Novel effect of the high risk-HPV E7 CKII phospho-acceptor site on polarity protein expression

Oncogenic Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) base their transforming potential on the action of both E6 and E7 viral oncoproteins, which perform cooperative or antagonistic actions and thus interfere with a variety of relevant cellular targets. Among them, the expression of some PDZ-containing polarity proteins, as DLG1 and hScrib, is altered during the HPV life cycle and the consequent malignant transformation. Together with the well-established interference of E6 with PDZ proteins, we have recently shown that E7 viral oncoprotein is also responsible for the changes in abundance and localization of DLG1 observed in HPV-associated lesions. Given that the mechanisms involved remained only partially understood, we here thoroughly analyse the contribution of a crucial E7 post-translational modifcation: its CKII-dependent phosphorylation. Moreover, we extended our studies to hScrib, in order to investigate possible conserved regulatory events among diverse PDZ targets of HPV.Fil: Dizanzo, María Paula. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Bugnon Valdano, Marina Paula. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Gardiol, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR-CONICET); Argentina.Fil: Basukala,Om. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Tumour Virology Laboratory; Italy.Fil: Banks, Lawrence. International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. Tumour Virology Laboratory; Italy

Simon Says (Fall 2007)

Inside this issue: New GALILEO Databases Banned Books Information Illiteracy Access Ingenta: A CSU Faculty Development Initiative Student Assistants: Pow Wow, Practice, and Party Music Library SFX Implementation in GALILEO AV Emergency Assistance for Faculty Congratulations: Faculty and Staff Receive Promotions Beautification of Library Faculty Research Forumshttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/library_newsletters/1009/thumbnail.jp

The 2D XY model on a finite lattice with structural disorder: quasi-long-range ordering under realistic conditions

We present an analytic approach to study concurrent influence of quenched non-magnetic site-dilution and finiteness of the lattice on the 2D XY model. Two significant deeply connected features of this spin model are: a special type of ordering (quasi-long-range order) below a certain temperature and a size-dependent mean value of magnetisation in the low-temperature phase that goes to zero (according to the Mermin-Wagner-Hohenberg theorem) in the thermodynamic limit. We focus our attention on the asymptotic behaviour of the spin-spin correlation function and the probability distribution of magnetisation. The analytic approach is based on the spin-wave approximation valid for the low-temperature regime and an expansion in the parameters which characterise the deviation from completely homogeneous configuration of impurities. We further support the analytic considerations by Monte Carlo simulations performed for different concentrations of impurities and compare analytic and MC results. We present as the main quantitative result of the work the exponent of the spin-spin correlation function power law decay. It is non universal depending not only on temperature as in the pure model but also on concentration of magnetic sites. This exponent characterises also the vanishing of magnetisation with increasing lattice size.Comment: 13 pages, 7 eps figures, style files include

Simon Says (Fall 2008)

Inside this issue: Addressing Student Needs: Circulating Laptops and a New Décor Information Commons Workshop Digital Microfilm Reader/Printer SHHHHH: You Are Entering the QUIET ZONE Access Ingenta: A CSU Faculty Development Initiative LIBR 1105 Online The Robert Hardaway Diary: A Piece of Historical Treasure Faculty Media Production Services Available at ITS Department Spotlight: Interlibrary Loan Milestone CSU Library Service Anniversaries Welcome Aboard Library Budgethttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/library_newsletters/1011/thumbnail.jp

Fatty acid extract from CLA-enriched egg yolks can mediate transcriptome reprogramming of MCF-7 cancer cells to prevent their growth and proliferation

BACKGROUND: Our previous study showed that fatty acids extract obtained from CLA-enriched egg yolks (EFA-CLA) suppressed the viability of MCF-7 cancer cell line more effectively than extract from non-enriched egg yolks (EFA). In this study, we analysed the effect of EFA-CLA and EFA on transcriptome profile of MCF-7 cells by applying the whole Human Genome Microarray technology. RESULTS: We found that EFA-CLA and EFA treated cells differentially regulated genes involved in cancer development and progression. EFA-CLA, compared to EFA, positively increased the mRNA expression of TSC2 and PTEN tumor suppressors as well as decreased the expression of NOTCH1, AGPS, GNA12, STAT3, UCP2, HIGD2A, HIF1A, PPKAR1A oncogenes. CONCLUSIONS: We show for the first time that EFA-CLA can regulate genes engaged in AKT/mTOR pathway and inhibiting cell cycle progression. The observed results are most likely achieved by the combined effect of both: incorporated CLA isomers and other fatty acids in eggs organically modified through hens’ diet. Our results suggest that CLA-enriched eggs could be easily available food products with a potential of a cancer chemopreventive agent. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12263-016-0537-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Biomass pyrolysis TGA assessment with an international round robin

