FHL1 activates myostatin signalling in skeletal muscle and promotes atrophy
Publication date: Available online 1 September 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Jen Y. Lee, Dede Lori, Dominic J. Wells, Paul R. Kemp Myostatin is a TGFβ family ligand that reduces muscle mass. In cancer cells, TGFβ signalling is increased by the protein FHL1. Consequently, FHL1 may promote signalling by myostatin. We therefore tested the ability of FHL1 to regulate myostatin function. FHL1 increased the myostatin activity on a SMAD reporter and increased myostatin dependent myotube wasting. In mice, independent expression of myostatin reduced fibre diameter whereas FHL1 increased fibre diameter, both con...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - September 1, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Microgravity influences circadian clock oscillation in human keratinocytes
In this study, we describe amplified oscillations of Bmal1 circadian clock gene in human keratinocytes exposed to short simulated microgravity and to rapid variation of gravitational forces. We found that exposure to microgravity enhances the amplitude of the Bmal1 feedback loop sustained by an apparently lower variability of Rev-erbα transcription, while recovery from microgravity is characterized by increased amplitude of Bmal1 expression and elongation of the oscillatory periods of Bmal1 and Rev-erbα. These data highlight the existence of integrated signaling network connecting mechanosensitive pathways to circadian g...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 31, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
In vivo assay to monitor flavonoid uptake across plant cell membranes
Publication date: Available online 29 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Antonio Filippi, Elisa Petrussa, Carlo Peresson, Alberto Bertolini, Angelo Vianello, Enrico Braidot Flavonoids represent one of the most important molecules of plant secondary metabolism, playing many different biochemical and physiological roles. Although their essential role in plant life and human health has been elucidated by many studies, their subcellular transport and accumulation in plant tissues remains unclear. This is due to the absence of a convenient and simple method to monitor their transport. In the present wor...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 30, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in MiR219-1 and MiR137 and susceptibility to schizophrenia in a Chinese population
Publication date: Available online 28 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Ya-Jun Sun, Ying Yu, Gao-Ceng Zhu, Zhu-Hua Sun, Jian-Xin Ge Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental disorders to severely affect human health worldwide. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within related genes are candidate susceptible factors for the disorder. Rs107822 within MiR219-1 and rs1625579 within MiR137 were genotyped in 589 cases and 622 controls to investigate the possible association between the loci and schizophrenia in a Chinese population. Our results showed significant association between rs107822 and ...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 28, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
A novel link between FMR gene and the JNK pathway provides clues to possible role in malignant pleural mesothelioma
Publication date: Available online 19 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Ajay Srivastava Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive form of thoracic cancer with poor prognosis. While some studies have identified the molecular alterations associated with MPM, little is known about their role in MPM. For example, fragile X mental retardation (FMR) gene is up-regulated in MPM but its role in MPM is unknown. Here, utilizing Drosophila genetics, I investigate the possible role FMR may be playing in MPM. I provide evidence which suggests that FMR may contribute to tumorigenesis by up-regulating a matrix...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 20, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
A new high-resolution crystal structure of the Drosophila melanogaster angiotensin converting enzyme homologue, AnCE
Publication date: Available online 11 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Charlotte Harrison, K. Ravi Acharya Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is a zinc-dependent dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase with an essential role in blood pressure homeostasis in mammals. ACE has long been targeted in the treatment of hypertension through ACE inhibitors, however current inhibitors are known to cause severe side effects. Therefore, there is a requirement for a new generation of ACE inhibitors and structural information will be invaluable in their development. ACE is a challenging enzyme to work with due to its extensive g...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 13, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
GIT2 deficiency attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice
Publication date: Available online 11 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Yu-E Hao, Dong-Fang He, Rong-Hua Yin, Hui Chen, Jian Wang, Shao-Xia Wang, Yi-Qun Zhan, Chang-Hui Ge, Chang-Yan Li, Miao Yu, Xiao-Ming Yang G protein-coupled receptor kinase interactor 2 (GIT2) is a signaling scaffold protein involved in regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics and the internalization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The short-splice form of GIT2 is expressed in peripheral T cells and thymocytes. However, the functions of GIT2 in T cells have not yet been determined. We show that treatment with Con ...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 13, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Detection of circulating IgG antibodies to apolipoprotein B100 in acute myocardial infarction
