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Sutton AO, Strickland D, Lachapelle J, Young RG, Hanner R, Brunton DF, Skevington JH, Freeman NE, Norris DR. Fecal DNA metabarcoding helps characterize the Canada jay's diet and confirms its reliance on stored food for winter survival and breeding. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300583. [PMID: 38656932 PMCID: PMC11042713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Accurately determining the diet of wild animals can be challenging if food items are small, visible only briefly, or rendered visually unidentifiable in the digestive system. In some food caching species, an additional challenge is determining whether consumed diet items have been previously stored or are fresh. The Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis) is a generalist resident of North American boreal and subalpine forests with anatomical and behavioural adaptations allowing it to make thousands of arboreal food caches in summer and fall that are presumably responsible for its high winter survival and late winter/early spring breeding. We used DNA fecal metabarcoding to obtain novel information on nestling diets and compiled a dataset of 662 published and unpublished direct observations or stomach contents identifications of natural foods consumed by Canada jays throughout the year. We then used detailed natural history information to make informed decisions on whether each item identified to species in the diets of winter adults and nestlings was best characterized as 'likely cached', 'likely fresh' (i.e., was available as a non-cached item when it appeared in a jay's feces or stomach), or 'either possible'. Of the 87 food items consumed by adults in the winter, 39% were classified as 'likely cached' and 6% were deemed to be 'likely fresh'. For nestlings, 29% of 125 food items identified to species were 'likely cached' and 38% were 'likely fresh'. Our results support both the indispensability of cached food for Canada jay winter survival and previous suggestions that cached food is important for late winter/early spring breeding. Our work highlights the value of combining metabarcoding, stomach contents analysis, and direct observations to determine the cached vs. non-cached origins of consumed food items and the identity of food caches, some of which could be especially vulnerable to degradation through climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex O. Sutton
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
| | | | - Jacob Lachapelle
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert G. Young
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Hanner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel F. Brunton
- Beaty Centre for Species Discovery and Botany Section, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nikole E. Freeman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Trask J, MacCallum PE, Rideout H, Preisser EL, Blundell JJ. Rapamycin attenuates reconsolidation of a backwards-conditioned aversive stimuli in female mice. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:601-612. [PMID: 38311691 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06544-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is known to mediate consolidation and reconsolidation of aversive memories. Most studies in this area use a forward conditioning paradigm in which the conditioned stimulus (CS) precedes the unconditioned stimulus (US). Little is known, however, about the neurobiological underpinnings of backwards (BW) conditioning paradigms, particularly in female mice. In BW conditioning, the CS does not become directly associated with the US; it instead evokes conditioned fear by reactivating a memory of the conditioning context and indirectly retrieving a memory of the aversive US. OBJECTIVES We sought to examine BW conditioned fear memory processes in female mice. First, we examined whether freezing to a BW CS is mediated by fear to the conditioning context. Second, we tested whether blocking consolidation of a BW CS attenuated memory of the CS and conditioning context. Finally, we tested whether blocking reconsolidation of a BW CS attenuated memory of the conditioning context. RESULTS We show that conditioned freezing to a BW CS is mediated by fear to the conditioning context. Furthermore, rapamycin-an mTOR inhibitor, when given immediately following BW conditioning, impairs consolidation of both cued and contextual fear memory. Similarly, rapamycin given following retrieval of a BW CS blocks context recall. Rapamycin is acting on reconsolidation as CS retrieval is necessary to see the effects of rapamycin on context memory recall. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides novel evidence that indirect retrieval cues are sensitive to rapamycin in female mice. The capacity to indirectly reactivate memories and render them susceptible to disruption is critical in the translation of reconsolidation-based approaches to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Trask
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Phillip E MacCallum
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Haley Rideout
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Evan L Preisser
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Jacqueline J Blundell
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
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Fotouhiardakani F, Destrieux A, Profili J, Laurent M, Ravichandran S, Dorairaju G, Laroche G. Investigating the Behavior of Thin-Film Formation over Time as a Function of Precursor Concentration and Gas Residence Time in Nitrogen Dielectric Barrier Discharge. Materials (Basel) 2024; 17:875. [PMID: 38399128 PMCID: PMC10890183 DOI: 10.3390/ma17040875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
This study aims to establish a correlation between the fragmentation process and the growth mechanisms of a coating deposited on a fluoropolymer. Deposition was carried out using dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure, employing an oxygen-containing organic precursor in a nitrogen environment. The findings reveal that the impact of precursor concentration on the formation of specific functionalities is more significant than the influence of treatment time. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results obtained indicate a reduction in the N/O ratio on the coating's surface as the precursor concentration in the discharge increases. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, conducted in the spectral range of 1500 cm-1 to 1800 cm-1, confirmed the connection between the chemical properties of plasma-deposited thin films and the concentration of organic precursors in the discharge. Furthermore, the emergence of nitrile moieties (C≡N) in the FTIR spectrum at 2160 cm-1 was noted under specific experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faegheh Fotouhiardakani
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (F.F.); (A.D.); (J.P.)
