Assembly mechanisms and energy transfer pathways deciphered in the cryo-EM structure of spinach photosystem Ⅱ-LHCⅡ supercomplex

Funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC),Ministry of Science and Technology of China,and Chinese Academy of Sciences,ajoint team of three laboratories from the Institute of Biophysics of Chinese Academy of Sciences,led by Dr.Liu Zhenfeng(柳振峰),Dr.Zhang Xinzheng(章新政)and Dr.Li Mei(李梅)respectively,solved the structure of spinach photosystem II-LHCII supercom-

NON-SYNDROMIC HEARING LOSS AND HIGH- THROUGHPUT STRATEGIES TO DECIPHER ITS GENETIC HETEROGENEITY

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common sensory disorder, affecting all age groups, ethnicities, and gen-ders. According to World Health Organization (WHO) estimates in 2005, 278 million people worldwide have moderate to profound HL in both ears. Results of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey indicate that nearly 31 million of all non-institutionalized adults (aged 18 and over) in the United States have trouble hearing. Epidemiological studies have estimated that approximately 50%of profound HL can be attributed to genetic causes. With over 60 genes implicated in nonsyndromic hearing loss, it is also an extremely het-erogeneous trait. Recent progress in identifying genes responsible for hearing loss enables otolaryngologists and other clinicians to apply molecular diagnosis by genetic testing. The advent of the $1000 genome has the potential to revolutionize the identification of genes and their mutations underlying genetic disorders. This is especially true for extremely heterogeneous Mendelian conditions such as deafness, where the muta-tion, and indeed the gene, may be private. The recent technological advances in target-enrichment methods and next generation sequencing offer a unique opportunity to break through the barriers of limitations im-posed by gene arrays. These approaches now allow for the complete analysis of all known deafness-causing genes and will result in a new wave of discoveries of the remaining genes for Mendelian disorders. This re-view focuses on describing genotype-phenotype correlations of the most frequent genes including GJB2, which is responsible for more than half of cases, followed by other common genes and on discussing the im-pact of genomic advances for comprehensive genetic testing and gene discovery in hereditary hearing loss.

Association between chromosomal aberration of COX8C and tethered spinal cord syndrome:array-based comparative genomic hybridization analysis

Copy number variations have been found in patients with neural tube abnormalities.In this study,we performed genome-wide screening using high-resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization in three children with tethered spinal cord syndrome and two healthy parents.Of eight copy number variations,four were non-polymorphic.These non-polymorphic copy number variations were associated with Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes,and microcephaly.Gene function enrichment analysis revealed that COX8 C,a gene associated with metabolic disorders of the nervous system,was located in the copy number variation region of Patient 1.Our results indicate that array-based comparative genomic hybridization can be used to diagnose tethered spinal cord syndrome.Our results may help determine the pathogenesis of tethered spinal cord syndrome and prevent occurrence of this disease.

Translating transitions-how to decipher peripheral human B cell development

During the last two decades our understanding of human B cell differentiation has developed considerably. Our understanding of the human B cell compartment has advanced from a point where essentially all assays were based on the presence or not of class-switched antibodies to a level where a substantial diversity is appreciated among the cells involved. Several consecutive transitional stages that newly formed IgM expressing B cells go through after they leave the bone marrow, but before they are fully mature, have been described, and a significant complexity is also acknowledged within the IgM expressing and class-switched memory B cell compartments. It is possible to isolate plasma blasts in blood to follow the formation of plasma cells during immune responses, and the importance and uniqueness of the mucosal IgA system is now much more appreciated. Current data suggest the presence of at least one lineage of human innate-like B cells akin to B 1 and/or marginal zone B cells in mice. In addition, regu- latory B cells with the ability to produce IL-10 have been identified. Clinically, B cell depletion therapy is used for a broad range of conditions. The ability to define different human B cell subtypes using flow cytometry has therefore started to come into clinical use, but as our understanding of human B cell development further progresses, B cell subtype analysis will be of increasing importance in diagnosis, to measure the effect of immune therapy and to understand the underlying causes for diseases. In this review the diversity of human B cells will be discussed, with special focus on current data regarding their phenotypes and functions.

Cross tolerance: a tread to decipher the code of endogenous global cerebral resistance

A cell is a house to myriad biochemical reactions composed in a symphony of various pathways,both survival and apoptotic.Apoptosis is of fundamental significance to an organ by replacing weary and senile cells with juvenile cells.

Deciphering of Space Images of the Inder Salt-Dome Upland in ENVI 4.7 Program

Space images play an important role in the Earth study as they bring the main information received from the Space Flyer Units (SFU) to help researchers. Space images’ deciphering gives the opportunity to study the territory and to plot different maps. On the basis of the space image obtained from Landsat 5TM (30 m resolution, 01.09.2012 year), we managed to get a picture of the modern relief of the northern part of Inder lake. When comparing the space image with topographic maps of 1985, we succeeded to identify the dynamics of landforms change on the studied area, what has been shown on the drawn map of the relief of the Inder salt dome uplift. 14 classes, corresponding to a particular type of terrain or to a landscape complex, have been distinguished on the studied area. Inder salt dome uplift is a paradynamic conjugation, consisting of highly karsted Inder Mountains corresponding to large diapir uplift, and of the Inder Lake having a large ellipsoidal shape. Geomorphologically, the investigated territory is located on the left bank of Zhaiyk River, and presents a salt dome uplift in the form of a plateau-like hill raised above the surrounding surface from 12 to 40 m. The maximum height reaches 42.5 m (g. Suatbaytau). The crest of the Inder salt dome is composed of Low Permian sediments (rock salt with anhydrite, potassiummagnesium salts), and has an area of about 210 km2. Inder lake’s basin is represented by a tectonic depression, which is the local basis of erosion and is a drainage place of the Inder uplift karstic water. The lake area is 150 km2. Depending on the climatic conditions, the water level can vary.

Deep Learning Deciphers Protein–RNA Interaction

Background Protein–RNA interaction is ubiquitous in cells and serves as the main mechanism for post-transcriptional regulation.RNA binding proteins(RBPs)not only control which transcripts are translated,but also determine the speed,location,and concentration of m RNA translation,through controlling multiple layers of gene regulation.Base-dominant interaction and backbone-dominant interaction categorize the two main modes of the way RBPs interact with RNA.

Deciphering China-U.S. Economic Relations

During the Annual Conference 2007 of the Boao Forum for Asia held on April 21-22, Beijing Review reporter Liu Yunyun had a chance to sit down with Dr. John Rutledge, former financial advisor to U.S. presidents onald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, to discuss his views on China-U.S. economic and trade relations.