1
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Sandor A, Samalova M, Brandizzi F, Kriechbaumer V, Moore I, Fricker MD, Sweetlove LJ. Characterization of intracellular membrane structures derived from a massive expansion of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane due to synthetic ER-membrane-resident polyproteins. J Exp Bot 2024; 75:45-59. [PMID: 37715992 PMCID: PMC10735356 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad364] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a dynamic organelle that is amenable to major restructuring. Introduction of recombinant ER-membrane-resident proteins that form homo oligomers is a known method of inducing ER proliferation: interaction of the proteins with each other alters the local structure of the ER network, leading to the formation large aggregations of expanded ER, sometimes leading to the formation of organized smooth endoplasmic reticulum (OSER). However, these membrane structures formed by ER proliferation are poorly characterized and this hampers their potential development for plant synthetic biology. Here, we characterize a range of ER-derived membranous compartments in tobacco and show how the nature of the polyproteins introduced into the ER membrane affect the morphology of the final compartment. We show that a cytosol-facing oligomerization domain is an essential component for compartment formation. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we demonstrate that although the compartment retains a connection to the ER, a diffusional barrier exists to both the ER and the cytosol associated with the compartment. Using quantitative image analysis, we also show that the presence of the compartment does not disrupt the rest of the ER network. Moreover, we demonstrate that it is possible to recruit a heterologous, bacterial enzyme to the compartment, and for the enzyme to accumulate to high levels. Finally, transgenic Arabidopsis constitutively expressing the compartment-forming polyproteins grew and developed normally under standard conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andras Sandor
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Marketa Samalova
- Department of Experimental Biology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Federica Brandizzi
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Verena Kriechbaumer
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Ian Moore
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Mark D Fricker
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
| | - Lee J Sweetlove
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK
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2
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Bennett DA, Parish S, Millwood IY, Guo Y, Chen Y, Turnbull I, Yang L, Lv J, Yu C, Davey Smith G, Wang Y, Wang Y, Peto R, Collins R, Walters RG, Li L, Chen Z, Clarke R. MTHFR and risk of stroke and heart disease in a low-folate population: a prospective study of 156 000 Chinese adults. Int J Epidemiol 2023; 52:1862-1869. [PMID: 37898918 PMCID: PMC10749746 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relevance of folic acid for stroke prevention in low-folate populations such as in China is uncertain. Genetic studies of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism, which increases plasma homocysteine (tHcy) levels, could clarify the causal relevance of elevated tHcy levels for stroke, ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and other diseases in populations without folic acid fortification. METHODS In the prospective China Kadoorie Biobank, 156 253 participants were genotyped for MTHFR and 12 240 developed a stroke during the 12-year follow-up. Logistic regression was used to estimate region-specific odds ratios (ORs) for total stroke and stroke types, IHD and other diseases comparing TT genotype for MTHFR C677T (two thymine alleles at position 677 of MTHFR C677T polymorphism) vs CC (two cytosine alleles) after adjustment for age and sex, and these were combined using inverse-variance weighting. RESULTS Overall, 21% of participants had TT genotypes, but this varied from 5% to 41% across the 10 study regions. Individuals with TT genotypes had 13% (adjusted OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09-1.17) higher risks of any stroke [with a 2-fold stronger association with intracerebral haemorrhage (1.24, 1.17-1.32) than for ischaemic stroke (1.11, 1.07-1.15)] than the reference CC genotype. In contrast, MTHFR C677T was unrelated to risk of IHD or any other non-vascular diseases, including cancer, diabetes and chronic obstructive lung disease. CONCLUSIONS In Chinese adults, the MTHFR C677T polymorphism was associated with higher risks of stroke. The findings warrant corroboration by further trials of folic acid and implementation of mandatory folic acid fortification programmes for stroke prevention in low-folate populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick A Bennett
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Parish
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Iona Y Millwood
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yu Guo
- Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yiping Chen
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Iain Turnbull
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ling Yang
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jun Lv
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | - Canqing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yongjun Wang
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yilong Wang
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Richard Peto
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rory Collins
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robin G Walters
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Health Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Liming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China
- Peking University Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness and Response, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengming Chen
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert Clarke
- Clinical Trial Service Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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3
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Suskiewicz MJ, Munnur D, Strømland Ø, Yang JC, Easton L, Chatrin C, Zhu K, Baretić D, Goffinont S, Schuller M, Wu WF, Elkins J, Ahel D, Sanyal S, Neuhaus D, Ahel I. Updated protein domain annotation of the PARP protein family sheds new light on biological function. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:8217-8236. [PMID: 37326024 PMCID: PMC10450202 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