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital St François d’Assise, 10 Rue de L’Espinay, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Alex Destrieux
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (F.F.); (A.D.); (J.P.)
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital St François d’Assise, 10 Rue de L’Espinay, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Jacopo Profili
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (F.F.); (A.D.); (J.P.)
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital St François d’Assise, 10 Rue de L’Espinay, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
| | - Morgane Laurent
- Saint-Gobain Research North America, 9 Goddard Rd, Northborough, MA 01532, USA (S.R.); (G.D.)
| | | | - Gowri Dorairaju
- Saint-Gobain Research North America, 9 Goddard Rd, Northborough, MA 01532, USA (S.R.); (G.D.)
| | - Gaetan Laroche
- Laboratoire d’Ingénierie de Surface, Centre de Recherche sur les Matériaux Avancés, Département de Génie des Mines, de la Métallurgie et des Matériaux, Université Laval, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada; (F.F.); (A.D.); (J.P.)
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Hôpital St François d’Assise, 10 Rue de L’Espinay, Québec, QC G1L 3L5, Canada
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Sparks MS, Farahbakhsh I, Anand M, Bauch CT, Conlon KC, East JD, Li T, Lickley M, Garcia-Menendez F, Monier E, Saari RK. Health and equity implications of individual adaptation to air pollution in a changing climate. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2215685121. [PMID: 38227646 PMCID: PMC10835109 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2215685121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Future climate change can cause more days with poor air quality. This could trigger more alerts telling people to stay inside to protect themselves, with potential consequences for health and health equity. Here, we study the change in US air quality alerts over this century due to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), who they may affect, and how they may respond. We find air quality alerts increase by over 1 mo per year in the eastern United States by 2100 and quadruple on average. They predominantly affect areas with high Black populations and leakier homes, exacerbating existing inequalities and impacting those less able to adapt. Reducing emissions can offer significant annual health benefits ($5,400 per person) by mitigating the effect of climate change on air pollution and its associated risks of early death. Relying on people to adapt, instead, would require them to stay inside, with doors and windows closed, for an extra 142 d per year, at an average cost of $11,000 per person. It appears likelier, however, that people will achieve minimal protection without policy to increase adaptation rates. Boosting adaptation can offer net benefits, even alongside deep emission cuts. New adaptation policies could, for example: reduce adaptation costs; reduce infiltration and improve indoor air quality; increase awareness of alerts and adaptation; and provide measures for those working or living outdoors. Reducing emissions, conversely, lowers everyone's need to adapt, and protects those who cannot adapt. Equitably protecting human health from air pollution under climate change requires both mitigation and adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt S. Sparks
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ONN2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Isaiah Farahbakhsh
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Waterloo, ONN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Madhur Anand
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Waterloo, ONN1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Chris T. Bauch
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ONN2L 3G, Canada
| | - Kathryn C. Conlon
- School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - James D. East
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27695
| | - Tianyuan Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ONN2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Megan Lickley
- Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA02139N
| | - Fernando Garcia-Menendez
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27695
| | - Erwan Monier
- Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Rebecca K. Saari
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ONN2L 3G1, Canada
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Iworima DG, Baker RK, Ellis C, Sherwood C, Zhan L, Rezania A, Piret JM, Kieffer TJ. Metabolic switching, growth kinetics and cell yields in the scalable manufacture of stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:1. [PMID: 38167219 PMCID: PMC10762849 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03574-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetes is a disease affecting over 500 million people globally due to insulin insufficiency or insensitivity. For individuals with type 1 diabetes, pancreatic islet transplantation can help regulate their blood glucose levels. However, the scarcity of cadaveric donor islets limits the number of people that could receive this therapy. To address this issue, human pluripotent stem cells offer a potentially unlimited source for generating insulin-producing cells through directed differentiation. Several protocols have been developed to make stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the bioprocess parameters associated with these differentiation protocols and how they can be utilized to increase the cell yield. METHODS We investigated various bioprocess parameters and quality target product profiles that may influence the differentiation pipeline using a seven-stage protocol in a scalable manner with CellSTACKs and vertical wheel bioreactors (PBS-Minis). RESULTS Cells maintained > 80% viability through all stages of differentiation and appropriately expressed stage-specific markers. During the initial four stages leading up to the development of pancreatic progenitors, there was an increase in cell numbers. Following pancreatic progenitor stage, there was a gradual decrease in the percentage of proliferative cells, as determined by Ki67 positivity, and a significant loss of cells during the period of endocrine differentiation. By minimizing the occurrence of aggregate fusion, we were able to enhance cell yield during the later stages of differentiation. We suggest that glucose utilization and lactate production are cell quality attributes that should be considered during the characterization of insulin-producing cells derived from stem cells. Our findings also revealed a gradual metabolic shift from glycolysis, during the initial four stages of pancreatic progenitor formation, to oxidative phosphorylation later on during endocrine differentiation. Furthermore, the resulting insulin-producing cells exhibited a response to several secretagogues, including high glucose. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates process parameters such as glucose consumption and lactate production rates that may be used to facilitate the scalable manufacture of stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diepiriye G Iworima
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Robert K Baker
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cara Ellis
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chris Sherwood
- Michael Smith Laboratories, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lisa Zhan
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - James M Piret
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Michael Smith Laboratories, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Timothy J Kieffer
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Singh J, Pan YE, Patten SA. NMJ Analyser: a novel method to quantify neuromuscular junction morphology in zebrafish. Bioinformatics 2023; 39:btad720. [PMID: 38058204 PMCID: PMC10713120 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) structural integrity is crucial for transducing motor neuron signals that initiate skeletal muscle contraction. Zebrafish has emerged as a simple and efficient model to study NMJ structural morphology and function in the context of developmental neurobiology and neuromuscular diseases. However, methods to quantify NMJ morphology from voluminous data of NMJ confocal images accurately, rapidly, and reproducibly are lacking. RESULTS We developed an ImageJ macro called "NMJ Analyser" to automatically and unbiasedly analyse NMJ morphology in zebrafish. From the Z-stack of a zebrafish hemisomite, both presynaptic and postsynaptic fluorescently labeled termini at NMJs are extracted from background signal, with larger clusters of termini being segmented into individual termini using an unbiased algorithm. The program then determines whether each presynaptic terminus is co-localized with a postsynaptic terminus and vice versa, or whether it is orphaned, and tabulates the number of orphan and co-localized pre- and postsynaptic termini. The usefulness of this ImageJ macro plugin will be helpful to quantify NMJ parameters in zebrafish, particularly during development and in disease models of neuromuscular diseases. It can enable high-throughput NMJ phenotypic screens in the drug discovery process for neuromuscular diseases. It could also be further applied to the investigation of NMJ of other developmental systems. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION NMJ Analyser is available for download at https://github.com/PattenLab/NMJ-Analyser.git.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaskaran Singh
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Yingzhou Edward Pan
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Shunmoogum A Patten
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Armand Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
- Département de Neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
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7
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Xia X, Zeng X, Gao F, Yuan Z. Mapping cross-species connectome atlas of human and macaque striatum. Cereb Cortex 2023; 33:7518-7530. [PMID: 36928317 PMCID: PMC10267647 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-species connectome atlas (CCA) that can provide connectionally homogeneous and homologous brain nodes is essential and customized for cross-species neuroscience. However, existing CCAs were flawed in design and coarse-grained in results. In this study, a normative mapping framework of CCA was proposed and applied on human and macaque striatum. Specifically, all striatal voxels in the 2 species were mixed together and classified based on their represented and characterized feature of within-striatum resting-state functional connectivity, which was shared between the species. Six pairs of striatal parcels in these species were delineated in both hemispheres. Furthermore, this striatal parcellation was demonstrated by the best-matched whole-brain functional and structural connectivity between interspecies corresponding subregions. Besides, detailed interspecies differences in whole-brain multimodal connectivities and involved brain functions of these subregions were described to flesh out this CCA of striatum. In particular, this flexible and scalable mapping framework enables reliable construction of CCA of the whole brain, which would enable reliable findings in future cross-species research and advance our understandings into how the human brain works.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoluan Xia
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Xinglin Zeng
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Fei Gao
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Zhen Yuan
- Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
