Recombination centres and the orchestration of V(D)J recombination

The initiation of V(D)J recombination by the recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1) and RAG2 proteins is carefully orchestrated to ensure that antigen receptor gene assembly occurs in the appropriate cell lineage and in the proper developmental order. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of how DNA binding and cleavage by the RAG proteins are regulated by the chromatin structure and architecture of antigen receptor genes. These advances suggest novel mechanisms for both the targeting and the mistargeting of V(D)J recombination, and have implications for how these events contribute to genome instability and lymphoid malignancy.     

Synthesis of amidic alginate derivatives and their application in microencapsulation of λ-cyhalothrin

1-Octyl amine was covalently coupled to sodium alginate(NaAlg) in an aqueous-phase reaction via acidamide functions using 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC-HCl) as a coupling reagent to provide octyl-grafted amphiphilic alginate-amide derivative(OAAD) for subsequent use in λ-cyhalothrin (LCH) microcapsule application. The structure of OAAD was confirmed by FT-IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopies. The new alginate-amide derivative was used for fabricating microcapsule that can effectively encapsulate LCH by emulsification-gelation technique. The microcapsules were characterized by optical microscopy (OM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser particle size analysis. The encapsulation efficiency and drug release behavior of LCH from the microcapsules were investigated. Results showed that the microcapsules were in spherical form with diameter mostly in the range of 0.5-10 μm and possessed a structure with LCH as core and OAAD as shell. The encapsulation efficiency and the release performance of the microcapsules were influenced by DS of OAAD and amount of CaCl(2). The mechanism of LCH release was found to vary from anomalous to Fickian to quasi-Fickian transport with the DS of OAAD varied from 10.8 to 30.3 and the CaCl(2)/emulsion ratios varied from 0.09 to 0.03%.     

Rheb1 is required for mTORC1 and myelination in postnatal brain development

mTor kinase is involved in cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. The roles of mTor activators, Rheb1 and Rheb2, have not been established in?vivo. Here, we report that Rheb1, but not Rheb2, is critical for embryonic survival and mTORC1 signaling. Embryonic deletion of Rheb1 in neural progenitor cells?abolishes mTORC1 signaling in developing brain and increases mTORC2 signaling. Remarkably, embryonic and early postnatal brain development appears grossly normal in these Rheb1f/f,Nes-cre mice with the notable exception of deficits of myelination. Conditional expression of Rheb1 transgene in neural progenitors increases mTORC1 activity and promotes myelination in the brain. In addition the Rheb1 transgene rescues mTORC1 signaling and hypomyelination in the Rheb1f/f,Nes-cre mice. Our study demonstrates that Rheb1 is essential for mTORC1 signaling and myelination in the brain, and suggests that mTORC1 signaling plays a role in selective cellular adaptations, rather than general cellular viability.     

Determination of clomipramine by flow‐injection analysis with acidic potassium permanganate–formic acid chemiluminescence detection

A sensitive and simple chemiluminescent (CL) method for the determination of clomipramine has been developed by combining the flow‐injection analysis (FIA) technique, which is based on the CL intensity generated from the redox reaction of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄)–formic acid in sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) medium. Under the optimum conditions, the linear range for the determination of clomipramine was 0.04–4 µg/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988 (n = 10) and a detection limit of 0.008 µg/mL (3σ), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) for 2.0 µg/mL clomipramine (n = 11) is 1.26%. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the determination of the studied clomipramine in pharmaceutical preparations. The possible reaction mechanism is discussed. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Clustered magnetite nanocrystals cross-linked with PEI for efficient siRNA delivery

Magnetofection has been utilized as a powerful tool to enhance gene transfection efficiency via magnetic field-enforced cellular transport processes. The accelerated accumulation of nucleic acid molecules by applying an external magnetic force enables the rapid and improved transduction efficiency. In this study, we developed magnetite nanocrystal clusters (PMNCs) cross-linked with polyethylenimine (PEI) to magnetically trigger intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). PMNCs were produced by cross-linked assembly of catechol-functionalized branched polyethylenimine (bPEI) around magnetite nanocrystals through an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion and solvent evaporation method. The physical properties of PMNC were characterized by TEM, DLS, TSA, and FT-IR. Finely tuned formulation of clustered magnetite nanocrystals with controlled size and shape exhibited superior saturation of magnetization value. Magnetite nanocrystal clusters could form nanosized polyelectrolyte complexes with negatively charged siRNA molecules, enabling efficient delivery of siRNA into cells upon exposure to an external magnetic field within a short time. This study introduces a new class of magnetic nanomaterials that can be utilized for magnetically driven intracellular siRNA delivery.     

