Mitochondrial phylogenomics provides insights into the phylogeny and evolution of spiders (Arthropoda: Araneae).

Spiders are among the most varied terrestrial predators, with highly diverse morphology, ecology, and behavior. Morphological and molecular data have greatly contributed to advances in the phylogeny and evolutionary dynamics of spiders. Here, we performed comprehensive mitochondrial phylogenomics analysis on 78 mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) representing 29 families; of these, 23 species from eight families were newly generated.

[Clinical effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture in the treatment of cold-dampness knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of thunder-fire moxibustion combined with electroacupuncture in the treatment of cold-dampness knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: A total of 72 patients with cold-dampness knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into observation group and control group according to the random numbers generated by computer software, with 36 patients in each group. For the observation group, electroacupuncture was performed at the main acupoints of Dubi (ST35), Neixiyan (EX-LE4), Zusanli (ST36), Yanglingquan (GB34), Yinlingquan (SP9), Xuehai (SP10), Liangqiu (ST34), and Heding (EX-LE2) once a day, with a needle retaining time of 30 min, and thunder-fire moxibustion was performed at Shenque (CV8) and Guanyuan (CV4) in the form of suspended moxibustion once a day, with 30 min each time.

Characterization of the proximal enhancer element and transcriptional regulatory factors for murine recombination activating gene-2.

Recombination-activating gene (RAG)-1 and RAG-2 are essential for V(D)J recombination and are expressed specifically in lymphoid cells. We previously identified two putative enhancer elements, the proximal and distal enhancers, located at -2.6 and -8 kb, respectively, 5' upstream of mouse RAG-2, and characterized the distal enhancer element in detail.

Activation of mouse RAG-2 promoter by Myc-associated zinc finger protein.

Recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) and RAG-2 are expressed specifically in lymphocytes undergoing the antigen receptor gene rearrangement during the lymphocyte development. Our previous study showed that the -41 to -17 nucleotides (nt) 5' -upstream region of mouse RAG-2 were pre-requisite for the core promoter activity and that Pax-5/c-Myb/LEF-1 protein-protein complex was responsible for its activity in immature B cells. In this study, we show that the -65/-42 sequence, the non-conserved sequence between human and mouse RAG-2 promoter, is necessary for the full promoter activity for mouse RAG-2.

Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 binds and activates the recombination-activating gene-2 promoter together with c-Myb and Pax-5 in immature B cells.

The recombination-activating gene (RAG)-1 and RAG-2 are expressed specifically in immature lymphoid cells undergoing the recombination of Ag receptor genes. We studied the regulation of murine RAG-2 promoter and revealed that -41/-17 RAG-2 promoter region, which was indispensable for the RAG-2 promoter activity in B cell lines, contained binding sites for lymphoid enhancer-binding factor-1 (LEF-1), c-Myb, and Pax-5. We showed that these three transcription factors bound the promoter region in vitro and in vivo.

Characterization of chromatin structure and enhancer elements for murine recombination activating gene-2.

Recombination-activating genes (RAGs) play a critical role in V(D)J recombination machinery and their expression is specifically regulated during lymphocyte ontogeny. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms regulating murine RAG-2 expression, we examined a chromatin structure of 25-kb DNA segment adjacent to murine RAG-2 by analyzing DNase I hypersensitive (HS) sites. In a RAG-2-expressing murine pre-B cell line, three lymphoid cell-specific HS sites (HS1, HS2, and HS3) were identified.

Cooperative binding of c-Myb and Pax-5 activates the RAG-2 promoter in immature B cells.

The recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1) and RAG-2 are expressed specifically in immature lymphoid cells undergoing the recombination of antigen receptor genes. The regulation of murine RAG-2 promoter was studied and it was revealed that the -41/-17 RAG-2 promoter region, which is conserved between humans and mice, was indispensable for the RAG-2 promoter activity in B-cell lines. The region contained 2 cis elements that bound c-Myb and Pax-5.