bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maternal transcription of non-protein coding RNAs from the PWS-critical region rescues growth retardation in mice
Authors: Rozhdestvensky Timofey S. , Robeck Thomas , Galiveti Chenna R. , Raabe Carsten A. , Seeger Birte , Wolters Anna , Gubar Leonid V. , Brosius Jürgen , Skryabin Boris V. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by loss of paternally expressed genes on chromosome 15q11-q13. The PWS-critical region (PWScr) contains an array of non-protein coding IPW-A exons hosting intronic SNORD116 snoRNA genes. Deletion of PWScr is associated with PWS in humans and growth retardation in mice exhibiting ~15% postnatal lethality in C57BL/6 background. Here we analysed a knock-in mouse containing a 5′HPRT-LoxP-NeoR cassette (5′LoxP) inserted upstream of the PWScr. When the insertion was inherited maternally in a paternal PWScr-deletion mouse model (PWScrp−/m5′LoxP), we observed compensation of growth retardation and postnatal lethality. Genomic methylation pattern and expression of protein-coding genes remained unaltered at the PWS-locus of PWScrp−/m5′LoxP mice. Interestingly, ubiquitous Snord116 and IPW-A exon transcription from the originally silent maternal chromosome was detected. In situ hybridization indicated that PWScrp−/m5′LoxP mice expressed Snord116 in brain areas similar to wild type animals. Our results suggest that the lack of PWScr RNA expression in certain brain areas could be a primary cause of the growth retardation phenotype in mice. We propose that activation of disease-associated genes on imprinted regions could lead to general therapeutic strategies in associated diseases.
Exploration of multiple Sortase A protein conformations in virtual screening
Authors: Gao Chunxia , Uzelac Ivana , Gottfries Johan , Eriksson Leif A. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractMethicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major health concern which has brought about an urgent need for new therapeutic agents. As the S. aureus Sortase A (SrtA) enzyme contributes to the adherence of the bacteria to the host cells, inhibition thereof by small molecules could be employed as potential antivirulence agents, also towards resistant strains. Albeit several virtual docking SrtA campaigns have been reported, no strongly inhibitatory non-covalent binders have as yet emerged therefrom. In order to better understand the binding modes of small molecules and the effect of different receptor structures employed in the screening, we herein report on an exploratory study employing 10 known binders and 500 decoys on 100 SrtA structures generated from regular or steered molecular dynamics simulations on four different SrtA crystal/NMR structures. The results suggest a correlation between the protein structural flexibility and the virtual screening performance and confirm the noted immobilization of the β6/β7 loop upon substrate binding. The NMR structures reported appear to perform slightly better than the Xray-crystal structures, but the binding modes fluctuate tremendously and it might be suspected that the catalytic site is not necessarily the preferred site of binding for some of the reported active compounds.
Tetherin/BST-2 promotes dendritic cell activation and function during acute retrovirus infection
Authors: Li Sam X. , Barrett Bradley S. , Guo Kejun , Kassiotis George , Hasenkrug Kim J. , Dittmer Ulf , Gibbert Kathrin , Santiago Mario L. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractTetherin/BST-2 is a host restriction factor that inhibits retrovirus release from infected cells in vitro by tethering nascent virions to the plasma membrane. However, contradictory data exists on whether Tetherin inhibits acute retrovirus infection in vivo. Previously, we reported that Tetherin-mediated inhibition of Friend retrovirus (FV) replication at 2 weeks post-infection correlated with stronger natural killer, CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell responses. Here, we further investigated the role of Tetherin in counteracting retrovirus replication in vivo. FV infection levels were similar between wild-type (WT) and Tetherin KO mice at 3 to 7 days post-infection despite removal of a potent restriction factor, Apobec3/Rfv3. However, during this phase of acute infection, Tetherin enhanced myeloid dendritic cell (DC) function. DCs from infected, but not uninfected, WT mice expressed significantly higher MHC class II and the co-stimulatory molecule CD80 compared to Tetherin KO DCs. Tetherin-associated DC activation during acute FV infection correlated with stronger NK cell responses. Furthermore, Tetherin+ DCs from FV-infected mice more strongly stimulated FV-specific CD4+ T cells ex vivo compared to Tetherin KO DCs. The results link the antiretroviral and immunomodulatory activity of Tetherin in vivo to improved DC activation and MHC class II antigen presentation.
