The causes of the nasolabial crease: a histomorphological study.

There are two main conflicting theories on how the nasolabial crease is formed: a muscular theory and a fascial theory. The muscular theory states that the nasolabial crease is mainly formed by the musculodermal insertions of the lip elevator muscles. The fascial theory claims that the nasolabial crease is mainly formed by dense fibrous tissue and by the firm fascial attachments to the fascia of the lip elevator muscles.

Assessment of phylogenetic structure in genome size--gene content correlations.

Gene content and gene-coding percentage can be predicted from genome size in newly sequenced organisms. Here, we investigate whether these predictions are influenced by phylogenetic relationships between the involved species. Combining a highly resolved phylogenetic tree with a large compilation of gene content data, our results reveal the presence of significant phylogenetic structure in the correlations between genome size and gene content in both bacteria and eukaryotes.

The effect of age, sex, and physical activity on entheseal morphology in a contemporary Italian skeletal collection.

Entheseal changes are traditionally included in a large array of skeletal features commonly referred to as "skeletal markers of activity." However, medical studies and recent anthropological analyses of identified skeletal series suggest a complex combination of physiological and biomechanical factors underlying the variability of such "markers." The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between age, sex, physical activity, and entheseal variability.

Regulation of oxidative DNA damage repair: the adenine:8-oxo-guanine problem.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) constantly attack DNA. One of the best-characterized oxidative DNA lesions is 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxo-G). Many human diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, have been correlated with oxidative DNA damage.

Identification of cis-Regulatory Elements in the dmyc Gene of Drosophila Melanogaster.

Myc is a crucial regulator of growth and proliferation during animal development. Many signals and transcription factors lead to changes in the expression levels of Drosophila myc, yet no clear model exists to explain the complexity of its regulation at the level of transcription. In this study we used Drosophila genetic tools to track the dmyc cis-regulatory elements.

The molecular basis of ATM-dependent dimerization of the Mdc1 DNA damage checkpoint mediator.

Mdc1 is a large modular phosphoprotein scaffold that maintains signaling and repair complexes at double-stranded DNA break sites. Mdc1 is anchored to damaged chromatin through interaction of its C-terminal BRCT-repeat domain with the tail of γH2AX following DNA damage, but the role of the N-terminal forkhead-associated (FHA) domain remains unclear. We show that a major binding target of the Mdc1 FHA domain is a previously unidentified DNA damage and ATM-dependent phosphorylation site near the N-terminus of Mdc1 itself.

Regulation of oxidative DNA damage repair by DNA polymerase λ and MutYH by cross-talk of phosphorylation and ubiquitination.

It is of pivotal importance for genome stability that repair DNA polymerases (Pols), such as Pols λ and β, which all exhibit considerably reduced fidelity when replicating undamaged DNA, are tightly regulated, because their misregulation could lead to mutagenesis. Recently, we found that the correct repair of the abundant and highly miscoding oxidative DNA lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanine (8-oxo-G) is performed by an accurate repair pathway that is coordinated by the MutY glycosylase homologue (MutYH) and Pol λ in vitro and in vivo. Pol λ is phosphorylated by Cdk2/cyclinA in late S and G2 phases of the cell cycle, promoting Pol λ stability by preventing it from being targeted for proteasomal degradation by ubiquitination.

DNA replication and repair bypass machines.

Maintenance of genetic stability is of crucial importance for any form of life. Before cell division in each mammalian cell, the process of DNA replication must faithfully duplicate three billion bases with an absolute minimum of mistakes. This is complicated by the fact that DNA itself is highly reactive and is constantly attacked by endogenous and exogenous factors leading to 50,000-100,000 different damages in the DNA of human cells every day.

Ubiquitylation of DNA polymerase λ.

DNA polymerase (pol) λ, one of the 15 cellular pols, belongs to the X family. It is a small 575 amino-acid protein containing a polymerase, a dRP-lyase, a proline/serine rich and a BRCT domain. Pol λ shows various enzymatic activities including DNA polymerization, terminal transferase and dRP-lyase.

Energetic trade-offs between brain size and offspring production: Marsupials confirm a general mammalian pattern.

Recently, Weisbecker and Goswami presented the first comprehensive comparative analysis of brain size, metabolic rate, and development periods in marsupial mammals. In this paper, a strictly energetic perspective is applied to identify general mammalian correlates of brain size evolution. In both marsupials and placentals, the duration or intensity of maternal investment is a key correlate of relative brain size, but here I show that allomaternal energy subsidies may also play a role.

NY-ESO-1 protein glycosylated by yeast induces enhanced immune responses.

Vaccine strategies that target dendritic cells to elicit potent cellular immunity are the subject of intense research. Here we report that the genetically engineered yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expressing the full-length tumour-associated antigen NY-ESO-1, is a versatile host for protein production. Exposing dendritic cells (DCs) to soluble NY-ESO-1 protein linked to the yeast a-agglutinin 2 protein (Aga2p) protein resulted in protein uptake, processing and MHC class I cross-presentation of NY-ESO-1-derived peptides.

A review of the natural history and laboratory culture methods for the yellow dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria.

The yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria (L.) (Diptera: Scathophagidae) is a widespread and locally abundant fly associated with the dung of large mammals, especially farm animals. This species has recently become a standard test organism for evaluating toxic effects of veterinary pharmaceuticals in livestock dung.

