5-Meth-oxy-1,3,4-thia-diazol-2(3H)-one.

The three mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(3)H(4)N(2)O(2)S, are connected via N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming layers normal to [001]. The rings of the mol-ecules are approximately planar, with r.m.

9-(4-Bromo-phen-yl)-3,6-di-tert-butyl-9H-carbazole.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C(26)H(28)BrN, contains two independent mol-ecules in which the carbazole rings are almost planar, with r.m.s.

catena-Poly[bis(dimethylazanium) [[chloridocopper(II)]-di-μ-chlorido-[chloridocopper(II)]-di-μ-azido-κN:N]].

The crystal structure of the title complex, {(C(2)H(8)N)[CuCl(2)(N(3))]}(n), exhibits inorganic chains consisting of Cu(II) cations as well azide and chloride anions. The chains, made up from Cu-Cl-Cu-N-Cu linkages, are aligned parallel to the c axis. This architecture is further stabilized by a number of N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds involving the protonated charge-compensating dimethyl-amine cations and chloride atoms.

Changes in NMDA-receptor function in the first week following laser-induced lesions in rat visual cortex.

Focal brain injuries are accompanied by processes of functional reorganization that partially compensate the functional loss. In a previous study, extracellular recordings at the border of a laser-induced lesion in the visual cortex of rats showed an enhanced synaptic plasticity, which was mediated by the activity of NR2B-contaning NMDA-receptors (NMDARs) shedding light on the potential cellular mechanisms underlying this reorganization. Given the potentially important contribution of NMDARs in processes of functional reorganization, in the present study, we used the same lesion model to further investigate lesion-induced changes in function and localization of NMDARs in the vicinity of the lesion.

Human miR-31 targets radixin and inhibits migration and invasion of glioma cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel group of short RNAs, about 20‑22 nucleotide in length, that regulate gene expression in a post-transcriptional manner by affecting the stability or translation of mRNAs and play important roles in many biological processes. Many microRNAs have been implicated in glioblastoma. miR-31 is dysregulated in several types of cancer including colon, breast, prostate, gastric and lung cancers.

Community-wide assessment of protein-interface modeling suggests improvements to design methodology.

The CAPRI (Critical Assessment of Predicted Interactions) and CASP (Critical Assessment of protein Structure Prediction) experiments have demonstrated the power of community-wide tests of methodology in assessing the current state of the art and spurring progress in the very challenging areas of protein docking and structure prediction. We sought to bring the power of community-wide experiments to bear on a very challenging protein design problem that provides a complementary but equally fundamental test of current understanding of protein-binding thermodynamics. We have generated a number of designed protein-protein interfaces with very favorable computed binding energies but which do not appear to be formed in experiments, suggesting that there may be important physical chemistry missing in the energy calculations.

Genome-wide analysis of OCT4 binding sites in glioblastoma cancer cells.

OCT4, a member of the POU family of gene products, is an octamer motif-binding transcription factor. As it is known to play a crucial role in cancer processes including proliferation, invasion, and chemoradioresistance, it is important to identify the direct targets of OCT4 in living cancer cells. Here, chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) was used to identify OCT4 binding sites in glioblastoma cancer cells.

[The effects of prolonged sevoflurane anesthesia on renal function in liver fibrosis rabbits].

Objective: To determine the effects of prolonged sevoflurane anesthesia on renal function in liver fibrosis rabbits.

Methods: Fifty male new zealand rabbits were randomly divided into two groups: fibrosis group (n = 40) and normal control group (Group N, n = 10). In the fibrosis group, experimental liver fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 soluted in oil with the concentration of 500 mL/L).

Numerical characterization of Yb-signal-aided cladding-pumped Er:Yb-codoped fiber amplifiers.

In this Letter, high-power cladding-pumped Er:Yb-codoped fiber amplifiers (EYDFAs) coseeded with a Yb-band signal are numerically characterized according to the wavelength and power of the aiding signal, the length of the gain fiber, and the wavelength of the pump. The results show that properly designing these parameters not only helps to suppress the parasitic lasing and improve the pump conversion efficiency but also helps to improve the output power stability of high-power EYDFAs.

The stimulatory Gα(s) protein is involved in olfactory signal transduction in Drosophila.

