Loss of Elp1 in cerebellar granule cell progenitors models ataxia phenotype of Familial Dysautonomia.

Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a splice site mutation in the gene ELP1, which disproportionally affects neurons. While classically characterized by deficits in sensory and autonomic neurons, neuronal defects in the central nervous system have also been described. Although ELP1 expression remains high in the normal developing and adult cerebellum, its role in cerebellar development is unknown.

Crystal, Solution, and Computational Study of the Structure of Ortho-Lithium N,N-Diisopropyl-P,P-Diphenylphosphinothioic Amide.

The first crystal structure of an ortho-lithium phosphinothioic amide complexed with tetramethylethylenediamine 12 is reported. The complex consists of a spirane in which the spiro-lithium is N,N- and C,S-chelated by the diamine and organophosphorus ligands, respectively. The analogous ortho anion 14 obtained by Sn(IV)/Li transmetallation in THF has also been synthesized.

Solvent- and functional-group-assisted tautomerism of 3-alkyl substituted 5-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoles in DMSO-water.

The tautomerism of a series of 5-alkyl substituted 3-(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazoles in DMSO--containing water has been investigated by H, C and N NMR spectroscopy. The populations of the three possible regioisomers in the tautomeric equilibrium (A [3-alkyl-5-(2-pyridyl)-1], B [5-alkyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-1] and C [5-alkyl-3-(2-pyridyl)-4]) were determined. Isomers A (17-40%) and B (54-79%) are the major components and their ratio is insensitive to the substitution pattern, except for the unsubstituted and the methoxymethyl substituted derivatives.

Exploring through the use of physiological and isotopic techniques the potential of a PGPR-based biofertilizer to improve nitrogen fertilization practices efficiency in strawberry cultivation.

The use of microorganisms as a biofertilizer in strawberry has focused mainly on pathogen biocontrol, which has led to the underestimation of the potential of microorganisms for the improvement of nutritional efficiency in this crop. A study was established to investigate the impact of a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) based biofertilizer integrated by self-compatible stress tolerant strains with multiple PGP properties, including atmospheric nitrogen fixation, on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Rociera) tolerance to N deficiency in terms of growth and physiological performance.

Chelation-Assisted Interrupted Copper(I)-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne-Azide Domino Reactions: Synthesis of Fully Substituted 5-Triazenyl-1,2,3-triazoles.

We describe the synthesis of 1,4-(disubstituted)-5-triazenyl-1,2,3-triazoles through a ligand-free domino copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne-azide process of chelating aryl azides bearing N-P═O, P═O, and SOH groups at the ortho position with a wide variety of acetylenes. DFT calculations reveal that Cu-chelation is a crucial factor in the interception of the CuAAC intermediate by the azide. The crystal structure of the catalytic species has been determined by X-ray diffraction.

Deconstructing Sonic Hedgehog Medulloblastoma: Molecular Subtypes, Drivers, and Beyond.

Medulloblastoma (MB) is a highly malignant cerebellar tumor predominantly diagnosed during childhood. Driven by pathogenic activation of sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling, SHH subgroup MB (SHH-MB) accounts for nearly one-third of diagnoses. Extensive molecular analyses have identified biologically and clinically relevant intertumoral heterogeneity among SHH-MB tumors, prompting the recognition of novel subtypes.

Spiro[1,2]oxaphosphetanes of Nonstabilized and Semistabilized Phosphorus Ylide Derivatives: Synthesis and Kinetic and Computational Study of Their Thermolysis.

A series of tri- and tetrasubstituted spiro-oxaphosphetanes stabilized by -benzamide (BA) and -methyl -benzamide (MBA) ligands have been synthesized by the reaction of C,C-dilithiated phosphazenes with aldehydes and ketones. They include enantiopure products and the first example of an isolated oxaphosphetane having a phenyl substituent at C3 of the ring. Kinetic studies of their thermal decomposition showed that the process takes place irreversibly through a polar transition state (ρ = -0.

Germline Elongator mutations in Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma.

Cancer genomics has revealed many genes and core molecular processes that contribute to human malignancies, but the genetic and molecular bases of many rare cancers remains unclear. Genetic predisposition accounts for 5 to 10% of cancer diagnoses in children, and genetic events that cooperate with known somatic driver events are poorly understood. Pathogenic germline variants in established cancer predisposition genes have been recently identified in 5% of patients with the malignant brain tumour medulloblastoma.

