27 research outputs found
Modes of Retrotransposition of Long Interspersed Element-1 by Environmental Factors
Approximately 42% of the human genome is composed of endogenous retroelements, and the major retroelement component, long interspersed element-1 (L1), comprises ∼17% of the total genome. A single human cell has more than 5 × 105 copies of L1, 80∼100 copies of which are competent for retrotransposition (RTP). Notably, L1 can induce RTP of other retroelements, such as Alu and SVA, and is believed to function as a driving force of evolution. Although L1-RTP during early embryogenesis has been highlighted in the literature, recent observations revealed that L1-RTP also occurs in somatic cells. However, little is known about how environmental factors induce L1-RTP. Here, we summarize our current understanding of the mechanism of L1-RTP in somatic cells. We have focused on the mode of L1-RTP that is dependent on the basic helix–loop–helix/per–arnt–sim (bHLH/PAS) family of transcription factors. Along with the proposed function of bHLH/PAS proteins in environmental adaptation, we discuss the functional linking of L1-RTP and bHLH/PAS proteins for environmental adaptation and evolution
Unveiling the orbital-selective electronic band reconstruction through the structural phase transition in TaTe
Tantalum ditelluride TaTe belongs to the family of layered transition
metal dichalcogenides but exhibits a unique structural phase transition at
around 170 K that accompanies the rearrangement of the Ta atomic network from a
"ribbon chain" to a "butterfly-like" pattern. While multiple mechanisms
including Fermi surface nesting and chemical bonding instabilities have been
intensively discussed, the origin of this transition remains elusive. Here we
investigate the electronic structure of single-crystalline TaTe with a
particular focus on its modifications through the phase transition, by
employing core-level and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined
with first-principles calculations. Temperature-dependent core-level
spectroscopy demonstrates a splitting of the Ta core-level spectra through
the phase transition indicative of the Ta-dominated electronic state
reconstruction. Low-energy electronic state measurements further reveal an
unusual kink-like band reconstruction occurring at the Brillouin zone boundary,
which cannot be explained by Fermi surface nesting or band folding effects. On
the basis of the orbital-projected band calculations, this band reconstruction
is mainly attributed to the modifications of specific Ta states, namely
the orbitals (the ones elongating along the ribbon chains) at the
center Ta sites of the ribbon chains. The present results highlight the strong
orbital-dependent electronic state reconstruction through the phase transition
in this system and provide fundamental insights towards understanding complex
electron-lattice-bond coupled phenomena.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figure
Binding of 14-3-3β but not 14-3-3σ controls the cytoplasmic localization of CDC25B: Binding site preferences of 14-3-3 subtypes and the subcellular localization of CDC25B
The dual specificity phosphatase CDC25B positively controls the G2-M transition by activating CDK1/cyclin B. The binding of 14-3-3 to CDC25B has been shown to regulate the subcellular redistribution of CDC25B from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and may be correlated with the G2 checkpoint. We used a FLAG-tagged version of CDC25B to study the differences among the binding sites for the 14-3-3 subtypes, 14-3-3β, 14-3-3ε and 14-3-3σ, and the relationship between subtype binding and the subcellular localization of CDC25B. All three subtypes were found to bind to CDC25B. Site-directed mutagenesis studies revealed that 14-3-3β bound exclusively near serine-309 of CDC25B1, which is within a potential consensus motif for 14-3-3 binding. By contrast, 14-3-3σ bound preferentially to a site around serine-216, and the presence of serine-137 and -309 enhanced the binding. In addition to these binding-site differences, we found that the binding of 14-3-3β drove CDC25B to the cytoplasm and that mutation of serine-309 to alanine completely abolished the cytoplasmic localization of CDC25B. However, co-expression of 14-3-3σ and CDC25B did not affect the subeellular localization of CDC25B. Furthermore, serine-309 of CDC25B was sufficient to produce its cytoplasmic distribution with co-expression of 14-3-3β, even when other putative 14-3-3 binding sites were mutated. 14-3-3ε resembled 14-3-3β with regard to its binding to CDC25B and the control of CDC25B subcellujar localization. The results of the present study indicite that two 14-3-3 subtypes can control the subcellular localization of CDC25B by binding to a specific site and that 14-3-3σ has effects on CDC25B other than the control of its subcellular localization
Ultrafast Control of Crystal Structure in a Topological Charge-Density-Wave Material
Optical control of crystal structures is a promising route to change physical
properties including topological nature of a targeting material. Time-resolved
X-ray diffraction measurements using the X-ray free-electron laser are
performed to study the ultrafast lattice dynamics of VTe, which shows a
unique charge-density-wave (CDW) ordering coupled to the topological surface
states as a first-order phase transition. A significant oscillation of the CDW
amplitude mode is observed at a superlattice reflection as well as Bragg
reflections. The frequency of the oscillation is independent of the fluence of
the pumping laser, which is prominent to the CDW ordering of the first-order
phase transition. Furthermore, the timescale of the photoinduced
1 to 1 phase transition is independent of the period of
the CDW amplitude mode
Report on the September 2023 visit and exchange in Mozambique
departmental bulletin pape
Report on the February 2023 visit and exchange in Singapore
departmental bulletin pape