1
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Schoch K, Ruegg MSG, Fellows BJ, Cao J, Uhrig S, Einsele-Scholz S, Biskup S, Hawarden SRA, Salpietro V, Capra V, Brown CM, Accogli A, Shashi V, Bicknell LS. A second hotspot for pathogenic exon-skipping variants in CDC45. Eur J Hum Genet 2024:10.1038/s41431-024-01583-1. [PMID: 38467731 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-024-01583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Biallelic pathogenic variants in CDC45 are associated with Meier-Gorlin syndrome with craniosynostosis (MGORS type 7), which also includes short stature and absent/hypoplastic patellae. Identified variants act through a hypomorphic loss of function mechanism, to reduce CDC45 activity and impact DNA replication initiation. In addition to missense and premature termination variants, several pathogenic synonymous variants have been identified, most of which cause increased exon skipping of exon 4, which encodes an essential part of the RecJ-orthologue's DHH domain. Here we have identified a second cohort of families segregating CDC45 variants, where patients have craniosynostosis and a reduction in height, alongside common facial dysmorphisms, including thin eyebrows, consistent with MGORS7. Skipping of exon 15 is a consequence of two different variants, including a shared synonymous variant that is enriched in individuals of East Asian ancestry, while other variants in trans are predicted to alter key intramolecular interactions in α/β domain II, or cause retention of an intron within the 3'UTR. Our cohort and functional data confirm exon skipping is a relatively common pathogenic mechanism in CDC45, and highlights the need for alternative splicing events, such as exon skipping, to be especially considered for variants initially predicted to be less likely to cause the phenotype, particularly synonymous variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Schoch
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Mischa S G Ruegg
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Bridget J Fellows
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Joseph Cao
- Division of Pediatric Radiology, Department of Radiology Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Sabine Uhrig
- Institute of Clinical Genetics, Klinikum Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | | | - Saskia Biskup
- Center for Human Genetics Tuebingen and CeGaT GmbH, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Samuel R A Hawarden
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Valeria Capra
- Genomics and Clinical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Accogli
- Department of Specialized Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Vandana Shashi
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Louise S Bicknell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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2
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Lim CS, Weinstein BN, Roy SW, Brown CM. Analysis of fungal genomes reveals commonalities of intron gain or loss and functions in intron-poor species. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:4166-4186. [PMID: 33772558 PMCID: PMC8476143 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous evolutionary reconstructions have concluded that early eukaryotic ancestors including both the last common ancestor of eukaryotes and of all fungi had intron-rich genomes. By contrast, some extant eukaryotes have few introns, underscoring the complex histories of intron–exon structures, and raising the question as to why these few introns are retained. Here, we have used recently available fungal genomes to address a variety of questions related to intron evolution. Evolutionary reconstruction of intron presence and absence using 263 diverse fungal species supports the idea that massive intron reduction through intron loss has occurred in multiple clades. The intron densities estimated in various fungal ancestors differ from zero to 7.6 introns per 1 kb of protein-coding sequence. Massive intron loss has occurred not only in microsporidian parasites and saccharomycetous yeasts, but also in diverse smuts and allies. To investigate the roles of the remaining introns in highly-reduced species, we have searched for their special characteristics in eight intron-poor fungi. Notably, the introns of ribosome-associated genes RPL7 and NOG2 have conserved positions; both intron-containing genes encoding snoRNAs. Furthermore, both the proteins and snoRNAs are involved in ribosome biogenesis, suggesting that the expression of the protein-coding genes and noncoding snoRNAs may be functionally coordinated. Indeed, these introns are also conserved in three-quarters of fungi species. Our study shows that fungal introns have a complex evolutionary history and underappreciated roles in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Brooke N Weinstein
- Quantitative & Systems Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, CA, USA.,Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Scott W Roy
- Quantitative & Systems Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, CA, USA.,Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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3
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Lim CS, Sozzi V, Littlejohn M, Yuen LK, Warner N, Betz-Stablein B, Luciani F, Revill PA, Brown CM. Quantitative analysis of the splice variants expressed by the major hepatitis B virus genotypes. Microb Genom 2021; 7:mgen000492. [PMID: 33439114 PMCID: PMC8115900 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major human pathogen that causes liver diseases. The main HBV RNAs are unspliced transcripts that encode the key viral proteins. Recent studies have shown that some of the HBV spliced transcript isoforms are predictive of liver cancer, yet the roles of these spliced transcripts remain elusive. Furthermore, there are nine major HBV genotypes common in different regions of the world, these genotypes may express different spliced transcript isoforms. To systematically study the HBV splice variants, we transfected human hepatoma cells, Huh7, with four HBV genotypes (A2, B2, C2 and D3), followed by deep RNA-sequencing. We found that 13-28 % of HBV RNAs were splice variants, which were reproducibly detected across independent biological replicates. These comprised 6 novel and 10 previously identified splice variants. In particular, a novel, singly spliced transcript was detected in genotypes A2 and D3 at high levels. The biological relevance of these splice variants was supported by their identification in HBV-positive liver biopsy and serum samples, and in HBV-infected primary human hepatocytes. Interestingly the levels of HBV splice variants varied across the genotypes, but the spliced pregenomic RNA SP1 and SP9 were the two most abundant splice variants. Counterintuitively, these singly spliced SP1 and SP9 variants had a suboptimal 5' splice site, supporting the idea that splicing of HBV RNAs is tightly controlled by the viral post-transcriptional regulatory RNA element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Vitina Sozzi
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Margaret Littlejohn
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lilly K.W. Yuen
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nadia Warner
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Brigid Betz-Stablein
- Systems Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Present address: Dermatology Research Centre, Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Fabio Luciani
- Systems Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Peter A. Revill
- Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chris M. Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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4
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Pinilla-Redondo R, Shehreen S, Marino ND, Fagerlund RD, Brown CM, Sørensen SJ, Fineran PC, Bondy-Denomy J. Discovery of multiple anti-CRISPRs highlights anti-defense gene clustering in mobile genetic elements. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5652. [PMID: 33159058 PMCID: PMC7648647 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19415-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [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: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Many prokaryotes employ CRISPR-Cas systems to combat invading mobile genetic elements (MGEs). In response, some MGEs have developed strategies to bypass immunity, including anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins; yet the diversity, distribution and spectrum of activity of this immune evasion strategy remain largely unknown. Here, we report the discovery of new Acrs by assaying candidate genes adjacent to a conserved Acr-associated (Aca) gene, aca5, against a panel of six type I systems: I-F (Pseudomonas, Pectobacterium, and Serratia), I-E (Pseudomonas and Serratia), and I-C (Pseudomonas). We uncover 11 type I-F and/or I-E anti-CRISPR genes encoded on chromosomal and extrachromosomal MGEs within Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas, and an additional Aca (aca9). The acr genes not only associate with other acr genes, but also with genes encoding inhibitors of distinct bacterial defense systems. Thus, our findings highlight the potential exploitation of acr loci neighborhoods for the identification of previously undescribed anti-defense systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Pinilla-Redondo
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- University College Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Saadlee Shehreen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Nicole D Marino
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Robert D Fagerlund
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Søren J Sørensen
- Section of Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- Bio-protection Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
| | - Joseph Bondy-Denomy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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5
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Finkel ZV, Liang Y, Nanjappa D, Bretherton L, Brown CM, Quigg A, Irwin AJ. Corrigendum to "A ribosomal sequence-based oil sensitivity index for phytoplankton groups" [Mar. Pollut. Bull. vol. 151, February 2020, 110798]. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 158:111426. [PMID: 32753210 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Zoe V Finkel
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Yue Liang
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Deepak Nanjappa
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Laura Bretherton
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | | | - Andrew J Irwin
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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6
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Nilsen AR, Wang XY, Soop K, Cooper JA, Ridley GS, Wallace M, Summerfield TC, Brown CM, Orlovich DA. Purple haze: Cryptic purple sequestrate Cortinarius in New Zealand. Mycologia 2020; 112:588-605. [PMID: 32315246 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2020.1730120] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
CORTINARIUS is a species-rich ectomycorrhizal genus containing taxa that exhibit agaricoid or sequestrate basidiome morphologies. In New Zealand, one of the most recognizable and common Cortinarius species is the purple sequestrate fungus, C. porphyroideus. We used genome skimming of the almost 100-y-old type specimen from C. porphyroideus to obtain the nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS barcode) and partial nuc rDNA 28S (28S) sequences. The phylogenetic position of C. porphyroideus was established, and we found that it represents a rarely collected species. Purple sequestrate Cortinarius comprise multiple cryptic species in several lineages. We describe four new species of Cortinarius with strong morphological similarity to C. porphyroideus: Cortinarius diaphorus, C. minorisporus, C. purpureocapitatus, and C. violaceocystidiatus. Based on molecular evidence, Thaxterogaster viola is recognized as Cortinarius violaceovolvatus var. viola. These species are associated with Nothofagus (southern beech) and have very similar morphology to C. porphyroideus but are all phylogenetically distinct based on molecular data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy R Nilsen
- Department of Botany, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Xin Yue Wang
- Department of Microbiology, University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Karl Soop
- Department of Botany, Swedish Museum of Natural History , Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Geoff S Ridley
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research , Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | - Tina C Summerfield
- Department of Botany, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - David A Orlovich
- Department of Botany, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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7