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Peng C, Yang S, Luo G, Yan S, Shakouri M, Zhang J, Chen Y, Wang Z, Wei W, Sham TK, Zheng G. Over 2 A cm -2 CO 2 -to-Ethanol Conversion by Alkali-Metal Cation Induced Copper With Dominant (200) Facets. Small 2023; 19:e2207374. [PMID: 36896986 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202207374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The high-rate ethanol electrosynthesis from CO2 is challenging due to the low selectivity and poor activity, which requires the competition with other reduction products and H2 . Here, the electrochemical reconstruction of Cs3 Cu2 Cl5 perovskite to form surface Cl-bonded, low-coordinated Cs modified Cu(200) nanocubes (CuClCs), is demonstrated. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the CuClCs structure possesses low Bader charges and a large coordination capacity; and thus, can promote the CO2 -to-ethanol pathway via stabilizing C-O bond in oxygenate intermediates. The CuClCs catalyst exhibits outstanding partial current densities for producing ethanol (up to 2124 ± 54 mA cm-2 ) as one of the highest reported values in the electrochemical CO2 or CO reduction. This work suggests an attractive strategy with surface alkali-metal cations for ampere-level CO2 -to-ethanol electrosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Peng
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Songtao Yang
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Gan Luo
- Henan Engineering Center of New Energy Battery Materials, Henan D&A Engineering Center of Advanced Battery Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, 476000, China
| | - Shuai Yan
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Mohsen Shakouri
- Canadian Light Source Inc. , University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2V3, Canada
| | - Junbo Zhang
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Yangshen Chen
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Wei Wei
- Henan Engineering Center of New Energy Battery Materials, Henan D&A Engineering Center of Advanced Battery Materials, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, 476000, China
| | - Tsun-Kong Sham
- Department of Chemistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Gengfeng Zheng
- Laboratory of Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
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Giannari D, Ho CH, Mahadevan R. A gap-filling algorithm for prediction of metabolic interactions in microbial communities. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009060. [PMID: 34723959 PMCID: PMC8584699 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of microbial communities and their interactions has attracted the interest of the scientific community, because of their potential for applications in biotechnology, ecology and medicine. The complexity of interspecies interactions, which are key for the macroscopic behavior of microbial communities, cannot be studied easily experimentally. For this reason, the modeling of microbial communities has begun to leverage the knowledge of established constraint-based methods, which have long been used for studying and analyzing the microbial metabolism of individual species based on genome-scale metabolic reconstructions of microorganisms. A main problem of genome-scale metabolic reconstructions is that they usually contain metabolic gaps due to genome misannotations and unknown enzyme functions. This problem is traditionally solved by using gap-filling algorithms that add biochemical reactions from external databases to the metabolic reconstruction, in order to restore model growth. However, gap-filling algorithms could evolve by taking into account metabolic interactions among species that coexist in microbial communities. In this work, a gap-filling method that resolves metabolic gaps at the community level was developed. The efficacy of the algorithm was tested by analyzing its ability to resolve metabolic gaps on a synthetic community of auxotrophic Escherichia coli strains. Subsequently, the algorithm was applied to resolve metabolic gaps and predict metabolic interactions in a community of Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, two species present in the human gut microbiota, and in an experimentally studied community of Dehalobacter and Bacteroidales species of the ACT-3 community. The community gap-filling method can facilitate the improvement of metabolic models and the identification of metabolic interactions that are difficult to identify experimentally in microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Giannari
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Radhakrishnan Mahadevan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Jia JJ, Lahr RM, Solgaard MT, Moraes BJ, Pointet R, Yang AD, Celucci G, Graber TE, Hoang HD, Niklaus M, Pena IA, Hollensen AK, Smith EM, Chaker-Margot M, Anton L, Dajadian C, Livingstone M, Hearnden J, Wang XD, Yu Y, Maier T, Damgaard CK, Berman AJ, Alain T, Fonseca BD. mTORC1 promotes TOP mRNA translation through site-specific phosphorylation of LARP1. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:3461-3489. [PMID: 33398329 PMCID: PMC8034618 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
LARP1 is a key repressor of TOP mRNA translation. It binds the m7Gppp cap moiety and the adjacent 5'TOP motif of TOP mRNAs, thus impeding the assembly of the eIF4F complex on these transcripts. mTORC1 controls TOP mRNA translation via LARP1, but the details of the mechanism are unclear. Herein we elucidate the mechanism by which mTORC1 controls LARP1's translation repression activity. We demonstrate that mTORC1 phosphorylates LARP1 in vitro and in vivo, activities that are efficiently inhibited by rapamycin and torin1. We uncover 26 rapamycin-sensitive phospho-serine and -threonine residues on LARP1 that are distributed in 7 clusters. Our data show that phosphorylation of a cluster of residues located proximally to the m7Gppp cap-binding DM15 region is particularly sensitive to rapamycin and regulates both the RNA-binding and the translation inhibitory activities of LARP1. Our results unravel a new model of translation control in which the La module (LaMod) and DM15 region of LARP1, both of which can directly interact with TOP mRNA, are differentially regulated: the LaMod remains constitutively bound to PABP (irrespective of the activation status of mTORC1), while the C-terminal DM15 'pendular hook' engages the TOP mRNA 5'-end to repress translation, but only in conditions of mTORC1 inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Jun Jia
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Roni M Lahr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael T Solgaard
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bruno J Moraes
- GABBA PhD Program, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- PrimerGen Ltd, Viseu, Portugal
| | - Roberta Pointet
