Heterologous Expression of Chrysanthemum TCP Transcription Factor CmTCP13 Enhances Salinity Tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Plant-specific TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) proteins play critical roles in plant development and stress responses; however, their functions in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) have not been well-studied. In this study, we isolated and characterized the chrysanthemum TCP transcription factor family gene CmTCP13, a homolog of AtTCP13. This gene encoded a protein harboring a conserved basic helix-loop-helix motif, and its expression was induced by salinity stress in chrysanthemum plants. Subcellular localization experiments showed that CmTCP13 localized in the nucleus. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of multiple stress- and hormone-responsive cis-elements in the promoter region of CmTCP13. The heterologous expression of CmTCP13 in Arabidopsis plants enhanced their tolerance to salinity stress. Under salinity stress, CmTCP13 transgenic plants exhibited enhanced germination, root length, seedling growth, and chlorophyll content and reduced relative electrical conductivity compared with those exhibited by wild-type (WT) plants. Moreover, the expression levels of stress-related genes, including AtSOS3, AtP5CS2, AtRD22, AtRD29A, and AtDREB2A, were upregulated in CmTCP13 transgenic plants than in WT plants under salt stress. Taken together, our results demonstrate that CmTCP13 is a critical regulator of salt stress tolerance in plants.

Enhanced Osteogenesis in 2D and 3D Culture Systems Using RGD Peptide and α-TCP Phase Transition within Alginate-Based Hydrogel.

Cell-laden hydrogels have been extensively investigated in various tissue engineering fields by their potential capacity to deposit numerous types of cells in a specific area. They are largely used in soft-tissue engineering applications because of their low mechanical strength. In addition, sodium alginate is well-known for its encapsulation, loading capacity and for being easily controllable; however, it lacks cell-binding ligands and hence the ability to adhere cells. In this study, it is aimed to enhance osteogenesis in cells encapsulated in alginate and improve its mechanical properties by introducing a synthetic peptide and calcium phosphate phase transition. To increase cell-hydrogel interactions and increasing cell viability, an RGD peptide is added to a photocrosslinkable methacrylate-modified alginate, and alpha-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) is added to the hydrogel to increase its mechanical strength via phase transition. Cell proliferation, growth, and differentiation are assessed in both 2D and 3D cell cultures. The addition of α-TCP significantly improved the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. Moreover, the RGD peptide and α-TCP showed a synergistic effect with significantly improved cell adhesion and osteogenesis in both 2D and 3D cell cultures. Therefore, the functional hydrogel developed in this study can potentially be used for bone tissue regeneration.

Remineralization of post-orthodontic white spot lesions with a fluoride varnish and a self-assembling P 11 - 4 peptides: a prospective in-vivo-study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate the remineralization effects of fluoride varnish (Clinpro White varnish), self-assembling peptide (Curodont™ Repair) and their combined use on WSL after orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two subjects, aged of 10-18 (mean age 13.91 ± 2.92) with 107 post-orthodontic WSL were included in the study. Subjects were divided into four groups as control, tricalcium phosphate (TCP) containing fluoride varnish (Clinpro White varnish) group, self-assembling P11-4 peptides (Curodont™ Repair) group and combined application of the two products. At the beginning, each subjects' caries risk profile was assessed by evaluating diet cariogenicity, plaque index, gingival bleeding index and stimulated salivary flow rate. Before the application of the remineralization agents, WSL baseline demineralization values were determined with QLF Inspektor™ Pro, laser fluorescence using DIAGNOdent and color values were measured by Vita EasyShade. Remineralization data were obtained by measuring ΔF, ΔQ, and lesion area with QLF. The aesthetic improvement after the remineralization process was evaluated with a spectrophotometer at six weeks, three and six months. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in terms of criteria determining patients' caries risk profiles, DIAGNOdent data, and plaque index scores (p > 0.05). Intra-group evaluation following remineralization revealed statistically significant increases in ΔF and ΔQ with a decrease in lesion area for the fluoride varnish group at six months, for the peptide group at three months, and for the combined application group at three and six months (p < 0.05). In inter-group comparisons, ΔF and ΔQ values were found to be statistically significant only in the fluoride group at six months compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). While the L* value decreased significantly in all groups at six months, a statistically significant difference in ΔE* values was observed only in the control group between three and six months. CONCLUSION: Fluoride varnish with TCP showed highest remineralization at 6 months, and the remineralization was positively affected in the short term (three months) after the use of self-assembling P11-4 peptides and their combined application. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Remineralization obtained after single application of agents tested in six months in-vivo showed parallel results. In an attempt to trigger subsurface remineralization, the combined use of fluoride with self-assembling peptides as biomimetic remineralization agent needs further evaluation.