Covalent layer-by-layer assembly of hyperbranched polyether and polyethyleneimine: multilayer films providing possibilities for surface functionalization and local drug delivery

A convenient and simple route to multifunctional surface coatings via the alternating covalent layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly of p-nitrophenyloxycarbonyl group-terminated hyperbranched polyether (HBPO-NO(2)) and polyethylenimine (PEI) is described. The in situ chemical reaction between HBPO-NO(2) and PEI onto aminolyzed substrates was rapid and mild. Results from ellipsometry measurements, contact angle measurements, and ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed the successful LBL assembly of the building blocks, and the surface reactivity of the multilayer films with HBPO-NO(2) as the outmost layer was demonstrated by the immobilization of an amine-functionalized fluorophore. Furthermore, a biomimetic surface was achieved by surface functionalization of the multilayer films with extracellular matrix protein collagen to promote the adhesion and growth of cells. The studies on the drug loading and in vitro release behaviors of the multilayer films demonstrated their application potentials in local delivery of hydrophilic and hydrophobic therapeutic agents.     

Protein microarray signature of autoantibody biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer

Cancer patients spontaneously generate autoantibodies (AAb) to tumor-derived proteins. To detect AAb, we have probed novel high-density custom protein microarrays (NAPPA) expressing 4988 candidate tumor antigens with sera from patients with early stage breast cancer (IBC), and bound IgG was measured. We used a three-phase serial screening approach. First, a prescreen was performed to eliminate uninformative antigens. Sera from stage I-III IBC (n = 53) and healthy women (n = 53) were screened for AAb to all 4988 protein antigens. Antigens were selected if the 95th percentile of signal of cases and controls were significantly different (p < 0.05) and if the number of cases with signals above the 95th percentile of controls was significant (p < 0.05). These 761 antigens were screened using an independent set of IBC sera (n = 51) and sera from women with benign breast disease (BBD) (n = 39). From these, 119 antigens had a partial area under the ROC curve (p < 0.05), with sensitivities ranging from 9-40% at >91% specificity. Twenty-eight of these antigens were confirmed using an independent serum cohort (n = 51 cases/38 controls, p < 0.05). Using all 28 AAb, a classifier was identified with a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 61.6% (AUC = 0.756). These are potential biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer.     

MnSOD expression inhibited by electromagnetic pulse radiation in the rat testis

Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to EMP irradiation of 100?kV/m peak-to-peak e-field intensity and different numbers of pulses. Rat sperm samples were prepared for analysis of sperm qualities; Testes were assessed by transmission electron microscopy and serum hormone concentrations were examined by radioimmunoassay; Enzymatic activities of Total-superoxide dismutase(T-SOD) and manganese-superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), the mRNA levels of MnSOD and cuprozinc-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), and the density of malondialdehyde (MDA) were also determined. EMP irradiation did not affect spermatozoon morphology, micronucleus formation rate, sperm number or viability, but the acrosin reaction rate decreased at 24?h and 48?h and recovered by 72?h after irradiation as compared to the controls. The ultrastructure of rat testis displayed more serious damage at 24?h than at other time points (6?h, 12?h, 48?h). Serum levels of luteotrophic hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) were elevated in irradiated rats as compared to controls. After irradiation, enzymatic activities of T-SOD and MnSOD were reduced by 24?h, consistent with the changes observed in MnSOD mRNA expression; MDA content increased at 6?h in turn. These studies have quantified the morphological damage and dysfunction in the rat reproductive system induced by EMP. The mechanism of EMP induced damage may be associated with the inhibition of MnSOD expression.     

MtDNA haplogroups M7 and B in southwestern Han Chinese at risk for acute mountain sickness

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups with acute mountain sickness (AMS) in Han Chinese from southwestern (SW) China. Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test revealed significant reduction of mtDNA haplogroups D and M9, while a significant increase of haplogroup M7 in AMS subjects compared with non-AMS subjects. The multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for body mass index (BMI), a risk factor of AMS in the present study, showed that both D and M9 were associated with significantly decreased risk of AMS, while M7 was associated with a significantly increased risk of AMS (OR=0.605, p=0.000; OR=0.037, p=0.001, and OR=2.419, p=0.001, respectively). In addition, further analysis stratified by the AMS severities indicated that haplogroup B was correlated with a 2.41-folds increased risk of developing severe AMS (95%C.I=1.288-4.514, p=0.006). Our findings provide evidence that, in SW Han Chinese, mtDNA haplogroups D and M9 are related to individual tolerance to AMS, while haplogroups M7 and B are risk factors for AMS.