bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
SIAH2-mediated and organ-specific restriction of HO-1 expression by a dual mechanism
Authors: Chillappagari Shashipavan , Belapurkar Ratnal , Möller Andreas , Molenda Nicole , Kracht Michael , Rohrbach Susanne , Schmitz M. Lienhard 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe intracellular levels of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) are tightly controlled. Here, we reveal a novel mechanism preventing the exaggerated expression of HO-1. The analysis of mice with a knock-out in the ubiquitin E3 ligase seven in absentia homolog 2 (SIAH2) showed elevated HO-1 protein levels in specific organs such as heart, kidney and skeletal muscle. Increased HO-1 protein amounts were also seen in human cells deleted for the SIAH2 gene. The higher HO-1 levels are not only due to an increased protein stability but also to elevated expression of the HO-1 encoding HMOX1 gene, which depends on the transcription factor nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a known SIAH2 target. Dependent on its RING (really interesting new gene) domain, expression of SIAH2 mediates proteasome-dependent degradation of its interaction partner HO-1. Additionally SIAH2-deficient cells are also characterized by reduced expression levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), rendering the knock-out cells more sensitive to ferroptosis.
Pre-operative sera interleukin-6 in the diagnosis of high-grade serous ovarian cancer
Authors: Kampan Nirmala Chandralega , Madondo Mutsa Tatenda , Reynolds John , Hallo Julene , McNally Orla M. , Jobling Thomas W. , Stephens Andrew N. , Quinn Michael A. , Plebanski Magdalena 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPre-operative discrimination of malignant masses is crucial for accurate diagnosis and prompt referral to a gynae oncology centre for optimal surgical intervention. HGSOC progression is correlated with local and systemic inflammation. We hypothesised that inclusion of inflammatory biomarkers in sera may improve diagnostic tests. In the training cohort, we tested four existing clinical tests (RMI score and ROMA, CA125 and HE4) and a panel of 28 immune soluble biomarkers in sera from 66 patients undergoing surgery for suspected ovarian cancer. Six promising immune biomarkers alone, or in combination with conventional tests, were subsequently analysed in an independent validation cohort (n = 69). IL-6 was identified as the main driver of variability followed closely by conventional diagnostic tests. Median sera IL-6 was higher in HGSOC patients compared to those with a benign mass or controls with normal ovaries (28.3 vs 7.3 vs 1.2 pg/ml, p < 0.0001). The combination of IL-6 further improved the overall predictive probability of the conventional tests. Modelling a two-step triage of women with a suspicious ovarian mass, with IL-6 > 3.75 pg/ml as primary triage followed by conventional tests (CA125 or RMI score) identified ovarian cancer in patients with a misclassification rate of 4.54–3.03%, superior to the use of CA125 or RMI alone (9.09 to 10.60). The validation cohort demonstrated a similar improvement in the diagnostic sensitivity following addition of IL-6. IL-6 in combination with conventional tests may be a useful clinical biomarker for triage of patients with a suspected malignant ovarian mass.
The effect of group size, age and handling frequency on inter-male aggression in CD 1 mice
Authors: Jirkof Paulin , Bratcher Natalie , Medina Letty , Strasburg Donna , Ebert Paige , Gaskill Brianna N. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAggression in male mice often leads to injury and death, making social housing difficult. We tested whether (1) small group size, (2) early age of allocation to a group decreases aggression and 3) manipulation increases aggression in male mice. A 14wk study was performed to assess the following conditions in male CD-1/ICR mice: group size (1, 2, or 3), age at grouping (5 or 7wks), and manipulation (daily scruffing or minimal weekly handling). Wounds, body weights, food consumption, nest scores, sucrose consumption, fecal corticosterone and blood for hematology were collected. At the end of the study, mice were euthanized and pelted to assess wounding with the pelt aggression lesion scale (PALS). No signs of acute or chronic stress were observed in any of the groups. Trio housed mice showed less bite wounds than pair housed mice. In general, mice in larger groups ate less but weighed more. Individually housed mice, however, had high nest scores, low body weights, and increased sucrose and food consumption. These results suggest that even when nesting material is provided, individual mice may be experiencing thermal stress. Based on this data, CD-1 mice can successfully be housed for up to 14wks and groups of 3 may be the best for reducing even minor levels of aggression (i.e. wounding).
