Bio-Med Roundup


This month in Bio-Med Roundup:
    • Gregg et al. showed that maternal and paternal influences on gene expression play a surprisingly large role in the epigenetic regulation of mammalian brain function.
    • Wu et al. and Zhou et al. described a human monoclonal antibody that broadly neutralizes HIV-1.
    • Li et al. provided mechanistic insights into the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine.
    • Liu et al. and Reddy et al. presented high-resolution structures of human adenovirus.
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DEVELOPMENT

High-Resolution Analysis of Parent-of-Origin Allelic Expression in the Mouse Brain (6 August 2010)
C. Gregg et al.
A large repertoire of genes shows preferential expression of the paternally or maternally inherited allele.
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Sex-Specific Parent-of-Origin Allelic Expression in the Mouse Brain (6 August 2010)
C. Gregg et al.
The relative contributions of the paternal and maternal genomes differ in distinct brain regions and also in males and females.
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Cell Lineage Reconstruction of Early Zebrafish Embryos Using Label-Free Nonlinear Microscopy (20 August 2010)
N. Olivier et al.
Time-lapse recording characterizes the rhythm and cleavage pattern of the embryo during early stages of development.

Substrate Elasticity Regulates Skeletal Muscle Stem Cell Self-Renewal in Culture (27 August 2010)
P. M. Gilbert et al.
Muscle stem cells prefer a soft substrate.
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MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Long Noncoding RNA as Modular Scaffold of Histone Modification Complexes (6 August 2010)
M.-C. Tsai et al.
The long noncoding RNA HOTAIR binds two distinct protein complexes that modify chromatin and repress transcription.

FAN1 Acts with FANCI-FANCD2 to Promote DNA Interstrand Cross-Link Repair (6 August 2010)
T. Liu et al.
The nuclease FAN1 acts with Fanconi anemia proteins to help repair damaged DNA.

An Allosteric Self-Splicing Ribozyme Triggered by a Bacterial Second Messenger (13 August 2010)
E. R. Lee et al.
A metabolite-sensing riboswitch regulates the splicing of a "selfish" group I self-splicing ribozyme.

Loss of DNA Replication Control Is a Potent Inducer of Gene Amplification (20 August 2010)
B. M. Green et al.
Re-replication of DNA and homologous recombination between repetitive elements can cause genome instability.
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CELL BIOLOGY

Nonlinear Elasticity and an 8-nm Working Stroke of Single Myosin Molecules in Myofilaments (6 August 2010)
M. Kaya and H. Higuchi
Single-molecule measurements refine our understanding of how muscle myosin works.

Peripheral Protein Quality Control Removes Unfolded CFTR from the Plasma Membrane (13 August 2010)
T. Okiyoneda et al.
Cells clear misfolded and damaged proteins from the cell surface, sometimes frustrating attempts to treat protein-folding diseases.
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The Legionella Effector Protein DrrA AMPylates the Membrane Traffic Regulator Rab1b (20 August 2010)
M. P. Müller et al.
An intracellular bacterial pathogen interferes with host cell membrane trafficking.

Linear Arrays of Nuclear Envelope Proteins Harness Retrograde Actin Flow for Nuclear Movement (20 August 2010)
G. W. G. Luxton et al.
An actin-dependent mechanism is involved in moving nuclei so that they are properly positioned for cell migration.
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Phosphatidic Acid Is a pH Biosensor That Links Membrane Biogenesis to Metabolism (27 August 2010)
B. P. Young et al.
Lipid signaling in yeast is regulated by intracellular pH.


IMMUNOLOGY

Activation of β-Catenin in Dendritic Cells Regulates Immunity Versus Tolerance in the Intestine (13 August 2010)
S. Manicassamy et al.
Gut-specific signaling pathways regulate immune cell–mediated tolerance in the intestine.
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PTIP Promotes Chromatin Changes Critical for Immunoglobulin Class Switch Recombination (20 August 2010)
J. A. Daniel et al.
A factor that regulates chromatin accessibility and recombination during immunoglobulin rearrangements is identified.
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Induction of Broadly Neutralizing H1N1 Influenza Antibodies by Vaccination (27 August 2010)
C.-J. Wei et al.
An influenza virus vaccine elicits a broadly neutralizing, cross-protective antibody response in mice, ferrets, and nonhuman primates.
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BIOCHEMISTRY

Rational Design of Envelope Identifies Broadly Neutralizing Human Monoclonal Antibodies to HIV-1 (13 August 2010)
X. Wu et al.
Structural Basis for Broad and Potent Neutralization of HIV-1 by Antibody VRC01 (13 August 2010)
T. Zhou et al.
A human antibody achieves broad neutralization by binding the viral site of recognition for the primary host receptor, CD4.
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Atomic Structure of Human Adenovirus by Cryo-EM Reveals Interactions Among Protein Networks (27 August 2010)
H. Liu et al.
Crystal Structure of Human Adenovirus at 3.5 Å Resolution (27 August 2010)
V. S. Reddy et al.
High-resolution structures provide a basis for optimizing adenovirus as a vaccine and gene-therapy vector.
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NEUROSCIENCE/PSYCHOLOGY

Role of Secondary Sensory Cortices in Emotional Memory Storage and Retrieval in Rats (6 August 2010)
T. Sacco and B. Sacchetti
An emotional memory gradually becomes widely distributed throughout the cortex.

mTOR-Dependent Synapse Formation Underlies the Rapid Antidepressant Effects of NMDA Antagonists (20 August 2010)
N. Li et al.
Ketamine, an anaesthetic and recreational drug, rapidly increases synaptic signaling and antidepressant behavioral responses.
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Optimally Interacting Minds (27 August 2010)
B. Bahrami et al.
Sharing choices and confi dence in those choices can be an empowering experience.
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GENETICS

Association of Trypanolytic ApoL1 Variants with Kidney Disease in African Americans (13 August 2010)
G. Genovese et al.
Genetic variants associated with kidney disease in African Americans may confer protection against trypanosomes.

Genomic Comparison of the Ants Camponotus floridanus and Harpegnathos saltator (27 August 2010)
R. Bonasio et al.
Comparison reveals the epigenetic controls on caste development in ants.


PLANT SCIENCE

Chloroplasts Divide by Contraction of a Bundle of Nanofilaments Consisting of Polyglucan (20 August 2010)
Y. Yoshida et al.
Enzymatic transfer of simple sugars is essential for the formation of the chloroplast-division machinery.

Conserved Fungal LysM Effector Ecp6 Prevents Chitin-Triggered Immunity in Plants (20 August 2010)
R. de Jonge et al.
A fungal protein binds to a host cell wall component to allow the fungus to escape immune responses.

Secreted Peptide Signals Required for Maintenance of Root Stem Cell Niche in Arabidopsis (27 August 2010)
Y. Matsuzaki et al.
Short-range signaling by sulfated peptides maintains root stem cells.



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