UV-Induced Ubiquitylation of XPC Protein Mediated by UV-DDB-Ubiquitin Ligase Complex

SummaryThe xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) protein complex plays a key role in recognizing DNA damage throughout the genome for mammalian nucleotide excision repair (NER). Ultraviolet light (UV)-damaged DNA binding protein (UV-DDB) is another complex that appears to be involved in the recognition of NER-inducing damage, although the precise role it plays and its relationship to XPC remain to be elucidated. Here we show that XPC undergoes reversible ubiquitylation upon UV irradiation of cells and that this depends on the presence of functional UV-DDB activity. XPC and UV-DDB were demonstrated to interact physically, and both are polyubiquitylated by the recombinant UV-DDB-ubiquitin ligase complex. The polyubiquitylation altered the DNA binding properties of XPC and UV-DDB and appeared to be required for cell-free NER of UV-induced (6-4) photoproducts specifically when UV-DDB was bound to the lesion. Our results strongly suggest that ubiquitylation plays a critical role in the transfer of the UV-induced lesion from UV-DDB to XPC

Case Report Case Report of Atlantoaxial Rotatory Fixation after Cochlear Implantation

Atlantoaxial rotatory fixation (AARF) is a relatively rare condition and is mainly seen in children. We report of a 7-year-old girl suffering from AARF after cochlear implantation (CI). Fortunately, early diagnosis based on three-dimensional computed tomography (3DCT) was made, and the patient was cured with conservative therapy. Nontraumatic AARF, which is also known as Grisel's syndrome and occurs subsequent to neck infections or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgery, represents only a small fraction of AARF cases. Two factors are mainly thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of the condition estimated, namely, (i) neck immaturity in children and (ii) infiltration by inflammatory mediators around the upper neck joint, easily permitted by the neck vasculature. AARF should be suspected in case of torticollis developing after ENT surgery

International Pellet Watch: global monitoring of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in coastal waters. 1. Initial phase data on PCBs, DDTs, and HCHs

Samples of polyethylene pellets were collected at 30 beaches from 17 countries and analyzed for organochlorine compounds. PCB concentrations in the pellets were highest on US coasts, followed by western Europe and Japan, and were lower in tropical Asia, southern Africa and Australia. This spatial pattern reflected regional differences in the usage of PCBs and was positively correlated with data from Mussel Watch, another monitoring approach. DDTs showed high concentrations on the US west coast and in Vietnam. In Vietnam, DDT was predominant over its metabolites (DDE and DDD), suggesting the principal source may be current usage of the pesticide for malaria control. High concentrations of pesticide HCHs were detected in the pellets from southern Africa, suggesting current usage of the pesticides in southern Africa. This study demonstrates the utility and feasibility of the International Pellet Watch approach to monitor POPs at a global scale

Self-assembled monolayer of light-harvesting core complexes of photosynthetic bacteria on an amino-terminated ITO electrode

Light-harvesting antenna core (LH1-RC) complexes isolated from Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas palustris were successfully self-assembled on an ITO electrode modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Near infra-red (NIR) absorption, fluorescence, and IR spectra of these LH1-RC complexes indicated that these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were stable on the electrode. An efficient energy transfer and photocurrent responses of these LH1-RC complexes on the electrode were observed upon illumination of the LH1 complex at 880 nm

A grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering analysis on capped Ge nanodots in layer structures.

The title was changed after a peer-review.The grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) intensity from buried Ge nanodots is examined both by GISAXS/reflectivity measurements and by simulations with distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA). The validity and the condition of using the Born approximation (BA) are discussed using simulations based on the layer structures modeled from a reflectivity analysis. As expected in the previous kinematic analysis, use of the BA is reasonable in determining the size and the shape of very small or thin nanodots. Several effects of layer structures on the GISAXS analysis are discussed

A New Health Promotion Program That Includes Wadaiko Rhythm Exercise to Maintain the Health of Persons Excluded from Receiving Specific Health Guidance

This study examined the effectiveness of a new health promotion program, which is a collective intervention program aimed at improving lifestyle habits. It was designed as a one-year prospective cohort study. This program targeted non-obese persons at risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases and participants with hypertension, dyslipidemia, or hyperglycemia who were not included in the specific health guidance system in Japan. The Wadaiko rhythm exercise, which is a traditional performing art, is incorporated into this intervention as an enjoyable routine that can help participants continue the program, preventing them from dropping out. After a one-year follow-up, the effectiveness of the health promotion program was evaluated in 18 participants (2 males, 16 females; mean age 65.2 ± 3.4 years) and 92 controls. The results showed that triglyceride in the intervention group significantly decreased (−24.5 mg/dL; p = 0.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], −44.73 to −4.27) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly increased (+6.1 mg/dL; p < 0.01; 95% CI, 2.46 to 9.65), although levels in the control group did not change. These results suggest that the health promotion program could contribute to lifestyle habit improvements in those who are excluded from receiving specific health guidance

A grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering analysis on capped Ge nanodots in layer structures

The title was changed after a peer-review.The grazing incidence small-angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) intensity from buried Ge nanodots is examined both by GISAXS/reflectivity measurements and by simulations with distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA). The validity and the condition of using the Born approximation (BA) are discussed using simulations based on the layer structures modeled from a reflectivity analysis. As expected in the previous kinematic analysis, use of the BA is reasonable in determining the size and the shape of very small or thin nanodots. Several effects of layer structures on the GISAXS analysis are discussed