Systematic screening of enhancer-blocking insulators in Drosophila identifies their DNA sequence determinants.

Long-range transcriptional activation of gene promoters by abundant enhancers in animal genomes calls for mechanisms to limit inappropriate regulation. DNA elements called insulators serve this purpose by shielding promoters from an enhancer when interposed. Unlike promoters and enhancers, insulators have not been systematically characterized due to lacking high-throughput screening assays, and questions regarding how insulators are distributed and encoded in the genome remain.

Protocol for detecting genomic insulators in Drosophila using insulator-seq, a massively parallel reporter assay.

Genomic insulators are DNA elements that prevent transcriptional activation of a promoter by an enhancer when interposed. We present a protocol for insulator-seq that enables high-throughput screening of genomic insulators using a plasmid-based massively parallel reporter assay in Drosophila cultured cells. We describe steps for insulator reporter plasmid library generation, transient transfection into cultured cells, and sequencing library preparation and provide a pipeline for data analysis.

Dispersion Characteristics, the Mechanical, Thermal Stability, and Durability Properties of Epoxy Nanocomposites Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, or Graphene Oxide.

Carbon-based nanoparticles (CBNs) are regarded as promising nanofillers in nanocomposites to produce high-performance fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs). To date, no systematic investigations have been carried out on the structural variations of nanofillers and their influences on dispersion characteristics, which give nanocomposites their mechanical and durability properties. Moreover, environmentally unfriendly organic solvents are used to exfoliate and disperse CBNs in a polymer matrix.

Contrasting effects of whole-body and hepatocyte-specific deletion of the RNA polymerase III repressor in the mouse.

MAF1 is a nutrient-sensitive, TORC1-regulated repressor of RNA polymerase III (Pol III). MAF1 downregulation leads to increased lipogenesis in , , and mice. However, mice are lean as increased lipogenesis is counterbalanced by futile pre-tRNA synthesis and degradation, resulting in increased energy expenditure.

Retarding Effect of Hemp Hurd Lixiviates on the Hydration of Hydraulic and CSA Cements.

Wood wool panels are widely used in the construction industry as sustainable cementitious composites, but there is a growing need to replace traditional Portland cement with a binder that has a lower embodied carbon footprint. In addition, the sustainability of these panels may face serious impediments if the required amount of wood for their production needs a harvest rate higher than the rate at which the tree sources reach maturity. One solution is to use the wooden part of fast-growing plants such as hemp.