Large 1p36 Deletions Affecting Arid1a Locus Facilitate Mycn-Driven Oncogenesis in Neuroblastoma.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 1p36 occurs in multiple cancers, including neuroblastoma (NBL). MYCN amplification and 1p36 deletions tightly correlate with markers of tumor aggressiveness in NBL. Although distal 1p36 losses associate with single-copy MYCN tumors, larger deletions correlate with MYCN amplification, indicating two tumor suppressor regions in 1p36, only one of which facilitates MYCN oncogenesis.

Activation of Estrogen Receptor Alpha by Decitabine Inhibits Osteosarcoma Growth and Metastasis.

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor in the bone, which originates from normal osteoblasts or osteoblast precursors. Normal osteoblasts express estrogen receptor alpha (ERα); however, osteosarcomas do not express ERα due to promoter DNA methylation. Here we show that treatment of 143B osteosarcoma cells with decitabine (DAC, 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine) induces expression of ERα and leads to decreased proliferation and concurrent induction of osteoblast differentiation.

Detection and Characterization of Small Noncoding RNAs in Mouse Gametes and Embryos Prior to Zygotic Genome Activation.

Small noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are regulatory elements of gene expression in all cell types and tissues. An ever-increasing number of studies have implicated ncRNAs in differentiation and developmental processes. In mammals, as a consequence of fertilization, the content of ncRNAs in the zygote is mostly the result of the maternal material included on oocytes and the potential sperm-borne paternal contributions.

Diastereoselective Ortho Lithiation of Phosphinimidic Amides: A Multinuclear Magnetic Resonance and Computational Study.

The structure of the dianion (S,R)-10 formed in the diastereoselective N,C dilithiation of the phosphinimidic amide (R)-PhP(═NCOMe)NHCH(Me)Ph (5; dr of 95:5) with tert-butyllithium in THF has been elucidated using multinuclear magnetic resonance methods, including 2D Li,X-HMQC (X = N, P) correlations. (S,R)-10 consists of a monomer in which C,N and N,O chelation of the lithium cations generates a system containing a five- and a six-membered metallacycle, respectively, sharing a P-N bond with the lithium atoms connected through the NCO moiety of the phosphazenyl group. Selective deprotonation of the pro-S P-phenyl ring of 5 was ascertained through NOE measurements.

Synthesis of P-stereogenic diarylphosphinic amides by directed lithiation: transformation into tertiary phosphine oxides via methanolysis, aryne chemistry and complexation behaviour toward zinc(ii).

The highly diastereoselective synthesis of P-stereogenic phosphinic amides via directed ortho lithiation (DoLi) of (SC)-P,P-diphenylphosphinic amides with t-BuLi followed by electrophilic quench reactions is described. Functionalised derivatives containing a wide variety of ortho substituents (Cl, Br, I, OH, N3, SiMe3, SnMe3, P(O)Ph2, Me, allyl, (t)BuOCO) have been prepared in high yields with diastereomeric ratios up to 98 : 2. The X-ray diffraction structure of the ortho-stannylated and ortho-iodo compounds showed that the pro-S P-phenyl ring was stereoselectively ortho-deprotonated by the organolithium base.

Derivatization of (quinolin-8-yl)phosphinimidic amides via ortho-lithiation revisited.

5The direct ortho-lithiation of N-H containing (quinolin-8-yl)phosphinimidic amides by reaction with 1 equiv. of n-BuLi described by Wang and co-workers has been re-examined. The multinuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H, (2)H, (7)Li, (13)C, (15)N and (31)P) study of the species formed in the monolithiation of N-(tert-butyl)-P,P-diphenyl-N'-(quinolin-8-yl)phosphinimidic amide 5 with n-BuLi in THF showed that proton abstraction occurred exclusively and quantitatively at the NH.

Exposure to endocrine disruptor induces transgenerational epigenetic deregulation of microRNAs in primordial germ cells.

In mammals, germ cell differentiation is initiated in the Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs) during fetal development. Prenatal exposure to environmental toxicants such as endocrine disruptors may alter PGC differentiation, development of the male germline and induce transgenerational epigenetic disorders. The anti-androgenic compound vinclozolin represents a paradigmatic example of molecule causing transgenerational effects on germ cells.

Diversity and functional convergence of small noncoding RNAs in male germ cell differentiation and fertilization.

The small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) are considered as post-transcriptional key regulators of male germ cell development. In addition to microRNAs (miRNAs) and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), other sncRNAs generated from small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs), tRNAs, or rRNAs processing may also play important regulatory roles in spermatogenesis. By next-generation sequencing (NGS), we characterized the sncRNA populations detected at three milestone stages in male germ differentiation: primordial germ cells (PGCs), pubertal spermatogonia cells, and mature spermatozoa.

