Publications

sumoylation of the c-terminal domain of dna topoisomerase iiα regulates the centromeric localization of claspin.	dna topoisomerase ii (topoii) regulates dna topology by its strand passaging reaction, which is required for genome maintenance by resolving tangled genomic dna. in addition, topoii contributes to the structural integrity of mitotic chromosomes and to the activation of cell cycle checkpoints in mitosis. post-translational modification of topoii is one of the key mechanisms by which its broad functions are regulated during mitosis. sumoylation of topoii is conserved in eukaryotes and plays a crit ...	2015	26131587
using xenopus to discover new genes involved in branchiootorenal spectrum disorders.	congenital hearing loss is an important clinical problem because, without early intervention, affected children do not properly acquire language and consequently have difficulties developing social skills. although most newborns in the us are screened for hearing deficits, even earlier diagnosis can be made with prenatal genetic screening. genetic screening that identifies the relevant mutated gene can also warn about potential congenital defects in organs not related to hearing. we will discuss ...	2015	26117063
spak and osr1 sensitivity of excitatory amino acid transporter eaat3.	kinases involved in the regulation of epithelial transport include spak (sps1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase) and osr1 (oxidative stress-responsive kinase 1). spak and osr1 are both regulated by wnk (with-no-k(lys)) kinases. the present study explored whether spak and/or osr1 influence the excitatory amino acid transporter eaat3, which accomplishes glutamate and aspartate transport in kidney, intestine and brain.	2015	26112741
structure and gating of the nuclear pore complex.	nuclear pore complexes (npcs) perforate the nuclear envelope and allow the exchange of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. to acquire a deeper understanding of this transport mechanism, we analyse the structure of the npc scaffold and permeability barrier, by reconstructing the xenopus laevis oocyte npc from native nuclear envelopes up to 20 å resolution by cryo-electron tomography in conjunction with subtomogram averaging. in addition to resolving individual protein domains of ...	2015	26112706
benchmarking transcriptome quantification methods for duplicated genes in xenopus laevis.	xenopus is an important model organism for the study of genome duplication in vertebrates. with the full genome sequence of diploid xenopus tropicalis available, and that of allotetraploid x. laevis close to being finished, we will be able to expand our understanding of how duplicated genes have evolved. one of the key features in the study of the functional consequence of gene duplication is how their expression patterns vary across different conditions, and rna-seq seems to have enough resolut ...	2015	26112470
melanopsins: localization and phototransduction in xenopus laevis melanophores.	xenopus laevis melanophores express two melanopsins, opn4x and opn4m. we identified opn4x immunoreactivity throughout the melanophore cytoplasm and in the cell membrane. the strongest immunopositivity for opn4m was observed in the nuclear region, and no labeling was seen in the cell membrane. this immunodistribution suggests opn4x as the functional photopigment. in x. laevis melanophores, light triggers pigment dispersion and clock gene induction at blue wavelength, which maximally activates mel ...	2015	26108966
bh3 domain-independent apolipoprotein l1 toxicity rescued by bcl2 prosurvival proteins.	the potent trypanolytic properties of human apolipoprotein l1 (apol1) can be neutralized by the trypanosome variant surface antigen gene product known as serum resistance-associated protein. however, two common apol1 haplotypes present uniquely in individuals of west african ancestry each encode apol1 variants resistant to serum resistance-associated protein, and each confers substantial resistance to human african sleeping sickness. in contrast to the dominantly inherited anti-trypanosomal acti ...	2015	26108665
structure-activity relationships of bumetanide derivatives: correlation between diuretic activity in dogs and inhibition of the human nkcc2a transporter.	the n-k-cl cotransporters (nkccs) mediate the coupled, electroneutral movement of na+ , k+ and cl- ions across cell membranes. there are two isoforms of this cation co-transporter, nkcc1 and nkcc2. nkcc2 is expressed primarily in the kidney and is the target of diuretics such as bumetanide. bumetanide was discovered by screening ∼5000 3-amino-5-sulfamoylbenzoic acid derivatives, long before nkcc2 was identified in the kidney. therefore, structure-activity studies on effects of bumetanide derivat ...	2015	26101812
melanopsin photoreception in the eye regulates light-induced skin colour changes through the production of α-msh in the pituitary gland.	how skin colour adjusts to circadian light/dark cycles is poorly understood. melanopsin (opn4) is expressed in melanophores, where in vitro studies suggest it regulates skin pigmentation through a 'primary colour response' in which light photosensitivity is translated directly into pigment movement. however, the entrainment of the circadian rhythm is regulated by a population of melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mrgcs) in the eye. therefore, in vivo, melanopsin may trigger a 'seconda ...	2015	26095528
herg channel inhibitory daphnane diterpenoid orthoesters and polycephalones a and b with unprecedented skeletons from gnidia polycephala.	the herg channel is an important antitarget in safety pharmacology. several drugs have been withdrawn from the market or received severe usage restrictions because of herg-related cardiotoxicity. in a screening of medicinal plants for herg channel inhibition using a two-microelectrode voltage clamp assay with xenopus laevis oocytes, a dichloromethane extract of the roots of gnidia polycephala reduced the peak tail herg current by 58.8 ± 13.4% (n = 3) at a concentration of 100 μg/ml. by means of ...	2015	26091146
functional characteristics of l1156f-cftr associated with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis in japanese.	although cystic fibrosis is rare in japanese, measurement of sweat cl(-) has suggested mild dysfunction of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (cftr) in some patients with chronic pancreatitis. in the present study, we have investigated the association of cftr variants and chronic pancreatitis in japanese and the functional characteristics of a japanese- and pancreatitis-specific cftr variant, l1156f. seventy patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, 18 patients with idiopath ...	2015	26089335
direct activation of amidohydrolase domain-containing 1 gene by thyroid hormone implicates a role in the formation of adult intestinal stem cells during xenopus metamorphosis.	the t3-dependent anuran metamorphosis resembles postembryonic development in mammals, the period around birth when plasma t3 levels peak. in particular, the remodeling of the intestine during metamorphosis mimics neonatal intestinal maturation in mammals when the adult intestinal epithelial self-renewing system is established. we have been using intestinal metamorphosis to investigate how the organ-specific adult stem cells are formed during vertebrate development. early studies in xenopus laevi ...	2015	26086244
