The molecular role of the Rothmund-Thomson-, RAPADILINO- and Baller-Gerold-gene product, RECQL4: recent progress

The RecQ family of DNA helicases is highly conserved throughout evolution and plays an important role in the maintenance of genomic stability in all organisms. Mutations in three of the five known family members in humans, BLM, WRN and RECQL4, give rise to disorders that are characterized by predisposition to cancer and premature aging, emphasizing the importance of studying the RecQ proteins and their cellular activities. Interestingly, three autosomal recessive disorders have been associated with mutations in the RECQL4 gene: Rothmund-Thomson, RAPADILINO, and Baller-Gerold syndromes, thus making RECQL4 unique within the RecQ family of DNA helicases. To date, however, the molecular function of RECQL4 and the possible cellular pathways in which it is involved remain poorly understood. Here, we present an overview of recent findings in connection with RECQL4 and try to highlight different directions the field could head, helping to clarify the role of RECQL4 in preventing tumorigenesis and maintenance of genome integrity in humans. Received 31 October 2006; received after revision 4 January 2007; accepted 5 February 2007     

Polarized Emission of Molecular Film With Lanthanide (Ⅲ) Complex

1 Results In the coordination system by using complexation with organic ligand, the ff emission of lanthanide(Ⅲ) (Ln(Ⅲ)) is induced the excitation energy transfer form the organic chromophore under the light-irradiation. However, there are not so much number of reports to discuss the energy relaxation mechanism in such complexes with Ln(Ⅲ). Recently, we succeeded firstly to estimate the rate constant of the energy transfer between the ligand and Ln(Ⅲ) in Pr(Ⅲ)-phenanthroline analogs[1]. Here, we will di...     

范德华力：生物学家、化学家、工程师和物理学家手册

分子间的范德华力是十分微弱的，但可以说普遍的存在着，在很多体系中起着巨大的作用，在物理学、化学、生物学等学科中得到了广泛的研究。但怎样计算范德华力？如何考虑各种条件对范德华力的影响？     

Zebrafish miR-214 modulates Hedgehog signaling to specify muscle cell fate

Numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered in the genomes of higher eukaryotes, and functional studies indicate that they are important during development. However, little is known concerning the function of individual miRNAs. We approached this problem in zebrafish by combining identification of miRNA expression, functional analyses and experimental validation of potential targets. We show that miR-214 is expressed during early segmentation stages in somites and that varying its expression alters the expression of genes regulated by Hedgehog signaling. Inhibition of miR-214 results in a reduction or loss of slow-muscle cell types. We show that su(fu) mRNA, encoding a negative regulator of Hedgehog signaling, is targeted by miR-214. Through regulation of su(fu), miR-214 enables precise specification of muscle cell types by sharpening cellular responses to Hedgehog.     

Cardiovascular development: towards biomedical applicability

Advances in our understanding of cardiac development have fuelled research into cellular approaches to myocardial repair of the damaged heart. In this collection of reviews we present recent advances into the basic mechanisms of heart development and the resident and non-resident progenitor cell populations that are currently being investigated as potential mediators of cardiac repair. Together these reviews illustrate that despite our current knowledge about how the heart is constructed, caution and much more research in this exciting field is essential. The current momentum to evaluate the potential for cardiac repair will in turn accelerate research into fundamental aspects of myocardial biology.     

Zur Blutdruckwirkung von Aludrin und Adrenalin

Summary The depressor action of small doses of adrenaline on the blood pressure (B.P.) of the decapitated cat may be abolished by pretreatment with pilocarpine; atropine restores the original depressor action. The fall in B.P. due to adrenaline after ergotamine once more becomes an increase when pilocarpine has been given earlier. After atropine a fall in B.P. again occurs. This effect of pilocarpine and atropine on a depressor response has already been described in the case of Aludrine (N-isopropyl-noradrenaline) byFromherz.     

Über ein Chromoplastin aus reifenden Tomaten

Summary (1) By precipitation with ammonium sulfate, streptomycin, or calcium salts, we obtained from the pulp of tomatoes a substance containing carotinoids. The behaviour of this substance was analogous to that of chloroplst-substance and to that of animal cytoplasmatic nucleoproteins. Like these it contains proteins, lipids, and very probably nucleic acids. We regard this substance as achromoplastine.(2) Experiments with slices of green tomatoes show that the changing over of the chlorophyll content into the carotinoid content is inhibited by the presence of streptomycin.(3) Streptomycin inhibits the formation of chlorophyll in etiolated separated cabbage leafs, just as this drug inhibits the formation of chlorophyll in growing seeds.(4) The development of anthocyanides is not influenced by streptomycin.