Isolation and characterization of a protochordate histocompatibility locus

Histocompatibility--the ability of an organism to distinguish its own cells and tissue from those of another--is a universal phenomenon in the Metazoa. In vertebrates, histocompatibility is a function of the immune system controlled by a highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which encodes proteins that target foreign molecules for immune cell recognition. The association of the MHC and immune function suggests an evolutionary relationship between metazoan histocompatibility and the origins of vertebrate immunity. However, the MHC of vertebrates is the only functionally characterized histocompatibility system; the mechanisms underlying this process in non-vertebrates are unknown. A primitive chordate, the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, also undergoes a histocompatibility reaction controlled by a highly polymorphic locus. Here we describe the isolation of a candidate gene encoding an immunoglobulin superfamily member that, by itself, predicts the outcome of histocompatibility reactions. This is the first non-vertebrate histocompatibility gene described, and may provide insights into the evolution of vertebrate adaptive immunity.     

DISC1-dependent switch from progenitor proliferation to migration in the developing cortex

Regulatory mechanisms governing the sequence from progenitor cell proliferation to neuronal migration during corticogenesis are poorly understood. Here we report that phosphorylation of DISC1, a major susceptibility factor for several mental disorders, acts as a molecular switch from maintaining proliferation of mitotic progenitor cells to activating migration of postmitotic neurons in mice. Unphosphorylated DISC1 regulates canonical Wnt signalling via an interaction with GSK3β, whereas specific phosphorylation at serine 710 (S710) triggers the recruitment of Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) proteins to the centrosome. In support of this model, loss of BBS1 leads to defects in migration, but not proliferation, whereas DISC1 knockdown leads to deficits in both. A phospho-dead mutant can only rescue proliferation, whereas a phospho-mimic mutant rescues exclusively migration defects. These data highlight a dual role for DISC1 in corticogenesis and indicate that phosphorylation of this protein at S710 activates a key developmental switch.     

125Sb高自旋态: 粒子-核芯激发耦合

利用在束γ谱学方法, 通过¹²⁴Sn (⁷Li, α2n)反应研究了¹²⁵Sb的激发态, 首次建立了¹²⁵Sb的高自旋能级纲图, 其中包括21条新 γ 跃迁和14个新能级. 发现1970, 2110和2470 keV 3个能级为同质异能态, 基于延迟符合测量确定了它们的寿命范围, 并确定其自旋、宇称分别为15/2^-, 19/2^-和23/2⁺. 根据粒子-核芯耦合图像和经验壳模型计算解释了¹²⁵Sb的能级结构, 3个同质异能态的组态分别被指定为πg_7/2 Ä^{v(h_11/2s_1/2)_5-} , πg_7/2 Ä v(h_11/2d_3/2)_7^-, 和πg_7/2 Äv(h²_11/2)_10⁺     

Central terminals of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent make synaptic contacts with neuronal soma in the mouse substantia gelatinosa

Degeneration of primary afferent central terminals (C-terminals) that contact neuronal soma in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal dorsal horn was examined by electron microscopy 2 h after s.c. injection of capsaicin into newborn and adult mice. The C-terminals were small, dark, sinuous or slender terminals with clear synaptic vesicles in the early postnatal period. They are thought to develop into scalloped CI-terminals, surrounded by dendrites and a few axonal endings, forming synaptic glomeruli. The same type of nonglomerular terminals making presynaptic contacts with neuronal soma showed degeneration in both the newborn and adult animals, and were identified as capsaicin-sensitive CI-terminals. This finding suggests that capsaicin-sensitive C-fibers have a modulatory role on their own nociceptive input besides functioning in nociceptive transmission in the substantia gelatinosa.     

Element-selective imaging of atomic columns in a crystal using STEM and EELS

Microstructure characterization has become indispensable to the study of complex materials, such as strongly correlated oxides, and can obtain useful information about the origin of their physical properties. Although atomically resolved measurements have long been possible, an important goal in microstructure characterization is to achieve element-selective imaging at atomic resolution. A combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a promising technique for atomic-column analysis. However, two-dimensional analysis has not yet been performed owing to several difficulties, such as delocalization in inelastic scattering or instrumentation instabilities. Here we demonstrate atomic-column imaging of a crystal specimen using localized inelastic scattering and a stabilized scanning transmission electron microscope. The atomic columns of La, Mn and O in the layered manganite La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 are visualized as two-dimensional images.