ITPKC functional polymorphism associated with Kawasaki disease susceptibility and formation of coronary artery aneurysms

Kawasaki disease is a pediatric systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology for which a genetic influence is suspected. We identified a functional SNP (itpkc_3) in the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase C (ITPKC) gene on chromosome 19q13.2 that is significantly associated with Kawasaki disease susceptibility and also with an increased risk of coronary artery lesions in both Japanese and US children. Transfection experiments showed that the C allele of itpkc_3 reduces splicing efficiency of the ITPKC mRNA. ITPKC acts as a negative regulator of T-cell activation through the Ca2+/NFAT signaling pathway, and the C allele may contribute to immune hyper-reactivity in Kawasaki disease. This finding provides new insights into the mechanisms of immune activation in Kawasaki disease and emphasizes the importance of activated T cells in the pathogenesis of this vasculitis.     

Functional identification of gene cluster for the aniline metabolic pathway mediated by transposable element

A convenient and widely applicable method has been developed to clone aniline metabolic gene cluster in this study. Three positive recombinant plasmids pDA1, pDB2 and pDB11 were cloned from genomic library of aniline degradation strain AD9. The result of aniline dioxygenase （AD） activity and catechol 2,3-oxygenase （C230） activity assay showed that pDA1 and pDB11 contain aniline dioxygenase genes and catechol 2,3-dioxygenase genes, respectively. The sequence analysis of the total 24.7-kb region revealed that this region contains 25 ORFs, of which 17 genes involve metabolism of aniline. In the gene cluster, the first five genes （tadQTA1A2B） and the subsequent gene （tadR1） were predicted to encode a multi-component aniline dioxygenase and a LysR-type regulator, respectively, while the others （tadD1C1D2C2EFGIJKL） were expected to encode metacleavage pathway enzymes for catechol degradation. The gene cluster was surrounded by two IS1071 sequences.     

Protection of chlorophyll a from photo-oxidation byβ-carotene in binary mixture of organic solvents

Zusammenfassung Das photoxytadive Ausbleichen des Chlorophylls a wird durch die Gegenwart des-Carotins gehemmt. Die Hemmwirkung des-Carotins und die Wechselwirkung zwischen Chlorophyll a und-Carotin werden vom Lösungsmittel kontrolliert.     

Effects of Au nanoparticle addition to hole transfer layer in organic solar cells based on copper naphthalocyanine and fullerene

Organic solar cells based on copper naphthalocyanine(CuNc) and fullerene(C60) were fabricated, and their photovoltaic properties were investigated. C60 and CuNc were used as n-type and p-type semiconductors, respectively. In addition, the effect of Au nanoparticle addition on a hole transfer layer was investigated, and the power conversion efficiency of the devices was improved after blending the Au nanoparticles into the hole transport layer. Nanostructures of Au nanoparticles were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Energy levels of molecules were calculated by molecular orbital calculations, and the nanostructure and electronic properties were discussed.& 2014 Chinese Materials Research Society. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.     

Loss of Siglec-14 reduces the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. COPD exacerbation, or episodic worsening of symptoms, often results in hospitalization and increased mortality rates. Airway infections by new bacterial strains, such as nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), are a major cause of COPD exacerbation. NTHi express lipooligosaccharides that contain sialic acids, and may interact with Siglec-14, a sialic acid recognition protein on myeloid cells that serves as an activating signal transduction receptor. A null allele polymorphism in SIGLEC14 may attenuate the inflammatory responses to NTHi by eliminating Siglec-14 expression. We asked if the loss of Siglec-14 attenuates the inflammatory response by myeloid cells against NTHi, and if the SIGLEC14-null polymorphism has any effect on COPD exacerbation. We found that NTHi interacts with Siglec-14 to enhance proinflammatory cytokine production in a tissue culture model. Inhibitors of the Syk tyrosine kinase suppress this response. Loss of Siglec-14, due to SIGLEC14-null allele homozygosity, is associated with a reduced risk of COPD exacerbation in a Japanese patient population. Taken together, Siglec-14 and its downstream signaling pathway facilitate the “infection–inflammation–exacerbation” axis of COPD disease progression, and may represent promising targets for therapeutic intervention.     

