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  • Developmental role for ACF1-containing nucleosome remodellers in chromatin organisation. 20843858

    The nucleosome remodelling complexes CHRAC and ACF of Drosophila are thought to play global roles in chromatin assembly and nucleosome dynamics. Disruption of the gene encoding the common ACF1 subunit compromises fly viability. Survivors show defects in chromatin assembly and chromatin-mediated gene repression at all developmental stages. We now show that ACF1 expression is under strict developmental control. The expression is strongly diminished during embryonic development and persists at high levels only in undifferentiated cells, including the germ cell precursors and larval neuroblasts. Constitutive expression of ACF1 is lethal. Cell-specific ectopic expression perturbs chromatin organisation and nuclear programmes. By monitoring heterochromatin formation during development, we have found that ACF1-containing factors are involved in the initial establishment of diversified chromatin structures, such as heterochromatin. Altering the levels of ACF1 leads to global and variegated deviations from normal chromatin organisation with pleiotropic defects.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    07-212
    Product Catalog Name:
    Anti-dimethyl-Histone H3 (Lys9) Antibody
  • Forest trees influence distribution of the mineral weathering bacterial communities from the Scleroderma citrinum mycorrhizosphere. 20511429

    In acidic forest soils, availability of inorganic nutrients is a tree-growth limiting factor. A hypothesis to explain sustainable forest development proposes that tree roots select soil microbes involved in central biogeochemical processes such as mineral weathering that may contribute to nutrient mobilization and tree nutrition. Here we showed, by combining soil analyses to cultivation-dependent analyses of the culturable bacterial communities associated to the widespread mycorrhizal fungus Scleroderma citrinum, a significant enrichment of bacterial isolates with efficient mineral weathering potentials around the oak and beech mycorrhizal roots compared to bulk soil. Such a difference did not exist in the rhizosphere of Norway spruce. The mineral weathering ability of the bacterial isolates was assessed using a microplaque assay that measures the pH and the amount of iron released from biotite. Using this microplate assay, we demonstrated that the bacterial isolates harbouring the most efficient mineral weathering potential belonged to the Burkholderia genus. Notably, previous work revealed that oak and beech harboured very similar pH in the 5- to 10-cm horizon in both rhizosphere and bulk soil environments. In the spruce rhizosphere in contrast, pH was significantly lower than in bulk soil. Because the production of proton is one of the main mechanisms responsible for mineral weathering, our results suggest that certain tree species have developed indirect strategies for mineral weathering in nutrient-poor soils, which lie on the selection of bacterial communities with efficient mineral weathering potentials.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    AB5922
  • Visualizing the Replication Cycle of Bunyamwera Orthobunyavirus Expressing Fluorescent Protein-tagged Gc Glycoprotein. 20573824

    The virion glycoproteins Gn and Gc of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototype of the Bunyaviridae family and also the Orthobunyavirus genus, are encoded by the M RNA genome segment, and are involved in both viral attachment and entry. After their synthesis Gn and Gc form a heterodimer in the ER and transport to the Golgi for virus assembly. The N-terminal half of the Gc ectodomain was previously shown to be dispensable for virus replication in cell culture (Shi, X., J. Goli, G. Clark, K. Brauburger, and R. M. Elliott. 2009. J. Gen. Virol. 90:2483-2492). In this study, the coding sequences for fluorescent proteins, either enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or mCherry fluorescent protein, were fused to the N-terminus of truncated Gc, and two recombinant BUNV (rBUNGc-eGFP and rBUNGc-mCherry) were rescued by reverse genetics. The recombinant viruses showed bright autofluorescence under UV light and were competent for replication in various mammalian cell lines. rBUNGc-mCherry was completely stable over 10 passages whereas internal, in-frame deletions occurred in the chimeric Gc-eGFP protein of rBUNGc-eGFP resulting in loss of fluorescence between passages 5 and 7. Autofluorescence of the recombinant viruses allowed visualization of different stages of the infection cycle, including virus attachment to the cell surface, budding of virus particles in Golgi membranes, and virus-induced morphological changes to the Golgi at later stages of infection. The fluorescent protein tagged viruses will be valuable reagents for live cell imaging studies to investigate virus entry, budding and morphogenesis in real-time.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    6500
  • Sleep-waking discharge profiles of dorsal raphe nucleus neurons in mice. 21958868