spermidine and ca(2+), but not na(+), can permeate nmda receptors consisting of glun1 and glun2a or glun2b in the presence of mg(2+).	n-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (nmda receptors) are known to be permeable to na(+) and ca(2+) ions. in this study, we tested whether polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, spermine), organic cations found in cells, can permeate nmda receptors expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes and hek293 cells. it was found that polyamines, especially spermidine, can permeate nmda channels expressed from glun1/glun2a or glun1/glun2b activated by glycine and glutamate. furthermore, spermidine and ca(2+) influx thro ...	2015	26086092
expression, sorting and transport studies for the orphan carrier slc10a4 in neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines and in xenopus laevis oocytes.	slc10a4 belongs to the solute carrier family slc10 whose founding members are the na(+)/taurocholate co-transporting polypeptide (ntcp, slc10a1) and the apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (asbt, slc10a2). these carriers maintain the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids between the liver and the gut. slc10a4 was identified as a novel member of the slc10 carrier family with the highest phylogenetic relationship to ntcp. the slc10a4 protein was detected in synaptic vesicles of choline ...	2015	26084360
light sensitivity in a vertebrate mechanoreceptor?	using immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis, we demonstrate that melanopsin is localised in cells around the central pore of lateral line neuromasts in the african clawed frog, xenopus laevis. since melanopsin is a known photoreceptor pigment with diverse functions in vertebrates, we suggest that the lateral line of xenopus laevis, which is primarily a mechanoreceptor, might also be light sensitive. potential functions of such photosensitivity are discussed, including its role in mediat ...	2015	26206352
concentration-response relationship of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist frm-17874 across multiple in vitro and in vivo assays.	pharmacological activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nachrs) may improve cognition in schizophrenia and alzheimer's disease. the present studies describe an integrated pharmacological analysis of the effects of frm-17874, an analogue of encenicline, on α7 nachrs in vitro and in behavioral and neurophysiological assays relevant to cognitive function. frm-17874 demonstrated high affinity binding to human α7 nachrs, displacing [(3)h]-methyllacaconitine (ki=4.3nm). in xenopus laevi ...	2015	26206187
the n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor's neglected subunit - glun1 matters under normal and hyperbaric conditions.	professional deep-water divers exposed to hyperbaric pressure (hp) above 1.1 mpa develop high-pressure neurological syndrome, which is associated with central nervous system hyperexcitability. it was previously reported that hp augments n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (nmdar) synaptic responses, increases neuronal excitability, and potentially causes irreversible neuronal damage. in addition, we have reported that hp (10.1 mpa) differentially affects ionic currents, measured by the two-electrode v ...	2015	26202884
kruppel-like factor family genes are expressed during xenopus embryogenesis and involved in germ layer formation and body axis patterning.	kruppel-like factors (klfs) are a family of transcription factors consisting of 17 members in mammals, klf1-klf17, which are involved in fundamental cellular physiological procedures, such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. however, their functions in embryonic development have been poorly understood. our previous study has demonstrated that the pluripotency factor klf4 participates in germ layer formation and axis patterning of xenopus embryos by means of the regulation of k ...	2015	26198170
selective depolarization of transmembrane potential alters muscle patterning and muscle cell localization in xenopus laevis embryos.	the correct anatomical placement and precise determination of specific cell types is required for the establishment of normal embryonic patterning. understanding these processes is also important for progress in regenerative medicine and cancer biology. transmembrane voltage gradients across embryonic tissues can mediate cellular communication to regulate the processes of proliferation, migration, and differentiation. our past work showed that selective depolarization of an endogenous instructor ...	2015	26198143
local and long-range endogenous resting potential gradients antagonistically regulate apoptosis and proliferation in the embryonic cns.	bioelectric signals, particularly transmembrane voltage potentials (vmem), play an important role in large-scale patterning during embryonic development. endogenous bioelectric gradients across tissues function as instructive factors during eye, brain, and other morphogenetic processes. an important and still poorly-understood aspect is the control of cell behaviors by the voltage states of distant cell groups. here, experimental alteration of endogenous vmem was induced in xenopus laevis embryo ...	2015	26198142
functional integration of mrna translational control programs.	regulated mrna translation plays a key role in control of cell cycle progression in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including in the self-renewal and survival of stem cells and cancer stem cells. while targeting mrna translation presents an attractive strategy for control of aberrant cell cycle progression, mrna translation is an underdeveloped therapeutic target. regulated mrnas are typically controlled through interaction with multiple rna binding proteins (rbps) but the ...	2015	26197342
flexible subunit stoichiometry of functional human p2x2/3 heteromeric receptors.	the aim of the present work was to clarify whether heterotrimeric p2x2/3 receptors have a fixed subunit stoichiometry consisting of one p2x2 and two p2x3 subunits as previously suggested, or a flexible stoichiometry containing also the inverse subunit composition. for this purpose we transfected hek293 cells with p2x2 and p2x3 encoding cdna at the ratios of 1:2 and 4:1, and analysed the biophysical and pharmacological properties of the generated receptors by means of the whole-cell patch-clamp t ...	2015	26184350
annexin a3 regulates early blood vessel formation.	annexins are a large family of calcium binding proteins that associate with cell membrane phospholipids and are involved in various cellular processes including endocytosis, exocytosis and membrane-cytoskeletal organization. despite studies on numerous annexin proteins, the function of annexin a3 (anxa3) is largely unknown. our studies identify anxa3 as a unique marker of the endothelial and myeloid cell lineages of xenopus laevis during development. anxa3 transcripts are also detected in endoth ...	2015	26182056
the mutation p.t613a in the pore helix of the kv 11.1 potassium channel is associated with long qt syndrome.	loss-of-function mutations in the voltage gated potassium channel kv 11.1 have been associated with the long qt syndrome (lqts) type 2. we identified the p.t613a mutation in kv 11.1 in a family with lqts. t613a is located in the outer part of the pore helix, a structure that is involved in c-type inactivation. here we characterize the effect of p.t613a on the functional properties of kv 11.1.	2015	26173150
retention of duplicated itam-containing transmembrane signaling subunits in the tetraploid amphibian species xenopus laevis.	the itam-bearing transmembrane signaling subunits (tss) are indispensable components of activating leukocyte receptor complexes. the tss-encoding genes map to paralogous chromosomal regions, which are thought to arise from ancient genome tetraploidization(s). to assess a possible role of tetraploidization in the tss evolution, we studied tss and other functionally linked genes in the amphibian species xenopus laevis whose genome was duplicated about 40 myr ago. we found that x. laevis has retain ...	2015	26170006
