Molecular Mechanism of GTPase Activation at the Signal Recognition Particle (SRP) RNA Distal End

The signal recognition particle (SRP) RNA is a universally conserved and essential component of the SRP that mediates the co-translational targeting of proteins to the correct cellular membrane. During the targeting reaction, two functional ends in the SRP RNA mediate distinct functions. Whereas the RNA tetraloop facilitates initial assembly of two GTPases between the SRP and SRP receptor, this GTPase complex subsequently relocalizes ∼100 Å to the 5′,3′-distal end of the RNA, a conformation crucial for GTPase activation and cargo handover. Here we combined biochemical, single molecule, and NMR studies to investigate the molecular mechanism of this large scale conformational change. We show that two independent sites contribute to the interaction of the GTPase complex with the SRP RNA distal end. Loop E plays a crucial role in the precise positioning of the GTPase complex on these two sites by inducing a defined bend in the RNA helix and thus generating a preorganized recognition surface. GTPase docking can be uncoupled from its subsequent activation, which is mediated by conserved bases in the next internal loop. These results, combined with recent structural work, elucidate how the SRP RNA induces GTPase relocalization and activation at the end of the protein targeting reaction

Decoration of graphene nanoribbons by 5d5d transition-metal elements

Graphene is a famous truly two-dimensional (2D) material, possessing a cone-like energy structure near the Fermi level and treated as a gapless semiconductor. Its unique properties trigger researchers to find applications of it. The gapless feature shrinks the development of graphene nanoelectronics. Making one-dimensional (1D) strips of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) could be one of the promising routes to modulating the electronic and optical properties of graphene. The electronic and optical properties of GNRs are highly sensitive to the edge and width. The tunability in electronic and optical properties further implies the possibilities of GNR application. However, the dangling bonds at ribbon edges remain an open question in GNR systems. Various passivation at the ribbon edge might change the essential physical properties. In this work, $5d$ transition-metal elements are considered as the guest atoms at the edges. The geometric structure, energy bands, density of states, charge distribution, and optical transitions are discussed

The role of trauma team activation by emergency physicians on outcomes in severe trauma patients

AbstractBackgroundIn our region, trauma team activation (TTA) is initiated by emergency physicians once an injured patient meets any of the criteria of TTA after the injured patient arrives at the emergency department (ED).PurposeTo evaluate the role of TTA on outcomes in patients with severe trauma.MethodsAll trauma patients who had injury severity score (ISS) >15 and were admitted from ED between January 2010 to December 2010 were included in the study. Mann–Whitney U test (non-normal distribution) or Student's t test (normal distribution) for continuous variables and Fisher exact test or Chi-square test for categorical variables were used to compare the statistically significant differences between TTA and non-TTA groups. Logistic regression was applied to determine any significant differences found in the statistical analysis for 30-day mortality.ResultsA total of 231 patients were signed up in the study. The TTA group had shorter time from ED to operation room (170 minutes vs. 534 minutes, p = 0.02) and tended to have more emergent operations (42.7% vs. 23.2%, p = 0.002). Emergent operation [odds ratio (OR), 0.34; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12–0.92, p = 0.035) was associated with lower mortality while ISS > 25 (OR, 7.48; 95% CI, 2.48–22.57, p < 0.0001), Glasgow coma scale score <13 (OR, 32.1; 95% CI, 4.30–94.6, p < 0.0001), hypotension (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1–7.9, p = 0.03), and coagulopathy (OR, 9.3; 95% CI, 1.2–71.4, p = 0.033) were associated with higher mortality.ConclusionThis study shows that TTA may shorten the time from ED to operation room in trauma patients with an ISS > 15

Persistent Tissue Kinetics and Redistribution of Nanoparticles, Quantum Dot 705, in Mice: ICP-MS Quantitative Assessment

