Fragile Mental Retardation Protein Interacts with the RNA-Binding Protein Caprin1 in Neuronal RiboNucleoProtein Complexes

Fragile X syndrome is caused by the absence of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), an RNA-binding protein. FMRP is associated with messenger RiboNucleoParticles (mRNPs) present in polyribosomes and its absence in neurons leads to alteration in synaptic plasticity as a result of translation regulation defects. The molecular mechanisms by which FMRP plays a role in translation regulation remain elusive. Using immunoprecipitation approaches with monoclonal Ab7G1-1 and a new generation of chicken antibodies, we identified Caprin1 as a novel FMRP-cellular partner. In vivo and in vitro evidence show that Caprin1 interacts with FMRP at the level of the translation machinery as well as in trafficking neuronal granules. As an RNA-binding protein, Caprin1 has in common with FMRP at least two RNA targets that have been identified as CaMKIIα and Map1b mRNAs. In view of the new concept that FMRP species bind to RNA regardless of known structural motifs, we propose that protein interactors might modulate FMRP functions

Physiological Correlates of Volunteering

We review research on physiological correlates of volunteering, a neglected but promising research field. Some of these correlates seem to be causal factors influencing volunteering. Volunteers tend to have better physical health, both self-reported and expert-assessed, better mental health, and perform better on cognitive tasks. Research thus far has rarely examined neurological, neurochemical, hormonal, and genetic correlates of volunteering to any significant extent, especially controlling for other factors as potential confounds. Evolutionary theory and behavioral genetic research suggest the importance of such physiological factors in humans. Basically, many aspects of social relationships and social activities have effects on health (e.g., Newman and Roberts 2013; Uchino 2004), as the widely used biopsychosocial (BPS) model suggests (Institute of Medicine 2001). Studies of formal volunteering (FV), charitable giving, and altruistic behavior suggest that physiological characteristics are related to volunteering, including specific genes (such as oxytocin receptor [OXTR] genes, Arginine vasopressin receptor [AVPR] genes, dopamine D4 receptor [DRD4] genes, and 5-HTTLPR). We recommend that future research on physiological factors be extended to non-Western populations, focusing specifically on volunteering, and differentiating between different forms and types of volunteering and civic participation

Dynamics of Disks and Warps

This chapter reviews theoretical work on the stellar dynamics of galaxy disks. All the known collective global instabilities are identified, and their mechanisms described in terms of local wave mechanics. A detailed discussion of warps and other bending waves is also given. The structure of bars in galaxies, and their effect on galaxy evolution, is now reasonably well understood, but there is still no convincing explanation for their origin and frequency. Spiral patterns have long presented a special challenge, and ideas and recent developments are reviewed. Other topics include scattering of disk stars and the survival of thin disks.Comment: Chapter accepted to appear in Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems, vol 5, ed G. Gilmore. 32 pages, 17 figures. Includes minor corrections made in proofs. Uses emulateapj.st

Effects of a fluctuating water table : Column study on redox dynamics and fate of some organic pollutants

The development of the redox conditions has been studied in an initially aerobic column filled with quartz sand coated with ferrihydrite and subjected to a fluctuating water table. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of water table fluctuations on the redox dynamics and the fate of selected organic pollutants. The column that was percolated continuously with electron acceptors (O2, NO3, SO4) and electron donors (acetate and formate), was first operated under saturated conditions resulting in the classical redox zonation. After 4 months of operation, we started to fluctuate the water level and three drainage-imbibition cycles were run each with a total cycle length of 1 month. The pulse of oxygen introduced by lowering the water table caused a partial and temporal oxidation of previously reduced species. To investigate the effect of the changing redox environment on the transport and transformation of organic pollutants, breakthrough experiments were perfromed with 4-nitrobenzoate and toluene as model pollutants representative for nitro-substituted and volatile aromatics, respectively. The fate of 4-nitrobenzoate and toluene was studied under saturated conditions in short pulse breakthrough experiments and evaluated using the advection-dispersion model. 4-nitrobenzoate was transformed stoichiometrically into 4-aminobenzoate caused by the reduction of the nitrogroup. The transformation rate varied with depth and with time, dropping from 15.3 nmol g-1 h-1 after the first drainage-imbibition cycle to 1.5 nmol g-1 h-1 after 4 additional months of operation. Toluene was not degraded during the first breakthrough experiment and showed a retardation factor of 2.06 which was ascribed to diffusion into entrapped air, originating from drainage-imbibition cycles, and to sorption to biomass. After the 24-h pre-exposure to toluene, adaptation had occurred and in later experiments toluene was degraded within the first 6 cm. These data show that in an experiment that was well-described in terms of water flow, gas flow, and initial mineral phase composition, the microbial processes induced a chemical and physical heterogeneity. An additional heterogeneity in space and time was introduced by the fluctuating water table. The 'history' of the column had consequences for the fate of organic pollutants and resulted in an unpredictable behaviour with respect to their transformation, transport and degradation

Biofeedback and drug-resistant epilepsy: Back to an earlier treatment?

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