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Shehreen S, Chyou TY, Fineran PC, Brown CM. Genome-wide correlation analysis suggests different roles of CRISPR-Cas systems in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes in diverse species. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 374:20180384. [PMID: 30905286 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems are widespread in bacterial and archaeal genomes, and in their canonical role in phage defence they confer a fitness advantage. However, CRISPR-Cas may also hinder the uptake of potentially beneficial genes. This is particularly true under antibiotic selection, where preventing the uptake of antibiotic resistance genes could be detrimental. Newly discovered features within these evolutionary dynamics are anti-CRISPR genes, which inhibit specific CRISPR-Cas systems. We hypothesized that selection for antibiotic resistance might have resulted in an accumulation of anti-CRISPR genes in genomes that harbour CRISPR-Cas systems and horizontally acquired antibiotic resistance genes. To assess that question, we analysed correlations between the CRISPR-Cas, anti-CRISPR and antibiotic resistance gene content of 104 947 reference genomes, including 5677 different species. In most species, the presence of CRISPR-Cas systems did not correlate with the presence of antibiotic resistance genes. However, in some clinically important species, we observed either a positive or negative correlation of CRISPR-Cas with antibiotic resistance genes. Anti-CRISPR genes were common enough in four species to be analysed. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the presence of anti-CRISPRs was associated with antibiotic resistance genes. This analysis indicates that the role of CRISPR-Cas and anti-CRISPRs in the spread of antibiotic resistance is likely to be very different in particular pathogenic species and clinical environments. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The ecology and evolution of prokaryotic CRISPR-Cas adaptive immune systems'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saadlee Shehreen
- 1 Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 , New Zealand
| | - Te-Yuan Chyou
- 1 Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 , New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- 2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 , New Zealand.,3 Genetics Otago, University of Otago , New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- 1 Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago , PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054 , New Zealand.,3 Genetics Otago, University of Otago , New Zealand
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8
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Finkel ZV, Liang Y, Nanjappa D, Bretherton L, Brown CM, Quigg A, Irwin AJ. A ribosomal sequence-based oil sensitivity index for phytoplankton groups. Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 151:110798. [PMID: 32056593 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110798] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Species-level variability has made it difficult to determine the relative sensitivity of phytoplankton to oil and mixtures of oil and dispersant. Here we develop a phytoplankton group sensitivity index using ribosome sequence data that we apply to a mesocosm experiment in which a natural microbial community was exposed to oil and two oil-dispersant mixtures. The relative sensitivity of four phytoplankton taxonomic groups, diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae, and Chrysophytes, was computed using the log of the ratio of the number of species that increase to the number that decrease in relative abundance in the treatment relative to the control. The index indicates that dinoflagellates are the most sensitive group to oil and oil-dispersant treatments while the Chrysophytes benefit under oil exposure compared to the other groups examined. The phytoplankton group sensitivity index can be generally applied to quantify and rank the relative sensitivity of diverse microbial groups to environmental conditions and pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe V Finkel
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| | - Yue Liang
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Deepak Nanjappa
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Laura Bretherton
- Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | | | - Andrew J Irwin
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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9
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Rollie C, Chevallereau A, Watson BNJ, Chyou TY, Fradet O, McLeod I, Fineran PC, Brown CM, Gandon S, Westra ER. Targeting of temperate phages drives loss of type I CRISPR-Cas systems. Nature 2020; 578:149-153. [PMID: 31969710 PMCID: PMC7007301 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-1936-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
On infection of their host, temperate viruses that infect bacteria (bacteriophages; hereafter referred to as phages) enter either a lytic or a lysogenic cycle. The former results in lysis of bacterial cells and phage release (resulting in horizontal transmission), whereas lysogeny is characterized by the integration of the phage into the host genome, and dormancy (resulting in vertical transmission)1. Previous co-culture experiments using bacteria and mutants of temperate phages that are locked in the lytic cycle have shown that CRISPR-Cas systems can efficiently eliminate the invading phages2,3. Here we show that, when challenged with wild-type temperate phages (which can become lysogenic), type I CRISPR-Cas immune systems cannot eliminate the phages from the bacterial population. Furthermore, our data suggest that, in this context, CRISPR-Cas immune systems are maladaptive to the host, owing to the severe immunopathological effects that are brought about by imperfect matching of spacers to the integrated phage sequences (prophages). These fitness costs drive the loss of CRISPR-Cas from bacterial populations, unless the phage carries anti-CRISPR (acr) genes that suppress the immune system of the host. Using bioinformatics, we show that this imperfect targeting is likely to occur frequently in nature. These findings help to explain the patchy distribution of CRISPR-Cas immune systems within and between bacterial species, and highlight the strong selective benefits of phage-encoded acr genes for both the phage and the host under these circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare Rollie
- ESI, Biosciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.
| | | | | | - Te-Yuan Chyou
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sylvain Gandon
- CEFE, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Université Paul Valéry Montpellier 3, Montpellier, France
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10
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Quintana DD, Lewis SE, Anantula Y, Garcia JA, Sarkar SN, Cavendish JZ, Brown CM, Simpkins JW. The cerebral angiome: High resolution MicroCT imaging of the whole brain cerebrovasculature in female and male mice. Neuroimage 2019; 202:116109. [PMID: 31446129 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.116109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [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: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebrovascular system provides crucial functions that maintain metabolic and homeostatic states of the brain. Despite its integral role of supporting cerebral viability, the topological organization of these networks remains largely uncharacterized. This void in our knowledge surmises entirely from current technological limitations that prevent the capturing of data through the entire depth of the brain. We report high-resolution reconstruction and analysis of the complete vascular network of the entire brain at the capillary level in adult female and male mice using a vascular corrosion cast procedure. Vascular network analysis of the whole brain revealed sex-related differences of vessel hierarchy. In addition, region-specific network analysis demonstrated different patterns of angioarchitecture between brain subregions and sex. Furthermore, our group is the first to provide a three-dimensional analysis of the angioarchitecture and network organization in a single reconstructed tomographic data set that encompasses all hierarchy of vessels in the brain of the adult mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- D D Quintana
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - S E Lewis
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - Y Anantula
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - J A Garcia
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - S N Sarkar
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - J Z Cavendish
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - C M Brown
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA
| | - J W Simpkins
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Center for Basic Translational and Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA.
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11
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Wood S, James OP, Hopkins L, Harries R, Robinson DBT, Brown CM, Abdelrahman T, Egan RJ, Lewis WG. Variations in competencies needed to complete surgical training. BJS Open 2019; 3:852-856. [PMID: 31832592 PMCID: PMC6887895 DOI: 10.1002/bjs5.50200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to analyse the degree of relative variation in specialty-specific competencies required for certification of completion of training (CCT) by the UK Joint Committee on Surgical Training. Methods Regulatory body guidance relating to operative and non-operative surgical skill competencies required for CCT were analysed and compared. Results Wide interspecialty variation was demonstrated in the required minimum number of logbook cases (median 1201 (range 60-2100)), indexed operations (13 (5-55)), procedure-based assessments (18 (7-60)), publications (2 (0-4)), communications to learned associations (0 (0-6)) and audits (4 (1-6)). Mandatory courses across multiple specialties included: Training the Trainers (10 of 10 specialties), Advanced Trauma Life Support (6 of 10), Good Clinical Practice (9 of 10) and Research Methodologies (8 of 10), although no common accord was evident. Discussion Certification guidelines for completion of surgical training were inconsistent, with metrics related to minimum operative caseload and academic reach having wide variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Wood
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - O P James
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - L Hopkins
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - R Harries
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - D B T Robinson
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - C M Brown
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - T Abdelrahman
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
| | - R J Egan
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK.,Department of Surgery Morriston Hospital, Heol Maes Eglwys Swansea UK
| | - W G Lewis
- Wales Deanery PGMDE School of Surgery Health Education and Improvement Wales, Cefn Coed Nantgarw UK
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12
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Bretherton L, Kamalanathan M, Genzer J, Hillhouse J, Setta S, Liang Y, Brown CM, Xu C, Sweet J, Passow U, Finkel ZV, Irwin AJ, Santschi PH, Quigg A. Response of natural phytoplankton communities exposed to crude oil and chemical dispersants during a mesocosm experiment. Aquat Toxicol 2019; 206:43-53. [PMID: 30448744 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
During the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the chemical dispersant Corexit was applied over vast areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Marine phytoplankton play a key role in aggregate formation through the production of extracellular polymeric materials (EPS), an important step in the biological carbon pump. This study examined the impacts of oil and dispersants on the composition and physiology of natural marine phytoplankton communities from the Gulf of Mexico during a 72-hour mesocosm experiment and consequences to carbon export. The communities were treated using the water accommodated fraction (WAF) of oil, which was produced by adding Macondo surrogate oil to natural seawater and mixed for 24 h in the dark. A chemically enhanced WAF (CEWAF) was made in a similar manner, but using a mixture of oil and the dispersant Corexit in a 20:1 ratio as well as a diluted CEWAF (DCEWAF). Phytoplankton communities exposed to WAF showed no significant changes in PSII quantum yield (Fv/Fm) or electron transfer rates (ETRmax) compared to Control communities. In contrast, both Fv/Fm and ETRmax declined rapidly in communities treated with either CEWAF or DCEWAF. Analysis of other photophysiological parameters showed that photosystem II (PSII) antenna size and PSII connectivity factor were not altered by exposure to DCEWAF, suggesting that processes downstream of PSII were affected. The eukaryote community composition in each experimental tank was characterized at the end of the 72 h exposure time using 18S rRNA sequencing. Diatoms dominated the communities in both the control and WAF treatments (52 and 56% relative abundance respectively), while in CEWAF and DCEWAF treatments were dominated by heterotrophic Euglenozoa (51 and 84% respectively). Diatoms made up the largest relative contribution to the autotrophic eukaryote community in all treatments. EPS concentration was four times higher in CEWAF tanks compared to other treatments. Changes in particle size distributions (a proxy for aggregates) over time indicated that a higher degree of particle aggregation occurred in both the CEWAF and DCEWAF treatments than the WAF or Controls. Our results demonstrate that chemically dispersed oil has more negative impacts on photophysiology, phytoplankton community structure and aggregation dynamics than oil alone, with potential implications for export processes that affect the distribution and turnover of carbon and oil in the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Bretherton
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States.