    We have recorded, for the first time, in non-anesthetized, head-restrained mice, a total of 407 single units throughout the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR), which contains serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) neurons, during the complete wake-sleep cycle. The mouse DR was found to contain a large proportion (52.0%) of waking (W)-active neurons, together with many sleep-active (24.8%) and W/paradoxical sleep (PS)-active (18.4%) neurons and a few state-unrelated neurons (4.7%). The W-active, W/PS-active, and sleep-active neurons displayed a biphasic narrow or triphasic broad action potential. Of the 212 W-active neurons, 194 were judged serotonergic (5-HT W-active neurons) because of their triphasic long-duration action potential and low rate of spontaneous discharge, while the remaining 18 were judged non-serotonergic (non-5-HT W-active neurons) because of their biphasic narrow action potential and higher rate of spontaneous discharge. The 5-HT W-active neurons were subdivided into four groups, types I, II, III, and IV, on the basis of differences in firing pattern during wake-sleep states, their waking selectivity of discharge being in the order type I>type II>type III>type IV. During the transition from sleep to waking, the vast majority of waking-specific or waking-selective type I and II neurons discharged after onset of waking, as seen with non-5-HT W-specific neurons. Triphasic DR W/PS-active neurons were characterized by a low rate of spontaneous discharge and a similar distribution to that of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive, dopaminergic neurons. Triphasic DR slow-wave sleep (SWS)-active and SWS/PS neurons were also characterized by slow firing. At the transition from sleep to waking, sleep-selective neurons with no discharge activity during waking ceased firing before onset of waking, while, at the transition from waking to sleep, they fired after onset of sleep. The present study shows a marked heterogeneity and functional topographic organization of both serotonergic and non-serotonergic mouse DR neurons and suggests that they play different roles in behavioral state control and the sleep/waking switch.Copyright © 2011 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    Multiple
    Product Catalog Name:
    Multiple
  • Fibroblast growth factor 8 signaling through fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 is required for the emergence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons. 18566132

    GnRH neurons are essential for the onset and maintenance of reproduction. Mutations in both fibroblast growth factor receptor (Fgfr1) and Fgf8 have been shown to cause Kallmann syndrome, a disease characterized by hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia, indicating that FGF signaling is indispensable for the formation of a functional GnRH system. Presently it is unclear which stage of GnRH neuronal development is most impacted by FGF signaling deficiency. GnRH neurons express both FGFR1 and -3; thus, it is also unclear whether FGFR1 or FGFR3 contributes directly to GnRH system development. In this study, we examined the developing GnRH system in mice deficient in FGF8, FGFR1, or FGFR3 to elucidate the individual contribution of these FGF signaling components. Our results show that the early emergence of GnRH neurons from the embryonic olfactory placode requires FGF8 signaling, which is mediated through FGFR1, not FGFR3. These data provide compelling evidence that the developing GnRH system is exquisitely sensitive to reduced levels of FGF signaling. Furthermore, Kallmann syndrome stemming from FGF signaling deficiency may be due primarily to defects in early GnRH neuronal development prior to their migration into the forebrain.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    AB1530
    Product Catalog Name:
    Anti-Peripherin Antibody
  • Menopause impacts the relation of plasma adiponectin levels with the metabolic syndrome. 19912464

    Abstract. Henneman P, Janssens ACJW, Carola Zillikens M, Frolich M, Frants RR, Oostra BA, van Duijn CM, van Dijk KW (Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden; Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands). Menopause impacts the relation of plasma adiponectin levels with the metabolic syndrome. J Intern Med 2009; doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2009.02162.xObjective. Plasma adiponectin is negatively correlated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components obesity and insulin sensitivity. Here, we set out to evaluate the effect of menopause on the association of plasma adiponectin with MetS. Design. Data on plasma adiponectin and MetS were available from 2256 individuals participating in the Erasmus Rucphen Family study. Odds ratios for MetS were calculated by logistic regression analysis using plasma adiponectin quartiles. The discriminative accuracy of plasma adiponectin for MetS was determined by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operator. Analyses were performed in women and men, pre- and postmenopausal women and younger and older men. Results. Virtually all determinants of MetS differed significantly between groups. Low plasma adiponectin showed the highest risk for MetS in postmenopausal women (odds ratio = 18.6, 95% CI = 7.9-44.0). We observed a high discriminative accuracy of age and plasma adiponectin for MetS not only in postmenopausal women (AUC = 0.76) but also in other subgroups (AUC from 0.67 to 0.87). However, in all groups, the discriminative accuracy of age and body mass index (BMI) for MetS was similar to the discriminative accuracy of age and plasma adiponectin. Conclusions. Low plasma levels of adiponectin are associated with increased prevalence of MetS, especially in postmenopausal women. Age and BMI have similar discriminatory accuracies for presence of MetS when compared with age and plasma adiponectin. Thus, we conclude that the association of plasma adiponectin with MetS is significantly affected by menopause but challenge the additional value of adiponectin for the discriminatory accuracy for presence of MetS.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    HADP-61HK
    Product Catalog Name:
    Human Adiponectin RIA
  • Effects of the EGFR Inhibitor Erlotinib on Magnesium Handling. 20595681

