear genes. STAT-dependent gene transcription can be finely tuned through the association with co-factors in the nucleus. We showed previously that STAT5 (including 5a and 5b) specifically interacts with a mitochondrial enzyme PDC-E2 (E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex) in both leukemic T cells and cytokine-stimulated cells. However, the functional significance of this novel association remains largely unknown. Here we report that PDC-E2 may function as a co-activator in STAT5-dependent nuclear gene expression. Subcellular fractionation analysis revealed that a substantial amount of PDC-E2 was constitutively present in the nucleus of BaF3, an interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line. IL-3-induced tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT5 associated with nuclear PDC-E2 in co-immunoprecipitation analysis. These findings were confirmed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showing constant nuclear localization of PDC-E2 and its co-localization with STAT5 after IL-3 stimulation. Similar to mitochondrial PDC-E2, nuclear PDC-E2 was lipoylated and associated with PDC-E1. Overexpression of PDC-E2 in BaF3 cells augmented IL-3-induced STAT5 activity as measured by reporter assay with consensus STAT5-binding sites. Consistent with the reporter data, PDC-E2 overexpression in BaF3 cells led to elevated mRNA levels of endogenous SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) gene, a known STAT5 target. We further identified two functional STAT5-binding sites in the SOCS3 gene promoter important for its IL-3-inducibility. The observation that both cis-acting elements were essential to detect the stimulatory effect by PDC-E2 strongly supports the role of PDC-E2 in up-regulating the transactivating ability of STAT5. All together, our results reveal a novel function of PDC-E2 in the nucleus. It also

  13. Nuclear localization of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex-E2 (PDC-E2), a mitochondrial enzyme, and its role in signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5)-dependent gene transcription

    PubMed Central

    Chueh, Fu-Yu; Leong, King-Fu; Cronk, Robert J.; Venkitachalam, Srividya; Pabich, Samantha; Yu, Chao-Lan

    2011-01-01

    STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins play a critical role in cellular response to a wide variety of cytokines and growth factors by regulating specific nuclear genes. STAT-dependent gene transcription can be finely tuned through the association with cofactors in the nucleus. We showed previously that STAT5 (including 5a and 5b) specifically interacts with a mitochondrial enzyme PDC-E2 (E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex) in both leukemic T cells and cytokine-stimulated cells. However, the functional significance of this novel association remains largely unknown. Here we report that PDC-E2 may function as a co-activator in STAT5-dependent nuclear gene expression. Subcellular fractionation analysis revealed that a substantial amount of PDC-E2 was constitutively present in the nucleus of BaF3, an interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line. IL-3-induced tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT5 associated with nuclear PDC-E2 in co-immunoprecipitation analysis. These findings were confirmed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy showing constant nuclear localization of PDC-E2 and its co-localization with STAT5 after IL-3 stimulation. Similar to mitochondrial PDC-E2, nuclear PDC-E2 was lipoylated and associated with PDC-E1. Overexpression of PDC-E2 in BaF3 cells augmented IL-3-induced STAT5 activity as measured by reporter assay with consensus STAT5-binding sites. Consistent with the reporter data, PDC-E2 overexpression in BaF3 cells led to elevated mRNA levels of endogenous SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) gene, a known STAT5 target. We further identified two functional STAT5-binding sites in the SOCS3 gene promoter important for its IL-3-inducibility. The observation that both cis-acting elements were essential to detect the stimulatory effect by PDC-E2 strongly supports the role of PDC-E2 in up-regulating the transactivating ability of STAT5. All together, our results reveal a novel function of PDC-E2 in the nucleus. It also raises

  14. Gut vagal afferents are necessary for the eating-suppressive effect of intraperitoneally administered ginsenoside Rb1 in rats.

    PubMed

    Shen, Ling; Wang, David Q-H; Lo, Chunmin C; Arnold, Myrtha; Tso, Patrick; Woods, Stephen C; Liu, Min

    2015-12-01

    Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) reduces food intake in both lean and high-fat diet induced-obese rats; however, the sites and/or mediation of the eating-suppressive effect of Rb1 have not previously been identified. We hypothesized that intraperitoneally (ip) administered Rb1 exerts its anorectic action by enhancing sensitivity to satiation signals, such as cholecystokinin (CCK), and/or that it acts through vagal afferent nerves that relay the satiating signaling to the hindbrain. To test these hypotheses, we gave ip bolus doses of Rb1 (2.5-10.0mg/kg) and CCK-8 (0.125-4.0μg/kg) alone or in combination and assessed food intake in rats. Low doses of Rb1 (2.5mg/kg) or CCK-8 (0.125μg/kg) alone had no effect on food intake whereas higher doses did. When these subthreshold doses of Rb1 and CCK-8 were co-administered, the combination significantly reduced food intake relative to saline controls, and this effect was attenuated by lorglumide, a selective CCK1-receptor antagonist. Interestingly, lorglumide blocked food intake induced by an effective dose of CCK-8 alone, but not by Rb1 alone, suggesting that Rb1's anorectic effect is independent of the CCK1 receptor. To determine whether peripherally administered Rb1 suppresses feeding via abdominal vagal nerves, we evaluated the effect of ip Rb1 injection in subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation (SDA) and control rats. Rb1's effect on food intake was significantly attenuated in SDA rats, compared with that in SHAM controls. These data indicate that the vagal afferent system is the major pathway conveying peripherally administered Rb1's satiation signal. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. [Effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on cerebral infarction volume and IL-1 beta in the brain tissue and sera of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury model rats].

    PubMed

    Liu, Jun-Wei; Ren, Ye-Long; Liu, Xu-Ling; Xia, Hong-Lian; Zhang, Hui-Ling; Jin, Shen-Hui; Dai, Qin-Xue; Wang, Jun-Lu

    2013-12-01

    To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on cerebral infarction volume as well as IL-1 beta in the brain tissue and sera of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury model rats. The I/R rat model was established by using thread according to Zea-Longa. SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the sham-operation group, the model group, the low dose ginsenoside Rb1 (20 mg/kg) group, the medium dose ginsenoside Rb1 group (40 mg/kg), and the high dose ginsenoside Rb1 group (80 mg/kg), 12 in each group. Rats in the sham-operation group only received middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) but without thread insertion. The MCAO model was prepared in the rest 4 groups, followed by MCAO2 h later. Ginsenoside Rb1 at each dose was peritoneally administrated to rats in corresponding groups immediately after cerebral ischemia. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the sham-operation group. Rats' cerebral infarction volume, integrals of neurologic defect degree, expression of IL-1 beta content in the brain tissue and sera were observed 24 h after 2-h cerebral I/R. In the model group, integrals of neurologic defect degree were improved (P < 0.01), IL-1 beta positive cells in the brain tissue increased and serum IL-1 beta content elevated (P < 0.05), when compared with the sham-operation group. In comparison of the model group, integrals of neurologic defect degree were lowered in the medium dose and high dose ginsenoside Rb1 groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The cerebral infarction volume was all shrunken in each ginsenoside Rb1 group, IL-1 beta positive cells in the brain tissue decreased, and IL-1 beta content in serum reduced (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the low dose ginsenoside Rb1 group, integrals of neurologic defect degree decreased, the cerebral infarction volume shrunken, and IL-1 beta content in serum reduced in the high dose ginsenoside Rb1 group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Ginsenoside Rb1 (20, 40, 80 mg/kg) might effectively

  16. Laser-induced fluorescence studies of excited Sr reactions: II. Sr(3P1)+CH3F, C2H5F, C2H4F2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Teule, J. M.; Janssen, M. H. M.; Bulthuis, J.; Stolte, S.

    1999-06-01

    The vibrational and rotational energy distributions of ground state SrF(X 2Σ) formed in the reactions of electronically excited Sr(3P1) with methylfluoride, ethylfluoride, and 1,1-difluoroethane have been studied by laser-induced fluorescence. Although the reactions of ground state Sr with these reactants are exothermic, no SrF products are observed for those reactions in this study. The fraction of available energy disposed into the sum of rotational and vibrational energy of the SrF(X 2Σ) product is approximately the same for all three reactions, i.e., 40%. The reaction of Sr(3P1) with CH3F results in very low vibrational excitation in the SrF reaction product. The product vibration increases in going to C2H5F and C2H4F2. It is concluded that the alkyl group influences the energy disposal mechanism in these reactions, and some suggestions are given for a partial explanation of the observations.

  17. Fluorine Kα X-Ray Emission Spectra of MgF2, CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sugiura, Chikara; Konishi, Wataru; Shoji, Shizuko; Kojima, Shinjiro

    1990-11-01

    The fluorine Kα emission spectra in fluorescence from a series of alkaline-earth fluorides MF2 (M=Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba) are measured with a high-resolution two-crystal vacuum spectrometer. An anomalously low intensity of the K1L1 satellite peak arising from 1s-1(2s2p)-1 initial states is observed for SrF2. The measured emission spectra are presented along with the UPS spectra of the F- 2p valence bands obtained by Poole et al. and the fluorine K absorption-edge spectra by Oizumi et al. By using these spectra, the first peak or shoulder in the fluorine K absorption-edge spectra is identified as being due to a core exciton which is formed below the bottom of the conduction band. The binding energy of the exciton is estimated to be 1.3(± 0.3), 1.1(± 0.2), 1.0(± 0.2) and 1.7(± 0.2) eV for MgF2, CaF2, SrF2 and BaF2, respectively.

  18. The F0F1-ATP Synthase Complex Contains Novel Subunits and Is Essential for Procyclic Trypanosoma brucei

    PubMed Central

    Zíková, Alena; Schnaufer, Achim; Dalley, Rachel A.; Panigrahi, Aswini K.; Stuart, Kenneth D.

    2009-01-01

    The mitochondrial F0F1 ATP synthase is an essential multi-subunit protein complex in the vast majority of eukaryotes but little is known about its composition and role in Trypanosoma brucei, an early diverged eukaryotic pathogen. We purified the F0F1 ATP synthase by a combination of affinity purification, immunoprecipitation and blue-native gel electrophoresis and characterized its composition and function. We identified 22 proteins of which five are related to F1 subunits, three to F0 subunits, and 14 which have no obvious homology to proteins outside the kinetoplastids. RNAi silencing of expression of the F1 α subunit or either of the two novel proteins showed that they are each essential for the viability of procyclic (insect stage) cells and are important for the structural integrity of the F0F1-ATP synthase complex. We also observed a dramatic decrease in ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation after silencing expression of each of these proteins while substrate phosphorylation was not severely affected. Our procyclic T. brucei cells were sensitive to the ATP synthase inhibitor oligomycin even in the presence of glucose contrary to earlier reports. Hence, the two novel proteins appear essential for the structural organization of the functional complex and regulation of mitochondrial energy generation in these organisms is more complicated than previously thought. PMID:19436713

  19. Sulforaphane induces Nrf2 and protects against CYP2E1-dependent binge alcohol-induced liver steatosis.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Richard; Lin, Jianjun; Wu, Defeng

    2014-01-01

    The mechanism(s) by which alcohol causes cell injury are still not clear but a major mechanism appears to be the role of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in alcohol toxicity. CYP2E1-generated ROS contributes to the ethanol-induced oxidant stress and inhibition of CYP2E1 activity decreases ethanol-induced fatty liver. The transcription factor Nrf2 regulates the expression of many cytoprotective enzymes which results in cellular protection against a variety of toxins. The current study was designed to evaluate the ability of sulforaphane, an activator of Nrf2, to blunt CYP2E1-dependent, ethanol-induced steatosis in vivo and in vitro. The sulforaphane treatment activated Nrf2, increased levels of the Nrf2 target heme oxygenase-1 and subsequently lowered oxidant stress as shown by the decline in lipid peroxidation and 3-nitrotyrosine protein adducts and an increase in GSH levels after the acute ethanol treatment. It decreased ethanol-elevated liver levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and Oil Red O staining. Similar results were found in vitro as addition of sulforaphane to HepG2 E47 cells, which express CYP2E1, elevated Nrf2 levels and decreased the accumulation of lipid in cells cultured with ethanol. Sulforaphane treatment had no effect on levels of or activity of CYP2E1. Sulforaphane proved to be an effective in vivo inhibitor of acute ethanol-induced fatty liver in mice. The possible amelioration of liver injury which occurs under these conditions by chemical activators of Nrf2 is of clinical relevance and worthy of further study. © 2013.

  20. Genomic structure, expression pattern, and functional characterization of transcription factor E2F-2 from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon)

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Chao; Qiu, Lihua

    2017-01-01

    Transcription factor E2F-2 is a regulator of cell cycle. Researchers identified E2F-2 genes from yeasts to humans, but few reports investigated E2F-2 gene from black tiger shrimp. In the present study, we cloned E2F-2 gene from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon). Full-length PmE2F-2 complementary DNA sequence measures 3,189 bp with an open reading frame of 1,371 bp. Complete PmE2F-2 genomic sequence (17,305 bp) of P. monodon contains nine exons, which are separated by eight introns. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that PmE2F-2 is highly expressed in hepatopancreas and ovaries of P. monodon. Highest PmE2F-2 expression levels were observed in stage III ovarian development of P. monodon. PmE2F-2 expression levels were significantly augmented in ovaries of P. monodon after 5-hydroxytryptamine injection and eyestalk ablation. RNA interference experiments were conducted to examine PmE2F-2, PmCDK2, and PmCyclin E expression profiles. PmE2F-2 was successfully knocked down in ovaries and hepatopancreas via double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)–E2F-2 injection. In the same organs, PmE2F-2 expression localization and level were investigated through in situ hybridization, which revealed consistent results with those of qRT-PCR. After dsRNA—E2F-2 injection, gonadosomatic index of shrimp was significantly lower than those following dsRNA—GFP and phosphate-buffered solution injections. Therefore, PmE2F-2 may be involved in ovarian maturation in P. monodon. PMID:28558060

  1. Organ size control is dominant over Rb family inactivation to restrict proliferation in vivo.

    PubMed

    Ehmer, Ursula; Zmoos, Anne-Flore; Auerbach, Raymond K; Vaka, Dedeepya; Butte, Atul J; Kay, Mark A; Sage, Julien

    2014-07-24

    In mammals, a cell's decision to divide is thought to be under the control of the Rb/E2F pathway. We previously found that inactivation of the Rb family of cell cycle inhibitors (Rb, p107, and p130) in quiescent liver progenitors leads to uncontrolled division and cancer initiation. Here, we show that, in contrast, deletion of the entire Rb gene family in mature hepatocytes is not sufficient for their long-term proliferation. The cell cycle block in Rb family mutant hepatocytes is independent of the Arf/p53/p21 checkpoint but can be abrogated upon decreasing liver size. At the molecular level, we identify YAP, a transcriptional regulator involved in organ size control, as a factor required for the sustained expression of cell cycle genes in hepatocytes. These experiments identify a higher level of regulation of the cell cycle in vivo in which signals regulating organ size are dominant regulators of the core cell cycle machinery. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Activation of translation complex eIF4F is essential for the genesis and maintenance of the malignant phenotype in human mammary epithelial cells.

    PubMed

    Avdulov, Svetlana; Li, Shunan; Michalek, Van; Burrichter, David; Peterson, Mark; Perlman, David M; Manivel, J Carlos; Sonenberg, Nahum; Yee, Douglas; Bitterman, Peter B; Polunovsky, Vitaly A

    2004-06-01

    Common human malignancies acquire derangements of the translation initiation complex, eIF4F, but their functional significance is unknown. Hypophosphorylated 4E-BP proteins negatively regulate eIF4F assembly by sequestering its mRNA cap binding component eIF4E, whereas hyperphosphorylation abrogates this function. We found that breast carcinoma cells harbor increases in the eIF4F constituent eIF4GI and hyperphosphorylation of 4E-BP1 which are two alterations that activate eIF4F assembly. Ectopic expression of eIF4E in human mammary epithelial cells enabled clonal expansion and anchorage-independent growth. Transfer of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation site mutants into breast carcinoma cells suppressed their tumorigenicity, whereas loss of these 4E-BP1 phosphorylation site mutants accompanied spontaneous reversion to a malignant phenotype. Thus, eIF4F activation is an essential component of the malignant phenotype in breast carcinoma.

  3. Microwave Spectra and Structure of {H_2-CuF}: Overview of the Complexes of Hydrogen with Metal-Containing Diatomics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Grubbs, G. S. Grubbs, Ii; Frohman, Daniel J.; Yu, Zhenhong; Novick, Stewart E.

    2013-06-01

    We present here the FTMW spectra of the various isotopologues of the intermediate strength bound complex of dihydrogen with copper fluoride. The bond between the two moieties is surprisingly strong, the H-H forming the cross of the T with the Cu closest to H_2 in the C_{{2v}} structure. Laser ablation was used to produce both copper isotopologues of p-H_2-CuF, o-D_2-CuF, and HD-CuF whose J = 1 - 0 transitions were observed. Significant changes in the nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for the copper nucleus in H_2-CuF compared to that in uncomplexed CuF suggests bonding greater than that typical of van der Waals interactions. This talk will serve as the introduction to presentations at this meeting of other H_2 metal containing diatomics. D. J. Frohman, {G. S. Grubbs II}, Z. Yu, S. E. Novick, Inorg. Chem., 52, 816-822 (2013).

  4. Highly Selective Bioconversion of Ginsenoside Rb1 to Compound K by the Mycelium of Cordyceps sinensis under Optimized Conditions.

    PubMed

    Wang, Wei-Nan; Yan, Bing-Xiong; Xu, Wen-Di; Qiu, Ye; Guo, Yun-Long; Qiu, Zhi-Dong

    2015-10-23

    Compound K (CK), a highly active and bioavailable derivative obtained from protopanaxadiol ginsenosides, displays a wide variety of pharmacological properties, especially antitumor activity. However, the inadequacy of natural sources limits its application in the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, we firstly discovered that Cordyceps sinensis was a potent biocatalyst for the biotransformation of ginsenoside Rb1 into CK. After a series of investigations on the biotransformation parameters, an optimal composition of the biotransformation culture was found to be lactose, soybean powder and MgSO₄ without controlling the pH. Also, an optimum temperature of 30 °C for the biotransformation process was suggested in a range of 25 °C-50 °C. Then, a biotransformation pathway of Rb1→Rd→F2→CK was established using high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Our results demonstrated that the molar bioconversion rate of Rb1 to CK was more than 82% and the purity of CK produced by C. sinensis under the optimized conditions was more than 91%. In conclusion, the combination of C. sinensis and the optimized conditions is applicable for the industrial preparation of CK for medicinal purposes.

  5. Structural mechanisms of DREAM complex assembly and regulation

    PubMed Central

    Guiley, Keelan Z.; Liban, Tyler J.; Felthousen, Jessica G.; Ramanan, Parameshwaran

    2015-01-01

    The DREAM complex represses cell cycle genes during quiescence through scaffolding MuvB proteins with E2F4/5 and the Rb tumor suppressor paralog p107 or p130. Upon cell cycle entry, MuvB dissociates from p107/p130 and recruits B-Myb and FoxM1 for up-regulating mitotic gene expression. To understand the biochemical mechanisms underpinning DREAM function and regulation, we investigated the structural basis for DREAM assembly. We identified a sequence in the MuvB component LIN52 that binds directly to the pocket domains of p107 and p130 when phosphorylated on the DYRK1A kinase site S28. A crystal structure of the LIN52–p107 complex reveals that LIN52 uses a suboptimal LxSxExL sequence together with the phosphate at nearby S28 to bind the LxCxE cleft of the pocket domain with high affinity. The structure explains the specificity for p107/p130 over Rb in the DREAM complex and how the complex is disrupted by viral oncoproteins. Based on insights from the structure, we addressed how DREAM is disassembled upon cell cycle entry. We found that p130 and B-Myb can both bind the core MuvB complex simultaneously but that cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation of p130 weakens its association. Together, our data inform a novel target interface for studying MuvB and p130 function and the design of inhibitors that prevent tumor escape in quiescence. PMID:25917549

  6. Mutation of E1 glycoprotein of classical swine fever virus affects viral virulence in swine.

    PubMed

    Risatti, G R; Holinka, L G; Lu, Z; Kutish, G F; Tulman, E R; French, R A; Sur, J H; Rock, D L; Borca, M V

    2005-12-05

    Transposon linker insertion mutagenesis of a full-length infectious clone (IC) (pBIC) of the pathogenic classical swine fever virus (CSFV) strain Brescia was used to identify genetic determinants of CSFV virulence and host range. Here, we characterize a virus mutant, RB-C22v, possessing a 19-residue insertion at the carboxyl terminus of E1 glycoprotein. Although RB-C22v exhibited normal growth characteristics in primary porcine macrophage cell cultures, the major target cell of CSFV in vivo, it was markedly attenuated in swine. All RB-C22v-infected pigs survived infection remaining clinically normal in contrast to the 100% mortality observed for BICv-infected animals. Comparative pathogenesis studies demonstrated a delay in RB-C22v spread to, and decreased replication in the tonsils, a 10(2) to 10(7) log10 reduction in virus titers in lymphoid tissues and blood, and an overall delay in generalization of infection relative to BICv. Notably, RB-C22v-infected animals were protected from clinical disease when challenged with pathogenic BICv at 3, 5, 7, and 21 days post-RB-C22v inoculation. Viremia, viral replication in tissues, and oronasal shedding were reduced in animals challenged at 7 and 21 DPI. Notably BICv-specific RNA was not detected in tonsils of challenged animals. These results indicate that a carboxyl-terminal domain of E1 glycoprotein affects virulence of CSFV in swine, and they demonstrate that mutation of this domain provides the basis for a rationally designed and efficacious live-attenuated CSF vaccine.

  7. M2-F1 cockpit

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1963-01-01

    This photo shows the cockpit configuration of the M2-F1 wingless lifting body. With a top speed of about 120 knots, the M2-F1 had a simple instrument panel. Besides the panel itself, the ribs of the wooden shell (left) and the control stick (center) are also visible. The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing an aircraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. In 1962, Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body as a prototype to flight test the wingless concept. It would look like a 'flying bathtub,' and was designated the M2-F1, the 'M' referring to 'manned' and 'F' referring to 'flight' version. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963. The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were over Rogers Dry Lake at the end of a tow rope attached to a hopped-up Pontiac convertible driven at speeds up to about 120 mph. This vehicle needed to be able to tow the M2-F1 on the Rogers Dry Lakebed adjacent to NASA's Flight Research Center (FRC) at a minimum speed of 100 miles per hour. To do that, it had to handle the 400-pound pull of the M2-F1. Walter 'Whitey' Whiteside, who was a retired Air Force maintenance officer working in the FRC's Flight Operations Division, was a dirt-bike rider and hot-rodder. Together with Boyden 'Bud' Bearce in the Procurement and Supply Branch of the FRC, Whitey acquired a Pontiac Catalina convertible with the largest engine available. He took the car to Bill Straup's renowned hot-rod shop near Long Beach for modification. With a special gearbox and racing slicks, the Pontiac could tow the 1,000-pound M2-F1 110 miles per hour in 30 seconds. It proved adequate for the roughly 400 car tows that got the M2-F1 airborne to prove it could fly safely and to train pilots before they were towed behind a C-47

  8. Inhibition of ATP Hydrolysis by Thermoalkaliphilic F1Fo-ATP Synthase Is Controlled by the C Terminus of the ɛ Subunit

    PubMed Central

    Keis, Stefanie; Stocker, Achim; Dimroth, Peter; Cook, Gregory M.

    2006-01-01

    The F1Fo-ATP synthases of alkaliphilic bacteria exhibit latent ATPase activity, and for the thermoalkaliphile Bacillus sp. strain TA2.A1, this activity is intrinsic to the F1 moiety. To study the mechanism of ATPase inhibition, we developed a heterologous expression system in Escherichia coli to produce TA2F1 complexes from this thermoalkaliphile. Like the native F1Fo-ATP synthase, the recombinant TA2F1 was blocked in ATP hydrolysis activity, and this activity was stimulated by the detergent lauryldimethylamine oxide. To determine if the C-terminal domain of the ɛ subunit acts as an inhibitor of ATPase activity and if an electrostatic interaction plays a role, a TA2F1 mutant with either a truncated ɛ subunit [i.e., TA2F1(ɛΔC)] or substitution of basic residues in the second α-helix of ɛ with nonpolar alanines [i.e., TA2F1(ɛ6A)] was constructed. Both mutants showed ATP hydrolysis activity at low and high concentrations of ATP. Treatment of the purified F1Fo-ATP synthase and TA2F1(ɛWT) complex with proteases revealed that the ɛ subunit was resistant to proteolytic digestion. In contrast, the ɛ subunit of TA2F1(ɛ6A) was completely degraded by trypsin, indicating that the C-terminal arm was in a conformation where it was no longer protected from proteolytic digestion. In addition, ATPase activity was not further activated by protease treatment when compared to the untreated control, supporting the observation that ɛ was responsible for inhibition of ATPase activity. To study the effect of the alanine substitutions in the ɛ subunit in the entire holoenzyme, we reconstituted recombinant TA2F1 complexes with F1-stripped native membranes of strain TA2.A1. The reconstituted TA2FoF1(ɛWT) was blocked in ATP hydrolysis and exhibited low levels of ATP-driven proton pumping consistent with the F1Fo-ATP synthase in native membranes. Reconstituted TA2FoF1(ɛ6A) exhibited ATPase activity that correlated with increased ATP-driven proton pumping, confirming that the

  9. C and RB Fountains:. Recent Results

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bize, S.; Sortais, Y.; Abgrall, M.; Zhang, S.; Calonico, D.; Mandache, C.; Lemonde, P.; Laurent, P.; Santarelli, G.; Salomon, C.; Clairon, A.; Luiten, A.; Tobar, M.

    2002-04-01

    We discuss the present performance and limits of our Cs and Rb fountains. The BNM/LPTF operates three cold atom clocks: two Cs fountains and a dual Cs-Rb fountain. By using an ultra-stable cryogenic sapphire oscillator to interrogate the atoms the frequency stability reaches 3.6 × 10-14τ-1/2. The accuracy of our fountains is now near 10-15. We discuss here the problems to be solved to reach a 10-16 accuracy. For instance this implies a continuous monitoring of the collisional frequency shift at the percent level in Cs. In contrast, 87Rb cold atom clocks exhibit a collisional shift ~ 100 times smaller than Cs which should lead to a better ultimate accuracy. Comparing the hyperfine energies of atoms with different atomic numbers Z, one can search for a possible violation of the Einstein Equivalence Principle. When interpreted as a test of the stability of the fine structure constant (α = e2/4πγ0ħc), measurements of the ratio νRb/νCs spread over a two year interval show no change of α at the 7 × 10-15/year level.

  10. E2F4 is required for early eye patterning.

    PubMed

    Ruzhynsky, Vladimir A; Furimsky, Marosh; Park, David S; Wallace, Valerie A; Slack, Ruth S

    2009-01-01

    Increasingly, studies reveal novel functions for cell cycle proteins during development. Here, we investigated the role of E2F4 in eye development. E2F4-deficient mouse embryos exhibit severe early eye patterning defects, which are evident from embryonic day 11.5 and characterized by aberrant shape of the optic cup, coloboma as well as abnormal eye pigmentation. Loss of E2F4 is associated with proximal-distal patterning defects in the optic vesicle. These defects are characterized by the expansion of optic stalk marker gene expression to the optic cup and reduced expression of ventral optic cup markers. These defects are associated with a split of Shh expression domain at the ventral midline of the forebrain and expansion of the Shh activity into the ventral optic cup. Despite these patterning defects, early neuronal differentiation and Shh expression in the retina are not affected by E2F4 deletion. Overall, the results of our studies show a novel role of E2F4 in the early eye development. 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  11. Grumman S2F-1 Tracker at NACA Lewis

    NASA Image and Video Library

    1956-08-21

    The NACA’s Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory acquired the Grumman S2F-1 Tracker from the Navy in 1955 to study icing instrumentation. Lewis’s icing research program was winding down at the time. The use of jet engines was increasing thus reducing the threat of ice accumulation. Nonetheless Lewis continued research on the instrumentation used to detect icing conditions. The S2F-1 Tracker was a carrier-based submarine hunter for the Navy. Grumman developed the Tracker as a successor to its Korean War-era Guardian patrol aircraft. Prototypes first flew in late 1952 and battle-ready versions entered Naval service in early 1954. The Navy utilized the Trackers to protect fleets from attack.

  12. Animal-specific C-terminal domain links myeloblastosis oncoprotein (Myb) to an ancient repressor complex

    PubMed Central

    Andrejka, Laura; Wen, Hong; Ashton, Jonathan; Grant, Megan; Iori, Kevin; Wang, Amy; Manak, J. Robert; Lipsick, Joseph S.

    2011-01-01

    Members of the Myb oncoprotein and E2F-Rb tumor suppressor protein families are present within the same highly conserved multiprotein transcriptional repressor complex, named either as Myb and synthetic multivuval class B (Myb-MuvB) or as Drosophila Rb E2F and Myb-interacting proteins (dREAM). We now report that the animal-specific C terminus of Drosophila Myb but not the more highly conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domain is necessary and sufficient for (i) adult viability, (ii) proper localization to chromosomes in vivo, (iii) regulation of gene expression in vivo, and (iv) interaction with the highly conserved core of the MuvB/dREAM transcriptional repressor complex. In addition, we have identified a conserved peptide motif that is required for this interaction. Our results imply that an ancient function of Myb in regulating G2/M genes in both plants and animals appears to have been transferred from the DNA-binding domain to the animal-specific C-terminal domain. Increased expression of B-MYB/MYBL2, the human ortholog of Drosophila Myb, correlates with poor prognosis in human patients with breast cancer. Therefore, our results imply that the specific interaction of the C terminus of Myb with the MuvB/dREAM core complex may provide an attractive target for the development of cancer therapeutics. PMID:21969598

  13. Bim, a Proapoptotic Protein, Up-regulated via Transcription Factor E2F1-dependent Mechanism, Functions as a Prosurvival Molecule in Cancer*

    PubMed Central

    Gogada, Raghu; Yadav, Neelu; Liu, Junwei; Tang, Shaohua; Zhang, Dianmu; Schneider, Andrea; Seshadri, Athul; Sun, Leimin; Aldaz, C. Marcelo; Tang, Dean G.; Chandra, Dhyan

    2013-01-01

    Proapoptotic Bcl-2 homology 3-only protein Bim plays an important role in Bax/Bak-mediated cytochrome c release and apoptosis. Here, we provide evidence for a novel prosurvival function of Bim in cancer cells. Bim was constitutively overexpressed in multiple prostate and breast cancer cells as well as in primary tumor cells. Quantitative real time PCR analysis showed that Bim was transcriptionally up-regulated. We have identified eight endogenous E2F1-binding sites on the Bim promoter using in silico analysis. Luciferase assay demonstrated that Bim expression was E2F1-dependent as mutation of the E2F1-binding sites on the Bim promoter inhibited luciferase activities. In support, E2F1 silencing led to the loss of Bim expression in cancer cells. Bim primarily localized to mitochondrial and cytoskeleton-associated fractions. Bim silencing or microinjection of anti-Bim antibodies into the cell cytoplasm resulted in cell rounding, detachment, and subsequent apoptosis. We observed up-regulation of prosurvival proteins Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, which sequester Bim in cancer cells. In addition, a phosphorylated form of Bim was also elevated in cancer cells. These findings suggest that the constitutively overexpressed Bim may function as a prosurvival molecule in epithelial cancer cells, and phosphorylation and association with Bcl-xL/Mcl-1 block its proapoptotic functions. PMID:23152504

  14. Spin Polarization of Rb and Cs n p P2 3/2 (n =5 , 6) Atoms by Circularly Polarized Photoexcitation of a Transient Diatomic Molecule

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mironov, A. E.; Hewitt, J. D.; Eden, J. G.

    2017-03-01

    We report the selective population of Rb or Cs n p P2 3/2 (n =5 , 6; F =4 , 5) hyperfine states by the photodissociation of a transient, alkali-rare gas diatomic molecule. Circularly polarized (σ-), amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) on the D2 line of Rb or Cs (780.0 and 852.1 nm, respectively) is generated when Rb-Xe or Cs-Xe ground state collision pairs are photoexcited by a σ+-polarized optical field having a wavelength within the D2 blue satellite continuum, associated with the B Σ2 1/2 +←X Σ2 1/2 + (free←free ) transition of the diatomic molecule. The degree of spin polarization of Cs (6 p P3/2 2 ), specifically, is found to be dependent on the interatomic distance (R ) at which the excited complex is born, a result attributed to the structure of the B Σ2 1/2 + state. For Cs-Xe atomic pairs, tuning the wavelength of the optical field from 843 to 848 nm varies the degree of circular polarization of the ASE from 63% to almost unity because of the perturbation, in the 5 ≤R ≤6 Å interval, of the Σ2 1/2 + potential by a d σ molecular orbital associated with a higher Λ 2 electronic state. Monitoring only the Cs 6 p P3/2 2 spin polarization reveals a previously unobserved interaction of CsXe (B Σ2 1/2 + ) with the lowest vibrational levels of a Λ 2 state derived from Cs (5 d )+Xe . By inserting a molecular intermediate into the alkali atom excitation mechanism, these experiments realize electronic spin polarization through populating no more than two n p P2 3/2 hyperfine states, and demonstrate a sensitive spectroscopic

  15. 40 CFR Table F-1 to Subpart F of... - Performance Specifications for PM 2.5 Class II Equivalent Samplers

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... II Equivalent Samplers Performance test Specifications Acceptance criteria § 53.62 Full Wind Tunnel... Results: 95% ≤ Rc ≤ 105%. § 53.63 Wind Tunnel Inlet Aspiration Test Liquid VOAG produced aerosol at 2 km... Class II Equivalent Samplers F Table F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL...

  16. Ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake in mouse eggs and preimplantation conceptuses

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Van Winkle, L.J.; Campione, A.L.

    1991-07-01

    The results of histochemical and immunocytochemical studies have been used elsewhere to support the hypothesis that Na+/K(+)-ATPase expression is initiated or increases dramatically in preimplantation mouse conceptuses just before they begin to cavitate. Moreover, localization of the enzyme in the inner membrane of the mural trophoblast is thought to be involved directly in formation and maintenance of the blastocyst cavity. Presumably, Na+/K(+)-ATPase extrudes the cation, Na+, and therefore water into the cavity. The cation transporting activity of the enzyme can be determined by measuring ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake by cells. Therefore, we measured Rb+ uptake in mouse eggs and preimplantation conceptusesmore » at various stages of development. 86Rb+ uptake by conceptuses increased linearly with time for at least 60 min in medium containing 0.7 mM total Rb+ plus K+ in the absence or presence of 1.0 mM ouabain, and ouabain inhibited more than 70% of 86Rb+ uptake. The ouabain concentration at 1/2 of maximum inhibition of the ouabain-sensitive component of 86Rb+ uptake was about 10-20 microM in eggs and conceptuses at all stages of preimplantation development. Moreover, ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake had a twofold higher Vmax value in blastocysts than in eggs or conceptuses at earlier stages of development (i.e., approximately 173 vs 70-100 fmole.conceptus-1.min-1), although the total cell surface area also was probably about two times greater in blastocysts than in eggs or other conceptuses. Ouabain-sensitive Rb+ transport in eggs and conceptuses may have occurred via a single ouabain-sensitive Rb+ transporter with a Hill coefficient of 1.5-1.8 (Hill plots). When it was assumed that the Hill coefficient had a value of 2.0, however, eggs and conceptuses appeared to contain at least two forms of Na+/K(+)-ATPase activity.« less

  17. Purification and protective efficacy of monomeric and modified Yersinia pestis capsular F1-V antigen fusion proteins for vaccination against plague

    PubMed Central

    Goodin, Jeremy L.; Nellis, David F.; Powell, Bradford S.; Vyas, Vinay V.; Enama, Jeffrey T.; Wang, Lena C.; Clark, Patrick K.; Giardina, Steven L.; Adamovicz, Jeffery. J.; Michiel, Dennis F.

    2009-01-01

    The F1-V vaccine antigen, protective against Yersinia pestis, exhibits a strong tendency to multimerize that affects larger-scale manufacture and characterization. In this work, the sole F1-V cysteine was replaced with serine by site-directed mutagenesis for characterization of F1-V non-covalent multimer interactions and protective potency without participation by disulfide-linkages. F1-V and F1-VC424S proteins were over-expressed in Escherichia coli, recovered using mechanical lysis/pH-modulation and purified from urea-solubilized soft inclusion bodies, using successive ion-exchange, ceramic hydroxyapatite, and size-exclusion chromatography. This purification method resulted in up to 2 mg per gram of cell paste of 95% pure, mono-disperse protein having ≤ 0.5 endotoxin units per mg by a kinetic chromogenic limulus amoebocyte lysate reactivity assay. Both F1-V and F1-VC424S were monomeric at pH 10.0 and progressively self-associated as pH conditions decreased to pH 6.0. Solution additives were screened for their ability to inhibit F1-V self-association at pH 6.5. An L-arginine buffer provided the greatest stabilizing effect. Conversion to >500-kDa multimers occurred between pH 6.0 and 5.0. Conditions for efficient F1-V adsorption to the cGMP-compatible Alhydrogel® adjuvant were optimized. Side-by-side evaluation for protective potency against subcutaneous plague infection in mice was conducted for F1-VC424S monomer; cysteine-capped F1-V monomer; cysteine-capped F1-V multimer; and a F1-V standard reported previously. After a two-dose vaccination with 2 × 20 µg of F1-V, respectively, 100, 80, 80, and 70% of injected mice survived a subcutaneous lethal plague challenge with 108 LD50 Y. pestis CO92. Thus, vaccination with F1-V monomer and multimeric forms resulted in significant, and essentially equivalent, protection. PMID:17293124

  18. The nootropic properties of ginseng saponin Rb1 are linked to effects on anxiety.

    PubMed

    Churchill, James D; Gerson, Jennifer L; Hinton, Kendra A; Mifek, Jennifer L; Walter, Michael J; Winslow, Cynthia L; Deyo, Richard A

    2002-01-01

    Previous studies have shown that crude ginseng extracts enhance performance on shock-motivated tasks. Whether such performance enhancements are due to memory-enhancing (nootropic) properties of ginseng, or to other non-specific effects such as an influence on anxiety has not been determined. In the present study, we evaluated both the nootropic and anxiolytic effects of the ginseng saponin Rb1. In the first experiment, 80 five-day-old male chicks received intraperitoneal injections of 0, 0.25, 2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg Rb1. Performance on a visual discrimination task was evaluated 15 minutes, 24 and 72 hours later. Acquisition of a visual discrimination task was unaffected by drug treatment, but the number of errors was significantly reduced in the 0.25 mg/kg group during retention trials completed 24 and 72 hours after injection. Animals receiving higher dosages showed trends towards enhancement initially, but demonstrated impaired performance when tested 72 hours later. Rb1 had no effect on response rates or body weight. In the second experiment, 64 five-day-old male chicks received similar injections of Rb1 (0, 0.25, 2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg) and separation distress was evaluated 15 minutes, 24 and 72 hours later. Rb1 produced a change in separation distress that depended on the dose and environmental condition under which distress was recorded. These data suggest that Rb1 can improve memory for a visual discrimination task and that the nootropic effect may be related to changes in anxiety.

