The role of deubiquitinating enzymes in apoptosis

It has become apparent that ubiquitination plays a critical role in cell survival and cell death. In addition, deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) have been determined to be highly important regulators of these processes. Cells can be subjected to various stresses and respond in a variety of different ways ranging from activation of survival pathways to the promotion of cell death, which eventually eliminates damaged cells. The regulatory mechanisms of apoptosis depend on the balanced action between ubiquitination and deubiquitination systems. There is a growing recognition that DUBs play essential roles in regulating several binding partners to modulate the process of apoptosis. Thus, the interplay between the timing of DUB activity and the specificity of ubiquitin attachment and removal from its substrates during apoptosis is important to ensure cellular homeostasis. This review discusses the role of a few ubiquitin-specific DUBs that are involved in either promoting or suppressing the process of apoptosis.     

河南登封地区嵩山石英岩碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学、Hf同位素组成及其地质意义

对河南登封地区广泛分布的古元古代嵩山石英岩中碎屑锆石进行了U-Pb定年和Hf同位素研究. 研究结果对华北克拉通太古宙地壳的形成和演化提供了进一步的制约. 嵩山石英岩碎屑锆石具有4组峰值年龄, 其中以~2.50 Ga的年龄峰值最为显著. 此外尚有3.40, 2.34 Ga, 2.75~2.80 Ga等3组峰值年龄. 嵩山石英岩中3.40 Ga碎屑锆石的Hf同位素组成与华北克拉通东部发现的古老岩石中的锆石(如冀东和鞍山地区)具有较强的相似性. 但是, 根据最新的一些报道, 华北克拉通南缘、华南地区、北秦岭构造带及其邻区均发现存在3.6 Ga, 甚至更为古老的地壳物质线索. 因此很难明确地推测嵩山石英岩中发现的这些3.40 Ga碎屑锆石的物源区. 但综合迄今的研究成果, 可以推测, 3.4~3.6 Ga的地壳物质曾经广泛地存在于古华北克拉通及其邻区. 2.77~2.80 Ga的碎屑锆石所占分额较小, 样品中ε_Hf(t)值最高可达6.1±1.6, 接近于当时亏损地幔的Hf同位素值组成, 且锆石的Hf单阶段模式年龄与形成年龄相近, 表明其来于亏损地幔分异出的未经演化的物质. ~2.50 Ga的年龄数据约占所测数据的85%, 锆石的Hf同位素组成显示其岩浆成因以新太古代地壳再造为主, 伴有少量古老地壳物质的再循环. 本次研究中获得最年轻的锆石年龄为(²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb)为(2337±23) Ma, 可以作为嵩山群的下限年龄考虑(古元古代早期).