Probing nanomechanical responses of cell membranes
Authors: Kim Jichul 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDespite the importance in various cellular processes, the nanomechanical responses of the living cell membrane have been elusive due to complexities in the membrane associated with the hidden architecture of multiple molecular components, including the lipid bilayer. Here, combined experimental and theoretical frameworks that can probe and interpret nanomechanical responses of the cell membrane are demonstrated. A magnetic tweezer assay was introduced to apply pico-Newton scale forces to lipids and E-cadherin molecules at the living cell surface. Two unique classes of force-extension curves were identified: one with a deflection transition (Type I) and another with a discontinuous transition (Type II). The repeated observations of these responses, regardless of cell type and targeted cell surface molecule, suggest the Type I and II curves are the primary nanomechanical responses of cell membranes. To reproduce these responses in vitro, a model system using synthetic lipid vesicles was also developed. Together with a finite element model of lipid bilayers, the reproduced responses suggest that the confined fluidity and curvature constraints imposed on the lipid bilayer components of the cell membrane are the main parameters responsible for the generation of these responses. This work provides an insight into how forces on membrane molecules propagate to the lipid bilayer components to generate specific nanomechanical responses. In addition, the consistent results obtained using different methodologies demonstrate that the presented force-probing assays and the theoretical model can serve a combined testbed to investigate nanoscale mechanics of the living cell membrane.
Enhanced pre-pubertal nutrition upregulates mitochondrial function in testes and sperm of post-pubertal Holstein bulls
Authors: Johnson Chinju , Dance Alysha , Kovalchuk Igor , Kastelic John , Thundathil Jacob 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSupplemental energy and protein during calf-hood (2–30 wk) in dairy bulls hastened puberty (~1 mo), upregulated steroid biosynthesis, concentrations of reproductive hormones and Sertoli cell maturation, with larger testes and greater sperm production (~25%) in mature bulls. The objective was to evaluate effects of feeding high (20.0% crude protein [CP], 67.9% total digestible nutrients [TDN]), control/medium (17.0% CP, 66.0% TDN) and low (12.2% CP, 62.9% TDN) diets from 2 to 30 wk on post-pubertal testes of Holstein bulls. Based on RNA sequencing, 497 and 2961 genes were differentially expressed (P < 0.1) in high- vs low- and high- vs medium-diet groups, respectively. According to KEGG analysis, oxidative phosphorylation and ribosome pathways were upregulated in high- vs medium- and low-diet groups, with majority of upregulated genes encoding for essential subunits of complex I, III, IV and V of OXYPHOS pathway. In addition, mitochondrial translation, mitotic nuclear division and cell division were enriched in high- vs medium-diet groups. Consistent with these results, a greater percentage of sperm from high-diet bulls were progressively motile and had normal mitochondrial function compared to medium-diet sperm (P < 0.1). Thus, enhanced early life nutrition upregulated mitochondrial function in testes and sperm of post-pubertal Holstein bulls.
Modification of the head proteome of nurse honeybees (Apis mellifera) exposed to field-relevant doses of pesticides
Authors: Zaluski Rodrigo , Bittarello Alis Correia , Vieira José Cavalcante Souza , Braga Camila Pereira , Padilha Pedro de Magalhaes , Fernandes Mileni da Silva , Bovi Thaís de Souza , Orsi Ricardo de Oliveira 
Published: February 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the effect of pesticides on the survival of honeybee colonies is important because these pollinators are reportedly declining globally. In the present study, we examined the changes in the head proteome of nurse honeybees exposed to individual and combined pesticides (the fungicide pyraclostrobin and the insecticide fipronil) at field-relevant doses (850 and 2.5 ppb, respectively). The head proteomes of bees exposed to pesticides were compared with those of bees that were not exposed, and proteins with differences in expression were identified by mass spectrometry. The exposure of nurse bees to pesticides reduced the expression of four of the major royal jelly proteins (MRJP1, MRJP2, MRJP4, and MRJP5) and also several proteins associated with carbohydrate metabolism and energy synthesis, the antioxidant system, detoxification, biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, transcription and translation, protein folding and binding, olfaction, and learning and memory. Overall, when pyraclostrobin and fipronil were combined, the changes in protein expression were exacerbated. Our results demonstrate that vital proteins and metabolic processes are impaired in nurse honeybees exposed to pesticides in doses close to those experienced by these insects in the field, increasing their susceptibility to stressors and affecting the nutrition and maintenance of both managed and natural colonies.