  19. Phospho-T356RB1 predicts survival in HPV-negative squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

    PubMed Central

    Handorf, Elizabeth; Nikonova, Anna; Dubyk, Cara; Peri, Suraj; Lango, Miriam; Ridge, John A.; Serebriiskii, Ilya G.; Burtness, Barbara; Golemis, Erica A.; Mehra, Ranee

    2015-01-01

    Locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) that is not associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) has a poor prognosis in contrast to HPV-positive disease. To better understand the importance of RB1 activity in HPV-negative SCCHN, we investigated the prognostic value of inhibitory CDK4/6 phosphorylation of RB1 on threonine 356 (T356) in archival HPV-negative tumor specimens from patients who underwent surgical resection and adjuvant radiation. We benchmarked pT356RB1 to total RB1, Ki67, pT202/Y204ERK1/2, and TP53, as quantified by automatic quantitative analysis (AQUA), and correlated protein expression with tumor stage and grade. High expression of pT356RB1 but not total RB1 predicted reduced overall survival (OS; P = 0.0295), indicating the potential relevance of post-translational phosphorylation. Paired analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data for regulators of this RB1 phosphorylation identified loss or truncating mutation of negative regulator CDKN2A (p16) and elevated expression of the CDK4/6 activator CCND1 (cyclin D) as also predicting poor survival. Given that CDK4/6 inhibitors have been most effective in the context of functional RB1 and low expression or deletion of p16 in other tumor types, these data suggest such agents may merit evaluation in HPV-negative SCCHN, specifically in cases associated with high pT356RB1. PMID:26265441

  20. The protective effect of SnF2 containing toothpastes and solution on enamel surfaces subjected to erosion and abrasion in situ.

    PubMed

    Hove, L H; Stenhagen, K R; Holme, B; Tveit, A B

    2014-08-01

    Stannous fluoride solutions have shown promising protective effect against erosion/abrasion, but the effect of SnF2 toothpastes is uncertain. The aim of the study was to test the inhibiting effect of two SnF2 toothpastes and a SnF2 solution against erosive/abrasive wear in a single-blind, randomised in situ study, using a white light interferometer. Sixteen human molars were each divided into four specimens, mounted on mouth appliances and worn by 8 volunteers for 9 days. Specimens were brushed with toothpaste twice each day for 30 s either with fluoride-free toothpaste or toothpastes including SnF2. Toothpaste was left on the surface for 90 additional seconds. Group 1, fluoride-free toothpaste; Group 2, toothpaste A (0.4% SnF2, Solidox); Group 3, toothpaste B (0.454 % SnF2, Oral-B(®)); Group 4, brushed with fluoride-free toothpaste (30 s) and treated for 2 min with a 0.4 % SnF2 solution (1,000 ppm F). To mimic gastric reflux/vomit, specimens were etched for 2 min twice a day (0.01 M HCl). Procedures were performed extra-orally. The mean enamel wear (in μm) for the control specimens was: -29.2 ± SD 10.5; for group 2 -14.5 SD ± 9.3; for group 3 -33.3 SD ± 7.4, and for group 4 +0.4 SD ± 1.3. The specimens treated with SnF2 solution and toothpaste A showed significantly lower enamel wear than the control group. Toothpaste B gave no significant reduction in enamel wear. The SnF2 solution fully protected the enamel surface against erosive and abrasive challenges. The SnF2 toothpaste A (Solidox) showed less, but significant protection of the enamel, while no statistically significant protection was demonstrated by SnF2 toothpaste B (Oral-B(®) Pro-Expert).

  1. 40 CFR Table F-1 to Subpart F of... - Performance Specifications for PM2.5 Class II Equivalent Samplers

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... Equivalent Samplers Performance test Specifications Acceptance criteria § 53.62 Full Wind Tunnel Evaluation...% ≤ Rc ≤ 105%. § 53.63 Wind Tunnel Inlet Aspiration Test Liquid VOAG produced aerosol at 2 km/hr and 24... Class II Equivalent Samplers F Table F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL...

  2. 40 CFR Table F-1 to Subpart F of... - Performance Specifications for PM 2.5 Class II Equivalent Samplers

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... II Equivalent Samplers Performance test Specifications Acceptance criteria § 53.62 Full Wind Tunnel... Results: 95% ≤Rc ≤105%. § 53.63 Wind Tunnel Inlet Aspiration Test Liquid VOAG produced aerosol at 2 km/hr... Class II Equivalent Samplers F Table F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL...

  3. Ginsenoside Rb1 improves postoperative fatigue syndrome by reducing skeletal muscle oxidative stress through activation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in aged rats.

    PubMed

    Zhuang, Cheng-Le; Mao, Xiang-Yu; Liu, Shu; Chen, Wei-Zhe; Huang, Dong-Dong; Zhang, Chang-Jing; Chen, Bi-Cheng; Shen, Xian; Yu, Zhen

    2014-10-05

    Ginsenoside Rb1 is reported to possess anti-fatigue activity, but the mechanisms remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-fatigue effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on postoperative fatigue syndrome induced by major small intestinal resection (MSIR) in aged rat. Aged rats with MSIR were administrated with ginsenoside Rb1 (15 mg/kg) once a day from 3 days before surgery to the day of sacrifice, or with saline as corresponding controls. Rats without MSIR but going through the same surgery procedure were administrated with saline as blank controls. Anti-fatigue effect was assessed by an open field test; superoxide dismutase, reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde in skeletal muscle were determined. The mRNA levels of Akt2 and Nrf2 in skeletal muscle were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The activation of Akt and Nrf2 was examined by western blot and immunohistofluorescence. Our results revealed that ginsenoside Rb1 significantly increased the journey and the rearing frequency, decreased the time of rest in aged rats with MSIR. In addition, ginsenoside Rb1 significantly reduced reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde release and increased the superoxide dismutase activity of skeletal muscle in aged rats with MSIR. Ginsenoside Rb1 also increased the expression of Akt2 and Nrf2 mRNA, up-regulated Akt phosphorylation and Nrf2 nuclear translocation. These findings indicate that ginsenoside Rb1 has an anti-fatigue effect on postoperative fatigue syndrome in aged rat, and the mechanism possibly involves activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway with subsequent Nrf2 nuclear translocation and induction of antioxidant enzymes. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  4. Novel mutations in the RB1 gene from Chinese families with a history of retinoblastoma.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Leilei; Jia, Renbing; Zhao, Junyang; Fan, Jiayan; Zhou, YiXiong; Han, Bing; Song, Xin; Wu, Li; Zhang, He; Song, Huaidong; Ge, Shengfang; Fan, Xianqun

    2015-04-01

    Retinoblastoma is an aggressive eye cancer that develops during infancy and is divided into two clinical types, sporadic and heritable. RB1 has been identified as the only pathological gene responsible for heritable retinoblastoma. Here, we identified 11 RB1 germline mutations in the Han pedigrees of 17 bilateral retinoblastoma patients from China. Four mutations were nonsense mutations, five were splice site mutations, and two resulted in a frame shift due to an insertion or a deletion. Three of the mutations had not been previously reported, and the p.Q344L mutation occurred in two generations of retinoblastoma patients. We investigated phenotypic-genotypic relationships for the novel mutations and showed that these mutations affected the expression, location, and function of the retinoblastoma protein. Abnormal protein localization was observed after transfection of the mutant genes. In addition, changes in the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rates were observed when the Saos-2 cell line was transfected with plasmids encoding the mutant RB1 genes. Our findings expand the spectrum of known RB1 mutations and will benefit the investigation of RB1 mutation hotspots. Genetic counseling can be offered to families with heritable RB1 mutations.

  5. Random phage mimotopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies against the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex-E2 (PDC-E2).

    PubMed Central

    Cha, S; Leung, P S; Van de Water, J; Tsuneyama, K; Joplin, R E; Ansari, A A; Nakanuma, Y; Schatz, P J; Cwirla, S; Fabris, L E; Neuberger, J M; Gershwin, M E; Coppel, R L

    1996-01-01

    Dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase, the E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2), is the autoantigen most commonly recognized by autoantibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). We identified a peptide mimotope(s) of PDC-E2 by screening a phage-epitope library expressing random dodecapeptides in the pIII coat protein of fd phage using C355.1, a murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognizes a conformation-dependent epitope in the inner lipoyl domain of PDC-E2 and uniquely stains the apical region of bile duct epithelium (BDE) only in patients with PBC. Eight different sequences were identified in 36 phage clones. WMSYPDRTLRTS was present in 29 clones; WESYPFRVGTSL, APKTYVSVSGMV, LTYVSLQGRQGH, LDYVPLKHRHRH, AALWGVKVRHVS, KVLNRIMAGVRH and GNVALVSSRVNA were singly represented. Three common amino acid motifs (W-SYP, TYVS, and VRH) were shared among all peptide sequences. Competitive inhibition of the immunohistochemical staining of PBC BDE was performed by incubating the peptides WMSYPDRTLRTS, WESYPDRTLRTS, APKTYVSVSGMV, and AALWGVKVRHVS with either C355.1 or a second PDC-E2-specific mAb, C150.1. Both mAbs were originally generated to PDC-E2 but map to distinct regions of PDC-E2. Two of the peptides, although selected by reaction with C355.1, strongly inhibited the staining of BDE by C150.1, whereas the peptide APKTYVSVSGMV consistently inhibited the staining of C355.1 on biliary duct epithelium more strongly than the typical mitochondrial staining of hepatocytes. Rabbit sera raised against the peptide WMSYPDRTLRTS stained BDE of livers and isolated bile duct epithelial cells of PBC patients more intensively than controls. The rabbit sera stained all size ducts in normals, but only small/medium-sized ductules in PBC livers. These studies provide evidence that the antigen present in BDE is a molecular mimic of PDC-E2, and not PDC-E2 itself. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 PMID:8855289

  6. First principles study of structural, electronic and optical properties of polymorphic forms of Rb 2Te

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alay-e-Abbas, S. M.; Shaukat, A.

    2011-05-01

    First-principles density functional theory calculations have been performed for structural, electronic and optical properties of three polymorphic forms of rubidium telluride. Our calculations show that the sequence of pressure induced phase transitions for Rb 2Te is Fm3¯m → Pnma → P6 3/mmc which is governed by the coordination numbers of the anions. From our calculated low transition pressure value for the Fm3¯m phase to the Pnma phase transition of Rb 2Te, the experimentally observed meta-stability of Fm3¯m phase at ambient conditions seems reasonable. The electronic band structure has been calculated for all the three phases and the change in the energy band gap is discussed for the transitioning phases. The energy band gaps obtained for the three phases of Rb 2Te decrease on going from the meta-stable phase to the high-pressure phases. Total and partial density of states for the polymorphs of Rb 2Te has been computed to elucidate the contribution of various atomic states on the electronic band structure. Furthermore, optical properties for all the polymorphic forms have been presented in form of the complex dielectric function.

  7. Reconstitution of the Recombinant RanBP2 SUMO E3 Ligase Complex.

    PubMed

    Ritterhoff, Tobias; Das, Hrishikesh; Hao, Yuqing; Sakin, Volkan; Flotho, Annette; Werner, Andreas; Melchior, Frauke

    2016-01-01

    One of the few proteins that have SUMO E3 ligase activity is the 358 kDa nucleoporin RanBP2 (Nup358). While small fragments of RanBP2 can stimulate SUMOylation in vitro, the physiologically relevant E3 ligase is a stable multi-subunit complex comprised of RanBP2, SUMOylated RanGAP1, and Ubc9. Here, we provide a detailed protocol to in vitro reconstitute the RanBP2 SUMO E3 ligase complex. With the exception of RanBP2, reconstitution involves untagged full-length proteins. We describe the bacterial expression and purification of all complex components, namely an 86 kDa His-tagged RanBP2 fragment, the SUMO E2-conjugating enzyme Ubc9, RanGAP1, and SUMO1, and we provide a protocol for quantitative SUMOylation of RanGAP1. Finally, we present details for the assembly and final purification of the catalytically active RanBP2/RanGAP1*SUMO1/Ubc9 complex.

  8. MiR-205-5p and miR-342-3p cooperate in the repression of the E2F1 transcription factor in the context of anticancer chemotherapy resistance

    PubMed Central

    Lai, Xin; Gupta, Shailendra K; Schmitz, Ulf; Marquardt, Stephan; Knoll, Susanne; Spitschak, Alf; Wolkenhauer, Olaf; Pützer, Brigitte M; Vera, Julio

    2018-01-01

    High rates of lethal outcome in tumour metastasis are associated with the acquisition of invasiveness and chemoresistance. Several clinical studies indicate that E2F1 overexpression across high-grade tumours culminates in unfavourable prognosis and chemoresistance in patients. Thus, fine-tuning the expression of E2F1 could be a promising approach for treating patients showing chemoresistance. Methods: We integrated bioinformatics, structural and kinetic modelling, and experiments to study cooperative regulation of E2F1 by microRNA (miRNA) pairs in the context of anticancer chemotherapy resistance. Results: We showed that an enhanced E2F1 repression efficiency can be achieved in chemoresistant tumour cells through two cooperating miRNAs. Sequence and structural information were used to identify potential miRNA pairs that can form tertiary structures with E2F1 mRNA. We then employed molecular dynamics simulations to show that among the identified triplexes, miR-205-5p and miR-342-3p can form the most stable triplex with E2F1 mRNA. A mathematical model simulating the E2F1 regulation by the cooperative miRNAs predicted enhanced E2F1 repression, a feature that was verified by in vitro experiments. Finally, we integrated this cooperative miRNA regulation into a more comprehensive network to account for E2F1-related chemoresistance in tumour cells. The network model simulations and experimental data indicate the ability of enhanced expression of both miR-205-5p and miR-342-3p to decrease tumour chemoresistance by cooperatively repressing E2F1. Conclusions: Our results suggest that pairs of cooperating miRNAs could be used as potential RNA therapeutics to reduce E2F1-related chemoresistance. PMID:29464002

  9. The Cdk4-E2f1 pathway regulates early pancreas development by targeting Pdx1+ progenitors and Ngn3+ endocrine precursors

    PubMed Central

    Kim, So Yoon; Rane, Sushil G.

    2011-01-01

    Cell division and cell differentiation are intricately regulated processes vital to organ development. Cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) are master regulators of the cell cycle that orchestrate the cell division and differentiation programs. Cdk1 is essential to drive cell division and is required for the first embryonic divisions, whereas Cdks 2, 4 and 6 are dispensable for organogenesis but vital for tissue-specific cell development. Here, we illustrate an important role for Cdk4 in regulating early pancreas development. Pancreatic development involves extensive morphogenesis, proliferation and differentiation of the epithelium to give rise to the distinct cell lineages of the adult pancreas. The cell cycle molecules that specify lineage commitment within the early pancreas are unknown. We show that Cdk4 and its downstream transcription factor E2f1 regulate mouse pancreas development prior to and during the secondary transition. Cdk4 deficiency reduces embryonic pancreas size owing to impaired mesenchyme development and fewer Pdx1+ pancreatic progenitor cells. Expression of activated Cdk4R24C kinase leads to increased Nkx2.2+ and Nkx6.1+ cells and a rise in the number and proliferation of Ngn3+ endocrine precursors, resulting in expansion of the β cell lineage. We show that E2f1 binds and activates the Ngn3 promoter to modulate Ngn3 expression levels in the embryonic pancreas in a Cdk4-dependent manner. These results suggest that Cdk4 promotes β cell development by directing E2f1-mediated activation of Ngn3 and increasing the pool of endocrine precursors, and identify Cdk4 as an important regulator of early pancreas development that modulates the proliferation potential of pancreatic progenitors and endocrine precursors. PMID:21490060

  10. Composition-dependent Membrane Disruption by the Proapoptotic Protein PB1F2 from HK97 Influenza A Virus.

    PubMed

    Wang, Yujuan; Yang, Jing; Wang, Jiarong; Zhu, Lei; Wang, Junfeng

    2018-06-22

    PB1F2 is a proapoptotic protein encoded by an alternative reading frame in the influenza A virus. Its accumulation accelerates mitochondrial fragmentation by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential following translocation into the mitochondrial inner membrane space, but the mechanistic underpinnings remain unclear. Herein, the PB1F2 from HK97 was expressed and purified in soluble form. The interaction between PB1F2 and the mitochondrial membrane were investigated using three membrane mimics, liposomes, bicelles and nanodiscs. We show that the interactions between PB1F2 and membrane mimics depend on lipid type and are time- and dose-dependent. The primary membrane target of PB1F2 is phosphatidylcholine, the lipid that forms the major component of mitochondrial inner membranes. PB1F2 disrupts the integrity of lipid membranes by forming micelle-like PB1F2-lipid assemblies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  11. Molecular structure and spectral properties of ethyl 3-quinolinecarboxylate (E3Q) and [Ag(E3Q)2(TCA)] complex (TCA = Trichloroacetate)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soliman, Saied M.; Kassem, Taher S.; Badr, Ahmed M. A.; Abou Youssef, Morsy A.; Assem, Rania

    2014-09-01

    A new [Ag(E3Q)2(TCA)] complex; (E3Q = Ethyl 3-quinolinecarboxylate and TCA = Trichloroacetate) has been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR and mass spectroscopy. The molecular geometry and spectroscopic properties of the complex as well as the free ligand have been calculated using the hybrid B3LYP method. The calculations predicted a distorted tetrahedral arrangement around Ag(I) ion. The vibrational spectra of the studied compounds have been assigned using potential energy distribution (PED). TD-DFT method was used to predict the electronic absorption spectra. The most intense absorption band showed a bathochromic shift and lowering of intensity in case of the complex (233.7 nm, f = 0.5604) compared to E3Q (λmax = 228.0 nm, f = 0.9072). The calculated 1H NMR chemical shifts using GIAO method showed good correlations with the experimental data. The computed dipole moment, polarizability and HOMO-LUMO energy gap were used to predict the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties. It is found that Ag(I) enhances the NLO activity. The natural bond orbital (NBO) analyses were used to elucidate the intramolecular charge transfer interactions causing stabilization for the investigated systems.

  12. Vaccination with Brucella abortus rough mutant RB51 protects BALB/c mice against virulent strains of Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella ovis.

    PubMed Central

    Jiménez de Bagüés, M P; Elzer, P H; Jones, S M; Blasco, J M; Enright, F M; Schurig, G G; Winter, A J

    1994-01-01

    Vaccination of BALB/c mice with live Brucella abortus RB51, a stable rough mutant, produced protection against challenge with virulent strains of Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella ovis. Passive-transfer experiments indicated that vaccinated mice were protected against B. abortus 2308 through cell-mediated immunity, against B. ovis PA through humoral immunity, and against B. melitensis 16M through both forms of immunity. Live bacteria were required for the induction of protective cell-mediated immunity; vaccination with whole killed cells of strain RB51 failed to protect mice against B. abortus 2308 despite development of good delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Protective antibodies against the heterologous species were generated in vaccinated mice primarily through anamnestic responses following challenge infections. Growth of the antigenically unrelated bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in the spleens of vaccinated mice indicated that nonspecific killing by residual activated macrophages contributed minimally to protection. These results encourage the continued investigation of strain RB51 as an alternative vaccine against heterologous Brucella species. However, its usefulness against B. ovis would be limited if, as suggested here, epitopes critical for protective cell-mediated immunity are not shared between B. abortus and B. ovis. Images PMID:7927779

  13. Sulforaphane Induces Nrf2 and Protects Against CYP2E1-dependent Binge Alcohol –induced Liver Steatosis

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Richard; Lin, Jianjun; Wu, Defeng

    2013-01-01

    Background The mechanism(s) by which alcohol causes cell injury are still not clear but a major mechanism appears to be the role of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in alcohol toxicity. CYP2E1-generated ROS contributes to the ethanol-induced oxidant stress and inhibition of CYP2E1 activity decreases ethanol-induced fatty liver. The transcription factor Nrf2 regulates the expression of many cytoprotective enzymes which results in cellular protection against a variety of toxins. Method The current study was designed to evaluate the ability of sulforaphane, an activator of Nrf2, to blunt CYP2E1-dependent, ethanol-induced steatosis in vivo and in vitro. Results The sulforaphane treatment activated Nrf2, increased levels of the Nrf2 target heme oxygenase -1 and subsequently lowered oxidant stress as shown by the decline in lipid peroxidation and 3-Nitrotyrosine protein adducts and an increase in GSH levels after the acute ethanol treatment. It decreased ethanol-elevated liver levels of triglycerides and cholesterol and Oil Red O staining. Similar results were found in vitro as addition of sulforaphane to HepG2 E47 cells, which express CYP2E1, elevated Nrf2 levels and decreased the accumulation of lipid in cells cultured with ethanol. Sulforaphane treatment had no effect on levels of or activity of CYP2E1. Conclusions Sulforaphane proved to be an effective in vivo inhibitor of acute ethanol–induced fatty liver in mice. General significance The possible amelioration of liver injury which occurs under these conditions by chemical activators of Nrf2 is of clinical relevance and worthy of further study. PMID:24060752

  14. A synthetic mechano-growth factor E peptide promotes rat tenocyte migration by lessening cell stiffness and increasing F-actin formation via the FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Zhang, Bingyu; Luo, Qing, E-mail: qing.luo@cqu.edu.cn; Mao, Xinjian

    Tendon injuries are common in sports and are frequent reasons for orthopedic consultations. The management of damaged tendons is one of the most challenging problems in orthopedics. Mechano-growth factor (MGF), a recently discovered growth repair factor, plays positive roles in tissue repair through the improvement of cell proliferation and migration and the protection of cells against injury-induced apoptosis. However, it remains unclear whether MGF has the potential to accelerate tendon repair. We used a scratch wound assay in this study to demonstrate that MGF-C25E (a synthetic mechano-growth factor E peptide) promotes the migration of rat tenocytes and that this promotionmore » is accompanied by an elevation in the expression of the following signaling molecules: focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2). Inhibitors of the FAK and ERK1/2 pathways inhibited the MGF-C25E-induced tenocyte migration, indicating that MGF-C25E promotes tenocyte migration through the FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. The analysis of the mechanical properties showed that the Young's modulus of tenocytes was decreased through treatment of MGF-C25E, and an obvious formation of pseudopodia and F-actin was observed in MGF-C25E-treated tenocytes. The inhibition of the FAK or ERK1/2 signals restored the decrease in Young's modulus and inhibited the formation of pseudopodia and F-actin. Overall, our study demonstrated that MGF-C25E promotes rat tenocyte migration by lessening cell stiffness and increasing pseudopodia formation via the FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. - Highlights: • Mechano-growth factor E peptide (MGF-C25E) promotes migration of rat tenocytes. • MGF-C25E activates the FAK-ERK1/2 pathway in rat tenocytes. • MGF-C25E induces the actin remodeling and the formation of pseudopodia, and decreases the stiffness in rat tenocytes. • MGF-C25E promotes tenocyte migration via altering stiffness and forming pseudopodia by the activation of the

  15. A Recombinant Trivalent Fusion Protein F1-LcrV-HSP70(II) Augments Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses and Imparts Full Protection against Yersinia pestis.

    PubMed

    Verma, Shailendra K; Batra, Lalit; Tuteja, Urmil

    2016-01-01

    Plague is one of the most dangerous infections in humans caused by Yersinia pestis, a Gram-negative bacterium. Despite of an overwhelming research success, no ideal vaccine against plague is available yet. It is well established that F1/LcrV based vaccine requires a strong cellular immune response for complete protection against plague. In our earlier study, we demonstrated that HSP70(II) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis modulates the humoral and cellular immunity of F1/LcrV vaccine candidates individually as well as in combinations in a mouse model. Here, we made two recombinant constructs caf1-lcrV and caf1-lcrV-hsp70(II). The caf1 and lcrV genes of Y. pestis and hsp70 domain II of M. tuberculosis were amplified by polymerase chain reaction. Both the recombinant constructs caf1-lcrV and caf1-lcrV-hsp70(II) were cloned in pET28a vector and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant fusion proteins F1-LcrV and F1-LcrV-HSP70(II) were purified using Ni-NTA columns and formulated with alum to evaluate the humoral and cell mediated immune responses in mice. The protective efficacies of F1-LcrV and F1-LcrV-HSP70(II) were determined following challenge of immunized mice with 100 LD50 of Y. pestis through intraperitoneal route. Significant differences were noticed in the titers of IgG and it's isotypes, i.e., IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG3 in anti- F1-LcrV-HSP70(II) sera in comparison to anti-F1-LcrV sera. Similarly, significant differences were also noticed in the expression levels of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α in splenocytes of F1-LcrV-HSP(II) immunized mice in comparison to F1-LcrV. Both F1-LcrV and F1-LcrV-HSP70(II) provided 100% protection. Our research findings suggest that F1-LcrV fused with HSP70 domain II of M. tuberculosis significantly enhanced the humoral and cellular immune responses in mouse model.

  16. Genetic architecture of atherosclerosis dissected by QTL analyses in three F2 intercrosses of apolipoprotein E-null mice on C57BL6/J, DBA/2J and 129S6/SvEvTac backgrounds

    PubMed Central

    Makhanova, Natalia; Morgan, Andrew P.; Kayashima, Yukako; Makhanov, Andrei; Hiller, Sylvia; Zhilicheva, Svetlana; Xu, Longquan; Pardo-Manuel de Villena, Fernando; Maeda, Nobuyo

    2017-01-01

    Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analyses of intercross populations between widely used mouse inbred strains provide a powerful approach for uncovering genetic factors that influence susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Epistatic interactions are common in complex phenotypes and depend on genetic backgrounds. To dissect genetic architecture of atherosclerosis, we analyzed F2 progeny from a cross between apolipoprotein E-null mice on DBA/2J (DBA-apoE) and C57BL/6J (B6-apoE) genetic backgrounds and compared the results with those from two previous F2 crosses of apolipoprotein E-null mice on 129S6/SvEvTac (129-apoE) and DBA-apoE backgrounds, and B6-apoE and 129-apoE backgrounds. In these round-robin crosses, in which each parental strain was crossed with two others, large-effect QTLs are expected to be detectable at least in two crosses. On the other hand, observation of QTLs in one cross only may indicate epistasis and/or absence of statistical power. For atherosclerosis at the aortic arch, Aath4 on chromosome (Chr)2:66 cM follows the first pattern, with significant QTL peaks in (DBAx129)F2 and (B6xDBA)F2 mice but not in (B6x129)F2 mice. We conclude that genetic variants unique to DBA/2J at Aath4 confer susceptibility to atherosclerosis at the aortic arch. A similar pattern was observed for Aath5 on chr10:35 cM, verifying that the variants unique to DBA/2J at this locus protect against arch plaque development. However, multiple loci, including Aath1 (Chr1:49 cM), and Aath2 (Chr1:70 cM) follow the second type of pattern, showing significant peaks in only one of the three crosses (B6-apoE x 129-apoE). As for atherosclerosis at aortic root, the majority of QTLs, including Ath29 (Chr9:33 cM), Ath44 (Chr1:68 cM) and Ath45 (Chr2:83 cM), was also inconsistent, being significant in only one of the three crosses. Only the QTL on Chr7:37 cM was consistently suggestive in two of the three crosses. Thus QTL analysis of round-robin crosses revealed the genetic architecture of

  17. The Retinoblastoma Tumor Suppressor Regulates a Xenobiotic Detoxification Pathway

    PubMed Central

    Sáenz Robles, Maria Teresa; Case, Ashley; Chong, Jean-Leon; Leone, Gustavo; Pipas, James M.

    2011-01-01

    The retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (pRb) regulates cell cycle entry, progression and exit by controlling the activity of the E2F-family of transcription factors. During cell cycle exit pRb acts as a transcriptional repressor by associating with E2F proteins and thereby inhibiting their ability to stimulate the expression of genes required for S phase. Indeed, many tumors harbor mutations in the RB gene and the pRb-E2F pathway is compromised in nearly all types of cancers. In this report we show that both pRb and its interacting partners, the transcriptional factors E2F1-2-3, act as positive modulators of detoxification pathways important for metabolizing and clearing xenobiotics—such as toxins and drugs—from the body. Using a combination of conventional molecular biology techniques and microarray analysis of specific cell populations, we have analyzed the detoxification pathway in murine samples in the presence or absence of pRb and/or E2F1-2-3. In this report, we show that both pRb and E2F1-2-3 act as positive modulators of detoxification pathways in mice, challenging the conventional view of E2F1-2-3 as transcriptional repressors negatively regulated by pRb. These results suggest that mutations altering the pRb-E2F axis may have consequences beyond loss of cell cycle control by altering the ability of tissues to remove toxins and to properly metabolize anticancer drugs, and might help to understand the formation and progression rates of different types of cancer, as well as to better design appropriate therapies based on the particular genetic composition of the tumors. PMID:22022495

  18. HPV16 E7 protein associates with the protein kinase p33CDK2 and cyclin A.

    PubMed

    Tommasino, M; Adamczewski, J P; Carlotti, F; Barth, C F; Manetti, R; Contorni, M; Cavalieri, F; Hunt, T; Crawford, L

    1993-01-01

    E7 is the major transforming protein of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16). It has been found to associate with the retinoblastoma protein Rb1. We investigated whether HPV16 E7 protein was associated with other cellular proteins, in particular with those involved in cell cycle control. Immunoprecipitates from CaSki cell extracts with an anti E7 monoclonal antibody contained a histone H1 kinase. Recombinant E7, synthesized in yeast, when mixed with protein extracts from epithelial cells bound histone H1 kinase activity in vitro. The in vivo and the in vitro-formed E7-kinase complex had the same periodicity of activity during the cell cycle, being most active in S and G2/M. Immunoblotting of E7 immunoprecipitates with an antibody raised against the p33CDK2, revealed a 33 kDa protein band not detected by an anti-p34cdc2 antibody, suggesting that the E7-associated kinase activity is due to the p33CDK2. The interaction appears to be via cyclin A, since probing of similar immunoblots showed a 50 kDa band corresponding to cyclin A. The association of E7 with cyclin A appeared to be direct, not involving Rb 1 or other proteins.

  19. Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium in the Mixture 1,1-Difluoroethane C2H4F2 + C4H8 2-Methylpropene (EVLM1131, LB5730_E)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cibulka, I.; Fontaine, J.-C.; Sosnkowska-Kehiaian, K.; Kehiaian, H. V.

    This document is part of Subvolume A 'Binary Liquid Systems of Nonelectrolytes I' of Volume 26 'Heats of Mixing, Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium, and Volumetric Properties of Mixtures and Solutions' of Landolt-Börnstein Group IV 'Physical Chemistry'. It contains the Chapter 'Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium in the Mixture 1,1-Difluoroethane C2H4F2 + C4H8 2-Methylpropene (EVLM1131, LB5730_E)' providing data from direct measurement of pressure and mole fraction in vapor phase at variable mole fraction in liquid phase and constant temperature.

  20. Synthesis, enantiomeric resolution, F-18 labeling and biodistribution of reboxetine analogs: promising radioligands for imaging the norepinephrine transporter with positron emission tomography.

    PubMed

    Lin, Kuo-Shyan; Ding, Yu-Shin; Kim, Sung-Won; Kil, Kun-Eek

    2005-05-01

    Racemic and enantiomerically pure ((S,S) and (R,R)) 2-[alpha-(2-(2-[(18)F]fluoroethoxy)phenoxy)benzyl]morpholine ([(18)F]FRB) and its tetradeuterated form [(18)F]FRB-D(4), analogs of the highly selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor reboxetine (2-[alpha-(2-ethoxyphenoxy)benzyl]morpholine, RB), have been synthesized for studies of norepinephrine transporter (NET) system with positron emission tomography (PET). The [(18)F]fluorinated precursor, (S,S)/(R,R)-N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-2-[alpha-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)benzyl]morpholine ((S,S)/(R,R)-N-Boc-desethylRB), was prepared by the N-protection of (S,S)/(R,R)-2-[alpha-(2-hydroxyphenoxy)benzyl]morpholine ((S,S)/(R,R)-desethylRB) with a tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) group followed by enantiomeric resolution with chiral HPLC to provide both (S,S) and (R,R) enantiomers with >99% enantiomeric purity. These compounds were then used for radiosynthesis to prepare enantiomerically pure [(18)F]FRB and [(18)F]FRB-D(4) via the following three-step procedure: (1) formation of 1-bromo-2-[(18)F]fluoroethane ([(18)F]BFE or [(18)F]BFE-D(4)) by nucleophilic displacement of 2-bromoethyl triflate (or D(4) analog) with no-carrier added [(18)F]F(-) in THF; (2) reaction of [(18)F]BFE (or [(18)F]BFE-D(4)) with N-Boc-desethylRB in DMF in the presence of excess base; and (3) deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid. The racemates, (S,S) and (R,R) enantiomers of [(18)F]FRB and [(18)F]FRB-D(4) were obtained in 11-27% (decay corrected to the end of bombardment, EOB) in 120-min synthesis time with a radiochemical purity of >98% and specific activities of 21-48 GBq/micromol (EOB). The results of the whole-body biodistribution studies with (S,S)-[(18)F]FRB-D(4) were similar to those with (S,S)-[(18)F]FRB but showed relatively faster blood clearance and no significant in vivo defluorination. Positron emission tomography studies in baboon brain also showed that (S,S)-[(18)F]FRB-D(4) may be a potentially useful ligand for imaging NET with PET.

  1. Comparison of foE and M(3000)F2 variability at Ibadan, Singapore and Slough

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Somoye, E. O.; Onori, E. O.; Akala, A. O.

    2013-01-01

    The variability, VR, of critical frequency of E-layer, foE, and ionospheric propagation factor, M(3000)F2 at Ibadan (7.4°N, 3.9°E, 6°S dip) is investigated for local time, seasonal and solar cycle variations. Latitudinal influence of these characteristics is sought by comparison with foE VR and M(3000)F2 VR of Slough ( 51.5°N, 359.4°E, 66.5°N dip) in the European sector, and Singapore (1.3°N,103.8°E, 17.6°S dip) in the Asian sector. While the pattern of foE VR is similar to those of other F2 characteristics with characteristic peaks around dawn and dusk, M(3000)F2 VR shows no clear diurnal trend.A lower bound of foE VR is usually 3% while the maximum VR ranges between 8% and13% at post-sunrise and pre-sunset hours at all the epochs, M(3000)F2 VR is however lower during MSA (about 9%) than during LSA and HSA when it is 4% to about 12-14%. Generally, daytime M(3000)F2 VR is greater than that of foE VR by between 5% and 10%. Furthermore, no latitudinal difference is observed in both characteristics during both HSA and MSA. While nighttime M(3000)F2 VR is about half that of nighttime foF2 VR (the critical frequency of F2-layer ) VR, daytime VR of both characteristics are about equal during the three epochs at Ibadan. For Slough, nighttime M(3000)F2 VR and nighttime foF2 VR as well as the daytime VR of both characteristics are about equal. This difference is most likely due to latitudinal effect.

  2. Rb and FZR1/Cdh1 determine CDK4/6-cyclin D requirement in C. elegans and human cancer cells.

    PubMed

    The, Inge; Ruijtenberg, Suzan; Bouchet, Benjamin P; Cristobal, Alba; Prinsen, Martine B W; van Mourik, Tim; Koreth, John; Xu, Huihong; Heck, Albert J R; Akhmanova, Anna; Cuppen, Edwin; Boxem, Mike; Muñoz, Javier; van den Heuvel, Sander

    2015-01-06

    Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) in complex with D-type cyclins promote cell cycle entry. Most human cancers contain overactive CDK4/6-cyclin D, and CDK4/6-specific inhibitors are promising anti-cancer therapeutics. Here, we investigate the critical functions of CDK4/6-cyclin D kinases, starting from an unbiased screen in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that simultaneous mutation of lin-35, a retinoblastoma (Rb)-related gene, and fzr-1, an orthologue to the APC/C co-activator Cdh1, completely eliminates the essential requirement of CDK4/6-cyclin D (CDK-4/CYD-1) in C. elegans. CDK-4/CYD-1 phosphorylates specific residues in the LIN-35 Rb spacer domain and FZR-1 amino terminus, resembling inactivating phosphorylations of the human proteins. In human breast cancer cells, simultaneous knockdown of Rb and FZR1 synergistically bypasses cell division arrest induced by the CDK4/6-specific inhibitor PD-0332991. Our data identify FZR1 as a candidate CDK4/6-cyclin D substrate and point to an APC/C(FZR1) activity as an important determinant in response to CDK4/6-inhibitors.

  3. Rb and FZR1/Cdh1 determine CDK4/6-cyclin D requirement in C. elegans and human cancer cells

    PubMed Central

    The, Inge; Ruijtenberg, Suzan; Bouchet, Benjamin P.; Cristobal, Alba; Prinsen, Martine B. W.; van Mourik, Tim; Koreth, John; Xu, Huihong; Heck, Albert J. R.; Akhmanova, Anna; Cuppen, Edwin; Boxem, Mike; Muñoz, Javier; van den Heuvel, Sander

    2015-01-01

    Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) in complex with D-type cyclins promote cell cycle entry. Most human cancers contain overactive CDK4/6-cyclin D, and CDK4/6-specific inhibitors are promising anti-cancer therapeutics. Here, we investigate the critical functions of CDK4/6-cyclin D kinases, starting from an unbiased screen in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that simultaneous mutation of lin-35, a retinoblastoma (Rb)-related gene, and fzr-1, an orthologue to the APC/C co-activator Cdh1, completely eliminates the essential requirement of CDK4/6-cyclin D (CDK-4/CYD-1) in C. elegans. CDK-4/CYD-1 phosphorylates specific residues in the LIN-35 Rb spacer domain and FZR-1 amino terminus, resembling inactivating phosphorylations of the human proteins. In human breast cancer cells, simultaneous knockdown of Rb and FZR1 synergistically bypasses cell division arrest induced by the CDK4/6-specific inhibitor PD-0332991. Our data identify FZR1 as a candidate CDK4/6-cyclin D substrate and point to an APC/CFZR1 activity as an important determinant in response to CDK4/6-inhibitors. PMID:25562820

  4. C 1Σ+ , A 1Σ+ , and b 3Π0+ states of LiRb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stevenson, I. C.; Blasing, D. B.; Chen, Y. P.; Elliott, D. S.

    2016-12-01

    We present the first spectroscopic studies of the C 1Σ+ electronic state and the A 1Σ+ -b 3Π0+ complex in 7Li-85Rb. Using resonantly enhanced, two-photon ionization, we observed v =7 , 9, 12, 13, and 26-45 of the C 1Σ+ state. We augment the REMPI data with a form of depletion spectra in regions of dense spectral lines. The A 1Σ+ -b 3Π0+ complex was observed with depletion spectroscopy, depleting to vibrational levels v =0 →29 of the A 1Σ+ state and v =8 →18 of the b 3Π0+ state. For all three series, we determine the term energy and vibrational constants. Finally, we outline several possible future projects based on the data presented here.

