Guest-mediated phase transitions in a flexible pillared-layered metal-organic framework under high-pressure.

The guest-dependent flexibility of the pillared-layered metal-organic framework (MOF), Znbdcdabco·(guest), where guest = EtOH, DMF or benzene, has been examined by high-pressure single crystal X-ray diffraction. A pressure-induced structural phase transition is found for the EtOH- and DMF-included frameworks during compression in a hydrostatic medium of the guest species, which is dependent upon the nature and quantity of the guest in the channels. The EtOH-included material undergoes a phase transition from 4/ to 2/ at 0.

Cytochalasin Z11 inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis suppressing NFATc1 activation.

Excessive osteoclastogenesis and enhanced bone resorption are pathological hallmarks for bone diseases including osteolytic diseases, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Treatments targeting highly activated osteoclasts are regarded as promising therapies for osteoclast-related bone disorders. Cytochalasins are known as secondary metabolites of fungi and exhibit a variety of biological activities in cell biology and medicine.

Antisense suppression of donor splice site mutations in the dystrophin gene transcript.

We describe two donor splice site mutations, affecting dystrophin exons 16 and 45 that led to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), through catastrophic inactivation of the mRNA. These gene lesions unexpectedly resulted in the retention of the downstream introns, thereby increasing the length of the dystrophin mRNA by 20.2 and 36 kb, respectively.