Systematic mapping of occluded genes by cell fusion reveals prevalence and stability of cis-mediated silencing in somatic cells.

Both diffusible factors acting in trans and chromatin components acting in cis are implicated in gene regulation, but the extent to which either process causally determines a cell's transcriptional identity is unclear. We recently used cell fusion to define a class of silent genes termed "cis-silenced" (or "occluded") genes, which remain silent even in the presence of trans-acting transcriptional activators. We further showed that occlusion of lineage-inappropriate genes plays a critical role in maintaining the transcriptional identities of somatic cells.

Involvement of N-cadherin in the protective effect of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor on dopaminergic neuron damage.

The aim of this study was to further confirm that glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) exerts a neuro-protective effect on dopaminergic neurons (DAs) and to investigate the protective mechanism. Cadherins are calcium-dependent adhesion proteins, and N-cadherins are found in neurons. Our study attempted to ascertain whether GDNF activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway through the mediation of N-cadherin to confer a protective effect on DAs.

Systematic comparison of constitutive promoters and the doxycycline-inducible promoter.

Constitutive promoters are used routinely to drive ectopic gene expression. Here, we carried out a systematic comparison of eight commonly used constitutive promoters (SV40, CMV, UBC, EF1A, PGK and CAGG for mammalian systems, and COPIA and ACT5C for Drosophila systems). We also included in the comparison the TRE promoter, which can be activated by the rtTA transcriptional activator in a doxycycline-inducible manner.