Alkyladenine DNA glycosylase deficiency uncouples alkylation-induced strand break generation from PARP-1 activation and glycolysis inhibition
Authors: Alhumaydhi Fahad A. , de O. Lopes Debora , Bordin Diana L. , Aljohani Abdullah S. M. , Lloyd Cameron B. , McNicholas Michael D. , Milano Larissa , Charlier Clara F. , Villela Izabel , Henriques João Antonio P. , Plant Kathryn E. , Elliott Ruan M. , Meira Lisiane B. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDNA alkylation damage is repaired by base excision repair (BER) initiated by alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG). Despite its role in DNA repair, AAG-initiated BER promotes cytotoxicity in a process dependent on poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1); a NAD+-consuming enzyme activated by strand break intermediates of the AAG-initiated repair process. Importantly, PARP-1 activation has been previously linked to impaired glycolysis and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, whether alkylation affects cellular metabolism in the absence of AAG-mediated BER initiation is unclear. To address this question, we temporally profiled repair and metabolism in wild-type and Aag−/− cells treated with the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). We show that, although Aag−/− cells display similar levels of alkylation-induced DNA breaks as wild type, PARP-1 activation is undetectable in AAG-deficient cells. Accordingly, Aag−/− cells are protected from MMS-induced NAD+ depletion and glycolysis inhibition. MMS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, however, is AAG-independent. Furthermore, treatment with FK866, a selective inhibitor of the NAD+ salvage pathway enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), synergizes with MMS to induce cytotoxicity and Aag−/− cells are resistant to this combination FK866 and MMS treatment. Thus, AAG plays an important role in the metabolic response to alkylation that could be exploited in the treatment of conditions associated with NAD+ dysregulation.
The endocannabinoid hydrolase FAAH is an allosteric enzyme
Authors: Dainese Enrico , Oddi Sergio , Simonetti Monica , Sabatucci Annalaura , Angelucci Clotilde B. , Ballone Alice , Dufrusine Beatrice , Fezza Filomena , De Fabritiis Gianni , Maccarrone Mauro 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a membrane-bound homodimeric enzyme that in vivo controls content and biological activity of N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) and other relevant bioactive lipids termed endocannabinoids. Parallel orientation of FAAH monomers likely allows both subunits to simultaneously recruit and cleave substrates. Here, we show full inhibition of human and rat FAAH by means of enzyme inhibitors used at a homodimer:inhibitor stoichiometric ratio of 1:1, implying that occupation of only one of the two active sites of FAAH is enough to fully block catalysis. Single W445Y substitution in rat FAAH displayed the same activity as the wild-type, but failed to show full inhibition at the homodimer:inhibitor 1:1 ratio. Instead, F432A mutant exhibited reduced specific activity but was fully inhibited at the homodimer:inhibitor 1:1 ratio. Kinetic analysis of AEA hydrolysis by rat FAAH and its F432A mutant demonstrated a Hill coefficient of ~1.6, that instead was ~1.0 in the W445Y mutant. Of note, also human FAAH catalysed an allosteric hydrolysis of AEA, showing a Hill coefficient of ~1.9. Taken together, this study demonstrates an unprecedented allosterism of FAAH, and represents a case of communication between two enzyme subunits seemingly controlled by a single amino acid (W445) at the dimer interface. In the light of extensive attempts and subsequent failures over the last decade to develop effective drugs for human therapy, these findings pave the way to the rationale design of new molecules that, by acting as positive or negative heterotropic effectors of FAAH, may control more efficiently its activity.
