The splicing regulator protein Tra2β is conserved between humans and insects and is essential for mouse development. Recent identification of physiological RNA targets has started to uncover molecular targets and mechanisms of action of Tra2β. At a transcriptome-wide level, Tra2β protein binds a matrix of AGAA-rich sequences mapping frequently to exons. Particular tissue-specific alternatively ...

Oncogenic activation of the ETS Related Gene (ERG) in humans was originally identified in subsets of Ewing sarcomas, myeloid leukemias and, recently, in the majority of prostate cancers. Expression of human ERG protein and consequently its functions in normal and disease states needs to be better understood in light of its suggested role in cell differentiation and proliferation. Here, we analy...

High temperature requirement factor A4 (HtrA4) is a member of the HtrA family of serine peptidases involved in regulating protein‑protein interactions. Little is known regarding the function of HtrA4 in humans and in mouse models. To gain insights into the role of HtrA4 in vivo, mice were generated with a conditional null allele of HtrA4 by flanking exons 4, 5 and 6 with loxP sites. Cre‑mediate...

introduction: lactate dehydrogenase is one of the cardiac enzyme markers, studied in vivo. in the present study, activity and kinetic properties of enzyme extracted from cardiomycytes derived from mouse embyronic stem cell in vitro were compared with enzyme extracted mouse neonatal from cardiomyocytes in vivo. material and methods: mouse embryonic stem cells were cultured and differentiated and...

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is associated with outbreaks of infectious rheumatic disease in humans. Using a mouse model of CHIKV arthritis and myositis, we show that tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) were dramatically induced in tissues from infected mice. The same factors were detected in the serum of patients with CHIKV-induced polyarthralgia and ...

Using a ChIP-cloning technique, we identified a Zinc finger protein 804a (Zfp804a) as one of the putative Hoxc8 downstream target genes. We confirmed binding of Hoxc8 to an intronic region of Zfp804a by ChIP-PCR in F9 cells as well as in mouse embryos. Hoxc8 upregulated Zfp804a mRNA levels and augmented minimal promoter activity in vitro. In E11.5 mouse embryos, Zfp804a and Hoxc8 were coexpress...

Recently an aboriginal guide was showing a group of tourists around Alberta's renowned HeadSmashed-In Buffalo-Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site staffed by First Nations personnel. The guide graphically described how in ancient times the Jill Sullivan buffalo would be driven over the edge of a fifteen meter precipice, to land in a gory heap at the base of the cliff. A diorama showed men and wom...

Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) exploit Bergmann glia (BG) fibres for radial migration, and cell-cell contacts have a pivotal role in this process. Nevertheless, little is known about the mechanisms that control CGN-BG interaction. Here we demonstrate that the actin-binding protein profilin1 is essential for CGN-glial cell adhesion and radial migration. Profilin1 ablation from mouse brains le...

Lice are small, wingless, minor ectoparasites of mammals and birds. More than 540  blood-sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) have been described with each host having its own type of louse, suggesting the cospeciation of the lice species with their host. Among these, two lice species from two different genera infest humans: Pediculus humanus and Phthirus pubis (pubic “crab” l...