An anti-cancer Smurf

A novel, cancer-fighting function was recently discovered for Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor 2 (Smurf2)

SWI/SNF-mediated chromatin remodeling induces Z-DNA formation on a nucleosome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Z-DNA is a higher-energy, left-handed form of the double helix. A primary function of Z-DNA formation is to facilitate transcriptional initiation and activation. Sequences favoring Z-DNA formation are frequently located in promoter regions and Z-DNA is stabilized by torsional strain resulting from negative supercoiling, such as that generated by an actively transcribing polymerase or by a nucleosome remodeling event. We previously have shown that activation of the CSF1 gene by a chromatin remodeling event in the promoter results in Z-DNA formation at TG repeats within the promoter.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that remodeling of a mononucleosome by the human SWI/SNF complex results in Z-DNA formation when the DNA within the mononucleosome contains Z-DNA favoring sequence. Nuclease accessibility patterns of nucleosome core particle consisting of Z-DNA are quite different from counterpart nucleosomes containing classic B-DNA. Z-nucleosomes represent a novel mononucleosome structure.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We present evidence that Z-DNA can form on nucleosomes though previous observations indicate the occlusion of nucleosome formation from Z-DNA.</p

DNA methylation and regulatory elements during chicken germline stem cell differentiation

Funding for Open Access provided by the UMD Libraries' Open Access Publishing Fund.The production of germ cells in vitro would open important new avenues for stem biology and human medicine, but the mechanisms of germ cell differentiation are not well understood. The chicken, as a great model for embryology and development, was used in this study to help us explore its regulatory mechanisms. In this study, we reported a comprehensive genome-wide DNA methylation landscape in chicken germ cells, and transcriptomic dynamics was also presented. By uncovering DNA methylation patterns on individual genes, some genes accurately modulated by DNA methylation were found to be associated with cancers and virus infection, e.g., AKT1 and CTNNB1. Chicken-unique markers were also discovered for identifying male germ cells. Importantly, integrated epigenetic mechanisms were explored during male germ cell differentiation, which provides deep insight into the epigenetic processes associated with male germ cell differentiation and possibly improves treatment options to male infertility in animals and humans

Neoatherosclerosis after Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation: Roles and Mechanisms

In-stent neoatherosclerosis (NA), characterized by a relatively thin fibrous cap and large volume of yellow-lipid accumulation after drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation, has attracted much attention owing to its close relationship with late complications, such as revascularization and late stent thrombosis (ST). Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that more than one-third of patients with first-generation DES present with NA. Even in the advent of second-generation DES, NA still occurs. It is indicated that endothelial dysfunction induced by DES plays a critical role in neoatherosclerotic development. Upregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by DES implantation significantly affects endothelial cells healing and functioning, therefore rendering NA formation. In light of the role of ROS in suppression of endothelial healing, combining antioxidant therapies with stenting technology may facilitate reestablishing a functioning endothelium to improve clinical outcome for patients with stenting

Pembuatan Alat Peraga Lemari Pendingin Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Mata Kuliah Teknik Pendingin Di Universitas Negeri Semarang

— Media pembelajaran merupakan segala fisik yang menyajikan pesan serta perangsang peserta didik untuk belajar, sehingga keberadaan media pembelajaran penting untuk membantu dalam proses belajar mengajar. Alat peraga adalah salah satu media pembelajaran, dengan memanfaatkan alat peraga proses pembelajaran akan dapat mempermudah dalam memahami materi yang dipelajari oleh mahasiswa, karena ditampilkan dalam bentuk nyata. Teknik Pendingin adalah salah satu mata kuliah yang ada pada Prodi Pendidikan Teknik Elektro. Permasalahannya apakah alat peraga lemari pendingin layak sebagai media pembelajaran pada mata kuliah Teknik Pendingin jurusan Teknik Elektro Universitas Negeri Semarang. Untuk itu perlu diadakan penelitian untuk mengetahui apakah alat peraga lemari pendingin ini layak untuk dignakan sebagai media pembelajaran. Data dikumpulkan dengan metode angket tertutup maupun terbuka. Alat peraga lemari pendingin ini diujicoba oleh dosen ahli materi teknik pendingin. Metode analisis yang digunakan adalah metode analisis statistik deskriptif. Menurut hasil penelitian dari responden secara keseluruhan, alat peraga lemari pendingin pada mata kuliah Teknik Pendingin ini layak digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran. Dosen ahli materi mengemukakan alat peraga ini layak dijadikan alat peraga setelah adanya revisi alat. Berdasarkan dari hasil penelitian dan pembahasan, dapat disimpulkan bahwa menurut mahasiswa media pembelajaran yang berupa alat peraga lemari pendingin pada mata kuliah Teknik Pendingin diwujudkan dengan menyusun prosedur kerja dengan langkah-langkah sebagai berikut: perencanaan alat peraga, penyediaan alat dan bahan, pembuatan alat peraga, validasi alat peraga, uji coba alat peraga, dan evaluasi. Dari hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan kepada mahasiswa dengan beberapa aspek, alat peraga lemari pendingin ini termasuk dalam kategori layak, sehingga alat peraga ini dapat digunakan sebagai media pembelajaran. Namun masih terdapat kekurangan pada bahan penutup yang dugunakan seharusnya tidak menggunakan kaca agar tidah mudah pecah, dan jika menggunakan kaca suhu yang ada di dalam lemari pendingin masih dapat terpengaruh oleh suhu udara luar. Kata kunci— Media Pembelajaran, teknik pendingin, universitas negeri semarang, alat peraga, lemari pendingi

Determination of enriched histone modifications in non-genic portions of the human genome

Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) has recently been used to identify the modification patterns for the methylation and acetylation of many different histone tails in genes and enhancers.RESULTS:We have extended the analysis of histone modifications to gene deserts, pericentromeres and subtelomeres. Using data from human CD4+ T cells, we have found that each of these non-genic regions has a particular profile of histone modifications that distinguish it from the other non-coding regions. Different methylation states of H4K20, H3K9 and H3K27 were found to be enriched in each region relative to the other regions. These findings indicate that non-genic regions of the genome are variable with respect to histone modification patterns, rather than being monolithic. We furthermore used consensus sequences for unassembled centromeres and telomeres to identify the significant histone modifications in these regions. Finally, we compared the modification patterns in non-genic regions to those at silent genes and genes with higher levels of expression. For all tested methylations with the exception of H3K27me3, the enrichment level of each modification state for silent genes is between that of non-genic regions and expressed genes. For H3K27me3, the highest levels are found in silent genes.CONCLUSION:In addition to the histone modification pattern difference between euchromatin and heterochromatin regions, as is illustrated by the enrichment of H3K9me2/3 in non-genic regions while H3K9me1 is enriched at active genes; the chromatin modifications within non-genic (heterochromatin-like) regions (e.g. subtelomeres, pericentromeres and gene deserts) are also quite different

Monovalent and unpoised status of most genes in undifferentiated cell-enriched Drosophila testis

In undifferentiated Drosophila cells, differentiation-associated genes have monovalent, not bivalent histone modifications, in contrast to differentiation-associated genes in stem cells