South Dakota Fisheries: An Evaluation of a Chemical Immersion Marking Technique for Juvenile Yellow Perch and Application to a Stocking Assessment of Marsh-Reared Yellow Perch into Eastern South Dakota Lakes

Currently, yellow perch Perca flavescens stocking needs in South Dakota are met by intensive trap and transfer of juvenile and adult perch. The success of these stocking efforts is largely undocumented, primarily due to problems in distinguishing yellow perch produced within the recipient water body and stocked perch. We first developed a transfer-tank marking protocol to determine immersion duration and optimal concentration of oxytetracycline (OTC) hydrochloride needed to produce an effective mark. Then we validated the protocol for adult yellow perch and determined the persistence of OTC in edible muscle tissue. Marking results indicated that satisfactory OTC marks may be obtained in juvenile yellow perch using 600- to 700-ppm OTC for an immersion period of 6 to 8 h. OTC marks were evident in juvenile yellow perch otoliths and dorsal spines checked at 3 months post-immersion. Mark quality was observed to be slightly better in juvenile dorsal spines than otoliths. OTC marks in adult yellow perch were detectable at otolith margins at 9 d post-immersion. Adult muscle tissues were analyzed with high pressure liquid chromatography to quantify OTC residues. A nonlinear model (In epi-OTC [~g g-I] = 0.960 - 0.389*In time [h]; r\u27- = 0.99) describing the combined OTC base/epi residue relation to time indicated that no more than 0.5 ~g OTC g-I should be present at 73 h following immersion

Regulation of the let-7a-3 Promoter by NF-κB

Changes in microRNA expression have been linked to a wide array of pathological states. However, little is known about the regulation of microRNA expression. The let-7 microRNA is a tumor suppressor that inhibits cellular proliferation and promotes differentiation, and is frequently lost in tumors. We investigated the transcriptional regulation of two let-7 family members, let-7a-3 and let-7b, which form a microRNA cluster and are located 864 bp apart on chromosome 22q13.31. Previous reports present conflicting data on the role of the NF-κB transcription factor in regulating let-7. We cloned three fragments upstream of the let-7a-3/let-7b miRNA genomic region into a plasmid containing a luciferase reporter gene. Ectopic expression of subunits of NF-κB (p50 or p65/RelA) significantly increased luciferase activity in HeLa, 293, 293T and 3T3 cells, indicating that the let-7a-3/let-7b promoter is highly responsive to NF-κB. Mutation of a putative NF-κB binding site at bp −833 reduced basal promoter activity and decreased promoter activity in the presence of p50 or p65 overexpression. Mutation of a second putative binding site, at bp −947 also decreased promoter activity basally and in response to p65 induction, indicating that both sites contribute to NF-κB responsiveness. While the levels of the endogenous primary let-7a and let-7b transcript were induced in response to NF-κB overexpression in 293T cells, the levels of fully processed, mature let-7a and let-7b miRNAs did not increase. Instead, levels of Lin-28B, a protein that blocks let-7 maturation, were induced by NF-κB. Increased Lin-28B levels could contribute to the lack of an increase in mature let-7a and let-7b. Our results suggest that the final biological outcome of NF-κB activation on let-7 expression may vary depending upon the cellular context. We discuss our results in the context of NF-κB activity in repressing self-renewal and promoting differentiation

Regulation of Gene Expression in Plants through miRNA Inactivation

Eukaryotic organisms possess a complex RNA-directed gene expression regulatory network allowing the production of unique gene expression patterns. A recent addition to the repertoire of RNA-based gene regulation is miRNA target decoys, endogenous RNA that can negatively regulate miRNA activity. miRNA decoys have been shown to be a valuable tool for understanding the function of several miRNA families in plants and invertebrates. Engineering and precise manipulation of an endogenous RNA regulatory network through modification of miRNA activity also affords a significant opportunity to achieve a desired outcome of enhanced plant development or response to environmental stresses. Here we report that expression of miRNA decoys as single or heteromeric non-cleavable microRNA (miRNA) sites embedded in either non-protein-coding or within the 3′ untranslated region of protein-coding transcripts can regulate the expression of one or more miRNA targets. By altering the sequence of the miRNA decoy sites, we were able to attenuate miRNA inactivation, which allowed for fine regulation of native miRNA targets and the production of a desirable range of plant phenotypes. Thus, our results demonstrate miRNA decoys are a flexible and robust tool, not only for studying miRNA function, but also for targeted engineering of gene expression in plants. Computational analysis of the Arabidopsis transcriptome revealed a number of potential miRNA decoys, suggesting that endogenous decoys may have an important role in natural modulation of expression in plants

MicroRNAs and their target gene networks in breast cancer

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a major class of small endogenous RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally inhibit gene expression. Many miRNAs have been implicated in several human cancers, including breast cancer. Here we describe the association between altered miRNA signatures and breast cancer tumorigenesis and metastasis. The loss of several tumor suppressor miRNAs (miR-206, miR-17-5p, miR-125a, miR-125b, miR-200, let-7, miR-34 and miR-31) and the overexpression of certain oncogenic miRNAs (miR-21, miR-155, miR-10b, miR-373 and miR-520c) have been observed in many breast cancers. The gene networks orchestrated by these miRNAs are still largely unknown, although key targets have been identified that may contribute to the disease phenotype. Here we report how the observed perturbations in miRNA expression profiles may lead to disruption of key pathways involved in breast cancer

Supplementary Table S2 from The Effects of Black Raspberry as a Whole Food–Based Approach on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Buccal Cells and Urine of Smokers

Supplementary Table S2: In this study 21 smokers were included (males = 8, females = 13) and the mean age + SD was 44.3 + 11.2. The number and type of cigarettes are shown in this table.</p

Supplementary Figure S2 from The Effects of Black Raspberry as a Whole Food–Based Approach on Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Buccal Cells and Urine of Smokers

Supplementary Figure S2: The results demonstrate that cotinine levels in each participant differ across the various time points suggesting a modulation of tobacco consumption.</p