Condensins are Required for Maintenance of Nuclear Architecture.

The 3-dimensional spatial organization of eukaryotic genomes is important for regulation of gene expression as well as DNA damage repair. It has been proposed that one basic biophysical property of all nuclei is that interphase chromatin must be kept in a condensed prestressed state in order to prevent entropic pressure of the DNA polymer from expanding and disrupting the nuclear envelope. Although many factors can contribute to specific organizational states to compact chromatin, the mechanisms through which such interphase chromatin compaction is maintained are not clearly understood.

A role of the LIN-12/Notch signaling pathway in diversifying the non-striated egg-laying muscles in C. elegans.

The proper formation and function of an organ is dependent on the specification and integration of multiple cell types and tissues. An example of this is the Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite egg-laying system, which requires coordination between the vulva, uterus, neurons, and musculature. While the genetic constituents of the first three components have been well studied, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying the specification of the egg-laying musculature.

Malnutrition in cystic fibrosis: a review.

Malnutrition is one of the main burdens of disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) along with lung disease. Data from the most recent Cystic Fibrosis Foundation registry report show the prevalence of malnutrition is decreasing in the CF population primarily from interventions focusing on preventing malnutrition. Despite success of interventions and decreased prevalence of malnutrition in this population, prevention of malnutrition in CF patients remains a dilemma that must be managed throughout the life cycle.

Multiple cellular mechanisms prevent chromosomal rearrangements involving repetitive DNA.

Repetitive DNA is present in the eukaryotic genome in the form of segmental duplications, tandem and interspersed repeats, and satellites. Repetitive sequences can be beneficial by serving specific cellular functions (e.g.

The DNA damage checkpoint allows recombination between divergent DNA sequences in budding yeast.

In the early steps of homologous recombination, single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) from a broken chromosome invades homologous sequence located in a sister or homolog donor. In genomes that contain numerous repetitive DNA elements or gene paralogs, recombination can potentially occur between non-allelic/divergent (homeologous) sequences that share sequence identity. Such recombination events can lead to lethal chromosomal deletions or rearrangements.

Analysis of prelamin A biogenesis reveals the nucleus to be a CaaX processing compartment.

Proteins establish and maintain a distinct intracellular localization by means of targeting, retention, and retrieval signals, ensuring most proteins reside predominantly in one cellular location. The enzymes involved in the maturation of lamin A present a challenge to this paradigm. Lamin A is first synthesized as a 74-kDa precursor, prelamin A, with a C-terminal CaaX motif and undergoes a series of posttranslational modifications including CaaX processing (farnesylation, aaX cleavage and carboxylmethylation), followed by endoproteolytic cleavage by Zmpste24.

The health effects of flooding: Social research results from England and Wales.

This paper presents interview survey data by social scientists using established health measures on the health effects of flooding for residents in 30 locations in England and Wales. Firstly, it examines the extent to which flooded residents reported suffering physical and psychological health effects during and after the event. Secondly, it explores the issue of whether these effects were long-lasting by comparisons with the general population and with those at risk but not flooded.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae a-factor mutants reveal residues critical for processing, activity, and export.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating pheromone a-factor provides a paradigm for understanding the biogenesis of prenylated fungal pheromones. The biogenesis of a-factor involves multiple steps: (i) C-terminal CAAX modification (where C is cysteine, A is aliphatic, and X is any residue) which includes prenylation, proteolysis, and carboxymethylation (by Ram1p/Ram2p, Ste24p or Rce1p, and Ste14p, respectively); (ii) N-terminal processing, involving two sequential proteolytic cleavages (by Ste24p and Axl1p); and (iii) nonclassical export (by Ste6p). Once exported, mature a-factor interacts with the Ste3p receptor on MATalpha cells to stimulate mating.

Phencyclidine-induced changes in rat cortical gene expression identified by microarray analysis: implications for schizophrenia.

Acute phencyclidine induces schizophrenia-like symptoms in healthy humans and psychotic episodes in schizophrenics. Although phencyclidine is known as a N-methyl d-aspartate receptor antagonist (NMDA-R), the molecular events underlying the behavioral symptoms remain largely unknown. Statistical analysis of oligonucleotide microarray data was used to identify phencyclidine-induced alterations in rat cortical gene expression.

Group II metabotropic glutamate receptor modulation of DOI-induced c-fos mRNA and excitatory responses in the cerebral cortex.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the hallucinogen 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOI) enhances glutamatergic transmission in the prefrontal cortex. This increase can be suppressed by metabotropic glutamate2/3 (mGlu2/3) receptor activation. In addition to enhancing glutamatergic transmission, DOI increases cortical c-fos expression.