In conclusion, the linear peptide antigens derived from ApoB100 may be suitable for the development of an ELISA antibody test for prediction of AMI, although further confirmation is still needed in large-scale clinical studies. (Source: FEBS Open Bio)
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 13, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Activation of Notch3 promotes pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells proliferation via Hes1/p27Kip1 signaling pathway
Publication date: Available online 12 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Yang Song, Yonghong Zhang, Haoxiang Jiang, Yanting Zhu, Lu Liu, Wei Feng, Lan Yang, Yibin Wang, Manxiang Li Activation of the Notch3 cascade is involved in the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension by stimulating the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying this effect are still unclear. The present study aims to address this issue. We demonstrated that over-expression of intracellular domain of the Notch3 receptor (NICD3) by adenovirus transfection dra...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 13, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
NDRG2 promotes myoblast proliferation and caspase 3/7 activities during differentiation, and attenuates hydrogen peroxide- but not palmitate-induced toxicity
Publication date: Available online 7 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Kimberley J. Anderson, Aaron P. Russell, Victoria C. Foletta The function of the stress-responsive N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) in the control of myoblast growth, and the amino acids contributing to its function, are not well characterised. Here, we investigated the effect of increased NDRG2 levels on the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in skeletal muscle cells under basal and stress conditions. NDRG2 overexpression increased C2C12 myoblast proliferation and the expression of positive cell cycle regulators, ...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 8, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Pre-operative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio as a predictor of overall survival in patients suffering from osteosarcoma
In conclusion, low pre-operative LMR is associated with a poor prognosis in patients suffering from osteosarcoma. A prospective study is warranted for further validation of our results. (Source: FEBS Open Bio)
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 8, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Bioimaging of microRNA124a-independent neuronal differentiation of human G2 neural stem cells
Publication date: Available online 8 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Jonghwan Lee, Do Won Hwang, Seung U Kim, Dong Soo Lee, Yong Seung Lee, Hyejung Heo, Bahy A. Ali, Abdulaziz A. Al-Khedhairy, Soonhag Kim Evaluation of the function of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) through miRNA expression profiles during neuronal differentiation plays a critical role not only in identifying unique miRNAs relevant to cellular development but also in understanding regulatory functions of the cell-specific miRNAs in living organisms. Here, we examined the microarray-based miRNA expression profiles of G2 cells (r...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 8, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Mycoplasma hyorhinis-encoded cytidine deaminase efficiently inactivates cytosine-based anticancer drugs
Publication date: Available online 3 August 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Johan Vande Voorde, Peter Vervaeke, Sandra Liekens, Jan Balzarini Mycoplasmas may colonize tumour tissue in patients. The cytostatic activity of gemcitabine was dramatically decreased in Mycoplasma hyorhinis-infected tumour cell cultures compared with non-infected tumour cell cultures. This mycoplasma-driven drug deamination could be prevented by exogenous administration of the cytidine deaminase (CDA) inhibitor tetrahydrouridine, but also by the natural nucleosides or by a purine nucleoside phosphorylase inhibitor. The M. hyorhini...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - August 4, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
Mutational analysis of the Notch2 negative regulatory region identifies key structural elements for mechanical stability
Publication date: Available online 30 July 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Natalie L. Stephenson, Johanna M. Avis The Notch signalling pathway is fundamental to cell differentiation in developing and self-renewing tissues. Notch is activated upon ligand-induced conformational change of the Notch negative regulatory region (NRR), unmasking a key proteolytic site (S2) and facilitating downstream events. The favored model requires endocytosis of a tightly bound ligand to transmit force to the NRR region, sufficient to cause a structural change that exposes the S2 site. We have previously shown, using atomic force...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - July 31, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
The effect of antibiotic exposure on eicosanoid generation from arachidonic acid and gene expression in a primitive chordate, Branchiostoma belcheri
Publication date: Available online 29 July 2015 Source:FEBS Open Bio Author(s): Dongjuan Yuan, Minming Pan, Qiuqiong Zou, Chengyong Chen, Shangwu Chen, Anlong Xu Chloramphenicol (Chl) is an effective antimicrobial agent widely used in veterinary medicine and commonly used in fish. Its use is restricted in the clinic because of adverse effects on the immune system and oxidative stress in mammals. However, the effects of Chl treatment on invertebrates remain unclear. Amphioxus, a basal chordate, is an ideal model to study the origin and evolution of the vertebrate immune system as it has a primary vertebrate-...
Source: FEBS Open Bio - July 29, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Source Type: research
