320 research outputs found
On the density matrix for the kink ground state of higher spin XXZ chain
The exact expression for the density matrix of the kink ground state of
higher spin XXZ chain is obtained
TPXL-1 activates Aurora A to clear contractile ring components from the polar cortex during cytokinesis
During cytokinesis, a signal from the central spindle that forms between the separating anaphase chromosomes promotes the accumulation of contractile ring components at the cell equator, while a signal from the centrosomal microtubule asters inhibits accumulation of contractile ring components at the cell poles. However, the molecular identity of the inhibitory signal has remained unknown. To identify molecular components of the aster-based inhibitory signal, we developed a means to monitor the removal of contractile ring proteins from the polar cortex after anaphase onset. Using this assay, we show that polar clearing is an active process that requires activation of Aurora A kinase by TPXL-1. TPXL-1 concentrates on astral microtubules coincident with polar clearing in anaphase, and its ability to recruit Aurora A and activate its kinase activity are essential for clearing. In summary, our data identify Aurora A kinase as an aster-based inhibitory signal that restricts contractile ring components to the cell equator during cytokinesis.We thank the Caenorhabditis Genetic Center (funded by the National Institutes of Health Office of Research Infrastructure Programs P40 OD010440) for strains. This work was supported by grants to K. Oegema (National Institutes of Health; GM074207), E. Zanin (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, ZA619/3-1), and A.X. Carvalho (European Research Council; 640553–ACTOMYO). T. Kim was supported by a grant to Arshad Desai (National Institutes of Health; GM074215). K. Oegema receives salary and other support from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. S. Mangal is a member of International Max Planck Research School for Molecular Life Sciences, and J. Sacher is a member of the Life Science Munich graduate program; both thank their programs for support
On the problem of calculation of correlation functions in the six-vertex model with domain wall boundary conditions
The problem of calculation of correlation functions in the six-vertex model
with domain wall boundary conditions is addressed by considering a particular
nonlocal correlation function, called row configuration probability. This
correlation function can be used as building block for computing various (both
local and nonlocal) correlation functions in the model. The row configuration
probability is calculated using the quantum inverse scattering method; the
final result is given in terms of a multiple integral. The connection with the
emptiness formation probability, another nonlocal correlation function which
was computed elsewhere using similar methods, is also discussed.Comment: 15 pages, 2 figure
In Vitro Contraction of Cytokinetic Ring Depends on Myosin II but not on Actin Dynamics
10.1038/ncb2781Nature Cell Biology157853-859NCBI
Spt2p Defines a New Transcription-Dependent Gross Chromosomal Rearrangement Pathway
Large numbers of gross chromosomal rearrangements (GCRs) are frequently observed in many cancers. High mobility group 1 (HMG1) protein is a non-histone DNA-binding protein and is highly expressed in different types of tumors. The high expression of HMG1 could alter DNA structure resulting in GCRs. Spt2p is a non-histone DNA binding protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and shares homology with mammalian HMG1 protein. We found that Spt2p overexpression enhances GCRs dependent on proteins for transcription elongation and polyadenylation. Excess Spt2p increases the number of cells in S phase and the amount of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) that might be susceptible to cause DNA damage and GCR. Consistently, RNase H expression, which reduces levels of ssDNA, decreased GCRs in cells expressing high level of Spt2p. Lastly, high transcription in the chromosome V, the location at which GCR is monitored, also enhanced GCR formation. We propose a new pathway for GCR where DNA intermediates formed during transcription can lead to genomic instability
Importance of individual events in temporal networks
Records of time-stamped social interactions between pairs of individuals
(e.g., face-to-face conversations, e-mail exchanges, and phone calls)
constitute a so-called temporal network. A remarkable difference between
temporal networks and conventional static networks is that time-stamped events
rather than links are the unit elements generating the collective behavior of
nodes. We propose an importance measure for single interaction events. By
generalizing the concept of the advance of event proposed by [Kossinets G,
Kleinberg J, and Watts D J (2008) Proceeding of the 14th ACM SIGKDD
International conference on knowledge discovery and data mining, p 435], we