Vector cavity solitons in broad area Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers
Authors: Averlant Etienne , Tlidi Mustapha , Thienpont Hugo , Ackemann Thorsten , Panajotov Krassimir 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe report the experimental observation of two-dimensional vector cavity solitons in a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) under linearly polarized optical injection when varying optical injection linear polarization direction. The polarization of the cavity soliton is not the one of the optical injection as it acquires a distinct ellipticity. These experimental results are qualitatively reproduced by the spin-flip VCSEL model. Our findings open the road to polarization multiplexing when using cavity solitons in broad-area lasers as pixels in information technology.
KCTD12 Regulates Colorectal Cancer Cell Stemness through the ERK Pathway
Authors: Li Liping , Duan Tingmei , Wang Xin , Zhang Ru-Hua , Zhang Meifang , Wang Suihai , Wang Fen , Wu Yuanzhong , Huang Haojie , Kang Tiebang 
Published: February 2016

AbstractTargeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a difficult problem, as the regulation of CSCs in CRC is poorly understood. Here we demonstrated that KCTD12, potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 12, is down-regulated in the CSC-like cells of CRC. The silencing of endogenous KCTD12 and the overexpression of ectopic KCTD12 dramatically enhances and represses CRC cell stemness, respectively, as assessed in vitro and in vivo using a colony formation assay, a spheroid formation assay and a xenograft tumor model. Mechanistically, KCTD12 suppresses CRC cell stemness markers, such as CD44, CD133 and CD29, by inhibiting the ERK pathway, as the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 abolishes the increase in expression of CRC cell stemness markers induced by the down-regulation of KCTD12. Indeed, a decreased level of KCTD12 is detected in CRC tissues compared with their adjacent normal tissues and is an independent prognostic factor for poor overall and disease free survival in patients with CRC (p = 0.007). Taken together, this report reveals that KCTD12 is a novel regulator of CRC cell stemness and may serve as a novel prognostic marker and therapeutic target for patients with CRC.
From synchrotron radiation to lab source: advanced speckle-based X-ray imaging using abrasive paper
Authors: Wang Hongchang , Kashyap Yogesh , Sawhney Kawal 
Published: February 2016

AbstractX-ray phase and dark-field imaging techniques provide complementary and inaccessible information compared to conventional X-ray absorption or visible light imaging. However, such methods typically require sophisticated experimental apparatus or X-ray beams with specific properties. Recently, an X-ray speckle-based technique has shown great potential for X-ray phase and dark-field imaging using a simple experimental arrangement. However, it still suffers from either poor resolution or the time consuming process of collecting a large number of images. To overcome these limitations, in this report we demonstrate that absorption, dark-field, phase contrast and two orthogonal differential phase contrast images can simultaneously be generated by scanning a piece of abrasive paper in only one direction. We propose a novel theoretical approach to quantitatively extract the above five images by utilising the remarkable properties of speckles. Importantly, the technique has been extended from a synchrotron light source to utilise a lab-based microfocus X-ray source and flat panel detector. Removing the need to raster the optics in two directions significantly reduces the acquisition time and absorbed dose, which can be of vital importance for many biological samples. This new imaging method could potentially provide a breakthrough for numerous practical imaging applications in biomedical research and materials science.
Localized Single Frequency Lasing States in a Finite Parity-Time Symmetric Resonator Chain
Authors: Phang Sendy , Vukovic Ana , Creagh Stephen C. , Sewell Phillip D. , Gradoni Gabriele , Benson Trevor M. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractIn this paper a practical case of a finite periodic Parity Time chain made of resonant dielectric cylinders is considered. The paper analyzes a more general case where PT symmetry is achieved by modulating both the real and imaginary part of the material refractive index along the resonator chain. The band-structure of the finite periodic PT resonator chains is compared to infinite chains in order to understand the complex interdependence of the Bloch phase and the amount of the gain/loss in the system that causes the PT symmetry to break. The results show that the type of the modulation along the unit cell can significantly affect the position of the threshold point of the PT system. In all cases the lowest threshold is achieved near the end of the Brillouin zone. In the case of finite PT-chains and for a particular type of modulation, early PT symmetry breaking is observed and shown to be caused by the presence of termination states localized at the edges of the finite chain resulting in localized lasing and dissipative modes at each end of the chain.