| | - Manoj Kamalanathan
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Jennifer Genzer
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Jessica Hillhouse
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Samantha Setta
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Yue Liang
- Environmental Science Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Chris M Brown
- Environmental Science Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Marine Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States
| | - Julia Sweet
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States
| | - Uta Passow
- Marine Science Institute, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, United States
| | - Zoe V Finkel
- Environmental Science Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Andrew J Irwin
- Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Peter H Santschi
- Department of Marine Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States
| | - Antonietta Quigg
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas, United States; Department of Oceanography, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States
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13
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Songvilay M, Giles-Donovan N, Bari M, Ye ZG, Minns JL, Green MA, Xu G, Gehring PM, Schmalzl K, Ratcliff WD, Brown CM, Chernyshov D, van Beek W, Cochran S, Stock C. Common acoustic phonon lifetimes in inorganic and hybrid lead halide perovskites. Phys Rev Mater 2019; 3:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevmaterials.3.093602. [PMID: 33062913 PMCID: PMC7552819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The acoustic phonons in the organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites have been reported to have anomalously short lifetimes over a large part of the Brillouin zone. The resulting shortened mean free paths of the phonons have been implicated as the origin of the low thermal conductivity. We apply neutron spectroscopy to show that the same acoustic phonon energy linewidth broadening (corresponding to shortened lifetimes) occurs in the fully inorganic CsPbBr3 by comparing the results on the organic-inorganic CH3NH3PbCl3. We investigate the critical dynamics near the three zone boundaries of the cubic P m 3 ¯ m Brillouin zone of CsPbBr3 and find energy and momentum broadened dynamics at momentum points where the Cs-site (A-site) motions contribute to the cross section. Neutron diffraction is used to confirm that both the Cs and Br sites have unusually large thermal displacements with an anisotropy that mirrors the low temperature structural distortions. The presence of an organic molecule is not necessary to disrupt the low-energy acoustic phonons at momentum transfers located away from the zone center in the lead halide perovskites and such damping may be driven by the large displacements or possibly disorder on the A site.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Songvilay
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
| | - N Giles-Donovan
- Medical and Industrial Ultrasonics, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow G128QQ, United Kingdom
| | - M Bari
- Department of Chemistry and 4D LABS, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A1S6 Canada
| | - Z-G Ye
- Department of Chemistry and 4D LABS, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A1S6 Canada
| | - J L Minns
- School of Physical Sciences, Ingram Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - M A Green
- School of Physical Sciences, Ingram Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - Guangyong Xu
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - P M Gehring
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - K Schmalzl
- Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich Centre for Neutron Science at ILL, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - W D Ratcliff
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - C M Brown
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA
| | - D Chernyshov
- Swiss-Norwegian Beam Lines, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Polygone Scientifique Louis Néel, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - W van Beek
- Swiss-Norwegian Beam Lines, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Polygone Scientifique Louis Néel, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - S Cochran
- Medical and Industrial Ultrasonics, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow G128QQ, United Kingdom
| | - C Stock
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom
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14
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Nicholson TJ, Jackson SA, Croft BI, Staals RHJ, Fineran PC, Brown CM. Bioinformatic evidence of widespread priming in type I and II CRISPR-Cas systems. RNA Biol 2018; 16:566-576. [PMID: 30157725 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1509662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with adaptive immunity against invading genetic elements, such as plasmids, bacteriophages and archaeal viruses. They consist of cas genes and CRISPR loci, which store genetic memories of previously encountered invaders as short sequences termed spacers. Spacers determine the specificity of CRISPR-Cas defence and immunity can be gained or updated by the addition of new spacers into CRISPR loci. There are two main routes to spacer acquisition, which are known as naïve and primed CRISPR adaptation. Naïve CRISPR adaptation involves the de novo formation of immunity, independent of pre-existing spacers. In contrast, primed CRISPR adaptation (priming) uses existing spacers to enhance the acquisition of new spacers. Priming typically results in spacer acquisition from locations near the site of target recognition by the existing (priming) spacer. Primed CRISPR adaptation has been observed in several type I CRISPR-Cas systems and it is potentially widespread. However, experimental evidence is unavailable for some subtypes, and for most systems, priming has only been shown in a small number of hosts. There is also no current evidence of priming by other CRISPR-Cas types. Here, we used a bioinformatic approach to search for evidence of priming in diverse CRISPR-Cas systems. By analysing the clustering of spacers acquired from phages, prophages and archaeal viruses, including strand and directional biases between subsequently acquired spacers, we demonstrate that two patterns of primed CRISPR adaptation dominate in type I systems. In addition, we find evidence of a priming-like pathway in type II CRISPR-Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Nicholson
- a Department of Biochemistry , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.,b Genetics Otago , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Simon A Jackson
- b Genetics Otago , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.,c Department of Microbiology and Immunology , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Bradley I Croft
- a Department of Biochemistry , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Raymond H J Staals
- c Department of Microbiology and Immunology , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.,d Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences , Wageningen University , Wageningen , The Netherlands
| | - Peter C Fineran
- b Genetics Otago , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.,c Department of Microbiology and Immunology , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- a Department of Biochemistry , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand.,b Genetics Otago , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
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15
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Abstract
Type II CRISPR-Cas9 systems require a small RNA called the trans-activating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA) in order to function. The prediction of these non-coding RNAs in prokaryotic genomes is challenging because they have dissimilar structures, having short stems (3-6 bp) and non-canonical base-pairs e.g. G-A. Much of the tracrRNA is involved in base-pairing interactions with the CRISPR RNA, or itself, or in RNA-protein interactions with Cas9. Here we develop a new bioinformatic tool to predict tracrRNAs. On an experimentally verified test set the algorithm achieved a high sensitivity and specificity, and a low false discovery rate (FDR) on genome analysis. Analysis of representative RefSeq genomes (5462) detected 275 tracrRNAs from 165 genera. These tracrRNAs could be grouped into 15 clusters which were used to build covariance models. These clusters included Streptococci and Staphylococci tracrRNAs from the CRISPR-Cas9 systems which are currently used for gene editing. Compensating base changes observed in the models were consistent with the experimental structures of single guide RNAs (sgRNAs). Other clusters, for which there are not yet structures available, were predicted to form novel tracrRNA folds. These clusters included a large and divergent tracrRNA set from Bacteroidetes. These computational models contribute to the understanding of CRISPR-Cas biology, and will assist in the design of further engineered CRISPR-Cas9 systems. The tracrRNA prediction software is available through a galaxy web server.
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Affiliation(s)
- Te-Yuan Chyou
- a Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- a Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
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16
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Lim CS, T. Wardell SJ, Kleffmann T, Brown CM. The exon-intron gene structure upstream of the initiation codon predicts translation efficiency. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:4575-4591. [PMID: 29684192 PMCID: PMC5961209 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introns in mRNA leaders are common in complex eukaryotes, but often overlooked. These introns are spliced out before translation, leaving exon-exon junctions in the mRNA leaders (leader EEJs). Our multi-omic approach shows that the number of leader EEJs inversely correlates with the main protein translation, as does the number of upstream open reading frames (uORFs). Across the five species studied, the lowest levels of translation were observed for mRNAs with both leader EEJs and uORFs (29%). This class of mRNAs also have ribosome footprints on uORFs, with strong triplet periodicity indicating uORF translation. Furthermore, the positions of both leader EEJ and uORF are conserved between human and mouse. Thus, the uORF, in combination with leader EEJ predicts lower expression for nearly one-third of eukaryotic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Samuel J T. Wardell
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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17
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Beck SE, Xanthopoulos MS, Menello MC, Brown CM, Matthews EC, Smtih J, Kreher GD, Liu W, Marcus CL. 0750 Interdisciplinary CPAP Care In Children: Report On A 5-year QI Initiative In A Pediatric Sleep Center. Sleep 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsy061.749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S E Beck
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - M S Xanthopoulos
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - M C Menello
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - C M Brown
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - E C Matthews
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - J Smtih
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - G D Kreher
- Office of Clinical Quality Improvement, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - W Liu
- Office of Clinical Quality Improvement, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - C L Marcus
- Sleep Center, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
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18
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Ogunsanya ME, Brown CM, Lin D, Imarhia F, Maxey C, Chong BF. Understanding the disease burden and unmet needs among patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus: A qualitative study. Int J Womens Dermatol 2018; 4:152-158. [PMID: 30175217 PMCID: PMC6116830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijwd.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a rare dermatologic autoimmune disease marked by photosensitive lesions that can vary in appearance depending on the subtype. The extent to which CLE affects a patient’s quality of life (QoL) has not been fully characterized. Focus groups were conducted to explore patients’ perspectives of how CLE has affected their lives and to understand the unmet needs in regards to CLE treatment and care. Methods This qualitative study involved three focus groups with a total of 19 patients with CLE. A moderator guide containing open-ended questions was used to assess how CLE affects overall QoL. The focus groups were audio-recorded with notetaking. Data were content-analyzed to identify emergent themes. Results Four themes emerged as important to patients with CLE: disease sequelae, social interactions, functioning, and unmet needs. Most patients reported decreased QoL due to signs and symptoms such as dyspigmentation and scarring. Having CLE negatively affected patients’ mental health and personal relationships and led to negative coping strategies, such as recreational drug use. Issues related to body image were also elicited by patients. Patients cited unmet needs including lack of treatments to improve chronic skin lesions of CLE and inadequate patient education on living with CLE. Conclusions Providers can look for signs of QoL impairment in patients with CLE by asking questions related to body image, mental health, social isolation, and coping mechanisms. Future QoL measures can include the effect of CLE-specific attributes such as scarring and dyspigmentation to empower patients’ voices in determining therapeutic efficacy in future clinical trials. Findings from our study have added a new understanding of daily experiences that were elicited directly from patients with CLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Ogunsanya
- College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - C M Brown
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas
| | - D Lin
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - F Imarhia
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas
| | - C Maxey
- College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
| | - B F Chong
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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19
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Ogunsanya ME, Nduaguba SO, Brown CM. Incremental health care services and expenditures associated with depression among individuals with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Lupus 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203318762604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Objectives The objective of this paper is to describe the annual direct medical expenditures for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) patients, and to estimate the incremental health care expenditures and utilization associated with depression among adults with CLE, while controlling for covariates. Methods Using the 2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), we compared CLE patients with and without depression to determine differences in: (a) health care utilization—inpatient, outpatient, office-based and emergency room (ER) visits, and prescriptions filled; and (b) expenditures—total costs, inpatient, outpatient, office-based, ER, and prescription medication costs, and other costs using demography-adjusted and comorbidity-adjusted multivariate models (age, gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, perception of health status, poverty category, smoking status, and Charlson Comorbidity Index). Results The total direct medical expenditure associated with CLE is estimated at approximately $29.7 billion in 2014 US dollars. After adjusting for covariates, adults with CLE and depression had more hospital discharges (utilization ratio (UR) = 1.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.00–1.28)), ER visits (UR = 1.17, 95% CI (1.09–1.37)), and prescribed medicines (UR = 2.15, 95% CI (1.51–3.05)) than those without depression. Adults with CLE and depression had significantly higher average annual total expenditure that those without depression ($19,854 vs. $9735). Conclusions High health care expenditures are significant for patients with CLE, especially among those with depression. Prescription drugs, inpatient visits, and ER visits contributed most to the total expenditures in CLE patients with depression. Early diagnosis and treatment of depression in CLE patients may reduce total health care expenditures and utilization in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Ogunsanya
- College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - S O Nduaguba
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - C M Brown
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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20
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Lim CS, Brown CM. Know Your Enemy: Successful Bioinformatic Approaches to Predict Functional RNA Structures in Viral RNAs. Front Microbiol 2018; 8:2582. [PMID: 29354101 PMCID: PMC5758548 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Structured RNA elements may control virus replication, transcription and translation, and their distinct features are being exploited by novel antiviral strategies. Viral RNA elements continue to be discovered using combinations of experimental and computational analyses. However, the wealth of sequence data, notably from deep viral RNA sequencing, viromes, and metagenomes, necessitates computational approaches being used as an essential discovery tool. In this review, we describe practical approaches being used to discover functional RNA elements in viral genomes. In addition to success stories in new and emerging viruses, these approaches have revealed some surprising new features of well-studied viruses e.g., human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis C virus, influenza, and dengue viruses. Some notable discoveries were facilitated by new comparative analyses of diverse viral genome alignments. Importantly, comparative approaches for finding RNA elements embedded in coding and non-coding regions differ. With the exponential growth of computer power we have progressed from stem-loop prediction on single sequences to cutting edge 3D prediction, and from command line to user friendly web interfaces. Despite these advances, many powerful, user friendly prediction tools and resources are underutilized by the virology community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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21
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Engler-Chiurazzi EB, Brown CM, Povroznik JM, Simpkins JW. Estrogens as neuroprotectants: Estrogenic actions in the context of cognitive aging and brain injury. Prog Neurobiol 2017; 157:188-211. [PMID: 26891883 PMCID: PMC4985492 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [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: 08/24/2015] [Revised: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
There is ample empirical evidence to support the notion that the biological impacts of estrogen extend beyond the gonads to other bodily systems, including the brain and behavior. Converging preclinical findings have indicated a neuroprotective role for estrogen in a variety of experimental models of cognitive function and brain insult. However, the surprising null or even detrimental findings of several large clinical trials evaluating the ability of estrogen-containing hormone treatments to protect against age-related brain changes and insults, including cognitive aging and brain injury, led to hesitation by both clinicians and patients in the use of exogenous estrogenic treatments for nervous system outcomes. That estrogen-containing therapies are used by tens of millions of women for a variety of health-related applications across the lifespan has made identifying conditions under which benefits with estrogen treatment will be realized an important public health issue. Here we provide a summary of the biological actions of estrogen and estrogen-containing formulations in the context of aging, cognition, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. We have devoted special attention to highlighting the notion that estrogen appears to be a conditional neuroprotectant whose efficacy is modulated by several interacting factors. By developing criteria standards for desired beneficial peripheral and neuroprotective outcomes among unique patient populations, we can optimize estrogen treatments for attenuating the consequences of, and perhaps even preventing, cognitive aging and brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- E B Engler-Chiurazzi
- Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States.
| | - C M Brown
- Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States.
| | - J M Povroznik
- Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Department of Pediatrics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States.
| | - J W Simpkins
- Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States.
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22
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Barry PN, Ahmad M, Wilson MR, Brown CM, Dragun AE. Abstract P1-10-14: Early results of toxicity for high-risk patients treated with hypofractionated regional nodal irradiation. Cancer Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.sabcs16-p1-10-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
This abstract was withdrawn by the authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- PN Barry
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; Kentucky One Health, Louisville, KY
| | - M Ahmad
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; Kentucky One Health, Louisville, KY
| | - MR Wilson
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; Kentucky One Health, Louisville, KY
| | - CM Brown
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; Kentucky One Health, Louisville, KY
| | - AE Dragun
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; Kentucky One Health, Louisville, KY
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23
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Bond DM, Albert NW, Lee RH, Gillard GB, Brown CM, Hellens RP, Macknight RC. Infiltration-RNAseq: transcriptome profiling of Agrobacterium-mediated infiltration of transcription factors to discover gene function and expression networks in plants. Plant Methods 2016; 12:41. [PMID: 27777610 PMCID: PMC5069895 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-016-0141-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcription factors (TFs) coordinate precise gene expression patterns that give rise to distinct phenotypic outputs. The identification of genes and transcriptional networks regulated by a TF often requires stable transformation and expression changes in plant cells. However, the production of stable transformants can be slow and laborious with no guarantee of success. Furthermore, transgenic plants overexpressing a TF of interest can present pleiotropic phenotypes and/or result in a high number of indirect gene expression changes. Therefore, fast, efficient, high-throughput methods for assaying TF function are needed. RESULTS Agroinfiltration is a simple plant biology method that allows transient gene expression. It is a rapid and powerful tool for the functional characterisation of TF genes in planta. High throughput RNA sequencing is now a widely used method for analysing gene expression profiles (transcriptomes). By coupling TF agroinfiltration with RNA sequencing (named here as Infiltration-RNAseq), gene expression networks and gene function can be identified within a few weeks rather than many months. As a proof of concept, we agroinfiltrated Medicago truncatula leaves with M. truncatula LEGUME ANTHOCYANIN PRODUCITION 1 (MtLAP1), a MYB transcription factor involved in the regulation of the anthocyanin pathway, and assessed the resulting transcriptome. Leaves infiltrated with MtLAP1 turned red indicating the production of anthocyanin pigment. Consistent with this, genes encoding enzymes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, and known transcriptional activators and repressors of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, were upregulated. A novel observation was the induction of a R3-MYB transcriptional repressor that likely provides transcriptional feedback inhibition to prevent the deleterious effects of excess anthocyanins on photosynthesis. CONCLUSIONS Infiltration-RNAseq is a fast and convenient method for profiling TF-mediated gene expression changes. We utilised this method to identify TF-mediated transcriptional changes and TF target genes in M. truncatula and Nicotiana benthamiana. This included the identification of target genes of a TF not normally expressed in leaves, and targets of TFs from other plant species. Infiltration-RNAseq can be easily adapted to other plant species where agroinfiltration protocols have been optimised. The ability to identify downstream genes, including positive and negative transcriptional regulators, will result in a greater understanding of TF function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M. Bond
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054 New Zealand
| | - Nick W. Albert
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11-600, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Robyn H. Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054 New Zealand
| | - Gareth B. Gillard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054 New Zealand
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Chris M. Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054 New Zealand
| | - Roger P. Hellens
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001 Australia
| | - Richard C. Macknight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054 New Zealand
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Private Bag 11-600, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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Hsu CH, Brown CM, Murphy JM, Haskell MG, Williams C, Feldman K, Mitchell K, Blanton JD, Petersen BW, Wallace RM. Perceptions and Practices of Mass Bat Exposure Events in the Setting of Rabies Among U.S. Public Health Agencies. Zoonoses Public Health 2016; 64:127-136. [PMID: 27389926 PMCID: PMC5525325 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Current guidelines in the setting of exposures to potentially rabid bats established by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) address post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) administration in situations where a person may not be aware that a bite or direct contact has occurred and the bat is not available for diagnostic testing. These include instances when a bat is discovered in a room where a person awakens from sleep, is a child without an adult witness, has a mental disability or is intoxicated. The current ACIP guidelines, however, do not address PEP in the setting of multiple persons exposed to a bat or a bat colony, otherwise known as mass bat exposure (MBE) events. Due to a dearth of recommendations for response to these events, the reported reactions by public health agencies have varied widely. To address this perceived limitation, a survey of 45 state public health agencies was conducted to characterize prior experiences with MBE and practices to mitigate the public health risks. In general, most states (69% of the respondents) felt current ACIP guidelines were unclear in MBE scenarios. Thirty-three of the 45 states reported prior experience with MBE, receiving an average of 16.9 MBE calls per year and an investment of 106.7 person-hours annually on MBE investigations. PEP criteria, investigation methods and the experts recruited in MBE investigations varied between states. These dissimilarities could reflect differences in experience, scenario and resources. The lack of consistency in state responses to potential mass exposures to a highly fatal disease along with the large contingent of states dissatisfied with current ACIP guidance warrants the development of national guidelines in MBE settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- C H Hsu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Epidemic Intelligence Service, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - C M Brown
