Special pliers connect hose containing liquid under pressure

For speed and safety in handling disconnect fittings on a hose carrying liquid under pressure, special pliers have been constructed. A gear and rack mechanism is combined with two or more wide-opening U-shaped jaws which are placed over the quick-disconnect fittings

GC-selective DNA-binding antibiotic, Mithramycin A, reveals multiple points of control in the regulation of Hdm2 protein synthesis

The primary role of the Hdm2/Mdm2 oncoprotein is to regulate the levels and activity of the transcription factor p53. Hdm2 synthesis is itself tightly controlled and, as demonstrated by a recently described SNP (SNP309) in the hdm2-P2 promoter, minor variations in Hdm2 expression have phenotypic consequences on radiation sensitivity and cancer predisposition. To further define mechanisms regulating Hdm2 expression, we have investigated the effects of the GC-selective DNA-binding drug, Mithramycin A (MA) on hdm2 mRNA transcription, trafficking, and translation. Firstly we show that the constitutive hdm2-P1 promoter is inhibited by MA. We define, for the first time, the minimal sequence elements that are required for P1-promoter activity and identify those which confer MA sensitivity. Secondly, MA induces p53-dependent transcription from the hdm2-P2 promoter. Thirdly, and critically, MA also inhibits Hdm2 synthesis at the post-transcriptional level, with negative effects on hdm2 mRNA nuclear export and translation. This study highlights the complex interplay between the pathways that regulate Hdm2 protein synthesis in cancer cells, and furthermore emphasizes the export of hdm2 mRNA from the nucleus to the cytoplasm as a key point of control in this process.<br/><br/

Effects of a Virtual Reality Dementia Experience on Graduate Communication Disorders Students’ Future Clinical Practice

The movement towards providing person-centered care has been a topic of interest in the medical community, however, little is known about the facilitation of person-centered care in the field of speech-language pathology. Current literature indicates that speech-language pathologists typical follow the medical model of diagnosing and treating patients. Thus, more emphasis on providing person centered care is essential, especially for persons with dementia, as the number of individuals living with dementia is increasing and research indicates that outcomes are improved when treatment is person-centered. Despite this finding, research on the efficacy of training future speech-language pathologist to provide person-centered care is limited. According to the The Task Force of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD), alternative learning opportunities, such as simulation, should be incorporated into training programs to provide students with a host of learning opportunities. However, the effects of simulation-based training in terms of preparing students to treat persons with dementia is unknown. In this way, the principal investigator conducted a mixed methods study that included 16 females in a graduate communication disorders program to evaluate if the difference in treatment goals developed prior to and after a virtual reality dementia experience represented the participants’ perspectives of the relationship between a virtual reality dementia experience and future practices of students in a graduate communication disorders program

Mdm2 binding to a conformationally sensitive domain on p53 can be modulated by RNA

AbstractBiochemical characterisation of the interaction of mdm2 protein with p53 protein has demonstrated that full-length mdm2 does not bind stably to p53–DNA complexes, contrasting with C-terminal truncations of mdm2 which do bind stably to p53–DNA complexes. In addition, tetrameric forms of the p53His175 mutant protein in the PAb1620+ conformation are reduced in binding to mdm2 protein. These data suggest that the mdm2 binding site in the BOX-I domain of p53 becomes concealed when either p53 binds to DNA or when the core domain of p53 is unfolded by missense mutation. This further suggests that the C-terminus of mdm2 protein contains a negative regulatory domain that affects mdm2 protein binding to a second, conformationally sensitive interaction site in the core domain of p53. We investigated whether there was a second docking site on p53 for mdm2 protein by examining the interaction of full-length mdm2 with p53 lacking the BOX-I domain. Although mdm2 protein did bind very weakly to p53 protein lacking the BOX-I domain, addition of RNA activated mdm2 protein binding to this truncated form of p53. These data provide evidence for three previously undefined regulatory stages in the p53–mdm2 binding reaction: (1) conformational changes in p53 protein due to DNA binding or point mutation conceals a secondary docking site of mdm2 protein; (2) the C-terminus of mdm2 is the primary determinant which confers this property upon mdm2 protein; and (3) mdm2 protein binding to this secondary interaction site within p53 can be stabilised by RNA

Demonstration of the Chemotropism of Pollen Tubes in Vitro in Four Plant Species

Author Institution: Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 1

Role of the unique N-terminal domain of CtBP2 in determining the subcellular localisation of CtBP family proteins

BACKGROUND: CtBP1 and CtBP2 are transcriptional co-repressors that modulate the activity of a large number of transcriptional repressors via the recruitment of chromatin modifiers. Many CtBP-regulated proteins are involved in pathways associated with tumorigenesis, including TGF-beta and Wnt signalling pathways and cell cycle regulators such as RB/p130 and HDM2, as well as adenovirus E1A. CtBP1 and CtBP2 are highly similar proteins, although evidence is emerging that their activity can be differentially regulated, particularly through the control of their subcellular localisation. CtBP2s from diverse species contain a unique N-terminus, absent in CtBP1 that plays a key role in controlling the nuclear-cytoplasmic distribution of the protein.RESULTS: Here we show that amino acids (a.a.) 4-14 of CtBP2 direct CtBP2 into an almost exclusively nuclear distribution in cell lines of diverse origins. Whilst this sequence contains similarity to known nuclear localisation motifs, it cannot drive nuclear localisation of a heterologous protein, but rather has been shown to function as a p300 acetyltransferase-dependent nuclear retention sequence. Here we define the region of CtBP2 required to co-operate with a.a. 4-14 to promote CtBP2 nuclear accumulation as being within a.a. 1-119. In addition, we show that a.a. 120-445 of CtBP2 can also promote CtBP2 nuclear accumulation, independently of a.a. 4-14. Finally, CtBP1 and CtBP2 can form heterodimers, and we show that the interaction with CtBP2 is one mechanism whereby CtBP1 can be recruited to the nucleus.CONCLUSION: Together, these findings represent key distinctions in the regulation of the functions of CtBP family members that may have important implications as to their roles in development, and cell differentiation and survival.<br/

Cytoplasmic Inheritance of Plastids in Impatiens Sultanii Hook, F., Petunia Violacea Lindl. and Cholrophytum Elatum R. Br.

Author Institution: Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus 1

Spin Hall Conductance of the Two Dimensional Hole Gas in a Perpendicular Magnetic Field

The charge and spin Hall conductance of the two-dimensional hole gas within the Luttinger model with and without inversion symmetry breaking terms in a perpendicular magnetic field are studied, and two key phenomena are predicted. The sign of the spin Hall conductance is modulated periodically by the external magnetic field, which means a possible application in the future. Furthermore, a resonant spin Hall conductance in the two-dimensional hole gas with a certain hole density at a typical magnetic field is indicated, which implies a likely way to firmly establish the intrinsic spin Hall effect. The charge Hall conductance is unaffected by the spin-orbit coupling.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B; 6 pages, 4 figure