    A mutation in pro-EGF causes isolated hypomagnesemia, and monoclonal antibodies targeting the extracellular domain of the EGF receptor (EGFR) affect epithelial Mg(2+) transport. The effect of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib on Mg(2+) homeostasis, however, remains unknown. Here, we injected C57BL/6 mice with erlotinib for 23 days and observed a small but significant decrease in serum Mg(2+) concentrations at days 16 and 23, but the fractional excretion of Mg(2+) remained unchanged after 23 days. Semiquantitative immunohistochemical evaluation did not reveal detectable changes in renal expression of transient receptor potential melastatin 6 (TRPM6) protein, the channel that mediates Mg(2+) reabsorption. Patch clamp analysis in TRPM6-expressing cells demonstrated that 30 mu M erlotinib inhibited EGF-induced changes in TRPM6 current density and tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR; 0.3 mu M erlotinib did not have these effects. Furthermore, 30 mu M erlotinib inhibited EGF-stimulated increases in the mobile fraction of endomembrane TRPM6 channels. In summary, erlotinib can influence Mg(2+) handling but its effect on the systemic Mg(2+) concentration seems less potent than that observed with antibody-based EGFR inhibitors. These data suggest that typical human dosages of erlotinib are unlikely to severely affect serum Mg(2+) concentrations.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    6500
  • Sucrose nonfermenting AMPK-related kinase (SNARK) mediates contraction-stimulated glucose transport in mouse skeletal muscle. 20713714

    The signaling mechanisms that mediate the important effects of contraction to increase glucose transport in skeletal muscle are not well understood, but are known to occur through an insulin-independent mechanism. Muscle-specific knockout of LKB1, an upstream kinase for AMPK and AMPK-related protein kinases, significantly inhibited contraction-stimulated glucose transport. This finding, in conjunction with previous studies of ablated AMPKalpha2 activity showing no effect on contraction-stimulated glucose transport, suggests that one or more AMPK-related protein kinases are important for this process. Muscle contraction increased sucrose nonfermenting AMPK-related kinase (SNARK) activity, an effect blunted in the muscle-specific LKB1 knockout mice. Expression of a mutant SNARK in mouse tibialis anterior muscle impaired contraction-stimulated, but not insulin-stimulated, glucose transport. Whole-body SNARK heterozygotic knockout mice also had impaired contraction-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle, and knockdown of SNARK in C2C12 muscle cells impaired sorbitol-stimulated glucose transport. SNARK is activated by muscle contraction and is a unique mediator of contraction-stimulated glucose transport in skeletal muscle.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    2100
    Product Catalog Name:
    Protein-Concentrate Kit (Micro)
  • In vivo exercise followed by in vitro contraction additively elevates subsequent insulin-stimulated glucose transport by rat skeletal muscle. 20179245

    The cellular mechanisms whereby prior exercise enhances insulin-stimulated glucose transport (GT) are not well understood. Previous studies suggested that a prolonged increase in phosphorylation of Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) may be important for the postexercise increase in insulin sensitivity. In the current study, the effects of in vivo exercise and in vitro contraction on subsequent insulin-stimulated GT were studied separately and together. Consistent with results from previous studies, prior exercise resulted in an increase in AS160 (642)Thr phosphorylation immediately after exercise in rat epitrochlearis muscles, and this increase remained 3 h postexercise concomitant with enhanced insulin-stimulated GT. For experiments with in vitro contraction, isolated rat epitrochlearis muscles were electrically stimulated to contract in the presence or absence of rat serum. As expected, insulin-stimulated GT measured 3 h after electrical stimulation in serum, but not after electrical stimulation without serum, exceeded resting controls. Immediately after electrical stimulation with or without serum, phosphorylation of both AS160 (detected by phospho-Akt substrate, PAS, antibody, or phospho-(642)Thr antibody) and its paralog TBC1D1 (detected by phospho-(237)Ser antibody) was increased. However, both AS160 and TBC1D1 phosphorylation had reversed to resting values at 3 h poststimulation with or without serum. Increasing the amount of exercise (from 1 to 2 h) or electrical stimulation (from 5 to 10 tetani) did not further elevate insulin-stimulated GT. In contrast, the combination of prior exercise and electrical stimulation had an additive effect on the subsequent increase in insulin-stimulated GT, suggesting that these exercise and electrical stimulation protocols may amplify insulin-stimulated GT through distinct mechanisms, with a persistent increase in AS160 phosphorylation potentially important for increased insulin sensitivity after exercise, but not after in vitro contraction.
    Document Type:
    Reference
    Product Catalog Number:
    Multiple