14,806 research outputs found
Gap Junction Mediated miRNA Intercellular Transfer and Gene Regulation: A Novel Mechanism for Intercellular Genetic Communication
Intercellular genetic communication is an essential requirement for coordination of cell proliferation and differentiation and has an important role in many cellular processes. Gap junction channels possess large pore allowing passage of ions and small molecules between cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs that can regulate gene expression broadly. Here, we report that miRNAs can pass through gap junction channels in a connexin-dependent manner. Connexin43 (Cx43) had higher permeability, whereas Cx30 showed little permeability to miRNAs. In the tested connexin cell lines, the permeability to miRNAs demonstrated: Cx43 \u3e Cx26/30 \u3e Cx26 \u3e Cx31 \u3e Cx30 = Cx-null. However, consistent with a uniform structure of miRNAs, there was no significant difference in permeability to different miRNAs. The passage is efficient; the miRNA level in the recipient cells could be up to 30% of the donor level. Moreover, the transferred miRNA is functional and could regulate gene expression in neighboring cells. Connexin mutation and gap junctional blockers could eliminate this miRNA intercellular transfer and gene regulation. These data reveal a novel mechanism for intercellular genetic communication. Given that connexin expression is cell-specific, this connexin-dependent, miRNA intercellular genetic communication may play an important role in synchronizing and coordinating proliferation and differentiation of specific cell types during multicellular organ development
A Robust Quantum Random Access Memory
A "bucket brigade" architecture for a quantum random memory of memory
cells needs times of quantum manipulation on control circuit nodes
per memory call. Here we propose a scheme, in which only average times
manipulation is required to accomplish a memory call. This scheme may
significantly decrease the time spent on a memory call and the average overall
error rate per memory call. A physical implementation scheme for storing an
arbitrary state in a selected memory cell followed by reading it out is
discussed.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Topological quantum memory interfacing atomic and superconducting qubits
We propose a scheme to manipulate a topological spin qubit which is realized
with cold atoms in a one-dimensional optical lattice. In particular, by
introducing a quantum opto-electro-mechanical interface, we are able to first
transfer a superconducting qubit state to an atomic qubit state and then to
store it into the topological spin qubit. In this way, an efficient topological
quantum memory could be constructed for the superconducting qubit. Therefore,
we can consolidate the advantages of both the noise resistance of the
topological qubits and the scalability of the superconducting qubits in this
hybrid architecture.Comment: v2: Accepted for publication in Science China-Physics, Mechanics &
Astronom
Subnatural-Linewidth Polarization-Entangled Photon Pairs with Controllable Temporal Length
We demonstrate an efficient experimental scheme for producing
polarization-entangled photon pairs from spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM) in
a laser-cooled Rb atomic ensemble, with a bandwidth (as low as 0.8 MHz)
much narrower than the rubidium atomic natural linewidth. By stabilizing the
relative phase between the two SFWM paths in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer
configuration, we are able to produce all four Bell states. These
subnatural-linewidth photon pairs with polarization entanglement are ideal
quantum information carriers for connecting remote atomic quantum nodes via
efficient light-matter interaction in a photon-atom quantum network.Comment: Title changed, published version, 5 pages + 3 pages Supplemental
Materia
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