. Huge numbers of short reads are being generated for mapping back to the genome to discover the frequency of transcripts, miRNAs, DNAase hypersensitive sites, FAIRE regions, nucleosome occupancy, etc. Since these reads are typically short (e.g., 36 base pairs) and since many eukaryotic genomes, including humans, have highly repetitive sequences then many of these reads map to two or more locat...

The general transcription factor TFIID consists of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) and multiple TBP-associated factors (TAFs). We previously identified two distinct WD repeat-containing TAFs, spTAF72 and spTAF73, in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Here we report the identification of another S.pombe TAF, spTAF50, which is the S.pombe homolog of histone H4-like TAFs such as human TAF...

Human telomerase acts on telomeres during the genome synthesis phase of the cell cycle, accompanied by its concentration in Cajal bodies and transient colocalization with telomeres. Whether the regulation of human telomerase holoenzyme assembly contributes to the cell cycle restriction of telomerase function is unknown. We investigated the steady-state levels, assembly, and exchange dynamics of...

WD repeat protein 79 (WDR79) is a member of the WD-repeat protein family and functions as a scaffold protein during telomerase assembly, Cajal body formation and DNA double strand break repair. We have previously shown that WDR79 is frequently overexpressed in cell lines and tissues derived from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and it accelerates cell proliferation in NSCLC. However, the deta...

The E3 ubiquitin ligase Fbw7 (F-box and WD repeat domain-containing 7) is broadly considered as a tumor suppressor because of its role in the turnover of several well-known oncoproteins. However, the role of Fbw7 in melanomagenesis is not clear. To investigate the expression profile and biological functions of Fbw7 in melanoma, we examined Fbw7 expression level using melanoma tissue microarray ...

We previously reported that bupivacaine induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and nuclear factor-kappa B activation, resulting in an increase in expression of WD repeat-containing protein 35 (WDR35) in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells. However, the identity of signaling upstream of p38 MAPK pathways to WDR35 expression remains ...

As a crop, flax holds significant commercial value for its omega-3 rich oilseeds and stem fibres. Canada is the largest producer of linseed but there exists scope for significant yield improvements. Implementation of mechanisms such as male sterility can permit the development of hybrids to assist in achieving this goal. Temperature sensitive male sterility has been reported in flax but the lea...

Self-assembly has a unique presence when it comes to creating complicated, ordered supramolecular architectures from simple components under mild conditions. Here, we describe a self-assembly strategy for the generation of the first homogeneous supramolecular metal-organic framework (SMOF-1) in water at room temperature from a hexaarmed [Ru(bpy)3](2+)-based precursor and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])...

PURPOSE To determine whether mutations in the WD repeat domain 36 gene (WDR36) are associated with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in Japanese. Subjects with high tension glaucoma (HTG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) were analyzed separately. METHODS One hundred and thirty-six unrelated Japanese patients with HTG and 103 unrelated patients with NTG were studied. Genomic DNA was extracte...

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC; MIM 305000) is a rare multi-systemic disorder caused by defective telomere biology and is characterized by the classical presentation of nail dystrophy, abnormal skin pigmentation and oral leukoplakia. In the phenotypically severe variant of DC, Hoyerall-Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS; MIM 300240), affected individuals present additional features such as bone marrow failu...