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health State Laboratory Institute, Jamaica Plain, MA, USA
| | - J M Murphy
- Virginia Department of Health, Office of Epidemiology, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - M G Haskell
- Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - C Williams
- Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - K Feldman
- Center for Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - K Mitchell
- Center for Zoonotic and Vector-borne Diseases, Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - J D Blanton
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - B W Petersen
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - R M Wallace
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA
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25
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Finkel ZV, Follows MJ, Liefer JD, Brown CM, Benner I, Irwin AJ. Phylogenetic Diversity in the Macromolecular Composition of Microalgae. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155977. [PMID: 27228080 PMCID: PMC4882041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [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: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The elemental stoichiometry of microalgae reflects their underlying macromolecular composition and influences competitive interactions among species and their role in the food web and biogeochemistry. Here we provide a new estimate of the macromolecular composition of microalgae using a hierarchical Bayesian analysis of data compiled from the literature. The median macromolecular composition of nutrient-sufficient exponentially growing microalgae is 32.2% protein, 17.3% lipid, 15.0% carbohydrate, 17.3% ash, 5.7% RNA, 1.1% chlorophyll-a and 1.0% DNA as percent dry weight. Our analysis identifies significant phylogenetic differences in macromolecular composition undetected by previous studies due to small sample sizes and the large inherent variability in macromolecular pools. The phylogenetic differences in macromolecular composition lead to variations in carbon-to-nitrogen ratios that are consistent with independent observations. These phylogenetic differences in macromolecular and elemental composition reflect adaptations in cellular architecture and biochemistry; specifically in the cell wall, the light harvesting apparatus, and storage pools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe V. Finkel
- Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Mick J. Follows
- Department of Earth, Atmosphere and Planetary Sciences, MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Justin D. Liefer
- Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Chris M. Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Ina Benner
- Environmental Science Program, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Andrew J. Irwin
- Department of Math and Computer Science, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
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26
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Biswas A, Staals RHJ, Morales SE, Fineran PC, Brown CM. CRISPRDetect: A flexible algorithm to define CRISPR arrays. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:356. [PMID: 27184979 PMCID: PMC4869251 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2627-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) RNAs provide the specificity for noncoding RNA-guided adaptive immune defence systems in prokaryotes. CRISPR arrays consist of repeat sequences separated by specific spacer sequences. CRISPR arrays have previously been identified in a large proportion of prokaryotic genomes. However, currently available detection algorithms do not utilise recently discovered features regarding CRISPR loci. Results We have developed a new approach to automatically detect, predict and interactively refine CRISPR arrays. It is available as a web program and command line from bioanalysis.otago.ac.nz/CRISPRDetect. CRISPRDetect discovers putative arrays, extends the array by detecting additional variant repeats, corrects the direction of arrays, refines the repeat/spacer boundaries, and annotates different types of sequence variations (e.g. insertion/deletion) in near identical repeats. Due to these features, CRISPRDetect has significant advantages when compared to existing identification tools. As well as further support for small medium and large repeats, CRISPRDetect identified a class of arrays with ‘extra-large’ repeats in bacteria (repeats 44–50 nt). The CRISPRDetect output is integrated with other analysis tools. Notably, the predicted spacers can be directly utilised by CRISPRTarget to predict targets. Conclusion CRISPRDetect enables more accurate detection of arrays and spacers and its gff output is suitable for inclusion in genome annotation pipelines and visualisation. It has been used to analyse all complete bacterial and archaeal reference genomes. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2627-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambarish Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Raymond H J Staals
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Sergio E Morales
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.,Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand. .,Genetics Otago, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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Hellens RP, Brown CM, Chisnall MAW, Waterhouse PM, Macknight RC. The Emerging World of Small ORFs. Trends Plant Sci 2016; 21:317-328. [PMID: 26684391 DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Small open reading frames (sORFs) are an often overlooked feature of plant genomes. Initially found in plant viral RNAs and considered an interesting curiosity, an increasing number of these sORFs have been shown to encode functional peptides or play a regulatory role. The recent discovery that many of these sORFs initiate with start codons other than AUG, together with the identification of functional small peptides encoded in supposedly noncoding primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRs), has drastically increased the number of potentially functional sORFs within the genome. Here we review how advances in technology, notably ribosome profiling (RP) assays, are complementing bioinformatics and proteogenomic methods to provide powerful ways to identify these elusive features of plant genomes, and highlight the regulatory roles sORFs can play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger P Hellens
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Matthew A W Chisnall
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter M Waterhouse
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Richard C Macknight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd.
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Abstract
Many viruses contain RNA elements that modulate splicing and/or promote nuclear export of their RNAs. The RNAs of the major human pathogen, hepatitis B virus (HBV) contain a large (~600 bases) composite cis-acting 'post-transcriptional regulatory element' (PRE). This element promotes expression from these naturally intronless transcripts. Indeed, the related woodchuck hepadnavirus PRE (WPRE) is used to enhance expression in gene therapy and other expression vectors. These PRE are likely to act through a combination of mechanisms, including promotion of RNA nuclear export. Functional components of both the HBV PRE and WPRE are 2 conserved RNA cis-acting stem-loop (SL) structures, SLα and SLβ. They are within the coding regions of polymerase (P) gene, and both P and X genes, respectively. Based on previous studies using mutagenesis and/or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), here we propose 2 covariance models for SLα and SLβ. The model for the 30-nucleotide SLα contains a G-bulge and a CNGG(U) apical loop of which the first and the fourth loop residues form a CG pair and the fifth loop residue is bulged out, as observed in the NMR structure. The model for the 23-nucleotide SLβ contains a 7-base-pair stem and a 9-nucleotide loop. Comparison of the models with other RNA structural elements, as well as similarity searches of human transcriptome and viral genomes demonstrate that SLα and SLβ are specific to HBV transcripts. However, they are well conserved among the hepadnaviruses of non-human primates, the woodchuck and ground squirrel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen Lim
- a Biochemistry and Genetics Otago , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- a Biochemistry and Genetics Otago , University of Otago , Dunedin , New Zealand
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Tuorto SJ, Brown CM, Bidle KD, McGuinness LR, Kerkhof LJ. BioDry: An Inexpensive, Low-Power Method to Preserve Aquatic Microbial Biomass at Room Temperature. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0144686. [PMID: 26710122 PMCID: PMC4692454 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0144686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This report describes BioDry (patent pending), a method for reliably preserving the biomolecules associated with aquatic microbial biomass samples, without the need of hazardous materials (e.g. liquid nitrogen, preservatives, etc.), freezing, or bulky storage/sampling equipment. Gel electrophoresis analysis of nucleic acid extracts from samples treated in the lab with the BioDry method indicated that molecular integrity was protected in samples stored at room temperature for up to 30 days. Analysis of 16S/18S rRNA genes for presence/absence and relative abundance of microorganisms using both 454-pyrosequencing and TRFLP profiling revealed statistically indistinguishable communities from control samples that were frozen in liquid nitrogen immediately after collection. Seawater and river water biomass samples collected with a portable BioDry “field unit", constructed from off-the-shelf materials and a battery-operated pumping system, also displayed high levels of community rRNA preservation, despite a slight decrease in nucleic acid recovery over the course of storage for 30 days. Functional mRNA and protein pools from the field samples were also effectively conserved with BioDry, as assessed by respective RT-PCR amplification and western blot of ribulose-1-5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Collectively, these results demonstrate that BioDry can adequately preserve a suite of biomolecules from aquatic biomass at ambient temperatures for up to a month, giving it great potential for high resolution sampling in remote locations or on autonomous platforms where space and power are limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J. Tuorto
- Department of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Chris M. Brown
- Environmental Proteomics N.B. Inc, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Kay D. Bidle
- Department of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Lora R. McGuinness
- Department of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Lee J. Kerkhof
- Department of Marine and Coastal Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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30
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Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria and archaea provide protection by targeting foreign nucleic acids. The sequence of the "spacers" within CRISPR arrays specifically determines the targets in invader genomes. These spacers provide the short specific RNA nucleotide sequences within the guide crRNAs. In addition to complementarity in the spacer-target (protospacer) interaction, short flanking protospacer adjacent motifs (PAMs), or mismatching flanks have a discriminatory role in accurate target detection. Here, we describe a bioinformatic method, called CRISPRTarget, to use the sequence of a CRISPR array (e.g., predicted via CRISPRDetect/CRISPRDirection) to identify the foreign nucleic acids it targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambarish Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
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31
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Chen A, T-Thienprasert NP, Brown CM. Prospects for inhibiting the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in hepatitis B virus. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:7993-8004. [PMID: 25009369 PMCID: PMC4081668 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.7993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Revised: 01/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a continuing need for novel antivirals to treat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, as it remains a major health problem worldwide. Ideally new classes of antivirals would target multiple steps in the viral lifecycle. In this review, we consider the steps in which HBV RNAs are processed, exported from the nucleus and translated. These are often overlooked steps in the HBV life-cycle. HBV, like retroviruses, incorporates a number of unusual steps in these processes, which use a combination of viral and host cellular machinery. Some of these unusual steps deserve a closer scrutiny. They may provide alternative targets to existing antiviral therapies, which are associated with increasing drug resistance. The RNA post-transcriptional regulatory element identified 20 years ago promotes nucleocytoplasmic export of all unspliced HBV RNAs. There is evidence that inhibition of this step is part of the antiviral action of interferon. Similarly, the structured RNA epsilon element situated at the 5’ end of the polycistronic HBV pregenomic RNA also performs key roles during HBV replication. The pregenomic RNA, which is the template for translation of both the viral core and polymerase proteins, is also encapsidated and used in replication. This complex process, regulated at the epsilon element, also presents an attractive antiviral target. These RNA elements that mediate and regulate gene expression are highly conserved and could be targeted using novel strategies employing RNAi, miRNAs or aptamers. Such approaches targeting these functionally constrained genomic regions should avoid escape mutations. Therefore understanding these regulatory elements, along with providing potential targets, may also facilitate the development of other new classes of antiviral drugs.