Removal of mixed pollutants of perfluorooctanoic acid and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol via adsorption-photocatalysis using Ga2O3-Bi4O7 combining with fluorine-doped covalent triazine framework: Role of different active species.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) are significant pollutants found in textile wastewater, posing severe threats to ecological environments. The construction of an adsorption-photocatalytic system enables the efficient removal of mixed pollutants by harnessing their synergistic effect, thereby overcoming the limitations of removing mixed pollutants with single water treatment technologies. Herein, fluorine-doped covalent triazine framework (F-CTF) was combined with Ga2O3-Bi4O7 heterojunction to obtain Ga2O3-Bi4O7/F-CTF (GaBi/CTF). F-CTF greatly facilitates the adsorption process and provides convenience for photocatalysis. Simultaneously, the excellent conductivity of F-CTF promoted the separation of photoinduced charge carriers in Ga2O3-Bi4O7. GaBi/CTF5 (5 is the mass percentage of F-CTF) showed excellent degradation performance, and the removal rates of PFOA and 2,4,6-TCP reached 93.0 % and 100.0 % within 90 min, respectively. Mechanistic analysis revealed that 2,4,6-TCP and PFOA were attacked by distinct active species because of the disparate characteristics. The presence of phenolic hydroxyl groups makes 2,4,6-TCP more vulnerable to superoxide radicals (·O2-) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH), whereas PFOA is oxidized by holes (h+). The coexistence of mixed pollutants with diverse characteristics enables optimal utilization of active species generated within photocatalytic system. Moreover, the good stability of GaBi/CTF5 provides a feasible solution for efficient treatment of mixed pollutants in textile wastewater.

METTL14-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification of TCP1 mRNA promotes acute myeloid leukemia progression.

BACKGROUND: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a prevalent hematologic malignancy characterized by a steady rise in morbidity and mortality rates over time. The upregulation of methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) expression in AML has been identified; however, its specific contributions to AML progression and underlying molecular mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. METHOD: METTL14-bound mRNAs were predicted using bioinformatics methods, analyzed, and screened to identify T-complex protein 1 (TCP1). The regulatory impact of METTL14 on TCP1 was observed. TCP1 expression in AML clinical samples was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR and western blot analysis. The involvement of TCP1 in AML malignant progression was assessed through in vitro and in vivo functional assays. The String database was utilized for predicting proteins that interact with TCP1, while western blot assays and immunoprecipitation were employed to validate the associated signaling pathways. RESULTS: METTL14 overexpression upregulates TCP1 expression in AML cells. AML patients exhibit high levels of TCP1 expression. Elevated TCP1 levels in HL60 and U937 cells in vitro lead to increased proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibition of apoptosis, while in vivo, it accelerates AML proliferation and tumorigenesis. Mechanistically, METTL14 modulates AML progression by influencing TCP1 transcript stability via m6A methylation, thereby regulating TCP1 expression. Additionally, PPP2R2C potentially serves as a crucial functional target of TCP1 implicated in the malignant progression of AML. CONCLUSION: Upregulation of TCP1 expression in AML through METTL14-mediated m6A modification accelerates the malignant progression of the disease. Therefore, targeting the m6A modification of TCP1 could be a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance the treatment of AML.