Background: Quantum dots (QDs) are autofluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals that can be used for in vivo biomedical imaging. However, we know little about their in vivo disposition and health consequences. Objectives: We assessed the tissue disposition and pharmacokinetics of QD705 in mice. Methods: We determined quantitatively the blood and tissue kinetics of QD705 in mice after single intravenous (iv) injection at the dose of 40 pmol for up to 28 days. Inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurement of cadmium was the primary method of quantification of QD705. Fluorescence light microscopy revealed the localization of QD705 in tissues. Results: Plasma half-life of QD705 in mice was short (18.5 hr), but ICP-MS analyses revealed QD705 persisted and even continued to increase in the spleen, liver, and kidney 28 days after an iv dose. Considerable time-dependent redistribution from body mass to liver and kidney was apparent between 1 and 28 days postdosing. The recoveries at both time points were near 100%; all QD705s reside in the body. Neither fecal nor urinary excretion of QD705 was detected appreciably in 28 days postdosing. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated deposition of QD705 in the liver, spleen, and kidneys. Conclusion: Judging from the continued increase in the liver (29–42% of the administered dose), kidney (1.5–9.2%), and spleen (4.8–5.2%) between 1 and 28 days without any appreciable excretion, QD705 has a very long half-life, potentially weeks or even months, in the body and its health consequences deserve serious consideration

Small Molecule Amiloride Modulates Oncogenic RNA Alternative Splicing to Devitalize Human Cancer Cells

Alternative splicing involves differential exon selection of a gene transcript to generate mRNA and protein isoforms with structural and functional diversity. Abnormal alternative splicing has been shown to be associated with malignant phenotypes of cancer cells, such as chemo-resistance and invasive activity. Screening small molecules and drugs for modulating RNA splicing in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Huh-7, we discovered that amiloride, distinct from four pH-affecting amiloride analogues, could “normalize” the splicing of BCL-X, HIPK3 and RON/MISTR1 transcripts. Our proteomic analyses of amiloride-treated cells detected hypo-phosphorylation of splicing factor SF2/ASF, and decreased levels of SRp20 and two un-identified SR proteins. We further observed decreased phosphorylation of AKT, ERK1/2 and PP1, and increased phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, suggesting that amiloride treatment down-regulates kinases and up-regulates phosphatases in the signal pathways known to affect splicing factor protein phosphorylation. These amiloride effects of “normalized” oncogenic RNA splicing and splicing factor hypo-phosphorylation were both abrogated by pre-treatment with a PP1 inhibitor. Global exon array of amiloride-treated Huh-7 cells detected splicing pattern changes involving 584 exons in 551 gene transcripts, many of which encode proteins playing key roles in ion transport, cellular matrix formation, cytoskeleton remodeling, and genome maintenance. Cellular functional analyses revealed subsequent invasion and migration defects, cell cycle disruption, cytokinesis impairment, and lethal DNA degradation in amiloride-treated Huh-7 cells. Other human solid tumor and leukemic cells, but not a few normal cells, showed similar amiloride-altered RNA splicing with devitalized consequence. This study thus provides mechanistic underpinnings for exploiting small molecule modulation of RNA splicing for cancer therapeutics

Genome-Wide Association Study of Young-Onset Hypertension in the Han Chinese Population of Taiwan

Young-onset hypertension has a stronger genetic component than late-onset counterpart; thus, the identification of genes related to its susceptibility is a critical issue for the prevention and management of this disease. We carried out a two-stage association scan to map young-onset hypertension susceptibility genes. The first-stage analysis, a genome-wide association study, analyzed 175 matched case-control pairs; the second-stage analysis, a confirmatory association study, verified the results at the first stage based on a total of 1,008 patients and 1,008 controls. Single-locus association tests, multilocus association tests and pair-wise gene-gene interaction tests were performed to identify young-onset hypertension susceptibility genes. After considering stringent adjustments of multiple testing, gene annotation and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) quality, four SNPs from two SNP triplets with strong association signals (−log10(p)>7) and 13 SNPs from 8 interactive SNP pairs with strong interactive signals (−log10(p)>8) were carefully re-examined. The confirmatory study verified the association for a SNP quartet 219 kb and 495 kb downstream of LOC344371 (a hypothetical gene) and RASGRP3 on chromosome 2p22.3, respectively. The latter has been implicated in the abnormal vascular responsiveness to endothelin-1 and angiotensin II in diabetic-hypertensive rats. Intrinsic synergy involving IMPG1 on chromosome 6q14.2-q15 was also verified. IMPG1 encodes interphotoreceptor matrix proteoglycan 1 which has cation binding capacity. The genes are novel hypertension targets identified in this first genome-wide hypertension association study of the Han Chinese population