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - An-Dao Yang
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Giovanna Celucci
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Tyson E Graber
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Huy-Dung Hoang
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Marius R Niklaus
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Izabella A Pena
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Anne K Hollensen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ewan M Smith
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Leonie Anton
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Dajadian
- Department of Biochemistry, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Mark Livingstone
- Department of Biochemistry, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jaclyn Hearnden
- Department of Biochemistry, Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Centre, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Xu-Dong Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yonghao Yu
- Department of Biochemistry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Timm Maier
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian K Damgaard
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrea J Berman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tommy Alain
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bruno D Fonseca
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- PrimerGen Ltd, Viseu, Portugal
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11
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Abstract
The life strategy of plants includes their ability to respond quickly at the cellular level to changes in their environment. The use of targeted fluorescent protein probes and imaging of living cells has revealed several rapidly induced organelle responses that create the efficient sub-cellular machinery for maintaining homeostasis in the plant cell. Several organelles, including plastids, mitochondria, and peroxisomes, extend and retract thin tubules that have been named stromules, matrixules, and peroxules, respectively. Here, I combine all these thin tubular forms under the common head of organelle extensions. All extensions change shape continuously and in their elongated form considerably increase organelle outreach into the surrounding cytoplasm. Their pleomorphy reflects their interactions with the dynamic endoplasmic reticulum and cytoskeletal elements. Here, using foundational images and time-lapse movies, and providing salient information on some molecular and biochemically characterized mutants with increased organelle extensions, I draw attention to their common role in maintaining homeostasis in plant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaideep Mathur
- Laboratory of Plant Development and Interactions, Department of Molecular and Cellular biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1 Canada
- Author for communication:
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12
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Abstract
Does the tendency to adjust appraisals of ourselves in the past and future in order to maintain a favourable view of ourselves in the present require episodic memory? A developmental amnesic person with impaired episodic memory (HC) was compared with two groups of age-matched controls on tasks assessing the Big Five personality traits and social competence in relation to the past, present and future. Consistent with previous research, controls believed that their personality had changed more in the past 5 years than it will change in the next 5 years (i.e. the end-of-history illusion), and rated their present and future selves as more socially competent than their past selves (i.e. social improvement illusion), although this was moderated by self-esteem. Despite her lifelong episodic memory impairment, HC also showed these biases of temporal self-appraisal. Together, these findings do not support the theory that the temporal extension of the self-concept requires the ability to recollect richly detailed memories of the self in the past and future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donna Rose Addis
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences
University, 3560 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of
Toronto
| | - R Shayna Rosenbaum
- Department of Psychology, York
University
- Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Health Sciences
University, 3560 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M6A 2E1, Canada
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13
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Abstract
Wild mammalian species, including bats, constitute the natural reservoir of betacoronavirus (including SARS, MERS, and the deadly SARS-CoV-2). Different hosts or host tissues provide different cellular environments, especially different antiviral and RNA modification activities that can alter RNA modification signatures observed in the viral RNA genome. The zinc finger antiviral protein (ZAP) binds specifically to CpG dinucleotides and recruits other proteins to degrade a variety of viral RNA genomes. Many mammalian RNA viruses have evolved CpG deficiency. Increasing CpG dinucleotides in these low-CpG viral genomes in the presence of ZAP consistently leads to decreased viral replication and virulence. Because ZAP exhibits tissue-specific expression, viruses infecting different tissues are expected to have different CpG signatures, suggesting a means to identify viral tissue-switching events. The author shows that SARS-CoV-2 has the most extreme CpG deficiency in all known betacoronavirus genomes. This suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may have evolved in a new host (or new host tissue) with high ZAP expression. A survey of CpG deficiency in viral genomes identified a virulent canine coronavirus (alphacoronavirus) as possessing the most extreme CpG deficiency, comparable with that observed in SARS-CoV-2. This suggests that the canine tissue infected by the canine coronavirus may provide a cellular environment strongly selecting against CpG. Thus, viral surveys focused on decreasing CpG in viral RNA genomes may provide important clues about the selective environments and viral defenses in the original hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhua Xia
