Vitamin A Transport Mechanism of the Multitransmembrane Cell-Surface Receptor STRA6.

Vitamin A has biological functions as diverse as sensing light for vision, regulating stem cell differentiation, maintaining epithelial integrity, promoting immune competency, regulating learning and memory, and acting as a key developmental morphogen. Vitamin A derivatives have also been used in treating human diseases. If vitamin A is considered a drug that everyone needs to take to survive, evolution has come up with a natural drug delivery system that combines sustained release with precise and controlled delivery to the cells or tissues that depend on it. This "drug delivery system" is mediated by plasma retinol binding protein (RBP), the principle and specific vitamin A carrier protein in the blood, and STRA6, the cell-surface receptor for RBP that mediates cellular vitamin A uptake. The mechanism by which the RBP receptor absorbs vitamin A from the blood is distinct from other known cellular uptake mechanisms. This review summarizes recent progress in elucidating the fundamental molecular mechanism mediated by the RBP receptor and multiple newly discovered catalytic activities of this receptor, and compares this transport system with retinoid transport independent of RBP/STRA6. How to target this new type of transmembrane receptor using small molecules in treating diseases is also discussed

Predicting the epidemic threshold of the susceptible-infected-recovered model

Researchers have developed several theoretical methods for predicting epidemic thresholds, including the mean-field like (MFL) method, the quenched mean-field (QMF) method, and the dynamical message passing (DMP) method. When these methods are applied to predict epidemic threshold they often produce differing results and their relative levels of accuracy are still unknown. We systematically analyze these two issues---relationships among differing results and levels of accuracy---by studying the susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model on uncorrelated configuration networks and a group of 56 real-world networks. In uncorrelated configuration networks the MFL and DMP methods yield identical predictions that are larger and more accurate than the prediction generated by the QMF method. When compared to the 56 real-world networks, the epidemic threshold obtained by the DMP method is closer to the actual epidemic threshold because it incorporates full network topology information and some dynamical correlations. We find that in some scenarios---such as networks with positive degree-degree correlations, with an eigenvector localized on the high $k$-core nodes, or with a high level of clustering---the epidemic threshold predicted by the MFL method, which uses the degree distribution as the only input parameter, performs better than the other two methods. We also find that the performances of the three predictions are irregular versus modularity

Canonical interpretation of Y(10750)Y(10750) and Υ(10860)\Upsilon(10860) in the Υ\Upsilon family

Inspired by the new resonance $Y(10750)$, we calculate the masses and two-body OZI-allowed strong decays of the higher vector bottomonium sates within both screened and linear potential models. We discuss the possibilities of $\Upsilon(10860)$ and $Y(10750)$ as mixed states via the $S-D$ mixing. Our results suggest that $Y(10750)$ and $\Upsilon(10860)$ might be explained as mixed states between $5S$- and $4D$-wave vector $b\bar{b}$ states. The $Y(10750)$ and $\Upsilon(10860)$ resonances may correspond to the mixed states dominated by the $4D$- and $5S$-wave components, respectively. The mass and the strong decay behaviors of the $\Upsilon(11020)$ resonance are consistent with the assignment of the $\Upsilon(6S)$ state in the potential models.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. More discussions are adde

Miniaturization of Branch-Line Coupler Using Composite Right/Left-Handed Transmission Lines with Novel Meander-shaped-slots CSSRR

A novel compact-size branch-line coupler using composite right/left-handed transmission lines is proposed in this paper. In order to obtain miniaturization, composite right/left-handed transmission lines with novel complementary split single ring resonators which are realized by loading a pair of meander-shaped-slots in the split of the ring are designed. This novel coupler occupies only 22.8% of the area of the conventional approach at 0.7 GHz. The proposed coupler can be implemented by using the standard printed-circuit-board etching processes without any implementation of lumped elements and via-holes, making it very useful for wireless communication systems. The agreement between measured and stimulated results validates the feasible configuration of the proposed coupler

Identification of PLXDC1 and PLXDC2 as the transmembrane receptors for the multifunctional factor PEDF.

Pigment Epithelium Derived Factor (PEDF) is a secreted factor that has broad biological activities. It was first identified as a neurotrophic factor and later as the most potent natural antiangiogenic factor, a stem cell niche factor, and an inhibitor of cancer cell growth. Numerous animal models demonstrated its therapeutic value in treating blinding diseases and diverse cancer types. A long-standing challenge is to reveal how PEDF acts on its target cells and the identities of the cell-surface receptors responsible for its activities. Here we report the identification of transmembrane proteins PLXDC1 and PLXDC2 as cell-surface receptors for PEDF. Using distinct cellular models, we demonstrate their cell type-specific receptor activities through loss of function and gain of function studies. Our experiments suggest that PEDF receptors form homooligomers under basal conditions, and PEDF dissociates the homooligomer to activate the receptors. Mutations in the intracellular domain can have profound effects on receptor activities

A kilonova associated with GRB 070809

For on-axis typical short gamma-ray bursts (sGRBs), the forward shock emission is usually so bright that renders the identification of kilonovae (also known as macronovae) in the early afterglow ($t<0.5$ d) phase rather challenging. This is why previously no thermal-like kilonova component has been identified at such early time except in the off-axis dim GRB 170817A associated with GW170817. Here we report the identification of an unusual optical radiation component in GRB 070809 at $t\sim 0.47$ d, thanks plausibly to the very-weak/subdominant forward shock emission. The optical emission with a very red spectrum is well in excess of the extrapolation of the X-ray emission that is distinguished by an unusually hard spectrum, which is at odds with the forward shock afterglow prediction but can be naturally interpreted as a kilonova. Our finding supports the speculation that kilonovae are ubiquitous , and demonstrates the possibility of revealing the neutron star merger origin with the early afterglow data of some typical sGRBs that take place well beyond the sensitive radius of the advanced gravitational wave detectors and hence the opportunity of organizing dedicated follow-up observations for events of interest.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, published in Nature Astronom

Effect of shape deprivation on retinal thickness in myopic mice using an OCT method

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to study in retina thickness changes in myopic mice using optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsThere were 18 mice in the form-deprivation myopia (FDM) group，in which the left eye was not treated as a control;18 untreated mice served as a normal control group. The diopter of all mice was measured 21 days after birth (P21), before form deprivation. After 4 weeks of form deprivation (P49), the refraction, fundus, and retinal sublayer thickness of all mice were measured.ResultsAfter 4 weeks of form deprivation, the refractive power of the right eye in the FDM group was significantly higher than that in the left eye (p &lt; 0.05). There was no significant change in the refractive power of the left eye in the FDM group compared with the normal control group. The retina, nerve fiber layer (NFL), inner nuclear layer (INL), and outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the right eye of the FDM group were significantly thinner than those of both the FDM and control groups (p &lt; 0.05). There was no significant change in photoreceptor (PR).ConclusionOur study highlights that the myopic mice have decreased R thickness, which might reflect the potential pathological mechanism of myopia