Mutations in RECQL4 cause a subset of cases of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.

Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS; also known as poikiloderma congenitale) is a rare, autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by abnormalities in skin and skeleton, juvenile cataracts, premature ageing and a predisposition to neoplasia. Cytogenetic studies indicate that cells from affected patients show genomic instability often associated with chromosomal rearrangements causing an acquired somatic mosaicism. The gene(s) responsible for RTS remains unknown. The genes responsible for Werner and Bloom syndromes (WRN and BLM, respectively) have been identified as homologues of Escherichia coli RecQ, which encodes a DNA helicase that unwinds double-stranded DNA into single-stranded DNAs. Other eukaryotic homologues thus far identified are human RECQL, Saccharomyces cerevisiae SGS1 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe rqh1. We recently cloned two new human helicase genes, RECQL4 at 8q24.3 and RECQL5 at 17q25, which encode members of the RecQ helicase family. Here, we report that three RTS patients carried two types of compound heterozygous mutations in RECQL4. The fact that the mutated alleles were inherited from the parents in one affected family and were not found in ethnically matched controls suggests that mutation of RECQL4 at human chromosome 8q24.3 is responsible for at least some cases of RTS.     

Generation of mice with mitochondrial dysfunction by introducing mouse mtDNA carrying a deletion into zygotes

Mice carrying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with pathogenic mutations would provide a system in which to study how mutant mtDNAs are transmitted and distributed in tissues, resulting in expression of mitochondrial diseases. However, no effective procedures are available for the generation of these mice. Isolation of mouse cells without mtDNA (rho0) enabled us to trap mutant mtDNA that had accumulated in somatic tissues into rho0 cells repopulated with mtDNA (cybrids). We isolated respiration-deficient cybrids with mtDNA carrying a deletion and introduced this mtDNA into fertilized eggs. The mutant mtDNA was transmitted maternally, and its accumulation induced mitochondrial dysfunction in various tissues. Moreover, most of these mice died because of renal failure, suggesting the involvement of mtDNA mutations in the pathogeneses of new diseases.     

Recent Advances in Protein Extraction and Chiral Separation of Biomolecules

Introduction Surfactant self-assemblies, such as reverse micelles ormicroemulsions, create unique environments in or-ganic solvents. These aggregates display a range of in-teresting physico-chemical properties that havebrought about great potential in mod…     

钢表面化学气相沉积碳化钛

采用化学气相沉积（CVD）法，以TiCl4-CH4-H2为原料气体，在不锈钢表面获得了致密的碳化钛(TiC)膜，研究了TiC的成膜速度、表面形貌和日本择优取向与沉积条件的关系。结果表明，沉积温度Taep、碳钛比CH4／TiCl4强烈的影响TiC的成膜速度、表面形貌和晶体择优取向。CH4／TiCl4低时，TiC晶体的择优取向为（220）；CH4／TiCl4高时，TiC晶体的择优取向为（200）。气氛中活性碳的平衡浓度是决定碳化钛的表达形貌、晶体择优取向的主要因素。     

Mechanisms of ciliogenesis suppression in dividing cells

The primary cilium is a non-motile and microtubule-enriched protrusion ensheathed by plasma membrane. Primary cilia function as mechano/chemosensors and signaling hubs and their disorders predispose to a wide spectrum of human diseases. Most types of cells assemble their primary cilia in response to cellular quiescence, whereas they start to retract the primary cilia upon cell-cycle reentry. The retardation of ciliary resorption process has been shown to delay cell-cycle progression to the S or M phase after cell-cycle reentry. Apart from this conventional concept of ciliary disassembly linked to cell-cycle reentry, recent studies have led to a novel concept, suggesting that cells can suppress primary cilia assembly during cell proliferation. Accumulating evidence has also demonstrated the importance of Aurora-A (a protein originally identified as one of mitotic kinases) not only in ciliary resorption after cell-cycle reentry but also in the suppression of ciliogenesis in proliferating cells, whereas Aurora-A activators are clearly distinct in both phenomena. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of how cycling cells suppress ciliogenesis and compare it with mechanisms underlying ciliary resorption after cell-cycle reentry. We also discuss a reciprocal relationship between primary cilia and cell proliferation.     

Impaired metabolism of arachidonate in selenium deficient animals

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - Arachidonate-induced respiratory distress in mice was aggravated in a selenium deficient group as compared with a selenium supplemented one. The aggravation...