Sequence and analysis of chromosome 2 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is unique among plant model organisms in having a small genome (130-140 Mb), excellent physical and genetic maps, and little repetitive DNA. Here we report the sequence of chromosome 2 from the Columbia ecotype in two gap-free assemblies (contigs) of 3.6 and 16 megabases (Mb). The latter represents the longest published stretch of uninterrupted DNA sequence assembled from any organism to date. Chromosome 2 represents 15% of the genome and encodes 4,037 genes, 49% of which have no predicted function. Roughly 250 tandem gene duplications were found in addition to large-scale duplications of about 0.5 and 4.5 Mb between chromosomes 2 and 1 and between chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively. Sequencing of nearly 2 Mb within the genetically defined centromere revealed a low density of recognizable genes, and a high density and diverse range of vestigial and presumably inactive mobile elements. More unexpected is what appears to be a recent insertion of a continuous stretch of 75% of the mitochondrial genome into chromosome 2.     

Gene-target recognition among members of the myc superfamily and implications for oncogenesis

Myc and Mad family proteins regulate multiple biological processes through their capacity to influence gene expression directly. Here we show that the basic regions of Myc and Mad proteins are not functionally equivalent in oncogenesis, have separable E-box-binding activities and engage both common and distinct gene targets. Our data support the view that the opposing biological actions of Myc and Mxi1 extend beyond reciprocal regulation of common gene targets. Identification of differentially regulated gene targets provides a framework for understanding the mechanism through which the Myc superfamily governs the growth, proliferation and survival of normal and neoplastic cells.     

具有三个CM公共值的亚纯函数的唯一性

本文指出仪洪勋和Brosch G在具有三个判别的CM公共值的亚纯函数的唯一性定理中,关于对数函数的导数是整函数的推导,可以用指数函数求导的方法来证明.改进了仪洪勋和Brosch G关于重值与唯一性定理.     

Hidden magnetism and quantum criticality in the heavy fermion superconductor CeRhIn5

With only a few exceptions that are well understood, conventional superconductivity does not coexist with long-range magnetic order (for example, ref. 1). Unconventional superconductivity, on the other hand, develops near a phase boundary separating magnetically ordered and magnetically disordered phases. A maximum in the superconducting transition temperature T(c) develops where this boundary extrapolates to zero Kelvin, suggesting that fluctuations associated with this magnetic quantum-critical point are essential for unconventional superconductivity. Invariably, though, unconventional superconductivity masks the magnetic phase boundary when T < T(c), preventing proof of a magnetic quantum-critical point. Here we report specific-heat measurements of the pressure-tuned unconventional superconductor CeRhIn5 in which we find a line of quantum-phase transitions induced inside the superconducting state by an applied magnetic field. This quantum-critical line separates a phase of coexisting antiferromagnetism and superconductivity from a purely unconventional superconducting phase, and terminates at a quantum tetracritical point where the magnetic field completely suppresses superconductivity. The T --> 0 K magnetic field-pressure phase diagram of CeRhIn5 is well described with a theoretical model developed to explain field-induced magnetism in the high-T(c) copper oxides, but in which a clear delineation of quantum-phase boundaries has not been possible. These experiments establish a common relationship among hidden magnetism, quantum criticality and unconventional superconductivity in copper oxides and heavy-electron systems such as CeRhIn5.     

Pain relief by xenograft of subarachnoid microencapsulated bovine chromaffin cells in cancer patients

The bovine chromaffin cells (BCC) implanted into the subarachnoid space can release analgesic substances such as opioid peptides and ealeeholamines. Clinical trials have provided the evidence that the implantation of polyvinylchloride ( PVC) hollow fiber encapsulated BCC by surgery can relief the pain in cancer patients. In the present study, BCC were encapsulated in alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) mieroencapsules which protect the grafting of xenogeneic cells from host immune system anil allow BCC to function effectively without using immunosuppression agents. The microencapsulated BCCs (5 X 106~—8 X 106) were transplanted into the subarachnoid space I^._s of 17 patients who suffered from chronic cancer pain and had to have long-term administration of analgesics. The pain scores and morphine intake tesl showed that microencapsulated BCC graft totally stopped the chronic pain in three of the patients over a period of 200 days and in the other three over a period of 100 days. The resulls suggesl thai APA microencapsulated BCC xenotransplantation could be a novel alternative approach to managing pain of cancer patients.