Transport of the alpha subunit of the voltage gated Lâ type calcium channel through the sarcoplasmic reticulum occurs prior to localization to triads and requires the beta subunit but not Stac3 in skeletal muscles

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138228/1/tra12502-sup-0001-EditorialProcess.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138228/2/tra12502.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138228/3/tra12502_am.pd

Quasiparticle dynamics and phonon softening in FeSe superconductors

Quasiparticle dynamics of FeSe single crystals revealed by dual-color transient reflectivity measurements ({\Delta}R/R) provides unprecedented information on Fe-based superconductors. The amplitude of fast component in {\Delta}R/R clearly tells a competing scenario between spin fluctuations and superconductivity. Together with the transport measurements, the relaxation time analysis further exhibits anomalous changes at 90 K and 230 K. The former manifests a structure phase transition as well as the associated phonon softening. The latter suggests a previously overlooked phase transition or crossover in FeSe. The electron-phonon coupling constant {\lambda} is found to be 0.16, identical to the value of theoretical calculations. Such a small {\lambda} demonstrates an unconventional origin of superconductivity in FeSe.Comment: Final published version; 5 pages; 4 figure

Spatially-resolved relaxation dynamics of photoinduced quasiparticles in underdoped YBasub2sub 2Cusub3sub 3Osub7−deltasub {7-delta}

The spatially-resolved relaxation characteristics of photoinduced quasiparticles (QPs) in CuO$sub 2$ planes of underdoped YBCO are disclosed by polarized fs time-resolved spectroscopy. The relaxation time (tau) along b axis diverges at Tc, and appears to be governed by a temperature-dependent gap Delta(T) at T Tc, a monotonic increase of tau with decreasing T along the b axis and ab diagonal was observed and can be attributed to a temperature-independent gap Delta$sub p$. The results lend support to recombination dominant scenario of QP dynamics. However, the QP thermalization may take part along the nodal direction in the highly underdoped samples.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Physical Review B, Brief Repor

Fabrication and Low Temperature Thermoelectric Properties of Na_xCoO_2 (x = 0.68 and 0.75) Epitaxial Films by the Reactive Solid-Phase Epitaxy

We have fabricated Na_xCoO_2 thin films via lateral diffusion of sodium into Co_3O_4 (111) epitaxial films (reactive solid-phase epitaxy: Ref. 4). The environment of thermal diffusion is key to the control of the sodium content in thin films. From the results of x-ray diffraction and in-plane resistivity, the epitaxial growth and the sodium contents of these films were identified. The thermoelectric measurements show a large thermoelectric power similar to that observed in single crystals. The quasiparticle scattering rate is found to approach zero at low temperatures, consistent with the small residual resistivity, indicating high quality of the Na_xCoO_2 thin films.Comment: 16 pages. 4 figures. To appear in Applied Physics Letter

Spatial Symmetry of Superconducting Gap in YBa2Cu3O7-\delta Obtained from Femtosecond Spectroscopy

The polarized femtosecond spectroscopies obtained from well characterized (100) and (110) YBa2Cu3O7-\delta thin films are reported. This bulk-sensitive spectroscopy, combining with the well-textured samples, serves as an effective probe to quasiparticle relaxation dynamics in different crystalline orientations. The significant anisotropy in both the magnitude of the photoinduced transient reflectivity change and the characteristic relaxation time indicates that the nature of the relaxation channel is intrinsically different in various axes and planes. By the orientation-dependent analysis, d-wave symmetry of the bulk-superconducting gap in cuprate superconductors emerges naturally.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. To be published in Physical Review B, Rapid Communication

Diffuse ST segment depression from hypothermia

Hypothermia is known to cause specific electrocardiographic (EKG) changes such as Osborne waves and bradycardia. We report diffuse ST segment depression, an atypical EKG change, in a patient with a core temperature of 29.4°C (85°F). This patient had no previous cardiovascular pathology, and his EKG changes resolved gradually with aggressive warming. We also discuss the pathophysiology and clinical significance of ST depression in the general population and the typical EKG changes in hypothermia patients

Colon cancer subtypes: Concordance, effect on survival and selection of the most representative preclinical models

Multiple gene-expression-based subtypes have been proposed for the molecular subdivision of colon cancer in the last decade. We aimed to cross-validate these classifiers to explore their concordance and their power to predict survival. A gene-chip-based database comprising 2,166 samples from 12 independent datasets was set up. A total of 22 different molecular subtypes were re-trained including the CCHS, CIN25, CMS, ColoGuideEx, ColoGuidePro, CRCassigner, MDA114, Meta163, ODXcolon, Oncodefender, TCA19, and V7RHS classifiers as well as subtypes established by Budinska, Chang, DeSousa, Marisa, Merlos, Popovici, Schetter, Yuen, and Watanabe (first authors). Correlation with survival was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression for each classifier using relapse-free survival data. The highest efficacy at predicting survival in stage 2-3 patients was achieved by Yuen (p = 3.9e-05, HR = 2.9), Marisa (p = 2.6e-05, HR = 2.6) and Chang (p = 9e-09, HR = 2.35). Finally, 61 colon cancer cell lines from four independent studies were assigned to the closest molecular subtype. © 2016 The Author(s)

Griseofulvin stabilizes microtubule dynamics, activates p53 and inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 cells synergistically with vinblastine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Griseofulvin, an antifungal drug, has recently been shown to inhibit proliferation of various types of cancer cells and to inhibit tumor growth in athymic mice. Due to its low toxicity, griseofulvin has drawn considerable attention for its potential use in cancer chemotherapy. This work aims to understand how griseofulvin suppresses microtubule dynamics in living cells and sought to elucidate the antimitotic and antiproliferative action of the drug.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of griseofulvin on the dynamics of individual microtubules in live MCF-7 cells were measured by confocal microscopy. Immunofluorescence microscopy, western blotting and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effects of griseofulvin on spindle microtubule organization, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Further, interactions of purified tubulin with griseofulvin were studied <it>in vitro </it>by spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry. Docking analysis was performed using autodock4 and LigandFit module of Discovery Studio 2.1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Griseofulvin strongly suppressed the dynamic instability of individual microtubules in live MCF-7 cells by reducing the rate and extent of the growing and shortening phases. At or near half-maximal proliferation inhibitory concentration, griseofulvin dampened the dynamicity of microtubules in MCF-7 cells without significantly disrupting the microtubule network. Griseofulvin-induced mitotic arrest was associated with several mitotic abnormalities like misaligned chromosomes, multipolar spindles, misegregated chromosomes resulting in cells containing fragmented nuclei. These fragmented nuclei were found to contain increased concentration of p53. Using both computational and experimental approaches, we provided evidence suggesting that griseofulvin binds to tubulin in two different sites; one site overlaps with the paclitaxel binding site while the second site is located at the αβ intra-dimer interface. In combination studies, griseofulvin and vinblastine were found to exert synergistic effects against MCF-7 cell proliferation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study provided evidence suggesting that griseofulvin shares its binding site in tubulin with paclitaxel and kinetically suppresses microtubule dynamics in a similar manner. The results revealed the antimitotic mechanism of action of griseofulvin and provided evidence suggesting that griseofulvin alone and/or in combination with vinblastine may have promising role in breast cancer chemotherapy.</p