Development of the Swimbladder Surfactant System and Biogenesis of Lysosome-Related Organelles Is Regulated by BLOS1 in Zebrafish

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a human autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a deficiency of the platelet storage pool resulting from defective biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (LROs). To date, 10 HPS genes have been identified, three of which belong to the octamer complex BLOC-1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1). One subunit of the BLOC-1 complex, BLOS1, also participates in the BLOC-1-related complex (BORC). Due to lethality at the early embryo stage in BLOS1 knockout mice, the function of BLOS1 in the above two complexes and whether it has a novel function are unclear. Here, we generated three zebrafish mutant lines with a BLOC-1 deficiency, in which melanin and silver pigment formation was attenuated as a result of mutation of bloc1s1, bloc1s2, and dtnbp1a, suggesting that they function in the same complex. In addition, mutations of bloc1s1 and bloc1s2 caused an accumulation of clusters of lysosomal vesicles at the posterior part of the tectum, representing a BORC-specific function in zebrafish. Moreover, bloc1s1 is highly expressed in the swimbladder during postembryonic stages and is required for positively regulating the expression of the genes, which is known to govern surfactant production and lung development in mammals. Our study identified BLOS1 as a crucial regulator of the surfactant system. Thus, the zebrafish swimbladder might be an easy system to screen and study genetic modifiers that control surfactant production and homeostasis.</p

Effect of inter-subsystem couplings on the evolution of composite systems

The effect of inter-subsystem coupling on the adiabaticity of composite systems and that of its subsystems is investigated. Similar to the adiabatic evolution defined for pure states, non-transitional evolution for mixed states is introduced; conditions for the non-transitional evolution are derived and discussed. An example that describes two coupled qubits is presented to detail the general presentation. The effects due to non-adiabatic evolution on the geometric phase are also presented and discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Tetra­kis(triphenyl­phosphane-κP)silver(I) trifluoro­methane­sulfonate dichloro­methane monosolvate

In the title compound, [Ag(C18H15P)4]CF3O3S·CH2Cl2, the Ag atom is coordinated by four P atoms from four PPh3 ligands. The P—Ag—P angles are in the range 108.02 (6)–110.15 (6)°, which confirms the distorted tetra­hedral environment around the Ag atom

Characteristics of the Paleozoic slope break system and its control on stratigraphic-lithologic traps: An example from the Tarim Basin, western China

AbstractBased on comprehensive analyses of seismic and log data, this study indicates that mainly four widespread angular to minor angular unconformities (Tg8, Tg51, Tg5 and Tg3) were formed during the Paleozoic. Through the interpretation of structural unconformities, calculation of eroded thickness, correction of palaeo-water depth and compaction and compilation of the Early Paleozoic structural maps, the Early Paleozoic slope break belt (geomorphologic unit) of the Tarim Basin is subdivided into uplift area, subaqueous uplift area, rift slope break belt, flexure slope break belt (slope belt), depression area and deep basin area. Palaeogeomorphology of the Cambrian-Early Ordovician was approximately in EW trend within which three tectonic units including the Tabei Palaeo-uplift, the northern Depressional Belt and the southern Palaeo-uplift developed respectively and are grouped into two slope break systems namely as the Tabei Palaeo-uplift and the southern Palaeo-uplift. These tectonic units obviously control the deposition of isolated platform, open platform, restricted platform and deep basin. Influenced by extrusion in the Mid-Late Ordovician, the southern and northern subaqueous uplifts gradually elevated and then were eroded. Resultantly two slope break systems developed, namely as the northern and central Palaeo-uplifts which obviously controlled the deposition of provenance area, isolated platform, mixed continental shelf, slope and basin facies. The intensive extrusion of the Mid-Late Ordovician leads to significant tectonic deformation of the Tarim Basin: large area of uplifting and erosion and development of EW trending anticline and syncline. Deposition of shore, tidal flat, delta, shallow marine clastics and deep marine facies is obviously controlled by the Tabei, the southern and the Tadong Palaeo-uplifts. Slope break systems control development of stratigraphic unconformity and thus truncation and onlap unconformity zones become favorable areas in a palaeo-uplift and at a palaeo-slope belt for forming important unconformity traps; Whereas slope (slope break) belt along a palaeo-uplift margin is a geomorphologic unit where high-energy sedimentary facies widely develops, such as reef, oolitic sandy clastics or bioclastic limestone beach bar facies, thus litho-structural composite hydrocarbon accumulations usually develop when tectonic condition is suitable. In addition, large-scale palaeo-uplifts are the most favourable areas for hydrocarbon accumulation developmen

Synthesis and Evaluation of Some New Aza-B-Homocholestane Derivatives as Anticancer Agents

Using analogues of some marine steroidal oximes as precursors, a series of aza-B-homocholestane derivatives possessing different substituted groups at the 3-position of the steroidal nucleus were synthesized. Their biological activity against cancer cell proliferation was determined with multiple cancer cell lines. Aza-B-homocholestane derivatives possessing 3-hydroxyl, 3-hydroximino and 3-thiosemicarbazone groups displayed remarkable cytotoxicity to cancer cells via apoptosis inducing mechanism. Compounds 5, 10, 12, 15 and 18 exhibited better potency to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. In addition, compound 15 was further evaluated with three dimensional (3D) multicellular spheroids assay to determine its potency against spheroid growth. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) generated in the studies is valuable for the design of novel chemotherapeutic agents

Multistep Dissociation of Fluorine Molecules under Extreme Compression.

All elements that form diatomic molecules, such as H_{2}, N_{2}, O_{2}, Cl_{2}, Br_{2}, and I_{2}, are destined to become atomic solids under sufficiently high pressure. However, as revealed by many experimental and theoretical studies, these elements show very different propensity and transition paths due to the balance of reduced volume, lone pair electrons, and interatomic bonds. The study of F under pressure can illuminate this intricate behavior since F, owing to its unique position on the periodic table, can be compared with H, with N and O, and also with other halogens. Nevertheless, F remains the only element whose solid structure evolution under pressure has not been thoroughly studied. Using a large-scale crystal structure search method based on first principles calculations, we find that, before reaching an atomic phase, F solid transforms first into a structure consisting of F_{2} molecules and F polymer chains and then into a structure consisting of F polymer chains and F atoms, a distinctive evolution with pressure that has not been seen in any other elements. Both intermediate structures are found to be metallic and become superconducting, a result that adds F to the elemental superconductors