AlphaFold2 and related computational tools have greatly aided studies of structural biology through their ability to accurately predict protein structures. In the present work, we explored AF2 structural models of the 17 canonical members of the human PARP protein family and supplemented this analysis with new experiments and an overview of recent published data. PARP proteins are typically involved in the modification of proteins and nucleic acids through mono or poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, but this function can be modulated by the presence of various auxiliary protein domains. Our analysis provides a comprehensive view of the structured domains and long intrinsically disordered regions within human PARPs, offering a revised basis for understanding the function of these proteins. Among other functional insights, the study provides a model of PARP1 domain dynamics in the DNA-free and DNA-bound states and enhances the connection between ADP-ribosylation and RNA biology and between ADP-ribosylation and ubiquitin-like modifications by predicting putative RNA-binding domains and E2-related RWD domains in certain PARPs. In line with the bioinformatic analysis, we demonstrate for the first time PARP14's RNA-binding capability and RNA ADP-ribosylation activity in vitro. While our insights align with existing experimental data and are probably accurate, they need further validation through experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deeksha Munnur
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Øyvind Strømland
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ji-Chun Yang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Laura E Easton
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Chatrin Chatrin
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Kang Zhu
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Domagoj Baretić
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | | | - Marion Schuller
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Wing-Fung Wu
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Jonathan M Elkins
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Dragana Ahel
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Sumana Sanyal
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - David Neuhaus
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Ivan Ahel
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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4
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Vincent L, Ibrahim M, Kitchin J, Pickering C, Wilson J, Sorrentino E, Salvagno C, Earl L, Ma L, Simpson K, Baker R, McCulloch P. Reduction in transfer of micro-organisms between patients and staff using short-sleeved gowns and hand/arm hygiene in intensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A simulation-based randomised trial. J Intensive Care Soc 2023; 24:265-276. [PMID: 37744071 PMCID: PMC10515327 DOI: 10.1177/17511437221116472] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Current personal protective equipment (PPE) practices in UK intensive care units involve "sessional" use of long-sleeved gowns, risking nosocomial infection transmitted via gown sleeves. Data from the first wave of the COVID19 pandemic demonstrated that these changes in infection prevention and control protocols were associated with an increase in healthcare associated bloodstream infections. We therefore explored the use of a protocol using short-sleeved gowns with hand and arm hygiene to reduce this risk. Methods ICU staff were trained in wearing short-sleeved gowns and using a specific hand and arm washing technique between patients (experimental protocol). They then underwent simulation training, performing COVID-19 intubation and proning tasks using either experimental protocol or the standard (long-sleeved) control protocol. Fluorescent powder was used to simulate microbial contamination, detected using photographs under ultraviolet light. Teams were randomised to use control or experimental PPE first. During the simulation, staff were questioned on their feelings about personal safety, comfort and patient safety. Results Sixty-eight staff and 17 proning volunteers were studied. Experimental PPE completely prevented staff contamination during COVID-19 intubation, whereas this occurred in 30/67 staff wearing control PPE (p = .003, McNemar). Proning volunteers were contaminated by staff in 15/17 control sessions and in 1/17 with experimental PPE (p = .023 McNemar). Staff comfort was superior with experimental PPE (p< .001, Wilcoxon). Their personal safety perception was initially higher with control PPE, but changed towards neutrality during sessions (p < .001 start, 0.068 end). Their impressions of patient safety were initially similar (p = .87), but finished strongly in favour of experimental PPE (p < .001). Conclusions Short-sleeved gowns with hand and forearm cleansing appear superior to sessional long-sleeved gowns in preventing cross-contamination between staff and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vincent
- Adult Intensive Care Unit, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Mudathir Ibrahim
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of General Surgery, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
| | - Joanne Kitchin
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Claire Pickering
- Adult Intensive Care Unit, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennie Wilson
- Richard Wells research centre, University of West London, Brentford, UK
- Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Enrico Sorrentino
- Adult Intensive Care Unit, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Claudia Salvagno
- Adult Intensive Care Unit, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Laurie Earl
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Louise Ma
- Whittington Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Rose Baker
- School of Business, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Peter McCulloch
- Adult Intensive Care Unit, Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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5