  5. Vacuum ultraviolet coatings of Al protected with MgF(2) prepared both by ion-beam sputtering and by evaporation.

    PubMed

    Fernández-Perea, Mónica; Larruquert, Juan I; Aznárez, José A; Pons, Alicia; Méndez, José A

    2007-08-01

    Ion-beam sputtering (IBS) and evaporation are the two deposition techniques that have been used to deposit coatings of Al protected with MgF(2) with high reflectance in the vacuum ultraviolet down to 115 nm. Evaporation deposited (ED) Al protected with IBS MgF(2) resulted in a larger (smaller) reflectance below (above) 125 nm than the well-known all-evaporated coatings. A similar comparison is obtained when the Al film is deposited by IBS instead of evaporation. The lower reflectance of the coatings protected with IBS versus ED MgF(2) above 125 nm is because of larger absorption of the former. Both nonprotected IBS Al, as well as IBS Al protected with ED MgF(2), resulted in a band of reflectance loss that was peaked at 127 and 157 nm, respectively. This result was attributed to the excitation of surface plasmons due to the enhancement of surface roughness with large spatial wave vectors in the sputter deposition. This reflectance loss for IBS Al protected with MgF(2) is small at the short (lambda~120 nm) and long (lambda<350 nm) wavelengths investigated. IBS Al protected with ED MgF(2) is thus a promising coating for these two spectral regions. Coatings protected with IBS MgF(2) resulted in a reflectance as high as coatings protected with ED MgF(2) at wavelengths longer than 550 nm, whereas the former had a lower reflectance below this wavelength.

  6. NmF2 and hmF2 measurements at 95° E and 127° E around the EIA northern crest during 2010-2014

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalita, Bitap Raj; Bhuyan, Pradip Kumar; Yoshikawa, Akimasa

    2015-11-01

    The characteristics of the F2 layer parameters NmF2 and hmF2 over Dibrugarh (27.5° N, 95° E, 17° N geomagnetic, 43° dip) measured by a Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI) for the period of August 2010 to July 2014 are reported for the first time from this low mid-latitude station lying within the daytime peak of the longitudinal wave number 4 structure of equatorial anomaly (EIA) around the northern edge of anomaly crest. Equinoctial asymmetry is clearly observed at all solar activity levels whereas the midday winter anomaly is observed only during high solar activity years and disappears during the temporary dip in solar activity in 2013 but forenoon winter anomaly can be observed even at moderate solar activity. The NmF2/hmF2 variations over Dibrugarh are compared with that of Okinawa (26.5° N, 127° E, 17° N geomagnetic), and the eastward propagation speed of the wave number 4 longitudinal structure from 95° E to 127° E is estimated. The speed is found to be close to the theoretical speed of the wave number 4 (WN4) structure. The correlation of daily NmF2 over Dibrugarh and Okinawa with solar activity exhibits diurnal and seasonal variations. The highest correlation in daytime is observed during the forenoon hours in equinox. The correlation of daily NmF2 (linear or non-linear) with solar activity exhibits diurnal variation. A tendency for amplification with solar activity is observed in the forenoon and late evening period of March equinox and the postsunset period of December solstice. NmF2 saturation effect is observed only in the midday period of equinox. Non-linear variation of neutral composition at higher altitudes and variation of recombination rates with solar activity via temperature dependence may be related to the non-linear trend. The noon time maximum NmF2 over Dibrugarh exhibits better correlation with equatorial electrojet (EEJ) than with solar activity and, therefore, new low-latitude NmF2 index is proposed taking both solar

  7. Rb1 haploinsufficiency promotes telomere attrition and radiation-induced genomic instability.

    PubMed

    Gonzalez-Vasconcellos, Iria; Anastasov, Natasa; Sanli-Bonazzi, Bahar; Klymenko, Olena; Atkinson, Michael J; Rosemann, Michael

    2013-07-15

    Germline mutations of the retinoblastoma gene (RB1) predispose to both sporadic and radiation-induced osteosarcoma, tumors characterized by high levels of genomic instability, and activation of alternative lengthening of telomeres. Mice with haploinsufficiency of the Rb1 gene in the osteoblastic lineage reiterate the radiation susceptibility to osteosarcoma seen in patients with germline RB1 mutations. We show that the susceptibility is accompanied by an increase in genomic instability, resulting from Rb1-dependent telomere erosion. Radiation exposure did not accelerate the rate of telomere loss but amplified the genomic instability resulting from the dysfunctional telomeres. These findings suggest that telomere maintenance is a noncanonical caretaker function of the retinoblastoma protein, such that its deficiency in cancer may potentiate DNA damage-induced carcinogenesis by promoting formation of chromosomal aberrations, rather than simply by affecting cell-cycle control. ©2013 AACR.

  8. Structural characterization of the Yersinia pestis type III secretion system needle protein YscF in complex with its heterodimeric chaperone YscE/YscG

    PubMed Central

    Sun, Ping; Tropea, Joseph E.; Austin, Brian P.; Cherry, Scott; Waugh, David S.

    2008-01-01

    Summary The plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis utilizes a Type III Secretion System (T3SS) to deliver effector proteins into mammalian cells where they interfere with signal transduction pathways that mediate phagocytosis and the inflammatory response. Effector proteins are injected through a hollow needle structure composed of the protein YscF. YscG and YscE act as "chaperones" to prevent premature polymerization of YscF in the cytosol of the bacterium prior to assembly of the needle. Here, we report the crystal structure of the YscEFG protein complex at 1.8 Å resolution. Overall, the structure is similar to that of the analogous PscEFG complex from the Pseudomonas aeruginosa T3SS, but there are noteworthy differences. The structure confirms that, like PscG, YscG is a member of the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) family of proteins. YscG binds tightly to the C-terminal half of YscF, implying that it is this region of YscF that controls its polymerization into the needle structure. YscE interacts with the N-terminal TPR motif of YscG but makes very little direct contact with YscF. Its function may be to stabilize the structure of YscG and/or to participate in recruiting the complex to the secretion apparatus. No electron density could be observed for the N-terminal 49 residues of YscF. This and additional evidence suggest that the N-terminus of YscF is disordered in the complex with YscE and YscG. As expected, conserved residues in the C-terminal half of YscF mediate important intra- and intermolecular interactions in the complex. Moreover, the phenotypes of some previously characterized mutations in the C-terminal half of YscF can be rationalized in terms of the structure of the heterotrimeric YscEFG complex. PMID:18281060

  9. Structural Characterization of the Yersinia pestis Type III Secretion System Needle Protein YscF in Complex with Its Heterodimeric Chaperone YscE/YscG

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Sun, Ping; Tropea, Joseph E.; Austin, Brian P.

    2008-05-03

    The plague-causing bacterium Yersinia pestis utilizes a type III secretion system to deliver effector proteins into mammalian cells where they interfere with signal transduction pathways that mediate phagocytosis and the inflammatory response. Effector proteins are injected through a hollow needle structure composed of the protein YscF. YscG and YscE act as 'chaperones' to prevent premature polymerization of YscF in the cytosol of the bacterium prior to assembly of the needle. Here, we report the crystal structure of the YscEFG protein complex at 1.8 {angstrom} resolution. Overall, the structure is similar to that of the analogous PscEFG complex from the Pseudomonasmore » aeruginosa type III secretion system, but there are noteworthy differences. The structure confirms that, like PscG, YscG is a member of the tetratricopeptide repeat family of proteins. YscG binds tightly to the C-terminal half of YscF, implying that it is this region of YscF that controls its polymerization into the needle structure. YscE interacts with the N-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat motif of YscG but makes very little direct contact with YscF. Its function may be to stabilize the structure of YscG and/or to participate in recruiting the complex to the secretion apparatus. No electron density could be observed for the 49 N-terminal residues of YscF. This and additional evidence suggest that the N-terminus of YscF is disordered in the complex with YscE and YscG. As expected, conserved residues in the C-terminal half of YscF mediate important intra- and intermolecular interactions in the complex. Moreover, the phenotypes of some previously characterized mutations in the C-terminal half of YscF can be rationalized in terms of the structure of the heterotrimeric YscEFG complex.« less

  10. Analysis of a Soluble (UreD:UreF:UreG)2 Accessory Protein Complex and its Interactions with Klebsiella aerogenes Urease by Mass Spectrometry

    PubMed Central

    Farrugia, Mark A.; Han, Linjie; Zhong, Yueyang; Boer, Jodi L.; Ruotolo, Brandon T.; Hausinger, Robert P.

    2013-01-01

    Maturation of the nickel-containing urease of Klebsiella aerogenes is facilitated by the UreD, UreF, and UreG accessory proteins along with the UreE metallo-chaperone. A fusion of the maltose binding protein and UreD (MBP-UreD) was co-isolated with UreF and UreG in a soluble complex possessing a (MBP-UreD:UreF:UreG)2 quaternary structure. Within this complex a UreF:UreF interaction was identified by chemical cross-linking of the amino termini of its two UreF protomers, as shown by mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides. A pre-activation complex was formed by the interaction of (MBP-UreD:UreF:UreG)2 and urease. Mass spectrometry of intact protein species revealed a pathway for synthesis of the urease pre-activation complex in which individual hetero-trimer units of the (MBP-UreD:UreF:UreG)2 complex bind to urease. Together, these data provide important new insights into the structures of protein complexes associated with urease activation. PMID:23797863

  11. Analysis of a Soluble (UreD:UreF:UreG)2 Accessory Protein Complex and Its Interactions with Klebsiella aerogenes Urease by Mass Spectrometry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Farrugia, Mark A.; Han, Linjie; Zhong, Yueyang; Boer, Jodi L.; Ruotolo, Brandon T.; Hausinger, Robert P.

    2013-09-01

    Maturation of the nickel-containing urease of Klebsiella aerogenes is facilitated by the UreD, UreF, and UreG accessory proteins along with the UreE metallo-chaperone. A fusion of the maltose binding protein and UreD (MBP-UreD) was co-isolated with UreF and UreG in a soluble complex possessing a (MBP-UreD:UreF:UreG)2 quaternary structure. Within this complex a UreF:UreF interaction was identified by chemical cross-linking of the amino termini of its two UreF protomers, as shown by mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides. A pre-activation complex was formed by the interaction of (MBP-UreD:UreF:UreG)2 and urease. Mass spectrometry of intact protein species revealed a pathway for synthesis of the urease pre-activation complex in which individual hetero-trimer units of the (MBP-UreD:UreF:UreG)2 complex bind to urease. Together, these data provide important new insights into the structures of protein complexes associated with urease activation.

  12. Mixed-metal uranium(VI) iodates: hydrothermal syntheses, structures, and reactivity of Rb[UO(2)(CrO(4))(IO(3))(H(2)O)], A(2)[UO(2)(CrO(4))(IO(3))(2)] (A = K, Rb, Cs), and K(2)[UO(2)(MoO(4))(IO(3))(2)].

    PubMed

    Sykora, Richard E; McDaniel, Steven M; Wells, Daniel M; Albrecht-Schmitt, Thomas E

    2002-10-07

    The reactions of the molecular transition metal iodates A[CrO(3)(IO(3))] (A = K, Rb, Cs) with UO(3) under mild hydrothermal conditions provide access to four new, one-dimensional, uranyl chromatoiodates, Rb[UO(2)(CrO(4))(IO(3))(H(2)O)] (1) and A(2)[UO(2)(CrO(4))(IO(3))(2)] (A = K (2), Rb (3), Cs (4)). Under basic conditions, MoO(3), UO(3), and KIO(4) can be reacted to form K(2)[UO(2)(MoO(4))(IO(3))(2)] (5), which is isostructural with 2 and 3. The structure of 1 consists of one-dimensional[UO(2)(CrO(4))(IO(3))(H(2)O)](-) ribbons that contain uranyl moieties bound by bridging chromate and iodate anions as well as a terminal water molecule to create [UO(7)] pentagonal bipyramidal environments around the U(VI) centers. These ribbons are separated from one another by Rb(+) cations. When the iodate content is increased in the hydrothermal reactions, the terminal water molecule is replaced by a monodentate iodate anion to yield 2-4. These ribbons can be further modified by replacing tetrahedral chromate anions with MoO(4)(2)(-) anions to yield isostructural, one-dimensional [UO(2)(MoO(4))(IO(3))(2)](2)(-) ribbons. Crystallographic data: 1, triclinic, space group P(-)1, a = 7.3133(5) A, b = 8.0561(6) A, c = 8.4870(6) A, alpha = 88.740(1) degrees, beta = 87.075(1) degrees, gamma = 71.672(1) degrees, Z = 2; 2, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 11.1337(5) A, b = 7.2884(4) A, c = 15.5661(7) A, beta = 107.977(1) degrees, Z = 4; 3, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 11.3463(6) A, b = 7.3263(4) A, c = 15.9332(8) A, beta = 108.173(1) degrees, Z = 4; 4, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n, a = 7.3929(5) A, b = 8.1346(6) A, c = 22.126(2) A, beta = 90.647(1) degrees, Z = 4; 5, monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c, a = 11.3717(6) A, b = 7.2903(4) A, c = 15.7122(8) A, beta = 108.167(1) degrees, Z = 4.

  13. M2-F1 in flight on tow line

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1964-01-01

    The M2-F1 Lifting Body is seen here under tow at the Flight Research Center (later redesignated the Dryden Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. The wingless, lifting-body aircraft design was initially concieved as a means of landing an aircraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. In 1962, Flight Research Center management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body as a prototype to flight test the wingless concept. It would look like a 'flying bathtub,' and was designated the M2-F1, the 'M' referring to 'manned' and 'F' referring to 'flight' version. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963. The M2-F1 project had limited goals. They were to show that a piloted lifting body could be built, that it could not only fly but be controlled in flight, and that it could make a successful landing. While the M2-F1 did prove the concept, with a wooden fuselage and fixed landing gear, it was far from an operational spacecraft. The next step in the lifting-body development was to build a heavyweight, rocket-powered vehicle that was more like an operational lifting body, albeit one without the thermal protection system that would be needed for reentry into the atmosphere from space at near-orbital speeds. The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were over Rogers Dry Lake at the end of a tow rope attached to a hopped-up Pontiac convertible driven at speeds up to about 120 mph. These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a NASA C-47 tow plane at greater altitudes. The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12,000 where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to

  14. Korean Red Ginseng Saponin Fraction Rich in Ginsenoside-Rb1, Rc and Rb2 Attenuates the Severity of Mouse Collagen-Induced Arthritis

    PubMed Central

    Endale, Mehari; Im, Eun Ju; Lee, Joo Young; Kim, Sung Dae; Song, Yong-Bum; Kwak, Yi-Seong; Kim, Chaekyun; Kim, Seung-Hyung; Roh, Seong-Soo; Rhee, Man Hee

    2014-01-01

    Despite a multitude of reports on anti-inflammatory properties of ginseng extracts or individual ginsenosides, data on antiarthritic effect of ginseng saponin preparation with mixed ginsenosides is limited. On the other hand, a combined therapy of safe and inexpensive plant-derived natural products such as ginsenosides can be considered as an alternative to treat arthritis. Our previous in vitro data displayed a strong anti-inflammatory action of red ginseng saponin fraction-A (RGSF-A). We, herein, report a marked antiarthritic property of RGSF-A rich in ginsenoside Rb1, Rc, and Rb2. Collagen-induced arthritic (CIA) mice were treated with RGSF-A or methotrexate (MTX) for 5 weeks. Joint pathology, serum antibody production and leukocye activation, cytokine production in the circulation, lymph nodes, and joints were examined. RGSF-A markedly reduced severity of arthritis, cellular infiltration, and cartilage damage. It suppressed CD3+/CD69+, CD4+/CD25+, CD8+ T-cell, CD19+, B220/CD23+ B-cell, MHCII+/CD11c+, and Gr-1+/CD11b+ cell activations. It further suppressed anti-CII- or anti-RF-IgG/IgM, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17, and IL-6 secretions but stimulated IL-10 levels in the serum, joint, or splenocyte. RGSF-A attenuated arthritis severity, modified leukocyte activations, and restored cytokine imbalances, suggesting that it can be considered as an antiarthritic agent with the capacity to ameliorate the immune and inflammatory responses in CIA mice. PMID:24833816

  15. A novel radiochemical approach to 1-(2'-deoxy-2'-[(18) F]fluoro-β-d-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine ((18) F-FAC).

    PubMed

    Meyer, Jan-Philip; Probst, Katrin C; Trist, Iuni M L; McGuigan, Christopher; Westwell, Andrew D

    2014-09-01

    (18) F-FAC (1-(2'-deoxy-2'-[(18) F]fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-cytosine) is an important 2'-fluoro-nucleoside-based positron emission tomography (PET) tracer that has been used for in vivo prediction of response to the widely used cancer chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. Previously reported synthetic routes to (18) F-FAC have relied on early introduction of the (18) F radiolabel prior to attachment to protected cytosine base. Considering the (18) F radiochemical half-life (110 min) and the technical challenges of multi-step syntheses on PET radiochemistry modular systems, late-stage radiofluorination is preferred for reproducible and reliable radiosynthesis with in vivo applications. Herein, we report the first late-stage radiosynthesis of (18) F-FAC. Cytidine derivatives with leaving groups at the 2'-position are particularly prone to undergo anhydro side-product formation upon heating because of their electron density at the 2-carbonyl pyrimidone oxygen. Our rationally developed fluorination precursor showed an improved reactivity-to-stability ratio at elevated temperatures. (18) F-FAC was obtained in radiochemical yields of 4.3-5.5% (n = 8, decay-corrected from end of bombardment), with purities ≥98% and specific activities ≥63 GBq/µmol. The synthesis time was 168 min. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  16. Reaction of Rb and oxygen overlayers with single-crystalline Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ superconductors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lindberg, P. A. P.; Shen, Z.-X.; Wells, B. O.; Dessau, D. S.; Mitzi, D. B.; Lindau, I.; Spicer, W. E.; Kapitulnik, A.

    1989-02-01

    Single crystals of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+δ superconductors, in situ cleaved and modified by Rb and oxygen overlayers, have been studied using ultraviolet and x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The core-level results show that Rb strongly reacts with the Bi and O states, while the Cu and Sr states are left unchanged. This observation strongly indicates that the Bi-O plane forms the surface layer. Subsequent exposure to oxygen results in new oxygen states at the surface as monitored by the O 1s core-level data. For both Rb and oxygen overlayers the valence-band spectra are severely altered. In particular, new valence-band states, presumably of oxygen character, are formed.

  17. Dynamics of energy transfer from lycopene to bacteriochlorophyll in genetically-modified LH2 complexes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

    PubMed

    Hörvin Billsten, H; Herek, J L; Garcia-Asua, G; Hashøj, L; Polívka, T; Hunter, C N; Sundström, V

    2002-03-26

    LH2 complexes from Rb. sphaeroides were modified genetically so that lycopene, with 11 saturated double bonds, replaced the native carotenoids which contain 10 saturated double bonds. Tuning the S1 level of the carotenoid in LH2 in this way affected the dynamics of energy transfer within LH2, which were investigated using both steady-state and time-resolved techniques. The S1 energy of lycopene in n-hexane was determined to be approximately 12 500 +/- 150 cm(-1), by direct measurement of the S1-S2 transient absorption spectrum using a femtosecond IR-probing technique, thus placing an upper limit on the S1 energy of lycopene in the LH2 complex. Fluorescence emission and excitation spectra demonstrated that energy can be transferred from lycopene to the bacteriochlorophyll molecules within this LH2 complex. The energy-transfer dynamics within the mutant complex were compared to wild-type LH2 from Rb. sphaeroides containing the carotenoid spheroidene and from Rs. molischianum, in which lycopene is the native carotenoid. The results show that the overall efficiency for Crt --> B850 energy transfer is approximately 80% in lyco-LH2 and approximately 95% in WT-LH2 of Rb. sphaeroides. The difference in overall Crt --> BChl transfer efficiency of lyco-LH2 and WT-LH2 mainly relates to the low efficiency of the Crt S(1) --> BChl pathway for complexes containing lycopene, which was 20% in lyco-LH2. These results show that in an LH2 complex where the Crt S1 energy is sufficiently high to provide efficient spectral overlap with both B800 and B850 Q(y) states, energy transfer via the Crt S1 state occurs to both pigments. However, the introduction of lycopene into the Rb. sphaeroides LH2 complex lowers the S1 level of the carotenoid sufficiently to prevent efficient transfer of energy to the B800 Q(y) state, leaving only the Crt S1 --> B850 channel, strongly suggesting that Crt S1 --> BChl energy transfer is controlled by the relative Crt S1 and BChl Q(y) energies.

  18. MBD3L2 interacts with MBD3 and components of the NuRD complex and can oppose MBD2-MeCP1-mediated methylation silencing.

    PubMed

    Jin, Seung-Gi; Jiang, Chun-Ling; Rauch, Tibor; Li, Hongwei; Pfeifer, Gerd P

    2005-04-01

    MBD2 and MBD3 are two proteins that contain methyl-CpG binding domains and have a transcriptional repression function. Both proteins are components of a large CpG-methylated DNA binding complex named MeCP1, which consists of the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylase complex Mi2-NuRD and MBD2. MBD3L2 (methyl-CpG-binding protein 3-like 2) is a protein with substantial homology to MBD2 and MBD3, but it lacks the methyl-CpG-binding domain. Unlike MBD3L1, which is specifically expressed in haploid male germ cells, MBD3L2 expression is more widespread. MBD3L2 interacts with MBD3 in vitro and in vivo, co-localizes with MBD3 but not MBD2, and does not localize to methyl-CpG-rich regions in the nucleus. In glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays, MBD3L2 is found associated with several known components of the Mi2-NuRD complex, including HDAC1, HDAC2, MTA1, MBD3, p66, RbAp46, and RbAp48. Gel shift experiments with nuclear extracts and a CpG-methylated DNA probe indicate that recombinant MBD3L2 can displace a form of the MeCP1 complex from methylated DNA. MBD3L2 acts as a transcriptional repressor when tethered to a GAL4-DNA binding domain. Repression by GAL4-MBD3L2 is relieved by MBD2 and vice versa, and repression by MBD2 from a methylated promoter is relieved by MBD3L2. The data are consistent with a role of MBD3L2 as a transcriptional modulator that can interchange with MBD2 as an MBD3-interacting component of the NuRD complex. Thus, MBD3L2 has the potential to recruit the MeCP1 complex away from methylated DNA and reactivate transcription.

  19. Ginsenoside Rb1 promotes browning through regulation of PPARγ in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

    PubMed

    Mu, Qianqian; Fang, Xin; Li, Xiaoke; Zhao, Dandan; Mo, Fangfang; Jiang, Guangjian; Yu, Na; Zhang, Yi; Guo, Yubo; Fu, Min; Liu, Jun-Li; Zhang, Dongwei; Gao, Sihua

    2015-10-23

    Browning of white adipocyte tissue (WAT) has received considerable attention due to its potential implication in preventing obesity and related comorbidities. Ginsenoside Rb1 is reported to improve glycolipid metabolism and reduce body weight in obese animals. However whether the body reducing effect mediates by browning effect remains unclear. For this purpose, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used to study the effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on browning adipocytes specific genes and oxygen consumptions. The results demonstrate that 10 μM of ginsenoside Rb1 increases basal glucose uptake and promoted browning evidenced by significant increases in mRNA expressions of UCP-1, PGC-1α and PRDM16 in 3T3-L1 mature adipocytes. Further, ginsenoside Rb1 also increases PPARγ activity. And the browning effect is abrogated by GW9692, a PPARγ antagonist. In addition, ginsenoside Rb1 increases basal respiration rate, ATP production and uncoupling capacity in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Those effects are also blunted by GW9692. The results suggest that ginsenoside Rb1 promote browning of 3T3-L1 adipocytes through induction of PPARγ. Our finding offer a new source to discover browning agonists and also useful to understand and extend the applications of ginseng and its constituents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. .sup.82 Sr-.sup.82 Rb Radioisotope generator

    DOEpatents

    Grant, Patrick M.; Erdal, Bruce R.; O'Brien, Harold A.

    1976-01-01

    An improved .sup.82 Sr-.sup.82 Rb radioisotope generator system, based upon the complexing ion exchange resin Chelex-100, has been developed. Columns of this material can be easily and rapidly milked, and the Rb-Sr separation factor for a fresh generator was found to be > 10.sup.7. Approximately 80 percent of the .sup.82 Rb present was delivered in a 15-ml volume of aqueous 0.2 M NH.sub.4 Cl solution. After more than 6 liters of eluant had been put through the generator, the Rb-Sr separation factor was still observed to be > 10.sup.5, and no unusual strontium breakthrough behavior was seen in the system over nearly three .sup.82 Sr half lives.

  1. Substituent effects in a series of 1,7-C[subscript 60](R[subscript F])[subscript 2] compounds (R[subscript F] = CF[subscript 3], C[subscript 2]F[subscript 5], n-C[subscrip 3]F[subscript 7], i-C[subscript 3]F[subscript 7], n-C[subscript 4]F[subscript 9], s-C[subscript 4]F[subscript 9], n-C[subscript 8]F[subscript 17]): electron affinities, reduction potentials and E(LUMO) values are not always correlated

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kuvychko, Igor V.; Whitaker, James B.; Larson, Bryon W.

    2013-04-08

    A series of seven structurally-similar compounds with different pairs of R{sub F} groups were prepared, characterized spectroscopically, and studied by electrochemical methods (cyclic and square-wave voltammetry), low-temperature anion photoelectron spectroscopy, and DFT calculations (five of the compounds are reported here for the first time). This is the first time that a set of seven R{sub F} groups have been compared with respect to their relative effects on E{sub 1/2}(0/-), electron affinity (EA), and the DFT-calculated LUMO energy. The compounds, 1,7-C{sub 60}(R{sub F}){sub 2} (R{sub F} = CF{sub 3}, C{sub 2}F{sub 5}, i-C{sub 3}F{sub 7}, n-C{sub 3}F{sub 7}, s-C{sub 4}F{sub 9},more » n-C{sub 4}F{sub 9} and n-C{sub 8}F{sub 21}), were found to have statistically different electron affinities (EA), at the {+-}10 meV level of uncertainty, but virtually identical first reduction potentials, at the {+-}10 mV level of uncertainty. The lack of a correlation between EA and E{sub 1/2}(0/-), and between E(LUMO) and E{sub 1/2}(0/-), for such similar compounds is unprecedented and suggests that explanations for differences in figures of merit for materials and/or devices that are based on equating easily measurable E{sub 1/2}(0/-) values with EAs or E(LUMO) values should be viewed with caution. The solubilities of the seven compounds in toluene varied by nearly a factor of six, but in an unpredictable way, with the C{sub 2}F{sub 5} and s-C{sub 4}F{sub 9} compounds being the most soluble and the i-C{sub 3}F{sub 7} compound being the least soluble. The effects of the different R{sub F} groups on EAs, E(LUMO) values, and solubilities should help fluorine chemists choose the right R{sub F} group to design new materials with improved morphological, electronic, optical, and/or magnetic properties.« less

  2. Topologically identical, but geometrically isomeric layers in hydrous α-, β-Rb[UO{sub 2}(AsO{sub 3}OH)(AsO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2})]·H{sub 2}O and anhydrous Rb[UO{sub 2}(AsO{sub 3}OH)(AsO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2})

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yu, Na; Klepov, Vladislav V.; Villa, Eric M.

    2014-07-01

    The hydrothermal reaction of uranyl nitrate with rubidium nitrate and arsenic (III) oxide results in the formation of polymorphic α- and β-Rb[UO{sub 2}(AsO{sub 3}OH)(AsO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2})]·H{sub 2}O (α-, β-RbUAs) and the anhydrous phase Rb[UO{sub 2}(AsO{sub 3}OH)(AsO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2})] (RbUAs). These phases were structurally, chemically and spectroscopically characterized. The structures of all three compounds are based upon topologically identical, but geometrically isomeric layers. The layers are linked with each other by means of the Rb cations and hydrogen bonding. Dehydration experiments demonstrate that water deintercalation from hydrous α- and β-RbUAs yields anhydrous RbUAs via topotactic reactions. - Graphical abstract: Three differentmore » layer geometries observed in the structures of Rb[UO{sub 2}(AsO{sub 3}OH)(AsO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2})] and α- and β- Rb[UO{sub 2}(AsO{sub 3}OH)(AsO{sub 2}(OH){sub 2})]·H{sub 2}O. Two different coordination environments of uranium polyhedra (types I and II) are shown schematically on the top of the figure. - Highlights: • Three new uranyl arsenates were synthesized from the hydrothermal reactions. • The phases consist of the topologically identical but geometrically different layers. • Topotactic transitions were observed in the processes of mono-hyrates dehydration.« less

  3. E2F transcription factor 2 variants as predictive biomarkers for recurrence risk in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx.

    PubMed

    Li, Yuncheng; Sturgis, Erich M; Zhu, Lijun; Cao, Xiaoli; Wei, Qingyi; Zhang, Hua; Li, Guojun

    2017-04-01

    Because E2F transcription factor 2 (E2F2) promoter polymorphisms have been implicated in carcinogenesis and prognosis, we investigated associations between genetic variants in five E2F2 promoter polymorphisms and recurrence risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCCOP) in 1 008 patients. A log-rank test and multivariable Cox models were used to assess the associations. Compared with patients with variant genotypes of E2F2-rs2742976 and E2F2-rs3218123, patients with common homozygous genotypes had better disease-free survival (both log-rank, P < 0.001) and lower SCCOP recurrence risk (HR, 0.4, 95% CI, 0.3-0.6 and HR, 0.3, 95% CI, 0.2-0.5, respectively) after multivariable adjustment. Furthermore, among patients with HPV16-positive tumors, those with common homozygous genotypes of E2F2-rs2742976 and E2F2-rs3218123 had better disease-free survival rates (both log-rank, P < 0.001) and lower recurrence risk (HR, 0.1, 95% CI, 0.1-0.4 and HR, 0.1, 95% CI, 0.0-0.2, respectively) than patients with variant genotypes. However, no significant differences were found for the other three polymorphisms. After combining the risk genotypes of the five polymorphisms and using the high-risk group (2-5 risk genotypes) as the reference group, we found that the low-risk groups (0 or 1 risk genotype) had significantly lower recurrence risk among all patients (HR, 0.4, 95% CI, 0.3-0.6) and among HPV16-positive patients (HR, 0.2, 95% CI, 0.1-0.5). Our findings suggest that E2F2 polymorphisms may individually or jointly modify SCCOP recurrence risk, particularly for SCCOP patients with HPV16-positive tumors. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  4. Distribution of Rb atoms on the antirelaxation RbH coating

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Yi; Wang, Zhiguo; Xia, Tao

    2017-04-01

    We observe the extension of relaxation time of 131Xe with RbH coating, and compare the different depositions of Rb atoms on the inner surface of the vapor cell with and without RbH coating respectively to research the mechanism of coating prolongation. From the 5*5 um2 images of microscopy, we find that on the bare glass surface the Rb atoms form large random separated islands, and to the contrary they deposite as many regular longitudinal stripe of small islands on the RbH coating. We attribute these different distributions to the different molecular interactions between RbH coating and bare glass to Rb atom and build a simple rational physical model to explain this phenomenon. On the one hand, the small islands, or in other words, the relative uniform distribution on RbH coating may result from the relative stronger interaction of Rb to RbH than to the bare glass. On the other hand, the regular longitudinal stripe may stem from the grain boundaries which is related to the macroscopic shape of the vapor cell. And this longitudinal distribution can generate cylindrically electric gradient as used in some theoretically references before.

  5. Dnmt1-dependent Chk1 pathway suppression is protective against neuron division.

    PubMed

    Oshikawa, Mio; Okada, Kei; Tabata, Hidenori; Nagata, Koh-Ichi; Ajioka, Itsuki

    2017-09-15

    Neuronal differentiation and cell-cycle exit are tightly coordinated, even in pathological situations. When pathological neurons re-enter the cell cycle and progress through the S phase, they undergo cell death instead of division. However, the mechanisms underlying mitotic resistance are mostly unknown. Here, we have found that acute inactivation of retinoblastoma (Rb) family proteins (Rb, p107 and p130) in mouse postmitotic neurons leads to cell death after S-phase progression. Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) pathway activation during the S phase prevented the cell death, and allowed the division of cortical neurons that had undergone acute Rb family inactivation, oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) or in vivo hypoxia-ischemia. During neurogenesis, cortical neurons became protected from S-phase Chk1 pathway activation by the DNA methyltransferase Dnmt1, and underwent cell death after S-phase progression. Our results indicate that Chk1 pathway activation overrides mitotic safeguards and uncouples neuronal differentiation from mitotic resistance. © 2017. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  6. Identification and Characterization of Components of a Putative Petunia S-Locus F-Box–Containing E3 Ligase Complex Involved in S-RNase–Based Self-Incompatibility[W

    PubMed Central

    Hua, Zhihua; Kao, Teh-hui

    2006-01-01

    Petunia inflata S-locus F-box (Pi SLF) is thought to function as a typical F-box protein in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation and, along with Skp1, Cullin-1, and Rbx1, could compose an SCF complex mediating the degradation of nonself S-RNase but not self S-RNase. We isolated three P. inflata Skp1s (Pi SK1, -2, and -3), two Cullin-1s (Pi CUL1-C and -G), and an Rbx1 (Pi RBX1) cDNAs and found that Pi CUL1-G did not interact with Pi RBX1 and that none of the three Pi SKs interacted with Pi SLF2. We also isolated a RING-HC protein, S-RNase Binding Protein1 (Pi SBP1), almost identical to Petunia hybrida SBP1, which interacts with Pi SLFs, S-RNases, Pi CUL1-G, and an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, suggesting that Pi CUL1-G, SBP1, and SLF may be components of a novel E3 ligase complex, with Pi SBP1 playing the roles of Skp1 and Rbx1. S-RNases interact more with nonself Pi SLFs than with self Pi SLFs, and Pi SLFs also interact more with nonself S-RNases than with self S-RNases. Bacterially expressed S1-, S2-, and S3-RNases are degraded by the 26S proteasomal pathway in a cell-free system, albeit not in an S-allele–specific manner. Native glycosylated S3-RNase is not degraded to any significant extent; however, deglycosylated S3-RNase is degraded as efficiently as the bacterially expressed S-RNases. Finally, S-RNases are ubiquitinated in pollen tube extracts, but whether this is mediated by the Pi SLF–containing E3 complex is unknown. PMID:17028207

  7. M2-F1 simulator cockpit

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1963-01-01

    This early simulator of the M2-F1 lifting body was used for pilot training, to test landing techniques before the first ground tow attempts, and to test new control configurations after the first tow attempts and wind-tunnel tests. The M2-F1 simulator was limited in some ways by its analog simulator. It had only limited visual display for the pilot, as well. The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially conceived as a means of landing an aircraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. In 1962, Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body as a prototype to flight test the wingless concept. It would look like a 'flying bathtub,' and was designated the M2-F1, the 'M' referring to 'manned' and 'F' referring to 'flight' version. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963. The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were over Rogers Dry Lake at the end of a tow rope attached to a hopped-up Pontiac convertible driven at speeds up to about 120 mph. This vehicle needed to be able to tow the M2-F1 on the Rogers Dry Lakebed adjacent to NASA's Flight Research Center (FRC) at a minimum speed of 100 miles per hour. To do that, it had to handle the 400-pound pull of the M2-F1. Walter 'Whitey' Whiteside, who was a retired Air Force maintenance officer working in the FRC's Flight Operations Division, was a dirt-bike rider and hot-rodder. Together with Boyden 'Bud' Bearce in the Procurement and Supply Branch of the FRC, Whitey acquired a Pontiac Catalina convertible with the largest engine available. He took the car to Bill Straup's renowned hot-rod shop near Long Beach for modification. With a special gearbox and racing slicks, the Pontiac could tow the 1,000-pound M2-F1 110 miles per hour in 30 seconds. It proved adequate for the roughly 400 car tows that got the M2-F1 airborne

  8. M2-F1 in flight

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1965-01-01

    The M2-F1 Lifting Body is seen here under tow, high above Rogers Dry Lake near the Flight Research Center (later redesignated the Dryden Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. R. Dale Reed effectively advocated the project with the support of NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Together, they gained the support of Flight Research Center Director Paul Bikle. After a six-month feasibility study, Bikle gave approval in the fall of 1962 for the M2-F1 to be built. The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially concieved as a means of landing an aircraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. In 1962, Flight Research Center management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body as a prototype to flight test the wingless concept. It would look like a 'flying bathtub,' and was designated the M2-F1, the 'M' referring to 'manned' and 'F' referring to 'flight' version. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963. The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were over Rogers Dry Lake at the end of a tow rope attached to a hopped-up Pontiac convertible driven at speeds up to about 120 mph. These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a NASA C-47 tow plane at greater altitudes. The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12,000 where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to l20 mph. More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at NASA's Ames and Langley research centers--the M2-F2 and the HL

  9. Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the strong-rung spin-1 ladder compound Rb3Ni2(NO3)7

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pchelkina, Z. V.; Mazurenko, V. V.; Volkova, O. S.; Deeva, E. B.; Morozov, I. V.; Shutov, V. V.; Troyanov, S. I.; Werner, J.; Koo, C.; Klingeler, R.; Vasiliev, A. N.

    2018-04-01

    Rb3Ni2(NO3)7 was obtained by crystallization from anhydrous nitric acid solution of rubidium nitrate and nickel nitrate hexahydrate. The crystal structure determined on single crystals implies isolated spin-1 two-leg ladders of Ni2 + ions connected by (NO3)- groups as basic elements. Magnetic susceptibility, specific heat in magnetic fields up to 9 T, magnetization, and high-frequency electron spin resonance studies performed on powder samples show the absence of long-range magnetic order at T ≥2 K. Electronic structure calculations and the detailed analysis of the experimental data enable quantitative estimates of the relevant parameters of the S =1 ladders in Rb3Ni2(NO3)7 . The rung coupling J1=10.16 K, the leg coupling J2=1.5 K, and the Ising-type anisotropy |A |=8.6 K are obtained. The scenario of a valence-bond solidlike quantum ground state realized in the two-leg Ni2 + ladders is further corroborated by model simulations of the magnetic susceptibility.

  10. Involvement of atypical transcription factor E2F8 in the polyploidization during mouse and human decidualization.

    PubMed

    Qi, Qian-Rong; Zhao, Xu-Yu; Zuo, Ru-Juan; Wang, Tong-Song; Gu, Xiao-Wei; Liu, Ji-Long; Yang, Zeng-Ming

    2015-01-01

    Polyploid decidual cells are specifically differentiated cells during mouse uterine decidualization. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanism and physiological significance of polyploidization in pregnancy. Here we report a novel role of E2F8 in the polyploidization of decidual cells in mice. E2F8 is highly expressed in decidual cells and regulated by progesterone through HB-EGF/EGFR/ERK/STAT3 signaling pathway. E2F8 transcriptionally suppresses CDK1, thus triggering the polyploidization of decidual cells. E2F8-mediated polyploidization is a response to stresses which are accompanied by decidualization. Interestingly, polyploidization is not detected during human decidualization with the down-regulation of E2F8, indicating differential expression of E2F8 may lead to the difference of decidual cell polyploidization between mice and humans.

