Nuclear localization of orphan receptor protein kinase (Ror1) is mediated through the juxtamembrane domain

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such as EGFR, FGFR, TRK, and VEGFR are capable of localizing in the cell nucleus in addition to their usual plasma membrane localization. Recent reports also demonstrate that nuclear-localized RTKs have important cellular functions such as transcriptional activation. On the basis of preliminary bioinformatic analysis, additional RTKs, including receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (Ror1) were predicted to have the potential for nuclear subcellular localization. Ror1 is a receptor protein tyrosine kinase that modulates neurite growth in the central nervous system. Because the nuclear localization capability of the Ror1 cytoplasmic domain has not been reported, we examined the cellular expression distribution of this region.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The Ror1 cytoplasmic region was amplified and cloned into reporter constructs with fluorescent tags. Following transfection, the nuclear distribution patterns of transiently expressed fusion proteins were observed. Serial deletion constructs were then used to map the juxtamembrane domain of Ror1 (aa_471-513) for this nuclear translocation activity. Further site-directed mutagenesis suggested that a KxxK-16 aa-KxxK sequence at residues 486-509 is responsible for the nuclear translocation interaction. Subsequent immunofluorescence analysis by cotransfection of Ran and Ror1 implied that the nuclear translocation event of Ror1 might be mediated through the Ran pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We have predicted several RTKs that contain the nuclear localization signals. This is the first report to suggest that the juxtamembrane domain of the Ror1 cytoplasmic region mediates the translocation event. Ran GTPase is also implicated in this event. Our study might be beneficial in future research to understand the Ror1 biological signaling pathway.</p

Laparoscopic management of a giant adrenal cyst

AbstractAdrenal cysts, a rare entity, are usually nonfunctional and asymptomatic. Here, we report a 32-year-old woman who presented with mild breathlessness and vague abdominal fullness and discomfort that had lasted 6 months. Chest radiography showed elevation of the left side of the diaphragm. Abdominal sonography showed an anechoic lesion of >15cm, without a septum, that was situated over the left abdominal area. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a 20cm suprarenal cyst located between the pancreas, spleen, and left kidney, causing anterior displacement of the pancreas and inferior displacement of the left kidney. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the CT and sonographic findings, and revealed that the cystic mass was originating from the left adrenal gland. Fluid analysis of the cystic lesion showed no evidence of infection or malignancy. A laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed. Histopathologically, the adrenal tissue showed no evidence of adenoma or malignancy, and the cystic component showed a flattened endothelial lining with fibrotic tissue, consistent with an endothelial cyst. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient had no evidence of recurrence during a 6-year follow-up. We discuss the diagnosis and management of adrenal cysts

Effects of typhoons on gelatinous carnivore zooplankton off Northern Taiwan

We examine the effect of typhoons, as potential drivers of nutrient pulse events, on gelatinous carnivore zooplankton. The period investigated spanned from 2007 to 2010, where seasonal abundance and taxonomic composition of the gelatinous zooplankton community was recorded off North Taiwan. Typhoon effects were assessed in the abundance, diversity and species richness of the gelatinous carnivore populations. Significant associations between typhoons and gelatinous carnivores were found in time delays varying from 3 to 25 days, but no association was identified for longer time intervals. Generally, a decrease in species richness occurred during the summer season, and this was accentuated in 2008, shortly after typhoons events. We hypothesize that typhoons might act as resource pulse triggers probably enhancing open niches for opportunistic carnivore zooplankton groups