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Latt SM, Alderdice F, Elkington M, Awng Shar M, Kurinczuk JJ, Rowe R. Primary postpartum haemorrhage and longer-term physical, psychological, and psychosocial health outcomes for women and their partners in high income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0274041. [PMID: 37315027 PMCID: PMC10266652 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274041] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Most research about outcomes following postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) has focused on immediate outcomes. There are fewer studies investigating longer-term maternal morbidity following PPH, resulting in a significant knowledge gap. This review aimed to synthesize the evidence about the longer-term physical and psychological consequences of primary PPH for women and their partners from high income settings. METHODS The review was registered with PROSPERO and five electronic databases were searched. Studies were independently screened against the eligibility criteria by two reviewers and data were extracted from both quantitative and qualitative studies that reported non-immediate health outcomes of primary PPH. RESULTS Data were included from 24 studies, of which 16 were quantitative, five were qualitative and three used mixed-methods. The included studies were of mixed methodological quality. Of the nine studies reporting outcomes beyond five years after birth, only two quantitative studies and one qualitative study had a follow-up period longer than ten years. Seven studies reported outcomes or experiences for partners. The evidence indicated that women with PPH were more likely to have persistent physical and psychological health problems after birth compared with women who did not have a PPH. These problems, including PTSD symptoms and cardiovascular disease, may be severe and extend for many years after birth and were more pronounced after a severe PPH, as indicated by a blood transfusion or hysterectomy. There was limited evidence about outcomes for partners after PPH, but conflicting evidence of association between PTSD and PPH among partners who witnessed PPH. CONCLUSION This review explored existing evidence about longer-term physical and psychological health outcomes among women who had a primary PPH in high income countries, and their partners. While the evidence about health outcomes beyond five years after PPH is limited, our findings indicate that women can experience long lasting negative impacts after primary PPH, including PTSD symptoms and cardiovascular disease, extending for many years after birth. PROSPERO REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020161144.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Mon Latt
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Alderdice
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Madeline Elkington
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mahkawnghta Awng Shar
- Health and Nutrition Specialist, United Nations International Children Fund, Myanmar
| | - Jennifer J. Kurinczuk
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Rowe
- National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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6
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Zhang Y, de Souza RS, Chen YC. sconce: a cosmic web finder for spherical and conic geometries. Mon Not R Astron Soc 2022; 517:1197-1217. [PMID: 36246727 PMCID: PMC9553091 DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stac2504] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The latticework structure known as the cosmic web provides a valuable insight into the assembly history of large-scale structures. Despite the variety of methods to identify the cosmic web structures, they mostly rely on the assumption that galaxies are embedded in a Euclidean geometric space. Here, we present a novel cosmic web identifier called sconce (Spherical and CONic Cosmic wEb finder) that inherently considers the 2D (RA, DEC) spherical or the 3D (RA, DEC, z) conic geometry. The proposed algorithms in sconce generalize the well-known subspace constrained mean shift (scms) method and primarily address the predominant filament detection problem. They are intrinsic to the spherical/conic geometry and invariant to data rotations. We further test the efficacy of our method with an artificial cross-shaped filament example and apply it to the SDSS galaxy catalogue, revealing that the 2D spherical version of our algorithms is robust even in regions of high declination. Finally, using N-body simulations from Illustris, we show that the 3D conic version of our algorithms is more robust in detecting filaments than the standard scms method under the redshift distortions caused by the peculiar velocities of haloes. Our cosmic web finder is packaged in python as sconce-scms and has been made publicly available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yikun Zhang
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Rafael S de Souza
- Key Laboratory for Research in Galaxies and Cosmology, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Yen-Chi Chen
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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7
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Artzy-Schnirman A, Abu-Shah E, Chandrawati R, Altman E, Yusuf N, Wang ST, Ramos J, Hansel CS, Haus-Cohen M, Dahan R, Arif S, Dustin ML, Peakman M, Reiter Y, Stevens MM. Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells for Detection and Desensitization of Autoreactive T cells Associated with Type 1 Diabetes. Nano Lett 2022; 22:4376-4382. [PMID: 35616515 PMCID: PMC9185737 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c00819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases and in particular type 1 diabetes rely heavily on treatments that target the symptoms rather than prevent the underlying disease. One of the barriers to better therapeutic strategies is the inability to detect and efficiently target rare autoreactive T-cell populations that are major drivers of these conditions. Here, we develop a unique artificial antigen-presenting cell (aAPC) system from biocompatible polymer particles that allows specific encapsulation of bioactive ingredients. Using our aAPC, we demonstrate that we are able to detect rare autoreactive CD4 populations in human patients, and using mouse models, we demonstrate that our particles are able to induce desensitization in the autoreactive population. This system provides a promising tool that can be used in the prevention of autoimmunity before disease onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arbel Artzy-Schnirman
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Enas Abu-Shah
- Kennedy
Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology
and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University
of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, U.K.
