Building block synthesis using the polymerase chain assembly method.

De novo gene synthesis allows the creation of custom DNA molecules without the typical constraints of traditional cloning assembly: scars, restriction site incompatibility, and the quest to find all the desired parts to name a few. Moreover, with the help of computer-assisted design, the perfect DNA molecule can be created along with its matching sequence ready to download. The challenge is to build the physical DNA molecules that have been designed with the software.

Oscillatory dynamics of cell cycle proteins in single yeast cells analyzed by imaging cytometry.

Progression through the cell division cycle is orchestrated by a complex network of interacting genes and proteins. Some of these proteins are known to fluctuate periodically during the cell cycle, but a systematic study of the fluctuations of a broad sample of cell-cycle proteins has not been made until now. Using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, we profiled 16 strains of budding yeast, each containing GFP fused to a single gene involved in cell cycle regulation.

Toll-like receptor 4 modulates skeletal muscle substrate metabolism.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a protein integral to innate immunity, is elevated in skeletal muscle of obese and type 2 diabetic humans and has been implicated in the development of lipid-induced insulin resistance. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of TLR4 as a modulator of basal (non-insulin-stimulated) substrate metabolism in skeletal muscle with the hypothesis that its activation would result in reduced fatty acid oxidation and increased partitioning of fatty acids toward neutral lipid storage. Human skeletal muscle, rodent skeletal muscle, and skeletal muscle cell cultures were employed to study the functional consequences of TLR4 activation on glucose and fatty acid metabolism.

Orbital complications of sinusitis in children.

Background: Orbital complications of sinusitis are uncommon but can result in significant morbidity if not appropriately managed.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and outcome of orbital complications of sinusitis in children treated at our institution over a 10-year period.

Methods: The study retrospectively reviewed cases of 139 children with evidence of orbital complications of sinusitis admitted to the Montreal Children's Hospital between January 1990 and March 2000.