Chloroplast Phylogenomic Inference of Green Algae Relationships
Authors: Sun Linhua , Fang Ling , Zhang Zhenhua , Chang Xin , Penny David , Zhong Bojian 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe green algal phylum Chlorophyta has six diverse classes, but the phylogenetic relationship of the classes within Chlorophyta remains uncertain. In order to better understand the ancient Chlorophyta evolution, we have applied a site pattern sorting method to study compositional heterogeneity and the model fit in the green algal chloroplast genomic data. We show that the fastest-evolving sites are significantly correlated with among-site compositional heterogeneity and these sites have a much poorer fit to the evolutionary model. Our phylogenomic analyses suggest that the class Chlorophyceae is a monophyletic group and the classes Ulvophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae and Prasinophyceae are non-monophyletic groups. Our proposed phylogenetic tree of Chlorophyta will offer new insights to investigate ancient green algae evolution and our analytical framework will provide a useful approach for evaluating and mitigating the potential errors of phylogenomic inferences.
Load-dependent modulation of non-muscle myosin-2A function by tropomyosin 4.2
Authors: Hundt Nikolas , Steffen Walter , Pathan-Chhatbar Salma , Taft Manuel H. , Manstein Dietmar J. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractTropomyosin isoforms play an important role in the organisation of cytoplasmic actomyosin complexes in regard to function and cellular localisation. In particular, Tpm4.2 is upregulated in rapidly migrating cells and responsible for the specific recruitment of the cytoplasmic class-2 myosin NM-2A to actin filaments during the formation of stress fibres. Here, we investigate how the decoration of F-actin with Tpm4.2 affects the motor properties of NM-2A under conditions of low and high load. In the absence of external forces, decoration of actin filaments with Tpm4.2 does not affect the gated release of ADP from NM-2A and the transition from strong to weak actin-binding states. In the presence of resisting loads, our results reveal a marked increase in the mechanosensitive gating between the leading and trailing myosin head. Thereby, the processive behaviour of NM-2A is enhanced in the presence of resisting loads. The load- and Tpm4.2-induced changes in the functional behaviour of NM-2A are in good agreement with the role of this myosin in the context of stress fibres and the maintenance of cellular tension.
How does the foraging behavior of large herbivores cause different associational plant defenses?
Authors: Huang Yue , Wang Ling , Wang Deli , Zeng De-Hui , Liu Chen 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe attractant-decoy hypothesis predicts that focal plants can defend against herbivory by neighboring with preferred plant species when herbivores make decisions at the plant species scale. The repellent-plant hypothesis assumes that focal plants will gain protection by associating with nonpreferred neighbors when herbivores are selective at the patch scale. However, herbivores usually make foraging decisions at these scales simultaneously. The net outcomes of the focal plant vulnerability could depend on the spatial scale at which the magnitude of selectivity by the herbivores is stronger. We quantified and compared the within- and between-patch overall selectivity index (OSI) of sheep to examine the relationships between associational plant effects and herbivore foraging selectivity. We found that the sheep OSI was stronger at the within- than the between-patch scale, but focal plant vulnerability followed both hypotheses. Focal plants defended herbivory with preferred neighbors when the OSI difference between the two scales was large. Focal plants gained protection with nonpreferred neighbors when the OSI difference was narrowed. Therefore, the difference in selectivity by the herbivores between the relevant scales results in different associational plant defenses. Our study suggests important implications for understanding plant-herbivore interactions and grassland management.
