Molecular overlap in the regulation of SK channels by small molecules and phosphoinositides.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP) directly interacts with the small-conductance Ca-activated K 2-a (SK2-a) channel/calmodulin complex, serving as a critical element in the regulation of channel activity. We report that changes of protein conformation in close proximity to the PIP binding site induced by a small-molecule SK channel modulator, NS309, can effectively enhance the interaction between the protein and PIP to potentiate channel activity. This novel modulation of PIP sensitivity by small-molecule drugs is likely not to be limited in its application to SK channels, representing an intriguing strategy to develop drugs controlling the activity of the large number of PIP-dependent proteins.

Synthesizing Ag Nanoparticles of Small Size on a Hierarchical Porosity Support for the Carboxylative Cyclization of Propargyl Alcohols with CO2 under Ambient Conditions.

Both immobilization of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) of very small size on hierarchical porosity supports and carboxylative cyclization of propargyl alcohols with CO2 under ambient conditions are very interesting. In this work, we synthesized AgNPs supported on sulfonated macroreticular resin (SMR) with hierarchical pores in water/alcohol solutions. It was shown that the size of the AgNPs on the SMR could be tailored easily by altering the synthetic solutions, and very small AgNPs with narrow size distribution (1-3 nm) could be obtained in water/methanol solution.

Different doses of partial liver irradiation promotes hepatic regeneration in rat.

The aim of this study is to investigate whether partial liver irradiation promotes hepatic regeneration in rat. Left-half liver of rat was irradiated to 10 Gy, and the Right-half to 0, 5, 10 and 15 Gy, respectively. Then, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels were evaluated on 0 day, 15-day, 30-day, 45-day and 60-day after liver irradiation.

High-resolution in vivo imaging of mouse brain through the intact skull.

Multiphoton microscopy is the current method of choice for in vivo deep-tissue imaging. The long laser wavelength suffers less scattering, and the 3D-confined excitation permits the use of scattered signal light. However, the imaging depth is still limited because of the complex refractive index distribution of biological tissue, which scrambles the incident light and destroys the optical focus needed for high resolution imaging.

Continuous volumetric imaging via an optical phase-locked ultrasound lens.

In vivo imaging at high spatiotemporal resolution is key to the understanding of complex biological systems. We integrated an optical phase-locked ultrasound lens into a two-photon fluorescence microscope and achieved microsecond-scale axial scanning, thus enabling volumetric imaging at tens of hertz. We applied this system to multicolor volumetric imaging of processes sensitive to motion artifacts, including calcium dynamics in behaving mouse brain and transient morphology changes and trafficking of immune cells.

A calcium-binding protein, rice annexin OsANN1, enhances heat stress tolerance by modulating the production of H2O2.

OsANN1 is a member of the annexin protein family in rice. The function of this protein and the mechanisms of its involvement in stress responses and stress tolerance are largely unknown. Here it is reported that OsANN1 confers abiotic stress tolerance by modulating antioxidant accumulation under abiotic stress.

Complete recovery of visual disorder following surgical resection of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising in the pterygopalatine fossa: case report and review of the literature.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) arising in the pterygopalatine fossa was rare, only 3 cases have been reported. In previous literature, few authors reported whether the visual deficit could be resolved following the resection of the tumor. One patient with visual dysfunction induced by ACC arising in the pterygopalatine fossa was reported.

Liposomes containing cholesterol analogues of botanical origin as drug delivery systems to enhance the oral absorption of insulin.

In fear of animal-associated diseases, there is a trend in searching for non-animal derived substitutes for existing excipients in the pharmaceutical industries. This paper aimed to screen cholesterol analogues as membrane stabilizers of liposomes from botanical sterols, including β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, ergosterol and lanosterol. Liposomes containing four kinds of sterols were prepared and evaluated in vitro and in vivo as oral delivery system of insulin.

Mutations in Nature Conferred a High Affinity Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate-binding Site in Vertebrate Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channels.

All vertebrate inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels are activated by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) (Logothetis, D. E., Petrou, V.

Development of ESI-MS-based continuous enzymatic assay for real-time monitoring of enzymatic reactions of acetylcholinesterase.

The continuous enzymatic assay based on ESI-MS was developed to real-time monitoring of enzymatic reactions of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The changes of product concentrations were continuously measured. Calibration curves were established for quantitative calculation.

Numerical study of multi-conjugate large area wavefront correction for deep tissue microscopy.

