An automated procedure for the analysis of methylated nucleosides in nuclear RNA and mRNA.

A commercial high pressure liquid chromatographic system is used for the rapid analysis of 2′-O-methylnucleosides and pyrophosphate-linked methylated termini of nuclear RNAs and mRNAs. Oligonucleotides or RNA samples were enzymatically hydrolyzed to nucleosides and analyzed automatically by cationexchange chromatography in less than 1 hr using a 0.4 m ammonium formate buffer system at 55° c. This method is sufficiently sensitive to detect the N⁷-methylguanosine residue in 0.1 mg of Novikoff ascites hepatoma mRNA and may be used for qualitative or quantitative studies on RNA methylation in vivo or in vitro.     

Butyrate reversibly arrests the proliferation of normal and Rous sarcoma virus-infected chicken heart mesenchymal cells

Sodium butyrate at 5 X 10(-3) M reversibly arrests the proliferation of both normal and RSV-infected chicken heart mesenchymal cells. This finding suggests that butyrate acts by causing non-specific inhibition of cell proliferation, rather then by specifically suppressing the neoplastic phenotype or by inducing recovery of cells from the neoplastic state.     

Evolution of Relapse-Proficient Subclones Constrained by Collateral Sensitivity to Oncogene Overdose in Wnt-Driven Mammary Cancer

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Where Failure Is Not an Option –Personalized Medicine in Astronauts

Drug safety and efficacy are highly variable among patients. Most patients will experience the desired drug effect, but some may suffer from adverse drug reactions or gain no benefit. Pharmacogenetic testing serves as a pre-treatment diagnostic option in situations where failure or adverse events should be avoided at all costs. One such situation is human space flight. On the international space station (ISS), a list of drugs is available to cover typical emergency settings, as well as the long-term treatment of common conditions for the use in self-medicating common ailments developing over a definite period. Here, we scrutinized the list of the 78 drugs permanently available at the ISS (year 2014) to determine the extent to which their metabolism may be affected by genetic polymorphisms, potentially requiring genotype-specific dosing or choice of an alternative drug. The purpose of this analysis was to estimate the potential benefit of pharmacogenetic diagnostics in astronauts to prevent therapy failure or side effects.     

A Secreted Effector Protein of Ustilago maydis Guides Maize Leaf Cells to Form Tumors

The biotrophic smut fungus Ustilago maydis infects all aerial organs of maize (Zea mays) and induces tumors in the plant tissues. U. maydis deploys many effector proteins to manipulate its host. Previously, deletion analysis demonstrated that several effectors have important functions in inducing tumor expansion specifically in maize leaves. Here, we present the functional characterization of the effector See1 (Seedling efficient effector1). See1 is required for the reactivation of plant DNA synthesis, which is crucial for tumor progression in leaf cells. By contrast, See1 does not affect tumor formation in immature tassel floral tissues, where maize cell proliferation occurs independent of fungal infection. See1 interacts with a maize homolog of SGT1 (Suppressor of G2 allele of skp1), a factor acting in cell cycle progression in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and an important component of plant and human innate immunity. See1 interferes with the MAPK-triggered phosphorylation of maize SGT1 at a monocot-specific phosphorylation site. We propose that See1 interferes with SGT1 activity, resulting in both modulation of immune responses and reactivation of DNA synthesis in leaf cells. This identifies See1 as a fungal effector that directly and specifically contributes to the formation of leaf tumors in maize.