  11. Involvement of atypical transcription factor E2F8 in the polyploidization during mouse and human decidualization

    PubMed Central

    Qi, Qian-Rong; Zhao, Xu-Yu; Zuo, Ru-Juan; Wang, Tong-Song; Gu, Xiao-Wei; Liu, Ji-Long; Yang, Zeng-Ming

    2015-01-01

    Polyploid decidual cells are specifically differentiated cells during mouse uterine decidualization. However, little is known about the regulatory mechanism and physiological significance of polyploidization in pregnancy. Here we report a novel role of E2F8 in the polyploidization of decidual cells in mice. E2F8 is highly expressed in decidual cells and regulated by progesterone through HB-EGF/EGFR/ERK/STAT3 signaling pathway. E2F8 transcriptionally suppresses CDK1, thus triggering the polyploidization of decidual cells. E2F8-mediated polyploidization is a response to stresses which are accompanied by decidualization. Interestingly, polyploidization is not detected during human decidualization with the down-regulation of E2F8, indicating differential expression of E2F8 may lead to the difference of decidual cell polyploidization between mice and humans. PMID:25892397

  12. Antitumor Effects In Vitro and In Vivo and Mechanisms of Protection against Melanoma B16F10-Nex2 Cells By Fastuosain, a Cysteine Proteinase from Bromelia fastuosa1

    PubMed Central

    Guimarães-Ferreira, Carla A; Rodrigues, Elaine G; Mortara, Renato A; Cabral, Hamilton; Serrano, Fabiana A; Ribeiro-dos-Santos, Ricardo; Travassos, Luiz R

    2007-01-01

    In the present work, the antitumor effect of fastuosain, a cysteine proteinase from Bromelia fastuosa, was investigated. In the intravenous model of lung colonization in C57Bl/6 mice, fastuosain and bromelain injected intraperitoneally were protective, and very few nodules of B16F10-Nex2 melanoma cells were detected. Tumor cells treated with fastuosain showed reduced expression of CD44 and decreased invasion through Matrigel, lost their cytoplasmic extensions and substrate adherence, and became round and detached, forming strongly bound cell clusters in suspension. Peritoneal cells recruited and activated by fastuosain treatment (mainly monocytic cells and lymphocytes) migrated to the lung, where pulmonary melanoma metastases grew. Adoptive transference of peritoneal cells recruited by fastuosain had no protective effect against lung metastases in recipient mice. Treatment of green fluorescent protein-chimeric animals with fastuosain did not change the number of cells that migrated to the lung, compared to PBS-injected control mice, but the number of positive major histocompatibility complex class II cells increased with fastuosain treatment. Murine antibodies against fastuosain, bromelain, and cathepsins B and L cross-reacted in ELISA and recognized surface and cytoplasmic components expressed on B16F10-Nex2 cells. Anti-fastuosain antibodies were cytotoxic/lytic to B16F10-Nex2 cells. Antitumor effects of fastuosain involve mainly the direct effect of the enzyme and elicitation of protective antibodies. PMID:17898868

  13. Protective Immunity Against a Lethal Respiratory Yersinia pestis Challenge Induced by V Antigen or the F1 Capsular Antigen Incorporated into Adenovirus Capsid

    PubMed Central

    Boyer, Julie L.; Sofer-Podesta, Carolina; Ang, John; Hackett, Neil R.; Chiuchiolo, Maria J.; Senina, Svetlana; Perlin, David

    2010-01-01

    Abstract The aerosol form of the bacterium Yersinia pestis causes pneumonic plague, a rapidly fatal disease that is a biothreat if deliberately released. At present, no plague vaccines are available for use in the United States, but subunit vaccines based on the Y. pestis V antigen and F1 capsular protein show promise when administered with adjuvants. In the context that adenovirus (Ad) gene transfer vectors have a strong adjuvant potential related to the ability to directly infect dendritic cells, we hypothesized that modification of the Ad5 capsid to display either the Y. pestis V antigen or the F1 capsular antigen on the virion surface would elicit high V antigen- or F1-specific antibody titers, permit boosting with the same Ad serotype, and provide better protection against a lethal Y. pestis challenge than immunization with equivalent amounts of V or F1 recombinant protein plus conventional adjuvant. We constructed AdYFP-pIX/V and AdLacZ-pIX/F1, E1–, E3– serotype 5 Ad gene transfer vectors containing a fusion of the sequence for either the Y. pestis V antigen or the F1 capsular antigen to the carboxy-terminal sequence of pIX, a capsid protein that can accommodate the entire V antigen (37 kDa) or F1 protein (15 kDa) without disturbing Ad function. Immunization with AdYFP-pIX/V followed by a single repeat administration of the same vector at the same dose resulted in significantly better protection of immunized animals compared with immunization with a molar equivalent amount of purified recombinant V antigen plus Alhydrogel adjuvant. Similarly, immunization with AdLacZ-pIX/F1 in a prime–boost regimen resulted in significantly enhanced protection of immunized animals compared with immunization with a molar-equivalent amount of purified recombinant F1 protein plus adjuvant. These observations demonstrate that Ad vaccine vectors containing pathogen-specific antigens fused to the pIX capsid protein have strong adjuvant properties and stimulate more robust

  14. Ba 0.4 Rb 0.6 Mn 2 As 2 : A prototype half-metallic ferromagnet

    DOE PAGES

    Pandey, Abhishek; Johnston, D. C.

    2015-11-02

    Half-metallic ferromagnetism (FM) in single-crystal Ba 0.39(1)Rb 0.61(1)Mn 2As 2 below its Curie temperature T C = 103(2) K is reported. The magnetization M versus applied magnetic field H isotherm data at 1.8 K show complete polarization of the itinerant doped-hole magnetic moments that are introduced by substituting Rb for Ba. Here, the material exhibits extremely soft FM, with unobservably small remanent magnetization and coercive field. Surprisingly, and contrary to typical itinerant FMs, the M(H) data follow the Arrott-plot paradigm that is based on a mean-field theory of local-moment FMs. The in-plane electrical resistivity data are fitted well by anmore » activated-T 2 expression for T ≤ T C, whereas the data sharply deviate from this model for T > T C. Hence the activated-T 2 resistivity model is an excellent diagnostic for determining the onset of half-metallic FM in this compound, which in turn demonstrates the presence of a strong correlation between the electronic transport and magnetic properties of the material. Together with previous data on 40% hole-doped Ba 0.6K 0.4Mn 2As 2, these measurements establish 61%-doped Ba 0.39Rb 0.61Mn 2As 2 as a prototype for a class of half-metallic ferromagnets in which all the itinerant carriers in the material are ferromagnetic.« less

  15. Supplementation of H1N1pdm09 split vaccine with heterologous tandem repeat M2e5x virus-like particles confers improved cross-protection in ferrets.

    PubMed

    Music, Nedzad; Reber, Adrian J; Kim, Min-Chul; York, Ian A; Kang, Sang-Moo

    2016-01-20

    Current influenza vaccines induce strain-specific immunity to the highly variable hemagglutinin (HA) protein. It is therefore a high priority to develop vaccines that induce broadly cross-protective immunity to different strains of influenza. Since influenza A M2 proteins are highly conserved among different strains, five tandem repeats of the extracellular peptide of M2 in a membrane-anchored form on virus-like particles (VLPs) have been suggested to be a promising candidate for universal influenza vaccine. In this study, ferrets were intramuscularly immunized with 2009 H1N1 split HA vaccine ("Split") alone, influenza split vaccine supplemented with M2e5x VLP ("Split+M2e5x"), M2e5x VLP alone ("M2e5x"), or mock immunized. Vaccine efficacy was measured serologically and by protection against a serologically distinct viral challenge. Ferrets immunized with Split+M2e5x induced HA strain specific and conserved M2e immunity. Supplementation of M2e5x VLP to split vaccination significantly increased the immunogenicity of split vaccine compared to split alone. The Split+M2e5x ferret group showed evidence of cross-reactive protection, including faster recovery from weight loss, and reduced inflammation, as inferred from changes in peripheral leukocyte subsets, compared to mock-immunized animals. In addition, ferrets immunized with Split+M2e5x shed lower viral nasal-wash titers than the other groups. Ferrets immunized with M2e5x alone also show some protective effects, while those immunized with split vaccine alone induced no protective effects compared to mock-immunized ferrets. These studies suggest that supplementation of split vaccine with M2e5x-VLP may provide broader and improved cross-protection than split vaccine alone. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  16. Supplementation of H1N1pdm09 split vaccine with heterologous tandem repeat M2e5x virus-like particles confers improved cross-protection in ferrets

    PubMed Central

    Music, Nedzad; Reber, Adrian J.; Kim, Min-Chul; York, Ian A.; Kang, Sang-Moo

    2015-01-01

    Current influenza vaccines induce strain-specific immunity to the highly variable hemagglutinin (HA) protein. It is therefore a high priority to develop vaccines that induce broadly cross-protective immunity to different strains of influenza. Since influenza A M2 proteins are highly conserved among different strains, five tandem repeats of the extracellular peptide of M2 in a membrane-anchored form on virus-like particles (VLPs) have been suggested to be a promising candidate for universal influenza vaccine. In this study, ferrets were intramuscularly immunized with 2009 H1N1 split HA vaccine (“Split”) alone, influenza split vaccine supplemented with M2e5x VLP (“Split+M2e5x”), M2e5x VLP alone (“M2e5x”), or mock immunized. Vaccine efficacy was measured serologically and by protection against a serologically distinct viral challenge. Ferrets immunized with Split+M2e5x induced HA strain specific and conserved M2e immunity. Supplementation of M2e5x VLP to split vaccination significantly increased the immunogenicity of split vaccine compared to split alone. The Split+M2e5x ferret group showed evidence of cross-reactive protection, including faster recovery from weight loss, and reduced inflammation, as inferred from changes in peripheral leukocyte subsets, compared to mock-immunized animals. In addition, ferrets immunized with Split+M2e5x shed lower viral nasal-wash titers than the other groups. Ferrets immunized with M2e5x alone also show some protective effects, while those immunized with split vaccine alone induced no protective effects compared to mock-immunized ferrets. These studies suggest that supplementation of split vaccine with M2e5x-VLP may provide broader and improved cross-protection than split vaccine alone. PMID:26709639

  17. The RanBP2/RanGAP1*SUMO1/Ubc9 SUMO E3 ligase is a disassembly machine for Crm1-dependent nuclear export complexes

    PubMed Central

    Ritterhoff, Tobias; Das, Hrishikesh; Hofhaus, Götz; Schröder, Rasmus R.; Flotho, Annette; Melchior, Frauke

    2016-01-01

    Continuous cycles of nucleocytoplasmic transport require disassembly of transport receptor/Ran-GTP complexes in the cytoplasm. A basic disassembly mechanism in all eukaryotes depends on soluble RanGAP and RanBP1. In vertebrates, a significant fraction of RanGAP1 stably interacts with the nucleoporin RanBP2 at a binding site that is flanked by FG-repeats and Ran-binding domains, and overlaps with RanBP2's SUMO E3 ligase region. Here, we show that the RanBP2/RanGAP1*SUMO1/Ubc9 complex functions as an autonomous disassembly machine with a preference for the export receptor Crm1. We describe three in vitro reconstituted disassembly intermediates, which show binding of a Crm1 export complex via two FG-repeat patches, cargo-release by RanBP2's Ran-binding domains and retention of free Crm1 at RanBP2 after Ran-GTP hydrolysis. Intriguingly, all intermediates are compatible with SUMO E3 ligase activity, suggesting that the RanBP2/RanGAP1*SUMO1/Ubc9 complex may link Crm1- and SUMO-dependent functions. PMID:27160050

  18. Mutational analysis of the RB1 gene and the inheritance patterns of retinoblastoma in Jordan.

    PubMed

    Yousef, Yacoub A; Tbakhi, Abdelghani; Al-Hussaini, Maysa; AlNawaiseh, Ibrahim; Saab, Ala; Afifi, Amal; Naji, Maysa; Mohammad, Mona; Deebajah, Rasha; Jaradat, Imad; Sultan, Iyad; Mehyar, Mustafa

    2018-04-01

    Retinoblastoma (RB) is a childhood cancer developing in the retina due to RB1 pathologic variant. Herein we are evaluating the oncogenic mutations in the RB1 gene and the inheritance patterns of RB in the Jordanian patients. In this prospective study, the peripheral blood of 50 retinoblastoma patients was collected, genomic DNA was extracted, mutations were identified using Quantitative multiplex PCR (QM-PCR), Allele-specific PCR, Next Generation Sequencing analysis, and Sanger sequencing. In this cohort of 50 patients, 20(40%) patients had unilateral RB and 30(60%) were males. Overall, 36(72%) patients had germline disease, 17(47%) of whom had the same RB1 pathologic variant detected in one of the parents (inherited disease). In the bilateral group, all (100%) patients had germline disease; 13(43%) of them had inherited mutation. In the unilateral group, 6(30%) had germline disease, 4(20%) of them had inherited mutation. Nonsense mutation generating a stop codon and producing a truncated non-functional protein was the most frequent detected type of mutations (n = 15/36, 42%). Only one (2%) of the patients had mosaic mutation, and of the 17 inherited cases, 16(94%) had an unaffected carrier parent. In conclusion, in addition to all bilateral RB patients in our cohort, 30% of unilateral cases showed germline mutation. Almost half (47%) of germline cases had inherited disease from affected (6%) parent or unaffected carrier (94%). Therefore molecular screening is critical for the genetic counseling regarding the risk for inherited RB in both unilateral and bilateral cases including those with no family history.

  19. The C1Σ+ , A1Σ+ , and b3Π0+ states of LiRb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stevenson, Ian; Blasing, David; Chen, Yong; Elliott, Daniel

    2017-04-01

    We present the first spectroscopic studies of the C1Σ+ electronic state and the A1Σ+ - b3Π0+ complex in 7Li - 85Rb. Using resonantly-enhanced, two-photon ionization, we observed v = 7 , 9, 12, 13 and 26 - 45 of the C1Σ+ state. We augment the REMPI data with a form of depletion spectra in regions of dense spectral lines. The A1Σ+ - b3Π0+ complex was observed with depletion spectroscopy, depleting to vibrational levels v = 0 -> 29 of the A1Σ+ state and v = 8 -> 18 of the b3Π0+ state. For all three series, we determine the term energy and vibrational constants. Finally, we outline several possible future projects in ultracold molecules based on the data presented here.

  20. Evaluation of TcpF-A2-CTB Chimera and Evidence of Additive Protective Efficacy of Immunizing with TcpF and CTB in the Suckling Mouse Model of Cholera

    PubMed Central

    Price, Gregory A.; Holmes, Randall K.

    2012-01-01

    The secreted colonization factor, TcpF, which is produced by Vibrio cholerae 01 and 0139, has generated interest as a potential protective antigen in the development of a subunit vaccine against cholera. This study evaluated immunogenicity/protective efficacy of a TcpF holotoxin-like chimera (TcpF-A2-CTB) following intraperitoneal immunization compared to TcpF alone, a TcpF+CTB mixture, or CTB alone. Immunization with the TcpF-A2-CTB chimera elicited significantly greater amounts of anti-TcpF IgG than immunization with the other antigens (P<0.05). Protective efficacy was measured using 6-day-old pups reared from immunized dams and orogastrically challenged with a lethal dose of El Tor V. cholerae 01 Inaba strain N16961. Protection from death, and weight loss analysis at 24 and 48 hours post-infection demonstrated that immunization with TcpF alone was poorly protective. However, immunization with TcpF+CTB was highly protective and showed a trend toward greater protection than immunization with CTB alone (82% vs 64% survival). Immunization with the TcpF-A2-CTB chimera demonstrated less protection (50% survival) than immunization with the TcpF+CTB mixture. The TcpF-A2-CTB chimera used for this study contained the heterologous classical CTB variant whereas the El Tor CTB variant (expressed by the challenge strain) was used in the other immunization groups. For all immunization groups that received CTB, quantitative ELISA data demonstrated that the amounts of serum IgG directed against the homologous immunizing CTB antigen was statistically greater than the amount to the heterologous CTB antigen (P≤0.003). This finding provides a likely explanation for the poorer protection observed following immunization with the TcpF-A2-CTB chimera and the relatively high level of protection seen after immunization with homologous CTB alone. Though immunization with TcpF alone provided no protection, the additive protective effect when TcpF was combined with CTB demonstrates its

  1. Effect of gamma irradiation on the conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 to Rg3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Jae-Hun; Kwon, Sun-Kyu; Sung, Nak-Yun; Jung, Pil-Mun; Choi, Jong-il; Kim, Jae-Kyung; Sharma, Arun K.; Lee, Ju-Woon

    2012-08-01

    Ginsenosides, the most important secondary metabolites in ginseng, have various biological activities. Many studies have focused on the conversion of one of the major ginsenosides, Rb1, to the more active minor ginsenoside, Rg3. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of gamma irradiation on the conversion of Rb1 to Rg3. Rb1 solutions were gamma-irradiated at doses of 10 and 30 kGy and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HPLC chromatograms showed a decreased content of Rb1 with increasing irradiation dose, but the content of Rg3 was increased. The highest content of Rg3 was present in the 30 kGy-irradiated Rb1 sample. The cytotoxic effects tested in cancer cell lines were increased in the gamma-irradiated group. Therefore, these results suggest that gamma irradiation can be an effective method for the conversion of the ginsenoside Rb1 to Rg3.

  2. Tet1 is required for Rb phosphorylation during G1/S phase transition

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Huang, Shengsong; Zhu, Ziqi; Wang, Yiqin

    2013-05-03

    Highlights: •Tet1 was required for NIT3T3 proliferation. •Tet1 depletion inhibited G1-S entry. •Cyclin D1 accumulation and Rb phosphorylation was blocked by Tet1 knockdown. -- Abstract: DNA methylation plays an important role in many biological processes, including regulation of gene expression, maintenance of chromatin conformation and genomic stability. TET-family proteins convert 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), which indicates that these enzymes may participate in DNA demethylation. The function of TET1 has not yet been well characterized in somatic cells. Here, we show that depletion of Tet1 in NIH3T3 cells inhibits cell growth. Furthermore, Tet1 knockdown blocks cyclin D1 accumulation in G1more » phase, inhibits Rb phosphorylation and consequently delays entrance to G1/S phase. Taken together, this study demonstrates that Tet1 is required for cell proliferation and that this process is mediated through the Rb pathway.« less

  3. Passivation effect of Cl, F and H atoms on CuIn0.75Ga0.25Se2 (1 1 2) surface

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qi, Rong-fei; Wang, Zhao-hui; Tang, Fu-ling; Agbonkina, Itohan C.; Xue, Hong-tao; Si, Feng-juan; Ma, Sheng-ling; Wang, Xiao-ka

    2018-06-01

    Using the first-principles calculations within the density functional-theory (DFT) framework, we theoretically investigated the surface reconstruction, surface states near the Fermi level and their passivation on CuIn0.75Ga0.25Se2 (1 1 2) (CIGS) surface by chlorine, fluorine and hydrogen. Surface reconstruction appears on CIG-terminated CIGS (1 1 2) surface and it is a self-passivation. For the locations of Cl, F and H atoms adsorbing on Se-terminated CIGS (1 1 2) surface, four high symmetry adsorption sites: top sites, bridge sites, hexagonal close-packed (hcp) sites and faced centered cubic (fcc) sites were studied respectively. With the coverage of 0.5 monolayer (ML), Cl, F and H adatoms energetically occupy the top sites on the CIGS (112) surface. The corresponding adsorption energies were -2.20 eV, -3.29 eV, -2.60 eV, respectively. The bond length and electronic properties were analyzed. We found that the surface state density near the Fermi level was markedly diminished for 0.5 ML Cl, F and H adsorption on Se-terminated CIGS (1 1 2) surface at top sites. It was also found that H can more efficiently passivate the surface state density than Cl and F atoms, and the effect of adsorption of Cl atoms is better than that of F.

  4. PP2A: more than a reset switch to activate pRB proteins during the cell cycle and in response to signaling cues

    PubMed Central

    Kurimchak, Alison; Graña, Xavier

    2015-01-01

    In their active hypophosphorylated state, members of the retinoblastoma family of pocket proteins negatively regulate cell cycle progression at least in part by repressing expression of E2F-dependent genes. Mitogen-dependent activation of G1 and G1/S Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDKs) results in coordinated hyperphosphorylation and inactivation of these proteins, which no longer bind and repress E2Fs. S and G2/M CDKs maintain pocket protein hyperphosphorylated through the end of mitosis. The inactivating action of inducible CDKs is opposed by the Ser/Thr protein phosphatases PP2A and PP1. Various trimeric PP2A holoenzymes have been implicated in dephosphorylation of pocket proteins in response to specific cellular signals and stresses or as part of an equilibrium with CDKs throughout the cell cycle. PP1 has specifically been implicated in dephosphorylation of pRB in late mitosis and early G1. This review is particularly focused on the emerging role of PP2A as a major hub for integration of growth suppressor signals that require rapid inactivation of pocket proteins. Of note, activation of particular PP2A holoenzymes triggers differential activation of pocket proteins in the presence of active CDKs.

  5. M2-F1 in flight

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    1964-01-01

    The M2-F1 Lifting Body is seen here under tow by an unseen C-47 at the NASA Flight Research Center (later redesignated the Dryden Flight Research Center), Edwards, California. The low-cost vehicle was the first piloted lifting body to be test flown. The lifting-body concept originated in the mid-1950s at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics' Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Mountain View California. By February 1962, a series of possible shapes had been developed, and R. Dale Reed was working to gain support for a research vehicle. The wingless, lifting body aircraft design was initially concieved as a means of landing an aircraft horizontally after atmospheric reentry. The absence of wings would make the extreme heat of re-entry less damaging to the vehicle. In 1962, Dryden management approved a program to build a lightweight, unpowered lifting body as a prototype to flight test the wingless concept. It would look like a 'flying bathtub,' and was designated the M2-F1, the 'M' referring to 'manned' and 'F' referring to 'flight' version. It featured a plywood shell placed over a tubular steel frame crafted at Dryden. Construction was completed in 1963. The first flight tests of the M2-F1 were over Rogers Dry Lake at the end of a tow rope attached to a hopped-up Pontiac convertible driven at speeds up to about 120 mph. These initial tests produced enough flight data about the M2-F1 to proceed with flights behind a NASA C-47 tow plane at greater altitudes. The C-47 took the craft to an altitude of 12,000 where free flights back to Rogers Dry Lake began. Pilot for the first series of flights of the M2-F1 was NASA research pilot Milt Thompson. Typical glide flights with the M2-F1 lasted about two minutes and reached speeds of 110 to l20 mph. More than 400 ground tows and 77 aircraft tow flights were carried out with the M2-F1. The success of Dryden's M2-F1 program led to NASA's development and construction of two heavyweight lifting bodies based on studies at

  6. Rb + adsorption at the quartz(101)-aqueous interface: comparison of resonant anomalous x-ray reflectivity with ab initio calculations

    DOE PAGES

    Bellucci, Francesco; Lee, Sang Soo; Kubicki, James D.; ...

    2015-01-29

    We study adsorption of Rb + to the quartz(101)–aqueous interface at room temperature with specular X-ray reflectivity, resonant anomalous X-ray reflectivity, and density functional theory. The interfacial water structures observed in deionized water and 10 mM RbCl solution at pH 9.8 were similar, having a first water layer at height of 1.7 ± 0.1 Å above the quartz surface and a second layer at 4.8 ± 0.1 Å and 3.9 ± 0.8 Å for the water and RbCl solutions, respectively. The adsorbed Rb + distribution is broad and consists of presumed inner-sphere (IS) and outer-sphere (OS) complexes at heights ofmore » 1.8 ± 0.1 and 6.4 ± 1.0 Å, respectively. Projector-augmented planewave density functional theory (DFT) calculations of potential configurations for neutral and negatively charged quartz(101) surfaces at pH 7 and 12, respectively, reveal a water structure in agreement with experimental results. These DFT calculations also show differences in adsorbed speciation of Rb + between these two conditions. At pH 7, the lowest energy structure shows that Rb + adsorbs dominantly as an IS complex, whereas at pH 12 IS and OS complexes have equivalent energies. The DFT results at pH 12 are generally consistent with the two site Rb distribution observed from the X-ray data at pH 9.8, albeit with some differences that are discussed. In conclusion, surface charge estimated on the basis of the measured total Rb + coverage was -0.11 C/m 2, in good agreement with the range of the surface charge magnitudes reported in the literature.« less

  7. A repressive role of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 in 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 expression in the human placenta.

    PubMed

    Zuo, Rujuan; Liu, Xiaohui; Wang, Wangsheng; Li, Wenjiao; Ying, Hao; Sun, Kang

    2017-05-05

    The expression of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2), which acts as a placental glucocorticoid barrier, is silenced in cytotrophoblasts but substantially up-regulated during syncytialization. However, the repressive mechanism of 11β-HSD2 expression before syncytialization and how this repression is lifted during syncytialization remain mostly unresolved. Here we found that enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) accounts for the silence of 11β-HSD2 expression via trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 at the promoter of the 11β-HSD2 gene. Further studies revealed that, upon syncytialization, human chorionic gonadotropin reduced the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRB) via activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway, which sequesters E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1), the transcription factor for EZH2 expression. As a result of inactivation of the pRB-E2F1-EZH2 pathway, the repressive marker trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 at the 11β-HSD2 promoter is removed, which leads to the robust expression of 11β-HSD2 during syncytialization. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  8. Ginsenoside Rb1 improves spatial learning and memory by regulation of cell genesis in the hippocampal subregions of rats.

    PubMed

    Liu, Lei; Hoang-Gia, Trinh; Wu, Hui; Lee, Mi-Ra; Gu, Lijuan; Wang, Chunyan; Yun, Beom-Sik; Wang, Qijun; Ye, Shengquan; Sung, Chang-Keun

    2011-03-25

    Ginsenoside Rb1 (Rb1) is known to improve learning and memory in hippocampus-dependent tasks. However, the cellular mechanism remains unknown. Cell genesis in hippocampus is involved in spatial learning and memory. In the present study, Rb1 was orally administrated to adult rats for 30days. The behavioral training tests indicated that Rb1 improved spatial cognitive performance of rats in Morris water maze (MWM). Furthermore, we investigated the effects of Rb1 on cell genesis in adult rats' hippocampus, using thymidine analog bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) as a marker for dividing cells. It has been shown that hippocampal cell genesis can be influenced by several factors such as learning and exercise. In order to avoid the effects of the interfering factors, only the rats treated with Rb1 without training in MWM were used to investigate cell genesis in hippocampus. When BrdU was given to the rats 30days prior to being killed, it was shown that oral administration of Rb1 significantly increased cell survival in dentate gyrus and hippocampal subregion CA3. However, when BrdU was injected 2h prior to sacrifice, the results indicated that Rb1 had no significant influence on cell proliferation in the hippocampal subregions. Thus, an increase of cell survival in hippocampus stimulated by Rb1 may be one of the mechanisms by which ginseng facilitates spatial learning and memory. Our study also indicates that Rb1 may be developed as a therapeutic agent for patients with memory impairment. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Si-F complexing in aqueous fluids: experimental study and implications for transport of immobile elements

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dolejš, David

    2014-05-01

    Intepretation of fluid-mineral interaction mechanisms and hydrothermal fluxes requires knowledge of predominant solubility and speciation reactions and their thermodynamic properties. Fluorine represents a hard electron donor, capable of complexing and transporting high-field strength elements, which are traditionally considered to be immobile. Reactions responsible for element mobility have general form MOx + y HF (aq) + x - y H2O = M(OH)2x-yFy (aq), and their extent and transport efficiency relies on hydrogen fluoride activity. In natural fluids, a[HF] is controlled by various fluorination equilibria including neutralization of silicates with consequent formation of silicohydroxyfluoride complexes. Quartz solubility in HF-H2O fluids was experimentally determined at 400-800 oC and 100-200 MPa using rapid-quench cold-seal pressure vessels and the mineral weight-loss method. Quartz solubility significantly increases in the presence of hydrogen fluoride: at 400 oC and 100 MPa, dissolved SiO2 ranges from 0.18 wt. % in pure H2O to 12.2 wt. % at 8.3 wt. % F in the fluid, whereas at 800 oC and 200 MPa it rises from 1.51 wt. % in pure H2O to 15.3 wt. % at 8.0 wt. % F in the fluid. The isobaric solubilities of quartz appear to be temperature-independent, i.e., effects of temperature vs. fluid density on the solubility are counteracting. The experimental data are described by the density model: log m[SiO2] = a + blog ρ + clog m[F] + dT , where a = -1.049 mol kg-1, b = 0.816 mol cm-3, c = 0.802 and d = 1.256 · 10-3 mol kg-1 K-1. Solubility isotherms have similar d(log m[SiO2])/d(log m[F]) slopes over the entire range of conditions indicating that Si(OH)2F2 is the major aqueous species. Several factors promote breakdown of silicohydroxyfluoride complexes and precipitation of silica solute: (i) decreasing temperature and pressure, i.e., fluid ascent and cooling and/or (ii) neutralization and increase in the alkali/H ratio of fluids during alteration reactions or removal of

  10. Tunable High Q Superconducting Microwave Resonator for Hybrid System with ^87Rb atoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, Zaeill; Voigt, K. D.; Lee, Jongmin; Hoffman, J. E.; Grover, J. A.; Ravets, S.; Zaretskey, V.; Palmer, B. S.; Hafezi, M.; Taylor, J. M.; Anderson, J. R.; Dragt, A. J.; Lobb, C. J.; Orozco, L. A.; Rolston, S. L.; Wellstood, F. C.

    2012-02-01

    We have developed a frequency tuning system for a ``lumped-element'' thin-film superconducting Al microwave resonator [1] on sapphire intended for coupling to hyperfine ground states of cold trapped ^87Rb atoms, which are separated by about fRb=6.83 GHz. At T=12 mK and on resonance at 6.81 GHz, the loaded quality factor was 120,000. By moving a carefully machined Al pin towards the inductor of the resonator using a piezo stage, we were able to tune the resonance frequency over a range of 35 MHz and within a few kHz of fRb. While measuring the power dependent response of the resonator at each tuned frequency, we observed anomalous decreases in the quality factor at several frequencies. These drops were more pronounced at lower power. We discuss our results, which suggest these resonances are attributable to discrete two-level systems.[4pt] [1] Z. Kim et al., AIP ADVANCES 1, 042107 (2011).

  11. Silver(I) complexes of the weakly coordinating solvents SO(2) and CH(2)Cl(2): crystal structures, bonding, and energetics of [Ag(OSO)][Al{OC(CF(3))(3)}(4)], [Ag(OSO)(2/2)][SbF(6)], and [Ag(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)][SbF(6)].

    PubMed

    Decken, Andreas; Knapp, Carsten; Nikiforov, Grigori B; Passmore, Jack; Rautiainen, J Mikko; Wang, Xinping; Zeng, Xiaoqing

    2009-06-22

    Pushing the limits of coordination chemistry: The most weakly coordinated silver complexes of the very weakly coordinating solvents dichloromethane and liquid sulfur dioxide were prepared. Special techniques at low temperatures and the use of weakly coordinating anions allowed structural characterization of [Ag(OSO)][Al{OC(CF(3))(3)}(4)], [Ag(OSO)(2/2)][SbF(6)], and [Ag(Cl(2)CH(2))(2)][SbF(6)] (see figure). An investigation of the bonding shows that these complexes are mainly stabilized by electrostatic monopole-dipole interactions.The synthetically useful solvent-free silver(I) salt Ag[Al(pftb)(4)] (pftb=--OC(CF(3))(3)) was prepared by metathesis reaction of Li[Al(pftb)(4)] with Ag[SbF(6)] in liquid SO(2). The solvated complexes [Ag(OSO)][Al(pftb)(4)], [Ag(OSO)(2/2)][SbF(6)], and [Ag(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)][SbF(6)] were prepared and isolated by special techniques at low temperatures and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The SO(2) complexes provide the first examples of coordination of the very weak Lewis base SO(2) to silver(I). The SO(2) molecule in [Ag(OSO)][Al(pftb)(4)] is eta(1)-O coordinated to Ag(+), while the SO(2) ligands in [Ag(OSO)(2/2)][SbF(6)] bridge two Ag(+) ions in an eta(2)-O,O' (trans,trans) manner. [Ag(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)][SbF(6)] contains [Ag(CH(2)Cl(2))(2)](+) ions linked through [SbF(6)](-) ions to give a polymeric structure. The solid-state silver(I) ion affinities (SIA) of SO(2) and CH(2)Cl(2), based on bond lengths and corresponding valence units in the corresponding complexes and tensimetric titrations of Ag[Al(pftb)(4)] and Ag[SbF(6)] with SO(2) vapor, show that SO(2) is a weaker ligand to Ag(+) than the commonly used weakly coordinating solvent CH(2)Cl(2) and indicated that binding strength of SO(2) to silver(I) in the silver(I) salts increases with increasing size of the corresponding counteranion ([Al(pftb)(4)](-)>[SbF(6)](-)). The experimental findings are in good agreement with theoretical gas-phase ligand

  12. Purification and Protective Efficacy of Monomeric and Modified Yersina pestis Capsular F1-V Antigen Fusion Proteins for Vaccination Against Plague

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2006-12-31

    Yersinia pestis capsular F1-V antigen fusion proteins for vaccination against plague Jeremy L. Goodin a,1, David F. Nellis b,1, Bradford S. Powell a, Vinay...USA Received 4 October 2006, and in revised form 19 December 2006 Available online 31 December 2006Abstract The F1-V vaccine antigen, protective...After a two-dose vaccination with 2 · 20 lg of F1-V, respec- tively, 100%, 80%, 80%, and 70% of injected mice survived a subcutaneous lethal plague

  13. The BPS spectrum of the 4d {N}=2 SCFT's H 1, H 2, D 4, E 6, E 7, E 8

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cecotti, Sergio; Del Zotto, Michele

    2013-06-01

    Extending results of 1112.3984, we show that all rank 1 {N}=2 SCFT's in the sequence H 1, H 2, D 4 E 6, E 7, E 8 have canonical finite BPS chambers containing precisely 2 h(F) = 12(∆ - 1) hypermultiplets. The BPS spectrum of the canonical BPS chambers saturates the conformal central charge c, and satisfies some intriguing numerology.

  14. Ginsenoside Rb1 Treatment Attenuates Pulmonary Inflammatory Cytokine Release and Tissue Injury following Intestinal Ischemia Reperfusion Injury in Mice

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Zhen; Meng, Qing-tao; Sun, Qian; Su, Wating; Xia, Zhengyuan; Xia, Zhong-yuan

    2015-01-01

    Objective. Intestinal ischemia reperfusion (II/R) injury plays a critical role in remote organ dysfunction, such as lung injury, which is associated with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway. In the present study, we tested whether ginsenoside Rb1 attenuated II/R induced lung injury by Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Methods. II/R injury was induced in male C57BL/6J mice by 45 min of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion followed by 2 hours of reperfusion. Ginsenoside Rb1 was administrated prior to reperfusion with or without ATRA (all-transretinoic acid, the inhibitor of Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway) administration before II/R. Results. II/R induced lung histological injury, which is accompanied with increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin- (IL-) 6, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α but decreased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and IL-10 in the lung tissues. Ginsenoside Rb1 reduced lung histological injury and the levels of TNF-α and MDA, as well as wet/dry weight ratio. Interestingly, the increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression induced by II/R in the lung tissues was promoted by ginsenoside Rb1 treatment. All these changes could be inhibited or prevented by ATRA. Conclusion. Ginsenoside Rb1 is capable of ameliorating II/R induced lung injuries by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. PMID:26161243

  15. The Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM): NmF2 and hmF2 specification

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Themens, David; Thayyil Jayachandran, P.

    2017-04-01

    It is well known that the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) suffers reduced accuracy in its representation of monthly median ionospheric electron density at high latitudes (Themens et al. 2014, Themens et al. 2016). These inaccuracies are believed to stem from a historical lack of data from these regions. Now, roughly thirty and forty years after the development of the original URSI and CCIR foF2 maps, respectively, there exists a much larger dataset of high latitude observations of ionospheric electron density. These new measurements come in the form of new ionosonde deployments, such as those of the Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Network, the CHAMP, GRACE, and COSMIC radio occultation missions, and the construction of the Poker Flat, Resolute, and EISCAT Incoherent Scatter Radar systems. These new datasets afford an opportunity to revise the IRI's representation of the high latitude ionosphere. For this purpose, we here introduce the Empirical Canadian High Arctic Ionospheric Model (E-CHAIM), which incorporates all of the above datasets, as well as the older observation records, into a new climatological representation of the high latitude ionosphere. In this presentation, we introduce the NmF2 and hmF2 portions of the model, focusing on both climatological and storm-time representations, and present a validation of the new model with respect to ionosonde observations from four high latitude stations. A comparison with respect to IRI performance is also presented, where we see improvements by up to 70% in the representation of peak electron density through using the new E-CHAIM model. In terms of RMS errors, the E-CHAIM model is shown to represent a near-universal improvement over the IRI, sometimes by more than 1 MHz in foF2. For peak height, the E-CHAIM model demonstrates overall RMS errors of 13km at each test site compared to values of 18-35km for the IRI, depending on location. Themens, D.R., P. T. Jayachandran, et al. (2014). J. Geophys. Res. Space

  16. Protection by Isoprene against Singlet Oxygen in Leaves

    PubMed Central

    Affek, Hagit P.; Yakir, Dan

    2002-01-01

    Isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) protection against effects of singlet oxygen was investigated in Myrtus communis and Rhamnus alaternus. In M. communis, singlet oxygen produced in the leaves by Rose Bengal (RB) led to a 65% decrease in net assimilation rates within 3 h, whereas isoprene emission rates showed either a 30% decrease at ambient CO2 concentrations or a 70% increase under high CO2. In both cases, these changes led to an increase in calculated internal isoprene concentrations. The isoprene protection effect was directly demonstrated by fumigation of young (non-emitting) leaves, treated with RB or bromoxynil (simulating photoinhibition). There was 42% and 29% reduction in the damage to net assimilation compared with non-fumigated leaves for RB or bromoxynil, respectively. In R. alaternus, similar effects of RB on net assimilation were observed, and additional fluorescence measurements showed a significantly smaller decrease in Fv/Fm in isoprene-fumigated young leaves treated with RB (from 0.78 to 0.52), compared with non-fumigated leaves (from 0.77 to 0.27). The internal isoprene concentrations used in this study and possible rate of 1O2 production in leaves indicate that the protective effects observed should be beneficial also under natural conditions. PMID:12011357

  17. Effect of bis(bilato)-1,2-cyclohexanediammineplatinum(II) complexes on lung metastasis of B16-F10 melanoma cells in mice.