Wavefront distortion fundamentally limits the achievable imaging depth and quality in thick tissue. Wavefront correction can help restore the diffraction limited focus albeit with a small field of view (FOV), which limits its imaging applications. In this work, we numerically investigate whether the multi-conjugate configuration, originally developed for astronomical adaptive optics, may increase the correction FOV in random turbid media.

In vivo neuroimaging through the highly scattering tissue via iterative multi-photon adaptive compensation technique.

For in vivo deep tissue imaging, high order wavefront measurement and correction is needed for handling the severe wavefront distortion. Towards such a goal, we have developed the iterative multi-photon adaptive compensation technique (IMPACT). In this work, we explore using IMPACT to perform calcium imaging of neocortex through the intact skull of adult mice, and to image through the highly scattering white matter on the hippocampus surface.

[Clinical analysis of 24 cases of carotid body tumor].

Objective: To study the clinical diagnosis and preoperative management of carotid body tumor.

Methods: A total of 24 cases with carotid body tumors underwent surgery from 2003 to 2013 were reviewed. The clinical and imaging features, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively evaluated.

Gene expression analysis of colorectal cancer by bioinformatics strategy.

Background/aims: We used bioinformatics technology to analyze gene expression profiles involved in colorectal cancer tissue samples and healthy controls.

Methodology: In this paper, we downloaded the gene expression profile GSE4107 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, in which a total of 22 chips were available, including normal colonic mucosa tissue from normal healthy donors (n=10), colorectal cancer tissue samples from colorectal patients (n=33). To further understand the biological functions of the screened DGEs, the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted.

G protein-coupled receptor signaling to Kir channels in Xenopus oocytes.

Kir3 (or GIRK) channels have been known for nearly three decades to be activated by direct interactions with the βγ subunits of heterotrimeric G (Gαβγ) proteins in a membrane-delimited manner. Gα also interacts with GIRK channels and since PTX-sensitive Gα subunits show higher affinity of interaction they confer signaling specificity to G Protein- Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) that normally couple to these G protein subunits. In heterologous systems, overexpression of non PTX-sensitive Gα subunits scavenges the available Gβγ and biases GIRK activation through GPCRs that couple to these Gα subunits.

Direct determination of the binding sites of cisplatin on insulin-like growth factor-1 by top-down mass spectrometry.

Cisplatin has been widely used in the chemotherapy of a variety of tumors, and the interactions of cisplatin with proteins play very important roles in its side effects and drug resistance, as well as its pharmacokinetics and the biodistribution. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was found to be associated with the drug resistance of cisplatin. Here, the interaction between cisplatin and IGF-1 was investigated using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

In vivo fluorescence microscopy via iterative multi-photon adaptive compensation technique.

Iterative multi-photon adaptive compensation technique (IMPACT) has been developed for wavefront measurement and compensation in highly scattering tissues. Our previous report was largely based on the measurements of fixed tissue. Here we demonstrate the advantages of IMPACT for in vivo imaging and report the latest results.

Computational approaches for modeling GPCR dimerization.

Growing experimental evidences suggest that dimerization and oligomerization are important for G Protein- Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) function. The detailed structural information of dimeric/oligomeric GPCRs would be very important to understand their function. Although it is encouraging that recently several experimental GPCR structures in oligomeric forms have appeared, experimental determination of GPCR structures in oligomeric forms is still a big challenge, especially in mimicking the membrane environment.

Targeting the Small- and Intermediate-Conductance Ca-Activated Potassium Channels: The Drug-Binding Pocket at the Channel/Calmodulin Interface.

The small- and intermediate-conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (SK/IK) channels play important roles in the regulation of excitable cells in both the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Evidence from animal models has implicated SK/IK channels in neurological conditions such as ataxia and alcohol use disorders. Further, genome-wide association studies have suggested that cardiovascular abnormalities such as arrhythmias and hypertension are associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms that occur within the genes encoding the SK/IK channels.

Phosphoinositide control of membrane protein function: a frontier led by studies on ion channels.

Anionic phospholipids are critical constituents of the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane, ensuring appropriate membrane topology of transmembrane proteins. Additionally, in eukaryotes, the negatively charged phosphoinositides serve as key signals not only through their hydrolysis products but also through direct control of transmembrane protein function. Direct phosphoinositide control of the activity of ion channels and transporters has been the most convincing case of the critical importance of phospholipid-protein interactions in the functional control of membrane proteins.