FHL2 interacts with CALM and is highly expressed in acute erythroid leukemia

The t(10;11)(p13;q14) translocation results in the fusion of the CALM (clathrin assembly lymphoid myeloid leukemia protein) and AF10 genes. This translocation is observed in acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML M6), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and malignant lymphoma. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, the four and a half LIM domain protein 2 (FHL2) was identified as a CALM interacting protein. Recently, high expression of FHL2 in breast, gastric, colon, lung as well as in prostate cancer was shown to be associated with an adverse prognosis. The interaction between CALM and FHL2 was confirmed by glutathione S-transferase-pulldown assay and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. The FHL2 interaction domain of CALM was mapped to amino acids 294–335 of CALM. The transcriptional activation capacity of FHL2 was reduced by CALM, but not by CALM/AF10, which suggests that regulation of FHL2 by CALM might be disturbed in CALM/AF10-positive leukemia. Extremely high expression of FHL2 was seen in acute erythroid leukemia (AML M6). FHL2 was also highly expressed in chronic myeloid leukemia and in AML with complex aberrant karyotype. These results suggest that FHL2 may play an important role in leukemogenesis, especially in the case of AML M6

Power analysis of single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has become an established and powerful method to investigate transcriptomic cell-to-cell variation, thereby revealing new cell types and providing insights into developmental processes and transcriptional stochasticity. A key question is how the variety of available protocols compare in terms of their ability to detect and accurately quantify gene expression. Here, we assessed the protocol sensitivity and accuracy of many published data sets, on the basis of spike-in standards and uniform data processing. For our workflow, we developed a flexible tool for counting the number of unique molecular identifiers (https://github.com/vals/umis/). We compared 15 protocols computationally and 4 protocols experimentally for batch-matched cell populations, in addition to investigating the effects of spike-in molecular degradation. Our analysis provides an integrated framework for comparing scRNA-seq protocols.The study was supported by Cancer Research UK grant number C45041/A14953 to A Cvejic and C Labalette, European Research Council project 677501-ZF_Blood to A Cvejic and a core support grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the Wellcome Trust–Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute. The ERC grant ThSWITCH to SA Teichmann (grant no. 260507) and a Lister Institute Research Prize to SA Teichmann. KN Natarajan was supported by the Wellcome Trust Strategic Award “Single cell ge nomics of mouse gastrulation”

Biomass Assessment: A Question of Method and Expertise

Whereas the new stakes on lignocellulosic biomass are often demand-oriented (heat, electricity, biofuels, etc.) mainly through public policies, the new equilibrium will depend also on the supply-side. This supply has to be understood as socio-economic and environmental targets combining many topics: multi-resources (agriculture, forest, "dedicated coppices", by-products and wastes), available/potential quantities and costs, localisation, replacement/substitution effects (activities, lands), and supply-side stakeholders’ behaviours. Many initiatives have been launched to grasp those dimensions through projects (National Research Agency, French Environment and Energy Management Agency, etc.). Many figures exist on the biomass assessment aspect but they are not clear enough and not comparable due to differences in definitions, scopes, data, parameters, geographical levels, reporting units, time-scale, etc. Regarding the characterisation of biomass supply chains, evaluations are often incomplete and lack methodological references. This article aims to focus on methodological key points and barriers to overcome, in order to get a better evaluation and understanding of biomass mobilisation expected by potential users and public authorities

Shear-induced glass-to-crystal transition in anisotropic clay-like suspensions

International audienceA new numerical framework based on Stokesian dynamics is used to study a shear-induced glass-to-crystal transition in suspensions of clay-like anisotropically charged platelets

Débouchés actuels et futurs du tournesol produit en France - Critères de qualité

National audienceThis article reviews the use of sunflower produced in France (seeds, oil, cake) in both food and nonfood areas and outlines the prospects for the coming decades. This production meets quality criteria that are controlled, monitored and improved upon by professionals of French oleaginous industry. The results obtained in the determination of parameters influencing the oil content, the balance between oleic and linoleic acids are presented.Cet article fait un bilan des domaines d’utilisation du tournesol produit en France (graines, huile, tourteaux) aussi bien dans les domaines alimentaires que non alimentaires et fait état des perspectives pour les prochaines décennies. Cette production répond à des critères de qualité qui sont contrôlés, suivis et améliorés par les professionnels de la filière oléagineuse française. Les résultats obtenus lors la détermination des paramètres influençant le taux en huile, l’équilibre entre les acides oléiques et linoléiques est présenté

Premier épisode de pneumothorax spontané primaire : qui drainer, comment ? [First episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax: Who and how to treat?]

National audienc