    PubMed

    Maeda, M; Suga, T; Takasuka, N; Hoshi, A; Sasaki, T

    1990-12-03

    New platinum(II) complexes, bis(bilato)-1,2-cyclohexanediammineplatinum(II) which were lipophilic and water-miscible, were tested for antitumor activity against lung nodules from intravenously injected B16-F10 melanoma cells in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous administration of the complexes in water suspension form. Among them, DACHP(litho)2 and DACHP(urso)2 had high antitumor activity but others had no activity. The antitumor activity of DACHP(urso)2 was increased significantly by injecting it three times; T/C was over 280% with 100-day survivors of 3 of 6 mice tested. Large amounts of total platinum were found in lung and liver tissues by atomic absorption spectroscopy after single intravenous injection of DACHP(urso)2 suspension in ICR mice.

  18. An Evaluation of Diagnostic Atmospheric Dispersion Models for ’Cold Spill’ Applications at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1992-12-30

    this report was 1ý.F,;,Amdauncdunc Rsearch Professor of Physics Approvei: b K. E. Woel Chairman Department of Physics Released by: P .Mar o, Dean of...R.J. Yamartino, 1987: Environmental Protection Agency complex terrain model development: final rep. EPA/600/3-88/006, U.S., 486 pp. Stull , R.B., 1988...Denmark Mr. Randall Nyman 1 ACTA Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437-5000 Prof. Gordon Schacher 1 Dean of Faculty and Graduate Studies Naval Postgraduate

  19. Production and characterization of soluble human TNFRI-Fc and human HO-1(HMOX1) transgenic pigs by using the F2A peptide.

    PubMed

    Park, Sol Ji; Cho, Bumrae; Koo, Ok Jae; Kim, Hwajung; Kang, Jung Taek; Hurh, Sunghoon; Kim, Su Jin; Yeom, Hye Jung; Moon, Joonho; Lee, Eun Mi; Choi, Ji Yei; Hong, Ju Ho; Jang, Goo; Hwang, Joing-Ik; Yang, Jaeseok; Lee, Byeong Chun; Ahn, Curie

    2014-06-01

    Generation of transgenic pigs for xenotransplantation is one of the most promising technologies for resolving organ shortages. Human heme oxygenase-1 (hHO-1/HMOX1) can protect transplanted organs by its strong anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Soluble human TNFRI-Fc (shTNFRI-Fc) can inhibit the binding of human TNF-α (hTNF-α) to TNF receptors on porcine cells, and thereby, prevent hTNF-α-mediated inflammation and apoptosis. Herein, we successfully generated shTNFRI-Fc-F2A-HA-hHO-1 transgenic (TG) pigs expressing both shTNFRI-Fc and hemagglutinin-tagged-human heme oxygenase-1 (HA-hHO-1) by using an F2A self-cleaving peptide. shTNFRI-Fc and HA-hHO-1 transgenes containing the F2A peptide were constructed under the control of the CAG promoter. Transgene insertion and copy number in the genome of transgenic pigs was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analysis. Expressions of shTNFRI-Fc and HA-hHO-1 in TG pigs were confirmed using PCR, RT-PCR, western blot, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry. shTNFRI-Fc and HA-hHO-1 were expressed in various organs, including the heart, lung, and spleen. ELISA assays detected shTNFRI-Fc in the sera of TG pigs. For functional analysis, fibroblasts isolated from a shTNFRI-Fc-F2A-HA-hHO-1 TG pig (i.e., #14; 1 × 10(5) cells) were cultured with hTNF-α (20 ng/mL) and cycloheximide (10 μg/mL). The viability of shTNFRI-Fc-F2A-HA-hHO-1 TG pig fibroblasts was significantly higher than that of the wild type (wild type vs. shTNFRI-Fc-F2A-HA-hHO-1 TG at 24 h, 31.6 ± 3.2 vs. 60.4 ± 8.3 %, respectively; p < 0.05). Caspase-3/-7 activity of the shTNFRI-Fc-F2A-HA-hHO-1 TG pig fibroblasts was lower than that of the wild type pig fibroblasts (wild type vs. shTNFRI-Fc-F2A-HA-hHO-1 TG at 12 h, 812,452 ± 113,078 RLU vs. 88,240 ± 10,438 RLU, respectively; p < 0.05). These results show that shTNFRI-Fc and HA-hHO-1 TG pigs generated by the F2A self-cleaving peptide express both sh

  20. Platinum Eta 2 -Disilene Complexes: Syntheses, Reactivity, and Structures

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1990-01-01

    CP ýsq:.Prl 25 C. 7 x, ’ .P’ NSi-...H Reaction of R 2Si(H)Si(H)R.2 with Pt Complexes. PI Ih t~ Oxidative additions of monomeric silanes to platinumPhh2...thermally to product I1 2-complexes 2a,b. The reaction of tetrasubstituted 1,2-dihydridodisi- lanes (R2SiH)2 with bis(phosphine);laitinum equivalents...e.g. (diphos)PtCl2 /Li or (diphos)-. Pt(CH2 -CH2) also yielded platinum ’? 2=disilene complexes f6a (R -i-Pr), Qb (R-He), and kc (R- Ph). Reaction of

  1. Thermodynamic modeling of melts in the system Na 2O-NaAlO 2-SiO 2-F 2O -1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dolejš, David; Baker, Don R.

    2005-12-01

    Fluorine is a common volatile element in magmatic-hydrothermal systems, but its solution mechanisms and thermodynamic description in highly polymerized silicate melts are poorly known. We have developed a thermodynamic model for fluorosilicate liquids that links experimentally determined phase equilibria and spectroscopic information on melt structure. The model is applicable to crystallization of fluoride minerals, fluoride-silicate immiscibility in natural felsic melts, and metallurgical processes. Configurational properties of fluorosilicate melts are described by mixing on three site levels (sublattices): (1) alkali fluoride, polyhedral aluminofluoride and silicofluoride species and nonbridging terminations of the aluminosilicate network, (2) alkali-aluminate and silicate tetrahedra within the network and (3) bridging oxygen, nonbridging oxygen and terminal fluorine atoms on tetrahedral apices of the network. Abundances of individual chemical species are described by a homogeneous equilibrium representing melt depolymerization: F - (free) + O 0 (bridging) = F 0 (terminal) + O - (nonbridging) which corresponds to a replacement of an oxygen bridging two tetrahedra by a pair of terminations, one with F and the other with an O and a charge-balancing Na. In cryolite-bearing systems two additional interaction mechanisms occur: (1) the self-dissociation of octahedral aluminofluoride complexes: [AlF 6] = [AlF 4] + 2 [F], and (2) the short-range order between (O,F)-corners and (Si,NaAl)-centers of tetrahedra: Si-O-Si + 2 [NaAl]-F = [NaAl]-O-[NaAl] + 2 Si-F. Portrayal of these equilibria in ternary Thompson reaction space allows for the decrease in the number of interaction mechanisms by linearly combining melt depolymerization with tetrahedral short-range order. In this formulation, the nonideal thermodynamic properties are represented by reaction energies of homogeneous equilibria, thus defining directly individual chemical species concentrations and configurational

  2. Downregulation of Homologous Recombination DNA Repair Genes by HDAC Inhibition in Prostate Cancer Is Mediated through the E2F1 Transcription Factor

    PubMed Central

    Kachhap, Sushant K.; Rosmus, Nadine; Collis, Spencer J.; Kortenhorst, Madeleine S. Q.; Wissing, Michel D.; Hedayati, Mohammad; Shabbeer, Shabana; Mendonca, Janet; Deangelis, Justin; Marchionni, Luigi; Lin, Jianqing; Höti, Naseruddin; Nortier, Johan W. R.; DeWeese, Theodore L.; Hammers, Hans; Carducci, Michael A.

    2010-01-01

    Background Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) re-express silenced tumor suppressor genes and are currently undergoing clinical trials. Although HDACis have been known to induce gene expression, an equal number of genes are downregulated upon HDAC inhibition. The mechanism behind this downregulation remains unclear. Here we provide evidence that several DNA repair genes are downregulated by HDAC inhibition and provide a mechanism involving the E2F1 transcription factor in the process. Methodology/Principal Findings Applying Analysis of Functional Annotation (AFA) on microarray data of prostate cancer cells treated with HDACis, we found a number of genes of the DNA damage response and repair pathways are downregulated by HDACis. AFA revealed enrichment of homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair genes of the BRCA1 pathway, as well as genes regulated by the E2F1 transcription factor. Prostate cancer cells demonstrated a decreased DNA repair capacity and an increased sensitization to chemical- and radio-DNA damaging agents upon HDAC inhibition. Recruitment of key HR repair proteins to the site of DNA damage, as well as HR repair capacity was compromised upon HDACi treatment. Based on our AFA data, we hypothesized that the E2F transcription factors may play a role in the downregulation of key repair genes upon HDAC inhibition in prostate cancer cells. ChIP analysis and luciferase assays reveal that the downregulation of key repair genes is mediated through decreased recruitment of the E2F1 transcription factor and not through active repression by repressive E2Fs. Conclusions/Significance Our study indicates that several genes in the DNA repair pathway are affected upon HDAC inhibition. Downregulation of the repair genes is on account of a decrease in amount and promoter recruitment of the E2F1 transcription factor. Since HDAC inhibition affects several pathways that could potentially have an impact on DNA repair, compromised DNA repair upon HDAC inhibition could

  3. Quantifying the activity of adenoviral E1A CR2 deletion mutants using renilla luciferase bioluminescence and 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine positron emission tomography imaging.

    PubMed

    Leyton, Julius; Lockley, Michelle; Aerts, Joeri L; Baird, Sarah K; Aboagye, Eric O; Lemoine, Nicholas R; McNeish, Iain A

    2006-09-15

    The adenoviral E1A CR2 mutant dl922-947 has potent activity in ovarian cancer. We have used Renilla luciferase bioluminescence imaging to monitor viral E1A expression and replication and [18F]fluorothymidine positron emission tomography ([18F]FLT-PET) to quantify the activity of dl922-947 in vivo. We created dlCR2 Ren, with the same E1A CR2 deletion as dl922-947 and the luciferase gene from Renilla reniformis downstream of E1. Light emitted from s.c. and i.p. IGROV1 ovarian carcinoma xenografts was measured following treatment with dlCR2 Ren. Mice bearing s.c. IGROV1 xenografts were injected with 2.96 to 3.7 MBq of [18F]FLT 48 and 168 hours following i.t. injection of dl922-947 or control virus Ad LM-X. The presence of Renilla luciferase in dlCR2 Ren did not reduce in vitro nor in vivo potency compared with dl922-947. Light emission correlated closely with E1A expression in vitro and peaked 48 hours after dlCR2 Ren injection in both s.c. and i.p. IGROV1 xenografts. It diminished by 168 hours in s.c. tumors but persisted for at least 2 weeks in i.p. models. Normalized tumor [18F]FLT uptake at 60 minutes (NUV60), fractional retention, and area under radioactivity curve all decreased marginally 48 hours after dl922-947 treatment and significantly at 168 hours compared with controls. There was a close linear correlation between NUV60 and both tumor proliferation (Ki67 labeling index) and thymidine kinase 1 expression. Renilla luciferase bioluminescence and [18F]FLT-PET imaging are capable of quantifying the activity and effectiveness of E1A CR2-deleted adenoviral mutants in ovarian cancer.

  4. Proton decay of 73Rb

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rogers, Andrew; Anderson, C.; Barney, J.; Estee, J.; Lynch, W. G.; Manfredi, J.; Setiawan, H.; Showalter, R. H.; Sweany, S.; Tangwancharoen, S.; Tsang, M. B.; Winkelbauer, J. R.; Brown, K. W.; Elson, J. M.; Pruitt, C.; Sobotka, L. G.; Chajecki, Z.; Lee, J.

    2017-09-01

    Properties of nuclei beyond the proton drip-line are important for mass models, nuclear structure, and astrophysics. Weakly-bound or proton-unbound nuclei near the rp-process waiting points, such as the unbound Tz = -1/2 nucleus 73Rb, play a critical role in constraining calculations and observations of type I x-ray bursts. For instance, the rp process is greatly slowed near 72Kr (N = Z) due to its relatively long β-decay half life and inhibited proton capture. This waiting point, however, may be bypassed by sequential 2p-capture through 73Rb -a reaction which is sensitive to the 73Rb proton separation energy, Sp. Using invariant-mass spectroscopy, we have performed an experiment at NSCL to measure the decay of 73Rb ->p+72Kr in an attempt to directly determine Sp (73Rb) . Analysis of reconstructed proton-emission spectra and decay signatures will be discussed. This work is supported by the U.S. DOE Office of Nuclear Physics, Award No. DE-FG02-94ER40848.

  5. Photoassociation of cold (RbCs)2 tetramers in the ground electronic state

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gacesa, Marko; Côté, Robin

    2017-04-01

    We theoretically investigate prospects for photoassociative formation of cold (RbCs)2 tetramers from a pair of ultracold RbCs molecules. The long-range region of the potential energy surface (PES) of the lowest electronic state of (RbCs)2 can be affected by orienting both RbCs molecules by an external electric field. In fact, we find a long-range barrier that supports long-range shelf states for relative angles between the dimers' internuclear axes smaller than about 20°. We show that these shelf states can be populated by spontaneous decay from the first excited electronic state which can be efficiently populated by photoassociation from the scattering continuum at ultracold temperatures. The vibrationally excited ground-state tetramer molecules formed this way have sufficiently long lifetimes to allow experimental detection. Moreover, for the relative angles between the dimers close to 20°, the proposed approach may result in production of deeply bound tetramers. Partially supported by the NASA Postdoctoral Program at the NASA Ames Research Center, administered by USRA and the MURI US Army Research Office Grant No. W911NF-14-1-0378 (MG), and by the PIF program of the National Science Foundation Grant No. PHY-141556.

  6. Effect of enzyme on extraction of ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg3 from Panax notoginseng roots

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Phuong, Nguyen Tran Xuan; Thy, Lu Thi Mong; Khang, Nguyen Luu Vinh; My, Huynh Thi Kieu; Tam, Nguyen Le Phuong; Hieu, Nguyen Huu

    2018-04-01

    Panax notoginseng is distributed throughout the north and northwest of Vietnam, especially Ha Giang, Lao Cai, and Cao Bang provinces. The root of this plant contains ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rd, Rg3), flavonoids, polyacetylene, polysaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, and peptides. In this study, the ratios of enzyme (Viscozyme, Termamyl, Cellulase), solvent of components, and time extraction were investigated. The results showed that the highest contents of Rb1 and Rg3 were achieved in the sample extracted with the ratio of enzymes V:C:T = 1:0:0, ethanol:water (60:40, v/v) as extracting solvent in 45 minutes. Then, conditions of high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector method to determine the content of ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg3 in the roots of Panax notoginseng were studied, including wavelength, mobile phase, and flow rate. The separation was subjected on a reversed-phase C18 column using acetonitrile (A) and water (B) as mobile phase. The gradient elution was set as follow: 0-10 min, 15-25% A; 10-20 min, 25-30% A; 20-40 min, 30-60% A; 40-60 min, 60-80% A; and 60-65 min back to 15% A before the next injection, at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min, and the wavelength was set at 202 nm. The linear range was from 298.59 to 696.72 µg/mL for Rb1 and from 8.19 to 19.10 µg/L for Rg3. The limits of detection for Rb1 and Rg3 obtained were 0.31 µg/mL and 0.33 µg/mL, respectively. The limits of quantification were 0.95 µg/mL and 1.01 µg/mL for Rb1 and Rg3, respectively. Consequently, the high performance liquid chromatography demonstrated the highly sensitive and accurate method for determination of Rb1 and Rg3 in Panax notoginseng.

  7. Magnetoelectric effect in antiferromagnetic multiferroic Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2)O3 and its solid solutions with PbTi O3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Laguta, V. V.; Stephanovich, V. A.; Raevski, I. P.; Raevskaya, S. I.; Titov, V. V.; Smotrakov, V. G.; Eremkin, V. V.

    2017-01-01

    Antiferromagnets (AFMs) are presently considered as promising materials for applications in spintronics and random access memories due to the robustness of information stored in the AFM state against perturbing magnetic fields. In this respect, AFM multiferroics may be attractive alternatives for conventional AFMs as the coupling of magnetism with ferroelectricity (magnetoelectric effect) offers an elegant possibility of electric-field control and switching of AFM domains. Here we report the results of comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigations of the quadratic magnetoelectric (ME) effect in single crystals and highly resistive ceramics of Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2)O3 (PFN) and (1 -x ) Pb (F e1 /2N b1 /2) O3-x PbTi O3(PFN -x PT ) . We are interested primarily in the temperature range of the multiferroic phase, T <150 K , where the ME coupling coefficient is extremely large (as compared to the well-known multiferroic BiFe O3 ) and shows sign reversal at the paramagnetic-to-antiferromagnetic phase transition. Moreover, we observe strong ME response nonlinearity in the AFM phase in the magnetic fields of only a few kOe. To describe the temperature and magnetic field dependencies of the above unusual features of the ME effect in PFN and PFN-x PT , we use a simple phenomenological Landau approach which explains experimental data surprisingly well. Our ME measurements demonstrate that the electric field of only 20-25 kV/cm is able to switch the AFM domains and align them with ferroelectric ones even in PFN ceramic samples.

  8. Protective effects of a topical antioxidant complex containing vitamins C and E and ferulic acid against ultraviolet irradiation-induced photodamage in Chinese women.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yan; Zheng, Xin; Xu, Xue-Gang; Li, Yuan-Hong; Wang, Bin; Gao, Xing-Hua; Chen, Hong-Duo; Yatskayer, Margarita; Oresajo, Christian

    2013-04-01

    The objective of the study was to investigate whether a topical antioxidant complex containing vitamins C and E and ferulic acid can protect solar-simulated ultraviolet irradiation (ssUVR)-induced acute photodamage in human skin. Twelve healthy female Chinese subjects were enrolled in this study. Four unexposed sites on dorsal skin were marked for the experiment. The products containing antioxidant complex and vehicle were applied onto 2 sites, respectively, for 4 consecutive days. On day 4, the antioxidant complex-treated site, the vehicle-treated site, and the untreated site (positive control) received ssUVR (5 times the minimal erythema dose). The fourth site (negative control) received neither ssUVR nor treatment. Digital photographs were taken, and skin color was measured pre- and postirradiation. Skin biopsies were obtained 24 hours after exposure to ssUVR, for hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining. A single, 5 times the minimal erythema dose of ssUVR substantially induced large amounts of sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, overexpression of p53 protein, and depletion of CD1a+ Langerhans cells. The antioxidant complex containing vitamins C and E and ferulic acid conferred significant protection against biological events compared with other irradiated sites. A topical antioxidant complex containing vitamins C and E and ferulic acid has potential photoprotective effects against ssUVR-induced acute photodamage in human skin.

  9. NLRX1 prevents mitochondrial induced apoptosis and enhances macrophage antiviral immunity by interacting with influenza virus PB1-F2 protein

    PubMed Central

    Jaworska, Joanna; Coulombe, François; Downey, Jeffrey; Tzelepis, Fanny; Shalaby, Karim; Tattoli, Ivan; Berube, Julie; Rousseau, Simon; Martin, James G.; Girardin, Stephen E.; McCullers, Jonathan A.; Divangahi, Maziar

    2014-01-01

    To subvert host immunity, influenza A virus (IAV) induces early apoptosis in innate immune cells by disrupting mitochondria membrane potential via its polymerase basic protein 1-frame 2 (PB1-F2) accessory protein. Whether immune cells have mechanisms to counteract PB1-F2–mediated apoptosis is currently unknown. Herein, we define that the host mitochondrial protein nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR)X1 binds to viral protein PB1-F2, preventing IAV-induced macrophage apoptosis and promoting both macrophage survival and type I IFN signaling. We initially observed that Nlrx1-deficient mice infected with IAV exhibited increased pulmonary viral replication, as well as enhanced inflammatory-associated pulmonary dysfunction and morbidity. Analysis of the lungs of IAV-infected mice revealed markedly enhanced leukocyte recruitment but impaired production of type I IFN in Nlrx1−/− mice. Impaired type I IFN production and enhanced viral replication was recapitulated in Nlrx1−/− macrophages and was associated with increased mitochondrial mediated apoptosis. Through gain- and loss-of-function strategies for protein interaction, we identified that NLRX1 directly bound PB1-F2 in the mitochondria of macrophages. Using a recombinant virus lacking PB1-F2, we confirmed that deletion of PB1-F2 abrogated NLRX1-dependent macrophage type I IFN production and apoptosis. Thus, our results demonstrate that NLRX1 acts as a mitochondrial sentinel protecting macrophages from PB1-F2–induced apoptosis and preserving their antiviral function. We further propose that NLRX1 is critical for macrophage immunity against IAV infection by sensing the extent of viral replication and maintaining a protective balance between antiviral immunity and excessive inflammation within the lungs. PMID:24799673

  10. Structural model of the hUbA1-UbcH10 quaternary complex: in silico and experimental analysis of the protein-protein interactions between E1, E2 and ubiquitin.

    PubMed

    Correale, Stefania; de Paola, Ivan; Morgillo, Carmine Marco; Federico, Antonella; Zaccaro, Laura; Pallante, Pierlorenzo; Galeone, Aldo; Fusco, Alfredo; Pedone, Emilia; Luque, F Javier; Catalanotti, Bruno

    2014-01-01

    UbcH10 is a component of the Ubiquitin Conjugation Enzymes (Ubc; E2) involved in the ubiquitination cascade controlling the cell cycle progression, whereby ubiquitin, activated by E1, is transferred through E2 to the target protein with the involvement of E3 enzymes. In this work we propose the first three dimensional model of the tetrameric complex formed by the human UbA1 (E1), two ubiquitin molecules and UbcH10 (E2), leading to the transthiolation reaction. The 3D model was built up by using an experimentally guided incremental docking strategy that combined homology modeling, protein-protein docking and refinement by means of molecular dynamics simulations. The structural features of the in silico model allowed us to identify the regions that mediate the recognition between the interacting proteins, revealing the active role of the ubiquitin crosslinked to E1 in the complex formation. Finally, the role of these regions involved in the E1-E2 binding was validated by designing short peptides that specifically interfere with the binding of UbcH10, thus supporting the reliability of the proposed model and representing valuable scaffolds for the design of peptidomimetic compounds that can bind selectively to Ubcs and inhibit the ubiquitylation process in pathological disorders.

  11. Nonequivalence of chemical and hydrostatic pressures: A1g and Eg frequencies and Stokes shift of Mn2+-doped perovskites

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Barriuso, M. T.; Moreno, M.; Aramburu, J. A.

    2002-02-01

    The frequency of A1g and Eg modes of MnF4-6 in cubic ABF3 (A: K; B: Mg, Zn and A: Rb, Cs; B: Cd, Ca) perovskites has been derived through density functional calculations on MnF6A8B16+6 clusters which reproduce the experimental impurity-ligand distance Re. Both frequencies are found to experience a drastic decrement on passing from KMgF3:Mn2+ (ħωA=556 cm-1, ħωE=456 cm-1) to CsCdF3:Mn2+ (ħωA=317 cm-1, ħωE=239 cm-1) despite the fact that Re increases only by 5%, leading to effective Grüneisen constants (called γcA and γcE) around 3.0 along the series. This figure is 60% higher than the usual Grüneisen constant γA calculated for a given system like KMgF3:Mn2+ or KZnF3:Mn2+ when hydrostatic pressure is applied. For supporting this relevant result the value of γA for CrF3-6 in a fluoroelpasolite has been calculated as well. The obtained value γA=2.1 is close to the experimental one (γA=1.9) derived in K2NaGaF6:Cr3+ by combined optical and Raman measurements. As a salient feature, the increase of the Stokes shift when Re increases observed along the ABF3:Mn2+ series is now well explained through the bigger variations of A1g and Eg frequencies induced by the chemical pressure in comparison to those coming from an hydrostatic pressure on a given system. The difference between γcA and γA is discussed through a simple model that emphasizes the role played by the coupling of the MnF4-6 complex to the lattice. The influence of chemical and hydrostatic pressures upon the luminescence efficiency is also briefly discussed. Attention is addressed to the method of calculating impurity-associated Grüneisen constants using clusters. Recent results on Cr3+ in several cubic chloroelpasolites that support the present conclusions are briefly discussed as well.

  12. Micaschist and Impure Marble - two Examples for Lithology Related Constraints to Rb-Sr Microsampling Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wegmann, M. I.; Hammerschmidt, K.

    2003-12-01

    Retrograde overprinted calcite-bearing micaschists and mica-containing marbles from the northern part of the Cycladic blueschist belt on South-Evia, Greece, have been investigated to understand the interplay between bulk rock chemistry, mineral assemblage and resetting of the Rb-Sr isotope system during deformation. White mica represents two optical distinguishable microstructures, isoclinal folds (S1) and axial plain cleavage (S2) induced by flattening and elongation episode of isothermal exhumation. The varying Si content of phengites is not related to microstructures. Due to microstructural complexity and grain size variation the application of Rb-Sr microsampling method was expected effective investigation of Rb and Sr rich mineral phases to elucidate constraints for geochronological and isotope geochemical imprint in microstructures. Drilling out calcite, albite and mica samples with weights down to 200æg each out of 30æm thick sections realized textural controlled separation. Calculated Rb-Sr mica ages show lithology-related scattering but totally not microstructural induced variation. Particulary, S1 and S2 phengites in micaschist yield similar age values around 31 Ma. In contrast, impure marble mica within similar S1 and S2 have Rb-Sr mica ages widely scattering between 34 and 50 Ma. Therefore, structural elements formed by these phengites are not distinguishable in terms of geochronolgy. Explaining the scatter of age values, principally, two possibilities were taken into account, (i) the fluid flux neccessary to homogenize Sr isotope composition in mica and calcite (albite) might have been less effective in impure marble than in micaschist due to the generation of CO2. In constrast to this possibility, calcite 87Sr/86Sr in both specimen are quite homogeneous at least on cm-scale, e.g. values of 0.712125 ñ 66 (2s) for impure marble and of 0.721419 ñ 42 for micaschist were meassured. Albite 87Sr/86Sr corroborate Sr homogenisation on scale this study was

  13. Incorporation of a recombinant Eimeria maxima IMP1 antigen into nanoparticles confers protective immunity against E. maxima challenge infection

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The purpose of this study was to determine if incorporating a recombinant Eimeria maxima protein, namely rEmaxIMP1, into gold nanoparticles (NP) could improve the level of protective immunity against E. maxima challenge infection. Recombinant EmaxIMP1 was expressed in Escherchia coli as a poly-His f...

  14. Expression of retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) in mantle cell lymphomas. Correlation with cyclin D1 (PRAD1/CCND1) mRNA levels and proliferative activity.

    PubMed Central

    Jares, P.; Campo, E.; Pinyol, M.; Bosch, F.; Miquel, R.; Fernandez, P. L.; Sanchez-Beato, M.; Soler, F.; Perez-Losada, A.; Nayach, I.; Mallofré, C.; Piris, M. A.; Montserrat, E.; Cardesa, A.

    1996-01-01

    Mantle cell lymphomas (MCLs) are molecularly characterized by bcl-1 rearrangement and constant cyclin D1 (PRAD-1/CCND1) gene overexpression. Cyclin D1 is a G1 cyclin that participates in the control of the cell cycle progression by interacting with the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb). Inactivation of the Rb tumor suppressor gene has been implicated in the development of different types of human tumors including some high grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. To determine the role of the retinoblastoma gene in the pathogenesis of MCLs and its possible interaction with cyclin D1, pRb expression was examined in 23 MCLs including 17 typical and 6 blastic variants by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Rb gene structure was studied in 13 cases by Southern blot. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in 5 cases. The results were compared with the cyclin D1 mRNA levels examined by Northern analysis, and the proliferative activity of the tumors was measured by Ki-67 growth fraction and flow cytometry. pRb was expressed in all MCLs. The expression varied from case to case (mean, 14.1% of positive cells; range, 1.3 to 42%) with a significant correlation with the proliferative activity of the tumors (mitotic index r = 0.85; Ki-67 r = 0.7; S phase = 0.73). Blastic variants showed higher numbers of pRb-positive cells (mean, 29%) than the typical cases (10%; P < 0.005) by immunohistochemistry and, concordantly, higher levels of expression by Western blot. In addition, the blastic cases also had an increased expression of the phosphorylated protein. No alterations in Rb gene structure were observed by Southern blot analysis. Cyclin D1 mRNA levels were independent of pRb expression and the proliferative activity of the tumors. These findings suggest that pRb in MCLs is normally regulated in relation to the proliferative activity of the tumors. Cyclin D1 overexpression may play a role in the maintenance of cell proliferation by overcoming the suppressive growth control of pRb. Images

  15. Disruption of the G1/S Transition in Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7-Expressing Human Cells Is Associated with Altered Regulation of Cyclin E

    PubMed Central

    Martin, Larry G.; Demers, G. William; Galloway, Denise A.

    1998-01-01

    The development of neoplasia frequently involves inactivation of the p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor suppressor pathways and disruption of cell cycle checkpoints that monitor the integrity of replication and cell division. The human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) oncoproteins, E6 and E7, have been shown to bind p53 and Rb, respectively. To further delineate the mechanisms by which E6 and E7 affect cell cycle control, we examined various aspects of the cell cycle machinery. The low-risk HPV-6 E6 and E7 proteins did not cause any significant change in the levels of cell cycle proteins analyzed. HPV-16 E6 resulted in very low levels of p53 and p21 and globally elevated cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activity. In contrast, HPV-16 E7 had a profound effect on several aspects of the cell cycle machinery. A number of cyclins and CDKs were elevated, and despite the elevation of the levels of at least two CDK inhibitors, p21 and p16, CDK activity was globally increased. Most strikingly, cyclin E expression was deregulated both transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally and persisted at high levels in S and G2/M. Transit through G1 was shortened by the premature activation of cyclin E-associated kinase activity. Elevation of cyclin E levels required both the CR1 and CR2 domains of E7. These data suggest that cyclin E may be a critical target of HPV-16 E7 in the disruption of G1/S cell cycle progression and that the ability of E7 to regulate cyclin E involves activities in addition to the release of E2F. PMID:9444990

  16. Lipoxin A4-Induced Heme Oxygenase-1 Protects Cardiomyocytes against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury via p38 MAPK Activation and Nrf2/ARE Complex

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Xiao-Qing; Wu, Sheng-Hua; Zhou, Yu; Tang, Yan-Rong

    2013-01-01

    Objective To investigate whether lipoxin A4 (LXA4) increases expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) in cardiomyocytes, whether LXA4-induced HO-1 protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury, and what are the mechanisms involved in the LXA4-induced HO-1 induction. Methods Rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to H/R injury with or without preincubation with LXA4 or HO-1 inhibitor ZnPP-IX or various signal molecule inhibitors. Expressions of HO-1 protein and mRNA were analyzed by using Western blot and RT-PCR respectively. Activity of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) binding to the HO-1 E1 enhancer was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Nrf2 binding to the HO-1 antioxidant responsive element (ARE) were measured by using electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results Pretreatment of the cells undergoing H/R lesion with LXA4 significantly reduced the lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase productions, increased the cell viability, and increased the expressions of HO-1 protein and mRNA and HO-1 promoter activity. HO-1 inhibition abolished the protective role of LXA4 on the cells undergoing H/R lesion. LXA4 increased p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) activation, nuclear translocation of Nrf2, Nrf2 binding to the HO-1 ARE and E1 enhancer in cardiomyocytes with or without H/R exposure. Conclusion The protection role of LXA4 against H/R injury of cardiomyocytes is related to upregulation of HO-1, via activation of p38 MAPK pathway and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and Nrf2 binding to the HO-1 ARE and E1 enhancer, but not via activation of phosphatidyinositol-3-kinase or extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway. PMID:23826208

  17. Sibling rivalry in the E2F family.

    PubMed

    Trimarchi, Jeffrey M; Lees, Jacqueline A

    2002-01-01

    The E2F transcription factor family determines whether or not a cell will divide by controlling the expression of key cell-cycle regulators. The individual E2Fs can be divided into distinct subgroups that act in direct opposition to one another to promote either cellular proliferation or cell-cycle exit and terminal differentiation. What is the underlying molecular basis of this 'push-me-pull-you' regulation, and what are its biological consequences?

  18. 40 CFR 721.10171 - 1H-benz(e)indolium, 1,1,2,3-tetramethyl-, 4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid (1:1).

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 40 Protection of Environment 30 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false 1H-benz(e)indolium, 1,1,2,3... SUBSTANCES Significant New Uses for Specific Chemical Substances § 721.10171 1H-benz(e)indolium, 1,1,2,3... reporting. (1) The chemical substance identified as 1H-benz(e)indolium, 1,1,2,3-tetramethyl-, 4...

  19. An Influenza HA and M2e Based Vaccine Delivered by a Novel Attenuated Salmonella Mutant Protects Mice against Homologous H1N1 Infection.

    PubMed

    Hajam, Irshad A; Lee, John H

    2017-01-01

    Attenuated Salmonella strains constitute a promising technology for the development of a more efficient multivalent protein based vaccines. In this study, we constructed a novel attenuated strain of Salmonella for the delivery and expression of the H1N1 hemagglutinin (HA) and the conserved extracellular domain of the matrix protein 2 (M2e). We demonstrated that the constructed Salmonella strain exhibited efficient HA and M2e protein expressions and little cytotoxicity and pathogenicity in mice. Using BALB/c mice as the model, we showed that the mice vaccinated with a Salmonella strain expressing HA and M2e protein antigens, respectively, induced significant production of HA and M2e-specific serum IgG1 and IgG2a responses, and of anti-HA interferon-γ producing T cells. Furthermore, immunization with Salmonella-HA-M2e-based vaccine via different routes provided protection in 66.66% orally, 100% intramuscularly, and 100% intraperitoneally immunized mice against the homologous H1N1 virus while none of the animals survived treated with either the PBS or the Salmonella carrying empty expression vector. Ex vivo stimulated dendritic cells (DCs) with heat killed Salmonella expressing HA demonstrated that DCs play an important role in the elicitation of HA-specific humoral immune responses in mice. In summary, Salmonella -HA-M2e-based vaccine elicits efficient antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, and provides significant immune protection against a highly pathogenic H1N1 influenza virus.

  20. Coregulation of FANCA and BRCA1 in human cells.

    PubMed

    Haitjema, Anneke; Mol, Berber M; Kooi, Irsan E; Massink, Maarten Pg; Jørgensen, Jens Al; Rockx, Davy Ap; Rooimans, Martin A; de Winter, Johan P; Meijers-Heijboer, Hanne; Joenje, Hans; Dorsman, Josephine C

    2014-01-01

    Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetically heterogeneous syndrome associated with increased cancer predisposition. The underlying genes govern the FA pathway which functions to protect the genome during the S-phase of the cell cycle. While upregulation of FA genes has been linked to chemotherapy resistance, little is known about their regulation in response to proliferative stimuli. The purpose of this study was to examine how FA genes are regulated, especially in relation to the cell cycle, in order to reveal their possible participation in biochemical networks. Expression of 14 FA genes was monitored in two human cell-cycle models and in two RB1/E2F pathway-associated primary cancers, retinoblastoma and basal breast cancer. In silico studies were performed to further evaluate coregulation and identify connected networks and diseases. Only FANCA was consistently induced over 2-fold; FANCF failed to exhibit any regulatory fluctuations. Two tools exploiting public data sets indicated coregulation of FANCA with BRCA1. Upregulation of FANCA and BRCA1 correlated with upregulation of E2F3. Genes coregulated with both FANCA and BRCA1 were enriched for MeSH-Term id(s) genomic instability, microcephaly, and Bloom syndrome, and enriched for the cellular component centrosome. The regulation of FA genes appears highly divergent. In RB1-linked tumors, upregulation of FA network genes was associated with reduced expression of FANCF. FANCA and BRCA1 may jointly act in a subnetwork - supporting vital function(s) at the subcellular level (centrosome) as well as at the level of embryonic development (mechanisms controlling head circumference).

