Assembly of Slx4 signaling complexes behind DNA replication forks

Obstructions to replication fork progression, referred to collectively as DNA replication stress, challenge genome stability. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, cells lacking RTT107 or SLX4 show genome instability and sensitivity to DNA replication stress and are defective in the completion of DNA replication during recovery from replication stress. We demonstrate that Slx4 is recruited to chromatin behind stressed replication forks, in a region that is spatially distinct from that occupied by the replication machinery. Slx4 complex formation is nucleated by Mec1 phosphorylation of histone H2A, which is recognized by the constitutive Slx4 binding partner Rtt107. Slx4 is essential for recruiting the Mec1 activator Dpb11 behind stressed replication forks, and Slx4 complexes are important for full activity of Mec1. We propose that Slx4 complexes promote robust checkpoint signaling by Mec1 by stably recruiting Dpb11 within a discrete domain behind the replication fork, during DNA replication stress.     

PIK-75 promotes homology-directed DNA repair

Homo!ogy-directed repair(HDR)is one of two major DNA repair pathways to mend the double-strand breaks(DSBs)formed in the genome(Liang et al.,1998;Pardo et al.,2009).Although less efficient compared with another DNA repair pathway,nonhomologous end joining(NHEJ),HDR is a type of precise repair to restore DNA damage and sustain genomic stability(Pardo et al.,2009;Ceccaldi et al.,2016).By contrast,NHEJ usually introduces mutations into the repaired site,thus probably harming the genomic integrity(Lieber et al.,2003).The error-free property enables HDR to be harnessed to correct a faulty mutation for therapeutic purpose in cells or in the body(Wu et al.,2013).In add让ion,HDR possesses great potential in the generation of genome-edited animals with precise genetic modifications,such as point mutation,DNA replacement,and DNA insertion in a specific genomic site(Wang et al.,2013).However,the low repair frequency mediated by HDR significantly limits让s application for efficient gene correction or establishment of various genetically modified animal models.Currently,multiple site-specific endonucleases have emerged as highly efficient tools to create targeted DSBs and markedly promote subsequent DNA repair either via HDR or NHEJ(Gaj et al.,2013).Nonetheless,the HDR-mediated modifications following the cleavage of engineering nucleases are still inefficient,usually with an efficiency less than 20%in cultured mammalian cells and embryos(Mali et al..2013;Wang et al.,2013;Yang et al.,2013).     

Origins and functional diversification of salinity‐responsive Na+, K+ ATPase α1 paralogs in salmonids

The Salmoniform whole‐genome duplication is hypothesized to have facilitated the evolution of anadromy, but little is known about the contribution of paralogs from this event to the physiological performance traits required for anadromy, such as salinity tolerance. Here, we determined when two candidate, salinity‐responsive paralogs of the Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase α subunit (α1a and α1b) evolved and studied their evolutionary trajectories and tissue‐specific expression patterns. We found that these paralogs arose during a small‐scale duplication event prior to the Salmoniform, but after the teleost, whole‐genome duplication. The ‘freshwater paralog’ (α1a) is primarily expressed in the gills of Salmoniformes and an unduplicated freshwater sister species (Esox lucius) and experienced positive selection in the freshwater ancestor of Salmoniformes and Esociformes. Contrary to our predictions, the ‘saltwater paralog’ (α1b), which is more widely expressed than α1a, did not experience positive selection during the evolution of anadromy in the Coregoninae and Salmonine. To determine whether parallel mutations in Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase α1 may contribute to salinity tolerance in other fishes, we studied independently evolved salinity‐responsive Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase α1 paralogs in Anabas testudineus and Oreochromis mossambicus. We found that a quarter of the mutations occurring between salmonid α1a and α1b in functionally important sites also evolved in parallel in at least one of these species. Together, these data argue that paralogs contributing to salinity tolerance evolved prior to the Salmoniform whole‐genome duplication and that strong selection and/or functional constraints have led to parallel evolution in salinity‐responsive Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase α1 paralogs in fishes.     