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Biswas A, Brown CM. Scan for Motifs: a webserver for the analysis of post-transcriptional regulatory elements in the 3' untranslated regions (3' UTRs) of mRNAs. BMC Bioinformatics 2014; 15:174. [PMID: 24909639 PMCID: PMC4067372 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-15-174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gene expression in vertebrate cells may be controlled post-transcriptionally through regulatory elements in mRNAs. These are usually located in the untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNA sequences, particularly the 3′UTRs. Results Scan for Motifs (SFM) simplifies the process of identifying a wide range of regulatory elements on alignments of vertebrate 3′UTRs. SFM includes identification of both RNA Binding Protein (RBP) sites and targets of miRNAs. In addition to searching pre-computed alignments, the tool provides users the flexibility to search their own sequences or alignments. The regulatory elements may be filtered by expected value cutoffs and are cross-referenced back to their respective sources and literature. The output is an interactive graphical representation, highlighting potential regulatory elements and overlaps between them. The output also provides simple statistics and links to related resources for complementary analyses. The overall process is intuitive and fast. As SFM is a free web-application, the user does not need to install any software or databases. Conclusions Visualisation of the binding sites of different classes of effectors that bind to 3′UTRs will facilitate the study of regulatory elements in 3′ UTRs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Abstract
MOTIVATION CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) are a type of small non-coding RNA that form a key part of an acquired immune system in prokaryotes. Specific prediction methods find crRNA-encoding loci in nearly half of sequenced bacterial, and three quarters of archaeal, species. These Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) arrays consist of repeat elements alternating with specific spacers. Generally one strand is transcribed, producing long pre-crRNAs, which are processed to short crRNAs that base pair with invading nucleic acids to facilitate their destruction. No current software for the discovery of CRISPR loci predicts the direction of crRNA transcription. RESULTS We have developed an algorithm that accurately predicts the strand of the resulting crRNAs. The method uses as input CRISPR repeat predictions. CRISPRDirection uses parameters that are calculated from the CRISPR repeat predictions and flanking sequences, which are combined by weighted voting. The prediction may use prior coding sequence annotation but this is not required. CRISPRDirection correctly predicted the orientation of 94% of a reference set of arrays. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The Perl source code is freely available from http://bioanalysis.otago.ac.nz/CRISPRDirection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambarish Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Peter C Fineran
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandDepartment of Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New ZealandDepartment of Biochemistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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Gillard GB, Garama DJ, Brown CM. The transcriptome of the NZ endemic sea urchin Kina (Evechinus chloroticus). BMC Genomics 2014; 15:45. [PMID: 24438054 PMCID: PMC3898728 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sea urchins are studied as model organisms for developmental and systems biology and also produce highly valued food products. Evechinus chloroticus (Kina) is a sea urchin species that is indigenous to New Zealand. It is the type member of the Evechinus genus based on its morphological characteristics. Previous research has focused on identifying physical factors affecting commercial roe quality of E. chloroticus, but there is almost no genetic information available for E. chloroticus. E. chloroticus is the only species in its genus and has yet to be subject to molecular phylogenetic analysis. Results In this study we performed a de novo transcriptome assembly of Illumina sequencing data. A total of 123 million 100 base length paired-end reads were generated using RNA-Seq libraries from a range of E. chloroticus tissues from two individuals obtained from Fiordland, New Zealand. The assembly resulted in a set of 75,002 transcripts with an accepted read coverage and length, of which 24,655 transcripts could be functionally annotated using protein similarity. Transcripts could be further annotated with Gene Ontology, KEGG Orthology and InterPro terms. With this sequence data we could perform the first phylogenetic analysis of E. chloroticus to other species of its family using multiple genes. When sequences for the mitochondrial nitrogen dehydrogenase genes were compared, E. chloroticus remained outside of a family level clade, which indicated E. chloroticus is indeed a genetically distinct genus within its family. Conclusions This study has produced a large set of E. chloroticus transcripts/proteins along with functional annotations, vastly increasing the amount of genomic data available for this species. This provides a resource for current and future studies on E. chloroticus, either to increase its commercial value, or its use as a model organism. The phylogenetic results provide a basis for further analysis of relationships between E. chloroticus, its family members, and its evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chris M Brown
- Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
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35
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Waugh E, Chen A, Baird MA, Brown CM, Ward VK. Characterization of the chemokine response of RAW264.7 cells to infection by murine norovirus. Virus Res 2013; 181:27-34. [PMID: 24374268 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2013] [Revised: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 12/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Noroviruses are an emerging threat to public health, causing large health and economic costs, including at least 200,000 deaths annually. The inability to replicate in cell culture or small animal models has limited the understanding of the interaction between human noroviruses and their hosts. However, an alternative strategy to gain insights into norovirus pathogenesis is to study murine norovirus (MNV-1) that replicates in cultured macrophages. While the innate immune response is central to the resolution of norovirus disease, the adaptive immune response is required for viral clearance. The specific responses of macrophages and dendritic cells to infection drive the adaptive immune response, with chemokines playing an important role. In this study, we have conducted microarray analysis of RAW264.7 macrophages infected with MNV-1 and examined the changes in chemokine transcriptional expression during infection. While the majority of chemokines showed no change, there was specific up-regulation in chemokines reflective of a bias toward a Th1 response, specifically CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, CXCL2, CXCL10 and CXCL11. These changes in gene expression were reflected in protein levels as determined by ELISA assay. This virus-induced chemokine response will affect the resolution of infection and may limit the humoral response to norovirus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Waugh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Augustine Chen
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Margaret A Baird
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Vernon K Ward
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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Biswas A, Gagnon JN, Brouns SJ, Fineran PC, Brown CM. CRISPRTarget: bioinformatic prediction and analysis of crRNA targets. RNA Biol 2013; 10:817-27. [PMID: 23492433 PMCID: PMC3737339 DOI: 10.4161/rna.24046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Revised: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial and archaeal CRISPR/Cas adaptive immune system targets specific protospacer nucleotide sequences in invading organisms. This requires base pairing between processed CRISPR RNA and the target protospacer. For type I and II CRISPR/Cas systems, protospacer adjacent motifs (PAM) are essential for target recognition, and for type III, mismatches in the flanking sequences are important in the antiviral response. In this study, we examine the properties of each class of CRISPR. We use this information to provide a tool (CRISPRTarget) that predicts the most likely targets of CRISPR RNAs (http://bioanalysis.otago.ac.nz/CRISPRTarget). This can be used to discover targets in newly sequenced genomic or metagenomic data. To test its utility, we discover features and targets of well-characterized Streptococcus thermophilus and Sulfolobus solfataricus type II and III CRISPR/Cas systems. Finally, in Pectobacterium species, we identify new CRISPR targets and propose a model of temperate phage exposure and subsequent inhibition by the type I CRISPR/Cas systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambarish Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Otago; Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Joshua N. Gagnon
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Otago; Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stan J.J. Brouns
- Laboratory of Microbiology; Wageningen University; Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Peter C. Fineran
- Laboratory of Microbiology; Wageningen University; Wageningen, Netherlands
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology; University of Otago; Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago; University of Otago; New Zealand
| | - Chris M. Brown
- Department of Biochemistry; University of Otago; Dunedin, New Zealand
- Genetics Otago; University of Otago; New Zealand
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Stevens SG, Brown CM. In silico estimation of translation efficiency in human cell lines: potential evidence for widespread translational control. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57625. [PMID: 23460887 PMCID: PMC3584024 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently large scale transcriptome and proteome datasets for human cells have become available. A striking finding from these studies is that the level of an mRNA typically predicts no more than 40% of the abundance of protein. This correlation represents the overall figure for all genes. We present here a bioinformatic analysis of translation efficiency – the rate at which mRNA is translated into protein. We have analysed those human datasets that include genome wide mRNA and protein levels determined in the same study. The analysis comprises five distinct human cell lines that together provide comparable data for 8,170 genes. For each gene we have used levels of mRNA and protein combined with protein stability data from the HeLa cell line to estimate translation efficiency. This was possible for 3,990 genes in one or more cell lines and 1,807 genes in all five cell lines. Interestingly, our analysis and modelling shows that for many genes this estimated translation efficiency has considerable consistency between cell lines. Some deviations from this consistency likely result from the regulation of protein degradation. Others are likely due to known translational control mechanisms. These findings suggest it will be possible to build improved models for the interpretation of mRNA expression data. The results we present here provide a view of translation efficiency for many genes. We provide an online resource allowing the exploration of translation efficiency in genes of interest within different cell lines (http://bioanalysis.otago.ac.nz/TranslationEfficiency).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stewart G. Stevens
- Biochemistry and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Chris M Brown
- Biochemistry and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- * E-mail:
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Chen XS, Brown CM. Computational identification of new structured cis-regulatory elements in the 3'-untranslated region of human protein coding genes. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:8862-73. [PMID: 22821558 PMCID: PMC3467077 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/20/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger ribonucleic acids (RNAs) contain a large number of cis-regulatory RNA elements that function in many types of post-transcriptional regulation. These cis-regulatory elements are often characterized by conserved structures and/or sequences. Although some classes are well known, given the wide range of RNA-interacting proteins in eukaryotes, it is likely that many new classes of cis-regulatory elements are yet to be discovered. An approach to this is to use computational methods that have the advantage of analysing genomic data, particularly comparative data on a large scale. In this study, a set of structural discovery algorithms was applied followed by support vector machine (SVM) classification. We trained a new classification model (CisRNA-SVM) on a set of known structured cis-regulatory elements from 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) and successfully distinguished these and groups of cis-regulatory elements not been strained on from control genomic and shuffled sequences. The new method outperformed previous methods in classification of cis-regulatory RNA elements. This model was then used to predict new elements from cross-species conserved regions of human 3'-UTRs. Clustering of these elements identified new classes of potential cis-regulatory elements. The model, training and testing sets and novel human predictions are available at: http://mRNA.otago.ac.nz/CisRNA-SVM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Sylvia Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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Lange SJ, Maticzka D, Möhl M, Gagnon JN, Brown CM, Backofen R. Global or local? Predicting secondary structure and accessibility in mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2012; 40:5215-26. [PMID: 22373926 PMCID: PMC3384308 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gks181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Determining the structural properties of mRNA is key to understanding vital post-transcriptional processes. As experimental data on mRNA structure are scarce, accurate structure prediction is required to characterize RNA regulatory mechanisms. Although various structure prediction approaches are available, it is often unclear which to choose and how to set their parameters. Furthermore, no standard measure to compare predictions of local structure exists. We assessed the performance of different methods using two types of data: transcriptome-wide enzymatic probing information and a large, curated set of cis-regulatory elements. To compare the approaches, we introduced structure accuracy, a measure that is applicable to both global and local methods. Our results showed that local folding was more accurate than the classic global approach. We investigated how the locality parameters, maximum base pair span and window size, influenced the prediction performance. A span of 150 provided a reasonable balance between maximizing the number of accurately predicted base pairs, while minimizing effects of incorrect long-range predictions. We characterized the error at artificial sequence ends, which we reduced by setting the window size sufficiently greater than the maximum span. Our method, LocalFold, diminished all border effects and produced the most robust performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sita J Lange
- Department of Computer Science and Centre for Biological Signalling Studies (BIOSS), Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany
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40
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Brown CM, McGrath JC, Midgley JM, Muir AGB, O'Brien JW, Thonoor CM, Williams CM. α-Adrenergic Activities of Enantiomers of Isomeric Octopamines and Synephrines. J Pharm Pharmacol 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1986.tb14315.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C M Brown
- Syntex Research Centre, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AS
| | - J C McGrath
- Institute of Physiology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
| | - J M Midgley
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW
| | - A G B Muir
- Institute of Physiology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
| | - J W O'Brien
- Institute of Physiology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
| | - C M Thonoor
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XW
| | - C M Williams
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, U.S.A
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Ostanin DV, Brown CM, Gray L, Bharwani S, Grisham MB. Evaluation of the immunoregulatory activity of intraepithelial lymphocytes in a mouse model of chronic intestinal inflammation. Int Immunol 2010; 22:927-39. [PMID: 21071622 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxq447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) represent the first line of lymphocyte defense against the intestinal bacteria. Although previous studies have demonstrated a protective role of IELs in the development of colitis, the data supporting a regulatory role for IELs are limited. The objective of this study was to examine the suppressive activity of IELs in vitro and in vivo using a mouse model of chronic small and large bowel inflammation. Adoptive transfer of CD8α(+) IELs isolated from small intestines of wild-type (WT) mice into TCR βxδ-deficient (TCR βxδ(-/-)) recipients did not prevent or delay the onset of the disease induced by WT CD4(+)CD45RB(high) T cells. On the contrary, we observed a more rapid onset of wasting and clinical signs of intestinal inflammation when compared with animals injected with CD4(+)CD45RB(high) T cells alone. Histopathological scores of small and large bowel did not differ significantly between the two groups. Transfer of IELs alone did not produce any pathological changes. Real-time PCR analysis of intestinal tissues showed up-regulation of message for T(h)1- and macrophage-derived cytokines in colon and small bowel. Using Foxp3-GFP reporter mice, we were unable to detect any Foxp3(+) cells within the CD8α(+) IELs but did find a small population of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) IELs in the small and large bowel. Using in vitro suppression assay, we found that neither TCRαβ(+)CD8αα(+), TCRαβ(+)CD8αβ(+) nor TCRγδ(+)CD8αα(+) IELs were capable of suppressing CD4(+) T-cell proliferation. Taken together, our data do not support an immunoregulatory role for CD8α(+) IELs in a mouse model of small and large bowel inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D V Ostanin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, PO Box 33932, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, USA.
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Johnston DH, Brown CM, Yu AS, Gallucci JC. A low-temperature phase of bis(tetrabutylammonium) octa-μ(3)-chlorido-hexachlorido-octahedro-hexatungstate. Acta Crystallogr C 2010; 66:m303-6. [PMID: 20921609 DOI: 10.1107/s0108270110037017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2010] [Accepted: 09/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The title compound, (C(16)H(36)N)(2)[W(6)Cl(14)], undergoes a reversible phase transition at 268 (1) K. The structure at 150 and 200 K has monoclinic (P2(1)/c) symmetry. Both crystallographically independent tungsten chloride cluster anions sit on crystallographic inversion centers [symmetry codes: (-x, -y + 1, -z) and (-x + 1, -y + 2, -z)]. Two previous studies at room temperature describe the structure in the space group P2(1)/n with a unit-cell volume approximately half the size of the low-temperature unit cell [Zietlow, Schaefer et al. (1986). Inorg. Chem. 25, 2195-2198; Venkataraman et al. (1999). Inorg. Chem. 38, 828-830]. The unit cells of the room- and low-temperature polymorphs are closely related. The hydrocarbon chain of one of the tetrabutylammonium cations is disordered at both 150 and 200 K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean H Johnston
- Department of Chemistry, Otterbein University, Westerville, OH 43081, USA.
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Panjaworayan N, Payungporn S, Poovorawan Y, Brown CM. Identification of an effective siRNA target site and functional regulatory elements, within the hepatitis B virus posttranscriptional regulatory element. Virol J 2010; 7:216. [PMID: 20822550 PMCID: PMC2945954 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-7-216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is major public health concern. The limitations of available antiviral drugs require development of novel approaches to inhibit HBV replication. This study was conducted to identify functional elements and new siRNA target sites within the highly conserved regions of the 533 base post-transcriptional regulatory element (PRE) of HBV RNAs. Results Computational analysis of the PRE sequence revealed several conserved regulatory elements that are predicted to form local secondary structures some of these within known regulatory regions. A deletion analysis showed that sub-elements of the PRE have different effects on the reporter activity suggesting that the PRE contains multiple regulatory elements. Conserved siRNA targets at nucleotide position 1317-1337 and 1329-1349 were predicted. Although the siRNA at the position 1329-1349 had no effect on the expression of reporter gene, the siRNA target site at the position 1317-1337 was observed to significantly decrease expression of the reporter protein. This siRNA also specifically reduced the level of cccDNA in transiently HBV infected cells. Conclusion The HBV PRE is likely to contain multiple regulatory elements. A conserved target within this region at 1317-1337 is an effective siRNA target.
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Milev MP, Brown CM, Mouland AJ. Live cell visualization of the interactions between HIV-1 Gag and the cellular RNA-binding protein Staufen1. Retrovirology 2010; 7:41. [PMID: 20459747 PMCID: PMC2887380 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-7-41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2009] [Accepted: 05/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) uses cellular proteins and machinery to ensure transmission to uninfected cells. Although the host proteins involved in the transport of viral components toward the plasma membrane have been investigated, the dynamics of this process remain incompletely described. Previously we showed that the double-stranded (ds)RNA-binding protein, Staufen1 is found in the HIV-1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) that contains the HIV-1 genomic RNA (vRNA), Gag and other host RNA-binding proteins in HIV-1-producing cells. Staufen1 interacts with the nucleocapsid domain (NC) domain of Gag and regulates Gag multimerization on membranes thereby modulating HIV-1 assembly. The formation of the HIV-1 RNP is dynamic and likely central to the fate of the vRNA during the late phase of the HIV-1 replication cycle. Results Detailed molecular imaging of both the intracellular trafficking of virus components and of virus-host protein complexes is critical to enhance our understanding of factors that contribute to HIV-1 pathogenesis. In this work, we visualized the interactions between Gag and host proteins using bimolecular and trimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC and TriFC) analyses. These methods allow for the direct visualization of the localization of protein-protein and protein-protein-RNA interactions in live cells. We identified where the virus-host interactions between Gag and Staufen1 and Gag and IMP1 (also known as VICKZ1, IGF2BP1 and ZBP1) occur in cells. These virus-host interactions were not only detected in the cytoplasm, but were also found at cholesterol-enriched GM1-containing lipid raft plasma membrane domains. Importantly, Gag specifically recruited Staufen1 to the detergent insoluble membranes supporting a key function for this host factor during virus assembly. Notably, the TriFC experiments showed that Gag and Staufen1 actively recruited protein partners when tethered to mRNA. Conclusions The present work characterizes the interaction sites of key components of the HIV-1 RNP (Gag, Staufen1 and IMP1), thereby bringing to light where HIV-1 recruits and co-opts RNA-binding proteins during virus assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav P Milev
- HIV-1 RNA Trafficking Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research-Sir Mortimer B, Davis Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Côte-Ste-Catherine Road, Montréal, H3T 1E2 Québec, Canada
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Stock C, Chapon LC, Adamopoulos O, Lappas A, Giot M, Taylor JW, Green MA, Brown CM, Radaelli PG. One-dimensional magnetic fluctuations in the spin-2 triangular lattice alpha-NaMnO2. Phys Rev Lett 2009; 103:077202. [PMID: 19792680 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.077202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2009] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The S=2 anisotropic triangular lattice alpha-NaMnO2 is studied by neutron inelastic scattering. Antiferromagnetic order occurs at T< or =45 K with opening of a spin gap. The spectral weight of the magnetic dynamics above the gap (Delta approximately equal to 7.5 meV) has been analyzed by the single-mode approximation. Excellent agreement with the experiment is achieved when a dominant exchange interaction (|J|/k(B) approximately 73 K), along the monoclinic b axis and a sizable easy-axis magnetic anisotropy (|D|/k(B) approximately 3 K) are considered. Despite earlier suggestions for two-dimensional spin interactions, the dynamics illustrate strongly coupled antiferromagnetic S=2 chains and cancellation of the interchain exchange due to the lattice topology. alpha-NaMnO2 therefore represents a model system where the geometric frustration is resolved through the lowering of the dimensionality of the spin interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Stock
- ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon OX11 0QX, United Kingdom.