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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14
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Sutcliffe RL, Li S, Gilbert MJH, Schulte PM, Miller KM, Farrell AP. A rapid intrinsic heart rate resetting response with thermal acclimation in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb215210. [PMID: 32345705 PMCID: PMC7328139 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.215210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
We examined cardiac pacemaker rate resetting in rainbow trout following a reciprocal temperature transfer. In the original experiment, performed in winter, 4°C-acclimated fish transferred to 12°C reset intrinsic heart rate after just 1 h (from 56.8±1.2 to 50.8±1.5 beats min-1); 12°C-acclimated fish transferred to 4°C reset intrinsic heart rate after 8 h (from 33.4±0.7 to 37.7±1.2 beats min-1). However, in a replicate experiment, performed in the summer using a different brood year, intrinsic heart rate was not reset, even after 10 weeks at a new temperature. Using this serendipitous opportunity, we compared mRNA expression changes of a suite of proteins in sinoatrial node (SAN), atrial and ventricular tissues after both 1 h and longer than 3 weeks for both experimental acclimation groups to identify those changes only associated with pacemaker rate resetting. Of the changes in mRNA expression occurring after more than 3 weeks of warm acclimation and associated with pacemaker rate resetting, we observed downregulation of NKA α1c in the atrium and ventricle, and upregulation of HCN1 in the ventricle. However, in the SAN there were no mRNA expression changes unique to the fish with pacemaker rate resetting after either 1 h or 3 weeks of warm acclimation. Thus, despite identifying changes in mRNA expression of contractile cardiac tissues, there was an absence of changes in mRNA expression directly involved with the initial, rapid pacemaker rate resetting with warm acclimation. Importantly, pacemaker rate resetting with thermal acclimation does not always occur in rainbow trout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Sutcliffe
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Shaorong Li
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9T 6N7
| | - Matthew J H Gilbert
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Patricia M Schulte
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
| | - Kristi M Miller
- Pacific Biological Station, Fisheries and Oceans, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9T 6N7
| | - Anthony P Farrell
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4
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15
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Herwig E, Schwean-Lardner K, Van Kessel A, Savary RK, Classen HL. Assessing the effect of starch digestion characteristics on ileal brake activation in broiler chickens. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228647. [PMID: 32032378 PMCID: PMC7006927 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this research was to evaluate activation of the ileal brake in broiler chickens using diets containing semi-purified wheat (WS; rapidly and highly digested) and pea (PS; slowly and poorly digested) starch. Diets were formulated to contain six WS:PS ratios (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80, 0:100) and each starch ratio was fed to 236 Ross 308 male broilers housed in 4 litter floor pens. At 28 d of age, the effect of PS concentration was assessed on starch digestion, digestive tract morphology, and digesta pH and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) status were assessed in serum (ELISA) and via gene expression in jejunal and ileal tissue (proglucagon for GLP-1). Data were analyzed using regression analyses, and significance was accepted at P ≤ 0.05. Increasing dietary PS resulted in reduced starch digestibility in the small intestine, but had no effect in the colon. Crop content pH responded quadratically to PS level with an estimated minimum at 55% PS. Total SCFA increased linearly in the crop with PS level, but changed in a quadratic fashion in the ileum (estimated maximum at 62% PS). Ceacal SCFA concentrations were highest for the 80 and 100% PS levels. The relative empty weight (crop, small intestine, colon), length (small intestine) and content (crop jejunum, Ileum) of digestive tract sections increased linearly with increasing PS concentration. Dietary treatment did not affect serum GLP-1 or PYY or small intestine transcript abundance. In conclusion, feeding PS increased the presence of L-cell activators (starch, SCFA) and increased trophic development and content of the digestive tract, suggestive of L-cell activation. However, no direct evidence of ileal brake activation was found by measuring venous blood levels of GLP-1 or PYY or corresponding gene expression in small intestine tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Herwig
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Karen Schwean-Lardner
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Andrew Van Kessel
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Rachel K. Savary
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Henry L. Classen
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
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16
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Gosselin JM, Audet P, Estève C, McLellan M, Mosher SG, Schaeffer AJ. Seismic evidence for megathrust fault-valve behavior during episodic tremor and slip. Sci Adv 2020; 6:eaay5174. [PMID: 32010787 PMCID: PMC6976297 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay5174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Fault slip behavior during episodic tremor and slow slip (ETS) events, which occur at the deep extension of subduction zone megathrust faults, is believed to be related to cyclic fluid processes that necessitate fluctuations in pore-fluid pressures. In most subduction zones, a layer of anomalously low seismic wave velocities [low-velocity layer (LVL)] is observed in the vicinity of ETS and suggests high pore-fluid pressures that weaken the megathrust. Using repeated seismic scattering observations in the Cascadia subduction zone, we observe a change in the seismic velocity associated with the LVL after ETS events, which we interpret as a response to fluctuations in pore-fluid pressure. These results provide direct evidence of megathrust fault-valve processes during ETS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M. Gosselin
