Lessons from non-canonical splicing

Recent improvements in experimental and computational techniques that are used to study the transcriptome have enabled an unprecedented view of RNA processing, revealing many previously unknown non-canonical splicing events. This includes cryptic events located far from the currently annotated exons and unconventional splicing mechanisms that have important roles in regulating gene expression. These non-canonical splicing events are a major source of newly emerging transcripts during evolution, especially when they involve sequences derived from transposable elements. They are therefore under precise regulation and quality control, which minimizes their potential to disrupt gene expression. We explain how non-canonical splicing can lead to aberrant transcripts that cause many diseases, and also how it can be exploited for new therapeutic strategies

Characteristics of PVdF copolymer/Nafion blend membrane for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC)

For direct methanol fuel cell, blends of vinylidene fluoride- hexafluoropropylene copolymer (P(VdF-co-HFP)) and Nafion were prepared the different equivalent weight of Nafion. The investigations of the blend morphology were performed by means of permeability test, uptake measurement, differential-scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy. In the blend membranes, many pores were created as the content of Nafion in blend increased. Then, the methanol uptake was sharply increased. But the methanol permeability was not sharply increased because the methanol permeation through blend membranes is diffusion-controlled process. The methanol permeability of N10 (low equivalent weight) series was similar to that of N11 series (high equivalent weight). The proton conductivity of N10 series was around one and a half times higher than that of N11 series. The cell performance of the blend was much enhanced when the equivalent weight of Nafion was 1000.close576

Molecular cloning of multiple splicing variants of JIP-1 preferentially expressed in brain

Stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) is activated by a variety of cellular or environmental stresses. Proper regulation of the SAPK/JNK pathway may be critical for cell survival or death under various conditions. In this study, we report the molecular cloning of novel isoforms of JIP-1, which harbor a putative phosphotyrosine interaction domain and a helix-loop-helix domain, as well as an SH3 homologous region in the C terminus. Northern analysis indicates that transcription variant jip-1 is expressed in brain and kidney and transcription variants jip-2 and jip-3 are specifically expressed in brain. In situ hybridization data showed that the hybridized jip messages were heavily concentrated in adult brain, and were particularly enriched in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, the brain regions vulnerable to pathological states such as hypoxia-ischemia, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. All the deduced protein products of the jip transcription variants appear to have a similar property in that they inhibit the SAPK/JNK stimulation when overexpressed. Inhibition of SAPK activation by overexpression of the novel isoform JIP-2a resulted in suppression of etoposide-induced cell death in a neuroglioma cell line, N18TG. These findings suggest that JIP may play an important role in regulation of the SAPK pathway that is involved in stress-induced cellular responses.X1145sciescopu