Ultra-deep sequencing of ribosome-associated poly-adenylated RNA in early Drosophila embryos reveals hundreds of conserved translated sORFs.

There is growing recognition that small open reading frames (sORFs) encoding peptides shorter than 100 amino acids are an important class of functional elements in the eukaryotic genome, with several already identified to play critical roles in growth, development, and disease. However, our understanding of their biological importance has been hindered owing to the significant technical challenges limiting their annotation. Here we combined ultra-deep sequencing of ribosome-associated poly-adenylated RNAs with rigorous conservation analysis to identify a comprehensive population of translated sORFs during early Drosophila embryogenesis.

EGCG Suppresses ERK5 Activation to Reverse Tobacco Smoke-Triggered Gastric Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in BALB/c Mice.

Tobacco smoke is an important risk factor of gastric cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a crucial pathophysiological process in cancer development. ERK5 regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition may be sensitive to cell types and/or the cellular microenvironment and its role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process remain elusive.

Pharmacological rescue of hERG currents carried out by G604S and wide type hERG co-expression.

Mutations in human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) can lead to type 2 long-QT syndrome (LQT2). The authors previously identified the hERG mutation G604S results in a loss of function and obviously decreased current amplitude and impaired channel protein trafficking when co-expressed with WT-hERG. The present study further investigates the biological and electrophysiological consequences of pharmacologic chaperones in HEK293 cells expressing G604S-hERG or co-expressing G604S-hERG and WT-hERG.

[Aging process of arsenite [As(3)]in soils originated from different parent materials.].

An incubation test was conducted to study the bioavailability and fractionations of exogenous arsenite [As(3)] during the aging period in three soils originated from different parent materials, including quaternary red clay, purple sandy shale and granite. The results indicated that the exogenous arsenite As(3) were totally transformed into As(V) after 120 d aging. The available As content in soils derived from the three soils generally decreased sequentially throughout the aging period in the order of purple sandy shale, granite and quaternary red clay.

An Integrated Genome-Wide Systems Genetics Screen for Breast Cancer Metastasis Susceptibility Genes.

Metastasis remains the primary cause of patient morbidity and mortality in solid tumors and is due to the action of a large number of tumor-autonomous and non-autonomous factors. Here we report the results of a genome-wide integrated strategy to identify novel metastasis susceptibility candidate genes and molecular pathways in breast cancer metastasis. This analysis implicates a number of transcriptional regulators and suggests cell-mediated immunity is an important determinant.

The non-coding RNA composition of the mitotic chromosome by 5'-tag sequencing.

Mitotic chromosomes are one of the most commonly recognized sub-cellular structures in eukaryotic cells. Yet basic information necessary to understand their structure and assembly, such as their composition, is still lacking. Recent proteomic studies have begun to fill this void, identifying hundreds of RNA-binding proteins bound to mitotic chromosomes.

Nicotine may affect the secretion of adipokines leptin, resistin, and visfatin through activation of KATP channel.

Objective: It has been confirmed that adipokines are associated with atherosclerosis. Cigarette smoking was found to possibly influence adipokine secretion. However, the precise role of smoking in adipokine secretion and the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown.

Genetic Identification of an Expansive Mechanoreceptor Sensitive to Skin Stroking.

Touch perception begins with activation of low-threshold mechanoreceptors (LTMRs) in the periphery. LTMR terminals exhibit tremendous morphological heterogeneity that specifies their mechanical receptivity. In a survey of mammalian skin, we found a preponderance of neurofilament-heavy-chain(+) circumferential endings associated with hair follicles, prompting us to develop a genetic strategy to interrogate these neurons.

Modulation of the Phosphate-Deficient Responses by MicroRNA156 and its Targeted SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 3 in Arabidopsis.

The microRNA156 (miR156)-modulated SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) is involved in diverse biological processes that include growth, development and metabolism. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis miR156 and SPL3 as regulators play important roles in phosphate (Pi) deficiency response. MiR156 was induced during Pi starvation whereas SPL3 expression was repressed.

Correlations between MTP and ROS Levels of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and Readmission in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Background: Peripheral blood lymphocytes exhibit changes that parallel those in failing cardiomyocytes. We hypothesised that mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of lymphocytes are associated with serum NT-proBNP and short-term prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Methods: Fifty-four CHF patients and 30 controls were enrolled in this prospective study.

Gas chromatography-vacuum ultraviolet spectroscopy for analysis of fatty acid methyl esters.

A new vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) detector for gas chromatography was recently developed and applied to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. VUV detection features full spectral acquisition in a wavelength range of 115-240nm, where virtually all chemical species absorb. VUV absorption spectra of 37 FAMEs, including saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated types were recorded.

Comparison of posterior capsule opacification at 360-degree square edge hydrophilic and sharp edge hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens in diabetic patients.

Aim: To compare posterior capsule opacification (PCO) degree and visual functions after phacoemulsification in eyes implanted with 360-degree square edge hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) (570C C-flex, Rayner) and sharp edge hydrophobic acrylic IOL (Sensar AR40e, AMO) in diabetic patients.

Methods: Sixty diabetic patients underwent uneventful phacoemulsification and randomly implanted one of the two IOLs. The PCO value was measured by retroillumination photographs and Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification (EPCO) 2000 image-analysis software at 1, 6, 12, and 24mo after surgery.

An enhanced electrochemical platform based on graphene oxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite for sensitive determination of Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine.