Application of cross-linked beta-cyclodextrin polymer for adsorption of aromatic amino acids

Beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) was cross-linked by hexamethylene diisocyanate and the polymer was investigated for adsorption of aromatic amino acids (AAA) from phosphate buffer. High adsorption rates were observed at the beginning and the adsorption equilibrium was then gradually achieved in about 45 min. The adsorption of AAA decreased with the increase of initial concentration and also temperature. Under the same conditions, the adsorption efficiencies of AAA were in the order of L-tryptophan (L-Trp) > L-phenylalanine (L-Phe) > L-tyrosine (L-Tyr). Much higher adsorption values, up to 52.4 and 43.0 mg/g for L-Trp and L-Phe, respectively, at 50 mmol/L and 3.2 mg/g for L-Tyr at 2 mmol/L, were obtained with the beta-CyD polymer at 37 degrees C. It was shown that the adsorption of AAA on the beta-CyD polymer was consistent with the Freundlich isotherm equation. The adsorption of mixed aromatic amino acids and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) showed that AAA were preferentially adsorbed with adsorption efficiencies 10-24%, while those of BCAA were lower than 2%. It seems that the structure and hydrophobicity of amino acid molecules are responsible for the difference in adsorption, by influencing the strength of interactions between amino acid molecule and the polymer.     

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Nerve-Sparing Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Backgroud and Objective

Nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy (NSRH) may be associated with lower postoperative morbidity than radical hysterectomy (RH). We aimed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of abdominal or laparoscopic NSRH and RH for treating cervical cancer through systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched for all relevant studies. Data were abstracted independently by two reviewers. A meta-analysis was performed to compare intra- and postoperative outcomes for the two techniques.

Results

A total of 17 clinical trials were identified. Meta-analysis showed that although operating time was significantly longer for abdominal or laparoscopic NSRH than for RH, NSRH based on laparotomy or laparoscopy proved more effective for postoperative recovery of bladder function. NSRH was also associated with lower bladder dysfunction morbidity and fewer postoperative complications. Two abdominal trials and one laparoscopic study further suggested that NSRH was associated with shorter time to recovery of anal/rectal function. In contrast, RH and NSRH based on laparotomy or laparoscopy were similar in terms of extent of resection, recurrence rate, survival rate, blood loss and frequency of intraoperative complications. The meta-analysis showed that abdominal NSRH was not significantly different from RH in length of hospital stay, while one trial suggested that length of hospital stay was shorter after laparoscopic NSRH than after the corresponding RH.

Conclusion

NSRH may be a reliable technique for treating early cervical cancer. Available evidence suggests that it is better than RH for postoperative recovery of pelvic organ function and postoperative morbidity, while the two techniques involve similar clinical safety and extent of resection. These results should be considered preliminary since they are based on a relatively small number of controlled trials, most of which were non-randomized. The findings should be verified in larger, well-designed studies.     

USP10 exacerbates neointima formation by stabilizing Skp2 protein in vascular smooth muscle cells

The underlying mechanism of neointima formation remains unclear. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 10 (USP10) is a deubiquitinase that plays a major role in cancer development and progression. However, the function of USP10 in arterial restenosis is unknown. Herein, USP10 expression was detected in mouse arteries and increased after carotid ligation. The inhibition of USP10 exhibited thinner neointima in the model of mouse carotid ligation. In vitro data showed that USP10 deficiency reduced proliferation and migration of rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle cells (A7r5) and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs). Mechanically, USP10 can bind to Skp2 and stabilize its protein level by removing polyubiquitin on Skp2 in the cytoplasm. The overexpression of Skp2 abrogated cell cycle arrest induced by USP10 inhibition. Overall, the current study demonstrated that USP10 is involved in vascular remodeling by directly promoting VSMC proliferation and migration via stabilization of Skp2 protein expression.     

Identification of T-cell epitopes on E2 protein of rubella virus, as recognized by human T-cell lines and clones.

T-cell epitopes on the E2 protein of rubella virus were studied by using 15 overlapping synthetic peptides covering the E2 protein sequence. The most frequently recognized epitopes on E2 were E2-4 (residues 54 to 74), with 5 of 10 tested T-cell lines responding to it. Two CD4+ cytotoxic T-cell cloned isolated from one T-cell line responded strongly in proliferation assays with peptide E2-4 and were cytotoxic to target cells presenting the E2-4 determinant. Truncated peptides contained within the E2-4 peptide sequence were used to define the T-cell determinants. Results indicated that amino acid residues 54 to 65 were directly involved. Human cell lines with different HLA phenotypes were tested for the capacity to present the antigenic determinants. The results suggested that recognition of peptide E2-4 by T-cell clones was associated with HLA DR7.