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Chi S, Adroja DT, Guidi T, Bewley R, Li S, Zhao J, Lynn JW, Brown CM, Qiu Y, Chen GF, Lou JL, Wang NL, Dai P. Crystalline electric field as a probe for long-range antiferromagnetic order and superconducting state of CeFeAsO(1-x)F(x). Phys Rev Lett 2008; 101:217002. [PMID: 19113445 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.101.217002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2008] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We use inelastic neutron scattering to study the crystalline electric field (CEF) excitations of Ce3+ in CeFeAsO(1-x)F(x) (x=0, 0.16). For nonsuperconducting CeFeAsO, the Ce CEF levels have three magnetic doublets in the paramagnetic state, but these doublets split into six singlets when the Fe ions order antiferromagnetically. For superconducting CeFeAsO0.84F0.16 T(c)=41 K), where the static antiferromagnetic order is suppressed, the Ce CEF levels have three magnetic doublets at [formula: see text], 18.7, 58.4 meV at all temperatures. Careful measurements of the intrinsic linewidth Gamma and the peak position of the 18.7 meV mode reveal a clear anomaly at T(c), consistent with a strong enhancement of local magnetic susceptibility chi'' [formula: see text] below T(c). These results suggest that CEF excitations in the rare-earth oxypnictides can be used as a probe of spin dynamics in the nearby FeAs planes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songxue Chi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1200, USA
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Jacobs GH, Chen A, Stevens SG, Stockwell PA, Black MA, Tate WP, Brown CM. Transterm: a database to aid the analysis of regulatory sequences in mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2008; 37:D72-6. [PMID: 18984623 PMCID: PMC2686486 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkn763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNAs, in addition to coding for proteins, may contain regulatory elements that affect how the protein is translated. These include protein and microRNA-binding sites. Transterm (http://mRNA.otago.ac.nz/Transterm.html) is a database of regions and elements that affect translation with two major unique components. The first is integrated results of analysis of general features that affect translation (initiation, elongation, termination) for species or strains in Genbank, processed through a standard pipeline. The second is curated descriptions of experimentally determined regulatory elements that function as translational control elements in mRNAs. Transterm focuses on protein binding sites, particularly those in 3′-untranslated regions (3′-UTR). For this release the interface has been extensively updated based on user feedback. The data is now accessible by strain rather than species, for example there are 10 Escherichia coli strains (genomes) analysed separately. In addition to providing a repository of data, the database also provides tools for users to query their own mRNA sequences. Users can search sequences for Transterm or user defined regulatory elements, including protein or miRNA targets. Transterm also provides a central core of links to related resources for complementary analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant H Jacobs
- Biochemistry Department and Webster Centre, University of Otago, PO Box 56 and Bioinfotools, PO Box 6129, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Brown CM, Marthol H, Zikeli U, Ziegler D, Hilz MJ. A simple deep breathing test reveals altered cerebral autoregulation in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetologia 2008; 51:756-61. [PMID: 18309474 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-008-0958-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2007] [Accepted: 01/21/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS Patients with diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of stroke and other cerebrovascular complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the autoregulation of cerebral blood flow in diabetic patients using a simple method that could easily be applied to the clinical routine screening of diabetic patients. METHODS We studied ten patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 11 healthy volunteer control participants. Continuous and non-invasive measurements of blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity were performed during deep breathing at 0.1 Hz (six breaths per minute). Cerebral autoregulation was assessed from the phase shift angle between breathing-induced 0.1 Hz oscillations in mean blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity. RESULTS The controls and patients all showed positive phase shift angles between breathing-induced 0.1 Hz blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity oscillations. However, the phase shift angle was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the patients (48 +/- 9 degrees ) compared with the controls (80 +/- 12 degrees ). The gain between 0.1 Hz oscillations in blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity did not differ significantly between the patients and controls. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION The reduced phase shift angle between oscillations in mean blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity during deep breathing suggests altered cerebral autoregulation in patients with diabetes and might contribute to an increased risk of cerebrovascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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Brown CM, Dalal RB, Hebert B, Digman MA, Horwitz AR, Gratton E. Raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) for measuring fast protein dynamics and concentrations with a commercial laser scanning confocal microscope. J Microsc 2008; 229:78-91. [PMID: 18173647 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.2007.01871.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Raster image correlation spectroscopy (RICS) is a new and novel technique for measuring molecular dynamics and concentrations from fluorescence confocal images. The RICS technique extracts information about molecular dynamics and concentrations from images of living cells taken on commercial confocal systems. Here we develop guidelines for performing the RICS analysis on an analogue commercial laser scanning confocal microscope. Guidelines for typical instrument settings, image acquisition settings and analogue detector characterization are presented. Using appropriate instrument/acquisition parameters, diffusion coefficients and concentrations can be determined, even for highly dynamic dye molecules in solution. Standard curves presented herein demonstrate the ability to detect protein concentrations as low as approximately 2 nM. Additionally, cellular measurements give accurate values for the diffusion of paxillin-enhanced-green fluorescent protein (EGFP), an adhesion adaptor molecule, in the cytosol of the cell and also show slower paxillin dynamics near adhesions where paxillin interacts with immobile adhesion components. Methods are presented to account for bright immobile structures within the cell that dominate spatial correlation functions; allowing the extraction of fast protein dynamics within and near these structures. A running average algorithm is also presented to address slow cellular movement or movement of cellular features such as adhesions. Finally, methods to determine protein concentration in the presence of immobile structures within the cell are presented. A table is presented giving guidelines for instrument and imaging setting when performing RICS on the Olympus FV300 confocal and these guidelines are a starting point for performing the analysis on other commercial confocal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Brown
- McGill University Life Sciences Complex Imaging Facility, Department of Biochemistry, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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50
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Aubert B, Bona M, Boutigny D, Couderc F, Karyotakis Y, Lees JP, Poireau V, Tisserand V, Zghiche A, Grauges E, Palano A, Chen JC, Qi ND, Rong G, Wang P, Zhu YS, Eigen G, Ofte I, Stugu B, Abrams GS, Battaglia M, Brown DN, Button-Shafer J, Cahn RN, Charles E, Gill MS, Groysman Y, Jacobsen RG, Kadyk JA, Kerth LT, Kolomensky YG, Kukartsev G, Pegna DL, Lynch G, Mir LM, Orimoto TJ, Pripstein M, Roe NA, Ronan MT, Wenzel WA, del Amo Sanchez P, Barrett M, Ford KE, Harrison TJ, Hart AJ, Hawkes CM, Watson AT, Held T, Koch H, Lewandowski B, Pelizaeus M, Peters K, Schroeder T, Steinke M, Boyd JT, Burke JP, Cottingham WN, Walker D, Asgeirsson DJ, Cuhadar-Donszelmann T, Fulsom BG, Hearty C, Knecht NS, Mattison TS, McKenna JA, Khan A, Kyberd P, Saleem M, Sherwood DJ, Teodorescu L, Blinov VE, Bukin AD, Druzhinin VP, Golubev VB, Onuchin AP, Serednyakov SI, Skovpen YI, Solodov EP, Todyshev KY, Best DS, Bondioli M, Bruinsma M, Chao M, Curry S, Eschrich I, Kirkby D, Lankford AJ, Lund P, Mandelkern M, 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Wappler FR, Zain SB, Bugg W, Krishnamurthy M, Spanier SM, Eckmann R, Ritchie JL, Satpathy A, Schilling CJ, Schwitters RF, Izen JM, Lou XC, Ye S, Bianchi F, Gallo F, Gamba D, Bomben M, Bosisio L, Cartaro C, Cossutti F, Della Ricca G, Dittongo S, Lanceri L, Vitale L, Azzolini V, Lopez-March N, Martinez-Vidal F, Banerjee S, Bhuyan B, Brown CM, Fortin D, Hamano K, Kowalewski R, Nugent IM, Roney JM, Sobie RJ, Back JJ, Harrison PF, Latham TE, Mohanty GB, Pappagallo M, Band HR, Chen X, Cheng B, Dasu S, Datta M, Flood KT, Hollar JJ, Kutter PE, Mellado B, Mihalyi A, Pan Y, Pierini M, Prepost R, Wu SL, Yu Z, Neal H. Exclusive branching-fraction measurements of semileptonic tau decays into three charged hadrons, into phipi(-)nu tau, and into phi K(-)nu tau. Phys Rev Lett 2008; 100:011801. [PMID: 18232752 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.100.011801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2007] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 342 fb(-1) collected with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II electron-positron storage ring operating at a center-of-mass energy near 10.58 GeV, we measure B(tau(-)--> pi(-)pi(-)pi+nu(tau)(ex.K(S0))=(8.83+/-0.01+/-0.13)%, B(tau(-) -->K(-)pi(-)pi+nu tau(ex.K(S0))=(0.273+/-0.002+/-0.009)%, B(tau(-) -->K(-)pi(-)K+nu tau)=(0.1346+/-0.0010+/-0.0036)%, and B(tau(-) -->K(-)K(-)K+nu tau)=(1.58+/-0.13+/-0.12)x10;{-5}, where the uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. These include significant improvements over previous measurements and a first measurement of B(tau(-) -->K(-)K(-)K+nu tau) in which no resonance structure is assumed. We also report a first measurement of B(tau(-) -->var phi(-)nu tau)=(3.42+/-0.55+/-0.25)x10(-5), a new measurement of B(tau(-) -->var phi K(-)nu tau)=(3.39+/-0.20+/-0.28)x10(-5) and a first upper limit on B(tau(-) -->K(-)K(-)K+nu tau(ex.var phi)).
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Affiliation(s)
- B Aubert
- Laboratoire de Physique des Particules, IN2P3/CNRS et Université de Savoie, F-74941 Annecy-Le-Vieux, France
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