A novel electrochemical platform was designed for the simultaneous determination of Sunset Yellow (SY) and Tartrazine (TT), synthetic food dyes, by combining the signal amplification properties of graphene oxide (GO) and the excellent electronic and antifouling properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Stable dispersion of GO/MWCNTs composite was produced by sonication mixing. Compared with glassy carbon, MWCNTs and GO electrodes, GO/MWCNTs electrode exhibited strong enhancement effect and greatly increased the oxidation signal of SY and TT.

Photoluminescent Mesoporous Silicon Nanoparticles with siCCR2 Improve the Effects of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Transplantation after Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Despite the benefits of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation in cardiac tissue, detailed in vivo observations have shown that MSCs only survive for a brief period after transplantation due to harsh microenvironmental conditions, including ischemia, inflammation and anoikis, in the infarcted myocardium. Thus, new strategies are needed to enhance MSC survival and inhibit cardiac remodeling. Studies have now demonstrated that chemokine [C-C motif] ligand 2 (CCL2) and its cognate receptor C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) promote excessive Ly6C(high) inflammatory monocyte infiltration at the infarct in response to ischemic myocardial injury.

Adiponectin may be a biomarker of early atherosclerosis of smokers and decreased by nicotine through KATP channel in adipocytes.

Objective: Plasm adiponectin is decreased in smokers. Adiponectin is emerging as a potential key molecular marker in atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum adiponectin levels and early atherosclerosis in smokers.

Mechanism study on pH-responsive cyclodextrin capped mesoporous silica: effect of different stalk densities and the type of cyclodextrin.

Cyclodextrin (CD)-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with pH-responsive properties were synthesized, but little research has been carried out to evaluate the impact of critical factors such as the stalk density and the type of CD on the pH-responsive release behavior. Here, the effect of different stalk densities on the pH-responsive release behavior was investigated. Either too low or too high density of the grafted p-anisidine stalk could result in poor cargo release, and the optimum stalk density for MSN was measured by thermal analysis, and found to be approximately 8.

Arabidopsis CAP1-mediated ammonium sensing required reactive oxygen species in plant cell growth.

[Ca(2+)]cyt-associated protein kinase (CAP) gene 1 is a receptor-like kinase that belongs to CrRLK1L (Catharanthus roseus Receptor like kinase) subfamily. CAP1 has been identified as a novel modulator of NH4(+) in the tonoplast, which regulates root hair growth by maintaining the cytoplasmic Ca(2+) gradients. Different expression pattern of tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP2;3) in the CAP1 knock out mutant and wild type on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium suggested that CAP1 influences transport activity to regulate the compartmentalization of NH4(+) into vacuole.

Genome-wide analysis of core promoter structures in Schizosaccharomyces pombe with DeepCAGE.

The core promoter, which immediately flanks the transcription start site (TSS), plays a critical role in transcriptional regulation of eukaryotes. Recent studies on higher eukaryotes have revealed an unprecedented complexity of core promoter structures that underscores diverse regulatory mechanisms of gene expression. For unicellular eukaryotes, however, the structures of core promoters have not been investigated in detail.

Permanent gas analysis using gas chromatography with vacuum ultraviolet detection.

The analysis of complex mixtures of permanent gases consisting of low molecular weight hydrocarbons, inert gases, and toxic species plays an increasingly important role in today's economy. A new gas chromatography detector based on vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopy (GC-VUV), which simultaneously collects full scan (115-240 nm) VUV and UV absorption of eluting analytes, was applied to analyze mixtures of permanent gases. Sample mixtures ranged from off-gassing of decomposing Li-ion and Li-metal batteries to natural gas samples and water samples taken from private wells in close proximity to unconventional natural gas extraction.

Redox-responsive mesoporous silica as carriers for controlled drug delivery: a comparative study based on silica and PEG gatekeepers.

Hybrid mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) modified with polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) through the biodegradable disulfide bonds were prepared to achieve 'on demand' drug release. In this system, PEG chains were chosen as the representative gatekeepers that can block drugs within the mesopores of MSNs. After the addition of glutathione (GSH), the gatekeepers were removed from the pore outlets of MSNs, followed by the release of encapsulated drugs.

A multi-megabase copy number gain causes maternal transmission ratio distortion on mouse chromosome 2.

Significant departures from expected Mendelian inheritance ratios (transmission ratio distortion, TRD) are frequently observed in both experimental crosses and natural populations. TRD on mouse Chromosome (Chr) 2 has been reported in multiple experimental crosses, including the Collaborative Cross (CC). Among the eight CC founder inbred strains, we found that Chr 2 TRD was exclusive to females that were heterozygous for the WSB/EiJ allele within a 9.

Protein-protein interaction network of gene expression in the hydrocortisone-treated keloid.

Objectives: In order to explore the molecular mechanism of hydrocortisone in keloid tissue, the gene expression profiles of keloid samples treated with hydrocortisone were subjected to bioinformatics analysis.

Methods: Firstly, the gene expression profiles (GSE7890) of five samples of keloid treated with hydrocortisone and five untreated keloid samples were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Secondly, data were preprocessed using packages in R language and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using a significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) protocol.

The cellular and molecular basis of direction selectivity of Aδ-LTMRs.

The perception of touch, including the direction of stimulus movement across the skin, begins with activation of low-threshold mechanosensory neurons (LTMRs) that innervate the skin. Here, we show that murine Aδ-LTMRs are preferentially tuned to deflection of body hairs in the caudal-to-rostral direction. This tuning property is explained by the finding that Aδ-LTMR lanceolate endings around hair follicles are polarized; they are concentrated on the caudal (downward) side of each hair follicle.