Identification of IGF1, SLC4A4, WWOX, and SFMBT1 as Hypertension Susceptibility Genes in Han Chinese with a Genome-Wide Gene-Based Association Study

Hypertension is a complex disorder with high prevalence rates all over the world. We conducted the first genome-wide gene-based association scan for hypertension in a Han Chinese population. By analyzing genome-wide single-nucleotide-polymorphism data of 400 matched pairs of young-onset hypertensive patients and normotensive controls genotyped with the Illumina HumanHap550-Duo BeadChip, 100 susceptibility genes for hypertension were identified and also validated with permutation tests. Seventeen of the 100 genes exhibited differential allelic and expression distributions between patient and control groups. These genes provided a good molecular signature for classifying hypertensive patients and normotensive controls. Among the 17 genes, IGF1, SLC4A4, WWOX, and SFMBT1 were not only identified by our gene-based association scan and gene expression analysis but were also replicated by a gene-based association analysis of the Hong Kong Hypertension Study. Moreover, cis-acting expression quantitative trait loci associated with the differentially expressed genes were found and linked to hypertension. IGF1, which encodes insulin-like growth factor 1, is associated with cardiovascular disorders, metabolic syndrome, decreased body weight/size, and changes of insulin levels in mice. SLC4A4, which encodes the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter 1, is associated with decreased body weight/size and abnormal ion homeostasis in mice. WWOX, which encodes the WW domain-containing protein, is related to hypoglycemia and hyperphosphatemia. SFMBT1, which encodes the scm-like with four MBT domains protein 1, is a novel hypertension gene. GRB14, TMEM56 and KIAA1797 exhibited highly significant differential allelic and expressed distributions between hypertensive patients and normotensive controls. GRB14 was also found relevant to blood pressure in a previous genetic association study in East Asian populations. TMEM56 and KIAA1797 may be specific to Taiwanese populations, because they were not validated by the two replication studies. Identification of these genes enriches the collection of hypertension susceptibility genes, thereby shedding light on the etiology of hypertension in Han Chinese populations

Morphological diversity of single neurons in molecularly defined cell types.

Dendritic and axonal morphology reflects the input and output of neurons and is a defining feature of neuronal types1,2, yet our knowledge of its diversity remains limited. Here, to systematically examine complete single-neuron morphologies on a brain-wide scale, we established a pipeline encompassing sparse labelling, whole-brain imaging, reconstruction, registration and analysis. We fully reconstructed 1,741 neurons from cortex, claustrum, thalamus, striatum and other brain regions in mice. We identified 11 major projection neuron types with distinct morphological features and corresponding transcriptomic identities. Extensive projectional diversity was found within each of these major types, on the basis of which some types were clustered into more refined subtypes. This diversity follows a set of generalizable principles that govern long-range axonal projections at different levels, including molecular correspondence, divergent or convergent projection, axon termination pattern, regional specificity, topography, and individual cell variability. Although clear concordance with transcriptomic profiles is evident at the level of major projection type, fine-grained morphological diversity often does not readily correlate with transcriptomic subtypes derived from unsupervised clustering, highlighting the need for single-cell cross-modality studies. Overall, our study demonstrates the crucial need for quantitative description of complete single-cell anatomy in cell-type classification, as single-cell morphological diversity reveals a plethora of ways in which different cell types and their individual members may contribute to the configuration and function of their respective circuits