Folate regulates RNA mC modification and translation in neural stem cells.

Background: Folate is an essential B-group vitamin and a key methyl donor with important biological functions including DNA methylation regulation. Normal neurodevelopment and physiology are sensitive to the cellular folate levels. Either deficiency or excess of folate may lead to neurological disorders.

Elevated perfusate [Na] increases contractile dysfunction during ischemia and reperfusion.

Recent studies revealed that relatively small changes in perfusate sodium ([Na]) composition significantly affect cardiac electrical conduction and stability in contraction arrested ex vivo Langendorff heart preparations before and during simulated ischemia. Additionally, [Na] modulates cardiomyocyte contractility via a sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) mediated pathway. It remains unknown, however, whether modest changes to [Na] that promote electrophysiologic stability similarly improve mechanical function during baseline and ischemia-reperfusion conditions.

Adenovirus targets transcriptional and posttranslational mechanisms to limit gap junction function.

Adenoviruses are responsible for a spectrum of pathogenesis including viral myocarditis. The gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43, gene name GJA1) facilitates rapid propagation of action potentials necessary for each heartbeat. Gap junctions also propagate innate and adaptive antiviral immune responses, but how viruses may target these structures is not understood.

Hemodynamic force is required for vascular smooth muscle cell recruitment to blood vessels during mouse embryonic development.

Blood vessel maturation, which is characterized by the investment of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) around developing blood vessels, begins when vessels remodel into a hierarchy of proximal arteries and proximal veins that branch into smaller distal capillaries. The ultimate result of maturation is formation of the tunica media-the middlemost layer of a vessel that is composed of vSMCs and acts to control vessel integrity and vascular tone. Though many studies have implicated the role of various signaling molecules in regulating maturation, no studies have determined a role for hemodynamic force in the regulation of maturation in the mouse.