Prokaryotic assemblages and metagenomes in pelagic zones of the South China Sea

Background: Prokaryotic microbes, the most abundant organisms in the ocean, are remarkably diverse. Despite numerous studies of marine prokaryotes, the zonation of their communities in pelagic zones has been poorly delineated. By exploiting the persistent stratification of the South China Sea (SCS), we performed a 2-year, large spatial scale (10, 100, 1000, and 3000 m) survey, which included a pilot study in 2006 and comprehensive sampling in 2007, to investigate the biological zonation of bacteria and archaea using 16S rRNA tag and shotgun metagenome sequencing. Results: Alphaproteobacteria dominated the bacterial community in the surface SCS, where the abundance of Betaproteobacteria was seemingly associated with climatic activity. Gammaproteobacteria thrived in the deep SCS, where a noticeable amount of Cyanobacteria were also detected. Marine Groups II and III Euryarchaeota were predominant in the archaeal communities in the surface and deep SCS, respectively. Bacterial diversity was higher than archaeal diversity at all sampling depths in the SCS, and peaked at mid-depths, agreeing with the diversity pattern found in global water columns. Metagenomic analysis not only showed differential %GC values and genome sizes between the surface and deep SCS, but also demonstrated depth-dependent metabolic potentials, such as cobalamin biosynthesis at 10 m, osmoregulation at 100 m, signal transduction at 1000 m, and plasmid and phage replication at 3000 m. When compared with other oceans, urease at 10 m and both exonuclease and permease at 3000 m were more abundant in the SCS. Finally, enriched genes associated with nutrient assimilation in the sea surface and transposase in the deep-sea metagenomes exemplified the functional zonation in global oceans. Conclusions: Prokaryotic communities in the SCS stratified with depth, with maximal bacterial diversity at mid-depth, in accordance with global water columns. The SCS had functional zonation among depths and endemically enriched metabolic potentials at the study site, in contrast to other oceans

Attribute-Based Encryption from Identity-Based Encryption

Ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE) is an access control mechanism where a data provider encrypts a secret message and then sends the ciphertext to the receivers according to the access policy which she/he decides. If the attributes of the receivers match the access policy, then they can decrypt the ciphertext. This paper shows a relation between ABE and identity-based encryption (IBE), and presents a bi-directional conversion between an access structure and identities. By the proposed conversion, the ABE scheme constructed from an IBE scheme will inherit the features, such as constant-size ciphertexts and anonymity, from the IBE scheme, and vice versa. It turns out that the proposed conversion also gives the first ABE achieving access structures with wildcard and constant-size ciphertexts/private keys

Production and characterization of antioxidant properties of exopolysaccharides from Peanibacillus mucilaginosus TKU032

[[abstract]]Natural polysaccharides have received much attention due to their wide range of applications. Although most microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) use sugars as the major carbon source, such as glucose or sucrose, in this study, EPSs were induced from a squid pen powder (SPP)-containing medium by Paenibacillus mucilaginosus TKU032, a bacterial strain isolated from Taiwanese soil. Under the optimal culture conditions, the maximum EPS yield (14.8 g/L) was obtained. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of an EPS fraction purified by gel filtration revealed two mass peaks with molecular weights of ∼1.05 × 104 and ∼1.35 × 104 Da, respectively. The analysis of the hydrolysates of TKU032 EPS with cellulase, pectinase or α-amylase indicated that the glycosidic bond of TKU032 EPS is most likely an α-1,4 glycosidic bond and the hydrolysates are similar to those of starch. In addition, the purified EPS demonstrated strong antioxidant abilities.[[notice]]補正完

Effects of Angelica dahurica

The main objective of wound treatments is to restore the functional skin properties and prevent infection. Traditional Chinese medicine provides alternative anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing therapies. Both Angelica dahurica extract (AE) and Rheum officinale extract (RE) possess antimicrobial activity. In this study, AE and RE were applied in wound treatment to investigate their healing effects. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats with dorsal full-thickness skin excision were divided into normal saline (NS), AE, RE, AE plus RE (ARE), and Biomycin (BM) groups. The treatment and area measurement of wounds were applied daily for 21 days. Wound biopsies and blood samples were obtained for histology examinations and cytokine analysis. Results showed that wound contraction in ARE group was significantly higher than that in NS and BM groups (P 0.05), and plasma TGF-β1 levels were significantly lower than those in the NS group on days 3-4 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ARE accelerates wound healing during inflammation and proliferation phases