- Sir
William Dunn School of Pathology, University
of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RE, U.K.
| | - Rona Chandrawati
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Efrat Altman
- Laboratory
of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Technion Integrated
Cancer Center, Technion-Israel Institute
of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Norkhairin Yusuf
- Department
of Immunobiology, Guy’s, King’s
& St Thomas’ School of Medicine, second Floor, New Guy’s
House, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, U.K.
| | - Shih-Ting Wang
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Jose Ramos
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Catherine S. Hansel
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
| | - Maya Haus-Cohen
- Laboratory
of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Technion Integrated
Cancer Center, Technion-Israel Institute
of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Rony Dahan
- Department
of Systems Immunology, Weizmann Institute
of Science, Rehovot 761001, Israel
| | - Sefina Arif
- Department
of Immunobiology, Guy’s, King’s
& St Thomas’ School of Medicine, second Floor, New Guy’s
House, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, U.K.
| | - Michael L. Dustin
- Kennedy
Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology
and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University
of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FY, U.K.
| | - Mark Peakman
- Department
of Immunobiology, Guy’s, King’s
& St Thomas’ School of Medicine, second Floor, New Guy’s
House, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, U.K.
| | - Yoram Reiter
- Laboratory
of Molecular Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Technion Integrated
Cancer Center, Technion-Israel Institute
of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department
of Materials, Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Biomedical
Engineering, Imperial College London, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
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8
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Möslein A, Donà L, Civalleri B, Tan JC. Defect Engineering in Metal-Organic Framework Nanocrystals: Implications for Mechanical Properties and Performance. ACS Appl Nano Mater 2022; 5:6398-6409. [PMID: 35655928 PMCID: PMC9150067 DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.2c00493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The growth process of metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals defines their properties and functions. However, defects may be prevalent during the crystallization of even seemingly perfect MOFs, such as zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8), and yet direct probing of such structural defects has been challenging because of the lack of nanoscale techniques to locally examine individual nanocrystals. Here, we directly study local defects, such as missing linkers or metal vacancies, in ZIF-8 nano- and microcrystals with near-field IR nanospectroscopy combined with density functional theory calculations. We track the chemical changes during crystallization and show that structural defects like zinc cations that are bound to molecules of the reactant gradually disappear with ripening of the crystals, while dangling and missing linker defects prevail. The resulting defect-terminating groups or open-metal sites produce mechanical anisotropy and reduce the Young's modulus, as measured via tip force microscopy with nanoscale resolution and supported by theoretical modeling. However, these structural defects also open the door for defect engineering to tune the performance of ZIF-8 by offering additional adsorption sites for targeted catalytic reactions, chemical sensing, or gas capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika
F. Möslein
- Multifunctional
Materials and Composites Laboratory, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, U.K.
| | - Lorenzo Donà
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 5, Torino 10125, Italy
| | - Bartolomeo Civalleri
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università di Torino, Via P. Giuria 5, Torino 10125, Italy
| | - Jin-Chong Tan
- Multifunctional
Materials and Composites Laboratory, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, U.K.
