Axonal neuregulin-1 regulates myelin sheath thickness     

Michailov GV  Sereda MW  Brinkmann BG  Fischer TM  Haug B  Birchmeier C  Role L  Lai C  Schwab MH  Nave KA 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2004,304(5671):700-703

In the nervous system of vertebrates, myelination is essential for rapid and accurate impulse conduction. Myelin thickness depends on axon fiber size. We use mutant and transgenic mouse lines to show that axonal Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1) signals information about axon size to Schwann cells. Reduced Nrg1 expression causes hypomyelination and reduced nerve conduction velocity. Neuronal overexpression of Nrg1 induces hypermyelination and demonstrates that Nrg1 type III is the responsible isoform. We suggest a model by which myelin-forming Schwann cells integrate axonal Nrg1 signals as a biochemical measure of axon size.  相似文献   

Mediation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-dependent cell death by apoptosis-inducing factor     

Yu SW  Wang H  Poitras MF  Coombs C  Bowers WJ  Federoff HJ  Poirier GG  Dawson TM  Dawson VL 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2002,297(5579):259-263

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) protects the genome by functioning in the DNA damage surveillance network. PARP-1 is also a mediator of cell death after ischemia-reperfusion injury, glutamate excitotoxicity, and various inflammatory processes. We show that PARP-1 activation is required for translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from the mitochondria to the nucleus and that AIF is necessary for PARP-1-dependent cell death. N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, H2O2, and N-methyl-d-aspartate induce AIF translocation and cell death, which is prevented by PARP inhibitors or genetic knockout of PARP-1, but is caspase independent. Microinjection of an antibody to AIF protects against PARP-1-dependent cytotoxicity. These data support a model in which PARP-1 activation signals AIF release from mitochondria, resulting in a caspase-independent pathway of programmed cell death.  相似文献   

Immunoregulatory feedback between interleukin-1 and glucocorticoid hormones   总被引：56，自引：0，他引：56  

H Besedovsky  A del Rey  E Sorkin  C A Dinarello 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1986,233(4764):652-654

The production and action of immunoregulatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), are inhibited by glucocorticoid hormones in vivo and in vitro. Conversely, glucocorticoid blood levels were increased by factors released by human leukocytes exposed to Newcastle disease virus preparations. This activity was neutralized by an antibody to IL-1. Therefore the capacity of IL-1 to stimulate the pituitary-adrenal axis was tested. Administration of subpyrogenic doses of homogeneous human monocyte-derived IL-1 or the pI 7 form of human recombinant IL-1 to mice and rats increased blood levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and glucocorticoids. Another monokine, tumor necrosis factor, and the lymphokines IL-2 and gamma-interferon had no such effects when administered in doses equivalent to or higher than those of IL-1. The stimulatory effect of IL-1 on the pituitary-adrenal axis seemed not to be mediated by the secondary release of products from mature T lymphocytes since IL-1 was endocrinologically active when injected into athymic nude mice. These results strongly support the existence of an immunoregulatory feedback circuit in which IL-1 acts as an afferent and glucocorticoid as an efferent hormonal signal.  相似文献   

Mutations in dynein link motor neuron degeneration to defects in retrograde transport     

Hafezparast M  Klocke R  Ruhrberg C  Marquardt A  Ahmad-Annuar A  Bowen S  Lalli G  Witherden AS  Hummerich H  Nicholson S  Morgan PJ  Oozageer R  Priestley JV  Averill S  King VR  Ball S  Peters J  Toda T  Yamamoto A  Hiraoka Y  Augustin M  Korthaus D  Wattler S  Wabnitz P  Dickneite C  Lampel S  Boehme F  Peraus G  Popp A  Rudelius M  Schlegel J  Fuchs H  Hrabe de Angelis M  Schiavo G  Shima DT  Russ AP  Stumm G  Martin JE  Fisher EM 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2003,300(5620):808-812

Degenerative disorders of motor neurons include a range of progressive fatal diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Although the causative genetic alterations are known for some cases, the molecular basis of many SMA and SBMA-like syndromes and most ALS cases is unknown. Here we show that missense point mutations in the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain result in progressive motor neuron degeneration in heterozygous mice, and in homozygotes this is accompanied by the formation of Lewy-like inclusion bodies, thus resembling key features of human pathology. These mutations exclusively perturb neuron-specific functions of dynein.  相似文献   

National character does not reflect mean personality trait levels in 49 cultures     

Terracciano A  Abdel-Khalek AM  Adám N  Adamovová L  Ahn CK  Ahn HN  Alansari BM  Alcalay L  Allik J  Angleitner A  Avia MD  Ayearst LE  Barbaranelli C  Beer A  Borg-Cunen MA  Bratko D  Brunner-Sciarra M  Budzinski L  Camart N  Dahourou D  De Fruyt F  de Lima MP  del Pilar GE  Diener E  Falzon R  Fernando K  Ficková E  Fischer R  Flores-Mendoza C  Ghayur MA  Gülgöz S  Hagberg B  Halberstadt J  Halim MS  Hrebícková M  Humrichouse J  Jensen HH  Jocic DD  Jónsson FH  Khoury B  Klinkosz W  Knezević G  Lauri MA  Leibovich N  Martin TA 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2005,310(5745):96-100

Most people hold beliefs about personality characteristics typical of members of their own and others' cultures. These perceptions of national character may be generalizations from personal experience, stereotypes with a "kernel of truth," or inaccurate stereotypes. We obtained national character ratings of 3989 people from 49 cultures and compared them with the average personality scores of culture members assessed by observer ratings and self-reports. National character ratings were reliable but did not converge with assessed traits. Perceptions of national character thus appear to be unfounded stereotypes that may serve the function of maintaining a national identity.  相似文献   

