Analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis.

Haberlea rhodopensis is a paleolithic tertiary relict species that belongs to the unique group of resurrection plants sharing remarkable tolerance to desiccation. When exposed to severe drought stress, this species shows an ability to maintain structural integrity of its deactivated photosynthetic apparatus, which easily reactivates upon rehydration. In addition to its homoiochlorophyllous nature, the resurrection capability of H.

A systematic simulation-based meta-analytical framework for prediction of physiological biomarkers in alopecia.

Background: Alopecia or hair loss is a complex polygenetic and psychologically devastating disease affecting millions of men and women globally. Since the gene annotation and environmental knowledge is limited for alopecia, a systematic analysis for the identification of candidate biomarkers is required that could provide potential therapeutic targets for hair loss therapy.

Results: We designed an interactive framework to perform a meta-analytical study based on differential expression analysis, systems biology, and functional proteomic investigations.

Haploinsufficiency of autism causative gene impairs olfactory discrimination and neuronal activation of the olfactory system in mice.

Background: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exhibit two clusters of core symptoms, i.e., social and communication impairment, and repetitive behaviors and sensory abnormalities.

Arenimonas caeni sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, motile and rod-shaped strain, z29, was isolated from the active sludge of a municipal wastewater treatment plant at Wuhu, Anhui, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain z29 is most closely related to the genus Arenimonas, showing the highest similarity to Arenimonas donghaensis HO3-R19 (97.14 %), Arenimonas aestuarii S2-21 (96.

The function of contactin-2/TAG-1 in oligodendrocytes in health and demyelinating pathology.

The oligodendrocyte maturation process and the transition from the pre-myelinating to the myelinating state are extremely important during development and in pathology. In the present study, we have investigated the role of the cell adhesion molecule CNTN2/TAG-1 on oligodendrocyte proliferation, differentiation, myelination, and function during development and under pathological conditions. With the combination of in vivo, in vitro, ultrastructural, and electrophysiological methods, we have mapped the expression of CNTN2 protein in the oligodendrocyte lineage during the different stages of myelination and its involvement on oligodendrocyte maturation, branching, myelin-gene expression, myelination, and axonal function.

Manifold learning and maximum likelihood estimation for hyperbolic network embedding.

The Popularity-Similarity (PS) model sustains that clustering and hierarchy, properties common to most networks representing complex systems, are the result of an optimisation process in which nodes seek to form ties, not only with the most connected (popular) system components, but also with those that are similar to them. This model has a geometric interpretation in hyperbolic space, where distances between nodes abstract popularity-similarity trade-offs and the formation of scale-free and strongly clustered networks can be accurately described. Current methods for mapping networks to hyperbolic space are based on maximum likelihood estimations or manifold learning.

Tumor necrosis factor suppresses NR5A2 activity and intestinal glucocorticoid synthesis to sustain chronic colitis.

Intestinal crypt epithelial cells synthesize glucocorticoids, steroid hormones that protect against inflammatory bowel disease. To investigate how intestinal glucocorticoids are regulated during chronic inflammation, we induced chronic colitis in mice by exposing them to the chemical dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). We found that intestinal glucocorticoid secretion and expression of the genes Cyp11a1 and Cyp11b1 (which encode enzymes that synthesize glucocorticoids) were initially stimulated, but declined during the chronic phase, whereas tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and inflammatory cytokines secreted by T helper type 1 (TH1) and TH17 cells continuously increased in abundance in the inflamed colon.

Death and more: DNA damage response pathways in the nematode C. elegans.

Genotoxic stress is a threat to our cells' genome integrity. Failure to repair DNA lesions properly after the induction of cell proliferation arrest can lead to mutations or large-scale genomic instability. Because such changes may have tumorigenic potential, damaged cells are often eliminated via apoptosis.

A novel attenuated replication-competent adenovirus for melanoma therapy.

To generate a replication-competent adenovirus (Ad) with specificity for melanoma, we constructed a tissue-specific promoter restricting E1A expression to melanoma cells. The combination of four copies of a mouse tyrosinase enhancer element (TE) fused to the human tyrosinase promoter (TP) yielded up to 2000-fold higher luciferase reporter activity in tyrosinase-expressing melanoma cells than in nonmelanoma cells. Insertion of the composite TETP construct upstream of the E1A gene was combined with deleting as far as possible the intertwined endogenous Ad enhancer/promoter (EP).

Design and application of 60mer oligonucleotide microarray in SARS coronavirus detection.

The 60mer oligonucleotide microarray was designed and applied to detecting of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus. Thirty 60mer specific oligos were designed to cover the whole genome of the first submitted coronavirus strain, according to the sequence of TOR2 (GENEBANK Accession: AY274119). These primers were synthesized and printed into a microarray with 12 ×12 spots.

Acyclic analogs of nucleosides. Synthesis and in vitro antiviral activity of hydroxyalkyl-2-(trifluoromethylthiomethyl) benzimidazoles.

In a search for novel antiviral compounds of the 'doubly modified' nucleoside type, we have prepared 1-(4-hydroxy-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethy1-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxabutyl), 1-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-oxapentyl)-, 1-(5-hydroxy-2-oxapentyl), 1-(5-hydroxy-1-chloromethyl-2-oxapentyl)-, and 1-(6-hydroxy-1-chloromethyl-2-oxahexyl)-2-(trifluoromethylthiomethyl)benzimidazole. They were obtained by condensing the trimethylsilyl derivative of 2-(trifluoromethylthiomethyl) benzimidazole with alkylating agents in the presence of an equimolar mixture of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and trimethylchlorosilane. These nucleoside analogs showed moderate antiviral activity against some RNA viruses.

Acyclic analogs of nucleosides. Synthesis of hydroxyalkyl derivatives of 2-trifluoromethyl- and 2-trifluoromethylthiobenzimidazole.

1-(2,3-Dihydroxypropyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(3-hydroxymethyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(1,5-dihydroxy-3-oxa-2-pentyl)-, 1-(5-hydroxy-3-oxa-2-pentyl)-, and 1-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-oxapentyl)-2-trifluoromethyl- and -2-trifluoromethylthiobenzimidazoles were obtained by condensation of trimethylsilyl derivatives of 2-substituted benzimidazoles with alkylating agents in the presence of SnCl, or by direct alkylation of the sodium salts of the heterocycles.