Nanoparticle Decorated Ultrathin Porous Nanosheets as Hierarchical Co3O4 Nanostructures for Lithium Ion Battery Anode Materials
Authors: Mujtaba Jawayria , Sun Hongyu , Huang Guoyong , Mølhave Kristian , Liu Yanguo , Zhao Yanyan , Wang Xun , Xu Shengming , Zhu Jing 
Published: February 2016

AbstractWe report a facile synthesis of a novel cobalt oxide (Co3O4) hierarchical nanostructure, in which crystalline core-amorphous shell Co3O4 nanoparticles with a bimodal size distribution are uniformly dispersed on ultrathin Co3O4 nanosheets. When tested as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the as-prepared Co3O4 hierarchical electrodes delivered high lithium storage properties comparing to the other Co3O4 nanostructures, including a high reversible capacity of 1053.1 mAhg−1 after 50 cycles at a current density of 0.2 C (1 C = 890 mAg−1), good cycling stability and rate capability.
Silver nanoparticles disrupt germline stem cell maintenance in the Drosophila testis
Authors: Ong Cynthia , Lee Qian Ying , Cai Yu , Liu Xiaoli , Ding Jun , Yung Lin-Yue Lanry , Bay Boon-Huat , Baeg Gyeong-Hun 
Published: February 2016

AbstractSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs), one of the most popular nanomaterials, are commonly used in consumer products and biomedical devices, despite their potential toxicity. Recently, AgNP exposure was reported to be associated with male reproductive toxicity in mammalian models. However, there is still a limited understanding of the effects of AgNPs on spermatogenesis. The fruit fly Drosophila testis is an excellent in vivo model to elucidate the mechanisms underlying AgNP-induced defects in spermatogenesis, as germ lineages can be easily identified and imaged. In this study, we evaluated AgNP-mediated toxicity on spermatogenesis by feeding Drosophila with AgNPs at various concentrations. We first observed a dose-dependent uptake of AgNPs in vivo. Concomitantly, AgNP exposure caused a significant decrease in the viability and delay in the development of Drosophila in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, AgNP-treated male flies showed a reduction in fecundity and the resulting testes contained a decreased number of germline stem cells (GSCs) compared to controls. Interestingly, testes exposed to AgNPs exhibited a dramatic increase in reactive oxygen species levels and showed precocious GSC differentiation. Taken together, our study suggests that AgNP exposure may increase ROS levels in the Drosophila testis, leading to a reduction of GSC number by promoting premature GSC differentiation.
A pathogenic IFNα, BLyS and IL-17 axis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients
Authors: López Patricia , Rodríguez-Carrio Javier , Caminal-Montero Luis , Mozo Lourdes , Suárez Ana 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis study aims to analyze in depth the role of IFNα in the upregulation of BLyS in different leukocyte populations and the possible relationship of these molecules with IL-17 and other pathogenic cytokines in SLE. Thus, IFNAR1 and membrane BLyS (mBLyS) expression was upregulated on various blood cell types from patients and closely correlated in all individuals. Moreover, BLyS serum levels associated positively with IFNα and IL-17A amounts, as well as with mBLyS on B cells and neutrophils. Interestingly, mBLyS on neutrophils was also correlated with IL-17A levels. Additionally, intracellular IL-17A expression was increased in both CD4+ lymphocytes and neutrophils from patients and IL-17+CD4+ T cell frequency was associated with serum IFNα and IFNRA1 expression on B cells. Finally, in vitro assays support an IFNα role in the activation of Th17 cells in SLE. In conclusion, these data suggest that IFNα, BLyS and IL-17 could form a pathological axis in SLE, involving T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, DCs and neutrophils, which act in a vicious circle that encourage the preexisting inflammation and propagate the disease process.
