The p53 circuit board.

The p53 tumor suppressor is embedded in a large gene network controlling diverse cellular and organismal phenotypes. Multiple signaling pathways converge onto p53 activation, mostly by relieving the inhibitory effects of its repressors, MDM2 and MDM4. In turn, signals originating from increased p53 activity diverge into distinct effector pathways to deliver a specific cellular response to the activating stimuli.

The meaning of pausing.

Pausing of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) at the 5' end of genes is a widespread phenomenon in metazoans, but the role of this event in gene regulation is poorly understood. Gilchrist et al. (2010) now demonstrate that RNAPII pausing counteracts DNA-influenced nucleosome organization to allow precise gene activation.

CDK8 is a positive regulator of transcriptional elongation within the serum response network.

The Mediator complex allows communication between transcription factors and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). Cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8), the kinase found in some variants of Mediator, has been characterized mostly as a transcriptional repressor. Recently, CDK8 was demonstrated to be a potent oncoprotein.

Differential regulation of p53 target genes: it's (core promoter) elementary.

p53 is a pleiotropic transcription factor driving a flexible transcriptional program that mediates disparate cellular responses to stress, including cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The mechanisms by which p53 differentially regulates its diverse target genes remain poorly understood. In this issue of Genes & Development, Morachis and colleagues (pp.

Structural characterization and temperature-dependent photoluminescence of linear CdTe/CdSe/CdTe heterostructure nanorods.

Linear CdTe|CdSe|CdTe heterostructure nanorods are synthesized by using a colloidal sequential reactant injection technique [Shieh et al., J. Phys.

Detection of adamantane-resistant influenza on a microarray.

Background: Influenza A has the ability to rapidly mutate and become resistant to the commonly prescribed influenza therapeutics, thereby complicating treatment decisions.

Objective: To design a cost-effective low-density microarray for use in detection of influenza resistance to the adamantanes.

Study Design: We have taken advantage of functional genomics and microarray technology to design a DNA microarray that can detect the two most common mutations in the M2 protein associated with adamantane resistance, V27A and S31N.

Ultralow-temperature superplasticity in nanoceramic composites.

We report the successful demonstration for low-temperature and high-strain-rate superplastic forming of nanoceramic composites for the first time. Porous preforms of nanoceramic composites that were partially densified at low temperatures were superplastically deformed by SPS at the record low temperatures of approximately 1000 to 1050 degrees C, which are comparable to those of Ni-based superalloys. The maximum strain rate achieved is over 10(-2) s(-1), and a compressive strain over 200% can be obtained without cracking.

ConFind: a robust tool for conserved sequence identification.

Summary: ConFind (conserved region finder) identifies regions of conservation in multiple sequence alignments that can serve as diagnostic targets. Designed to work with a large number of closely related, highly variable sequences, ConFind provides robust handling of alignments containing partial sequences and ambiguous characters. Conserved regions are defined in terms of minimum region length, maximum informational entropy (variability) per position, number of exceptions allowed to the maximum entropy criterion and the minimum number of sequences that must contain a non-ambiguous character at a position to be considered for inclusion in a conserved region.

Source apportionment of exposure to toxic volatile organic compounds using positive matrix factorization.

Data from the Total Exposure Assessment Methodology studies, conducted from 1980 to 1987 in New Jersey (NJ) and California (CA), and the 1990 California Indoor Exposure study were analyzed using positive matrix factorization, a receptor-oriented source apportionment model. Personal exposure and outdoor concentrations of 14 and 17 toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were studied from the NJ and CA data, respectively. Analyzing both the personal exposure and outdoor concentrations made it possible to compare toxic VOCs in outdoor air and exposure resulting from personal activities.

Comb wax effects on the ontogeny of honey bee nestmate recognition.

We addressed the general question of how kin recognition cues develop by investigating cue differentiation between colonies of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. In honey bee colonies, exposure to the wax comb is a critical component of the development of kin recognition cues. In this study, we determined how the cues develop under natural conditions (in swarms), whether the genetic source and age of the wax affect cue ontogeny, and whether exposure to wax, as in normal development, affects preferential feeding among bees within social groups.

Genetic Engineering in Animal Models.

Multiple genetic and environmental factors influence the development of alcoholism. To evaluate the contributions of individual genes to the development of alcoholism in living organisms, rather than in tissue-culture experiments, researchers have begun to use new genetic technologies in laboratory animals. These techniques include generating transgenic mice, in which a foreign gene is inserted permanently into the animal's genetic material; generating knockout mice, in which a gene is permanently inactivated; and using antisense ribonucleic acid (RNA) treatment, which allows the temporary inactivation of individual genes.