Neural Isoforms of Agrin Are Generated by Reduced PTBP1-RNA Interaction Network Spanning the Neuron-Specific Splicing Regions in .

Agrin is a heparan sulfate proteoglycan essential for the clustering of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction. Neuron-specific isoforms of agrin are generated by alternative inclusion of three exons, called Y, Z8, and Z11 exons, although their processing mechanisms remain elusive. We found, by inspection of splicing -elements into the human gene, that binding sites for polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1) were extensively enriched around Y and Z exons.

Zonisamide upregulates neuregulin-1 expression and enhances acetylcholine receptor clustering at the in vitro neuromuscular junction.

Decreased acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering compromises signal transmission at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in myasthenia gravis, congenital myasthenic syndromes, and motor neuron diseases. Although the enhancement of AChR clustering at the NMJ is a promising therapeutic strategy for these maladies, no drug is currently available for this enhancement. We previously reported that zonisamide (ZNS), an anti-epileptic and anti-Parkinson's disease drug, enhances neurite elongation of the primary spinal motor neurons (SMNs).

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs demethylates MeR2 enhancer and promotes Mbnl1 transcription in myogenic cells.

Muscleblind-like 1 (MBNL1) is a ubiquitously expressed RNA-binding protein, which is highly expressed in skeletal muscle. Abnormally expanded CUG-repeats in the DMPK gene cause myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) by sequestration of MBNL1 to nuclear RNA foci and by upregulation of another RNA-binding protein, CUG-binding protein 1 (CUGBP1). We previously reported that a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), phenylbutazone, upregulates MBNL1 expression in DM1 mouse model by demethylation of MeR2, an enhancer element in Mbnl1 intron 1.

Draft Genome Sequence of SDL-CO-2015-1, a Jute Endophyte with a Potential for Paclitaxel Biosynthesis.

strain SDL-CO-2015-1, a basidiomycete fungus, was identified as an endophyte from a jute species, var. 2015, and found to produce paclitaxel, a diterpenic polyoxygenated pseudoalkaloid with antitumor activity. Here, we report the draft genome sequence (42.