Flash forward genetics: new twists in transcription across evolutionary boundaries

“Flash forward genetics” refers to a genetic approach based on the functional interaction of a given factor with unknown partner(s) converging on shared targets across evolutionary boundaries. A study by Li et al (2021), published in this issue of EMBO Reports, illustrates the innovative potential of the approach. The authors applied it to identify interacting factors for FOXN1, a mammalian transcription factor with a highly specialized function in hair follicle morphogenesis and thymus. The authors express FOXN1 in the Drosophila eye to perform an unbiased genetic screen in a totally heterologous system. In a remarkable tour de force, the authors identify and characterize a factor so far known for its ubiquitous function in transcription elongation, AFF4. Li et al show that AFF4 plays also a specific role in hair follicle and thymus development in the mouse overlapping with that of FOXN1

Thermal infrared observations of near-Earth asteroid 2002 NY40

We obtained N-band observations of the Apollo asteroid 2002 NY40 during its close Earth fly-by in August 2002 with TIMMI2 at the ESO 3.6 m telescope. The photometric measurement allowed us to derive a radiometric diameter of 0.28+/-0.03 km and an albedo of 0.34+/-0.06 through the near-Earth asteroid thermal model (NEATM) and a thermophysical model (TPM). The values are in agreement with results from radar data, visual and near-IR observations. In this first comparison between these two model approaches we found that the empirical NEATM beaming parameter $\eta$=1.0 corresponds to a thermal inertia values of about 100 $\mathrm{J m^{-2} s^{-0.5} K^{-1}}$ for a typical range of surface roughness, assuming an equator-on viewing angle. Our TPM analysis indicated that the surface of 2002 NY40 consists of rocky material with a thin or no dust regolith. The asteroid very likely has a prograde sense of rotation with a cold terminator at the time of our observations. Although both model approaches can fit the thermal spectra taken at phase angles of 22$^{\circ}$ and 59$^{\circ}$, we did not find a consistent model solution that describes all pieces of photometric and spectroscopic data. In addition to the 2002 NY40 analysis, we discuss the possibilities to distinguish between different models with only very few photometric and/or spectroscopic measurements spread over a range of phase angles.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, A&A accepte

Dual tumor suppressing and promoting function of Notch1 signaling in human prostate cancer.

Adenocarcinomas of the prostate arise as multifocal heterogeneous lesions as the likely result of genetic and epigenetic alterations and deranged cell-cell communication. Notch signaling is an important form of intercellular communication with a role in growth/differentiation control and tumorigenesis. Contrasting reports exist in the literature on the role of this pathway in prostate cancer (PCa) development. We show here that i) compared to normal prostate tissue, Notch1 expression is significantly reduced in a substantial fraction of human PCas while it is unaffected or even increased in others; ii) acute Notch activation both inhibits and induces process networks associated with prostatic neoplasms; iii) down-modulation of Notch1 expression and activity in immortalized normal prostate epithelial cells increases their proliferation potential, while increased Notch1 activity in PCa cells suppresses growth and tumorigenicity through a Smad3-dependent mechanism involving p21WAF1/CIP1; iv) prostate cancer cells resistant to Notch growth inhibitory effects retain Notch1-induced upregulation of pro-oncogenic genes, like EPAS1 and CXCL6, also overexpressed in human PCas with high Notch1 levels. Taken together, these results reconcile conflicting data on the role of Notch1 in prostate cancer

HSD17B7 gene in self-renewal and oncogenicity of keratinocytes from Black versus White populations.

Human populations of Black African ancestry have a relatively high risk of aggressive cancer types, including keratinocyte-derived squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). We show that primary keratinocytes (HKCs) from Black African (Black) versus White Caucasian (White) individuals have on average higher oncogenic and self-renewal potential, which are inversely related to mitochondrial electron transfer chain activity and ATP and ROS production. HSD17B7 is the top-ranked differentially expressed gene in HKCs and Head/Neck SCCs from individuals of Black African versus Caucasian ancestries, with several ancestry-specific eQTLs linked to its expression. Mirroring the differences between Black and White HKCs, modulation of the gene, coding for an enzyme involved in sex steroid and cholesterol biosynthesis, determines HKC and SCC cell proliferation and oncogenicity as well as mitochondrial OXPHOS activity. Overall, the findings point to a targetable determinant of cancer susceptibility among different human populations, amenable to prevention and management of the disease

Avaliação de linhagens de soja da Embrapa Trigo, ambientes e ensaios, safra agrícola 2007/2008.

bitstream/item/128681/1/ID2828-LVdocumentos86-p29-36.pd

Avaliação de linhagens de soja da Embrapa Trigo, ambientes e ensaios, safra agrícola 2007/2008.

bitstream/item/128681/1/ID2828-LVdocumentos86-p29-36.pd