dehydration triggers differential microrna expression in xenopus laevis brain.	african clawed frogs, xenopus laevis, although primarily aquatic, have a high tolerance for dehydration, being capable of withstanding the loss of up to 32-35% of total water body water. recent studies have shown that micrornas play a role in the response to dehydration by the liver, kidney and ventral skin of x. laevis. micrornas act by modulating the expression of mrna transcripts, thereby affecting diverse biochemical pathways. in this study, 43 micrornas were assessed in frog brains comparin ...	2015	26169019
atp4 and ciliation in the neuroectoderm and endoderm of xenopus embryos and tadpoles.	during gastrulation and neurulation, foxj1 expression requires atp4a-dependent wnt/β-catenin signaling for ciliation of the gastrocoel roof plate (walentek et al. cell rep. 1 (2012) 516-527.) and the mucociliary epidermis (walentek et al. dev. biol. (2015)) of xenopus laevis embryos. these data suggested that atp4a and wnt/β-catenin signaling regulate foxj1 throughout xenopus development. here we analyzed whether foxj1 expression was also atp4a-dependent in other ciliated tissues of the developi ...	2015	26217756
coexistence of y, w, and z sex chromosomes in xenopus tropicalis.	homomorphic sex chromosomes and rapid turnover of sex-determining genes can complicate establishing the sex chromosome system operating in a given species. this difficulty exists in xenopus tropicalis, an anuran quickly becoming a relevant model for genetic, genomic, biochemical, and ecotoxicological research. despite the recent interest attracted by this species, little is known about its sex chromosome system. direct evidence that females are the heterogametic sex, as in the related species xe ...	2015	26216983
how does the xenopus laevis embryonic cell cycle avoid spatial chaos?	theoretical studies have shown that a deterministic biochemical oscillator can become chaotic when operating over a sufficiently large volume and have suggested that the xenopus laevis cell cycle oscillator operates close to such a chaotic regime. to experimentally test this hypothesis, we decreased the speed of the post-fertilization calcium wave, which had been predicted to generate chaos. however, cell divisions were found to develop normally, and eggs developed into normal tadpoles. motivate ...	2015	26212326
glutamate cycling may drive organic anion transport on the basal membrane of human placental syncytiotrophoblast.	the organic anion transporter oat4 (slc22a11) and organic anion transporting polypeptide oatp2b1 (slco2b1) are expressed in the basal membrane of the placental syncytiotrophoblast. these transporters mediate exchange whereby uptake of one organic anion is coupled to efflux of a counter-ion. in placenta, these exchangers mediate placental uptake of substrates for oestrogen synthesis as well as clearing waste products and xenobiotics from the fetal circulation. however, the identity of the counter ...	2015	26277985
xenopus pkdcc1 and pkdcc2 are two new tyrosine kinases involved in the regulation of jnk dependent wnt/pcp signaling pathway.	protein kinase domain containing, cytoplasmic (pkdcc) is a protein kinase which has been implicated in longitudinal bone growth through regulation of chondrocytes formation. nevertheless, the mechanism by which this occurs remains unknown. here, we identified two new members of the pkdcc family, pkdcc1 and pkdcc2 from xenopus laevis. interestingly, our knockdown experiments revealed that these two proteins are both involved on blastopore and neural tube closure during gastrula and neurula stages ...	2015	26270962
concentration-dependent effects of nuclear lamins on nuclear size in xenopus and mammalian cells.	a fundamental question in cell biology concerns the regulation of organelle size. while nuclear size is exquisitely controlled in different cell types, inappropriate nuclear enlargement is used to diagnose and stage cancer. clarifying the functional significance of nuclear size necessitates an understanding of the mechanisms and proteins that control nuclear size. one structural component implicated in the regulation of nuclear morphology is the nuclear lamina, a meshwork of intermediate lamin f ...	2015	26429910
identification of amino acids involved in histamine potentiation of gaba a receptors.	histamine is a neurotransmitter involved in a number of physiological and neuronal functions. in mammals, such as humans, and rodents, the histaminergic neurons found in the tuberomamillary nucleus project widely throughout the central nervous system. histamine acts as positive modulator of gabaa receptors (gabaars) and, in high concentrations (10 mm), as negative modulator of the strychnine-sensitive glycine receptor. however, the exact molecular mechanisms by which histamine acts on gabaars ar ...	2015	26074818
recovery capabilities of xenopus laevis after exposure to cadmium and zinc.	the present investigation evaluates the recovery capabilities of xenopus laevis following 12days of exposure to 30μg cdl(-1) and 1000μg znl(-1) alone or mixed, followed by a depuration phase in laboratory conditions. focused endpoints, which were investigated at different times of depuration, are bioaccumulation of cd and zn, micronucleus induction, quantification of metallothioneins (mts), and expression of genes involved in metal toxicity mechanisms. the results show that at the end of the con ...	2015	26073702
molecular polymorphism and divergence of duplicated genes in tetraploid african clawed frogs (xenopus).	genome duplication creates redundancy in proteins and their interaction networks, and subsequent smaller-scale gene duplication can further amplify genetic redundancy. mutations then lead to the loss, maintenance or functional divergence of duplicated genes. genome duplication occurred many times in african clawed frogs (genus xenopus), and almost all extant species in this group evolved from a polyploid ancestor. to better understand the nature of selective constraints in a polyploid genome, we ...	2015	26066830
high incidence of functional ion-channel abnormalities in a consecutive long qt cohort with novel missense genetic variants of unknown significance.	the long qt syndrome (lqts) is a disorder characterized by a prolongation of the qt interval and a propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, which may lead to syncope, cardiac arrest, or sudden death. our objective was to (1) determine the incidence of variants with unknown significance (vus) in a cohort of consecutive lqts patients and (2) to determine the percentage of those with novel missense vus that have demonstrable functional channel abnormalities from a single referral center. we perf ...	2015	26066609
intracellular microrna profiles form in the xenopus laevis oocyte that may contribute to asymmetric cell division.	asymmetric distribution of fate determinants within cells is an essential biological strategy to prepare them for asymmetric division. in this work we measure the intracellular distribution of 12 maternal micrornas (mirna) along the animal-vegetal axis of the xenopus laevis oocyte using qpcr tomography. we find the mirnas have distinct intracellular profiles that resemble two out of the three profiles we previously observed for mrnas. our results suggest that mirnas in addition to proteins and m ...	2015	26059897