propose that an event is central when it carries new information about others
to the two nodes involved in the event. We find that the proposed measure
properly quantifies the importance of events in connecting nodes along
time-ordered paths. Because of strong heterogeneity in the importance of events
present in real data, a small fraction of highly important events is necessary
and sufficient to sustain the connectivity of temporal networks. Nevertheless,
in contrast to the behavior of scale-free networks against link removal, this
property mainly results from bursty activity patterns and not heterogeneous
degree distributions.Comment: 36 pages, 13 figures, 2 table
Long Astral Microtubules and RACK-1 Stabilize Polarity Domains during Maintenance Phase in Caenorhabditis elegans Embryos
Cell polarity is a very well conserved process important for cell differentiation, cell migration, and embryonic development. After the establishment of distinct cortical domains, polarity cues have to be stabilized and maintained within a fluid and dynamic membrane to achieve proper cell asymmetry. Microtubules have long been thought to deliver the signals required to polarize a cell. While previous studies suggest that microtubules play a key role in the establishment of polarity, the requirement of microtubules during maintenance phase remains unclear. In this study, we show that depletion of Caenorhabditis elegans RACK-1, which leads to short astral microtubules during prometaphase, specifically affects maintenance of cortical PAR domains and Dynamin localization. We then investigated the consequence of knocking down other factors that also abolish astral microtubule elongation during polarity maintenance phase. We found a correlation between short astral microtubules and the instability of PAR-6 and PAR-2 domains during maintenance phase. Our data support a necessary role for astral microtubules in the maintenance phase of cell polarity
Membrane Invaginations Reveal Cortical Sites that Pull on Mitotic Spindles in One-Cell C. elegans Embryos
Asymmetric positioning of the mitotic spindle in C. elegans embryos is mediated by force-generating complexes that are anchored at the plasma membrane and that pull on microtubules growing out from the spindle poles. Although asymmetric distribution of the force generators is thought to underlie asymmetric positioning of the spindle, the number and location of the force generators has not been well defined. In particular, it has not been possible to visualize individual force generating events at the cortex. We discovered that perturbation of the acto-myosin cortex leads to the formation of long membrane invaginations that are pulled from the plasma membrane toward the spindle poles. Several lines of evidence show that the invaginations, which also occur in unperturbed embryos though at lower frequency, are pulled by the same force generators responsible for spindle positioning. Thus, the invaginations serve as a tool to localize the sites of force generation at the cortex and allow us to estimate a lower limit on the number of cortical force generators within the cell
Ovarian carcinoma associated with pregnancy: A clinicopathologic analysis of 23 cases and review of the literature
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was to analyze and describe cases of ovarian cancer in pregnant women treated at our center and to review the literature concerned, and to discuss the rationale for therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-Three patients of ovarian malignancies during pregnancy were treated at Vali- Asr Hospital between 1991 and 2002. Data on treatment and follow-up were evaluated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The incidence of ovarian carcinoma associated with pregnancy in our series was 0.083/1000 deliveries. Eleven (47.8%) were found with ovarian malignant germ cell tumors, five (21.7%) with low malignant potential tumors, four (17.4%) with invasive epithelial tumors, and three (13%) with sex cord stromal tumors. Seventeen (73.9%) of the patients were diagnosed in stage I and had complete remission. Five of the six in advanced stage died. The mean follow-up was 36.3 months. The prognosis was significantly related with stage and histological type (<it>P </it>< 0.05). Sixteen healthy live babies were recorded in this group, and two premature newborn died of respiratory distress syndrome. Chemotherapy was administered to 44% of the patients, in two cases during pregnancy. Overall survival at 5 years was 61%. In most of case conservative surgical treatment could be performed with adequate staging and debulking.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Early finding of ascitis by ultrasound and persistent large ovarian mass during pregnancy may be related to malignancy and advanced stage. Pregnant women in advanced stage of ovarian cancer seem to have poor prognosis.</p
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