Lumenal gating mechanism revealed in calcium pump crystal structures with phosphate analogues

P-type ion transporting ATPases are ATP-powered ion pumps that establish ion concentration gradients across biological membranes. Transfer of bound cations to the lumenal or extracellular side occurs while the ATPase is phosphorylated. Here we report at 2.3 A resolution the structure of the calcium-ATPase of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum, a representative P-type ATPase that is crystallized in the absence of Ca2+ but in the presence of magnesium fluoride, a stable phosphate analogue. This and other crystal structures determined previously provide atomic models for all four principal states in the reaction cycle. These structures show that the three cytoplasmic domains rearrange to move six out of ten transmembrane helices, thereby changing the affinity of the Ca2+-binding sites and the gating of the ion pathway. Release of ADP triggers the opening of the lumenal gate and release of phosphate its closure, effected mainly through movement of the A-domain, the actuator of transmembrane gates.     

Evidence of Hydrogen Bonding in Chloroform and Polyacrylates from NMR Measurements

IntroductionHydrogen bonding in polymer solutions hasattracted particular attention in recent yearsbecause of its importance in the understanding ofintermolecular interactions,which often affectphysical properties of polymer mixtures[17] .Studies have indicated that hydrogen bondingaffects the phase equilibrium behavior[8] ,e.g.,chloroform shows abnormal thermodynamicproperties in its vapor pressure,as well as in theheat and the volume of mixing with poly( propylene glycol dimethyl ether) [9] …     

中日儿童大脑神经活动类型调查结果的比较研究

通过采用go/no -go(应发出动作/不应发出动作)实验方法,在20世纪6 0-90年代末的不同期间,先后5次对中日两国儿童大脑神经活动类型(弱型、兴奋型、抑制 型、稳定型、活泼型)的调查发现:1)1984年中国儿童与1969年日本儿童大脑各类型的神 经活动出现率比较接近;2)中国1984年的调查与日本1979年的调查结果有明显差异;3)日 本1979年与1998年的调查结果相类似,而与中国1999年和1984年调查结果有较大变化. 对此 现象分析认为是儿童生活环境和生活方式发生巨大变化所致,最为明显的是:儿童在室外的 身体活动机会减少,儿童由以前的户外玩耍向室内看电视等比较静态的活动转移,儿童之间的交流减少.     

The Wnt/calcium pathway activates NF-AT and promotes ventral cell fate in Xenopus embryos

It is thought that inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P(3))-Ca(2+) signalling has a function in dorsoventral axis formation in Xenopus embryos; however, the immediate target of free Ca(2+) is unclear. The secreted Wnt protein family comprises two functional groups, the canonical Wnt and Wnt/Ca(2+) pathways. The Wnt/Ca(2+) pathway interferes with the canonical Wnt pathway, but the underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we cloned the complementary DNA coding for the Xenopus homologue of nuclear factor of activated T cells (XNF-AT). A gain-of-function, calcineurin-independent active XNF-AT mutation (CA XNF-AT) inhibited anterior development of the primary axis, as well as Xwnt-8-induced ectopic dorsal axis development in embryos. A loss-of-function, dominant negative XNF-AT mutation (DN XNF-AT) induced ectopic dorsal axis formation and expression of the canonical Wnt signalling target molecules siamois and Xnr3 (ref. 4). Xwnt-5A induced translocation of XNF-AT from the cytosol to the nucleus. These data indicate that XNF-AT functions as a downstream target of the Wnt/Ca(2+) and Ins(1,4,5)P(3)-Ca(2+) pathways, and has an essential role in mediating ventral signals in the Xenopus embryo through suppression of the canonical Wnt pathway.     

Formation and characterization of phthalocyanine dimer/C60 solar cells

Ni-Cu-Zn ferrite/CaTiO_3 and Ni-Cu-Zn ferrite/BaTiO_3 composites which can be applied in low temperature co-fired ceramic(LTCC) technology were synthesized by conventional solid-state reaction at temperature lower than 950℃.Influence of the microstructures and the gap parameterδ/D on the complex permeability of the above two composites was investigated.The modifiedδ/D values of the above two composites show a good fit to the magnetic circuit model.The dielectric properties of the composites were predicte...