netrin-1 directs dendritic growth and connectivity of vertebrate central neurons in vivo.	netrins are a family of extracellular proteins that function as chemotropic guidance cues for migrating cells and axons during neural development. in the visual system, netrin-1 has been shown to play a key role in retinal ganglion cell (rgc) axon growth and branching at the target, where presynaptic rgc axons form partnerships with the dendrites of tectal neurons. however, the signals that guide the connections between rgc axons and their postsynaptic partners are yet unknown. here, we explored ...	2015	26058786
peptoid-substituted hybrid antimicrobial peptide derived from papiliocin and magainin 2 with enhanced bacterial selectivity and anti-inflammatory activity.	antimicrobial peptides (amps) are important components of the host innate immune system. papiliocin is a 37-residue amp purified from larvae of the swallowtail butterfly papilio xuthus. magainin 2 is a 23-residue amp purified from the skin of the african clawed frog xenopus laevis. we designed an 18-residue hybrid peptide (papma) incorporating n-terminal residues 1-8 of papiliocin and n-terminal residues 4-12 of magainin 2, joined by a proline (pro) hinge. papma showed high antimicrobial activit ...	2015	26053120
usp18 sensitivity of peptide transporters pept1 and pept2.	usp18 (ubiquitin-like specific protease 18) is an enzyme cleaving ubiquitin from target proteins. usp18 plays a pivotal role in antiviral and antibacterial immune responses. on the other hand, ubiquitination participates in the regulation of several ion channels and transporters. usp18 sensitivity of transporters has, however, never been reported. the present study thus explored, whether usp18 modifies the activity of the peptide transporters pept1 and pept2, and whether the peptide transporters ...	2015	26046984
regulation of neuronal high-voltage activated ca(v)2 ca(2+) channels by the small gtpase rhoa.	high-voltage-activated (hva) ca(2+) channels are known regulators of synapse formation and transmission and play fundamental roles in neuronal pathophysiology. small gtpases of rho and rgk families, via their action on both cytoskeleton and ca(2+) channels are key molecules for these processes. while the effects of rgk gtpases on neuronal hva ca(2+) channels have been widely studied, the effects of rhoa on the hva channels remains however elusive. using heterologous expression in xenopus laevis ...	2015	26044639
locomotor corollary activation of trigeminal motoneurons: coupling of discrete motor behaviors.	during motor behavior, corollary discharges of the underlying motor commands inform sensory-motor systems about impending or ongoing movements. these signals generally limit the impact of self-generated sensory stimuli but also induce motor reactions that stabilize sensory perception. here, we demonstrate in isolated preparations of xenopus laevis tadpoles that locomotor corollary discharge provokes a retraction of the mechanoreceptive tentacles during fictive swimming. in the absence of sensory ...	2015	26041033
probing the redox states of sodium channel cysteines at the binding site of μo§-conotoxin gviij.	μo§-conotoxin gviij is a 35-amino acid peptide that readily blocks six of eight tested nav1 subunit isoforms of voltage-gated sodium channels. μo§-gviij is unusual in having an s-cysteinylated cysteine (at residue 24). a proposed reaction scheme involves the peptide-channel complex stabilized by a disulfide bond formed via thiol-disulfide exchange between cys24 of the peptide and a cys residue at neurotoxin receptor site 8 in the pore module of the channel (specifically, cys910 of rat nav1.2). t ...	2015	26039939
an endocannabinoid system is present in the mouse olfactory epithelium but does not modulate olfaction.	endocannabinoids modulate a diverse array of functions including progenitor cell proliferation in the central nervous system, and odorant detection and food intake in the mammalian central olfactory system and larval xenopus laevis peripheral olfactory system. however, the presence and role of endocannabinoids in the peripheral olfactory epithelium have not been examined in mammals. we found the presence of cannabinoid type 1 (cb1) and cannabinoid type 2 (cb2) receptor protein and mrna in the ol ...	2015	26037800
toxicological aspects of photocatalytic degradation of selected xenobiotics with nano-sized mn-doped tio2.	the toxic effects of two selected xenobiotics, bisphenol a (bpa) and atrazine (atz), were evaluated after photocatalytic degradation using nano-sized, mn-doped tio2. undoped and mn-doped tio2 nanoparticles were synthesized. the samples were characterized by x-ray diffractometry (xrd), scanning electron microscopy (sem), uv-vis-diffuse reflectance spectra (drs), x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (xrf), and bet surface area. the photocatalytic efficiency of the undoped and mn-doped tio2 was evaluate ...	2015	26037099
investigation of blood flow and the effect of vasoactive substances in cutaneous blood vessels of xenopus laevis.	in the present study, a preparation of frog skin was presented, which can be used to demonstrate the basic concepts of blood flow regulation in a very clear and attractive way to high school and university students. in a freshly euthanized xenopus, a patch of abdominal skin was exposed from the internal side and viewed with a usb microscope while it remained connected to a functioning circulatory system. in this way, it was possible to obtain sharp images of arteries and veins and to visualize b ...	2015	26031724
inhibition of monocarboxylate transporter by n-cyanosulphonamide s0859.	the synthetic compound n-cyanosulphonamide s0859 has been described as a selective inhibitor of sodium-bicarbonate cotransporters (nbc, slc4) in mammalian heart (ch'en et al., 2008). first, for comparison, the electrogenic human nbce1 (slc4a4) was heterologously expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes, where its transport activity was inhibited by s0859 with an ic50 of 9µm. the activity of monocarboxylate transporter (mct) isoforms 1, 2, and 4 (slc16a1, slc16a7, slc16a3), which transport lactate, py ...	2015	26027796
[comparative characteristics of free-living ultramicroscopical bacteria obtained from extremal biotopes].	we isolated 50 strains of free-living ultrasmall bacteria with a cell volume that varies from 0.02 to 1.3 microm3 from a range of extremal natural biotopes, namely permafrost soils, oil slime, soils, lake silt, thermal swamp moss, and the skin integuments of the clawed frog, xenopus laevis. of them, 15 isolates, characterized by a cell size of less than 0.1 microm3 and a genome size from 1.5 to 2.4 mb, were subsumed to ultramicrobacteria belonging to different philogenetic groups (alphaproteobac ...	2015	26027350
g-quadruplex dna and ligand interaction in living cells using nmr spectroscopy.	gathering structural information from biologically relevant molecules inside living cells has always been a challenging task. in this work, we have used multidimensional nmr spectroscopy to probe dna g-quadruplexes inside living xenopus laevis oocytes. some of these structures can be found in key regions of chromosomes. g-quadruplexes are considered potential anticancer therapeutic targets and several lines of evidence indirectly point out roles in key biological processes, such as cell prolifer ...	2015	28706695
desformylflustrabromine modulates α4β2 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor high- and low-sensitivity isoforms at allosteric clefts containing the β2 subunit.	alterations in expression patterns of α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors have been demonstrated to alter cholinergic neurotransmission and are implicated in neurologic disorders, including autism, nicotine addiction, alzheimer's disease, and parkinson's disease. positive allosteric modulators (pams) represent promising new leads in the development of therapeutic agents for the treatment of these disorders. this study investigates the involvement of the β2-containing subunit interfaces of α4β ...	2015	26025967
