Researchers here provide evidence that SPOC1 overexpression severely impairs HCMV replication by repressing the initiation of viral immediate early (IE) gene expression. SPOC1-depleted primary human fibroblasts displayed augmented initiation of viral IE gene expression. This occurs in a MOI-dependent manner, a defining hallmark of intrinsic immunity. Interestingly, repression requires the presence of high SPOC1 levels at[…]
In this study, researchers performed in-depth virological and cell biological studies and discovered that an inner nuclear membrane protein, SUN2, is a novel chromatin reassembly factor that maintains repressive chromatin and thus modulates HIV-1 transcription and latency. Targeting SUN2 may lead to new strategies for an HIV cure. The well-cited Bioruptor was used to[…]
New article in Methods in Enzymology: The repair of programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) physically tethers homologous chromosomes in meiosis to allow for accurate segregation through meiotic cell divisions. This process, known as recombination, also results in the exchange of alleles between parental chromosomes and contributes to genetic diversity. In mammals, meiotic DSBs occur predominantly in a small fraction of the genome, at sites[…]
In this study, researchers further investigated the molecular mechanisms behind resistance to radiotherapy. They further investigated β1-integrin which was previously linked to cancer cell survival after irraditation. Among several findings, ectopic β1-integrin expression in S1 cells reduced RING1 levels and increased Rad51 accumulation. In contrast, β1-integrin depletion in T4-2 cells significantly increased RING1 protein levels[…]
In this study, researchers show that establishment of CD4CTX-specific transcriptional and epigenetic programs occurred in a stepwise fashion along the Th1-differentiation pathway. Activation of naive CD4 T cells in presence of Th1 polarizing cytokines led to the acquisition of perforin-dependent cytotoxic activity. This process was dependent on the Th1 transcription factor Runx3 and was limited[…]
In this new study, researchers identified a new CRL type E3 ligase ( which they termed CRL7SMU1) that has an essential role in chromatid cohesion maintenance. SMU1, DDB1, CUL7 and RNF40 were identified as main components of this new complex. SMU1 by acting as a substrate recognition module, binds to H2B and mediates monoubiquitination at[…]
Researchers in this new study found that TGFβ signaling is over-activated in DR-ESCs, and inhibition of TGFβ signaling eliminates the tumorigenicity of mESC-derived NPCs by inducing fully differentiation of DR-ESCs. The data showed that TGFβ-hyperactivated germ cell-like DR-ESCs are the main contributor for the tumorigenicity of ESCs-derived target cell therapy and that inhibition of TGFβ signaling[…]
Childhood neuroblastoma is the most common cancer that occurs in infancy. The MYCN oncogene has been shown to be a strong indicator for this cancer. MYCN is a transcription factor that requires the expression of MAX to exert its function. In this new study, researchers illustrate that the MAX to MYCN ratio accounts for tumour progression and[…]
New discoveries using the Bioruptor Pico. In this study, researchers discovered that Egr2 and 3 inhibit T-bet in CD4 and CD8 effector T cells using chromatin immunoprecipitation and reporter assays. Egr2 and 3 physically interact with the T-box domain of T-bet. This domain blocks T-bet DNA binding and inhibits T-bet–mediated IFN-γ production. Egr2 and 3[…]
NeuroD1 is known to support and induce the neuronal differenciation during embryogenesis. Abhijeet Pataskar and colleagues discovered new epigenetics mechanisms underlying this essential role for the devlopment. Their ChIP-, FAIRE- and RNA-sequencing and motif analysis experiments show that NeuroD1 directly binds regulatory elements of neuronal genes that are embedded in heterochromatic environment. The induction of NeuroD1 initiates the reprogramming of[…]