22 research outputs found
TEs or not TEs? That is the evolutionary question
Transposable elements (TEs) have contributed a wide range of functional sequences to their host genomes. A recent paper in BMC Molecular Biology discusses the creation of new transcripts by transposable element insertion upstream of retrocopies and the involvement of such insertions in tissue-specific post-transcriptional regulation
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Overlapping Splicing Regulatory Motifs—Combinatorial Effects on Splicing
Regulation of splicing in eukaryotes occurs through the coordinated action of multiple splicing factors. Exons and introns contain numerous putative binding sites for splicing regulatory proteins. Regulation of splicing is presumably achieved by the combinatorial output of the binding of splicing factors to the corresponding binding sites. Although putative regulatory sites often overlap, no extensive study has examined whether overlapping regulatory sequences provide yet another dimension to splicing regulation. Here we analyzed experimentally-identified splicing regulatory sequences using a computational method based on the natural distribution of nucleotides and splicing regulatory sequences. We uncovered positive and negative interplay between overlapping regulatory sequences. Examination of these overlapping motifs revealed a unique spatial distribution, especially near splice donor sites of exons with weak splice donor sites. The positively selected overlapping splicing regulatory motifs were highly conserved among different species, implying functionality. Overall, these results suggest that overlap of two splicing regulatory binding sites is an evolutionary conserved widespread mechanism of splicing regulation. Finally, over-abundant motif overlaps were experimentally tested in a reporting minigene revealing that overlaps may facilitate a mode of splicing that did not occur in the presence of only one of the two regulatory sequences that comprise it
Synthesis and pinning properties of the infinite-layer superconductor Sr0.9La0.1CuO
We report the high-pressure synthesis of the electron-doped infinite-layer
superconductor Sr0.9La0.1CuO2 and its superconducting properties. A Rietveld
analysis of X-ray powder diffraction data showed that, within the resolution of
the measurement, the sample had purely an infinite-layer structure without any
discernible impurities. The superconducting volume fraction and the transition
width were greatly improved compared to those in previous reports. The
irreversibility field line and the intragranular critical current density were
much higher than those of La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 and Nd1.85Ce0.15CuO4. The stronger
pinning behaviors are consistent with the strong interlayer coupling due to the
short distance between CuO2 planes.Comment: Physica C (in press) 5 pages, 4 figur
Substitution for Cu in the electron-doped infinite-layer superconductor Sr0.9La0.1CuO2, Ni reduces Tc much faster than Zn
We report on the effect of substitution for Cu on Tc of electron-doped
infinite-layer superconductors Sr0.9La0.1Cu1-xRxO2, R = Zn and Ni. We found
that Tc was nearly constant until x = 0.03 for R = Zn, while superconductivity
was nearly suppressed for x = 0.02 with dTc/dx = 20 K/% for R = Ni. This
behavior is very similar to that of conventional superconductors. These
findings are discussed in terms of the superconducting gap symmetry in the
cuprate superconductors including another electron-doped superconductor,
(Nd,Ce)2CuO4-y.Comment: 5 pages and 2 EPS figures, [email protected] for material reques
Fourth Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, circa 1907-1910
Fourth Regiment Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, circa 1907-1910. Postmark date: February 11, 1910; Message included
T Cell Vaccination Benefits Relapsing Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial
<div><h3>Background</h3><p>T-cell vaccination (TCV) for multiple sclerosis (MS) refers to treatment with autologous anti-myelin T-cells, attenuated by irradiation. Previously published clinical trials have been all open-labeled.</p> <h3>Aim</h3><p>To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TCV in progressive MS, in a double-blind, controlled clinical trial.</p> <h3>Methodology</h3><p>Twenty-six patients with relapsing-progressive MS were enrolled in the study (mean age: 39±9.8 years; mean EDSS: 4.4±1.7). T-cell lines reactive to 9 different peptides of the myelin antigens, MBP, MOG and PLP were raised from the patients' peripheral blood. The patients were randomized into two groups: 19 were treated with TCV (four subcutaneous injections of 10–30×10<sup>6</sup> T-cells, attenuated by irradiation, on days 1, 30, 90 and 180) and 7 patients were treated with sham injections. Twenty-four patients (17 in the TCV group and 7 in the placebo) were eligible for per-protocol analysis.</p> <h3>Results</h3><p>At one year following the inclusion, an increase in the EDSS (+0.50) and an increase in 10-meter walking time (+0.18 sec), were observed in the placebo group; in the TCV group there was a decrease in the EDSS (−0.44; p<0.01) and in the 10-meter walking time (0.84 sec; p<0.005). Sixteen of the 17 patients (94.1%) in the TCV group remained relapse-free during the year of the study, as compared to 42.9% in the placebo group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03 with adjustment). The proportion of patients with any relapse during the year of the study in the TCV-group, was reduced by 89.6%., as compared to the placebo-treated group. MRI parameters did not change significantly.</p> <h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This is the first controlled, double-blind trial with TCV in progressive MS. The results demonstrate the feasibility and safety of the procedure, and provide significant indications of clinical efficacy. Further studies with larger groups of subjects are warranted.</p> <h3>Trial Registration</h3><p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/NCT01448252">NCT01448252</a></p> </div
Demographic data of the patients at inclusion to the study (N = 24).
<p>Demographic data of the patients at inclusion to the study (N = 24).</p