anp and cnp activate cftr expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes by direct activation of pka.	acting through different receptors, natriuretic peptides (atrial natriuretic peptide [anp], brain type natriuretic peptide [bnp] and c-type natriuretic peptide [cnp]) increase intracellular cgmp, which then stimulates different pathways that activate fluid secretion.	2015	26016495
centrin-2 (cetn2) mediated regulation of fgf/fgfr gene expression in xenopus.	centrins (cetns) are highly conserved, widely expressed, and multifunctional ca(2+)-binding eukaryotic signature proteins best known for their roles in ciliogenesis and as critical components of the global genome nucleotide excision repair system. two distinct cetn subtypes, cetn2-like and cetn3-like, have been recognized and implicated in a range of cellular processes. in the course of morpholino-based loss of function studies in xenopus laevis, we have identified a previously unreported cetn2- ...	2015	26014913
xenopus tacc1 is a microtubule plus-end tracking protein that can regulate microtubule dynamics during embryonic development.	microtubule plus-end dynamics are regulated by a family of proteins called plus-end tracking proteins (+tips). we recently demonstrated that the transforming acidic coiled-coil (tacc) domain family member, tacc3, can function as a +tip to regulate microtubule dynamics in xenopus laevis embryonic cells. although it has been previously reported that tacc3 is the only tacc family member that exists in xenopus, our examination of its genome determined that xenopus, like all other vertebrates, contai ...	2015	26012630
bimodal interaction of mammalian polo-like kinase 1 and a centrosomal scaffold, cep192, in the regulation of bipolar spindle formation.	serving as microtubule-organizing centers, centrosomes play a key role in forming bipolar spindles. the mechanism of how centrosomes promote bipolar spindle assembly in various organisms remains largely unknown. a recent study with xenopus laevis egg extracts suggested that the plk1 ortholog plx1 interacts with the phospho-t46 (p-t46) motif of xenopus cep192 (xcep192) to form an xcep192-mediated xaura-plx1 cascade that is critical for bipolar spindle formation. here, we demonstrated that in cult ...	2015	26012549
paraxis is required for somite morphogenesis and differentiation in xenopus laevis.	in most vertebrates, the segmentation of the paraxial mesoderm involves the formation of metameric units called somites through a mesenchymal-epithelial transition. however, this process is different in xenopus laevis because it does not form an epithelial somite. xenopus somitogenesis is characterized by a complex cells rearrangement that requires the coordinated regulation of cell shape, adhesion, and motility. the molecular mechanisms that control these cell behaviors underlying somite format ...	2015	26010523
identification of distal enhancers for six2 expression in pronephros.	the embryonic nephric mesenchyme contains pluripotent progenitor cells. six2, a homeodomain transcription factor, is expressed in a subset of the nephric mesenchyme, and it functions to maintain a progenitor state by suppressing nephrogenesis. despite the functional significance of six2 in nephric development, its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. to identify the cis-regulatory elements for six2, we focused on the evolutionarily conserved sequences known as conserved noncoding sequences (cns ...	2015	26009236
preparation of xenopus laevis retinal cryosections for electron microscopy.	transmission electron microscopy is the gold standard for examination of photoreceptor outer segment morphology and photoreceptor outer segment abnormalities in transgenic animal models of retinal disease. small vertebrates such as zebrafish and xenopus laevis tadpoles have been used to generate retinal disease models and to study outer segment processes such as protein trafficking, and their breeding capabilities facilitate experiments involving large numbers of animals and conditions. however, ...	2015	26008144
protein-carbohydrate interaction between sperm and the egg-coating envelope and its regulation by dicalcin, a xenopus laevis zona pellucida protein-associated protein.	protein-carbohydrate interaction regulates multiple important processes during fertilization, an essential biological event where individual gametes undergo intercellular recognition to fuse and generate a zygote. in the mammalian female reproductive tract, sperm temporarily adhere to the oviductal epithelium via the complementary interaction between carbohydrate-binding proteins on the sperm membrane and carbohydrates on the oviductal cells. after detachment from the oviductal epithelium at the ...	2015	26007194
dynein-based accumulation of membranes regulates nuclear expansion in xenopus laevis egg extracts.	nuclear size changes dynamically during development and has long been observed to correlate with the space surrounding the nucleus, as well as with the volume of the cell. here we combine an in vitro cell-free system of xenopus laevis egg extract with microfluidic devices to systematically analyze the effect of spatial constraints. the speed of nuclear expansion depended on the available space surrounding the nucleus up to a threshold volume in the nanoliter range, herein referred to as the nucl ...	2015	26004509
formation of a new limb bud at the boundary between a transplanted limb bud and the tail surface of xenopus tadpoles.	through transplantation experiments with xenopus laevis tadpoles, we found a new morphogenetic phenomenon consisting of limb bud formation at the boundary between transplanted whole limb buds and the tail surface. this phenomenon occurs without limb-limb stump interaction and has a number of unique features: (1) only one extra limb bud was formed per transplant and the new limb and the transplanted limb were bilaterally symmetrical, forming a pair of limb girdles. (2) extra new limb bud formatio ...	2015	26003976
asymmetrical allocation of jak1 mrna during spermatogonial stem cell division in xenopus laevis.	during xenopus spermatogenesis, each primary spermatogonium (pg), the largest single cell in the testis, undergoes mitotic divisions with a concomitant decrease in size to produce smaller differentiating spermatogonia. the spermatogonial stem cells (sscs) occur in this pg population. taking advantage of identifiable and isolatable properties of xenopus sscs, we examined jak1 gene expression during the spermatogenesis because there have been reports on the important role of jak/stat pathway in re ...	2015	25988600
in vitro and in vivo evidence for active brain uptake of the ghb analog hocpca by the monocarboxylate transporter subtype 1.	γ-hydroxybutyric acid (ghb) is a recreational drug, a clinically prescribed drug in narcolepsy and alcohol dependence, and an endogenous substance that binds to both high- and low-affinity sites in the brain. for studying the molecular mechanisms and the biologic role of the ghb high-affinity binding sites, ligands with high and specific affinity are essential. the conformationally restricted ghb analog hocpca (3-hydroxycyclopent-1-enecarboxylic acid) is one such compound. the objective of this ...	2015	25986445
expressing and characterizing mechanosensitive channels in xenopus oocytes.	the oocytes of the african clawed frog (xenopus laevis) comprise one of the most widely used membrane protein expression systems. while frequently used for studies of transporters and ion channels, the application of this system to the study of mechanosensitive ion channels has been overlooked, perhaps due to a relative abundance of native expression systems. recent advances, however, have illustrated the advantages of the oocyte system for studying plant and bacterial mechanosensitive channels. ...	2015	25981775
