TMEM120A and B: Nuclear Envelope Transmembrane Proteins Important for Adipocyte Differentiation

<div><p>Recent work indicates that the nuclear envelope is a major signaling node for the cell that can influence tissue differentiation processes. Here we present two nuclear envelope trans-membrane proteins TMEM120A and TMEM120B that are paralogs encoded by the <i>Tmem120A</i> and <i>Tmem120B</i> genes. The TMEM120 proteins are expressed preferentially in fat and both are induced during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Knockdown of one or the other protein altered expression of several genes required for adipocyte differentiation, <i>Gata3</i>, <i>Fasn</i>, <i>Glut4</i>, while knockdown of both together additionally affected <i>Pparg</i> and <i>Adipoq</i>. The double knockdown also increased the strength of effects, reducing for example <i>Glut4</i> levels by 95% compared to control 3T3-L1 cells upon pharmacologically induced differentiation. Accordingly, TMEM120A and B knockdown individually and together impacted on adipocyte differentiation/metabolism as measured by lipid accumulation through binding of Oil Red O and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy (CARS). The nuclear envelope is linked to several lipodystrophies through mutations in lamin A; however, lamin A is widely expressed. Thus it is possible that the TMEM120A and B fat-specific nuclear envelope transmembrane proteins may play a contributory role in the tissue-specific pathology of this disorder or in the wider problem of obesity.</p></div

Subsidiary roles as determinants of subsidiary technology sourcing: empirical evidence from China

Emerging economies have become new destinations for knowledge sourcing, forcing Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) to reconfigure their global innovation strategies and structure. While foreign subsidiaries located in emerging economies were conventionally viewed as having market or efficiency seeking roles, they have started to evolve towards knowledge-seeking roles. We argue that the conventional wisdom shall be reassessed considering this recent shift. We empirically investigate 129 manufacturing MNE subsidiaries of Fortune 500 companies in China, in terms of their roles and sources of technology. Our results indicate that market and knowledge seeking subsidiaries located in China tend to have a positive impact on the generation of new knowledge, either through locally established MNE R&D laboratories or through collaborations with local firms and scientific institutions

Cyanobacteria in aquatic systems of the Americas

The Americas are one of the world's major natural freshwater reserves, characterized by diverse climatesand heterogeneous ecosystem types. In these sites, eutrophication and climate change are drivers for the loss of water quality, trigging the growth of potentially toxic planktonic cyanobacteria. Blooms of these organisms threaten the use of water for many different purposes, often resulting in negative local economic impactsin developing countries. Cyanobacteria are aheterogeneous group of organisms, and major evolutionary differences between taxonomic orders results in diverse physiological and morphological traits and environmental preferences. Studies with a large geographical perspective allow for comparisonsof cyanobacteria at different taxonomical levels and across ecoclimatic regions. In this study, we investigate the distribution of planktonic cyanobacteria in lakes around the Americas with a gradient of over 135 degrees of latitude, from Tierra del Fuego, 54°51'S (Argentina) to Ellesmere Island, 82°54'N (Canada). We performed a survey using unpublished and published data from 1300 lakes, including limnological and environmental variables, ecoregion information, phytoplankton and detailed datafor more than 150,000cyanobacterial populations, with researchers from 13 institutions and eightcountries.We present preliminary results seeking to identify the main patterns in latitudinal distribution of total cyanobacteria and their major taxonomicorders in relation to trophic state, morphometric and climatic variables. Our results will have important implications for the health of aquatic ecosystems and the human populations that rely on them.Fil: Bonilla, Sylvia. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Aguilera, Anabella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Almanza, Viviana. Universidad de Chile; ChileFil: Haakonsson, Signe. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Sampaio da Silva, L.. Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro. Museu Nacional; BrasilFil: Santos, J.. Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro. Museu Nacional; BrasilFil: Izaguirre, Irina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: O' Farrel, Inés. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Santana, L.. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ecologia; BrasilFil: Ferragut, C.. Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ecologia; BrasilFil: Becker, V.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Salazar, A.. Laboratorio de Calidad de Agua de Embalses; PerúFil: Hernandez, E.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Palacios, H.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Cano, M.. Laboratorio Calidad de Agua de AMSA; GuatemalaFil: Cremella, B.. University of Sherbrooke; CanadáFil: Pérez, M.. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Somma, A.. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; UruguayFil: Vincent, W.. Laval University; CanadáFil: Antoniades, D.. Laval University; CanadáFil: Aubriot, Luis. Universidad de la República. Facultad de Ciencias; Uruguay11th International Conference of Toxic CyanobacteriaCracoviaPoloniaJagiellonian UniversityAdam Mickiewicz University in Pozna

Does One Size Fit All? Patents, the Right to Health and Access to Medicines

The question posed in this article is whether the right to health and patents conflict or coexist. This question is examined from the perspective of the issue of access to affordable medicines in developing countries focusing on the right to health as set out in the ICESCR and patent standards (and flexibilities) as required by the TRIPS Agreement. In the strict sense, there is no conflict between the right to health and patents. ICESCR and TRIPS do not contain mutually exclusive obligations. Yet, it is shown that tension between the two does exist. There are a number of ways in which such tension can be resolved. The UN Sub-Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights has contended that human rights should enjoy primacy over patents, yet there is no evidence to suggest that the right to health and/ or access to essential medicines are considered prioritised norms under international law. The WTO disagrees and views IPRs and human rights as complementary. In international law there is a strong presumption against conflict. In line with the principle of systemic integration a good faith interpretation of the relevant WTO and human rights provisions should lead to a reading of TRIPS' obligations which is coherent with human rights law. However, this balancing act must also take place at the domestic level and the success of such a coexistence approach, namely whether (developing) states are able to strike a balance between access to medicines and patent protection, will depend much on the actual implementation and interpretation by states. Consequently, some examples of state practice regarding the interpretation and implementation of TRIPS in light of the right to health are highlighted