A threefold interpenetrating two-dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer: synthesis, crystal structure and selective luminescence sensing properties.

The Fe ion is the most important element in environmental systems and plays a fundamental role in biological processes. Iron deficiency can result in diseases and highly selective and sensitive detection of trace Fe has become a hot topic. A novel two-dimensional Zn coordination framework, poly[[μ-4,4'-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)diphenyl ether-κN:N](μ-4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoato-κO:O')zinc(II)], [Zn(CHOS)(CHNO)] or [Zn(SDBA)(BMIOPE)], (I), where HSDBA is 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid and BMIOPE is 4,4'-bis(2-methylimidazol-1-yl)diphenyl ether, has been prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis, the latter showing that the coordination polymer exhibits a threefold interpenetrating two-dimensional 4-sql network.

PALB2 mutations in breast cancer patients from a multi-ethnic region in northwest China.

Background: Germline mutations in PALB2 gene make a small contribution to heritable breast cancer susceptibility. A recent report has revealed that women with mutations in the PALB2 gene were more than nine times as likely to develop breast cancer compared to those without. The aim of this study is to understand the status of PALB2 mutations among Chinese high-risk breast cancer patients in a multi-ethnic region in China.

Rhein inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal injury during sepsis by blocking the toll-like receptor 4 nuclear factor-κB pathway.

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality in severe systemic inflammatory syndrome. The endotoxin-induced inflammatory response has been linked to the development of sepsis. Rhein is a lipophilic anthraquinone isolated from Rheum rhabarbarum (rhubarb), which has a protective effect on intestinal damage in vivo.

Wnt3a signal pathways activate MyoD expression by targeting cis-elements inside and outside its distal enhancer.

Wnt proteins are secreted cytokines and several Wnts are expressed in the developing somites and surrounding tissues. Without proper Wnt stimulation, the organization of the dermomyotome and myotome can become defective. These Wnt signals received by somitic cells can lead to activation of Pax3/Pax7 and myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), especially Myf5 and MyoD.

Insulin and LiCl synergistically rescue myogenic differentiation of FoxO1 over-expressed myoblasts.

Most recent studies reported that FoxO1 transcription factor was a negative regulator of myogenesis under serum withdrawal condition, a situation not actually found in vivo. Therefore, the role of FoxO1 in myogenesis should be re-examined under more physiologically relevant conditions. Here we found that FoxO1 was preferentially localized to nucleus in proliferating (PMB) and confluent myoblasts (CMB) and its nuclear exclusion was a prerequisite for formation of multinucleated myotubes (MT).

A flexible approach to studying post-transcriptional gene regulation in stably transfected mammalian cells.

The study of post-transcriptional regulation is constrained by the technical limitations associated with both transient and stable transfection of chimeric reporter plasmids examining the activity of 3'-UTR cis-acting elements. We report the adaptation of a commercially available system that enables consistent stable integration of chimeric reporter cDNA into a single genomic site in which transcription is induced by tetracycline. Using this system, we demonstrate the tight control afforded by this system and its suitability in mapping the regulatory function of defined cis-acting elements in the human TNF 3'-UTR, as well as the distinct effects of serum starvation on transiently transfected and stably integrated chimeric reporter genes.

Absence of IDH mutation identifies a novel radiologic and molecular subtype of WHO grade II gliomas with dismal prognosis.

The phenotypic heterogeneity of low-grade gliomas (LGGs) is still inconsistently explained by known molecular abnormalities in patients treated according to the present standards of care. IDH1 codon 132 and IDH2 codon 172 sequencing was performed in a series of 47 LGGs and correlated with clinical presentation, MR imaging characteristics, genomic profile and outcome. A total of 38 IDH1 mutations at codon 132 and 2 IDH2 mutations at codon 172 were found, including 35 R132H (87.

BoPMEI1, a pollen-specific pectin methylesterase inhibitor, has an essential role in pollen tube growth.

Pectin methylesterase (PME) is known to have important roles in pollen development and pollen tube growth. As pivotal regulatory factors in PME activity modulation, PME inhibitors (PMEIs) are thought to be key regulators of cell wall stability at the tip of the pollen tube. We report on the cloning and characterization of a novel B.

A new phloroglucinol diglycoside derivative from Hypericum japonicum Thunb.

A new phloroglucinol diglycoside 1, together with eight known compounds, were isolated from Hypericum japonicum Thunb. The structure of the new compound 1 was determined by spectroscopic methods to be 4,6-dimethyl-5-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->6)-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl] multifidol. Different solvent extracts of Hypericum japonicum Thunb.

Thioredoxin-like 6 protects retinal cell line from photooxidative damage by upregulating NF-kappaB activity.

Apoptosis is the common pathway to photoreceptor cell death in many eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration which affects more than 8 million individuals in the United States alone. RdCVF, a truncated mouse thioredoxin is specifically expressed by rod photoreceptor cells and prevents the apoptosis of cone cells. However the protective mechanism of RdCVF and the implications of its human homologue, thioredoxin-like 6 (TXNL6), on the apoptosis of retinal cells remain unknown.

Elucidating the function of an ancient NF-kappaB p100 homologue, CrRelish, in antibacterial defense.

The family of NF-kappaB transcription factors essentially regulates immune-related gene expression. Recently, we isolated and characterized the classical NF-kappaB/inhibitor kappaB (IkappaB) homologues from a "living fossil," the horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. Interestingly, this ancient species also harbors another class I NF-kappaB p100 homologue, C.

An evolutionarily conserved 16-kDa thioredoxin-related protein is an antioxidant which regulates the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

Thioredoxin (TRX) is generally a 12-kDa protein-disulfide reductase. Here, we report the discovery of a 16-kDa thioredoxin-related protein designated Cr-TRP16, from a "living fossil," the horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda). Cr-TRP16 contains an atypical WCPPC catalytic motif and possesses the classical thiodisulfide reductase activity, as indicated by the insulin reduction assay.

Evidence for the ancient origin of the NF-kappaB/IkappaB cascade: its archaic role in pathogen infection and immunity.

The evolutionary conservation of the NF-kappaB transcription factors, from Drosophila to humans, underscores its pivotal role in immune response. Unexpectedly, the canonical NF-kappaB signaling pathway is not functional in the immune system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Therefore, the ancient origin of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway is still unknown.

Post-transcriptional regulation of glucose transporter-1 by an AU-rich element in the 3'UTR and by hnRNP A2.

Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) mediates uptake of glucose and is up-regulated in some cancers. The amount of this membrane protein is regulated by a post-transcriptional mechanism in which mRNA binding proteins recognize cis-acting elements in the 3'-untranslated (3'UTR) of the mRNA. To identify cis elements in GLUT1 mRNA we introduced 3'UTR sequences into the 3'UTR of the luciferase gene in a reporter construct.