ethanol modulation is quantitatively determined by the transmembrane domain of human α1 glycine receptors.	mutagenesis and labeling studies have identified amino acids from the human α1 glycine receptor (glyr) extracellular, transmembrane (tm), and intracellular domains in mediating ethanol (etoh) potentiation. however, limited high-resolution structural data for physiologically relevant receptors in this cys-loop receptor superfamily have made pinpointing the critical amino acids difficult. homologous ion channels from lower organisms provide conserved models for structural and functional properties ...	2015	25973519
labeling strategy and signal broadening mechanism of protein nmr spectroscopy in xenopus laevis oocytes.	we used xenopus laevis oocytes, a paradigm for a variety of biological studies, as a eukaryotic model system for in-cell protein nmr spectroscopy. the small globular protein gb1 was one of the first studied in xenopus oocytes, but there have been few reports since then of high-resolution spectra in oocytes. the scarcity of data is at least partly due to the lack of good labeling strategies and the paucity of information on resonance broadening mechanisms. here, we systematically evaluate isotope ...	2015	25965532
conformational rearrangements in the transmembrane domain of cnga1 channels revealed by single-molecule force spectroscopy.	cyclic nucleotide-gated (cng) channels are activated by binding of cyclic nucleotides. although structural studies have identified the channel pore and selectivity filter, conformation changes associated with gating remain poorly understood. here we combine single-molecule force spectroscopy (smfs) with mutagenesis, bioinformatics and electrophysiology to study conformational changes associated with gating. by expressing functional channels with smfs fingerprints in xenopus laevis oocytes, we we ...	2015	25963832
positive modulation of synaptic and extrasynaptic gabaa receptors by an antagonist of the high affinity benzodiazepine binding site.	gabaa receptors are the major inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain and are the target for many clinically important drugs such as the benzodiazepines. benzodiazepines act at the high-affinity binding site at the α+/γ- subunit interface. previously, an additional low affinity binding site for diazepam located in the transmembrane (tm) domain has been described. the compound sjm-3 was recently identified in a prospective screening of ligands for the benzodiazepine binding site and in ...	2015	25963418
xenopus laevis oocyte maturation is affected by metal chlorides.	few studies have been conducted using xenopus laevis germ cells as oocytes, though these cells offer many advantages allowing both electrophysiological studies and morphological examination. our aim was to investigate the effects of metal (cadmium, lead, cobalt and zinc) exposures using cell biology approaches. first, cell survival was evaluated with both phenotypical and electrophysiological approaches. secondly, the effect of metals on oocyte maturation was assessed with morphological observat ...	2015	25957907
building the microtubule cytoskeleton piece by piece.	the microtubule (mt) cytoskeleton gives cells their shape, organizes the cellular interior, and segregates chromosomes. these functions rely on the precise arrangement of mts, which is achieved by the coordinated action of mt-associated proteins (maps). we highlight the first and most important examples of how different map activities are combined in vitro to create an ensemble function that exceeds the simple addition of their individual activities, and how the xenopus laevis egg extract system ...	2015	25957410
in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo determination of thyroid hormone modulating activity of benzothiazoles.	as in vitro assays are increasingly used to screen chemicals for their potential to produce endocrine disrupting adverse effects, it is important to understand their predictive capacity. the potential for a set of 6 benzothiazoles to affect endpoints related to thyroid hormone synthesis inhibition were assessed using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo assays. inhibition of thyroid peroxidase (tpo) derived from pig thyroid glands was determined for benzothiazole (btz), 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (mbt), ...	2015	25953703
subchronic and chronic developmental effects of copper oxide (cuo) nanoparticles on xenopus laevis.	metal oxide nanoparticles, such as copper oxide (cuo), are mass produced for use in a variety of products like coatings and ceramics. acute exposure to cuo nanoparticles has caused toxicity to many aquatic organisms, yet there is no information on the effect of prolonged cuo nanomaterial exposures. this study examined effects of chronic exposure to cuo nanoparticles on xenopus laevis growth and development. experiments included a 14 d subchronic exposure and a 47 d chronic exposure throughout me ...	2015	25950410
mgcracgap restricts active rhoa at the cytokinetic furrow and both rhoa and rac1 at cell-cell junctions in epithelial cells.	localized activation of rho gtpases is essential for multiple cellular functions, including cytokinesis and formation and maintenance of cell-cell junctions. although mgcracgap (mgc) is required for spatially confined rhoa-gtp at the equatorial cortex of dividing cells, both the target specificity of mgc's gap activity and the involvement of phosphorylation of mgc at ser-386 are controversial. in addition, mgc's function at cell-cell junctions remains unclear. here, using gastrula-stage xenopus ...	2015	25947135
structural insights into thyroid hormone transport mechanisms of the l-type amino acid transporter 2.	thyroid hormones (ths) are transported across cell membranes by different transmembrane transporter proteins. in previous studies, we showed marked 3,3'-diiodothyronine (3,3'-t2) but moderate t3 uptake by the l-type amino acid transporter 2 (lat2). we have now studied the structure-function relationships of this transporter and th-like molecules. our lat2 homology model is based on 2 crystal structures of the homologous 12-transmembrane helix transporters arginine/agmatine antiporter and amino a ...	2015	25945809
single-cell mass spectrometry reveals small molecules that affect cell fates in the 16-cell embryo.	spatial and temporal changes in molecular expression are essential to embryonic development, and their characterization is critical to understand mechanisms by which cells acquire different phenotypes. although technological advances have made it possible to quantify expression of large molecules during embryogenesis, little information is available on metabolites, the ultimate indicator of physiological activity of the cell. here, we demonstrate that single-cell capillary electrophoresis-electr ...	2015	25941375
controlled surface topography regulates collective 3d migration by epithelial-mesenchymal composite embryonic tissues.	cells in tissues encounter a range of physical cues as they migrate. probing single cell and collective migratory responses to physically defined three-dimensional (3d) microenvironments and the factors that modulate those responses are critical to understanding how tissue migration is regulated during development, regeneration, and cancer. one key physical factor that regulates cell migration is topography. most studies on surface topography and cell mechanics have been carried out with single ...	2015	25933063
