RAP80 and BRCA1 PARsylation protect chromosome integrity by preventing retention of BRCA1-B/C complexes in DNA repair foci.

BRCA1 promotes error-free, homologous recombination-mediated repair (HRR) of DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs). When excessive and uncontrolled, BRCA1 HRR activity promotes illegitimate recombination and genome disorder. We and others have observed that the BRCA1-associated protein RAP80 recruits BRCA1 to postdamage nuclear foci, and these chromatin structures then restrict the amplitude of BRCA1-driven HRR.

Cyclosporine H Overcomes Innate Immune Restrictions to Improve Lentiviral Transduction and Gene Editing In Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Innate immune factors may restrict hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) genetic engineering and contribute to broad individual variability in gene therapy outcomes. Here, we show that HSCs harbor an early, constitutively active innate immune block to lentiviral transduction that can be efficiently overcome by cyclosporine H (CsH). CsH potently enhances gene transfer and editing in human long-term repopulating HSCs by inhibiting interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), which potently restricts VSV glycoprotein-mediated vector entry.

Incorporation of vanadium into the framework of hydroxyapatites: importance of the vanadium content and pH conditions during the precipitation step.

Even though vanadium-modified hydroxyapatite (V-HAp) samples are very promising systems for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane, the incorporation of vanadium into the hydroxyapatite framework was reported to be limited and to lead to over-stoichiometric compounds. Here, the synthesis of a Ca(PO)(VO)(OH) stoichiometric solid solution using a co-precipitation method is monitored in the whole composition range (0 ≤ x ≤ 6) by controlling the pH of the precipitation medium, with continuous (the first series of samples) or periodic (the second series of samples) addition of NHOH during the precipitation step or during the maturation step, respectively. It is demonstrated that the changes in pH conditions result in materials of a substantial difference in terms of the final composition.

Gold nanoparticle conjugated Rad6 inhibitor induces cell death in triple negative breast cancer cells by inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and PARP-1 hyperactivation: Synthesis and characterization.

Unlabelled: We recently developed a small molecule inhibitor SMI#9 for Rad6, a protein overexpressed in aggressive breast cancers and involved in DNA damage tolerance. SMI#9 induces cytotoxicity in cancerous cells but spares normal breast cells; however, its therapeutic efficacy is limited by poor solubility. Here we chemically modified SMI#9 to enable its conjugation and hydrolysis from gold nanoparticle (GNP).

PARP1-driven poly-ADP-ribosylation regulates BRCA1 function in homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair.

Unlabelled: BRCA1 promotes homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair (HRR). However, HRR must be tightly regulated to prevent illegitimate recombination. We previously found that BRCA1 HRR function is regulated by the RAP80 complex, but the mechanism was unclear.

Adherent human alveolar macrophages exhibit a transient pro-inflammatory profile that confounds responses to innate immune stimulation.

Alveolar macrophages (AM) are thought to have a key role in the immunopathogenesis of respiratory diseases. We sought to test the hypothesis that human AM exhibit an anti-inflammatory bias by making genome-wide comparisons with monocyte derived macrophages (MDM). Adherent AM obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage of patients under investigation for haemoptysis, but found to have no respiratory pathology, were compared to MDM from healthy volunteers by whole genome transcriptional profiling before and after innate immune stimulation.

Polyubiquitinated PCNA recruits the ZRANB3 translocase to maintain genomic integrity after replication stress.

Completion of DNA replication after replication stress depends on PCNA, which undergoes monoubiquitination to stimulate direct bypass of DNA lesions by specialized DNA polymerases or is polyubiquitinated to promote recombination-dependent DNA synthesis across DNA lesions by template switching mechanisms. Here we report that the ZRANB3 translocase, a SNF2 family member related to the SIOD disorder SMARCAL1 protein, is recruited by polyubiquitinated PCNA to promote fork restart following replication arrest. ZRANB3 depletion in mammalian cells results in an increased frequency of sister chromatid exchange and DNA damage sensitivity after treatment with agents that cause replication stress.