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9
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Scaife JC, Eraifej J, Green AL, Petric B, Aziz TZ, Park RJ. Deep Brain Stimulation of the Nucleus Accumbens in Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:842184. [PMID: 35571282 PMCID: PMC9094709 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.842184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Anorexia nervosa (AN) is one of the most debilitating psychiatric disorders, becoming severe and enduring in a third of cases; with few effective treatments. Deep brain stimulation is a reversible, adjustable neurosurgical procedure that has been gaining ground in psychiatry as a treatment for depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, yet few studies have investigated AN. Abnormal eating behavior and the compulsive pursuit of thinness in AN is, in part, a consequence of dysfunction in reward circuitry and the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is central to reward processing. Methods Phase 1 prospective open-label pilot study of seven individuals with severe enduring AN. Electrodes were implanted bilaterally into the NAcc with stimulation at the anterior limb of the internal capsule using rechargeable implantable pulse generators. The protocol of 15 months included 12 months of deep brain stimulation incorporating two consecutive, randomized blind on-off fortnights 9 months after stimulation onset. The primary objectives were to investigate safety and feasibility, together with changes in eating disorder psychopathology. Results Feasibility and safety was demonstrated with no serious adverse events due to deep brain stimulation. Three patients responded to treatment [defined as > 35% reduction in Eating Disorders Examination (EDE) score at 12 months] and four patients were non-responders. Responders had a statistically significant mean reduction in EDE scores (50.3% reduction; 95% CI 2.6-98.2%), Clinical Impairment Assessment (45.6% reduction; 95% CI 7.4-83.7%). Responders also had a statistically significant mean reduction in Hamilton Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Scale and Snaith-Hamilton pleasure scale. There were no statistically significant changes in Body Mass Index, Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and World Health Organization Quality of Life Psychological subscale. Conclusion This study provides some preliminary indication that deep brain stimulation to the NAcc. Might potentially improve some key features of enduring AN. In this small study, the three responders had comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder which predated AN diagnosis. Future studies should aim to further elucidate predictors of outcome. Clinical Trial Registration [www.ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [Project ID 128658].
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C. Scaife
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John Eraifej
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander L. Green
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Beth Petric
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tipu Z. Aziz
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca J. Park
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, United Kingdom
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10
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Baddock HT, Brolih S, Yosaatmadja Y, Ratnaweera M, Bielinski M, Swift L, Cruz-Migoni A, Fan H, Keown JR, Walker AP, Morris G, Grimes J, Fodor E, Schofield C, Gileadi O, McHugh P. Characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 ExoN (nsp14ExoN-nsp10) complex: implications for its role in viral genome stability and inhibitor identification. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:1484-1500. [PMID: 35037045 PMCID: PMC8860572 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [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: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is the causal agent of the current global pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to an order, Nidovirales, with very large RNA genomes. It is proposed that the fidelity of coronavirus (CoV) genome replication is aided by an RNA nuclease complex, comprising the non-structural proteins 14 and 10 (nsp14-nsp10), an attractive target for antiviral inhibition. Our results validate reports that the SARS-CoV-2 nsp14-nsp10 complex has RNase activity. Detailed functional characterization reveals nsp14-nsp10 is a versatile nuclease capable of digesting a wide variety of RNA structures, including those with a blocked 3'-terminus. Consistent with a role in maintaining viral genome integrity during replication, we find that nsp14-nsp10 activity is enhanced by the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex (RdRp) consisting of nsp12-nsp7-nsp8 (nsp12-7-8) and demonstrate that this stimulation is mediated by nsp8. We propose that the role of nsp14-nsp10 in maintaining replication fidelity goes beyond classical proofreading by purging the nascent replicating RNA strand of a range of potentially replication-terminating aberrations. Using our developed assays, we identify drug and drug-like molecules that inhibit nsp14-nsp10, including the known SARS-CoV-2 major protease (Mpro) inhibitor ebselen and the HIV integrase inhibitor raltegravir, revealing the potential for multifunctional inhibitors in COVID-19 treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah T Baddock
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Sanja Brolih
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Yuliana Yosaatmadja
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Malitha Ratnaweera
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Marcin Bielinski
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Lonnie P Swift
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Abimael Cruz-Migoni
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Haitian Fan
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Jeremy R Keown