regulation of hbpip2;3, a latex-abundant water transporter, is associated with latex dilution and yield in the rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis muell. arg.).	rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis) latex, the source of natural rubber, is synthesised in the cytoplasm of laticifers. efficient water inflow into laticifers is crucial for latex flow and production since it is the determinant of the total solid content of latex and its fluidity after tapping. as the mature laticifer vessel rings are devoid of plasmodesmata, water exchange between laticifers and surrounding cells is believed to be governed by plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (pips). to identify ...	2015	25927524
quantum dot assisted tracking of the intracellular protein cyclin e in xenopus laevis embryos.	luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots (qd), possess highly desirable optical properties that account for development of a variety of exciting biomedical techniques. these properties include long-term stability, brightness, narrow emission spectra, size tunable properties and resistance to photobleaching. qd have many promising applications in biology and the list is constantly growing. these applications include dna or protein tagging for in vitro assays, deep-tissue ...	2015	25925383
disruption of the rice nitrate transporter osnpf2.2 hinders root-to-shoot nitrate transport and vascular development.	plants have evolved to express some members of the nitrate transporter 1/peptide transporter family (npf) to uptake and transport nitrate. however, little is known of the physiological and functional roles of this family in rice (oryza sativa l.). here, we characterized the vascular specific transporter osnpf2.2. functional analysis using cdna-injected xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that osnpf2.2 is a low-affinity, ph-dependent nitrate transporter. use of a green fluorescent protein tagged osnp ...	2015	25923512
hplc-based activity profiling for herg channel inhibitors in the south african medicinal plant galenia africana.	the human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel is a voltage-activated k(+) channel involved in cardiac action potential. its inhibition can lead to qt prolongation, and eventually to potentially fatal arrhythmia. therefore, it is considered a primary antitarget in safety pharmacology. to assess the risk of human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel inhibition by medicinal plants, 700 extracts from different parts of 142 medicinal plants collected in southern africa were screened on xenopus laevis oo ...	2015	25922911
homeolog-specific targeted mutagenesis in xenopus laevis using talens.	transcription activator-like effector nucleases (talens) have previously been used for targeted genome editing in various organisms including xenopus laevis. however, because of genomic polyploidization, x. laevis usually possess homeologous genes (homeologs) with quite similar sequences that make the analysis of gene function difficult. in the present study, we show methodological examples of targeted gene modification of x. laevis homeologs. the x. laevis cytoglobin gene (cygb) consists of two ...	2015	25920501
desflurane increased the activity of excitatory amino-acid carrier 1 (eaac1) expressed in xenopus oocytes.	desflurane is a volatile anaesthetic agent with neuroprotective properties. excitatory amino-acid carrier 1 (eaac1) may be neuroprotective by taking up glutamate and cysteine. therefore, the effects of desflurane on eaac1 activity were investigated in this study. eaac1 was expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes. two-electrode voltage-clamping technique was used to record membrane currents upon exposure to l-glutamate (30 μm) in the presence or absence of desflurane (0.4, 1.0, 2.0, 2.6, or 3.2mm). c ...	2015	25840279
in vivo investigation of cilia structure and function using xenopus.	cilia are key organelles in development and homeostasis. the ever-expanding complement of cilia associated proteins necessitates rapid and tractable models for in vivo functional investigation. xenopus laevis provides an attractive model for such studies, having multiple ciliated populations, including primary and multiciliated tissues. the rapid external development of xenopus and the large cells make it an especially excellent platform for imaging studies. here we present embryological and cel ...	2015	25837389
reproductive strategies of the kangaroo leech, marsupiobdella africana (glossiphoniidae).	the kangaroo leech, marsupiobdella africana, is a hermaphroditic organism, with insemination taking place by the planting of a spermatophore on another leech. spermatophores are mostly planted on the anterior of the recipient leech, but not always. several spermatophores may be planted by different leeches on a single recipient. the spermatophore consists of two side by side lobes. within minutes from planting of the spermatophore, the contents are squeezed out and into the body of the recipient ...	2015	25830114
evidence for a revised ion/substrate coupling stoichiometry of gaba transporters.	plasma membrane γ-aminobutyric acid (gaba) transporters (gats) are electrogenic transport proteins that couple the cotranslocation of na(+), cl(-), and gaba across the plasma membrane of neurons and glia. a fundamental property of the transporter that determines its ability to concentrate gaba in cells and, hence, regulate synaptic and extra-synaptic gaba concentrations, is the ion/substrate coupling stoichiometry. here, we scrutinized the currently accepted 2 na(+):1 cl(-):1 gaba stoichiometry ...	2015	25824654
a 90 day safety assessment of genetically modified rice expressing cry1ab/1ac protein using an aquatic animal model.	in fields of transgenic bt rice, frogs are exposed to bt proteins through consumption of both target and nontarget insects. in the present study, we assessed the risk posed by transgenic rice expressing a cry1ab/1ac fusion protein (huahui 1, hh1) on the development of xenopus laevis. for 90 days, froglets were fed a diet with 30% hh1 rice, 30% parental rice (minghui 63, mh63), or no rice as a control. body weight and length were measured every 15 days. after sacrificing the froglets, we performe ...	2015	25822065
toxicity evaluation of a new zn-doped cuo nanocomposite with highly effective antibacterial properties.	the increased resistances to conventional antibiotics determine a strong need for new antibacterials, and specific syntheses at the nanoscale promise to be helpful in this field. a novel zinc-doped copper oxide nanocomposite (nzn-cuo) has been recently sonochemically synthesized and successfully tested also against multi-drug resistant bacteria. after synthesis and characterization of the physicochemical properties, the new nzn-cuo is here evaluated by the frog embyo teratogenesis assay-xenopus ...	2015	25820130
17α-ethinylestradiol can disrupt hemoglobin catabolism in amphibians.	different chemical substances, which enter the environment due to anthropogenic influences, can affect the endocrine system and influence development and physiology of aquatic animals. one of these endocrine disrupting chemicals is the synthetic estrogen, 17α-ethinylestradiol (ee2), which is a main component of various oral contraceptives and demonstrably affects many different aquatic vertebrates at extremely low concentrations by feminization phenomena. the aim of the present study was to inve ...	2015	25819740
an in vivo screen to identify candidate neurogenic genes in the developing xenopus visual system.	neurogenesis in the brain of xenopus laevis continues throughout larval stages of development. we developed a 2-tier screen to identify candidate genes controlling neurogenesis in xenopus optic tectum in vivo. first, microarray and nanostring analyses were used to identify candidate genes that were differentially expressed in sox2-expressing neural progenitor cells or their neuronal progeny. then an in vivo, time-lapse imaging-based screen was used to test whether morpholinos against 34 candidat ...	2015	25818835