Class I TCP transcription factors TCP14 and TCP15 promote axillary branching in Arabidopsis by counteracting the action of Class II TCP BRANCHED1.

Shoot branching is determined by a balance between factors that promote axillary bud dormancy and factors that release buds from the quiescent state. The TCP family of transcription factors is classified into two classes, Class I and Class II, which usually play different roles. While the role of the Class II TCP BRANCHED1 (BRC1) in suppressing axillary bud development in Arabidopsis thaliana has been widely explored, the function of Class I TCPs in this process remains unknown. We analyzed the role of Class I TCP14 and TCP15 in axillary branch development in Arabidopsis through a series of genetic and molecular studies. In contrast to the increased branch number shown by brc1 mutants, tcp14 tcp15 plants exhibit a reduced number of branches compared with wild-type. Our findings provide evidence that TCP14 and TCP15 act by counteracting BRC1 function through two distinct mechanisms. First, they indirectly reduce BRC1 expression levels. Additionally, TCP15 directly interacts with BRC1 decoying it from chromatin and thereby preventing the transcriptional activation of a set of BRC1-dependent genes. We describe a molecular mechanism by which Class I TCPs physically antagonize the action of the Class II TCP BRC1, aligning with their opposite roles in axillary bud development.

Discovery of TCP-(MP)-caffeic acid analogs as a new class of agents for treatment of osteoclastic bone loss.

Inhibition of LSD1 was proposed as promising and attractive therapies for treating osteoporosis. Here, we synthesized a series of novel TCP-(MP)-Caffeic acid analogs as potential LSD1 inhibitors to assess their inhibitory effects on osteoclastogenesis by using TRAP-staining assay and try to explore the preliminary SAR. Among them, TCP-MP-CA (11a) demonstrated osteoclastic bone loss both in vitro and in vivo, showing a significant improvement in the in vivo effects compared to the LSD1 inhibitor GSK-LSD1. Additionally, we elucidated a mechanism that 11a and its precursor that 11e directly bind to LSD1/CoREST complex through FAD to inhibit LSD1 demethylation activity and influence its downstream IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway, and thus regulate osteoclastic bone loss. These findings suggested 11a or 11e as potential novel candidates for treating osteoclastic bone loss, and a concept for further development of TCP-(MP)-Caffeic acid analogs for therapeutic use in osteoporosis clinics.

RBE-based dose planning, and calculation of TCP and NTCP with gold nanoparticles for intermediate photon energy in pancreatic cancer.

Objective.This study simulated the potential of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer cases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of GNPs on tumor control probability (TCP) and normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) in pancreatic cancer cases undergoing radiation therapy. The work aimed to compare treatment plans generated with a novel 2.5 MV beam using GNPs to conventional 6 MV plans and evaluate the dose-volume histogram (DVH), TCP, and NTCP.Approach.Treatment planning for five pancreatic computed tomography (CT) images was performed using the open-source MATLAB-based treatment planning program matRad. MATLAB codes were developed to calculate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of GNPs and apply the corresponding dose and RBE values to each voxel. TCP and NTCP were calculated based on the applied RBE values.Main results.Adding GNPs to the 2.5 MV treatment plan resulted in a significant increase in TCP, from around 59% to 93.5%, indicating that the inclusion of GNPs improved the effectiveness of the radiation treatment. The range in NTCP without GNPs was relatively larger compared to that with GNPs.Significance.The results indicated that the addition of GNPs to a 2.5 MV plan can increase TCP while maintaining a relatively low NTCP value (<1%). The use of GNPs may also reduce NTCP values by decreasing the dose to normal tissues while maintaining the same prescribed dose to the tumor. Hence, the addition of GNPs can improve the balance between TCP and NTCP.

The Transdiagnostic Connectome Project: a richly phenotyped open dataset for advancing the study of brain-behavior relationships in psychiatry.