- Division of Structural Biology, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Alexander P Walker
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Garrett M Morris
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, 24-29 St Giles', Oxford OX1 3LB, UK
| | - Jonathan M Grimes
- Division of Structural Biology, Henry Wellcome Building for Genomic Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Ervin Fodor
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3TA, UK
| | - Opher Gileadi
- Centre for Medicines Discovery, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus Research Building, Roosevelt Drive, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Peter J McHugh
- Department of Oncology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
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11
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Di Fazio A, Schlackow M, Pong SK, Alagia A, Gullerova M. Dicer dependent tRNA derived small RNAs promote nascent RNA silencing. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:1734-1752. [PMID: 35048990 PMCID: PMC8860591 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [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: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian cells, small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) negatively regulate gene expression in a pathway known as RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi can be categorized into post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), which involves the cleavage of target messenger RNA (mRNA) or inhibition of translation in the cytoplasm, and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), which is mediated by the establishment of repressive epigenetic marks at target loci. Transfer RNAs (tRNAs), which are essential for translation, can be processed into small ncRNAs, termed tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs). The biogenesis of tsRNAs and their role in gene expression regulation has not yet been fully understood. Here, we show that Dicer dependent tsRNAs promote gene silencing through a mechanism distinct from PTGS and TGS. tsRNAs can lead to downregulation of target genes by targeting introns via nascent RNA silencing (NRS) in nuclei. Furthermore, we show that Ago2 slicer activity is required for this mechanism. Synthetic tsRNAs can significantly reduce expression of a target gene at both RNA and protein levels. Target genes regulated by NRS are associated with various diseases, which further underpins its biological significance. Finally, we show that NRS is evolutionarily conserved and has the potential to be explored as a novel synthetic sRNA based therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Di Fazio
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Margarita Schlackow
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Sheng Kai Pong
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Adele Alagia
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Monika Gullerova
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
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12
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Sullivan MK, Lees JS, Drake TM, Docherty AB, Oates G, Hardwick HE, Russell CD, Merson L, Dunning J, Nguyen-Van-Tam JS, Openshaw P, Harrison EM, Baillie JK, Semple MG, Ho A, Mark PB. Acute kidney injury in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 from the ISARIC WHO CCP-UK Study: a prospective, multicentre cohort study. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2022; 37:271-284. [PMID: 34661677 PMCID: PMC8788218 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfab303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study investigated adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and hypothesized that risk factors for AKI would include comorbidities and non-White race. METHODS A prospective multicentre cohort study was performed using patients admitted to 254 UK hospitals with COVID-19 between 17 January 2020 and 5 December 2020. RESULTS Of 85 687 patients, 2198 (2.6%) received acute kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Of 41 294 patients with biochemistry data, 13 000 (31.5%) had biochemical AKI: 8562 stage 1 (65.9%), 2609 stage 2 (20.1%) and 1829 stage 3 (14.1%). The main risk factors for KRT were chronic kidney disease (CKD) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.41: 95% confidence interval 3.06-3.81], male sex (aOR 2.43: 2.18-2.71) and Black race (aOR 2.17: 1.79-2.63). The main risk factors for biochemical AKI were admission respiratory rate >30 breaths per minute (aOR 1.68: 1.56-1.81), CKD (aOR 1.66: 1.57-1.76) and Black race (aOR 1.44: 1.28-1.61). There was a gradated rise in the risk of 28-day mortality by increasing severity of AKI: stage 1 aOR 1.58 (1.49-1.67), stage 2 aOR 2.41 (2.20-2.64), stage 3 aOR 3.50 (3.14-3.91) and KRT aOR 3.06 (2.75-3.39). AKI rates peaked in April 2020 and the subsequent fall in rates could not be explained by the use of dexamethasone or remdesivir. CONCLUSIONS AKI is common in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and it is associated with a heightened risk of mortality. Although the rates of AKI have fallen from the early months of the pandemic, high-risk patients should have their kidney function and fluid status monitored closely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael K Sullivan
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jennifer S Lees
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Thomas M Drake
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Annemarie B Docherty
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Georgia Oates
- Edinburgh Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hayley E Hardwick
- HPRU in Infection and Emerging Diseases, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Clark D Russell
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Laura Merson
- ISARIC Global Support Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jake Dunning
