RNA-Seq identifies genes whose proteins are upregulated during syncytia development in murine C2C12 myoblasts and human BeWo trophoblasts

The fusion of villous cytotrophoblasts into the multinucleated syncytiotrophoblast is critical for the essential functions of the mammalian placenta. Using RNA-Seq gene expression, quantitative protein expression, and siRNA knockdown we identified genes and their cognate proteins which are similarly upregulated in two cellular models of mammalian syncytia development (human BeWo cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast and murine C2C12 myoblast to myotube). These include DYSF, PDE4DIP, SPIRE2, NDRG1, PLEC, GPR146, HSPB8, DHCR7, and HDAC5. These findings provide avenues for further understanding of the mechanisms underlying mammalian placental syncytiotrophoblast development

Reprogrammable CRISPR/Cas9-based system for inducing site-specific DNA methylation

Advances in sequencing technology allow researchers to map genome-wide changes in DNA methylation in development and disease. However, there is a lack of experimental tools to site-specifically manipulate DNA methylation to discern the functional consequences. We developed a CRISPR/Cas9 DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) fusion to induce DNA methylation at specific loci in the genome. We induced DNA methylation at up to 50% of alleles for targeted CpG dinucleotides. DNA methylation levels peaked within 50 bp of the short guide RNA (sgRNA) binding site and between pairs of sgRNAs. We used our approach to target methylation across the entire CpG island at the CDKN2A promoter, three CpG dinucleotides at the ARF promoter, and the CpG island within the Cdkn1a promoter to decrease expression of the target gene. These tools permit mechanistic studies of DNA methylation and its role in guiding molecular processes that determine cellular fate

Incorporating ecosystem services in evaluating the sustainability of innovative organic farming systems using the Public Goods tool

In earlier studies, a tool was developed to assess the sustainability of farming systems – the Public Goods Tool (PG-tool). This tool was developed predominantly for use in food farming and in the current study it will be adapted for innovative examples in organic farming. To achieve this, new indicators were identified in addition to those already in the PG-Tool. Special attention was given to incorporating indicators which could capture provisioning of ecosystem services by farming systems, in particular those with a focus on biodiversity, human nutrition and social well-being - areas that are also currently underrepresented in the PG Tool

One-pot synthesis of symmetric octithiophenes from asymmetric beta-alkylsulfanyl bithiophenes

Starting from 4-(octylsulfanyl)-2,2'-bithiophene, 4-bromo-4'-(octylsulfanyl)-2,2'-bithiophene, 4-iodo-4'-(octylsulfanyl)-2,2'-bithiophene, 4-bromo-4'-[(S)-2-methylbutylsulfanyl]-2,2'-bithiophene, and 4-iodo-4'-[(S)-2-methylbutylsulfanyl]-2,2'-bithiophene, a new series of symmetrically beta-substituted octithiophenes were synthesized by one-pot oxidative coupling with FeCl3. The octithiophenes obtained are soluble in common organic solvents and show different solvatochromic properties depending on the substitution type. In particular, the bromine atom exerts a positive influence on the supramolecular organization: the brominated octithiophenes display high filmability, solvatochromism, and CD induced by aggregation (when the chiral 2-methylbutylsulfanyl group is present), properties usually observed for polythiophenes. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out an a model bithiophene (4-substituted with a methylsulfanyl group) in order to understand the possible mechanism of the growth, the regiochemistry, and the reason for the polymerization leads to an octithiophene

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the p- and n-doped states of alkylsulfanyl octithiophenes

Thiophene based materials, oligothiophenes as well, are promising candidates for technological applications, being a possible alternative to high-cost traditional materials for electronics such as silicon. Thus, in this work the charge-transfer properties oftwo structurally related (Si and S2 as sketched on the left) octithiophenes are studied by means of cyclic voltammetryr”(CV). Digital simulations of CV data ,I— , suggest the reversible formation of up to the dication, for both Si and S2, andup to the 4- (Si) and 3- (S2) anions. The ‘ ‘electronic structure of the Si species (2+, i+, neutral, 1-, 2-) is probed by UV/Vis-NIR “in-situ” spectroelectrochemistry. Experimental results are compared to standard potentials calculated at the B3LYP/cc-pVTZ level of the theory and to electronic transition energy and oscillator strength data reckoned by time dependent B3LYP/6 calculations. The consistency observed between experimental and theoretical results indicates the existence, as stable species, of the hypothesized high-spin/high-charge p- and n-doped electronic states