Co-expression of Dorsal and Rel2 Negatively Regulates Antimicrobial Peptide Expression in the Tobacco Hornworm Manduca sexta
Authors: Zhong Xue , Rao Xiang-Jun , Yi Hui-Yu , Lin Xin-Yu , Huang Xiao-Hong , Yu Xiao-Qiang 
Published: February 2016

AbstractNuclear factor κB (NF-κB) plays an essential role in regulation of innate immunity. In mammals, NF-κB factors can form homodimers and heterodimers to activate gene expression. In insects, three NF-κB factors, Dorsal, Dif and Relish, have been identified to activate antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression. However, it is not clear whether Dorsal (or Dif) and Relish can form heterodimers. Here we report the identification and functional analysis of a Dorsal homologue (MsDorsal) and two Relish short isoforms (MsRel2A and MsRel2B) from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. Both MsRel2A and MsRel2B contain only a Rel homology domain (RHD) and lack the ankyrin-repeat inhibitory domain. Overexpression of the RHD domains of MsDorsal and MsRel2 in Drosophila melanogaster S2 and Spodoptera frugiperda Sf9 cells can activate AMP gene promoters from M. sexta and D. melanogaster. We for the first time confirmed the interaction between MsDorsal-RHD and MsRel2-RHD, and suggesting that Dorsal and Rel2 may form heterodimers. More importantly, co-expression of MsDorsal-RHD with MsRel2-RHD suppressed activation of several M. sexta AMP gene promoters. Our results suggest that the short MsRel2 isoforms may form heterodimers with MsDorsal as a novel mechanism to prevent over-activation of antimicrobial peptides.
Effects of Obesity Related Genetic Variations on Visceral and Subcutaneous Fat Distribution in a Chinese Population
Authors: Wang Tao , Ma Xiaojing , Peng Danfeng , Zhang Rong , Sun Xue , Chen Miao , Yan Jing , Wang Shiyun , Yan Dandan , He Zhen , Jiang Feng , Bao Yuqian , Hu Cheng , Jia Weiping 
Published: February 2016

AbstractGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have uncovered numerous variants associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Our study aims to investigate how these variants are linked to fat distribution. We genotyped 56 validated variants of BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio in 2958 subjects from Chinese community-based populations and performed linear regression analyses to determine the association with visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) imaged by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We found rs671 in ALDH2 exhibited the significant associations with VFA and the VFA-SFA ratio in all subjects (P = 9.64 × 10−5 and 6.54 × 10−4). rs17782313 near MC4R for VFA and rs4846567 near LYPLAL1 for SFA were found in females only (P = 2.93 × 10−4 and 0.0015), whereas rs671 in ALDH2 for VFA and the VFA-SFA ratio was restricted to males (P = 1.75 × 10−8 and 4.43 × 10−8). Given the robust association of rs671 with alcohol consumption, we next demonstrated the primary effects of rs671 on VFA and the VFA-SFA ratio were restricted to drinkers (P = 1.45 × 10−4 and 4.65 × 10−3). Our data implied that variants of MC4R and LYPLAL1 modulated body fat distribution with sexual dimorphism and that alcohol consumption may mediate the impact of the ALDH2 locus on visceral fat in a Chinese population.
Establishment of feeder-free culture system for human induced pluripotent stem cell on
DAS nanocrystalline graphene
Authors: Lee Hyunah , Nam Donggyu , Choi Jae-Kyung , Araúzo-Bravo Marcos J. , Kwon Soon-Yong , Zaehres Holm , Lee Taehee , Park Chan Young , Kang Hyun-Wook , Schöler Hans R. , Kim Jeong Beom 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThe maintenance of undifferentiated human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) under
xeno-free condition requires the use of human feeder cells or extracellular matrix
(ECM) coating. However, human-derived sources may cause human pathogen contamination
by viral or non-viral agents to the patients. Here we demonstrate feeder-free and
xeno-free culture system for hPSC expansion using diffusion assisted synthesis-grown
nanocrystalline graphene (DAS-NG), a synthetic non-biological nanomaterial which
completely rule out the concern of human pathogen contamination. DAS-NG exhibited
advanced biocompatibilities including surface nanoroughness, oxygen containing
functional groups and hydrophilicity. hPSC cultured on DAS-NG could maintain
pluripotency in vitro and in vivo and especially cell
adhesion-related gene expression profile was comparable to those of cultured on
feeders, while hPSC cultured without DAS-NG differentiated spontaneously with high
expression of somatic cell-enriched adhesion genes. This feeder-free and xeno-free
culture method using DAS-NG will facilitate the generation of clinical-grade
hPSC.