Condensation of a nickel tetranuclear cubane into a heptanuclear single-molecule magnet.

A tetranuclear complex, [Ni(4)], with a cubane-like structure synthesized from hexafluoroacetylacetone gives, after drying at high temperature and treatment with pyridine, a heptanuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni(7)]. The crystal structures of both compounds have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their magnetic properties have been studied by SQUID and μ-SQUID magnetometry as well as by high-frequency EPR spectroscopy (HF-EPR).

HIV-1 Group P is unable to antagonize human tetherin by Vpu, Env or Nef.

Background: A new subgroup of HIV-1, designated Group P, was recently detected in two unrelated patients of Cameroonian origin. HIV-1 Group P phylogenetically clusters with SIVgor suggesting that it is the result of a cross-species transmission from gorillas. Until today, HIV-1 Group P has only been detected in two patients, and its degree of adaptation to the human host is largely unknown.

Analysis of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 M group Vpu domains involved in antagonizing tetherin.

Zoonosis of chimpanzee simian immunodeficiency virus cpz to humans has given rise to both pandemic (M) and non-pandemic (O, N and P) groups of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV). These lentiviruses encode accessory proteins, including Vpu, which has been shown to reduce CD4 levels on the cell surface, as well as increase virion release from the cell by antagonizing tetherin (CD317, BST2). Here, we confirm that O group Vpus (Ca9 and BCF06) are unable to counteract tetherin or downregulate the protein from the cell surface, although they are still able to reduce cell-surface CD4 levels.

Feline tetherin efficiently restricts release of feline immunodeficiency virus but not spreading of infection.

Domestic cats endure infections by all three subfamilies of the retroviridae: lentiviruses (feline immunodeficiency virus [FIV]), gammaretroviruses (feline leukemia virus [FeLV]), and spumaretroviruses (feline foamy virus [FFV]). Thus, cats present an insight into the evolution of the host-retrovirus relationship and the development of intrinsic/innate immune mechanisms. Tetherin (BST-2) is an interferon-inducible transmembrane protein that inhibits the release of enveloped viruses from infected cells.

The CXCL16 A181V mutation selectively inhibits monocyte adhesion to CXCR6 but is not associated with human coronary heart disease.

Objective: The chemokine CXCL16 serves as a scavenger receptor for oxidized low-density lipoprotein and as an adhesion molecule and chemoattractant for cells expressing the receptor CXCR6. A commonly occurring CXCL16 allele has been described containing 2 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms in complete linkage disequilibrium, although the effects on CXCL16 function are unknown. Here, we examined the effect of the single-nucleotide polymorphisms on CXCL16 function and assessed the association of the mutant allele with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Site-selective lanthanide doping in a nonanuclear yttrium(III) cluster revealed by crystal structures and luminescence spectra.

A series of lanthanide-doped nonanuclear yttrium(III) clusters with general formulas (Y(9-x)Ln(x))(acac)(16)(μ(3)-OH)(8)(μ(4)-O)(μ(4)-OH) (Ln = Pr, Eu, Tb, Dy, and Yb) were synthesized. Characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction allowed for analysis of relative populations of yttrium (Z = 39) and dopant trivalent lanthanide (Z = 59-70) at every crystallographic metal position. Nonuniform distribution of ions along the three different sites seems to be correlated to the site volume and the ratio of ionic radii.

Simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoprotein counteracts tetherin/BST-2/CD317 by intracellular sequestration.

Tetherin is an IFN-inducible restriction factor that inhibits HIV-1 particle release in the absence of the HIV-1 countermeasure, viral protein U (Vpu). Although ubiquitous in HIV-1 and simian immunodeficiency viruses from chimpanzees, greater spot nosed monkeys, mustached monkeys, and Mona monkeys, other primate lentiviruses do not encode a Vpu protein. Here we demonstrate that SIV from Tantalus monkeys (SIVtan) encodes an envelope glycoprotein (SIVtan Env) able to counteract tetherin from Tantalus monkeys, rhesus monkeys, sooty mangabeys, and humans, but not from pigs.