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Pascal Audet
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Clément Estève
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Morgan McLellan
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Stephen G. Mosher
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada
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17
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Francis R, Guo H, Streutker C, Ahmed M, Yung T, Dirks PB, He HH, Kim TH. Gastrointestinal transcription factors drive lineage-specific developmental programs in organ specification and cancer. Sci Adv 2019; 5:eaax8898. [PMID: 31844668 PMCID: PMC6905862 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax8898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are spatially and temporally regulated during gut organ specification. Although accumulating evidence shows aberrant reactivation of developmental programs in cancer, little is known about how TFs drive lineage specification in development and cancer. We first defined gastrointestinal tissue-specific chromatin accessibility and gene expression during development, identifying the dynamic epigenetic regulation of SOX family of TFs. We revealed that Sox2 is not only essential for gastric specification, by maintaining chromatin accessibility at forestomach lineage loci, but also sufficient to promote forestomach/esophageal transformation upon Cdx2 deletion. By comparing our gastrointestinal lineage-specific transcriptome to human gastrointestinal cancer data, we found that stomach and intestinal lineage-specific programs are reactivated in Sox2high /Sox9high and Cdx2high cancers, respectively. By analyzing mice deleted for both Sox2 and Sox9, we revealed their potentially redundant roles in both gastric development and cancer, highlighting the importance of developmental lineage programs reactivated by gastrointestinal TFs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roshane Francis
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Haiyang Guo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Catherine Streutker
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8, Canada
| | - Musaddeque Ahmed
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Theodora Yung
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Peter B. Dirks
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Housheng Hansen He
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
- Corresponding author. (T.-H.K.); (H.H.H.)
| | - Tae-Hee Kim
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
- Corresponding author. (T.-H.K.); (H.H.H.)
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18
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Giles LV, Tebbutt SJ, Carlsten C, Koehle MS. Effects of low-intensity and high-intensity cycling with diesel exhaust exposure on soluble P-selectin, E-selectin, I-CAM-1, VCAM-1 and complete blood count. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2019; 5:e000625. [PMID: 31803496 PMCID: PMC6887503 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) that contains transition metals may play a role in systemic oxidative stress and inflammation. Exposure to diesel exhaust (DE) can increase adhesion molecules, which are important in the inflammatory response; however, it is unclear how exercising in DE affects adhesion molecules and how exercise intensity modulates this response. AIM To determine how DE exposure during exercise of varying intensities affects adhesion molecules and markers of systemic inflammation. METHODS Eighteen males performed 30 min cycling bouts at low intensity and high intensity (30% and 60% of power at VO2peak (peak oxygen consumption) and a control condition (rest)). Each trial was performed once breathing filtered air (FA) and once breathing DE (300 μg/m3 of PM2.5, six trials in total). Prior to, immediately post, 1 and 2 hours post exposure, blood was drawn to measure parameters of a complete blood count and soluble (s) platelet-Selectin, endothelin-Selectin, intracellular cell adhesion molecule (sICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1. Data were analysed using repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Two hours following high-intensity exercise, sICAM-1 was significantly less in DE compared with FA (p=0.008). Immediately following rest (p=0.013) and high-intensity exercise (p=0.042) in DE, sICAM-1 was significantly greater than immediately following low-intensity exercise in DE. There were no significant differences in other markers between DE and FA. CONCLUSIONS Based on this study, healthy individuals may not experience an acute increase in adhesion molecules and systemic inflammatory markers from exercising in DE compared with FA, and higher exercise intensities do not appear to increase the likelihood that DE will affect adhesion molecules and systemic inflammatory markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa V Giles
- Sport Science Department, Douglas College, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Kinesiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Scott J Tebbutt
- Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christopher Carlsten
- Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael S Koehle
- Division of Sport & Exercise Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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19