Differential response to environmental and nutritional factors of high-quality tomato varieties.

The effect of salinity and silicon treatments on the marketable quality of four Marmande tomato varieties was investigated through conventional quality attributes and (1)H HRMAS NMR spectroscopy. Following variations in ripening through the content of GABA deduced from NMR was crucial for understanding the effects of environmental and nutritional factors. NMR data also lead to a new taste index, which increases from December to January.

Synthetic, structural, NMR and catalytic studies of phosphinic amide-phosphoryl chalcogenides (chalcogen = O, S, Se) as mixed-donor bidentate ligands in zinc chemistry.

ortho Substituted (diphenylphosphoryl)-, (diphenylphosphorothioyl)- and (diphenylphosphoroselenoyl)-phosphinic amides o-C6H4(P(X)Ph2)(P(O)N(i)Pr2) (X = O (20a), S (20b), Se (20c)) were synthesized by ortho directed lithiation of N,N-diisopropyl-P,P-diphenylphosphinic amide (Ph2P(O)N(i)Pr2) followed by trapping with Ph2PCl and subsequent oxidation of the o-(diphenylphosphine)phosphinic amide (19) with H2O2, S8 and Se. The reaction of the new mixed-donor bidentate ligands with zinc dichloride afforded the corresponding complexes [ZnCl2(P(X)Ph2)o-C6H4(P(O)N(i)Pr2)] (21a-c). The new compounds were structurally characterized in solution by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and in the solid-state by X-ray diffraction analysis of the ligand (20b) and the three complexes (21a-c).

Global characterization and target identification of piRNAs and endo-siRNAs in mouse gametes and zygotes.

A set of small RNAs known as rasRNAs (repeat-associated small RNAs) have been related to the down-regulation of Transposable Elements (TEs) to safeguard genome integrity. Two key members of the rasRNAs group are piRNAs and endo-siRNAs. We have performed a comparative analysis of piRNAs and endo-siRNAs present in mouse oocytes, spermatozoa and zygotes, identified by deep sequencing and bioinformatic analysis.

Effect of genetic and phenotypic factors on the composition of commercial marmande type tomatoes studied through HRMAS NMR spectroscopy.

The effects of genetic, technological and environmental factors on the chemical composition of four marmande type tomato varieties have been investigated. The study is based on the analysis of (1)H HRMAS NMR spectra of tomato purée using a combination of partial least squares (PLS) and assigned signal analysis (ASA). In agreement with genetic, morphological and taste characteristics of the tomatoes studied, the analysis of the NMR data allows two groups of samples to be differentiated.

Cell-type-specific regulation of genes involved in testicular lipid metabolism: fatty acid-binding proteins, diacylglycerol acyltransferases, and perilipin 2.

Male germ cell differentiation entails the synthesis and remodeling of membrane polar lipids and the formation of triacylglycerols (TAGs). This requires fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) for intracellular fatty acid traffic, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) to catalyze the final step of TAG biosynthesis, and a TAG storage mode. We examined the expression of genes encoding five members of the FABP family and two DGAT proteins, as well as the lipid droplet protein perilipin 2 (PLIN2), during mouse testis development and in specific cells from seminiferous epithelium.

MicroRNA biogenesis and variability.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are cell-endogenous small noncoding RNAs that, through RNA interference, are involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of mRNAs. The biogenesis and function of miRNAs entail multiple elements with different alternative pathways. These confer a high versatility of regulation and a high variability to generate different miRNAs and hence possess a broad potential to regulate gene expression.

Endocrine disruptors, gene deregulation and male germ cell tumors.

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) belong to a large group of compounds, usually present as environmental pollutants, which can alter the homeostasis of living organisms by modifying hormonal balance and changing the normal patterns of gene regulation during development and cell differentiation. Hence, the development of male gonads and their functionality may be affected by exposure to specific EDs or their mixtures. The molecular mechanisms of action of these reprotoxicants leading to pathologies of the reproductive system such as testicular cancer, are complex and not well characterized.

Reprogramming of microRNAs by adenosine-to-inosine editing and the selective elimination of edited microRNA precursors in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos.

Adenosine deaminases-acting-on-RNA (ADAR) proteins induce adenosine-to-inosine editing in double-stranded RNA molecules. This editing generates RNA diversity at the post-transcriptional level, and it has been implicated in the control of cell differentiation and development. The editing of microRNA (miRNA) precursors, along with Tudor-SN (Snd1) activity, could lead to the elimination of selected miRNAs and reprogram miRNA activity.