Luminescence spectroscopy of europium(III) and terbium(III) penta-, octa- and nonanuclear clusters with beta-diketonate ligands.

A series of Eu(III) and Tb(III) clusters as well as their Y(III) analogues with increasing nuclearities of 5, 8 and 9 have been synthesised using beta-diketonate ligands with decreasing steric hindrance. Their molecular structures have been established from X-ray diffraction on single crystals for most clusters and studied by luminescence and Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra have distinctive patterns for each nuclearity in accordance with their crystal structure.

Homoleptic gallium(III) and indium(III) aminoalkoxides as precursors for sol-gel routes to metal oxide nanomaterials.

New homoleptic aminoalkoxides of gallium(III) and indium(III) of the types M4{(OC2H4)2NMe}6 [M = Ga (1), In (2)] and [Ga{(OC2H4)3N}]n (3), as well as a previously described Ga2(OC2H4NMe2)6 (A) have been prepared by isopropoxo(chloro)-aminoalkoxo exchange reactions and characterised by elemental analyses, FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Formation of a star-shaped Ga[Ga{mu-eta3:eta1-(OC2H4)2NMe}2]3 (1.4CHCl3) and a zigzag linear In4{mu-eta3:eta1-(OC2H4)2NMe}6 (2.

Site-directed mutagenesis of the chemokine receptor CXCR6 suggests a novel paradigm for interactions with the ligand CXCL16.

Chemokine receptor CXCR6 mediates the chemotaxis and adhesion of leukocytes to soluble and membrane-anchored forms of CXCL16, and is an HIV-1 co-receptor. Here, we describe the effects of mutation of acidic extracellular CXCR6 residues on receptor function. Although most CXCR6 mutants examined were expressed at levels similar to wild-type (WT) CXCR6, an N-terminal E3Q mutant was poorly expressed, which may explain previously reported protective effects of a similar single nucleotide polymorphism, with respect to late-stage HIV-1 infection.

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is degraded following internalization and is replenished at the cell surface by de novo synthesis of receptor.

The chemokine receptor CXCR3 is expressed on the surface of both resting and activated T lymphocytes. We describe in this study the endocytosis of CXCR3 using T lymphocytes and CXCR3 transfectants. Chemokine-induced CXCR3 down-regulation occurred in a rapid, dose-dependent manner, with CXCL11 the most potent and efficacious ligand.

CXCL4-induced migration of activated T lymphocytes is mediated by the chemokine receptor CXCR3.

The chemokine CXCL4/platelet factor-4 is released by activated platelets in micromolar concentrations and is a chemoattractant for leukocytes via an unidentified receptor. Recently, a variant of the human chemokine receptor CXCR3 (CXCR3-B) was described, which transduced apoptotic but not chemotactic signals in microvascular endothelial cells following exposure to high concentrations of CXCL4. Here, we show that CXCL4 can induce intracellular calcium release and the migration of activated human T lymphocytes.

Antiferromagnetic behavior based on quasi-orthogonal MOs: synthesis and charaterization of a Cu3 oxidase model.

We report the synthesis and structural and magnetic characterization of an original Cu(3) oxidase model. The Schiff base ligand used in the synthesis derives from condensation of acetylacetone with glycine amino acid. The K[Cu(3)(L)(3)(micro(3)-OH)].

A dinuclear cobalt(II) complex of calix[8]arenes exibiting strong magnetic anisotropy.

The solvothermal reaction of cobalt(II) acetate with p-tert-butylcalix[8]arene (calix) and triethylamine affords the compound (Et3NH)2 [CoII2(calix)2] (.2Et3NH) that shows a hydrogen bond bridged dinuclear complex [CoII2(calix)2]2- () with cobalt(II) ions in a tetrahedral geometry. The compound crystallises in the monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n with cell parameters a=14.