The large variations found in literature for the activation energy values of main biomass compounds (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) in pyrolysis TGA raise concerns regarding the reliability of both the experimental and the modelling side of the performed works. In this work, an international round robin has been conducted by 7 partners who performed TGA pyrolysis experiments of pure cellulose and beech wood at several heating rates. Deviations of around 20 – 30 kJ/mol were obtained in the activation energies of cellulose, hemicellulose and conversions up to 0.9 with beech wood when considering all experiments. The following method was employed to derive reliable kinetics: to first ensure that pure cellulose pyrolysis experiments from literature can be accurately reproduced, and then to conduct experiments at different heating rates and evaluate them with isoconversional methods to detect experiments that are outliers and to validate the reliability of the derived kinetics and employed reaction models with a fitting routine. The deviations in the activation energy values for the cases that followed this method, after disregarding other cases, were of 10 kJ/mol or lower, except for lignin and very high conversions. This method is therefore proposed in order to improve the consistency of data acquisition and kinetic analysis of TGA for biomass pyrolysis in literature, reducing the reported variability

Analytical fast pyrolysis of P. Juliflora: A thermal and catalytic study

Thermal and catalytic fast pyrolysis of Prosopis juliflora (P.juliflora), fractions namely wood, seed pods, leaves and their mixtures (wood: seeds: leaves at 80:10:10, and seeds: leaves at 50:50) were investigated. Fast pyrolysis tests were performed in a py-GC/MS to study the product distribution at 450, 500 and 550 °C. Further catalytic tests at 500 °C, used HZSM-5, 1 wt.% Ni-HZSM-5 and 5 wt.% Ni-HZSM-5, and the wood fraction as feedstock. For all the non-catalytic thermal tests, significant proportions of acids, ketones, aldehydes, sugars, alcohols, phenols, nitrogenous compounds (NITs) and other oxygenates were observed. Out of the three Prosopis fractions studied, the wood at 500 °C yielded the highest amount of ketones, aldehydes and phenolics (78.67%), whilst the mixture (wood: seeds: leaves at 80:10:10), yielded 83.04%. This suggests that Prosopis feedstock can be processed as a mixture thus eliminating the need for pre-separation. The catalytic tests were completed at 500 °C with catalyst: biomass ratios (C/B) of 3:1, 6:1 and 9:1. The use of zeolite-based catalysts, improved the product distribution by forming aromatic hydrocarbons (monocyclic) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) thus reducing the proportion of oxygenates detected in the thermal tests. The addition of nickel to the zeolite catalyst (9:1 C/B ratio; 5 wt.% Ni-HZSM-5), resulted in aromatics and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) yields of 60.28% and 27.50%, respectively. Overall, the tests using Ni-loaded zeolites showed selectivity towards aromatics, as higher proportions were obtained when compared to PAHs. Our results correlated the influence of specific components in the individual fractions of Prosopis (wood, seeds, and leaves) on the pyrolysis products. We established the potential of using an invasive plant to yield aromatics, which are main components for biofuels production, thus proposing a sustainable pathway to manage its spread and to yield a high-value product

Fatty Acids of CLA-Enriched Egg Yolks Can Induce Transcriptional Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

In our previous study, we showed that fatty acids from CLA-enriched egg yolks (EFA-CLA) reduced the proliferation of breast cancer cells; however, the molecular mechanisms of their action remain unknown. In the current study, we used MCF-7 breast cancer cell line to determine the effect of EFA-CLA, as potential ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), on identified in silico PPAR-responsive genes: BCAR3, TCF20, WT1, ZNF621, and THRB (transcript TRβ2). Our results showed that EFA-CLA act as PPAR ligands with agonistic activity for all PPAR isoforms, with the highest specificity towards PPARγ. In conclusion, we propose that EFA-CLA-mediated regulation of PPAR-responsive genes is most likely facilitated by cis9,trans11CLA isomer incorporated in egg yolk. Notably, EFA-CLA activated PPAR more efficiently than nonenriched FA as well as synthetic CLA isomers. We also propose that this regulation, at least in part, can be responsible for the observed reduction in the proliferation of MCF-7 cells treated with EFA-CLA

Prolonged In Vivo Retention of a Cathepsin D Targeted Optical Contrast Agent in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer\u27s Disease.

BACKGROUND: Cathepsin D (CatD) is a lysosomal protease that is elevated early in Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). We have previously developed a Targeted contrast agent (CA) to detect CatD activity in vivo, consisting of a magnetic resonance imaging/fluorescent moiety linked to a cell penetrating peptide (CPP) by means of a CatD cleavage site and have demonstrated its uptake in the brain of an AD mouse model. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize the in vivo retention of a near infra-red fluorescent dye labeled version of this CA. METHODS: Six adult C57Bl/6 wild-type mice and six adult 5XFAD transgenic AD mice were studied using a small animal imaging system at five and twelve months of age using our novel Targeted CA, or two different control CAs; a Non-Targeted (lacking the CatD cleavage site) and a Non-Penetrating (lacking the CPP). Following intravenous CA administration, the optical signal was recorded within the brain and uptake and washout curves were measured and fitted to a one-phase exponential decay curve. RESULTS: In all wild-type and 5XFAD mice, the washout of the Targeted CA that included a CPP domain was significantly slower than the washout of the Non-Penetrating and Non-Targeted CA. Furthermore, the washout of the CatD Targeted CA was significantly slower in the 5XFAD mice compared to the age matched wild-type controls (p \u3c  0.05) at 5 and 12 months of age. Control CAs showed no differences in washout. CONCLUSIONS: The prolonged retention of the CatD targeted CA in 5XFAD mice suggests this agent may be useful for AD detection