  1. Word Frequency Analysis. MOS: 91E. Skill Levels 1 & 2.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1981-05-01

    QUALITY 2 QUART I QUIET..AIR I READY 2 RECORD-DENfAC 2 REDUCE 2 REMOVAL 2 REPLACE 2 REPORTED 2 REPRODUCTION I REQUIRES 2 RESERVOIR 2 RESIDUE 2...IVE 14 (- IVF ; I GLASS * Gk 1 - S r,?AVxAL~v GkA46 3 GREASE I.~~1 I. .U6F3tRi~E GFIEV INC I~. ot tit I11 rl (1w: 1FEE Aj~P~ S-.AV IAG F PI Hll tUSI

  2. Overexpression of E2F3 promotes proliferation of functional human β cells without induction of apoptosis

    PubMed Central

    Rady, Brian; Chen, Yanmei; Vaca, Pilar; Wang, Qian; Wang, Yong; Salmon, Patrick; Oberholzer, José

    2013-01-01

    The mechanisms that control proliferation, or lack thereof, in adult human β cells are poorly understood. Controlled induction of proliferation could dramatically expand the clinical application of islet cell transplantation and represents an important component of regenerative approaches to a functional cure of diabetes. Adult human β cells are particularly resistant to common proliferative targets and often dedifferentiate during proliferation. Here we show that expression of the transcription factor E2F3 has a role in regulating β-cell quiescence and proliferation. We found human islets have virtually no expression of the pro-proliferative G1/S transcription factors E2F1–3, but an abundance of inhibitory E2Fs 4–6. In proliferative human insulinomas, inhibitory E2Fs were absent, while E2F3 is expressed. Using this pattern as a “roadmap” for proliferation, we demonstrated that ectopic expression of nuclear E2F3 induced significant expansion of insulin-positive cells in both rat and human islets. These cells did not undergo apoptosis and retained their glucose-responsive insulin secretion, showing the ability to reverse diabetes in mice. Our results suggest that E2F4–6 may help maintain quiescence in human β cells and identify E2F3 as a novel target to induce proliferation of functional β cells. Refinement of this approach may increase the islets available for cell-based therapies and research and could provide important cues for understanding in vivo proliferation of β cells. PMID:23907129

  3. Measurement of the electron structure function F2e at LEP energies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdallah, J.; Abreu, P.; Adam, W.; Adzic, P.; Albrecht, T.; Alemany-Fernandez, R.; Allmendinger, T.; Allport, P. P.; Amaldi, U.; Amapane, N.; Amato, S.; Anashkin, E.; Andreazza, A.; Andringa, S.; Anjos, N.; Antilogus, P.; Apel, W.-D.; Arnoud, Y.; Ask, S.; Asman, B.; Augustin, J. E.; Augustinus, A.; Baillon, P.; Ballestrero, A.; Bambade, P.; Barbier, R.; Bardin, D.; Barker, G. J.; Baroncelli, A.; Battaglia, M.; Baubillier, M.; Becks, K.-H.; Begalli, M.; Behrmann, A.; Belous, K.; Ben-Haim, E.; Benekos, N.; Benvenuti, A.; Berat, C.; Berggren, M.; Bertrand, D.; Besancon, M.; Besson, N.; Bloch, D.; Blom, M.; Bluj, M.; Bonesini, M.; Boonekamp, M.; Booth, P. S. L.; Borisov, G.; Botner, O.; Bouquet, B.; Bowcock, T. J. V.; Boyko, I.; Bracko, M.; Brenner, R.; Brodet, E.; Bruckman, P.; Brunet, J. M.; Buschbeck, B.; Buschmann, P.; Calvi, M.; Camporesi, T.; Canale, V.; Carena, F.; Castro, N.; Cavallo, F.; Chapkin, M.; Charpentier, Ph.; Checchia, P.; Chierici, R.; Chliapnikov, P.; Chudoba, J.; Chung, S. U.; Cieslik, K.; Collins, P.; Contri, R.; Cosme, G.; Cossutti, F.; Costa, M. J.; Crennell, D.; Cuevas, J.; D'Hondt, J.; da Silva, T.; da Silva, W.; Della Ricca, G.; de Angelis, A.; de Boer, W.; de Clercq, C.; de Lotto, B.; de Maria, N.; de Min, A.; de Paula, L.; di Ciaccio, L.; di Simone, A.; Doroba, K.; Drees, J.; Eigen, G.; Ekelof, T.; Ellert, M.; Elsing, M.; Espirito Santo, M. C.; Fanourakis, G.; Fassouliotis, D.; Feindt, M.; Fernandez, J.; Ferrer, A.; Ferro, F.; Flagmeyer, U.; Foeth, H.; Fokitis, E.; Fulda-Quenzer, F.; Fuster, J.; Gandelman, M.; Garcia, C.; Gavillet, Ph.; Gazis, E.; Gokieli, R.; Golob, B.; Gomez-Ceballos, G.; Gonçalves, P.; Graziani, E.; Grosdidier, G.; Grzelak, K.; Guy, J.; Haag, C.; Hallgren, A.; Hamacher, K.; Hamilton, K.; Haug, S.; Hauler, F.; Hedberg, V.; Hennecke, M.; Hoffman, J.; Holmgren, S.-O.; Holt, P. J.; Houlden, M. A.; Jackson, J. N.; Jarlskog, G.; Jarry, P.; Jeans, D.; Johansson, E. K.; Jonsson, P.; Joram, C.; Jungermann, L.; Kapusta, F.; Katsanevas, S.; Katsoufis, E.; Kernel, G.; Kersevan, B. P.; Kerzel, U.; King, B. T.; Kjaer, N. J.; Kluit, P.; Kokkinias, P.; Kourkoumelis, C.; Kouznetsov, O.; Krumstein, Z.; Kucharczyk, M.; Lamsa, J.; Leder, G.; Ledroit, F.; Leinonen, L.; Leitner, R.; Lemonne, J.; Lepeltier, V.; Lesiak, T.; Liebig, W.; Liko, D.; Lipniacka, A.; Lopes, J. H.; Lopez, J. M.; Loukas, D.; Lutz, P.; Lyons, L.; MacNaughton, J.; Malek, A.; Maltezos, S.; Mandl, F.; Marco, J.; Marco, R.; Marechal, B.; Margoni, M.; Marin, J.-C.; Mariotti, C.; Markou, A.; Martinez-Rivero, C.; Masik, J.; Mastroyiannopoulos, N.; Matorras, F.; Matteuzzi, C.; Mazzucato, F.; Mazzucato, M.; Mc Nulty, R.; Meroni, C.; Migliore, E.; Mitaroff, W.; Mjoernmark, U.; Moa, T.; Moch, M.; Moenig, K.; Monge, R.; Montenegro, J.; Moraes, D.; Moreno, S.; Morettini, P.; Mueller, U.; Muenich, K.; Mulders, M.; Mundim, L.; Murray, W.; Muryn, B.; Myatt, G.; Myklebust, T.; Nassiakou, M.; Navarria, F.; Nawrocki, K.; Nemecek, S.; Nicolaidou, R.; Nikolenko, M.; Oblakowska-Mucha, A.; Obraztsov, V.; Olshevski, A.; Onofre, A.; Orava, R.; Osterberg, K.; Ouraou, A.; Oyanguren, A.; Paganoni, M.; Paiano, S.; Palacios, J. P.; Palka, H.; Papadopoulou, Th. D.; Pape, L.; Parkes, C.; Parodi, F.; Parzefall, U.; Passeri, A.; Passon, O.; Peralta, L.; Perepelitsa, V.; Perrotta, A.; Petrolini, A.; Piedra, J.; Pieri, L.; Pierre, F.; Pimenta, M.; Piotto, E.; Podobnik, T.; Poireau, V.; Pol, M. E.; Polok, G.; Pozdniakov, V.; Pukhaeva, N.; Pullia, A.; Radojicic, D.; Rebecchi, P.; Rehn, J.; Reid, D.; Reinhardt, R.; Renton, P.; Richard, F.; Ridky, J.; Rivero, M.; Rodriguez, D.; Romero, A.; Ronchese, P.; Roudeau, P.; Rovelli, T.; Ruhlmann-Kleider, V.; Ryabtchikov, D.; Sadovsky, A.; Salmi, L.; Salt, J.; Sander, C.; Savoy-Navarro, A.; Schwickerath, U.; Sekulin, R.; Siebel, M.; Sisakian, A.; Slominski, W.; Smadja, G.; Smirnova, O.; Sokolov, A.; Sopczak, A.; Sosnowski, R.; Spassov, T.; Stanitzki, M.; Stocchi, A.; Strauss, J.; Stugu, B.; Szczekowski, M.; Szeptycka, M.; Szumlak, T.; Szwed, J.; Tabarelli, T.; Tegenfeldt, F.; Timmermans, J.; Tkatchev, L.; Tobin, M.; Todorovova, S.; Tomé, B.; Tonazzo, A.; Tortosa, P.; Travnicek, P.; Treille, D.; Tristram, G.; Trochimczuk, M.; Troncon, C.; Turluer, M.-L.; Tyapkin, I. A.; Tyapkin, P.; Tzamarias, S.; Uvarov, V.; Valenti, G.; van Dam, P.; van Eldik, J.; van Remortel, N.; van Vulpen, I.; Vegni, G.; Veloso, F.; Venus, W.; Verdier, P.; Verzi, V.; Vilanova, D.; Vitale, L.; Vrba, V.; Wahlen, H.; Washbrook, A. J.; Weiser, C.; Wicke, D.; Wickens, J.; Wilkinson, G.; Winter, M.; Witek, M.; Yushchenko, O.; Zalewska, A.; Zalewski, P.; Zavrtanik, D.; Zhuravlov, V.; Zimin, N. I.; Zintchenko, A.; Zupan, M.; Delphi Collaboration

    2014-10-01

    The hadronic part of the electron structure function F2e has been measured for the first time, using e+e- data collected by the DELPHI experiment at LEP, at centre-of-mass energies of √{ s} = 91.2- 209.5 GeV. The data analysis is simpler than that of the measurement of the photon structure function. The electron structure function F2e data are compared to predictions of phenomenological models based on the photon structure function. It is shown that the contribution of large target photon virtualities is significant. The data presented can serve as a cross-check of the photon structure function F2γ analyses and help in refining existing parameterisations.

  4. Endothelial microparticles released by activated protein C protect beta cells through EPCR/PAR1 and annexin A1/FPR2 pathways in islets.

    PubMed

    Kreutter, Guillaume; Kassem, Mohamad; El Habhab, Ali; Baltzinger, Philippe; Abbas, Malak; Boisrame-Helms, Julie; Amoura, Lamia; Peluso, Jean; Yver, Blandine; Fatiha, Zobairi; Ubeaud-Sequier, Geneviève; Kessler, Laurence; Toti, Florence

    2017-11-01

    Islet transplantation is associated with early ischaemia/reperfusion, localized coagulation and redox-sensitive endothelial dysfunction. In animal models, islet cytoprotection by activated protein C (aPC) restores islet vascularization and protects graft function, suggesting that aPC triggers various lineages. aPC also prompts the release of endothelial MP that bear EPCR, its specific receptor. Microparticles (MP) are plasma membrane procoagulant vesicles, surrogate markers of stress and cellular effectors. We measured the cytoprotective effects of aPC on endothelial and insulin-secreting Rin-m5f β-cells and its role in autocrine and paracrine MP-mediated cell crosstalk under conditions of oxidative stress. MP from aPC-treated primary endothelial (EC) or β-cells were applied to H 2 O 2 -treated Rin-m5f. aPC activity was measured by enzymatic assay and ROS species by dihydroethidium. The capture of PKH26-stained MP and the expression of EPCR were probed by fluorescence microscopy and apoptosis by flow cytometry. aPC treatment enhanced both annexin A1 (ANXA1) and PAR-1 expression in EC and to a lesser extent in β-cells. MP from aPC-treated EC (eM aPC ) exhibited high EPCR and annexin A1 content, protected β-cells, restored insulin secretion and were captured by 80% of β cells in a phosphatidylserine and ANXA1-dependent mechanism. eMP activated EPCR/PAR-1 and ANXA1/FPR2-dependent pathways and up-regulated the expression of EPCR, and of FPR2/ALX, the ANXA1 receptor. Cytoprotection was confirmed in H 2 O 2 -treated rat islets with increased viability (62% versus 48% H 2 O 2 ), reduced apoptosis and preserved insulin secretion in response to glucose elevation (16 versus 5 ng/ml insulin per 10 islets). MP may prove a promising therapeutic tool in the protection of transplanted islets. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.

  5. Protective Immunity in Mice Achieved with Dry Powder Formulation and Alternative Delivery of Plague F1-V Vaccine▿

    PubMed Central

    Huang, Joanne; D'Souza, Ajit J.; Alarcon, Jason B.; Mikszta, John A.; Ford, Brandi M.; Ferriter, Matthew S.; Evans, Michelle; Stewart, Todd; Amemiya, Kei; Ulrich, Robert G.; Sullivan, Vincent J.

    2009-01-01

    The potential use of Yersinia pestis as a bioterror agent is a great concern. Development of a stable powder vaccine against Y. pestis and administration of the vaccine by minimally invasive methods could provide an alternative to the traditional liquid formulation and intramuscular injection. We evaluated a spray-freeze-dried powder vaccine containing a recombinant F1-V fusion protein of Y. pestis for vaccination against plaque in a mouse model. Mice were immunized with reconstituted spray-freeze-dried F1-V powder via intramuscular injection, microneedle-based intradermal delivery, or noninvasive intranasal administration. By intramuscular injection, the reconstituted powder induced serum antibody responses and provided protection against lethal subcutaneous challenge with 1,000 50% lethal doses of Y. pestis at levels equivalent to those elicited by unprocessed liquid formulations (70 to 90% protection). The feasibility of intradermal and intranasal delivery of reconstituted powder F1-V vaccine was also demonstrated. Overall, microneedle-based intradermal delivery was shown to be similar in efficacy to intramuscular injection, while intranasal administration required an extra dose of vaccine to achieve similar protection. In addition, the results suggest that seroconversion against F1 may be a better predictor of protection against Y. pestis challenge than seroconversion against either F1-V or V. In summary, we demonstrate the preclinical feasibility of using a reconstituted powder F1-V formulation and microneedle-based intradermal delivery to provide protective immunity against plague in a mouse model. Intranasal delivery, while feasible, was less effective than injection in this study. The potential use of these alternative delivery methods and a powder vaccine formulation may result in substantial health and economic benefits. PMID:19261773

  6. Protective immunity in mice achieved with dry powder formulation and alternative delivery of plague F1-V vaccine.

    PubMed

    Huang, Joanne; D'Souza, Ajit J; Alarcon, Jason B; Mikszta, John A; Ford, Brandi M; Ferriter, Matthew S; Evans, Michelle; Stewart, Todd; Amemiya, Kei; Ulrich, Robert G; Sullivan, Vincent J

    2009-05-01

    The potential use of Yersinia pestis as a bioterror agent is a great concern. Development of a stable powder vaccine against Y. pestis and administration of the vaccine by minimally invasive methods could provide an alternative to the traditional liquid formulation and intramuscular injection. We evaluated a spray-freeze-dried powder vaccine containing a recombinant F1-V fusion protein of Y. pestis for vaccination against plaque in a mouse model. Mice were immunized with reconstituted spray-freeze-dried F1-V powder via intramuscular injection, microneedle-based intradermal delivery, or noninvasive intranasal administration. By intramuscular injection, the reconstituted powder induced serum antibody responses and provided protection against lethal subcutaneous challenge with 1,000 50% lethal doses of Y. pestis at levels equivalent to those elicited by unprocessed liquid formulations (70 to 90% protection). The feasibility of intradermal and intranasal delivery of reconstituted powder F1-V vaccine was also demonstrated. Overall, microneedle-based intradermal delivery was shown to be similar in efficacy to intramuscular injection, while intranasal administration required an extra dose of vaccine to achieve similar protection. In addition, the results suggest that seroconversion against F1 may be a better predictor of protection against Y. pestis challenge than seroconversion against either F1-V or V. In summary, we demonstrate the preclinical feasibility of using a reconstituted powder F1-V formulation and microneedle-based intradermal delivery to provide protective immunity against plague in a mouse model. Intranasal delivery, while feasible, was less effective than injection in this study. The potential use of these alternative delivery methods and a powder vaccine formulation may result in substantial health and economic benefits.

  7. Phase diagrams and physicochemical properties of Li+,K+(Rb+)//borate-H2O systems at 323 K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Feng, Shan; Yu, Xudong; Cheng, Xinglong; Zeng, Ying

    2017-11-01

    The phase and physicochemical properties diagrams of Li+,K+(Rb+)//borate-H2O systems at 323 K were constructed using the experimentally measured solubilities, densities, and refractive indices. The Schreinemakers' wet residue method and the X-ray diffraction were used for the determination of the compositions of solid phase. Results show that these two systems belong to the hydrate I type, with no solid solution or double salt formation. The borate phases formed in our experiments are RbB5O6(OH)4 · 2H2O, Li2B4O5(OH)4 · H2O, and K2B4O5(OH)4 · 2H2O. Comparison between the stable phase diagrams of the studied system at 288, 323, and 348 K show that in this temperature range, the crystallization form of salts do not changed. With the increase in temperature, the crystallization field of Li2B4O5(OH)4 · H2O salt at 348 K is obviously larger than that at 288 K. In the Li+,K+(Rb+)//borate-H2O systems, the densities and refractive indices of the solutions (at equilibrium) increase along with the mass fraction of K2B4O7 (Rb2B4O7), and reach the maximum values at invariant point E.

  8. Geraniol suppresses prostate cancer growth through down-regulation of E2F8.

    PubMed

    Lee, Sanghoon; Park, Yu Rang; Kim, Su-Hwa; Park, Eun-Jung; Kang, Min Ji; So, Insuk; Chun, Jung Nyeo; Jeon, Ju-Hong

    2016-10-01

    Geraniol, an acyclic dietary monoterpene, has been found to suppress cancer survival and growth. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the antitumor action of geraniol has not been investigated at the genome-wide level. In this study, we analyzed the microarray data obtained from geraniol-treated prostate cancer cells. Geraniol potently altered a gene expression profile and primarily down-regulated cell cycle-related gene signatures, compared to linalool, another structurally similar monoterpene that induces no apparent phenotypic changes. Master regulator analysis using the prostate cancer-specific regulatory interactome identified that the transcription factor E2F8 as a specific target molecule regulates geraniol-specific cell cycle signatures. Subsequent experiments confirmed that geraniol down-regulated E2F8 expression and the knockdown of E2F8 was sufficient to suppress cell growth by inducing G 2 /M arrest. Epidemiological analysis showed that E2F8 is up-regulated in metastatic prostate cancer and associated with poor prognosis. These results indicate that E2F8 is a crucial transcription regulator controlling cell cycle and survival in prostate cancer cells. Therefore, our study provides insight into the role of E2F8 in prostate cancer biology and therapeutics. © 2016 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  9. Familial retinoblastoma due to intronic LINE-1 insertion causes aberrant and noncanonical mRNA splicing of the RB1 gene.

    PubMed

    Rodríguez-Martín, Carlos; Cidre, Florencia; Fernández-Teijeiro, Ana; Gómez-Mariano, Gema; de la Vega, Leticia; Ramos, Patricia; Zaballos, Ángel; Monzón, Sara; Alonso, Javier

    2016-05-01

    Retinoblastoma (RB, MIM 180200) is the paradigm of hereditary cancer. Individuals harboring a constitutional mutation in one allele of the RB1 gene have a high predisposition to develop RB. Here, we present the first case of familial RB caused by a de novo insertion of a full-length long interspersed element-1 (LINE-1) into intron 14 of the RB1 gene that caused a highly heterogeneous splicing pattern of RB1 mRNA. LINE-1 insertion was inferred by mRNA studies and full-length sequenced by massive parallel sequencing. Some of the aberrant mRNAs were produced by noncanonical acceptor splice sites, a new finding that up to date has not been described to occur upon LINE-1 retrotransposition. Our results clearly show that RNA-based strategies have the potential to detect disease-causing transposon insertions. It also confirms that the incorporation of new genetic approaches, such as massive parallel sequencing, contributes to characterize at the sequence level these unique and exceptional genetic alterations.

  10. Inoculation of Pichia kudriavzevii RB1 degrades the organic acids present in raw compost material and accelerates composting.

    PubMed

    Nakasaki, Kiyohiko; Araya, Shogo; Mimoto, Hiroshi

    2013-09-01

    In this study, the yeast strain Pichia kudriavzevii RB1 was used as an inoculum to accelerate organic matter degradation of rabbit food with added organic acids, which was used as a model food waste for composting. The RB1 strain rapidly degraded the organic acids present in the raw compost material, leading to an increase in pH beyond the neutral level, within 2 days. Both mesophilic and thermophilic bacteria proliferated faster in the compost with RB1 inoculation than in that without inoculation. Although the yeast died with the increase in compost temperature, it affected the early stages of composting prior to the thermophilic stage and accelerated the composting process by 2 days by eliminating the initial lag phase seen in the growth of other microorganisms. Moreover, populations of Bacillus thermoamylovorans, Bacillus foraminis, and Bacillus coagulans became dominant during the thermophilic stages of both composting with and without RB1 inoculation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Protective effect of TiF(4) solutions with different concentrations and pH on development of erosion-like lesions.

    PubMed

    Hove, L H; Holme, B; Stenhagen, K R; Tveit, A B

    2011-01-01

    To evaluate how concentration and pH of TiF(4) influence the erosion-protective effect. Specimens were treated with a TiF(4) solution: (1) 0.5 M F, pH 1.2, (2) 0.05 M F, pH 2.1, (3) 0.5 M F, pH 2.1, or (4) 0.05 M F, pH 1.2; then, they were exposed to HCl. After 2 min, the proportions of the area covered with the coating were 93, 71, 17 and 0% in groups 1-4. When present, the coating seemed to protect the surface. After 6 min, a coating could only be seen in group 1 (43%). Reducing the concentration of TiF(4) and increasing the pH of the solution decreased the protective effect. 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  12. The skin protective effects of compound K, a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1 from Panax ginseng.

    PubMed

    Kim, Eunji; Kim, Donghyun; Yoo, Sulgi; Hong, Yo Han; Han, Sang Yun; Jeong, Seonggu; Jeong, Deok; Kim, Jong-Hoon; Cho, Jae Youl; Park, Junseong

    2018-04-01

    Compound K (CK) is a ginsenoside, a metabolite of Panax ginseng . There is interest both in increasing skin health and antiaging using natural skin care products. In this study, we explored the possibility of using CK as a cosmetic ingredient. To assess the antiaging effect of CK, RT-PCR was performed, and expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and type I collagen were measured under UVB irradiation conditions. The skin hydrating effect of CK was tested by RT-PCR, and its regulation was explored through immunoblotting. Melanin content, melanin secretion, and tyrosinase activity assays were performed. CK treatment reduced the production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in UVB irradiated NIH3T3 cells and recovered type I collagen expression level. Expression of skin hydrating factors-filaggrin, transglutaminase, and hyaluronic acid synthases-1 and -2-were augmented by CK and were modulated through the inhibitor of κBα, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, or extracellular signal-regulated kinases pathway. In the melanogenic response, CK did not regulate tyrosinase activity and melanin secretion, but increased melanin content in B16F10 cells was observed. Our data showed that CK has antiaging and hydrating effects. We suggest that CK could be used in cosmetic products to protect the skin from UVB rays and increase skin moisture level.

  13. Energy and radiative properties of the (3 )1Π and (5 )+1Σ states of RbCs: Experiment and theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Alps, K.; Kruzins, A.; Nikolayeva, O.; Tamanis, M.; Ferber, R.; Pazyuk, E. A.; Stolyarov, A. V.

    2017-08-01

    We combined high-resolution Fourier-transform spectroscopy and large-scale electronic structure calculation to study energy and radiative properties of the high-lying (3 )1Π and (5 )+1Σ states of the RbCs molecule. The laser-induced (5 )+1Σ,(4 )+1Σ,(3 )1Π→A (2 )+1Σ˜ b (1 )3Π fluorescence (LIF) spectra were recorded by the Bruker IFS-125(HR) spectrometer in the frequency range ν ∈[5500 ,10 000 ] cm-1 with the instrumental resolution of 0.03 cm-1. The rotational assignment of the observed LIF progressions, which exhibit irregular vibrational-rotational spacing due to strong spin-orbit interaction between A +1Σ and b 3Π states was based on the coincidences between observed and calculated energy differences. The required rovibronic term values of the strongly perturbed A ˜b complex have been calculated by a coupled-channels approach for both 85Rb133Cs and 87Rb133Cs isotopologs with accuracy of about 0.01 cm-1, as demonstrated in A. Kruzins et al. [J. Chem. Phys. 141, 184309 (2014), 10.1063/1.4901327]. The experimental energies of the upper (3 )1Π and (5 )+1Σ states were involved in a direct-potential-fit analysis performed in the framework of inverted perturbation approach. Quasirelativistic ab initio calculations of the spin-allowed (3 )1Π,(5 )+1Σ→ (1-4)+1Σ,(1-3)1Π transition dipole moments were performed. Radiative lifetimes and vibronic branching ratios of radiative transitions from the (3 )1Π and (5 )+1Σ states were evaluated. To elucidate the origin of the Λ -doubling effect in the (3 )1Π state, the angular coupling (3 )1Π -(1-5)+1Σ electronic matrix elements were calculated and applied for the relevant q -factors estimate. The intensity distributions simulated for the particular (5 )+1Σ ;(3 )1Π→A ˜b LIF progressions have been found to be remarkably close to their experimental counterparts.

  14. Probing the structural and electronic properties of cationic rubidium-gold clusters: [AunRb]+ (n = 1-10)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Ya-Ru; Zhang, Hai-Rong; Qian, Yu; Duan, Xu-Chao; Hu, Yan-Fei

    2016-03-01

    Density functional theory has been applied to study the geometric structures, relative stabilities, and electronic properties of cationic [AunRb]+ and Aun + 1+ (n = 1-10) clusters. For the lowest energy structures of [AunRb]+ clusters, the planar to three-dimensional transformation is found to occur at cluster size n = 4 and the Rb atoms prefer being located at the most highly coordinated position. The trends of the averaged atomic binding energies, fragmentation energies, second-order difference of energies, and energy gaps show pronounced even-odd alternations. It indicated that the clusters containing odd number of atoms maintain greater stability than the clusters in the vicinity. In particular, the [Au6Rb]+ clusters are the most stable isomer for [AunRb]+ clusters in the region of n = 1-10. The charges in [AunRb]+ clusters transfer from the Rb atoms to Aun host. Density of states revealed that the Au-5d, Au-5p, and Rb-4p orbitals hardly participated in bonding. In addition, it is found that the most favourable channel of the [AunRb]+ clusters is Rb+ cation ejection. The electronic localisation function (ELF) analysis of the [AunRb]+ clusters shown that strong interactions are not revealed in this study.

  15. Protection of mice from fatal bubonic and pneumonic plague by passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies against the F1 protein of Yersinia pestis.

    PubMed

    Anderson, G W; Worsham, P L; Bolt, C R; Andrews, G P; Welkos, S L; Friedlander, A M; Burans, J P

    1997-04-01

    Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to the fraction 1 (F1) protein of Yersinia pestis protected mice against fatal pneumonic as well as bubonic plague from wild-type F1+ organisms. The rare isolation of a virulent F1- isolate from surviving animals supports earlier studies suggesting that improved vaccines should consist of immunogens to protect against F1- variants. The high degree of protection with IgG MAb suggests that secretory IgA is not required for protection from pneumonic plague.

  16. Syntheses, crystal structure, and electronic properties of the five ABaMQ{sub 4} compounds RbBaPS{sub 4}, CsBaPS{sub 4}, CsBaVS{sub 4}, RbBaVSe{sub 4}, and CsBaVSe{sub 4}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Mesbah, Adel; ICSM, UMR 5257 CEA / CNRS / UM / ENSCM, Site de Marcoule-Bâtiment 426, BP 17171, 30207 Bagnols-sur-Cèze Cedex; Prakash, Jai

    Five new compounds belonging to the ABaMQ{sub 4} family were synthesized by solid-state chemistry at 1123 K. The compounds RbBaPS{sub 4}, CsBaPS{sub 4}, CsBaVS{sub 4}, RbBaVSe{sub 4}, and CsBaVSe{sub 4} are isostructural and have the TlEuPS{sub 4} structure type. They crystallize in space group D{sup 16}{sub 2h} – Pnma of the orthorhombic system. Their structure consists isolated MQ{sub 4} tetrahedra separated by A and Ba atoms to form a salt-like structure. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of the electronic structures with the use of the HSE functional suggest that the compounds are semiconductors with calculated band gaps of 3.3 eVmore » (RbBaPS{sub 4}), 3.4 eV (CsBaPS{sub 4}), 2.3 eV (CsBaVS{sub 4}), and 1.6 eV (RbBaVSe{sub 4}). - Graphical abstract: General view of the ABaMQ{sub 4} structure down the a axis. - Highlights: • Five new ABaMQ{sub 4} compounds were synthesized by solid-state chemistry at 1123 K. • RbBaPS{sub 4}, CsBaPS{sub 4}, CsBaVS{sub 4}, RbBaVSe{sub 4}, and CsBaVSe{sub 4} have the TlEuPS{sub 4} structure type. • The compounds are semiconductors with calculated band gaps ranging from 1.6 to 3.4 eV.« less

  17. The Unimolecular Reactions of CF3CHF2 Studied by Chemical Activation: Assignment of Rate Constants and Threshold Energies to the 1,2-H Atom Transfer, 1,1-HF and 1,2-HF Elimination Reactions, and the Dependence of Threshold Energies on the Number of F-Atom Substituents in the Fluoroethane Molecules.

    PubMed

    Smith, Caleb A; Gillespie, Blanton R; Heard, George L; Setser, D W; Holmes, Bert E

    2017-11-22

    The recombination of CF 3 and CHF 2 radicals in a room-temperature bath gas was used to prepare vibrationally excited CF 3 CHF 2 * molecules with 101 kcal mol -1 of vibrational energy. The subsequent 1,2-H atom transfer and 1,1-HF and 1,2-HF elimination reactions were observed as a function of bath gas pressure by following the CHF 3 , CF 3 (F)C: and C 2 F 4 product concentrations by gas chromatography using a mass spectrometer as the detector. The singlet CF 3 (F)C: concentration was measured by trapping the carbene with trans-2-butene. The experimental rate constants are 3.6 × 10 4 , 4.7 × 10 4 , and 1.1 × 10 4 s -1 for the 1,2-H atom transfer and 1,1-HF and 1,2-HF elimination reactions, respectively. These experimental rate constants were matched to statistical RRKM calculated rate constants to assign threshold energies (E 0 ) of 88 ± 2, 88 ± 2, and 87 ± 2 kcal mol -1 to the three reactions. Pentafluoroethane is the only fluoroethane that has a competitive H atom transfer decomposition reaction, and it is the only example with 1,1-HF elimination being more important than 1,2-HF elimination. The trend of increasing threshold energies for both 1,1-HF and 1,2-HF processes with the number of F atoms in the fluoroethane molecule is summarized and investigated with electronic-structure calculations. Examination of the intrinsic reaction coordinate associated with the 1,1-HF elimination reaction found an adduct between CF 3 (F)C: and HF in the exit channel with a dissociation energy of ∼5 kcal mol -1 . Hydrogen-bonded complexes between HF and the H atom migration transition state of CH 3 (F)C: and the F atom migration transition state of CF 3 (F)C: also were found by the calculations. The role that these carbene-HF complexes could play in 1,1-HF elimination reactions is discussed.

  18. Copper(II) complexes of N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-(5-substituted)-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide ligands and heterocyclic coligands

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chavan, S. S.; Sawant, V. A.; Jadhav, A. N.

    2014-01-01

    Some copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(L1-3)(phen]ṡCH2Cl2 (1a-3a) and [Cu(L1-3) (bipy)]ṡCH2Cl2 (1b-3b) (where L1 = N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide, L2 = N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-(5-bromo)-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide, L3 = N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-(5-methoxy)-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, bipy = 2,2‧-bipyridine) have been prepared and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, UV-Vis and EPR spectral studies. IR spectra indicate that the ligand L1-3 exists in the keto form in the solid state, while at the time of complexation, it tautomerises into enol form. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of the representative complex [Cu(L1) (phen)]ṡCH2Cl2 (1a) reveals the distorted square pyramidal geometry around copper(II). Crystal data of (1a): space group = P21/n, a = 11.5691(16) Å, b = 11.0885(15) Å, c = 24.890(4) Å, V = 3166.2(8) Å3, Z = 4. The electrochemical behavior of all the complexes indicate that the phen complexes appears at more positive potential as compared to those for bipy complexes, as a consequence of its stronger π acidic character. All the complexes exhibit blue-green emission as a result of the fluorescence from the intra-ligand (π → π∗) emission excited state.

  19. Synthesis, spectroscopic, thermal and electrical conductivity studies of three charge transfer complexes formed between 1,3-di[( E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylideneamino]-2-propanol Schiff base and different acceptors

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Refat, Moamen S.; Ibrahim, Mohamed M.; Moussa, Mohamed A. A.

    2012-01-01

    Charge-transfer complexes (CTC) resulting from interactions of 1,3-di[( E)-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl) methylideneamino]-2-propanol Schiff base with some acceptors such as iodine (I2), bromine (Br2), and picric acid (PiA) have been isolated in the solid state in a chloroform solvent at room temperature. Based on elemental analysis, UV-Vis, infrared, and 1H NMR spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) of the solid CTC, [(Schiff)(I2)] (1), [(Schiff)(Br2)] complexes with a ratio of 1:1 and [(Schiff)(PiA)3] complexes with 1:3 have been prepared. In the picric acid complex, infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopic data indicate that the charge-transfer interaction is associated with a hydrogen bonding, whereas the iodine and bromine complexes were interpreted in terms of the formation of dative ion pairs [Schiff+, I{2/•-}] and [Schiff+, Br{2/•-}], respectively. Kinetic parameters were obtained for each stage of thermal degradation of the CT complexes using Coats-Redfern and Horowitz-Metzger methods. DC electrical properties as a function of temperature of these charge transfer complexes have been studied.

  20. The Retinoblastoma pathway regulates stem cell proliferation in freshwater planarians.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Shu Jun; Pearson, Bret J

    2013-01-15

    Freshwater planarians are flatworms of the Lophotrochozoan superphylum and are well known for their regenerative abilities, which rely on a large population of pluripotent adult stem cells. However, the mechanisms by which planarians maintain a precise population of adult stem cells while balancing proliferation and cell death, remain to be elucidated. Here we have identified, characterized, and functionally tested the core Retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway components in planarian adult stem cell biology. The Rb pathway is an ancient and conserved mechanism of proliferation control from plants to animals and is composed of three core components: an Rb protein, and a transcription factor heterodimer of E2F and DP proteins. Although the planarian genome contains all components of the Rb pathway, we found that they have undergone gene loss from the ancestral state, similar to other species in their phylum. The single Rb homolog (Smed-Rb) was highly expressed in planarian stem cells and was required for stem cell maintenance, similar to the Rb-homologs p107 and p130 in vertebrates. We show that planarians and their phylum have undergone the most severe reduction in E2F genes observed thus far, and the single remaining E2F was predicted to be a repressive-type E2F (Smed-E2F4-1). Knockdown of either Smed-E2F4-1 or its dimerization partner Dp (Smed-Dp) by RNAi resulted in temporary hyper-proliferation. Finally, we showed that known Rb-interacting genes in other systems, histone deacetylase 1 and cyclinD (Smed-HDAC1; Smed-cycD), were similar to Rb in expression and phenotypes when knocked down by RNAi, suggesting that these established interactions with Rb may also be conserved in planarians. Together, these results showed that planarians use the conserved components of the Rb tumor suppressor pathway to control proliferation and cell survival. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. E2fl1 is a meiosis-specific transcription factor in the protist Tetrahymena thermophila

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Jing; Tian, Miao; Miao, Wei

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT Members of the E2F family of transcription factors have been reported to regulate the expression of genes involved in cell cycle control, DNA replication, and DNA repair in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, E2FL1, a meiosis-specific E2F transcription factor gene, was identified in the model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. Loss of this gene resulted in meiotic arrest prior to anaphase I. The cytological experiments revealed that the meiotic homologous pairing was not affected in the absence of E2FL1, but the paired homologous chromosomes did not separate and assumed a peculiar tandem arrangement. This is the first time that an E2F family member has been shown to regulate meiotic events. Moreover, BrdU incorporation showed that DSB processing during meiosis was abnormal upon the deletion of E2FL1. Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that E2FL1 knockout decreased the expression of genes involved in DNA replication and DNA repair in T. thermophila, suggesting that the function of E2F is highly conserved in eukaryotes. In addition, E2FL1 deletion inhibited the expression of related homologous chromosome segregation genes in T. thermophila. The result may explain the meiotic arrest phenotype at anaphase I. Finally, by searching for E2F DNA-binding motifs in the entire T. thermophila genome, we identified 714 genes containing at least one E2F DNA-binding motif; of these, 235 downregulated represent putative E2FL1 target genes. PMID:27892792

  2. Multiferroicity in the generic easy-plane triangular lattice antiferromagnet RbFe(MoO4)2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    White, J. S.; Niedermayer, Ch.; Gasparovic, G.; Broholm, C.; Park, J. M. S.; Shapiro, A. Ya.; Demianets, L. A.; Kenzelmann, M.

    2013-08-01

    RbFe(MoO4)2 is a quasi-two-dimensional (quasi-2D) triangular lattice antiferromagnet (TLA) that displays a zero-field magnetically driven multiferroic phase with a chiral spin structure. By inelastic neutron scattering, we determine quantitatively the spin Hamiltonian. We show that the easy-plane anisotropy is nearly 1/3 of the dominant spin exchange, making RbFe(MoO4)2 an excellent system for studying the physics of the model 2D easy-plane TLA. Our measurements demonstrate magnetic-field-induced fluctuations in this material to stabilize the generic finite-field phases of the 2D XY TLA. We further explain how Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions can generate ferroelectricity only in the zero-field phase. Our conclusion is that multiferroicity in RbFe(MoO4)2, and its absence at high fields, results from the generic properties of the 2D XY TLA.

  3. A series of substituted (2E)-3-(2-fluoro-4-phenoxyphenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-ones.

    PubMed

    Chopra, Deepak; Mohan, T P; Vishalakshi, B; Row, T N Guru

    2007-12-01

    In the molecular structures of a series of substituted chalcones, namely (2E)-3-(2-fluoro-4-phenoxyphenyl)-1-phenylprop-2-en-1-one, C21H15FO2, (I), (2E)-3-(2-fluoro-4-phenoxyphenyl)-1-(4-fluorophenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, C21H14F2O2, (II), (2E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(2-fluoro-4-phenoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, C21H14ClFO2, (III), (2E)-3-(2-fluoro-4-phenoxyphenyl)-1-(4-methylphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, C22H17FO2, (IV), and (2E)-3-(2-fluoro-4-phenoxyphenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one, C22H17FO3, (V), the configuration of the keto group with respect to the olefinic double bond is s-cis. The molecules pack utilizing weak C-H...O and C-H...pi intermolecular contacts. Identical packing motifs involving C-H...O interactions, forming both chains and dimers, along with C-H...pi dimers and pi-pi aromatic interactions are observed in the fluoro, chloro and methyl derivatives.

  4. Comparison of ionospheric F2 peak parameters foF2 and hmF2 with IRI2001 at Hainan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, X.; Shi, J. K.; Wang, G. J.; Gong, Y.

    2009-06-01

    Monthly median values of foF2, hmF2 and M(3000)F2 parameters, with quarter-hourly time interval resolution for the diurnal variation, obtained with DPS4 digisonde at Hainan (19.5°N, 109.1°E; Geomagnetic coordinates: 178.95°E, 8.1°N) are used to investigate the low-latitude ionospheric variations and comparisons with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model predictions. The data used for the present study covers the period from February 2002 to April 2007, which is characterized by a wide range of solar activity, ranging from high solar activity (2002) to low solar activity (2007). The results show that (1) Generally, IRI predictions follow well the diurnal and seasonal variation patterns of the experimental values of foF2, especially in the summer of 2002. However, there are systematic deviation between experimental values and IRI predictions with either CCIR or URSI coefficients. Generally IRI model greatly underestimate the values of foF2 from about noon to sunrise of next day, especially in the afternoon, and slightly overestimate them from sunrise to about noon. It seems that there are bigger deviations between IRI Model predictions and the experimental observations for the moderate solar activity. (2) Generally the IRI-predicted hmF2 values using CCIR M(3000)F2 option shows a poor agreement with the experimental results, but there is a relatively good agreement in summer at low solar activity. The deviation between the IRI-predicted hmF2 using CCIR M(3000)F2 and observed hmF2 is bigger from noon to sunset and around sunrise especially at high solar activity. The occurrence time of hmF2 peak (about 1200 LT) of the IRI model predictions is earlier than that of observations (around 1500 LT). The agreement between the IRI hmF2 obtained with the measured M(3000)F2 and the observed hmF2 is very good except that IRI overestimates slightly hmF2 in the daytime in summer at high solar activity and underestimates it in the nighttime with lower values near

  5. Ginsenoside Rb1 inhibits fibrillation and toxicity of alpha-synuclein and disaggregates preformed fibrils.

    PubMed

    Ardah, Mustafa T; Paleologou, Katerina E; Lv, Guohua; Menon, Sindhu A; Abul Khair, Salema B; Lu, Jia-Hong; Safieh-Garabedian, Bared; Al-Hayani, Abdulmonem A; Eliezer, David; Li, Min; El-Agnaf, Omar M A

    2015-02-01

    Compelling evidence indicates that α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other synucleinopathies. Identification of compounds that inhibit or reverse the aggregation process may thus represent a viable therapeutic strategy against PD and related disorders. Ginseng is a well-known medicinal plant that has been used in East Asia for more than two thousand years to treat several conditions. It is now understood that the pharmacological properties of ginseng can be attributed to its biologically active components, the ginsenosides, which in turn have been shown to have neuroprotective properties. We therefore sought to determine for the first time, the potential of the most frequently used and studied ginsenosides, namely Rg1, Rg3 and Rb1, as anti-amyloidogenic agents. The effect of Rg1, Rg3 and Rb1 on α-syn aggregation and toxicity was determined by an array of biophysical, biochemical and cell-culture-based techniques. Among the screened ginsenosides, only Rb1 was shown to be a potent inhibitor of α-syn fibrillation and toxicity. Additionally, Rb1 exhibited a strong ability to disaggregate preformed fibrils and to inhibit the seeded polymerization of α-syn. Interestingly, Rb1 was found to stabilize soluble non-toxic oligomers with no β-sheet content, that were susceptible to proteinase K digestion, and the binding of Rb1 to those oligomers may represent a potential mechanism of action. Thus, Rb1 could represent the starting point for designing new molecules that could be utilized as drugs for the treatment of PD and related disorders. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Structure of the extracellular domain of matrix protein 2 of influenza A virus in complex with a protective monoclonal antibody.

