212 research outputs found
Bacterial Argonaute Samples the Transcriptome to Identify Foreign DNA
Eukaryotic Argonautes bind small RNAs and use them as guides to find complementary RNA targets and induce gene silencing. Though homologs of eukaryotic Argonautes are present in many bacteria and archaea, their small RNA partners and functions are unknown. We found that the Argonaute of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsAgo) associates with 15–19 nt RNAs that correspond to the majority of transcripts. RsAgo also binds single-stranded 22–24 nt DNA molecules that are complementary to the small RNAs and enriched in sequences derived from exogenous plasmids as well as genome-encoded foreign nucleic acids such as transposons and phage genes. Expression of RsAgo in the heterologous E. coli system leads to formation of plasmid-derived small RNA and DNA and plasmid degradation. In a R. sphaeroides mutant lacking RsAgo, expression of plasmid-encoded genes is elevated. Our results indicate that RNAi-related processes found in eukaryotes are also conserved in bacteria and target foreign nucleic acids
Anisotropic Hubbard model on a triangular lattice -- spin dynamics in Ho Mn O_3
The recent neutron-scattering data for spin-wave dispersion in are well described by an anisotropic Hubbard model on a triangular lattice
with a planar (XY) spin anisotropy. Best fit indicates that magnetic
excitations in correspond to the strong-coupling limit , with planar exchange energy meV and planar
anisotropy meV.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Binding of guide piRNA triggers methylation of the unstructured N-terminal region of Aub leading to assembly of the piRNA amplification complex
PIWI proteins use guide piRNAs to repress selfish genomic elements, protecting the genomic integrity of gametes and ensuring the fertility of animal species. Efficient transposon repression depends on amplification of piRNA guides in the ping-pong cycle, which in Drosophila entails tight cooperation between two PIWI proteins, Aub and Ago3. Here we show that post-translational modification, symmetric dimethylarginine (sDMA), of Aub is essential for piRNA biogenesis, transposon silencing and fertility. Methylation is triggered by loading of a piRNA guide into Aub, which exposes its unstructured N-terminal region to the PRMT5 methylosome complex. Thus, sDMA modification is a signal that Aub is loaded with piRNA guide. Amplification of piRNA in the ping-pong cycle requires assembly of a tertiary complex scaffolded by Krimper, which simultaneously binds the N-terminal regions of Aub and Ago3. To promote generation of new piRNA, Krimper uses its two Tudor domains to bind Aub and Ago3 in opposite modification and piRNA-loading states. Our results reveal that post-translational modifications in unstructured regions of PIWI proteins and their binding by Tudor domains that are capable of discriminating between modification states is essential for piRNA biogenesis and silencing
A Magnetic Transition Probed by the Ce Ion in Square-Lattice Antiferromagnet CeMnAsO
We examined the magnetic properties of the square-lattice antiferromagnets
CeMnAsO and LaMnAsO and their solid solutions La1-xCexMnAsO by resistivity,
magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements below room temperature.
A first-order phase transition is observed at 34.1 K, below which the
ground-state doublet of the Ce ion splits by 3.53 meV. It is likely that Mn
moments already ordered above room temperature are reoriented at the
transition, as reported for related compounds, such as NdMnAsO and PrMnSbO.
