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Summary: RNA editing plays an important role in organellar gene expression in plants, and pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins are involved in this function. Because of its large family size, many PPR proteins are not known for their function and roles in plant growth and development.Through genetic and molecular analyses of the empty pericarp18 (emp18) mutant in maize (Zea mays), we cloned the Emp18 gene, revealed its molecular function, and defined its role in the mitochondrial complex assembly and seed development.Emp18 encodes a mitochondrial‐localized DYW‐PPR protein. Null mutation of Emp18 arrests embryo and endosperm development at an early stage in maize, resulting in embryo lethality. Mutants are deficient in the cytidine (C)‐to‐uridine (U) editing at atp6‐635 and cox2‐449, which converts a Leu to Pro in ATP6 and a Met to Thr in Cox2. The atp6 gene encodes the subunit a of F1Fo‐ATPase. The Leu to Pro alteration disrupts an α‐helix of subunit a, resulting in a dramatic reduction in assembly and activity of F1Fo‐ATPase holoenzyme and an accumulation of free F1‐subcomplex.These results demonstrate that EMP18 functions in the C‐to‐U editing of atp6 and cox2, and is essential to mitochondrial biogenesis and seed development in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) occurs in 10-30% of women of reproductive age and up to 61% of cirrhotic women. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of endometrial ablation (NovaSure therapy) for AUB in cirrhotic women. Methods This prospective, two-arm, observational study enrolled patients for NovaSure treatment, and they were followed for 12 months. Primary measurements were the amenorrhea rate and changes of pictorial blood loss assessment chart (PBLAC) scores at 1-month post-therapy. Key secondary end-points included the longevity of amenorrhea at 12 months, safety profile, and progression of cirrhosis. Results Among 88 women, 26 were cirrhotic and 62 were non-cirrhotic. At 1-month post-NovaSure treatment, a significant reduction of mean PBLAC scores was observed in cirrhotic patients compared to those at baseline (0.4 ± 1.3 vs 215.2 ± 410.9, P < 0.001), and the amenorrhea rate was 88.5%. The efficacy outcomes of the PBLAC scores and amenorrhea rate were maintained until the end of the 12-month follow-up. A significant improvement in quality of life scores was observed 1-month post-therapy compared to those at baseline (5.4 ± 3.1 vs 20.5 ± 5.5, P < 0.001). Patients' satisfaction rates were 100% and 92.31% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The aforementioned outcomes were comparable with those in non-cirrhotic patients. No significant progression of cirrhosis or safety concern was reported. Conclusion Cirrhotic patients on NovaSure therapy had a high rate of amenorrhea 1-month post-treatment, which maintained longevity for 12 months. The safety profile was similar to that in non-cirrhotic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: RNA C‐to‐U editing is important to the expression and function of organellar genes in plants. Although several families of proteins have been identified to participate in this process, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood.Here we report the function of EMP80 in the C‐to‐U editing at the nad7‐769 and atp4‐118 sites, and the potential recruitment of ZmDYW2 as a trans deaminase in maize (Zea mays) mitochondria.Loss of EMP80 function arrests embryogenesis and endosperm development in maize. EMP80 is a PPR‐E+ protein localised to mitochondria. An absence of EMP80 abolishes the C‐to‐U RNA editing at nad7‐769 and atp4‐118 sites, resulting in a cysteine‐to‐arginine (Cys→Arg) change in Nad7 and Atp4 in the emp80 mutant. The amino acid change consequently reduces the assembly of complexes I and V, leading to an accumulation of the F1 subcomplex of complex V. EMP80 was found to interact with atypical DYW‐type PPR protein ZmDYW2, which interacts with ZmNUWA.Co‐expression of ZmNUWA enhances the interaction between EMP80 and ZmDYW2, suggesting that EMP80 potentially recruits ZmDYW2 as a trans deaminase through protein–protein interaction, and ZmNUWA may function as an enhancer of this interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endothelial cells (ECs) migration is a crucial early step in vascular repair and tissue neovascularization. While extensive research has elucidated the biochemical drivers of endothelial motility, the impact of biophysical cues, including vessel geometry and topography, remains unclear. Herein, we present a novel approach to reconstruct 3D self-assembly blood vessels-on-a-chip that accurately replicates real vessel geometry and topography, surpassing conventional 2D flat tube formation models. This vessels-on-a-chip system enables real-time monitoring of vasculogenesis and ECs migration at high spatiotemporal resolution. Our findings reveal that ECs exhibit increased migration speed and directionality in response to narrower vessel geometries, transitioning from a rounded to a polarized morphology. These observations underscore the critical influence of vessel size in regulating ECs migration and morphology. Overall, our study highlights the importance of biophysical factors in shaping ECs behavior, emphasizing the need to consider such factors in future studies of endothelial function and vessel biology. [Display omitted] • Multi-scale and perfusable biomimetic vessels were self-assembled on the chip. • Differences in ECs migration mode were identified between branched and main vessels. • ECs showed faster, directional migration on branched vessels versus main vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenovirus‐mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy (ADV‐TK) in combination with interventional treatment could relieve the symptoms in patients with widespread splenic metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the corrosion resistance and conductivity of 316L stainless steel (SS316L) in the PEMFC (proton exchange membrane fuel cells) environment, DC-balanced magnetron sputtering was used to deposit Ti doped α-C/α-C multilayer coating on SS316L. The influence of coating structure on its micromorphology and phase composition is characterized, and the coating corrosion and conductivity were further explored. Notably, the investigation reveals that multi-layer structure can inhibit the growth of columnar crystal structure and refine the coating surface, which gradually decreased the coating porosity of from 4.54 % (1 layer) to 0.21 % (4 layers), and the passivation current density decreases to 0.22 μA/cm2 at 0.6 V, remarkably better than the targets. In addition, the introduction of Ti-doped α-C layer further promoted the sp2 hybridization of the coating, its interfacial contact resistance (ICR) value gradually decreased from 5.28 mΩ·cm2 (1 layer) to 2.28 mΩ·cm2 (4 layers) under 1.4 MPa. Therefore, the multilayer composite structure coating significantly enhances the conductivity and corrosion resistance of the SS316L bipolar plate, are more practically applied for commercialization of PEMFC technology. • The Ti doped a-C/a-C multilayer coating was deposited on SS316L through DSMS. • The multi-layer composite coating structure reduced coating porosity in PEMFC. • The introduction of TiC and TiO 2 enhances coating stability at 1.4 V potentiostatic polarization. • The introduction of the Ti doped layer decrease the ICR from 5.28 (1 layer) to 2.28 mΩ/cm2 (4 layers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used chromosome microdissection and microcloning to construct a DNA library of the entire B chromosome (B) of rye. New rye B-specific sequences have been screened from this pool, blasted with other sequences and analyzed to elucidate the characters of DNA constitution and the possible pathway of the origin of the rye B chromosome. We report the discovery of a new sequence that is specific to the rye B centromere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insecticide-resistance is a major obstacle to controlling insect vectors of microorganisms that cause human diseases. Identification of genes associated with resistance to insecticides has been a valuable tool for understanding mechanisms underlying resistance to commonly used insecticides such as deltamethrin. To identify such genes, we used suppression subtractive hybridization to obtain 809 differentially expressed clones in deltamethrin resistant versus susceptible laboratory strains of Culex pipiens pallens. Using cDNA microarrays and reverse Northern blots, a subset of 16 clones was confirmed to have greater than 3-fold difference in expression levels. Within this subset, we identified 2 clones uniquely expressed in the deltamethrin-resistant strain, eight clones exhibiting higher expression in the resistant strain and six in the susceptible strain. Of these 16 clones, 13 clones have sequence homology to known genes, such as ribosomal RNA, ribosome proteins, trypsin, and chymotrypsin-like proteins. Our data suggests resistance to deltamethrin may be a polygenic phenotype. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

OBJECTIVE: Embryonic stem (ES) cells have a pluripotent ability to differentiate into a variety of cell lineages. Cell-to-cell contact is important for cell differentiation. Mouse ES cells were cocultured with mouse fetal liver cells and the green fluorescent protein (GFP) positive ES cells were transplanted into rats liver through the portal vein in order to investigate their potential to differentiate into hepatocytes. METHODS: Mouse ES cells were cocultured with the mouse fetal liver cell line, BNL.CL2 . They did not make direct contact; instead the culture media was exchanged freely. After coculture for 48 h, albumin, transthyretin, glucose 6 phosphates, hepatic nuclear factor 4 and SEK1 mRNA were assayed by RT-PCR, and alpha-fetoprotein by immunohistochemistry. The morphology was investigated by microscopy. After transplantion of the GFP-positive ES cells, the whole liver was removed from a rat every four days. The liver slices were examined under a fluorescent microscope to detect the GFP-positive cells. Albumin was detected on the same slices by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After coculture with BNL.CL2 cells, the differentiated ES cells had the same morphology as the BNL.CL2 cells, and albumin, transthyretin, glucose 6 phosphates and SEK-1 mRNA were found by RT-PCR, and alpha-fetoprotein was detected immuno­histochemically. The transplanted GFP-positive ES cells were found in the rats’ liver slices by GFP fluorescence, and development of teratomas was not observed. The immunohistochemistry results indicated that the transplanted GFP-positive ES cells retained an albumin-producing ability. CONCLUSIONS: Cell-to-cell contact is important for the differentiation of ES cells. Mouse embryonic stem cells can differentiate into hepatocytes directly either in vitro or in vivo . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

cDNA sequences encoding cytochrome P450 were amplified, respectively, from deltamethrin-susceptible and -resistant strains of the mosquito, Culex pipiens pallens, with a pair of degenerate primers by RT-PCR and the Direct Cloning Method, and then identified by cDNA chip and Northern blot. Twenty-four positive clones obtained were shown to be new sequences. They had been placed in GenBank and were approved by the Cytochrome P450 Nomenclature Committee, classified to the subfamilies CYP4C, CYP4D, CYP4H, and CYP4J. The microarray signal values of five P450 sequences (CYP4H21, 4H22v1, 4J4v2, 4J6v1, and 4J6v2) were 3.1–7.7 times higher in resistant probe than in susceptible probe and the sequence 4H23v2 reacts only with resistant probe. The results of Northern blot of the above six P450 sequences were similar to that of microarray analyses. These results indicate that CYP4 may be related to deltamethrin resistance in Cx. pipiens pallens. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]