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Peter Openshaw
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ewen M Harrison
- Centre for Medical Informatics, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Malcolm G Semple
- HPRU in Infection and Emerging Diseases, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Antonia Ho
- Medical Research Council-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Patrick B Mark
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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13
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Bickerton LE, Johnson TG, Kerckhoffs A, Langton MJ. Supramolecular chemistry in lipid bilayer membranes. Chem Sci 2021; 12:11252-11274. [PMID: 34567493 PMCID: PMC8409493 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03545b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid bilayer membranes form compartments requisite for life. Interfacing supramolecular systems, including receptors, catalysts, signal transducers and ion transporters, enables the function of the membrane to be controlled in artificial and living cellular compartments. In this perspective, we take stock of the current state of the art of this rapidly expanding field, and discuss prospects for the future in both fundamental science and applications in biology and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Bickerton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Toby G Johnson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Aidan Kerckhoffs
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Matthew J Langton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford Chemistry Research Laboratory 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
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14
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Loria SF, Prendini L. Out of India, thrice: diversification of Asian forest scorpions reveals three colonizations of Southeast Asia. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22301. [PMID: 33339838 PMCID: PMC7749168 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The 'Out of India' hypothesis is often invoked to explain patterns of distribution among Southeast Asian taxa. According to this hypothesis, Southeast Asian taxa originated in Gondwana, diverged from their Gondwanan relatives when the Indian subcontinent rifted from Gondwana in the Late Jurassic, and colonized Southeast Asia when it collided with Eurasia in the early Cenozoic. A growing body of evidence suggests these events were far more complex than previously understood, however. The first quantitative reconstruction of the biogeography of Asian forest scorpions (Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802: Heterometrinae Simon, 1879) is presented here. Divergence time estimation, ancestral range estimation, and diversification analyses are used to determine the origins, dispersal and diversification patterns of these scorpions, providing a timeline for their biogeographical history that can be summarized into four major events. (1) Heterometrinae diverged from other Scorpionidae on the African continent after the Indian subcontinent became separated in the Cretaceous. (2) Environmental stresses during the Cretaceous-Tertiary (KT) mass extinction caused range contraction, restricting one clade of Heterometrinae to refugia in southern India (the Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka (the Central Highlands). (3) Heterometrinae dispersed to Southeast Asia three times during India's collision with Eurasia, the first dispersal event occurring as the Indian subcontinent brushed up against the western side of Sumatra, and the other two events occurring as India moved closer to Eurasia. (4) Indian Heterometrinae, confined to southern India and Sri Lanka during the KT mass extinction, recolonized the Deccan Plateau and northern India, diversifying into new, more arid habitats after environmental conditions stabilized. These hypotheses, which are congruent with the geological literature and biogeographical analyses of other taxa from South and Southeast Asia, contribute to an improved understanding of the dispersal and diversification patterns of taxa in this biodiverse and geologically complex region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie F Loria
- Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, NY, 10024-5192, USA.
- Scorpion Systematics Research Group, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, NY, 10024-5192, USA.
| | - Lorenzo Prendini
- Scorpion Systematics Research Group, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, NY, 10024-5192, USA
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15
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Abstract
Government bailouts of corporate sectors in the COVID-19 crisis are part of a tripartite arrangement between government, business and institutional investors. Business should respond to the changing preferences of customers, employees and societies by identifying value propositions that justify the provision of risk capital by institutional investors. Critical to this is the determination and implementation of corporate purposes by owners and board directors that focus on inter-generational horizons. Family owners are particularly well placed to do this, but institutional investors need to make it part of their stewardship function as well. Measurement is key and significant reforms are required in the areas of accounting, valuation and reporting. Consistent with these observations, companies that had strong environmental, social and governance records performed better during the initial stages of the crisis, as did family owned firms and those that avoided high levels of leverage prior to the crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Colin Mayer
- Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
- e-mail:
| | | | - Boya Wang
- Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
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