Assessment of Tachykinin Receptor 3' Gene Polymorphism rs3733631 in Rosacea.

Background. Rosacea is a chronic skin disease, possibly following the neurogenic skin inflammation model. Neurokinin B, involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, frequently coexisting with subsequent onset of rosacea, is an endogenous ligand of the tachykinin receptor 3 (TACR3).

Effect of BDNF Val66Met and serotonin transporter 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms on psychopathological characteristics in a sample of university students.

Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate the impact of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism on several psychological characteristics in a group of Greek University students and to explore putative interactions with the serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) and serious past adverse experiences.

Methods: A total of 224 students were genotyped and classified as (a) carriers or noncarriers of the Met allele of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism and (b) carriers or noncarriers of the S or Lg alleles (S') of the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. Students were evaluated using a battery of standard psychological tests and answered questionnaires on serious past adverse experiences.

notch2, notch4 gene polymorphisms in psoriasis vulgaris.

Background: Evidence suggests that Notch gene aberrations may be involved in the clinical expression of psoriasis. There are reports of Notch2 receptor expression peculiarities in psoriatic skin and others, indicating that VEGF-induced Notch4 overexpression promotes endothelial cell morphology alterations and that increased dermis vessel permeability histogenetically precedes the development of psoriatic lesions.

Objective: To investigate the correlation of polymorphisms in Notch2 and Notch4 genes with the appearance of psoriasis vulgaris.

Psychological vulnerability differences in students--carriers or not of the serotonin transporter promoter allele S: effect of adverse experiences.

Aim: To study the effect of the serotonin transporting gene L/S polymorphism on several psychological characteristics in a group of Greek University students.

Methods: One hundred eighty-one students were genotyped and classified into two groups: carriers or noncarriers of an S allele. Students were evaluated with a battery of psychological tests (Zung depression rating scale, symptoms check-list-90-R, Eysenck personality inventory); they also answered questionnaires regarding serious past adverse experiences as well as nicotine and alcohol use.

Methylation-independent binding to histone H3 and cell cycle-dependent incorporation of HP1beta into heterochromatin.

We have examined HP1beta-chromatin interactions in different molecular contexts in vitro and in vivo. Employing purified components we show that HP1beta exhibits selective, stoichiometric, and salt-resistant binding to recombinant histone H3, associating primarily with the helical "histone fold" domain. Furthermore, using "bulk" nucleosomes released by MNase digestion, S-phase extracts, and fragments of peripheral heterochromatin, we demonstrate that HP1beta associates more tightly with destabilized or disrupted nucleosomes (H3/H4 subcomplexes) than with intact particles.

Epigenetic regulation of mammalian pericentric heterochromatin in vivo by HP1.

We developed a model system whereby HP1 can be targeted to pericentric heterochromatin in ES cells lacking Suv(3)9h1/2 histone methyltransferase (HMTase) activities. HP1 so targeted can reconstitute tri-methylated lysine 9 of histone H3 (Me(3)K9H3) and tri-methylated lysine 20 of histone H4 (Me(3)K20H4) at pericentric heterochromatin, indicating that HP1 can regulate the distribution of these histone modifications in vivo. Both homo- and hetero-typic interactions between the HP1 isotypes were demonstrated in vivo as were HP1 interactions with the ESET/SETDB1 HMTase and the ATRX chromatin remodelling enzyme.

Heterochromatin and tri-methylated lysine 20 of histone H4 in animals.

Tri-methylated lysine 20 on histone H4 (Me(3)K20H4) is a marker of constitutive heterochromatin in murine interphase and metaphase cells. Heterochromatin marked by Me(3)K20H4 replicates late during S phase of the cell cycle. Serum starvation increases the number of cells that exhibit high levels of Me(3)K20H4 at constitutive heterochromatin.

The inner nuclear membrane protein lamin B receptor forms distinct microdomains and links epigenetically marked chromatin to the nuclear envelope.

Using heterochromatin-enriched fractions, we have detected specific binding of mononucleosomes to the N-terminal domain of the inner nuclear membrane protein lamin B receptor. Mass spectrometric analysis reveals that LBR-associated particles contain complex patterns of methylated/acetylated histones and are devoid of "euchromatic" epigenetic marks. LBR binds heterochromatin as a higher oligomer and forms distinct nuclear envelope microdomains in vivo.

Mitotic phosphorylation of histone H3 at threonine 3.

Nuclear envelope-peripheral heterochromatin fractions contain multiple histone kinase activities. In vitro assays and amino-terminal sequencing show that one of these activities co-isolates with heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) and phosphorylates histone H3 at threonine 3. Antibodies recognizing this post-translational modification reveal that in vivo phosphorylation at threonine 3 commences at early prophase in the vicinity of the nuclear envelope, spreads to pericentromeric chromatin during prometaphase and is fully reversed by late anaphase.