Characterising the Roles of Zinc Finger Proteins CTCF and ZRANB2 in Modulating Alternative Splicing

Zinc finger (ZF) proteins constitute the most abundant protein class and are involved in multiple biological processes including development, differentiation, tumour suppression and apoptosis. CTCF and ZRANB2 are two ZF proteins that have been recently linked to modulation of alternative splicing (AS). AS is a complex biological process enriching transcriptome and proteome diversity by facilitating the production of multiple mRNA and protein isoforms from individual genes. However, the genome-wide impact of Ctcf and Zranb2 dosage on AS has not been investigated. The present study examined the effect of Ctcf haploinsufficiency and Zranb2 deficiency on gene expression and AS in Ctcf hemizygous (Ctcf+/-) and conditional Zranb2 knockout (Zranb2-/-) mice, respectively. Reduced Ctcf and Zranb2 levels caused distinct differences in gene expression and AS. In Ctcf+/- mice, these differences were tissue-specific and exhibited a significant increase in intron retention in Ctcf+/- liver and kidney. Interestingly, Ctcf binding sites were enriched proximal to the genomic regions of the intron-retaining genes in Ctcf+/- liver. Proteomic analysis of Ctcf interacting partners in five mouse tissues identified the Small RNA Binding Exonuclease Protection Factor La (Ssb) as a novel Ctcf interactor in all the examined tissues. Tissue-specific protein interactions with Ctcf were also observed. In the brain, co-immunoprecipitation was used to experimentally validate Ctcf interactions with Tra2β, C1qbp, Cpsf6 as well as Atxn1, which are known to be involved in pre-mRNA splicing and brain development, respectively. This study provides new insights into effects of Ctcf haploinsufficiency and Zranb2 deficiency on the transcriptome and highlights a new role for Ctcf in mediating tissue-specific intron retention and protein interactions

Fano Resonance in photonic crystal: temperature sensor application

International audience<span style="left: 252.494px; top: 338.654px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.892204);"&gtthe present study deals with the temperature sensitivity of 1D</span&gt<span style="left: 745.412px; top: 338.654px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.918073);"&gt periodic </span&gt<span style="left: 177.9px; top: 359.851px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.975149);"&gtphotonic structure. This sensitivity is expressed by the displacement of</span&gt<span style="left: 745.927px; top: 359.851px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.932875);"&gtthe Fano </span&gt<span style="left: 177.9px; top: 380.845px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.941352);"&gtresonance wavelength observed on the transmission spectra. The studied s</span&gt<span style="left: 756.939px; top: 380.845px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.913137);"&gttructure </span&gt<span style="left: 177.9px; top: 402.042px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.972093);"&gtconsists of a periodic arrangement of silver pattern on a Niobate lithium (</span&gt<span style="left: 752.082px; top: 402.042px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.954754);"&gtLiNbO</span&gt<span style="left: 801.902px; top: 409.713px; font-size: 11.6px; font-family: sans-serif;"&gt3</span&gt<span style="left: 807.702px; top: 402.054px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.978601);"&gt) </span&gt<span style="left: 177.906px; top: 423.048px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.928768);"&gtsubstrate. Due to the pyroelectric effect of</span&gt<span style="left: 499.299px; top: 423.048px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.95807);"&gtLiNbO</span&gt<span style="left: 549.301px; top: 430.713px; font-size: 11.6px; font-family: sans-serif;"&gt3</span&gt<span style="left: 555.101px; top: 423.054px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.895466);"&gt, the temperature changes induce a </span&gt<span style="left: 177.901px; top: 444.048px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.952288);"&gtsensitive variation of its refractive index. The obtained resul</span&gt<span style="left: 637.099px; top: 444.048px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.96496);"&gtts show a sensitivity of </span&gt<span style="left: 177.901px; top: 465.648px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(0.89231);"&gtabout </span&gt<span style="left: 223.294px; top: 464.561px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(1.35992);"&gtܥ°/݉݊ 0.77</span&gt<span style="left: 315.294px; top: 465.648px; font-size: 18.4px; font-family: sans-serif;"&gt.</span&g

Development of a perchlorate sensor based on Co-phthalocyanine derivative by impedance spectroscopy measurements