Sexual behavior: dietary food switch induced by sex.

Pregnancy in humans induces cravings for special food: the same occurs in Drosophila females. New work now shows that mating throws a nutritional switch in favor of a high-protein diet and that modulation of nutritional balance depends on the sex peptide receptor and involves neuronal TOR-S6 kinase signaling.

Isolation of recombinant DNA elongation proteins.

This chapter summarizes isolation procedures of four recombinant human proteins crucial for DNA replication: (a) the replicative DNA polymerase (pol) delta, (b) proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), (c) replication protein A (RP-A), and (d) replication factor C (RF-C). Pol delta is a four-subunit enzyme essential for replication of the lagging strand and possibly of the leading strand. PCNA is a central player important for coordination of the complex network of proteins interacting at the replication fork.

DNA replication fork proteins.

DNA replication is a complex mechanism that functions due to the co-ordinated interplay of several dozen protein factors. In the last few years, numerous studies suggested a tight implication of DNA replication factors in several DNA transaction events that maintain the integrity of the genome. Therefore, DNA replication fork proteins have also to be considered as part of a general process aiming at replicating and protecting the genome in order to allow the correct function of a cell and of its eventual daughter cells.

Novel anticoagulants in clinical development: focus on factor Xa and direct thrombin inhibitors.

Vitamin K antagonists are the mainstay in the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic diseases. Although effective under optimal conditions, several drawbacks are imminent to the long-term application of these drugs due to their narrow therapeutic window, interactions with other drugs as well as the need for regular monitoring and the risk of a recurrent event versus the risk of bleeding. To overcome these downsides, novel anticoagulants are being developed; in contrast to vitamin K antagonists, these novel agents specifically and selectively block central elements of the coagulation cascade.

Choice of analytical method can have dramatic effects on primate home range estimates.

Primate home range sizes can vary tremendously as a consequence of the analytical technique chosen to estimate home range. This is exemplified by a recent dataset on free ranging snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) in Northwest Yunnan, China. Our findings show that the grid cell method cannot substitute for the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method and vice versa.

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis of mammals: evolution and life history.

Substantial production of new neurons in the adult mammalian brain is restricted to the olfactory system and the hippocampal formation. Its physiological and behavioural role is still debated. By comparing adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) across many mammalian species, one might recognize a common function.

APEX - the Hyperspectral ESA Airborne Prism Experiment.

The airborne ESA-APEX (Airborne Prism Experiment) hyperspectral mission simulator is described with its distinct specifications to provide high quality remote sensing data. The concept of an automatic calibration, performed in the Calibration Home Base (CHB) by using the Control Test Master (CTM), the In-Flight Calibration facility (IFC), quality flagging (QF) and specific processing in a dedicated Processing and Archiving Facility (PAF), and vicarious calibration experiments are presented. A preview on major applications and the corresponding development efforts to provide scientific data products up to level 2/3 to the user is presented for limnology, vegetation, aerosols, general classification routines and rapid mapping tasks.

Endocranial volumes of primate species: scaling analyses using a comprehensive and reliable data set.

We present a compilation of endocranial volumes (ECV) for 176 non-human primate species based on individual data collected from 3813 museum specimens, at least 88% being wild-caught. In combination with body mass data from wild individuals, strong correlations between endocranial volume and body mass within taxonomic groups were found. Errors attributable to different techniques for measuring cranial capacity were negligible and unbiased.

Skill mastery inhibits adoption of observed alternative solutions among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).

Geographic variation in socially transmitted skills and signals, similar to human culture, has been well documented for great apes. The rules governing the adoption of novel behaviours, however, are still largely unknown. We conducted an innovation-and-transmission experiment with two groups of chimpanzees living at hopE Primate Sanctuary Gänserndorf, Austria, presenting a board on which food had to be manoeuvred around obstacles to be acquired.

Deinococcus radiodurans: what belongs to the survival kit?

Deinococcus radiodurans, one of the most radioresistant organisms known to date, is able to repair efficiently hundreds of DNA double- and single-strand breaks as well as other types of DNA damages promoted by ionizing or ultraviolet radiation. We review recent discoveries concerning several aspects of radioresistance and survival under high genotoxic stress. We discuss different hypotheses and possibilities that have been suggested to contribute to radioresistance and propose that D.

Repair and translesion DNA polymerases as anticancer drug targets.

We have very recently highlighted possible connections between DNA polymerases, the main enzymes in the DNA metabolism, and human diseases (Ramadan, K., Maga, G. and Hübscher, U.

Sexual behaviour: a receptor for sex control in Drosophila females.

Male Drosophila manipulate the sexual behaviour of their female mating partners by release of a Sex-peptide, but how does this work? A G-protein-coupled receptor has now been identified which acts in the female flies to detect male Sex-peptide and trigger increased egg laying and reduced sexual receptivity.

On the assessment of landmark salience for human navigation.

In this paper, we propose a conceptual framework for assessing the salience of landmarks for navigation. Landmark salience is derived as a result of the observer's point of view, both physical and cognitive, the surrounding environment, and the objects contained therein. This is in contrast to the currently held view that salience is an inherent property of some spatial feature.