RESEARCH ARTICLES
- The neurotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide and copper in Retzius nerve cells of the leech Haemopis sanguisuga
Summary: This characterization of the early changes in physiological membrane properties of Retzius neurons provides evidence for the oxidative modification of outward potassium channels.
- Preparation, anti-biofouling and drag-reduction properties of a biomimetic shark skin surface
Summary: Specific microstructures of the shark skin surface have certain effects on surface wettability, and play a key role in reducing drag and anti-biofouling properties.
- Planar cell polarity: the Dachsous/Fat system contributes differently to the embryonic and larval stages of Drosophila
Summary: Drosophila utilises the Ds/Ft system differently as it develops. Localised expression of four-jointed in the tendon cells may help polarise all rows of denticles in late larval stages.
- Cross-species functional analyses reveal shared and separate roles for Sox11 in frog primary neurogenesis and mouse cortical neuronal differentiation
Summary: Sox11 acts to designate neurons in both mouse and frog brains, but orthologs are not functionally redundant. These data show evolutionary conservation of Sox11 function with molecular divergence.
- Establishment and evaluation of a transgenic mouse model of arthritis induced by overexpressing human tumor necrosis factor alpha
Summary: We describe the establishment of a human TNFα transgenic arthritis mouse model with applications for understanding the role of TNFα in disease progression and developing therapeutic strategies.
- The carboxyl terminal mutational hotspot of the ciliary disease protein RPGRORF15 (retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator) is glutamylated in vivo
Summary: This study shows that the mutational hotspot of ciliary protein RPGRORF15, commonly associated with severe blindness, is posttranslationally glutamylated at its C-terminus and is a target of GT335.
- Sortilin is associated with the chlamydial inclusion and is modulated during infection
Summary: The acid sphingomyelinase trafficking protein sortilin is modulated by chlamydial infection. RNAi-mediated depletion of sortilin does not, however, perturb chlamydial infection.
- Estimating energetics in cetaceans from respiratory frequency: why we need to understand physiology
Summary: Accounting for changes in tidal volume and gas exchange improves the ability to estimate field metabolic rate from respiratory frequency in cetaceans.
- Post-hatching development of mitochondrial function, organ mass and metabolic rate in two ectotherms, the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) and the common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Summary: Unlike endothermic species, there is little change in skeletal and cardiac muscle mitochondrial function from the embryonic stage through the first year of life in ectothermic alligators and snapping turtles.
- Dlc1 interaction with non-muscle myosin heavy chain II-A (Myh9) and Rac1 activation
Summary: Dlc1 interacts with several actin filament-associated proteins including Myh9, spectrin and plectin. Transient overexpression of Dlc1 induces an elongated phenotype with elevated Rac1 activation.
- A role for PDGF-C/PDGFRα signaling in the formation of the meningeal basement membranes surrounding the cerebral cortex
Summary: Developmental expression of Pdgfc and Pdgfra is necessary for the development of meninges and the glia limitans basement membrane. Failure of these processes leads to neuronal over-migration.
- Impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on brain and retina
Summary: Our results suggest that the same animal model of chronic neonatal hyperoxia can be used to simultaneously study lung, brain and retinal injuries related to hyperoxia.
- Exosomes from high glucose-treated glomerular endothelial cells activate mesangial cells to promote renal fibrosis
Summary: In this study, we demonstrate that TGF-β1-containing exosomes from high glucose-treated glomerular endothelial cells can activate glomerular mesangial cells to promote renal fibrosis.
- Knockdown of TC-1 enhances radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway
Summary: TC-1 silencing inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) both in vitro and in vivo through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby increasing the susceptibility of NSCLC to radiotherapy.
- Association between tensin 1 and p130Cas at focal adhesions links actin inward flux to cell migration
Summary: Tensin 1 links phosphorylated Cas to actin inward flux, facilitating the force transmission from the motile system (i.e. actomyosin contraction) to the stationary parts (i.e. adhesion complexes) in migrating cells.
- Response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) bolting and bulbing to temperature and photoperiod treatments
Summary: We show that a higher temperature and longer photoperiod are essential for garlic bolting and bulbing. Varied endogenous phytohormone and MeJA levels might lead to the different responses of the studied cultivars to treatments.
- Biosafety of biotechnologically important microalgae: intrinsic suicide switch implementation in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Summary: Biosafety of biotechnologically important microalgae was addressed by suicide switch implementation in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. This is the first report of biocontainment safeguards in cyanobacteria.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
- NGT-3D: a simple nematode cultivation system to study Caenorhabditis elegans biology in 3D
Summary: We have designed a three dimensional nematode habitat for use in the lab, called NGT-3D, where growth, fertility and lifespan are comparable with the traditional two dimensional lab environment.