International audienceIn this work, we have prepared a perchlorate sensor based on cobalt phthalocyanine derivative molecules. The membrane was deposited onto gold substrates using dip-coating method. Adhesion and morphological properties have been studied using contact angle measurements. Then, the sensitivity, the detection range and the detection limit were determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The sensor was also studied specificity towards interfering ions nitrate (NO3-), carbonate (CO32-) and sulfate (SO42-) to show the specificity of the membrane. The impedance behavior of the perchlorate sensor (gold/membrane) has been modeled by an equivalent electrical circuit using a modified Randles model for better understanding the phenomena present at the interface membrane/electrolyte

Investigation of structural, optical and electrical properties of a new cobalt phthalocyanine thin films with potential applications in perchlorate sensor

International audienceOptical, structural and electrical properties of new cobalt phthalocyanine derivatives (Co(II)Pc-AP) thin films have been investigated. The Raman spectroscopy study shows the different vibrations bands corresponding to the metallophthalocyanine. The cobalt-phthalocyanine derivative films exhibit absorption spectra with a resolved electronic structure in the UV-vis range and the energy gap was determined by the Tauc method. Electrical properties of the ITO/Co(II)Pc-AP/Al structure have been investigated by I-V characteristics and impedance spectroscopy measurements. The conduction is governed by space-charge-limited current (SCLC) mechanism. The impedance spectroscopy study showed a hopping transport process, which is a typical behavior of disordered materials. The electrical characteristics of the devices were modeled by a single parallel resistor and capacitor network in series with a resistance

Palaeohighs: their influence on the North African Palaeozoic petroleum systems

International audienceWe present new insights for the characterization of the petroleum system evolution in North Africa based on a review of the stratigraphic architecture description of some selected North African Palaeozoic basins. During Palaeozoic time, the Gondwana platform was divided into sub-basins bounded by structural highs. Most of the highs were inherited from north-south and SW-NE Panafrican crustal faults which were reactivated during the Palaeozoic and later, in the Austrian and Alpine tectonic phases. We studied the stratigraphic architecture of the Palaeozoic succession around four main highs showing a clear tectonic activity during the Palaeozoic sedimentation. The Gargaff Arch, in Lybia, is a major SW-NE broad anticline which slowly grew up during the Cambrian and Ordovician and stopped rising during the Silurian. The activity resumed during Late Silurian and early Devonian and during the Late Devonian. The Tihemboka High is a north-south anticline in between Libya and Algeria. The uplift started during the Cambro-Ordovician then stopped during most of the Silurian. The activity resumed during the Late Silurian and continued until the Lower Carboniferous. The Ahara High, separating the Illizi and Berkine basins in Algeria, has continuously grown during the Cambro-Ordovician, stopped rising during the Silurian, and grew again continuously during the Devonian. The Bled El-Mass High is a part of the Azzel-matti ridge separating the Ahnet and Reggane basins in Algeria. The high mostly rose during the Cambro-Ordovician then subsided relatively less quickly than the surrounding basins during the Silurian and Devonian. The uplift timing and chronology of each palaeohigh partly controlled the petroleum systems of the surrounding basins. Topographic lows favoured the occurrence of anoxic conditions and the preservation of Lower Silurian and Frasnian source rocks. Complex progressive unconformities developed around the palaeohighs form potential complex tectono-stratigraphic traps. Finally, hydrocarbons could have been trapped around the highs during pre-Hercynian times, preserving reservoir porosity from early silicification. Mixed stratigraphic-structural plays could then be present today around the highs

Development of a capacitive chemical sensor based on Co(II)-phthalocyanine acrylate-polymer/HfO2/SiO2/Si for detection of perchlorate

International audienceWe report the development of a chemical sensor based on a Co(II) phthalocyanine acrylate polymer (Co(II)Pc-AP) for perchlorate anion detection. We have used two types of transducers, silicon nitride (Si3N4) and hafnium oxide (HfO2). The adhesion of the Co(11)Pc-AP on different transducers and their surface qualities have been studied by contact angle measurements. We haNe studied the pH effect on AllSi/SiO2/HfO2/electrolyte capacitance values for different phosphate buffer solutions (PBS). This optimization step has allowed a sensitivity value of about 44 mV decade-1 towards H+ ions. The fabricated sensors based on Si3N4 and HfO2 transducers functionalized with a Co(11)Pc-AP membrane have been characterized by C(V) measurements for different perchlorate concentrations (from 10-7 to 10-2M). The sensor developed with the HfO2 transducer shows better performances compared to that based on Si3N4: a larger detection range (10(-7) to 10(-2) and 10(-3) to 10(-2) M, respectively) and lower detection limits (10-7 and 10(-3) M). The specificities of our perchlorate sensor have been tested for some interfering ions (nitrate, sulfate and carbonate)