    PubMed

    Cho, Ki Joon; Schepens, Bert; Seok, Jong Hyeon; Kim, Sella; Roose, Kenny; Lee, Ji-Hye; Gallardo, Rodrigo; Van Hamme, Evelien; Schymkowitz, Joost; Rousseau, Frederic; Fiers, Walter; Saelens, Xavier; Kim, Kyung Hyun

    2015-04-01

    The extracellular domain of influenza A virus matrix protein 2 (M2e) is conserved and is being evaluated as a quasiuniversal influenza A vaccine candidate. We describe the crystal structure at 1.6 Å resolution of M2e in complex with the Fab fragment of an M2e-specific monoclonal antibody that protects against influenza A virus challenge. This antibody binds M2 expressed on the surfaces of cells infected with influenza A virus. Five out of six complementary determining regions interact with M2e, and three highly conserved M2e residues are critical for this interaction. In this complex, M2e adopts a compact U-shaped conformation stabilized in the center by the highly conserved tryptophan residue in M2e. This is the first description of the three-dimensional structure of M2e. M2e of influenza A is under investigation as a universal influenza A vaccine, but its three-dimensional structure is unknown. We describe the structure of M2e stabilized with an M2e-specific monoclonal antibody that recognizes natural M2. We found that the conserved tryptophan is positioned in the center of the U-shaped structure of M2e and stabilizes its conformation. The structure also explains why previously reported in vivo escape viruses, selected with a similar monoclonal antibody, carried proline residue substitutions at position 10 in M2. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

  7. Prostaglandin E and F2 alpha receptors in human myometrium during the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy and labor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Giannopoulos, G.; Jackson, K.; Kredentser, J.

    The binding of prostaglandins E1 and F2 alpha has been studied in the human myometrium and cervix during the menstrual cycle and in the myometrium of pregnant patients at term before and during labor. Tritium-labeled prostaglandin E1 and F2 alpha binding was saturable and reversible. Scatchard analysis of tritium-labeled prostaglandin E1 binding was linear, which suggests a single class of high-affinity binding sites with an estimated apparent equilibrium dissociation constant of 2.5 to 5.4 nmol/L and inhibitor affinities of 0.9, 273, 273, and 217 nmol/L for prostaglandins E2, A1, B1, and F2 alpha, respectively. Scatchard analysis of tritium-labeled prostaglandin F2more » alpha, binding was also linear, but the affinity of these binding sites was much lower, with an average dissociation constant of 50 nmol/L and inhibitor affinities of 1.6, 2.2, and 11.2 nmol/L for prostaglandins E1, E2, and A1, respectively. In nonpregnant patients, the concentrations and affinities of tritium-labeled prostaglandin E1 binding sites were similar in the myometrium during the proliferative and secretory phases of the menstrual cycle, but the concentration of these sites was much lower in the cervix. The concentration of the tritium-labeled prostaglandin E1 binding sites was significantly lower in the myometrium of pregnant patients at term than in the myometrium of nonpregnant patients. The concentrations and affinities of tritium-labeled prostaglandin E1 binding sites were not significantly different in the upper and lower myometrium of pregnant patients at term or in the myometrium of such patients before and during labor. The concentrations of the tritium-labeled prostaglandin F2 alpha binding sites during the menstrual cycle and in pregnancy at term were similar to those of tritium-labeled prostaglandin E1 binding sites.« less

  8. Decreased RB1 mRNA, Protein, and Activity Reflect Obesity-Induced Altered Adipogenic Capacity in Human Adipose Tissue

    PubMed Central

    Moreno-Navarrete, José María; Petrov, Petar; Serrano, Marta; Ortega, Francisco; García-Ruiz, Estefanía; Oliver, Paula; Ribot, Joan; Ricart, Wifredo; Palou, Andreu; Bonet, Mª Luisa; Fernández-Real, José Manuel

    2013-01-01

    Retinoblastoma (Rb1) has been described as an essential player in white adipocyte differentiation in mice. No studies have been reported thus far in human adipose tissue or human adipocytes. We aimed to investigate the possible role and regulation of RB1 in adipose tissue in obesity using human samples and animal and cell models. Adipose RB1 (mRNA, protein, and activity) was negatively associated with BMI and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) while positively associated with the expression of adipogenic genes (PPARγ and IRS1) in both visceral and subcutaneous human adipose tissue. BMI increase was the main contributor to adipose RB1 downregulation. In rats, adipose Rb1 gene expression and activity decreased in parallel to dietary-induced weight gain and returned to baseline with weight loss. RB1 gene and protein expression and activity increased significantly during human adipocyte differentiation. In fully differentiated adipocytes, transient knockdown of Rb1 led to loss of the adipogenic phenotype. In conclusion, Rb1 seems to play a permissive role for human adipose tissue function, being downregulated in obesity and increased during differentiation of human adipocytes. Rb1 knockdown findings further implicate Rb1 as necessary for maintenance of adipogenic characteristics in fully differentiated adipocytes. PMID:23315497

  9. Protective Effects of Diallyl Sulfide against Thioacetamide-Induced Toxicity: A Possible Role of Cytochrome P450 2E1.

    PubMed

    Kim, Nam Hee; Lee, Sangkyu; Kang, Mi Jeong; Jeong, Hye Gwang; Kang, Wonku; Jeong, Tae Cheon

    2014-02-01

    Effects of diallyl sulfide (DAS) on thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity and immunotoxicity were investigated. When male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally with 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of DAS in corn oil for three consecutive days, the activity of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1-selective p-nitrophenol hydroxylase was dose-dependently suppressed. In addition, the activities of CYP 2B-selective benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylase and pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase were significantly induced by the treatment with DAS. Western immunoblotting analyses also indicated the suppression of CYP 2E1 protein and/or the induction of CYP 2B protein by DAS. To investigate a possible role of metabolic activation by CYP enzymes in thioacetamide-induced hepatotoxicity, rats were pre-treated with 400 mg/kg of DAS for 3 days, followed by a single intraperitoneal treatment with 100 and 200 mg/kg of thioacetamide in saline for 24 hr. The activities of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase significantly elevated by thioacetamide were protected in DAS-pretreated animals. Likewise, the suppressed antibody response to sheep erythrocytes by thioacetamide was protected by DAS pretreatment in female BALB/c mice. Taken together, our present results indicated that thioacetamide might be activated to its toxic metabolite(s) by CYP 2E1, not by CYP 2B, in rats and mice.

  10. Partitioning of F between H2O and CO2 fluids and topaz rhyolite melt - Implications for mineralizing magmatic-hydrothermal fluids in F-rich granitic systems

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Webster, J.D.

    1990-01-01

    Fluid/melt distribution coefficients for F have been determined in experiments conducted with peraluminous topaz rhyolite melts and fluids consisting of H2O and H2O+CO2 at pressures of 0.5 to 5 kbar, temperatures of 775??-1000??C, and concentrations of F in the melt ranging from 0.5 to 6.9 wt%. The major element, F, and Cl concentrations of the starting material and run product glasses were determined by electron microprobe, and the concentration of F in the fluid was calculated by mass balance. The H2O concentrations of some run product glasses were determined by ion microprobe (SIMS). The solubility of melt in the fluid phase increases with increasing F in the system; the solubility of H2O in the melt is independent of the F concentration of the system with up to 6.3 wt% F in the melt. No evidence of immiscible silica- and fluoriderich liquids was detected in the hydrous but water-undersaturated starting material glasses (???8.5 wt% F in melt) or in the water-saturated run product glasses. F concentrates in topaz rhyolite melts relative to coexisting fluids at most conditions studied; however, DF (wt% F in fluid/wt% F in melt) increases strongly with increasing F in the system. Maximum values of DF in this study are significantly larger than those previously reported in the literature. Linear extrapolation of the data suggests that DF is greater than one for water-saturated, peraluminous granitic melts containing ???8 wt% F at 800?? C and 2 kbar. DF increases as temperature and as (H2O/H2O+CO2) of the fluid increase. For topaz rhyolite melts containing ???1 wt% F and with H2O-rich fluids, DF is independent of changes in pressure from 2 to 5 kbar at 800?? C; for melts containing ???1 wt% F and in equilibrium with CO2-bearing fluids the concentrations of F in fluid increases with increasing pressure. F-and lithophile element-enriched granites may evolve to compositions containing extreme concentrations of F during the final stages of crystallization. If F in the

  11. Oral vaccination with salmonella simultaneously expressing Yersinia pestis F1 and V antigens protects against bubonic and pneumonic plague.

    PubMed

    Yang, Xinghong; Hinnebusch, B Joseph; Trunkle, Theresa; Bosio, Catharine M; Suo, Zhiyong; Tighe, Mike; Harmsen, Ann; Becker, Todd; Crist, Kathryn; Walters, Nancy; Avci, Recep; Pascual, David W

    2007-01-15

    The gut provides a large area for immunization enabling the development of mucosal and systemic Ab responses. To test whether the protective Ags to Yersinia pestis can be orally delivered, the Y. pestis caf1 operon, encoding the F1-Ag and virulence Ag (V-Ag) were cloned into attenuated Salmonella vaccine vectors. F1-Ag expression was controlled under a promoter from the caf1 operon; two different promoters (P), PtetA in pV3, PphoP in pV4, as well as a chimera of the two in pV55 were tested. F1-Ag was amply expressed; the chimera in the pV55 showed the best V-Ag expression. Oral immunization with Salmonella-F1 elicited elevated secretory (S)-IgA and serum IgG titers, and Salmonella-V-Ag(pV55) elicited much greater S-IgA and serum IgG Ab titers than Salmonella-V-Ag(pV3) or Salmonella-V-Ag(pV4). Hence, a new Salmonella vaccine, Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags, made with a single plasmid containing the caf1 operon and the chimeric promoter for V-Ag allowed the simultaneous expression of F1 capsule and V-Ag. Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags elicited elevated Ab titers similar to their monotypic derivatives. For bubonic plague, mice dosed with Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags and Salmonella-F1-Ag showed similar efficacy (>83% survival) against approximately 1000 LD(50) Y. pestis. For pneumonic plague, immunized mice required immunity to both F1- and V-Ags because the mice vaccinated with Salmonella-(F1+V)Ags protected against 100 LD(50) Y. pestis. These results show that a single Salmonella vaccine can deliver both F1- and V-Ags to effect both systemic and mucosal immune protection against Y. pestis.

  12. Copper(II) complexes of N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-(5-substituted)-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide ligands and heterocyclic coligands.

    PubMed

    Chavan, S S; Sawant, V A; Jadhav, A N

    2014-01-03

    Some copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(L1-3)(phen]·CH2Cl2 (1a-3a) and [Cu(L1-3) (bipy)]·CH2Cl2 (1b-3b) (where L1=N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide, L2=N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-(5-bromo)-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide, L3=N-(2-{[(2E)-2-(2-Hydroxy-(5-methoxy)-benzylidene)-hydrazino]carbonyl}phenyl)benzamide; phen=1,10-phenanthroline, bipy=2,2'-bipyridine) have been prepared and characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, UV-Vis and EPR spectral studies. IR spectra indicate that the ligand L1-3 exists in the keto form in the solid state, while at the time of complexation, it tautomerises into enol form. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of the representative complex [Cu(L1) (phen)]·CH2Cl2 (1a) reveals the distorted square pyramidal geometry around copper(II). Crystal data of (1a): space group=P21/n, a=11.5691(16) Å, b=11.0885(15) Å, c=24.890(4) Å, V=3166.2(8) Å(3), Z=4. The electrochemical behavior of all the complexes indicate that the phen complexes appears at more positive potential as compared to those for bipy complexes, as a consequence of its stronger π acidic character. All the complexes exhibit blue-green emission as a result of the fluorescence from the intra-ligand (π→π(*)) emission excited state. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  13. Word Frequency Analysis MOS: 15E. Skill Levels 1 and 2.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1982-05-01

    AR 34 ARE I I AREA1 L 5 15 ARM 1 .: 𔃻A’FNT 3 AROL D 25 AS 12 ASSEI 3LE 12 ASSEPALED11 iES b8 ASSEMBLY 4 ASSISTA CE27 ASSISTANT13 1’A T . SSISTED 29 ...CABLE31 CA3Lr.P 2, C.ABLES . . 1 L.BLI"IG I CAM C>; 4 CA’"UT 2 CANvA S 29 CAP2 CYPSCRE ,S 4 CAPTIVE A , L I AR o,7 CAREFiULLY .... CARRY IG 2 LA.TELL 1...1 (l. 5 1 jS I E (f r I FR I 5 IP E V PEET ~ (F I 4 3 E X P N A WL S q 6 XPL11S VE E EXPIUSIVS I z~ SE 17 *.!GU I 5 EXTE nrEC 3 WI’S1. lltj 3 29 ~Il

  14. Methylated DNMT1 and E2F1 are targeted for proteolysis by L3MBTL3 and CRL4DCAF5 ubiquitin ligase.

    PubMed

    Leng, Feng; Yu, Jiekai; Zhang, Chunxiao; Alejo, Salvador; Hoang, Nam; Sun, Hong; Lu, Fei; Zhang, Hui

    2018-04-24

    Many non-histone proteins are lysine methylated and a novel function of this modification is to trigger the proteolysis of methylated proteins. Here, we report that the methylated lysine 142 of DNMT1, a major DNA methyltransferase that preserves epigenetic inheritance of DNA methylation patterns during DNA replication, is demethylated by LSD1. A novel methyl-binding protein, L3MBTL3, binds the K142-methylated DNMT1 and recruits a novel CRL4 DCAF5 ubiquitin ligase to degrade DNMT1. Both LSD1 and PHF20L1 act primarily in S phase to prevent DNMT1 degradation by L3MBTL3-CRL4 DCAF5 . Mouse L3MBTL3/MBT-1 deletion causes accumulation of DNMT1 protein, increased genomic DNA methylation, and late embryonic lethality. DNMT1 contains a consensus methylation motif shared by many non-histone proteins including E2F1, a key transcription factor for S phase. We show that the methylation-dependent E2F1 degradation is also controlled by L3MBTL3-CRL4 DCAF5 . Our studies elucidate for the first time a novel mechanism by which the stability of many methylated non-histone proteins are regulated.

  15. Ecto-F1-ATPase: A moonlighting protein complex and an unexpected apoA-I receptor

    PubMed Central

    Vantourout, Pierre; Radojkovic, Claudia; Lichtenstein, Laeticia; Pons, Véronique; Champagne, Eric; Martinez, Laurent O

    2010-01-01

    Mitochondrial ATP synthase has been recently detected at the surface of different cell types, where it is a high affinity receptor for apoA-I, the major protein component in high density lipoproteins (HDL). Cell surface ATP synthase (namely ecto-F1-ATPase) expression is related to different biological effects, such as regulation of HDL uptake by hepatocytes, endothelial cell proliferation or antitumor activity of Vγ9/Vδ2 T lymphocytes. This paper reviews the recently discovered functions and regulations of ecto-F1-ATPase. Particularly, the role of the F1-ATPase pathway(s) in HDL-cholesterol uptake and apoA-I-mediated endothelial protection suggests its potential importance in reverse cholesterol transport and its regulation might represent a potential therapeutic target for HDL-related therapy for cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, it is timely for us to better understand how this ecto-enzyme and downstream pathways are regulated and to develop pharmacologic interventions. PMID:21157968

  16. 75 FR 27973 - Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc RB211-524C2 Series Turbofan Engines

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2010-05-19

    ... RB211-524C2 Series Turbofan Engines AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice... Rolls-Royce plc (RR) model RB211-524C2-19 and RB211-524C2-B-19 turbofan engines. These engines are...

  17. The over expression of long non-coding RNA ANRIL promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition by activating the ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer: An in vivo and in vitro study.

    PubMed

    Chen, Shi; Zhang, Jia-Qiang; Chen, Jiang-Zhi; Chen, Hui-Xing; Qiu, Fu-Nan; Yan, Mao-Lin; Chen, Yan-Ling; Peng, Cheng-Hong; Tian, Yi-Feng; Wang, Yao-Dong

    2017-09-01

    This study aims to investigate the roles of lncRNA ANRIL in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by regulating the ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer (PC). PC rat models were established and ANRIL overexpression and interference plasmids were transfected. The expression of ANRIL, EMT markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin) and ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway-related proteins (ATM, E2F1, INK4A, INK4B and ARF) were detected. Small molecule drugs were applied to activate and inhibit the ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway. Transwell assay and the scratch test were adopted to detect cell invasion and migration abilities. ANRIL expression in the PC cells was higher than in normal pancreatic duct epithelial cells. In the PC rat models and PC cells, ANRIL interference promoted the expressions of INK4B, INK4A, ARF and E-cadherin, while reduced N-cadherin and Vimentin expression. Over-expressed ANRIL decreased the expression of INK4B, INK4A, ARF and E-cadherin, but raised N-cadherin and Vimentin expressions. By inhibiting the ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway in PC cells, E-cadherin expression increased but N-cadherin and Vimentin expressions decreased. After ANRIL was silenced or the ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway inhibited, PC cell migration and invasion abilities were decreased. In conclusion, over-expression of lncRNA ANRIL can promote EMT of PC cells by activating the ATM-E2F1 signaling pathway. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. 52. 2E corridor, from intersection of 2F corridor, second floor, ...

    Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

    52. 2E corridor, from intersection of 2F corridor, second floor, building 500, looking east - Offutt Air Force Base, Strategic Air Command Headquarters & Command Center, Headquarters Building, 901 SAC Boulevard, Bellevue, Sarpy County, NE

  19. Inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase activity triggers neuronal differentiation of mouse neuroblastoma cells.

    PubMed

    Kranenburg, O; Scharnhorst, V; Van der Eb, A J; Zantema, A

    1995-10-01

    Studies on the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal differentiation are frequently performed using cell lines established from neuroblastomas. In this study we have used mouse N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells that undergo neuronal differentiation in response to DMSO. During differentiation, cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) activities decline and phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene product (pRb) is lost, leading to the appearance of a pRb-containing E2F DNA-binding complex. The loss of cdk2 activity is due to a decrease in cdk2 abundance whereas loss of cdk4 activity is caused by strong association with the cdk inhibitor (CKI) p27KIP1 and concurrent loss of cdk4 phosphorylation. Moreover, neuronal differentiation can be induced by overexpression of p27KIP1 or pRb, suggesting that inhibition of cdk activity leading to loss of pRb phosphorylation, is the major determinant for neuronal differentiation.

  20. Magnetic Trapping of Atomic Nitrogen (14N) and Cotrapping of NH (X3sigma)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2008-11-12

    online Diagram of trapping apparatus. The...rb .u ni ts ) Wave number - 48375 (cm-1) In te gr at ed N itr og en F lu or es ce nc e (a rb .u ni ts ) FIG. 2. Color online Integrated nitrogen...nsec) N F lu or es ce nc e (a rb .u ni ts ) (a) (b) N H F lu or es ce nc e (a rb .u ni ts ) FIG. 4. Color online Cotrapping of N and NH, a

  1. On the nature of interactions in the F2 OXe(…) NCCH3 complex: Is there the Xe(IV)N bond?

    PubMed

    Makarewicz, Emilia; Lundell, Jan; Gordon, Agnieszka J; Berski, Slawomir

    2016-07-01

    Nature of the bonding in isolated XeOF2 molecule and F2 OXe(…) NCCH3 complexes have been studied in the gas phase (0 K) using Quantum Chemical Topology methods. The wave functions have been approximated at the MP2 and DFT levels of calculations, using the APFD, B3LYP, M062X, and B2PLYP functionals with the GD3 dispersion correction. The nature of the formal XeO bond in the XeOF2 monomer depends on the basis set used (all-electron vs. the ecp-28 approximation for Xe). Within the all-electron basis set approach the bond is represented by two bonding attractors, Vi = 1,2 (Xe,O), with total population of about 1.06e and highly delocalized electron density in both bonding basins. No bonding basins are observed using the ecp-28 approximation. These results shows that the nature of xenon-oxygen is complicated and may be described with mesomeric equilibrium of the Lewis representations: Xe((+)) O((-)) and Xe((-)) O((+)) . For both the xenon-oxygen and xenon-fluorine interactions the charge-shift model can be applied. The F2 OXe(…) NCCH3 complex exists in two structures: "parallel," stabilized by non-covalent C(…) O and Xe(…) N interactions and "linear" stabilized by the Xe(…) N interaction. Topological analysis of ELF shows that the F2 OXe(…) NCCH3 molecule appears as a weakly bound intermolecular complex. Intermolecular interaction energy components have also been studied using Symmetry Adapted Perturbation Theory. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Inelastic neutron scattering investigation of low temperature phase transition in Rb2ZnCl4 and K2ZnCl4

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quilichini, M.; Dvořák, V.; Boutrouille, P.

    1991-09-01

    Inelastic scattering of neutrons has revealed soft optic modes at the T point frac{1}{2}({b}^*+{c}^*) of the Brillouin zone both in Rb2ZnCl4 and K2ZnCl4 which are responsible for the phase transition from the ferroelectric to the lowest temperature phase of these materials. Moreover, in K2ZnCl4 near the T point a minimum on the soft optic branch in the direction (μ{b}^*+frac{1}{2}{c}^*) has been found which confirms the existence of a new incommensurate phase recently discovered by Gesi. The origin of this incommensurate phase is discussed from a phenomenological point of view and formulae for elastic constants are derived describing their behaviour near transition into incommensurate phase. Des mesures de diffusion inélastique des neutrons ont mis en évidence l'existence d'un mode optique mou au point T(frac{1}{2}({b}^*+{c}^*)) de la zone de Brillouin responsable de la transition de la phase ferroélectrique vers la phase basse température dans les deux composés Rb2ZnCl4 and K2ZnCl4. Pour K2ZnCl4 on montre que la branche optique molle présente un minimum au voisinage de T dans la direction (μ{b}^*+frac{1}{2}{c}^*), ce qui confirme l'existence de la nouvelle phase incommensurable récemment trouvée par Gesi. L'origine de cette phase est discutée sur la base d'un modèle phénoménologique dont on dérive aussi les formules des constantes élastiques et leur comportement au voisinage de la transition vers la phase incommensurable.

  3. Synthesis and an X-ray diffraction study of Rb{sub 2}[(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Serezhkina, L. B., E-mail: Lserezh@ssu.samara.ru; Peresypkina, E. V.; Neklyudova, N. A.

    2010-09-15

    The synthesis and X-ray diffraction study of compound Rb{sub 2}[(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}], which crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, are performed. The unit cell parameters are as follows: a = 7.9996(6) A, b = 8.8259(8) A, c = 11.3220(7) A, {beta} = 105.394(2){sup o}, and V = 770.7(1) A{sup 3}; space group P2{sub 1}/n, Z = 2, and R{sub 1} = 0.0271. [(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4}){sub 3}]{sup 2-} layers belonging to the AK{sub 0.5}{sup 02}T{sup 11} crystal chemical group of uranyl complexes (A = UO{sub 2}{sup 2+}, K{sup 02} = C{sub 2}O{sub 4}{sup 2-}, and T{supmore » 11} = C{sub 2}O{sub 4}{sup 2-}) are uranium-containing structural units of the crystals. The layers are connected with outer-sphere rubidium cations by electrostatic interactions.« less

  4. Interaction of overlayers of Al and Rb with single-crystalline surfaces of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lindberg, P. A. P.; Wells, B. O.; Shen, Z.-X.; Dessau, D. S.; Lindau, I.; Spicer, W. E.; Mitzi, D. B.; Kapitulnik, A.

    1990-03-01

    Photoemission results from Al and Rb interfaces with single crystals of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 high-temperature superconductors are reported. The Al and Rb adsorbates are found to react quite differently with the Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 substrate. While adatoms of Rb significantly affect only the Bi and O atoms in the top atomic layer, the Al adsorbate profoundly disrupts the bonding character of the whole Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 material. For Al, the Bi and Cu states are strongly reduced, and the Sr and O states show evidence of oxidized components. In addition, Al causes a strong out-diffusion of oxygen from the bulk. The differences in the reactivity of Al and Rb are discussed in terms of the different mobility of the two atoms.

  5. Association between human papillomavirus and Epstein - Barr virus DNA and gene promoter methylation of RB1 and CDH1 in the cervical lesions: a transversal study.

    PubMed

    McCormick, Thaís M; Canedo, Nathalie H S; Furtado, Yara L; Silveira, Filomena A; de Lima, Roberto J; Rosman, Andréa D F; Almeida Filho, Gutemberg L; Carvalho, Maria da Glória da C

    2015-06-02

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) inactivates the retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) gene by promoter methylation and reduces cellular E-cadherin expression by overexpression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1). The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic virus that may be related to cervical carcinogenesis. In gastric cancer, it has been demonstrated that E-cadherin gene (CDH1) hypermethylation is associated with DNMT1 overexpression by EBV infection. Our aim was to analyze the gene promoter methylation frequency of RB1 and CDH1 and verify the association between that methylation frequency and HPV and EBV infection in cervical lesions. Sixty-five samples were obtained from cervical specimens: 15 normal cervices, 17 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 15 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), and 18 cervical cancers. HPV and EBV DNA testing was performed by PCR, and the methylation status was verified by MSP. HPV frequency was associated with cervical cancer cases (p = 0.005) but not EBV frequency (p = 0.732). Viral co-infection showed a statistically significant correlation with cancer (p = 0.027). No viral infection was detected in 33.3% (5/15) of controls. RB1 methylated status was associated with cancer (p = 0.009) and HPV infection (p = 0.042). CDH1 methylation was not associated with cancer (p = 0.181). Controls and LSIL samples did not show simultaneous methylation, while both genes were methylated in 27.8% (5/18) of cancer samples. In the presence of EBV, CDH1 methylation was present in 27.8% (5/18) of cancer samples. Only cancer cases presented RB1 promoter methylation in the presence of HPV and EBV (33.3%). The methylation status of both genes increased with disease progression. With EBV, RB1 methylation was a tumor-associated event because only the cancer group presented methylated RB1 with HPV infection. HPV infection was shown to be significantly correlated with cancer conditions. The global methylation frequency was

  6. High temperature redox reactions with uranium: Synthesis and characterization of Cs(UO{sub 2})Cl(SeO{sub 3}), Rb{sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 3}O{sub 2}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}, and RbNa{sub 5}U{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 7}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Babo, Jean-Marie; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556; Albrecht-Schmitt, Thomas E., E-mail: talbrechtschmitt@gmail.com

    2013-10-15

    Cs(UO{sub 2})Cl(SeO{sub 3}) (1), Rb{sub 2}(UO{sub 2}){sub 3}O{sub 2}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 3} (2), and RbNa{sub 5}U{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 7} (3) single crystals were synthesized using CsCl, RbCl, and a CuCl/NaCl eutectic mixture as fluxes, respectively. Their lattice parameters and space groups are as follows: P2{sub 1}/n (a=6.548(1) Å, b=11.052(2) Å, c=10.666(2) Å and β=93.897(3)°), P1{sup ¯} (a=7.051(2) Å, b=7.198(2) Å, c=8.314(2) Å, α=107.897(3)°, β=102.687(3)° and γ=100.564(3)°) and C2/c (a=17.862(4) Å, b=6.931(1) Å, c=20.133(4) Å and β=109.737(6)°. The small anionic building units found in these compounds are SeO{sub 3}{sup 2−} and SO{sub 4}{sup 2−} tetrahedra, oxide, and chloride. The crystal structure ofmore » the first compound is composed of [(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}Cl{sub 2}(SeO{sub 3}){sub 2}]{sup 2−} chains separated by Cs{sup +} cations. The structure of (2) is constructed from [(UO{sub 2}){sub 3}O{sub 11}]{sup 16−} chains further connected through selenite units into layers stacked perpendicularly to the [0 1 0] direction, with Rb{sup +} cations intercalating between them. The structure of compound (3) is made of uranyl sulfate layers formed by edge and vertex connections between dimeric [U{sub 2}O{sub 16}] and [SO{sub 4}] polyhedra. These layers contain unusual sulfate–metal connectivity as well as large voids. - Graphical abstract: A new family of uranyl selenites and sulfates has been prepared by high-temperature redox reactions. This compounds display new bonding motifs. Display Omitted - Highlights: • Low-dimensional Uranyl Oxoanion compounds. • Conversion of U(IV) to U(VI) at high temperatures. • Dimensional reduction by both halides and stereochemically active lone-pairs.« less

  7. BID-F1 and BID-F2 domains of Bartonella henselae effector protein BepF trigger together with BepC the formation of invasome structures.

    PubMed

    Truttmann, Matthias C; Guye, Patrick; Dehio, Christoph

    2011-01-01

    The gram-negative, zoonotic pathogen Bartonella henselae (Bhe) translocates seven distinct Bartonella effector proteins (Beps) via the VirB/VirD4 type IV secretion system (T4SS) into human cells, thereby interfering with host cell signaling [1], [2]. In particular, the effector protein BepG alone or the combination of effector proteins BepC and BepF trigger massive F-actin rearrangements that lead to the establishment of invasome structures eventually resulting in the internalization of entire Bhe aggregates [2], [3]. In this report, we investigate the molecular function of the effector protein BepF in the eukaryotic host cell. We show that the N-terminal [E/T]PLYAT tyrosine phosphorylation motifs of BepF get phosphorylated upon translocation but do not contribute to invasome-mediated Bhe uptake. In contrast, we found that two of the three BID domains of BepF are capable to trigger invasome formation together with BepC, while a mutation of the WxxxE motif of the BID-F1 domain inhibited its ability to contribute to the formation of invasome structures. Next, we show that BepF function during invasome formation can be replaced by the over-expression of constitutive-active Rho GTPases Rac1 or Cdc42. Finally we demonstrate that BID-F1 and BID-F2 domains promote the formation of filopodia-like extensions in NIH 3T3 and HeLa cells as well as membrane protrusions in HeLa cells, suggesting a role for BepF in Rac1 and Cdc42 activation during the process of invasome formation.

  8. Functional interaction of CCAAT/enhancer-binding-protein-α basic region mutants with E2F transcription factors and DNA.

    PubMed

    Kowenz-Leutz, Elisabeth; Schuetz, Anja; Liu, Qingbin; Knoblich, Maria; Heinemann, Udo; Leutz, Achim

    2016-07-01

    The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) regulates cell cycle arrest and terminal differentiation of neutrophils and adipocytes. Mutations in the basic leucine zipper domain (bZip) of C/EBPα are associated with acute myeloid leukemia. A widely used murine transforming C/EBPα basic region mutant (BRM2) entails two bZip point mutations (I294A/R297A). BRM2 has been discordantly described as defective for DNA binding or defective for interaction with E2F. We have separated the two BRM2 mutations to shed light on the intertwined reciprocity between C/EBPα-E2F-DNA interactions. Both, C/EBPα I294A and R297A retain transactivation capacity and interaction with E2F-DP. The C/EBPα R297A mutation destabilized DNA binding, whereas the C/EBPα I294A mutation enhanced binding to DNA. The C/EBPα R297A mutant, like BRM2, displayed enhanced interaction with E2F-DP but failed to repress E2F-dependent transactivation although both mutants were readily suppressed by E2F1 for transcription through C/EBP cis-regulatory sites. In contrast, the DNA binding enhanced C/EBPα I294A mutant displayed increased repression of E2F-DP mediated transactivation and resisted E2F-DP mediated repression. Thus, the efficient repression of E2F dependent S-phase genes and the activation of differentiation genes reside in the balanced DNA binding capacity of C/EBPα. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Comparison of the efficacy of a commercial inactivated influenza A/H1N1/pdm09 virus (pH1N1) vaccine and two experimental M2e-based vaccines against pH1N1 challenge in the growing pig model.

    PubMed

    Opriessnig, Tanja; Gauger, Phillip C; Gerber, Priscilla F; Castro, Alessandra M M G; Shen, Huigang; Murphy, Lita; Digard, Paul; Halbur, Patrick G; Xia, Ming; Jiang, Xi; Tan, Ming

    2018-01-01

    Swine influenza A viruses (IAV-S) found in North American pigs are diverse and the lack of cross-protection among heterologous strains is a concern. The objective of this study was to compare a commercial inactivated A/H1N1/pdm09 (pH1N1) vaccine and two novel subunit vaccines, using IAV M2 ectodomain (M2e) epitopes as antigens, in a growing pig model. Thirty-nine 2-week-old IAV negative pigs were randomly assigned to five groups and rooms. At 3 weeks of age and again at 5 weeks of age, pigs were vaccinated intranasally with an experimental subunit particle vaccine (NvParticle/M2e) or a subunit complex-based vaccine (NvComplex/M2e) or intramuscularly with a commercial inactivated vaccine (Inact/pH1N1). At 7 weeks of age, the pigs were challenged with pH1N1 virus or sham-inoculated. Necropsy was conducted 5 days post pH1N1 challenge (dpc). At the time of challenge one of the Inact/pH1N1 pigs had seroconverted based on IAV nucleoprotein-based ELISA, Inact/pH1N1 pigs had significantly higher pdm09H1N1 hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers compared to all other groups, and M2e-specific IgG responses were detected in the NvParticle/M2e and the NvComplex/M2e pigs with significantly higher group means in the NvComplex/M2e group compared to SHAMVAC-NEG pigs. After challenge, nasal IAV RNA shedding was significantly reduced in Inact/pH1N1 pigs compared to all other pH1N1 infected groups and this group also had reduced IAV RNA in oral fluids. The macroscopic lung lesions were characterized by mild-to-severe, multifocal-to-diffuse, cranioventral dark purple consolidated areas typical of IAV infection and were similar for NvParticle/M2e, NvComplex/M2e and SHAMVAC-IAV pigs. Lesions were significantly less severe in the SHAMVAC-NEG and the Inact/pH1N1pigs. Under the conditions of this study, a commercial Inact/pH1N1 specific vaccine effectively protected pigs against homologous challenge as evidenced by reduced clinical signs, virus shedding in nasal secretions and oral fluids

  10. Comparison of the efficacy of a commercial inactivated influenza A/H1N1/pdm09 virus (pH1N1) vaccine and two experimental M2e-based vaccines against pH1N1 challenge in the growing pig model

    PubMed Central

    Gauger, Phillip C.; Gerber, Priscilla F.; Castro, Alessandra M. M. G.; Shen, Huigang; Murphy, Lita; Digard, Paul; Halbur, Patrick G.; Xia, Ming; Jiang, Xi; Tan, Ming

    2018-01-01

    Swine influenza A viruses (IAV-S) found in North American pigs are diverse and the lack of cross-protection among heterologous strains is a concern. The objective of this study was to compare a commercial inactivated A/H1N1/pdm09 (pH1N1) vaccine and two novel subunit vaccines, using IAV M2 ectodomain (M2e) epitopes as antigens, in a growing pig model. Thirty-nine 2-week-old IAV negative pigs were randomly assigned to five groups and rooms. At 3 weeks of age and again at 5 weeks of age, pigs were vaccinated intranasally with an experimental subunit particle vaccine (NvParticle/M2e) or a subunit complex-based vaccine (NvComplex/M2e) or intramuscularly with a commercial inactivated vaccine (Inact/pH1N1). At 7 weeks of age, the pigs were challenged with pH1N1 virus or sham-inoculated. Necropsy was conducted 5 days post pH1N1 challenge (dpc). At the time of challenge one of the Inact/pH1N1 pigs had seroconverted based on IAV nucleoprotein-based ELISA, Inact/pH1N1 pigs had significantly higher pdm09H1N1 hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers compared to all other groups, and M2e-specific IgG responses were detected in the NvParticle/M2e and the NvComplex/M2e pigs with significantly higher group means in the NvComplex/M2e group compared to SHAMVAC-NEG pigs. After challenge, nasal IAV RNA shedding was significantly reduced in Inact/pH1N1 pigs compared to all other pH1N1 infected groups and this group also had reduced IAV RNA in oral fluids. The macroscopic lung lesions were characterized by mild-to-severe, multifocal-to-diffuse, cranioventral dark purple consolidated areas typical of IAV infection and were similar for NvParticle/M2e, NvComplex/M2e and SHAMVAC-IAV pigs. Lesions were significantly less severe in the SHAMVAC-NEG and the Inact/pH1N1pigs. Under the conditions of this study, a commercial Inact/pH1N1 specific vaccine effectively protected pigs against homologous challenge as evidenced by reduced clinical signs, virus shedding in nasal secretions and oral fluids

  11. Effects of disorder on the intrinsically hole-doped iron-based superconductor KC a2F e4A s4F2 by cobalt substitution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishida, Junichi; Iimura, Soshi; Hosono, Hideo

    2017-11-01

    In this paper, the effects of cobalt substitution on the transport and electronic properties of the recently discovered iron-based superconductor KC a2F e4A s4F2 , with Tc=33 K , are reported. This material is an unusual superconductor showing intrinsic hole conduction (0.25 holes /F e2 + ). Upon doping of Co, the Tc of KC a2(Fe1-xC ox) 4A s4F2 gradually decreased, and bulk superconductivity disappeared when x ≥0.25 . Conversion of the primary carrier from p type to n type upon Co-doping was clearly confirmed by Hall measurements, and our results are consistent with the change in the calculated Fermi surface. Nevertheless, neither spin density wave (SDW) nor an orthorhombic phase, which are commonly observed for nondoped iron-based superconductors, was observed in the nondoped or electron-doped samples. The electron count in the 3 d orbitals and structural parameters were compared with those of other iron-based superconductors to show that the physical properties can be primarily ascribed to the effects of disorder.

  12. (Ag{sub 2}TeS{sub 3}){sub 2} {small_bullet} A{sub 2}S{sub 6} (A = Rb, Cs) : layers of silver thiotellurite intergrown with alkali-metal polysulfides.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Nguyen, S. L.; Jang, J. I.; Ketterson, J. B.

