Tetraspanner-based nanodomains modulate BAR domain-induced membrane curvature.

The topography of biological membranes is critical for formation of protein and lipid microdomains. One prominent example in the yeast plasma membrane (PM) are BAR domain-induced PM furrows. Here we report a novel function for the Sur7 family of tetraspanner proteins in the regulation of local PM topography.

Pathogenic variants in CLXN encoding the outer dynein arm docking-associated calcium-binding protein calaxin cause primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Purpose: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a heterogeneous disorder that includes respiratory symptoms, laterality defects, and infertility caused by dysfunction of motile cilia. Most PCD-causing variants result in abnormal outer dynein arms (ODAs), which provide the generative force for respiratory ciliary beating and proper mucociliary clearance.

Methods: In addition to studies in mouse and planaria, clinical exome sequencing and functional analyses in human were performed.

Parallel Acquisition of Plasma Membrane Ultrastructure and Cytosolic Protein Localisation in Cultured Cells via Correlated Immunogold SEM.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) takes advantage of distinct detectors to visualise secondary and back-scattering electrons. Here, we report an integrated approach that relies on these two detection methods to simultaneously acquire correlated information on plasma membrane topography and curvature-sensitive cytosolic protein localization in intact cell samples. We further provide detailed preparation and staining protocols, as well as a thorough example-based discussion for imaging optimisation.

NNRTI-based antiretroviral therapy may increase risk of radiation induced side effects in HIV-1-infected patients.

Purpose: As the incidence of cancer is rising in HIV-1-infected patients, radiotherapy is used more frequently in this patient group. Strong radiation induced side effects have been reported in single patients on antiretroviral therapy. Thus we investigated whether HIV-1 itself or antiretroviral drugs could enhance radiosensitivity in patients.

Fabrication of hydrophilic polymer nanocontainers by use of supramolecular templates.

Polymer-shelled vesicles are prepared by using cyclodextrin vesicles as supramolecular templates and an adamantane-functionalized poly(acrylic acid) additive anchored via host-guest recognition, followed by cross-linking of carboxylic acid groups on the polymer. The polymer-shelled nanocontainers are highly stable and effective for encapsulating small hydrophilic molecules. We also show that a hollow cross-linked polymer cage can be obtained after dissolution of the template vesicles.

Individual radiosensitivity in a breast cancer collective is changed with the patients' age.

Background: Individual radiosensitivity has a crucial impact on radiotherapy related side effects. Our aim was to study a breast cancer collective for its variation of individual radiosensitivity depending on the patients' age.

Materials And Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 129 individuals.

Detailed analysis of DNA repair and senescence marker kinetics over the life span of a human fibroblast cell line.

We examined phosphorylation of H2AX, a marker for DNA double-strand breaks over the life of a human fibroblast cell line. This marker was compared with a number of other cellular senescence and DNA repair endpoints. An increase in γH2AX foci number was observed after 24 hours of repair time following DNA damage over the course of fibroblast passaging.

Tinea faciei incognito due to Trichophyton rubrum as a result of autoinoculation from onychomycosis.

The localisation of a dermatophytosis on the face is rare. Differential diagnoses include a broad range of dermatological disorders, e. g.

Individual differences in chromosomal aberrations after in vitro irradiation of cells from healthy individuals, cancer and cancer susceptibility syndrome patients.

Background: Radiosensitivity of normal tissue is a crucial factor of radiotherapy (RT)-related side effects. Here, we report the analysis of spontaneous and in vitro irradiation-induced chromosomal aberrations in 256,679 metaphases from 222 different individuals using three-color fluorescence in situ hybridization as a measure of radiosensitivity.

Materials And Methods: Samples were categorized into the following 6 groups: (1) healthy individuals, (2) cancer patients prior to radiotherapy, (3) RT-treated cancer patients, (4) individuals heterozygous or (5) homozygous for a mutation in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene or in the Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS1) gene and (6) hypersensitive patients (outliers).

Breakpoint locations within chromosomes 1, 2, and 4 of patients with increased radiosensitivity.

The exposure to low LET-radiation leads to a relative homogeneous distribution of initial damage at the DNA. Subsequent repair and post-repair mechanisms might lead to a selection of specific breakpoint locations along chromosomes. Cells from patients with increased radiosensitivity may have more specific breakpoints due to impaired repair mechanisms.

Individual radiosensitivity does not correlate with radiation-induced apoptosis in lymphoblastoid cell lines or CD3+ lymphocytes.

Background And Purpose: Spontaneous and radiation-induced apoptosis of lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) derived from healthy donors, cancer patients and donors with radiosensitivity syndromes as well as CD(3+) lymphocytes from patients with > or = grade 3 late toxicity were investigated as a possible marker for the detection of individual radiosensitivity. These investigations are based on the hypothesis that hypersensitive patients have reduced levels of apoptosis after in vitro irradiation as a result of a defect in the signaling pathway.

Material And Methods: Epstein-Barr virus-(EBV-)transformed LCLs derived from five healthy donors, seven patients with heterozygous or homozygous genotype for ataxia-telangiectasia or Nijmegen breakage syndrome and five patients with > or = grade 3 late toxicity (RTOG) were investigated.

Cytogenetic instability in young patients with multiple primary cancers.

Patients younger than 45 years with multiple cancers and a family history of cancer were identified and examined for cytogenetic instability. The cohort included 50 individuals: 19 patients suffering from at least 2 independent cancers, 11 healthy control individuals, a positive control group of 5 highly radiosensitive patients (>grade 3, RTOG), and a tumor control group of 15 patients with a single tumor. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were irradiated in vitro (0.

Physiological and morphological responses of the soil bacterium Rhodococcus opacus strain PD630 to water stress.

Rhodococcus opacus PD630 was investigated for physiological and morphological changes under water stress challenge. Gluconate- and hexadecane-grown cells were extremely resistant to these conditions, and survival accounted for up to 300 and 400 days; respectively, when they were subjected to slow air-drying. Results of this study suggest that strain PD630 has specific mechanisms to withstand water stress.

Characterization of defects and surface structures in microporous materials by HRTEM, HRSEM, and AFM.

High-resolution transmission (HRTEM) and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy as well as atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction, and electron diffraction were used for studying the zeolites MFI, MEL, and the MFIMEL intergrowth system. All three zeolites consisted of individual particles having a size in the range of approximately 0.5 m to 5 m.

Impact of various parameters in detecting chromosomal aberrations by FISH to describe radiosensitivity.

Background And Purpose: Analysis of radiation-induced chromosomal aberrations is regarded as the "gold standard" for classifying individual radiosensitivity. A variety of different parameters can be used. The crucial question, however, is to explore which parameter is suited best to describe the differences between patients with increased radiosensitivity and healthy individuals.

Characterization of stably transfected fusion protein GFP-estrogen receptor-alpha in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

Tagging hormone receptors with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) has increased our knowledge of ligand dependent sub-cellular trafficking of hormone receptors. However, the effect of the tagged hormone receptor expression on the corresponding wild type hormone receptor and endogenous gene expression has not been investigated. In this study, we constructed a MCF-7 cell line stably expressing GFP-tagged human estrogen receptor-alpha (ER) under control of the tetracycline-on system to determine the effect of GFP-ER expression on cell proliferation and expression of endogenous ER and hormone-responsive genes.