Discovery of microwave emission from four nearby solar-type g stars     

Güdel M  Schmitt JH  Benz AO 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》1994,265(5174):933-935

Radio waves from the sun were detected 50 years ago, but the microwave detection of other single solar-type stars has remained a challenge. Here, the discovery of four solar-type radio stars is reported. These "solar twin" G stars are radio sources up to 3000 times stronger than the quiet sun. The microwaves most likely originate from a large number of relativistic electrons, possibly produced along with coronal heating, a process that is not understood. Two of the stars are younger than the sun and rotate more rapidly; the dynamo process in the stellar interior is therefore presumably more vigorous, resulting in enhanced coronal activity. One of the detections, however, is an old, metal-deficient G dwarf.  相似文献   

Cuba's national food program and its prospects for food security     

Carmen Diana Deere 《Agriculture and Human Values》1993,10(3):35-51

Cuba's National Food Program aims to assure its population a minimum degree of food security during the current period of transition from dependency upon the ex-Socialist trading bloc. A number of important elements of the Food Program, however, were conceived before the demise of COMECON in an effort to deepen food import substitution. This paper reviews the degree of Cuba's food import dependence before the breakup of the Socialist bloc, the initial targets of the National Food Program, and how these have been modified due to the severe reduction in Cuba's normal level of imports of petroleum and other agricultural inputs. It is argued that Cuba's reliance upon scientific advances combined with a return to traditional, ecologically-benign agricultural practices and large-scale labor mobilizations have allowed it to overcome a drastic shortfall in production as a result of the reduced level of imports of modern agricultural inputs. At the same time, it has been exceedingly difficult for the country to maintain production levels at the trend of the late 1980s or to continue to aspire to meet the ambitious targets of the initial Food Program plan.Carmen Diana Deere is Professor of Economics and Director of Latin American Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. The author has been carrying out field research in Cuba since the mid 1980s, in recent years, in a collaborative study with colleagues at the University of Havana. She is grateful to Carollee Bengelsdorf, Ernel Gonzales, Cristobal Kay, Mieke Meurs, Lupo Nuñez, Niurka Pérez, Brian Pollitt, and José Luís Rodríguez for their comments on earlier drafts. This article is an updated and condensed version of Institute of Social Studies Working Paper Series #124 (The Hague, 1992).  相似文献   

Multi-input RNAi-based logic circuit for identification of specific cancer cells     

Xie Z  Wroblewska L  Prochazka L  Weiss R  Benenson Y 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2011,333(6047):1307-1311

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Pericarp total protein profiles as molecular markers of tomato fruit quality traits in two segregating populations     

Gustavo R. Rodríguez  Javier H. Pereira da Costa  Damian D. Tomat  Guillermo R. Pratta  Roxana Zorzoli  Liliana A. Picardi 《Scientia Horticulturae》2011

The tomato fruit quality results of biochemical and physiological changes that occur during the ripening process. Although, the pericarp total protein profiles are less polymorphic than DNA-based markers the polymorphism in those could be directly associated with fruit quality traits. The aim of this work was to identify associations between polymorphic polypeptides from fruit pericarp at two ripening stages and fruit quality traits evaluated in two segregating populations of tomato. A cross between a normal ripening cultivar of Solanum lycopersicum (C, Caimanta) and a genotype carrying the nor (non ripening) gene (N) as well as a cross between Caimanta and a cherry type tomato of S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme (Ce) showed genetic variance for several fruit quality traits such as fruit weight, shape, solids soluble content, acidity, color and fruit shelf life. The quantitative variations observed at phenotypic level had correspondence with the polymorphism detected in the protein profiles. Indeed, the polymophic polypeptides associated with quality fruit traits and fruit shelf life would be useful to assist tomato breeding programs as protein molecular markers.  相似文献   

Management effects on the vegetation and soil seed bank of calcareous grasslands: An 11-year experiment     

Hans Jacquemyn  Carmen Van Mechelen  Rein Brys  Olivier Honnay 《Biological conservation》2011,(1):416-422

Calcareous grasslands, most of which are man made and therefore depend on some kind of human interference for their maintenance, are among the most species-rich communities on Earth at a small scale. For many centuries, most of these grasslands have been used as extensive pasture. However, after 1900, and particularly from 1940 onwards, livestock grazing has declined throughout Europe leading to the abandonment of low intensity grasslands over large areas. To conserve the remaining grasslands or to restore recently abandoned grasslands, better insights about the effects of grassland management on above and belowground species diversity are needed. Here, we describe the results of an 11-year experiment to investigate the role of grassland management (grazing, mowing and abandonment) in determining species composition and diversity both in the aboveground vegetation and the seed bank of a calcareous grassland in Belgium. Species diversity declined by about 60% 11 years after abandonment, from 29 species m⁻² to as few as 12 species m⁻². Plots that were grazed remained constant in species richness, whereas mown sites lost about 20% of their original species. Abandoned plots were largely dominated by a few grass species, in particular Festuca rubra. Concomitant with changes in the aboveground vegetation, both the number of species found in the seed bank and seed density (number of seeds m⁻²) had changed significantly 11 years after abandonment. Species diversity and seed density were significantly lower in abandoned plots than in grazed or mown plots. We conclude that abandonment of calcareous grasslands may lead to rapid decline of plant species diversity both in the aboveground vegetation and in the seed bank. As a result, seed banks probably have a limited role to play in the restoration of recently abandoned grasslands.  相似文献