Dynamic protein methylation in chromatin biology

Post-translational modification of chromatin is emerging as an increasingly important regulator of chromosomal processes. In particular, histone lysine and arginine methylation play important roles in regulating transcription, maintaining genomic integrity, and contributing to epigenetic memory. Recently, the use of new approaches to analyse histone methylation, the generation of genetic model systems, and the ability to interrogate genome wide histone modification profiles has aided in defining how histone methylation contributes to these processes. Here we focus on the recent advances in our understanding of the histone methylation system and examine how dynamic histone methylation contributes to normal cellular function in mammals

Conserved extracellular cysteine residues in the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir2.3 are required for function but not expression in the membrane

AbstractThe mouse potassium channel Kir2.3 possesses conserved extracellular cysteine residues at positions 113 and 145. We have investigated the role of these cysteines in structure/function and membrane trafficking. Cysteine to serine mutations resulted in the absence of potassium currents in oocytes and co-expression of these mutants with wild-type channel showed a dominant negative inhibition of wild-type currents. FLAG-tagged channels expressed in oocytes were detected in the cell membrane by anti-FLAG antibody for wild-type and mutant channels. In vitro translation using the reticulocyte lysate system showed that mutation of these residues did not affect processing nor insertion into membranes. Cysteine residues at 113 and 145 are therefore required for function of the Kir2.3 channel but not for processing into the cell membrane; disulfide bonds between subunits are unlikely

Influence of constituent materials on the impact toughness and fracture mechanisms of hot-roll-bonded aluminum multilayer laminates

Two aluminum multilayer laminates have been processed by hot roll bonding following similar processing paths. The first one is constituted by alternated Al 2024 and Al 1050 layers (ALH19) and the second one by alternated Al 7075 and Al 1050 layers (ADH19). The influence of the constituent materials in the multilayer laminates both during the processing at high temperature and during the subsequent mechanical characterization has been analyzed. The mechanical behavior of the as-received materials at the processing conditions has been characterized by hot torsion. Multilayer laminates have been tested at room temperature under impact Charpy tests, three-point bend tests, and shear tests on the interfaces. The relative toughness increase compared to the constituent materials was much higher for the ADH19 laminate based on the high-strength Al 7075 alloy than for the ALH19 laminate. This is attributed to the different fracture mechanism