crystal structure of a xenopus laevis skin proto-type galectin, close to but distinct from galectin-1.	xenopus laevis (african clawed frog) has two types of proto-type galectins that are similar to mammalian galectin-1 in amino acid sequence. one type, comprising xgalectin-ia and -ib, is regarded as being equivalent to galectin-1, and the other type, comprising xgalectin-va and -vb, is expected to be a unique galectin subgroup. the latter is considerably abundant in frog skin; however, its biological function remains unclear. we determined the crystal structures of two proto-type galectins, xgale ...	2015	25804418
functional characterization of the 1,5-benzodiazepine clobazam and its major active metabolite n-desmethylclobazam at human gaba(a) receptors expressed in xenopus laevis oocytes.	the 1,5-benzodiazepine clobazam is indicated for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with lennox-gastaut syndrome in patients 2 years of age or older in the united states, and for treatment of anxiety and various forms of epilepsy elsewhere. clobazam has been reported to exhibit different in vivo adverse effects and addiction liability profile than the classic 1,4-benzodiazepines. in this study, it was investigated whether the in vitro pharmacological properties of clobazam and its m ...	2015	25798598
regeneration of xenopus laevis spinal cord requires sox2/3 expressing cells.	spinal cord regeneration is very inefficient in humans, causing paraplegia and quadriplegia. studying model organisms that can regenerate the spinal cord in response to injury could be useful for understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that explain why this process fails in humans. here, we use xenopus laevis as a model organism to study spinal cord repair. histological and functional analyses showed that larvae at pre-metamorphic stages restore anatomical continuity of the spinal co ...	2015	25797152
apoptosis and differentiation of xenopus tail-derived myoblasts by thyroid hormone.	the metamorphosis of anuran amphibians is induced by thyroid hormone (th). to study the molecular mechanisms underlying tail regression during metamorphosis, we established a cell line, xl-b4, from a xenopus laevis tadpole tail at a premetamorphic stage. the cells expressed myoblast markers and differentiated into myotubes in differentiation medium. xl-b4 cells expressing fluorescent proteins were transplanted into tadpole tails. at 5 days post-transplantation, fluorescence was observed in myotu ...	2015	25791374
ensemble-based virtual screening for cannabinoid-like potentiators of the human glycine receptor α1 for the treatment of pain.	the human glycine receptors (hglyrs) are chloride-selective ion channels that mediate inhibitory neurotransmission in the brain stem and spinal cord. they are also targets for compounds of potential use in analgesic therapies. here, we develop a strategy to discover analgesic drugs via structure-based virtual screening based on the recently published nmr structure of the hglyr-α1 transmembrane domain (pdb id: 2m6i ) and the critical role of residue s296 in hglyr-α1 potentiation by δ(9)-tetrahydr ...	2015	25790278
hdac1 regulates the proliferation of radial glial cells in the developing xenopus tectum.	in the developing central nervous system (cns), progenitor cells differentiate into progeny to form functional neural circuits. radial glial cells (rgs) are a transient progenitor cell type that is present during neurogenesis. it is thought that a combination of neural trophic factors, neurotransmitters and electrical activity regulates the proliferation and differentiation of rgs. however, it is less clear how epigenetic modulation changes rg proliferation. we sought to explore the effect of hi ...	2015	25789466
species-specific loss of sexual dimorphism in vocal effectors accompanies vocal simplification in african clawed frogs (xenopus).	phylogenetic studies can reveal patterns of evolutionary change, including the gain or loss of elaborate courtship traits in males. male african clawed frogs generally produce complex and rapid courtship vocalizations, whereas female calls are simple and slow. in a few species, however, male vocalizations are also simple and slow, suggesting loss of male-typical traits. here, we explore features of the male vocal organ that could contribute to loss in two species with simple, slow male calls. in ...	2015	25788725
ear manipulations reveal a critical period for survival and dendritic development at the single-cell level in mauthner neurons.	second-order sensory neurons are dependent on afferents from the sense organs during a critical period in development for their survival and differentiation. past research has mostly focused on whole populations of neurons, hampering progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying these critical phases. to move toward a better understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of afferent-dependent neuronal development, we developed a new model to study the effects of ear removal on a single ...	2015	25787878
a gustatory receptor tuned to d-fructose in antennal sensilla chaetica of helicoverpa armigera.	insect gustatory systems play important roles in food selection and feeding behaviors. in spite of the enormous progress in understanding gustation in drosophila, for other insects one of the key elements in gustatory signaling, the gustatory receptor (gr), is still elusive. in this study, we report that fructose elicits behavioral and physiological responses in helicoverpa armigera (harm) to fructose and identify the gustatory receptor for this sugar. using the proboscis extension reflex (per) ...	2015	25784630
papc mediates self/non-self-distinction during snail1-dependent tissue separation.	cleft-like boundaries represent a type of cell sorting boundary characterized by the presence of a physical gap between tissues. we studied the cleft-like ectoderm-mesoderm boundary in xenopus laevis and zebrafish gastrulae. we identified the transcription factor snail1 as being essential for tissue separation, showed that its expression in the mesoderm depends on noncanonical wnt signaling, and demonstrated that it enables paraxial protocadherin (papc) to promote tissue separation through two n ...	2015	25778923
unique gene expression profile of the proliferating xenopus tadpole tail blastema cells deciphered by rna-sequencing analysis.	organ regenerative ability depends on the animal species and the developmental stage. the molecular bases for variable organ regenerative ability, however, remain unknown. previous studies have identified genes preferentially expressed in the blastema tissues in various animals, but transcriptome analysis of the isolated proliferating blastema cells has not yet been reported. in the present study, we used rna-sequencing analysis to analyze the gene expression profile of isolated proliferating bl ...	2015	25775398
developmentally regulated post-translational modification of nucleoplasmin controls histone sequestration and deposition.	nucleoplasmin (npm) is an abundant histone chaperone in vertebrate oocytes and embryos. during embryogenesis, regulation of npm histone binding is critical for its function in storing and releasing maternal histones to establish and maintain the zygotic epigenome. here, we demonstrate that xenopus laevis npm post-translational modifications (ptms) specific to the oocyte and egg promote either histone deposition or sequestration, respectively. mass spectrometry and npm phosphomimetic mutations us ...	2015	25772360