Microfabrication of re-entrant surface with hydrophobicity/oleophobicity for liquid foods
Authors: Yamaguchi Masaki 
Published: February 2020

AbstractRe-entrant texturing may potentially improve the hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of a surface. The food industry requires a microfabrication method to keep surfaces clean without leaving a packaging residue for applications such as food bottles, food containers, and preservation bags. The goal of this study is thus to establish a microfabrication method for re-entrant texturing with spherical curvature to produce hydrophobic/oleophobic surfaces for liquid foods, such as soy sauce and canola oil. Samples with a spherical curvature are created from an ultra-violet-cure (UV-cure) resin and poly (tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) microbeads with diameters between 2.26 to 1,353 microns by spin coating on a glass substrate. The resin thickness, the mass and diameter of the microbeads, and the spin coater rotation speed are used as the microfabrication parameters. A side view of samples showing the spherical curvature reveals that a re-entrant texture indeed forms. Distilled water, soy sauce, and canola oil are dropped softly onto the re-entrant surface, however, the droplets cannot be placed stably. For appropriate microbead diameters, the apparent contact angles of soy sauce and canola oil showed 130.2 and 119.4 degrees, respectively. This facile fabrication method for re-entrant surfaces could prove useful for generating hydrophobic/oleophobic surfaces for Newtonian liquid foods.
Melatonin Protects Rabbit Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) Embryos from Electrofusion Damage
Authors: Qu Pengxiang , Shen Chong , Du Yue , Qin Hongyu , Luo Shiwei , Fu Sixin , Dong Yue , Guo Shuaiqingying , Hu Fang , Xue Ying , Liu Enqi 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe study’s objectives were to examine the effects of electrofusion on rabbit somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos, and to test melatonin as a protective agent against electrofusion damage to SCNT embryos. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the epigenetic state (H3K9me3), and the content of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated transcripts (IRE-1 and CHOP) were measured. Melatonin was added during the preimplantation development period. The total blastocyst cell numbers were counted, and the fragmentation rate and apoptotic index were determined and used to assess embryonic development. Electrofusion increased (1) ROS levels at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-cell stages; (2) H3K9me3 levels at the 2-, 4-, and 8-cell stage; and (3) the expression of IRE-1 and CHOP at the 8-cell, 16-cell, morula, and blastocyst stages. The treatment of SCNT embryos with melatonin significantly reduced the level of ROS and H3K9me3, and the expression levels of IRE-1 and CHOP. This treatment also significantly reduced the fragmentation rate and apoptotic index of blastocysts and increased their total cell number. In conclusion, the electrofusion of rabbit SCNT embryos induced oxidative stress, disturbed the epigenetic state, and caused ER stress, while melatonin reduced this damage. Our findings are of signal importance for improving the efficiency of SCNT and for optimizing the application of electrical stimulation in other biomedical areas.
Comparative Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Outcomes of Paediatric and Adult Xp11 Translocation Renal Cell Carcinomas: a Retrospective Multicentre Study in China
Authors: Ma Wenliang , Liu Ning , Zhuang Wenyuan , Li Weijian , Qu Feng , Sun Jing , Xu Wei , Zhang Lihua , Jia Ruipeng , Xu Linfeng , Zhao Xiaozhi , Li Xiaogong , Zhang Gutian , Guo Hongqian , Li Dongmei , Gan Weidong 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to compare the clinicopathologic features and prognosis in patients with Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). In total, 8083 RCCs were screened at five centres from January 2007 to December 2018, including 8001 adults (≥18 years) and 82 children (<18 years). Finally, 73 adults and 17 children were identified as Xp11 translocation RCCs, accounting for 1.1% (90 of 8083) of the RCCs. However, 4 children and 1 adult were excluded because of loss to follow-up when performing the survival analysis. The proportion of paediatric and adult Xp11 translocation RCCs was 20.7% (17 of 82) and 0.9% (73 of 8001) of RCCs, respectively, and the incidence in children and adults was significantly different (P < 0.01). Lymph node positivity (LN+) most commonly occurred in children (58.8%) compared with adults (28.8%; P = 0.02), but children with LN+ showed significantly higher five-year overall survival and progression-free rates (OS: 75.0%; PFS: 64.8%) than adult patients (OS: 40.3%; PFS: 0%) (log-rank PPFS < 0.01; POS = 0.04). Multivariable analysis indicated that local lymph node metastasis was associated with both PFS (HR = 0.10; 95% CI 0.02–0.51; P = 0.01) and OS (HR = 0.11; 95% CI 0.01–0.98; P = 0.04) in adults. Adult patients with LN+ may indicate a worse prognosis than paediatric patients.