Seven-transmembrane receptors typically mediate olfactory signal transduction by coupling to G-proteins. Although insect odorant receptors have seven transmembrane domains like G-protein coupled receptors, they have an inverted membrane topology, constituting a key difference between the olfactory systems of insects and other animals. While heteromeric insect ORs form ligand-activated non-selective cation channels in recombinant expression systems, the evidence for an involvement of cyclic nucleotides and G-proteins in odor reception is inconsistent.

Transcriptional regulation of UCP4 by NF-kappaB and its role in mediating protection against MPP+ toxicity.

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein-4 (UCP4) enhances neuronal cell survival in MPP(+)-induced toxicity by suppressing oxidative stress and preserving intracellular ATP and mitochondrial membrane potential. UCP4 expression is increased by MPP(+), but its regulation is unknown. Using serial human UCP4 promoter-luciferase reporter gene constructs, we identified and characterized several cis-acting elements that can regulate UCP4 expression.

[Influences of acupuncture on infertility of rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome].

Objective: To observe the effect and mechanism of acupuncture on infertility of rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: PCOS rat model was induced by subcutaneous injection of oil solution of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in immature (24-day-old) female rats for continuous 20 days. Rats for control were given with same dose of oil for instead.

Proteomic analysis of bone tissues of patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a devastating disease that can result in a femoral head collapse. By proteomics analysis, we identified 1,967 proteins with two or more unique peptides from ONFH and from control bones with a false discovery rate of 4.8%.

Mitochondrial uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) mediates leptin protection against MPP+ toxicity in neuronal cells.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD). Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) delink ATP production from biofuel oxidation in mitochondria to reduce oxidative stress. UCP2 is expressed in brain, and has neuroprotective effects under various toxic insults.

Genetic evolution of H9 subtype influenza viruses from live poultry markets in Shanghai, China.

H9N2 influenza viruses have become established and maintain long-term endemicity in poultry. The complete genomes of seven avian H9N2 influenza viruses were characterized. These seven influenza virus isolates were obtained from live poultry markets in Shanghai, China, in 2002 and from 2006 to 2008.

Activation of an olfactory receptor inhibits proliferation of prostate cancer cells.

Olfactory receptors (ORs) are expressed not only in the sensory neurons of the olfactory epithelium, where they detect volatile substances, but also in various other tissues where their potential functions are largely unknown. Here, we report the physiological characterization of human OR51E2, also named prostate-specific G-protein-coupled receptor (PSGR) due to its reported up-regulation in prostate cancer. We identified androstenone derivatives as ligands for the recombinant receptor.

Anti-ganglioside antibodies alter presynaptic release and calcium influx.

Acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome is often associated with IgG anti-GM1 and -GD1a antibodies. The pathophysiological basis of antibody-mediated selective motor nerve dysfunction remains unclear. We investigated the effects of IgG anti-GM1 and -GD1a monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) on neuromuscular transmission and calcium influx in hemidiaphragm preparations and in cultured neurons, respectively, to elucidate mechanisms of Ab-mediated muscle weakness.

A specific heat shock protein enhances the expression of mammalian olfactory receptor proteins.

Multiple trials failed to express significant amounts of olfactory receptors in heterologous cells as they are typically retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Evidence is accumulating that cell-type-specific accessory proteins regulate the folding of olfactory receptors, their exit from the ER, and the trafficking to the plasma membrane of the olfactory cilia where the receptors gain access to odorants. We found Hsc70t, a testis-enriched variant of the Hsp70 family of heat shock proteins which is specifically expressed in post-meiotic germ cells, in the olfactory epithelium of mouse and human.

Odorant receptor heterodimerization in the olfactory system of Drosophila melanogaster.

Despite increasing knowledge about dimerization of G-protein-coupled receptors, nothing is known about dimerization in the largest subfamily, odorant receptors. Using a combination of biochemical and electrophysiological approaches, we demonstrate here that odorant receptors can dimerize. DOR83b, an odorant receptor that is ubiquitously expressed in olfactory neurons from Drosophila melanogaster and highly conserved among insect species, forms heterodimeric complexes with other odorant-receptor proteins, which strongly increases their functionality.

Immuno-capture PCR for detection of Aeromonas hydrophila.

In this report, we describe the use of universal primer PCR (UPPCR) for the detection of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes from Aeromonas hydrophila captured by anti-A. hydrophila antibody coupled to a microplate. The approach combining immuno-capture with UPPCR provides a quick, sensitive, and reproducible way for the detection of bacterial cells.