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Watterston C, Zeng L, Onabadejo A, Childs SJ. MicroRNA26 attenuates vascular smooth muscle maturation via endothelial BMP signalling. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008163. [PMID: 31091229 PMCID: PMC6538191 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As small regulatory transcripts, microRNAs (miRs) act as genetic ‘fine tuners’ of posttranscriptional events, and as genetic switches to promote phenotypic switching. The miR miR26a targets the BMP signalling effector, smad1. We show that loss of miR26a leads to hemorrhage (a loss of vascular stability) in vivo, suggesting altered vascular differentiation. Reduction in miR26a levels increases smad1 mRNA and phospho-Smad1 (pSmad1) levels. We show that increasing BMP signalling by overexpression of smad1 also leads to hemorrhage. Normalization of Smad1 levels through double knockdown of miR26a and smad1 rescues hemorrhage, suggesting a direct relationship between miR26a, smad1 and vascular stability. Using an in vivo BMP genetic reporter and pSmad1 staining, we show that the effect of miR26a on smooth muscle differentiation is non-autonomous; BMP signalling is active in embryonic endothelial cells, but not in smooth muscle cells. Nonetheless, increased BMP signalling due to loss of miR26a results in an increase in acta2-expressing smooth muscle cell numbers and promotes a differentiated smooth muscle morphology. Similarly, forced expression of smad1 in endothelial cells leads to an increase in smooth muscle cell number and coverage. Furthermore, smooth muscle phenotypes caused by inhibition of the BMP pathway are rescued by loss of miR26a. Taken together, our data suggest that miR26a modulates BMP signalling in endothelial cells and indirectly promotes a differentiated smooth muscle phenotype. Our data highlights how crosstalk from BMP-responsive endothelium to smooth muscle is important for smooth muscle differentiation. The structural integrity of a blood vessel is critical to ensure proper vessel support and vascular tone. Vascular smooth cells (vSMCs) are a key component of the vessel wall and, in their mature state, express contractile proteins that help to constrict and relax the vessel in response to blood flow changes. vSMCs differentiate from immature vascular mural cells that lack contractile function. Here, we use a zebrafish model to identify a small microRNA that regulates vascular stabilization. We show that a small regulatory RNA, microRNA26a is enriched in the endothelial lining of the blood vessel wall and, through signalling, communicates to the smooth muscle cell to control its maturation. Providing a mechanistic insight into vSMC differentiation may help develop and produce feasible miR-based pharmaceutical to promote SMC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlene Watterston
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Lei Zeng
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Abidemi Onabadejo
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Sarah J. Childs
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
- * E-mail:
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20
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Bachand N, Ravel A, Leighton P, Stephen C, Ndao M, Avard E, Jenkins E. Serological and molecular detection of Toxoplasma gondii in terrestrial and marine wildlife harvested for food in Nunavik, Canada. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:155. [PMID: 30944016 PMCID: PMC6448294 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3408-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan parasite, infects mammals and birds worldwide. Infection in humans is often asymptomatic, though illnesses can occur in immunocompromised hosts and the fetuses of susceptible women infected during pregnancy. In Nunavik, Canada, 60% of the Inuit population has measurable antibodies against T. gondii. Handling and consumption of wildlife have been identified as risk factors for exposure. Serological evidence of exposure has been reported for wildlife in Nunavik; however, T. gondii has not been detected in wildlife tissues commonly consumed by Inuit. METHODS We used a magnetic capture DNA extraction and real-time PCR protocol to extract and amplify T. gondii DNA from large quantities of tissues (up to 100 g) of 441 individual animals in Nunavik: 166 ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), 156 geese (Branta canadensis and Chen caerulescens), 61 ringed seals (Pusa hispida), 31 caribou (Rangifer tarandus) and 27 walruses (Odobenus rosmarus). RESULTS DNA from T. gondii was detected in 9% (95% CI: 3-15%) of geese from four communities in western and southern Nunavik, but DNA was not detected in other wildlife species including 20% (95% CI: 12-31%) of ringed seals and 26% (95% CI: 14-43%) of caribou positive on a commercial modified agglutination test (MAT) using thawed heart muscle juice. In geese, tissue parasite burden was highest in heart, followed by brain, breast muscle, liver and gizzard. Serological results did not correlate well with tissue infection status for any wildlife species. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this is the first report on the detection, quantification, and characterization of DNA of T. gondii (clonal lineage II in one goose) from wildlife harvested for food in Nunavik, which supports the hypothesis that migratory geese can carry T. gondii into Nunavik where feline definitive hosts are rare. This study suggests that direct detection methods may be useful for detection of T. gondii in wildlife harvested for human consumption and provides data needed for a quantitative exposure assessment that will determine the risk of T. gondii exposure for Inuit who harvest and consume geese in Nunavik.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Bachand
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4 Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2 Canada
| | - André Ravel
- Groupe de Recherche en épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2 Canada
| | - Patrick Leighton
- Groupe de Recherche en épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2 Canada
| | - Craig Stephen
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4 Canada
- Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4 Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, J.D. MacLean Tropical Diseases Centre, McGill University, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1 Canada
| | - Ellen Avard
- Nunavik Research Center, Makivik Corporation, Kuujjuaq, Canada
| | - Emily Jenkins
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7H 5B4 Canada
- Groupe de Recherche en épidémiologie des Zoonoses et Santé Publique, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, J2S 2M2 Canada
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