42 research outputs found
ErbB2 directly activates the exchange factor Dock7 to promote Schwann cell migration
The cellular events that precede myelination in the peripheral nervous system require rapid and dynamic morphological changes in the Schwann cell. These events are thought to be mainly controlled by axonal signals. But how signals on the axons are coordinately organized and transduced to promote proliferation, migration, radial sorting, and myelination is unknown. We describe that the axonal signal neuregulin-1 (NRG1) controls Schwann cell migration via activation of the atypical Dock180-related guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Dock7 and subsequent activation of the Rho guanine triphosphatases (GTPases) Rac1 and Cdc42 and the downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase. We show that the NRG1 receptor ErbB2 directly binds and activates Dock7 by phosphorylating Tyr-1118. Dock7 knockdown, or expression of Dock7 harboring the Tyr-1118–to–Phe mutation in Schwann cells, attenuates the effects of NRG1. Thus, Dock7 functions as an intracellular substrate for ErbB2 to promote Schwann cell migration. This provides an unanticipated mechanism through which ligand-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation can trigger the activation of Rho GTPase-GEFs of the Dock180 family
DNA repair factor RAD18 and DNA polymerase Polκ confer tolerance of oncogenic DNA replication stress
The mechanisms by which neoplastic cells tolerate oncogene-induced DNA replication stress are poorly understood. Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is a major mediator of oncogenic DNA replication stress. In this study, we show that CDK2-inducing stimuli (including Cyclin E overexpression, oncogenic RAS, and WEE1 inhibition) activate the DNA repair protein RAD18. CDK2-induced RAD18 activation required initiation of DNA synthesis and was repressed by p53. RAD18 and its effector, DNA polymerase κ (Polκ), sustained ongoing DNA synthesis in cells harboring elevated CDK2 activity. RAD18-deficient cells aberrantly accumulated single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) after CDK2 activation. In RAD18-depleted cells, the G2/M checkpoint was necessary to prevent mitotic entry with persistent ssDNA. Rad18 −/− and Polκ −/− cells were highly sensitive to the WEE1 inhibitor MK-1775 (which simultaneously activates CDK2 and abrogates the G2/M checkpoint). Collectively, our results show that the RAD18–Polκ signaling axis allows tolerance of CDK2-mediated oncogenic stress and may allow neoplastic cells to breach tumorigenic barriers
A Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Versus No Intervention for Muscle Biopsy in A Neurology Department
Muscle biopsy can be used to confirm the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases. However, it is unclear whether antibiotic prophylaxis prior to muscle biopsy is needed to prevent surgical site infection (SSI). We are conducting a phase 2, single-center, open-labeled, prospective randomized trial to clarify the need for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients at low risk for SSI undergoing muscle biopsy. Patients will be randomized to an antibiotic prophylaxis group or a control group, and the incidence of SSI will be compared between the groups. Our findings will clarify the need for antibiotic prophylaxis in this patient population
Feasibility Study on Production of High-Purity Rhenium-185 by Nuclear Transmutation of Natural Tantalum
Rhenium-186 (Re-186) has attracted attention as a medical isotope. The feasibility of producing Re-185, the raw material for Re-186, using a fast reactor was evaluated using a continuous energy Monte Carlo code. The irradiation of natural tantalum (Ta) in the fast reactor can produce Re-185 with an isotopic purity of 99%. A two-step irradiation process with different moderators was found to improve the production rate of Re-185. Specifically, this can be achieved by using zirconium hydride (ZrH1.7) as a moderator in the first transmutation process from natural Ta to tungsten (W), and then zirconium deuteride (ZrD1.7) as a moderator in the second transmutation process from W to Re-185. Due to the two-step irradiation, the production rate of Re-185 from Ta can be increased up to a maximum of 470 times compared with irradiation without a moderator, and 2.3 g of Re-185 can be obtained from 1571 g of Ta in 1 year of irradiation. The proposed isotope production method is a new method that is different from the conventional electromagnetic enrichment process
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ErbB2 directly activates the exchange factor Dock7 to promote Schwann cell migration.
The cellular events that precede myelination in the peripheral nervous system require rapid and dynamic morphological changes in the Schwann cell. These events are thought to be mainly controlled by axonal signals. But how signals on the axons are coordinately organized and transduced to promote proliferation, migration, radial sorting, and myelination is unknown. We describe that the axonal signal neuregulin-1 (NRG1) controls Schwann cell migration via activation of the atypical Dock180-related guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Dock7 and subsequent activation of the Rho guanine triphosphatases (GTPases) Rac1 and Cdc42 and the downstream c-Jun N-terminal kinase. We show that the NRG1 receptor ErbB2 directly binds and activates Dock7 by phosphorylating Tyr-1118. Dock7 knockdown, or expression of Dock7 harboring the Tyr-1118-to-Phe mutation in Schwann cells, attenuates the effects of NRG1. Thus, Dock7 functions as an intracellular substrate for ErbB2 to promote Schwann cell migration. This provides an unanticipated mechanism through which ligand-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation can trigger the activation of Rho GTPase-GEFs of the Dock180 family