This transition generates a large internal magnetic field at the Ce site in
spite of the fact that simple Heisenberg interactions should be cancelled out
at the Ce site owing to geometrical frustration. The transition takes place at
nearly the same temperature with the substitution of La for Ce up to 90%. The
Ce moment does not undergo long-range order by itself, but is parasitically
induced at the transition, serving as a good probe for detecting the magnetism
of Mn spins in a square lattice.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Observation and Assignment of Silent and Higher Order Vibrations in the Infrared Transmission of C60 Crystals
We report the measurement of infrared transmission of large C60 single
crystals. The spectra exhibit a very rich structure with over 180 vibrational
absorptions visible in the 100 - 4000 cm-1 range. Many silent modes are
observed to have become weakly IR-active. We also observe a large number of
higher order combination modes. The temperature (77K - 300K) and pressure (0 -
25KBar) dependencies of these modes were measured and are presented. Careful
analysis of the IR spectra in conjunction with Raman scattering data showing
second order modes and neutron scattering data, allow the selection of the 46
vibrational modes C60. We are able to fit *all* of the first and second order
data seen in the present IR spectra and the previously published Raman data
(~300 lines total), using these 46 modes and their group theory allowed second
order combinations.Comment: REVTEX v3.0 in LaTeX. 12 pages. 8 Figures by request. c60lon
Effect of a magnetic field on the long-range magnetic order in insulating Nd2CuO4, nonsuperconducting and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4
We have measured the effect of a c-axis aligned magnetic field on the
long-range magnetic order of insulating Nd2CuO4, as-grown nonsuperconducting
and superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. On cooling from room temperature, Nd2CuO4
goes through a series of antiferromagnetic (AF) phase transitions with
different noncollinear spin structures. In all phases of Nd2CuO4, we find that
the applied c-axis field induces a canting of the AF order but does not alter
the basic zero-field noncollinear spin structures. Similar behavior is also
found in as-grown nonsuperconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. These results contrast
dramatically with those of superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4, where a c-axis
aligned magnetic field induces a static, anomalously conducting, long-range
ordered AF state. We confirm that the annealing process necessary to make
superconducting Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 also induces epitaxial, three-dimensional
long-range ordered cubic (Nd,Ce)2O3 as an impurity phase. In addition, the
annealing process makes a series of quasi two-dimensional superlattice
reflections associated with lattice distortions of Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4 in the CuO2
plane. While the application of a magnetic field will induce a net moment in
the impurity phase, we determine its magnitude and eliminate this as a
possibility for the observed magnetic field-induced effect in superconducting
Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Field-Induced Uniform Antiferromagnetic Order Associated with Superconductivity in PrLaCeCuO
Strong correlation between field-induced antiferromagnetic (AF) order and
superconductivity is demonstrated for an electron-doped cuprate superconductor,
PrLaCeCuO (PLCCO). In addition to the specimen with
(which is close to the AF phase boundary, ), we show that
the one with ( K at zero field) also exhibits the
field-induced AF order with a reduced magnitude of the induced moment. The
uniform muon Knight shift at a low magnetic field ( Oe) indicates
that the AF order is not localized within the cores of flux lines, which is in
a marked contrast with theoretical prediction for hole-doped cuprates. The
presence of anomalous non-diagonal hyperfine coupling between muons and Pr ions
is also demonstrated in detail.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Two-Stage Rotational Disordering of a Molecular Crystal Surface: C60
We propose a two-stage mechanism for the rotational surface disordering phase
transition of a molecular crystal, as realized in C fullerite. Our
study, based on Monte Carlo simulations, uncovers the existence of a new
intermediate regime, between a low temperature ordered state,
and a high temperature disordered phase. In the intermediate
regime there is partial disorder, strongest for a subset of particularly
frustrated surface molecules. These concepts and calculations provide a
coherent understanding of experimental observations, with possible extension to
other molecular crystal surfaces.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure
Tudor domain containing 7 (Tdrd7) is essential for dynamic ribonucleoprotein (RNP) remodeling of chromatoid bodies during spermatogenesis
In the male germline in mammals, chromatoid bodies, a specialized assembly of cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein (RNP), are structurally evident during meiosis and haploidgenesis, but their developmental origin and regulation remain elusive. The tudor domain containing proteins constitute a conserved class of chromatoid body components. We show that tudor domain containing 7 (Tdrd7), the deficiency of which causes male sterility and age-related cataract (as well as glaucoma), is essential for haploid spermatid development and defines, in concert with Tdrd6, key biogenesis processes of chromatoid bodies. Single and double knockouts of Tdrd7 and Tdrd6 demonstrated that these spermiogenic tudor genes orchestrate developmental programs for ordered remodeling of chromatoid bodies, including the initial establishment, subsequent RNP fusion with ubiquitous processing bodies/GW bodies and later structural maintenance. Tdrd7 suppresses LINE1 retrotransposons independently of piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) biogenesis wherein Tdrd1 and Tdrd9 operate, indicating that distinct Tdrd pathways act against retrotransposons in the male germline. Tdrd6, in contrast, does not affect retrotransposons but functions at a later stage of spermiogenesis when chromatoid bodies exhibit aggresome-like properties. Our results delineate that chromatoid bodies assemble as an integrated compartment incorporating both germline and ubiquitous features as spermatogenesis proceeds and that the conserved tudor family genes act asmaster regulators of this unique RNP remodeling,which is genetically linked to the male germline integrity in mammals
Purifying Selection in Deeply Conserved Human Enhancers Is More Consistent than in Coding Sequences
(c) 2014 De Silva et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
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