Physiological mechanism underlying the effect of high temperature during anthesis on spikelet-opening of photo-thermo-sensitive genic male sterile rice lines
Authors: Chen Jing , Xu Yangdong , Fei Keqi , Wang Rui , He Jiang , Fu Lidong , Shao Shimei , Li Ke , Zhu Kuanyu , Zhang Weiyang , Wang Zhiqin , Yang Jianchang 
Published: February 2020

AbstractDecrease in the grain yield resulted from a low percentage of opened spikelets under high temperature (HT) during anthesis is a serious problem in the seed production of photo-thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) rice (Oryza sativaL.) lines, and the mechanism is little understood. Elucidating the physiological mechanism underlying the effect of HT during anthesis on spikelet-opening of PTGMS lines would have great significance in exploring the effective way to mitigate the adverse effect of HT. In this study, two PTGMS lines and one restorer line of rice were used and were subjected to normal temperature (NT) and HT treatments. The results showed that, compared with NT, HT significantly decreased the percentage of opened spikelets, fertilization percentage and seed-setting by significantly increasing the percentage of wrapped spikelets and reducing the spikelet-opening angle, length of spikelet-opening time. The HT significantly decreased the contents of soluble sugars, jasmonic acid (JA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in the lodicules before and at glume-opening, which were significantly correlated with and accounts for the low percentage of opened spikelets under HT for rice, especially for the PTGMS lines.
Target prediction and validation of microRNAs expressed from FSHR and aromatase genes in human ovarian granulosa cells
Authors: Rooda Ilmatar , Hensen Kati , Kaselt Birgitta , Kasvandik Sergo , Pook Martin , Kurg Ants , Salumets Andres , Velthut-Meikas Agne 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known post-transcriptional regulators of various biological processes including ovarian follicle development. We have previously identified miRNAs from human pre-ovulatory ovarian granulosa cells that are expressed from the intronic regions of two key genes in normal follicular development: FSH receptor (FSHR) andCYP19A1, the latter encoding the aromatase enzyme. The present study aims to identify the target genes regulated by these miRNAs: hsa-miR-548ba and hsa-miR-7973, respectively. The miRNAs of interest were transfected into KGN cell line and the gene expression changes were analyzed by Affymetrix microarray. Potential miRNA-regulated genes were further filtered by bioinformatic target prediction algorithms and validated for direct miRNA:mRNA binding by luciferase reporter assay.LIFR,PTEN,NEO1andSP110were confirmed as targets for hsa-miR-548ba. Hsa-miR-7973 target genesADAM19,PXDNandFMNL3also passed all verification steps. Additionally, the expression pattern of the miRNAs was studied in human primary cumulus granulosa cell culture in relation to the expression of their host genes and FSH stimulation. Based on our findings we propose the involvement of hsa-miR-548ba in the regulation of follicle growth and activation via LIFR and PTEN. Hsa-miR-7973 may be implicated in the modulation of extracellular matrix and cell-cell interactions by regulating the expression of its identified targets.
Gene expression in immortalized versus primary isolated cardiac endothelial cells
Authors: Deng Lisa , Pollmeier Luisa , Zhou Qian , Bergemann Stella , Bode Christoph , Hein Lutz , Lother Achim 
Published: February 2020

AbstractEndothelial cells take pivotal roles in the heart and the vascular system and their differentiation, subspecification and function is determined by gene expression. A stable, in vitro cardiac endothelial cell line could provide high cell numbers as needed for many epigenetic analyses and facilitate the understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in endothelial cell biology. To test their suitability for transcriptomic or epigenetic studies, we compared the transcriptome of cultured immortalized mouse cardiac endothelial cells (MCEC) to primary cardiac endothelial cells (pEC). Whole transcriptome comparison of MCEC and pEC showed a correlation of 0.75–0.77. Interestingly, correlation of gene expression declined in endothelial cell-typical genes. In MCEC, we found a broad downregulation of genes that are highly expressed in pEC, including well-described markers of endothelial cell differentiation. Accordingly, systematic analysis revealed a downregulation of genes associated with typical endothelial cell functions in MCEC, while genes related to mitotic cell cycle were upregulated when compared to pEC. In conclusion, the findings from this study suggest that primary cardiac endothelial cells should preferably be used for genome-wide transcriptome or epigenome studies. The suitability of in vitro cell lines for experiments investigating single genes or signaling pathways should be carefully validated before use.