    2010-09-22

    The layered compounds RbAg{sub 2}TeS{sub 6} and CsAg{sub 2}TeS{sub 6} crystallize in the noncentrosymmetric space group P6{sub 3}cm, with a = 19.15 {angstrom}, c = 14.64 {angstrom}, and V = 4648 {angstrom}{sup 3} and a = 19.41 {angstrom}, c = 14.84 {angstrom}, and V = 4839 {angstrom}{sup 3}, respectively. The structures are composed of neutral [Ag{sub 2}TeS{sub 3}] layers alternating with charge-balanced salt layers containing polysulfide chains of [S{sub 6}]{sup 2-} and alkali-metal ions. RbAg{sub 2}TeS{sub 6} and CsAg{sub 2}TeS{sub 6} are air- and water-stable, wide-band-gap semiconductors (E{sub g} {approx} 2.0 eV) exhibiting nonlinear-optical second-harmonic generation.

  13. Protective role of HLA-DRB1*11 against juvenile idiopathic arthritis living in North Eastern Iran.

    PubMed

    Rezaieyazdi, Zahra; Kochakzadeh, Morteza; Hatef, Mohammad Reza; Esmaily, Habibollah; Malek, Abdolreza; Valizadeh, Narges; Tabaei, Samira; Rafatpanah, Houshang

    2018-06-01

    Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is one of the most common chronic rheumatic diseases in children. The complex nature of this immune-mediated disease owes itself to several predisposing genes and environmental factors affecting its pathogenesis. Conducted in Iran, this study was originally intended to investigate every possible association between HLA DRB1 alleles and a susceptibility to JIA. In this case-control study, 45 patients with a definite diagnosis of JIA based on International League against Rheumatism (ILAR) criteria were compared against 46 healthy controls. DNA samples taken from both groups were analyzed using PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) method. Data analysis including parametric and nonparametric test and multivariate analysis was undertaken using the SPSS 11.5 software. A P-value< 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. Mean ages in case group and healthy controls were 14.64±6.21 and 13.73±6.39, respectively with no significant difference between the two groups ( P =0.515). Sex difference between JIA group and healthy controls was also not significant ( P =0.068). The frequency of HLA-DRB1*01 was found the most frequent HLA-RB1 in our patients (33.3%). No significant statistical correlation between various HLA-DRB1 alleles and clinical subtypes of the disease could be established from the data. HLA-DRB1*11 was shown to raise protection to JIA ( P =0.035, OR=2.755, 95% CI=0.963-8.055) in northeastern Iran. In addition, we found that HLA-RB1*09 is nominally associated with an increased risk of JIA ( P =0.56, OR=2, 05, 95% CI=0.18-23.63). HLA-DRB1*11 was shown to raise protection to JIA in northeastern Iran. The disparity of findings in other ethnicities prompts further investigations with larger sample sizes.

  14. RB1 status in triple negative breast cancer cells dictates response to radiation treatment and selective therapeutic drugs.

    PubMed

    Robinson, Tyler J W; Liu, Jeff C; Vizeacoumar, Frederick; Sun, Thomas; Maclean, Neil; Egan, Sean E; Schimmer, Aaron D; Datti, Alessandro; Zacksenhaus, Eldad

    2013-01-01

    Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) includes basal-like and claudin-low subtypes for which only chemotherapy and radiation therapy are currently available. The retinoblastoma (RB1) tumor suppressor is frequently lost in human TNBC. Knockdown of RB1 in luminal BC cells was shown to affect response to endocrine, radiation and several antineoplastic drugs. However, the effect of RB1 status on radiation and chemo-sensitivity in TNBC cells and whether RB1 status affects response to divergent or specific treatment are unknown. Using multiple basal-like and claudin-low cell lines, we hereby demonstrate that RB-negative TNBC cell lines are highly sensitive to gamma-irradiation, and moderately more sensitive to doxorubicin and methotrexate compared to RB-positive TNBC cell lines. In contrast, RB1 status did not affect sensitivity of TNBC cells to multiple other drugs including cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil, idarubicin, epirubicin, PRIMA-1(met), fludarabine and PD-0332991, some of which are used to treat TNBC patients. Moreover, a non-biased screen of ∼3400 compounds, including FDA-approved drugs, revealed similar sensitivity of RB-proficient and -deficient TNBC cells. Finally, ESA(+)/CD24(-/low)/CD44(+) cancer stem cells from RB-negative TNBC lines were consistently more sensitive to gamma-irradiation than RB-positive lines, whereas the effect of chemotherapy on the cancer stem cell fraction varied irrespective of RB1 expression. Our results suggest that patients carrying RB-deficient TNBCs would benefit from gamma-irradiation as well as doxorubicin and methotrexate therapy, but not necessarily from many other anti-neoplastic drugs.

  15. f1: a code to compute Appell's F1 hypergeometric function

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Colavecchia, F. D.; Gasaneo, G.

    2004-02-01

    In this work we present the FORTRAN code to compute the hypergeometric function F1( α, β1, β2, γ, x, y) of Appell. The program can compute the F1 function for real values of the variables { x, y}, and complex values of the parameters { α, β1, β2, γ}. The code uses different strategies to calculate the function according to the ideas outlined in [F.D. Colavecchia et al., Comput. Phys. Comm. 138 (1) (2001) 29]. Program summaryTitle of the program: f1 Catalogue identifier: ADSJ Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADSJ Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland Licensing provisions: none Computers: PC compatibles, SGI Origin2∗ Operating system under which the program has been tested: Linux, IRIX Programming language used: Fortran 90 Memory required to execute with typical data: 4 kbytes No. of bits in a word: 32 No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 52 325 Distribution format: tar gzip file External subprograms used: Numerical Recipes hypgeo [W.H. Press et al., Numerical Recipes in Fortran 77, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1996] or chyp routine of R.C. Forrey [J. Comput. Phys. 137 (1997) 79], rkf45 [L.F. Shampine and H.H. Watts, Rep. SAND76-0585, 1976]. Keywords: Numerical methods, special functions, hypergeometric functions, Appell functions, Gauss function Nature of the physical problem: Computing the Appell F1 function is relevant in atomic collisions and elementary particle physics. It is usually the result of multidimensional integrals involving Coulomb continuum states. Method of solution: The F1 function has a convergent-series definition for | x|<1 and | y|<1, and several analytic continuations for other regions of the variable space. The code tests the values of the variables and selects one of the precedent cases. In the convergence region the program uses the series definition near the origin of coordinates, and a numerical integration of the third-order differential

  16. Fluorine-substitution induced switching of dissociation patterns of C6H4*+ produced by photoelimination of MgF2 from the complexes of mg*+ (multifluorobenzene).

    PubMed

    Liu, Hai-Chuan; Zhang, Xin-Hao; Wu, Yun-Dong; Yang, Shihe

    2005-03-07

    Complexes of fluorinated benzenes (o-C6H4-nF2+n) and Mg*+ are subjected to ultraviolet photodissociation (260-340 nm), producing efficiently benzyne radical cations (C6H4-nFn*+) besides Mg*+ and MgF+. We show that the consecutive dissociation of C6H4-nFn*+ follows the [C4(+) + C2] pattern exclusively for n < or = 2 after the parent complexes absorb one or two photons. However, the dissociation pattern is switched to [C5(+) + C1] and [C1 + C5] for n > or = 3. In particular, upon two-photon absorption at 340 nm by the complexes of Mg*+ (C6HF5) (1) and Mg*+ (C6F6) (2), photoproducts of CF+, C5H+, and C5HF*+ from C6HF3*+ and CF+, C5F+, C5F2*+, and C5F3+ from C6F4*+ are detected, respectively. Theoretical calculations are used to explain the switching of the dissociation patterns induced by the fluorine substitutions. It was found that the formation of C5+ + C1 is energetically more favorable than that of C4(+) + C2 from C6HF3*+ and C6F4*+ and of C1(+) + C5. Except for C5H2F(+) + CF, all the channels of [C5(+) + C1] and [C1(+) + C5] are energetically less favorable than those of [C4(+) + C2] from C6H3F*+ and C6H2F2*+. In most cases, the calculated results agree well with the experimental observations.

  17. Two novel copper(II) complexes constructed from dicarboxylate ligands with different spacer lengths and 2-phenylimidazo[4,5- f]1,10-phenanthroline (PIP): Synthesis, structures and properties

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, X.-L.; Chen, Yongqiang; Liu, Guocheng; Lin, Hongyan; Zhang, Jinxia

    2009-09-01

    Two novel metal-organic coordination polymers [Cu(PIP)(bpea)(H 2O)]·H 2O ( 1) and [Cu(PIP)(1,4-bdc)] ( 2) have been obtained from hydrothermal reaction of copper(II) with the mixed ligands [biphenylethene-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid (bpea) for 1, benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid (1,4-H 2bdc) for 2, and 2-phenylimidazo[4,5- f]1,10-phenanthroline (PIP)]. Both complexes have been structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Structural analyses reveal that complex 1 possesses infinite one-dimensional zigzag chain, 2 exhibits a two-dimensional (4,4) network, both of which are extended into three-dimensional supramolecular network by weak interactions. The different structures of the title complexes illustrate the influence of the flexibility (the spacer length of carboxyl groups and the structural rigidity of the spacer) of organic dicarboxylate ligands on the formation of such coordination architectures. Moreover, the thermal properties and the voltammetric behavior of complexes 1 and 2 have been reported.

  18. Conservation and divergence of C-terminal domain structure in the retinoblastoma protein family

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Liban, Tyler J.; Medina, Edgar M.; Tripathi, Sarvind

    The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) and the homologous pocket proteins p107 and p130 negatively regulate cell proliferation by binding and inhibiting members of the E2F transcription factor family. The structural features that distinguish Rb from other pocket proteins have been unclear but are critical for understanding their functional diversity and determining why Rb has unique tumor suppressor activities. We describe here important differences in how the Rb and p107 C-terminal domains (CTDs) associate with the coiled-coil and marked-box domains (CMs) of E2Fs. We find that although CTD–CM binding is conserved across protein families, Rb and p107 CTDs show clear preferences formore » different E2Fs. A crystal structure of the p107 CTD bound to E2F5 and its dimer partner DP1 reveals the molecular basis for pocket protein–E2F binding specificity and how cyclin-dependent kinases differentially regulate pocket proteins through CTD phosphorylation. Our structural and biochemical data together with phylogenetic analyses of Rb and E2F proteins support the conclusion that Rb evolved specific structural motifs that confer its unique capacity to bind with high affinity those E2Fs that are the most potent activators of the cell cycle.« less

  19. La-related protein 1 (LARP1) binds the mRNA cap, blocking eIF4F assembly on TOP mRNAs.

    PubMed

    Lahr, Roni M; Fonseca, Bruno D; Ciotti, Gabrielle E; Al-Ashtal, Hiba A; Jia, Jian-Jun; Niklaus, Marius R; Blagden, Sarah P; Alain, Tommy; Berman, Andrea J

    2017-04-07

    The 5'terminal oligopyrimidine (5'TOP) motif is a cis -regulatory RNA element located immediately downstream of the 7-methylguanosine [m 7 G] cap of TOP mRNAs, which encode ribosomal proteins and translation factors. In eukaryotes, this motif coordinates the synchronous and stoichiometric expression of the protein components of the translation machinery. La-related protein 1 (LARP1) binds TOP mRNAs, regulating their stability and translation. We present crystal structures of the human LARP1 DM15 region in complex with a 5'TOP motif, a cap analog (m 7 GTP), and a capped cytidine (m 7 GpppC), resolved to 2.6, 1.8 and 1.7 Å, respectively. Our binding, competition, and immunoprecipitation data corroborate and elaborate on the mechanism of 5'TOP motif binding by LARP1. We show that LARP1 directly binds the cap and adjacent 5'TOP motif of TOP mRNAs, effectively impeding access of eIF4E to the cap and preventing eIF4F assembly. Thus, LARP1 is a specialized TOP mRNA cap-binding protein that controls ribosome biogenesis.

  20. Development of f2/f1 ratio functions in humans

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Vento, Barbara A.; Durrant, John D.; Sabo, Diane L.; Boston, J. Robert

    2004-05-01

    Otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) presumably represent active processes within the cochlea fundamental to frequency-selectivity in peripheral auditory function. Maturation of the cochlear amplifier, vis-a-vis frequency encoding or selectivity, has yet to be fully characterized in humans. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the maturation of features of the f2/f1 frequency ratio (Distortion Product OAE amplitude X f2/f1 ratio) presumed to reflect cochlear frequency selectivity. A cross-sectional, multivariate study was completed comparing three age groups: pre-term infants, term infants and young adult subjects. Frequency ratio functions were analyzed at three f2 frequencies-2000, 4000 and 6000 Hz. An analysis included an estimation of the optimal ratio (OR) and a bandwidth-like measure (Q3). Analysis revealed significant interactions of age x frequency x gender for optimal ratio and a significant interaction of age x frequency for Q3. Consistent and statistically significant differences for both OR and Q3 were found in female subjects and when f2=2 or 6 kHz. This supports research by others [Abdala, J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 114, 3239-3250 (2003)] suggesting that the development of cochlear active mechanisms may still be somewhat in flux at least through term birth Furthermore, OAEs appear to demonstrate gender differences in the course of such maturational changes.

  1. Anisotropic upper critical magnetic fields in Rb 2 Cr 3 As 3 superconductor

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tang, Zhang-Tu; Liu, Yi; Bao, Jin-Ke

    Rb2Cr3As3 is a structurally one-dimensional superconductor containing Cr3As3 chains with a superconducting transition temperature of T-c = 4.8 K. Here we report the electrical resistance measurements for Rb2Cr3As3 single crystals, under magnetic fields up to 29.5 T and at temperatures down to 0.36 K, from which the upper critical fields, H-c2(T), can be obtained in a broad temperature range. For field parallel to the Cr3As3 chains, H-c2(parallel to)(T) is paramagnetically limited with an initial slope of mu(0)dH(c2)(parallel to)/dT|T-c = - 16 T K-1 and a zero-temperature upper critical field of mu H-0(c2)parallel to(0) = 17.5 T. For field perpendicular tomore » the Cr3As3 chains, however, H-c2(perpendicular to)(T) is only limited by orbital pair-breaking effect with mu(0)dH(c2)(perpendicular to)/dT|(Tc) = - 3 T K-1. As a consequence, the anisotropy gamma H = H-c2(parallel to)/H-c2(perpendicular to) decreases sharply near T-c and reverses below 2 K. Remarkably, the low- temperature H-c2(perpendicular to)(T) down to 0.075 T-c remains to increase linearly up to over three times the Pauli paramagnetic limit, which strongly suggests dominant spin-triplet superconductivity in Rb2Cr3As3.« less

  2. TiF(4) and NaF at pH 1.2 but not at pH 3.5 are able to reduce dentin erosion.

    PubMed

    Wiegand, Annette; Magalhães, Ana Carolina; Sener, Beatrice; Waldheim, Elena; Attin, Thomas

    2009-08-01

    This study aimed to analyse and compare the protective effect of buffered (pH 3.5) and native (pH 1.2) TiF(4) in comparison to NaF solutions of same pH on dentin erosion. Bovine samples were pretreated with 1.50% TiF(4) or 2.02% NaF (both 0.48M F) solutions, each with a pH of 1.2 and 3.5. The control group received no fluoride pretreatment. Ten samples in each group were eroded with HCl (pH 2.6) for 10x60s. Erosion was analysed by determination of calcium release into the acid. Additionally, the surface and the elemental surface composition were examined by scanning electron microscopy (two samples in each group) and X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy in fluoridated but not eroded samples (six samples in each group). Cumulative calcium release (nmol/mm(2)) was statistically analysed by repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANOVA at t=10min. TiF(4) and NaF at pH 1.2 decreased calcium release significantly, while TiF(4) and NaF at pH 3.5 were not effective. Samples treated with TiF(4) at pH 1.2 showed a significant increase of Ti, while NaF pretreatment increased F concentration significantly. TiF(4) at pH 1.2 led to the formation of globular precipitates occluding dentinal tubules, which could not be observed on samples treated with TiF(4) at pH 3.5. NaF at pH 1.2 but not at pH 3.5 induced the formation of surface precipitates covering dentinal tubules. Dentin erosion can be significantly reduced by TiF(4) and NaF at pH 1.2, but not at pH 3.5.

  3. Molecular Investigations of the Structure and Function of the Protein Phosphatase 1:Spinophilin:Inhibitor-2 Heterotrimeric Complex

    PubMed Central

    Dancheck, Barbara; Ragusa, Michael J.; Allaire, Marc; Nairn, Angus C.; Page, Rebecca; Peti, Wolfgang

    2011-01-01

    Regulation of the major ser/thr phosphatase Protein Phosphatase 1 (PP1) is controlled by a diverse array of targeting and inhibitor proteins. Though many PP1 regulatory proteins share at least one PP1 binding motif, usually the RVxF motif, it was recently discovered that certain pairs of targeting and inhibitor proteins bind PP1 simultaneously to form PP1 heterotrimeric complexes. To date, structural information for these heterotrimeric complexes, and, in turn, how they direct PP1 activity is entirely lacking. Using a combination of NMR spectroscopy, biochemistry and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), we show that major structural rearrangements in both spinophilin (targeting) and Inhibitor-2 (I-2, inhibitor) are essential for the formation of the heterotrimeric PP1:spinophilin:I-2 (PSI) complex. The RVxF motif of I-2 is released from PP1 during the formation of PSI, making the less prevalent SILK motif of I-2 essential for complex stability. The release of the I-2 RVxF motif allows for enhanced flexibility of both I-2 and spinophilin in the heterotrimeric complex. In addition, we used inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy to show that PP1 contains two metals in both heterodimeric complexes (PP1:spinophilin and PP1:I2) and PSI, demonstrating that PSI retains the biochemical characteristics of the PP1:I2 holoenzyme. Finally, we combined the NMR and biochemical data with SAXS and molecular dynamics simulations to generate a structural model of the full heterotrimeric PSI complex. Collectively, these data reveal the molecular events that enable PP1 heterotrimeric complexes to exploit both the targeting and inhibitory features of the PP1-regulatory proteins to form multi-functional PP1 holoenzymes. PMID:21218781

  4. Stability of simple/complex classification with contrast and extraclassical receptive field modulation in macaque V1

    PubMed Central

    Henry, Christopher A.

    2013-01-01

    A key property of neurons in primary visual cortex (V1) is the distinction between simple and complex cells. Recent reports in cat visual cortex indicate the categorization of simple and complex can change depending on stimulus conditions. We investigated the stability of the simple/complex classification with changes in drive produced by either contrast or modulation by the extraclassical receptive field (eCRF). These two conditions were reported to increase the proportion of simple cells in cat cortex. The ratio of the modulation depth of the response (F1) to the elevation of response (F0) to a drifting grating (F1/F0 ratio) was used as the measure of simple/complex. The majority of V1 complex cells remained classified as complex with decreasing contrast. Near contrast threshold, an equal proportion of simple and complex cells changed their classification. The F1/F0 ratio was stable between optimal and large stimulus areas even for those neurons that showed strong eCRF suppression. There was no discernible overall effect of surrounding spatial context on the F1/F0 ratio. Simple/complex cell classification is relatively stable across a range of stimulus drives, produced by either contrast or eCRF suppression. PMID:23303859

  5. Repression of miR-17-5p with elevated expression of E2F-1 and c-MYC in non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma and enhancement of cell growth upon reversing this expression pattern

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    El Tayebi, H.M.; Omar, K.; Hegy, S.

    2013-05-10

    Highlights: •The oncogenic miR-17-5p is downregulated in non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma patients. •E2F-1 and c-MYC transcripts are upregulated in non-metastatic HCC patients. •miR-17-5p forced overexpression inhibited E2F-1 and c-MYC expression in HuH-7 cells. •miR-17-5p mimicking increased HuH-7 cell growth, proliferation, migration and colony formation. •miR-17-5p is responsible for HCC progression among the c-MYC/E2F-1/miR-17-5p triad members. -- Abstract: E2F-1, c-MYC, and miR-17-5p is a triad of two regulatory loops: a negative and a positive loop, where c-MYC induces the expression of E2F-1 that induces the expression of miR-17-5p which in turn reverses the expression of E2F-1 to close the loop. In thismore » study, we investigated this triad for the first time in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), where miR-17-5p showed a significant down-regulation in 23 non-metastatic HCC biopsies compared to 10 healthy tissues; however, E2F-1 and c-MYC transcripts were markedly elevated. Forced over-expression of miR-17-5p in HuH-7 cells resulted in enhanced cell proliferation, growth, migration and clonogenicity with concomitant inhibition of E2F-1 and c-MYC transcripts expressions, while antagomirs of miR-17-5p reversed these events. In conclusion, this study revealed a unique pattern of expression for miR-17-5p in non-metastatic HCC patients in contrast to metastatic HCC patients. In addition we show that miR-17-5p is the key player among the triad that tumor growth and spread.« less

  6. [Simplicity or complexity of the radiopharmaceutical production process in the light of optimization of radiation protection of staff - 99mTc vs. 18F].

    PubMed

    Wrzesień, Małgorzata

    2018-05-22

    A radiopharmaceutical is a combination of a non-radioactive compound with a radioactive isotope. Two isotopes: technetium-99m (99mTc) and fluorine-18 (18F) are worth mentioning on the rich list of isotopes which have found numerous medical applications. Their similarity is limited only to the diagnostic area of applicability. The type and the energy of emitted radiation, the half-life and, in particular, the production method demonstrate their diversity. The 99mTc isotope is produced by a short-lived nuclide generator - molybdenum-99 (99Mo)/99mTc, while 18F is resulting from nuclear reaction occurring in a cyclotron. A relatively simple and easy handling of the 99Mo/99mTc generator, compared to the necessary use a cyclotron, seems to favor the principle of optimizing the radiological protection of personnel. The thesis on the effect of automation of both the 18F isotope production and the deoxyglucose labelling process on the optimization of radiological protection of workers compared to manual procedures during handling of radiopharmaceuticals labelled with 99Tc need to be verified. Measurements of personal dose equivalent Hp(0.07) were made in 5 nuclear medicine departments and 2 radiopharmaceuticals production centers. High-sensitivity thermoluminescent detectors (LiF: Mg, Cu, P - MCP-N) were used to determine the doses. Among the activities performed by employees of both 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) production centers and nuclear medicine departments, the manual quality control procedures and labelling of radiopharmaceuticals with 99mTc isotope manifest the greatest contribution to the recorded Hp(0.07). The simplicity of obtaining the 99mTc isotope as well as the complex, but fully automated production process of the 18F-FDG radiopharmaceutical optimize the radiation protection of workers, excluding manual procedures labelling with 99mTc or quality control of 18F-FDG. Med Pr 2018;69(3):317–327. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed

  7. Citrulline protects Streptococcus pyogenes from acid stress using the arginine deiminase pathway and the F1Fo-ATPase.

    PubMed

    Cusumano, Zachary T; Caparon, Michael G

    2015-04-01

    A common stress encountered by both pathogenic and environmental bacteria is exposure to a low-pH environment, which can inhibit cell growth and lead to cell death. One major defense mechanism against this stress is the arginine deiminase (ADI) pathway, which catabolizes arginine to generate two ammonia molecules and one molecule of ATP. While this pathway typically relies on the utilization of arginine, citrulline has also been shown to enter into the pathway and contribute to protection against acid stress. In the pathogenic bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes, the utilization of citrulline has been demonstrated to contribute to pathogenesis in a murine model of soft tissue infection, although the mechanism underlying its role in infection is unknown. To gain insight into this question, we analyzed a panel of mutants defective in different steps in the ADI pathway to dissect how arginine and citrulline protect S. pyogenes in a low-pH environment. While protection provided by arginine utilization occurred through the buffering of the extracellular environment, citrulline catabolism protection was pH independent, requiring the generation of ATP via the ADI pathway and a functional F1Fo-ATP synthase. This work demonstrates that arginine and citrulline catabolism protect against acid stress through distinct mechanisms and have unique contributions to virulence during an infection. An important aspect of bacterial pathogenesis is the utilization of host-derived nutrients during an infection for growth and virulence. Previously published work from our lab identified a unique role for citrulline catabolism in Streptococcus pyogenes during a soft tissue infection. The present article probes the role of citrulline utilization during this infection and its contribution to protection against acid stress. This work reveals a unique and concerted action between the catabolism of citrulline and the F1Fo-ATPase that function together to provide protection for bacteria in a low

  8. E2F1 induces p19INK4d, a protein involved in the DNA damage response, following UV irradiation.

    PubMed

    Carcagno, Abel L; Giono, Luciana E; Marazita, Mariela C; Castillo, Daniela S; Pregi, Nicolás; Cánepa, Eduardo T

    2012-07-01

    Central to the maintenance of genomic integrity is the cellular DNA damage response. Depending on the type of genotoxic stress and through the activation of multiple signaling cascades, it can lead to cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, senescence, and apoptosis. p19INK4d, a member of the INK4 family of CDK inhibitors, plays a dual role in the DNA damage response, inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting DNA repair. Consistently, p19INK4d has been reported to become upregulated in response to UV irradiation and a great variety of genotoxic agents. Here, this induction is shown to result from a transcriptional stimulatory mechanism that can occur at every phase of the cell cycle except during mitosis. Moreover, evidence is presented that demonstrates that E2F1 is involved in the induction of p19INK4d following UV treatment, as it is prevented by E2F1 protein ablation and DNA-binding inhibition. Specific inhibition of this regulation using triplex-forming oligonucleotides that target the E2F response elements present in the p19INK4d promoter also block p19INK4d upregulation and sensitize cells to DNA damage. These results constitute the first description of a mechanism for the induction of p19INK4d in response to UV irradiation and demonstrate the physiological relevance of this regulation following DNA damage.

  9. 40 CFR Figure F-1 to Subpart F of... - Designation Testing Checklist

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... tests must be performed:§ 53.62 - Full Wind Tunnel § 53.63 - Inlet Aspiration § 53.64 - Static... 40 Protection of Environment 5 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Designation Testing Checklist F Figure F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED...

  10. 40 CFR Figure F-1 to Subpart F of... - Designation Testing Checklist

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... tests must be performed:§ 53.62 - Full Wind Tunnel § 53.63 - Inlet Aspiration § 53.64 - Static... 40 Protection of Environment 5 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Designation Testing Checklist F Figure F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED...

  11. 40 CFR Figure F-1 to Subpart F of... - Designation Testing Checklist

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... tests must be performed:§ 53.62 - Full Wind Tunnel § 53.63 - Inlet Aspiration § 53.64 - Static... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Designation Testing Checklist F Figure F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED...

  12. 40 CFR Figure F-1 to Subpart F of... - Designation Testing Checklist

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-07-01

    ... tests must be performed:§ 53.62 - Full Wind Tunnel § 53.63 - Inlet Aspiration § 53.64 - Static... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Designation Testing Checklist F Figure F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED...

  13. 40 CFR Figure F-1 to Subpart F of... - Designation Testing Checklist

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... tests must be performed:§ 53.62 - Full Wind Tunnel § 53.63 - Inlet Aspiration § 53.64 - Static... 40 Protection of Environment 6 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Designation Testing Checklist F Figure F-1 to Subpart F of Part 53 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED...

  14. H5N1 Influenza A Virus PB1-F2 Relieves HAX-1-Mediated Restriction of Avian Virus Polymerase PA in Human Lung Cells.

    PubMed

    Mazel-Sanchez, B; Boal-Carvalho, I; Silva, F; Dijkman, R; Schmolke, M

    2018-06-01

    Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (IAV) from avian hosts were first reported to directly infect humans 20 years ago. However, such infections are rare events, and our understanding of factors promoting or restricting zoonotic transmission is still limited. One accessory protein of IAV, PB1-F2, was associated with pathogenicity of pandemic and zoonotic IAV. This short (90-amino-acid) peptide does not harbor an enzymatic function. We thus identified host factors interacting with H5N1 PB1-F2, which could explain its importance for virulence. PB1-F2 binds to HCLS1-associated protein X1 (HAX-1), a recently identified host restriction factor of the PA subunit of IAV polymerase complexes. We demonstrate that the PA of a mammal-adapted H1N1 IAV is resistant to HAX-1 imposed restriction, while the PA of an avian-origin H5N1 IAV remains sensitive. We also showed HAX-1 sensitivity for PAs of A/Brevig Mission/1/1918 (H1N1) and A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7N9), two avian-origin zoonotic IAV. Inhibition of H5N1 polymerase by HAX-1 can be alleviated by its PB1-F2 through direct competition. Accordingly, replication of PB1-F2-deficient H5N1 IAV is attenuated in the presence of large amounts of HAX-1. Mammal-adapted H1N1 and H3N2 viruses do not display this dependence on PB1-F2 for efficient replication in the presence of HAX-1. We propose that PB1-F2 plays a key role in zoonotic transmission of avian H5N1 IAV into humans. IMPORTANCE Aquatic and shore birds are the natural reservoir of influenza A viruses from which the virus can jump into a variety of bird and mammal host species, including humans. H5N1 influenza viruses are a good model for this process. They pose an ongoing threat to human and animal health due to their high mortality rates. However, it is currently unclear what restricts these interspecies jumps on the host side or what promotes them on the virus side. Here we show that a short viral peptide, PB1-F2, helps H5N1 bird influenza viruses to overcome a human restriction

  15. E2F3a gene expression has prognostic significance in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Wang, Kai-Ling; Mei, Yan-Yan; Cui, Lei; Zhao, Xiao-Xi; Li, Wei-Jing; Gao, Chao; Liu, Shu-Guang; Jiao, Ying; Liu, Fei-Fei; Wu, Min-Yuan; Ding, Wei; Li, Zhi-Gang

    2014-10-01

    To study E2F3a expression and its clinical significance in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We quantified E2F3a expression at diagnosis in 148 children with ALL by real-time PCR. In the test cohort (n = 48), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to find the best cut-off point to divide the patients into E2F3a low- and high-expression groups. The prognostic significance of E2F3a expression was investigated in the test cohort and confirmed in the validation cohort (n = 100). The correlations of E2F3a expression with the clinical features and treatment outcome of these patients were analyzed. ROC curve analysis indicated that the best cut-off point of E2F3a expression was 0.3780. In the test cohort, leukemia-free survival (LFS) and event-free survival (EFS) of the low-expression group were lower than those of the high-expression group (log rank: P = 0.026 for both). This finding was verified in the validation cohort. LFS, EFS, and overall survival were also lower in the low-expression group than in the high-expression group (log rank, P = 0.015, 0.008, and 0.002 respectively). E2F3a low expression was correlated with the existence of BCR-ABL fusion. An algorithm composed of E2F3a expression and minimal residual disease (MRD) could predict relapse or induction failure more precisely than current risk stratification. These results were still significant in the ALL patients without BCR-ABL fusion. Low expression of E2F3a was associated with inferior prognosis in childhood ALL. An algorithm composed of E2F3a expression and MRD could predict relapse or induction failure more precisely than that of the current risk stratification. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  16. Complex Immune Correlates of Protection in HIV-1 Vaccine Efficacy Trials

    PubMed Central

    Tomaras, Georgia D.; Plotkin, Stanley A.

    2016-01-01

    Summary Development of an efficacious HIV-1 vaccine is a major priority for improving human health worldwide. Vaccine mediated protection against human pathogens can be achieved through elicitation of protective innate, humoral, and cellular responses. Identification of specific immune responses responsible for pathogen protection enables vaccine development and provides insights into host defenses against pathogens and the immunological mechanisms that most effectively fight infection. Defining immunological correlates of transmission risk in preclinical and clinical HIV-1 vaccine trials has moved the HIV-1 vaccine development field forward and directed new candidate vaccine development. Immune correlate studies are providing novel hypotheses about immunological mechanisms that may be responsible for preventing HIV-1 acquisition. Recent results from HIV-1 immune correlates work has demonstrated that there are multiple types of immune responses that together, comprise an immune correlate—thus implicating polyfunctional immune control of HIV-1 transmission. An in depth understanding of these complex immunological mechanisms of protection against HIV-1 will accelerate the development of an efficacious HIV-1 vaccine. PMID:28133811

  17. La-related protein 1 (LARP1) binds the mRNA cap, blocking eIF4F assembly on TOP mRNAs

    PubMed Central

    Lahr, Roni M; Fonseca, Bruno D; Ciotti, Gabrielle E; Al-Ashtal, Hiba A; Jia, Jian-Jun; Niklaus, Marius R; Blagden, Sarah P; Alain, Tommy; Berman, Andrea J

    2017-01-01

    The 5’terminal oligopyrimidine (5’TOP) motif is a cis-regulatory RNA element located immediately downstream of the 7-methylguanosine [m7G] cap of TOP mRNAs, which encode ribosomal proteins and translation factors. In eukaryotes, this motif coordinates the synchronous and stoichiometric expression of the protein components of the translation machinery. La-related protein 1 (LARP1) binds TOP mRNAs, regulating their stability and translation. We present crystal structures of the human LARP1 DM15 region in complex with a 5’TOP motif, a cap analog (m7GTP), and a capped cytidine (m7GpppC), resolved to 2.6, 1.8 and 1.7 Å, respectively. Our binding, competition, and immunoprecipitation data corroborate and elaborate on the mechanism of 5’TOP motif binding by LARP1. We show that LARP1 directly binds the cap and adjacent 5’TOP motif of TOP mRNAs, effectively impeding access of eIF4E to the cap and preventing eIF4F assembly. Thus, LARP1 is a specialized TOP mRNA cap-binding protein that controls ribosome biogenesis. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24146.001 PMID:28379136

  18. Overexpression of Apg-2 increases cell proliferation and protects from oxidative damage in BaF3-BCR/ABL cells.

    PubMed

    Li, Chunli; Liu, Dingbin; Yuan, Ying; Huang, Shifeng; Shi, Meng; Tao, Kun; Feng, Wenli

    2010-04-01

    Apg-2, a mammalian heat-shock protein belonging to the heat-shock protein 110 (Hsp110) family, was previously found to be overexpressed in BaF3-BCR/ABL cells that were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) through our comparative proteomics study. The expression of Apg-2 in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells and its role have not been investigated, forming the basis for this study. BaF3-MIGR1 and BaF3-BCR/ABL cell lines stably overexpressing Apg-2 were established and exposed to 50 microM H2O2 for 10 min. Western blot analysis of Apg-2 expression confirmed that H2O2 treatment significantly up-regulated Apg-2 expression. Apg-2 overexpression elevated BaF3-BCR/ABL cell proportions in S and G2/M phase, increased cell proliferation and colony formation in vitro. Moreover, BaF3-MIGR1 and BaF3-BCR/ABL cells were exposed to 50 microM H2O2 in the absence or presence of Apg-2 overexpression and induction of H2AX phosphorylation, the reporters of DNA damage were assessed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Results showed that exposure to H2O2 induced H2AX phosphorylation in BaF3-MIGR1 cells, but no increase was observed in BaF3-BCR/ABL cells. Together, the data indicate that Apg-2 is overexpressed and overexpression of Apg-2 in BaF3-BCR/ABL cells increases cell proliferation and protects cells from oxidative damage, which may play an important role in CML carcinogenesis and progression.

  19. Simultaneous Overexpression of Functional Human HO-1, E5NT and ENTPD1 Protects Murine Fibroblasts against TNF-α-Induced Injury In Vitro

    PubMed Central

    Cinti, Alessandro; De Giorgi, Marco; Chisci, Elisa; Arena, Claudia; Galimberti, Gloria; Farina, Laura; Bugarin, Cristina; Rivolta, Ilaria; Gaipa, Giuseppe; Smolenski, Ryszard Tom; Cerrito, Maria Grazia; Lavitrano, Marialuisa; Giovannoni, Roberto

    2015-01-01

    Several biomedical applications, such as xenotransplantation, require multiple genes simultaneously expressed in eukaryotic cells. Advances in genetic engineering technologies have led to the development of efficient polycistronic vectors based on the use of the 2A self-processing oligopeptide. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protective effects of the simultaneous expression of a novel combination of anti-inflammatory human genes, ENTPD1, E5NT and HO-1, in eukaryotic cells. We produced an F2A system-based multicistronic construct to express three human proteins in NIH3T3 cells exposed to an inflammatory stimulus represented by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays an important role during inflammation, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis and in the inflammatory response during ischemia/reperfusion injury in several organ transplantation settings. The protective effects against TNF-α-induced cytotoxicity and cell death, mediated by HO-1, ENTPD1 and E5NT genes were better observed in cells expressing the combination of genes as compared to cells expressing each single gene and the effect was further improved by administrating enzymatic substrates of the human genes to the cells. Moreover, a gene expression analyses demonstrated that the expression of the three genes has a role in modulating key regulators of TNF-α signalling pathway, namely Nemo and Tnfaip3, that promoted pro-survival phenotype in TNF-α injured cells. These results could provide new insights in the research of protective mechanisms in transplantation settings. PMID:26513260

  20. Efficacy of a single oral dose of a live bivalent E. coli vaccine against post-weaning diarrhea due to F4 and F18-positive enterotoxigenic E. coli.

    PubMed

    Nadeau, É; Fairbrother, J M; Zentek, J; Bélanger, L; Tremblay, D; Tremblay, C-L; Röhe, I; Vahjen, W; Brunelle, M; Hellmann, K; Cvejić, D; Brunner, B; Schneider, C; Bauer, K; Wolf, R; Hidalgo, Á

    2017-08-01

    F4- and F18-positive enterotoxigenic E. coli strains (F4-ETEC and F18-ETEC) are important causes of post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in pigs. F4 (antigenic variant ac) and F18 (ab and ac) fimbriae are major antigens that play an important role in the early stages of infection. Herein, the efficacy of a live oral vaccine consisting of two non-pathogenic E. coli strains, one F4ac- and one F18ac-positive, was evaluated using F4ac-ETEC and F18ab-ETEC challenge models. A randomized, masked, placebo-controlled, block design, parallel-group confirmatory study with two different vaccination-challenge intervals (7 and 21 days) was conducted for each challenge model. The vaccine was administered in one dose, to ≥18-day-old piglets via drinking water. Efficacy was assessed by evaluating diarrhea, clinical observations, weight gain and fecal shedding of F4-ETEC or F18-ETEC. Anti-F4 and anti-F18 immunoglobulins in blood were measured. The vaccination resulted in significant reductions in clinical PWD and fecal shedding of F4-ETEC and F18-ETEC after the 7- and 21-day-post-vaccination heterologous challenges, except for after the 21-day-post-vaccination F4-ETEC challenge, when the clinical PWD was too mild to demonstrate efficacy. A significant reduction of mortality and weight loss by vaccination were observed following the F18-ETEC challenge. The 7-day protection was associated with induction of anti-F4 and anti-F18 IgM, whereas the 21-day protection was mainly associated with anti-F4 and anti-F18 IgA. The 7-day onset and 21-day duration of protection induced by this vaccine administered once in drinking water to pigs of at least 18days of age were confirmed by protection against F4-ETEC and F18-ETEC, and induction of F4 and F18-specific immunity. Cross protection of the vaccine against F18ab-E. coli was demonstrated for both the 7- and 21-day F18-ETEC challenges. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.