KDM2B/FBXL10 targets c-Fos for ubiquitylation and degradation in response to mitogenic stimulation.

KDM2B (also known as FBXL10) controls stem cell self-renewal, somatic cell reprogramming and senescence, and tumorigenesis. KDM2B contains multiple functional domains, including a JmjC domain that catalyzes H3K36 demethylation and a CxxC zinc-finger that recognizes CpG islands and recruits the polycomb repressive complex 1. Here, we report that KDM2B, via its F-box domain, functions as a subunit of the CUL1-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL1/SCF(KDM2B)) complex. KDM2B targets c-Fos for polyubiquitylation and regulates c-Fos protein levels. Unlike the phosphorylation of other SCF (SKP1-CUL1-F-box)/CRL1 substrates that promotes substrates binding to F-box, epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced c-Fos S374 phosphorylation dissociates c-Fos from KDM2B and stabilizes c-Fos protein. Non-phosphorylatable and phosphomimetic mutations at S374 result in c-Fos protein which cannot be induced by EGF or accumulates constitutively and lead to decreased or increased cell proliferation, respectively. Multiple tumor-derived KDM2B mutations impaired the function of KDM2B to target c-Fos degradation and to suppress cell proliferation. These results reveal a novel function of KDM2B in the negative regulation of cell proliferation by assembling an E3 ligase to targeting c-Fos protein degradation that is antagonized by mitogenic stimulations

Subdwarf B stars from the common envelope ejection channel

From the canonical binary scenario, the majority of sdBs are produced from low-mass stars with degenerate cores where helium is ignited in a way of flashes. Due to numerical difficulties, the models of produced sdBs are generally constructed from more massive stars with non-degenerate cores, leaving several uncertainties on the exact characteristics of sdB stars. Employing MESA, we systematically studied the characteristics of sdBs produced from the common envelope (CE) ejection channel, and found that the sdB stars produced from the CE ejection channel appear to form two distinct groups on the effective temperature-gravity diagram. One group (the flash-mixing model) almost has no H-rich envelope and crows at the hottest temperature end of the extremely horizontal branch (EHB), while the other group has significant H-rich envelope and spreads over the whole canonical EHB region. The key factor for the dichotomy of the sdB properties is the development of convection during the first helium flash, which is determined by the interior structure of the star after the CE ejection. For a given initial stellar mass and a given core mass at the onset of the CE, if the CE ejection stops early, the star has a relatively massive H-rich envelope, resulting in a canonical sdB generally. The fact of only a few short-orbital-period sdB binaries being in the flash-mixing sdB region and the lack of He-rich sdBs in short-orbital-period binaries indicate that the flash mixing is not very often in the products of the CE ejection. A falling back process after the CE ejection, similar to that happened in nova, is an appropriate way of increasing the envelope mass, then prevents the flash mixing.Comment: accepted by A&A 12 pages, 11 figure

The effect of discrete breathers on heat conduction in nonlinear chains

Intensive studies in the past decades have suggested that the heat conductivity $\kappa$ diverges with the system size $L$ as $\kappa\sim L^{\alpha}$ in one dimensional momentum conserving nonlinear lattices and the value of $\alpha$ is universal. But in the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-$\beta$ lattices with next-nearest-neighbor interactions we find that $\alpha$ strongly depends on $\gamma$, the ratio of the next-nearest-neighbor coupling to the nearest-neighbor coupling. We relate the $\gamma$-dependent heat conduction to the interactions between the long-wavelength phonons and the randomly distributed discrete breathers. Our results provide an evidence to show that the nonlinear excitations affect the heat transport.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Co-suppression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein mediates etiolation in Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis plants were transformed with a chimeric construct containing expression cassettes for GFP election marker and CaMV 35S promoter-driven At5g35220 cDNA, via Agro bacterium-mediated method. Two transformants produced pigmentation deficient phenotype. Analysis revealed the decrease of chlorophyll in all etiolated plants. RT-PCR showed that, total At5g35220 mRNA levels were greatly inhibited in co-suppression lines. PORA and PORB mRNA expression were influenced also in the mutants. It is found that, the At5g35220 gene is responsive to both inhibitor and some hormone with regard to MVP/MEP pathway in our study.Key words: Etiolation, co-suppression, protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase gene (POR), light regulation

Investigation on the Influence of Gas Pressure on CO2 Arc Characteristics in High-Voltage Gas Circuit Breakers

CO2 is identified as a promising alternative gas of SF6. The magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) arc model is established for a CO2 circuit breaker. The influence of gas pressure is studied. The simulations are carried out for 0.5 MPa, 0.7 MPa and 0.9 MPa absolute filling pressure, allowing predictions of pressure and temperature distributions. The arc time constant θ and the power loss coefficient Q is extracted. The thermal interruption capability is estimated to grow with increasing filling pressure