An important aim in psychiatry is the establishment of valid and reliable associations linking profiles of brain functioning to clinically relevant symptoms and behaviors across patient populations. To advance progress in this area, we introduce an open dataset containing behavioral and neuroimaging data from 241 individuals aged 18 to 70, comprising 148 individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for a broad range of psychiatric illnesses and a healthy comparison group of 93 individuals. These data include high-resolution anatomical scans, multiple resting-state, and task-based functional MRI runs. Additionally, participants completed over 50 psychological and cognitive assessments. Here, we detail available behavioral data as well as raw and processed MRI derivatives. Associations between data processing and quality metrics, such as head motion, are reported. Processed data exhibit classic task activation effects and canonical functional network organization. Overall, we provide a comprehensive and analysis-ready transdiagnostic dataset, which we hope will accelerate the identification of illness-relevant features of brain functioning, enabling future discoveries in basic and clinical neuroscience.

Identification and characterization of the RcTCP gene family and its expression in response to abiotic stresses in castor bean.

BACKGROUND: The TCP (teosinte branched1/cincinnata/proliferating cell factor) family plays a prominent role in plant development and stress responses. However, TCP family genes have thus far not been identified in castor bean, and therefore an understanding of the expression and functional aspects of castor bean TCP genes is lacking. To identify the potential biological functions of castor bean (RcTCP) TCP members, the composition of RcTCP family members, their basic physicochemical properties, subcellular localizations, interacting proteins, miRNA target sites, and gene expression patterns under stress were assessed. RESULTS: The presence of 20 RcTCP genes on the nine chromosomes of castor bean was identified, all of which possess TCP domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated a close relationship between RcTCP genes and Arabidopsis AtTCP genes, suggesting potential functional similarity. Subcellular localization experiments confirmed that RcTC01/02/03/10/16/18 are all localized in the nucleus. Protein interaction analysis revealed that the interaction quantity of RcTCP03/06/11 proteins is the highest, indicating a cascade response in the functional genes. Furthermore, it was found that the promoter region of RcTCP genes contains a large number of stress-responsive elements and hormone-induced elements, indicating a potential link between RcTCP genes and stress response functions. qRT-PCR showed that all RcTCP genes exhibit a distinct tissue-specific expression pattern and their expression is induced by abiotic stress (including low temperature, abscisic acid, drought, and high salt). Among them, RcTCP01/03/04/08/09/10/14/15/18/19 genes may be excellent stress-responsive genes. CONCLUSION: We discovered that RcTCP genes play a crucial role in various activities, including growth and development, the stress response, and transcription. This study provides a basis for studying the function of RcTCP gene in castor.

The lncRNA1-miR6288b-3p-PpTCP4-PpD2 module regulates peach branch number by affecting brassinosteroid biosynthesis.

Branch number is one of the most important agronomic traits of fruit trees such as peach. Little is known about how LncRNA and/or miRNA modules regulate branching through transcription factors. Here, we used molecular and genetic tools to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying brassinosteroid (BR) altering plant branching. We found that the number of sylleptic branch and BR content in pillar peach ('Zhaoshouhong') was lower than those of standard type ('Okubo'), and exogenous BR application could significantly promote branching. PpTCP4 expressed great differentially comparing 'Zhaoshouhong' with 'Okubo'. PpTCP4 could directly bind to DWARF2 (PpD2) and inhibited its expression. PpD2 was the only one differentially expressed key gene in the path of BR biosynthesis. At the same time, PpTCP4 was identified as a target of miR6288b-3p. LncRNA1 could act as the endogenous target mimic of miR6288b-3p and repress expression of miR6288b-3p. Three deletions and five SNP sites of lncRNA1 promoter were found in 'Zhaoshouhong', which was an important cause of different mRNA level of PpTCP4 and BR content. Moreover, overexpressed PpTCP4 significantly inhibited branching. A novel mechanism in which the lncRNA1-miR6288b-3p-PpTCP4-PpD2 module regulates peach branching number was proposed.

Comparative dosimetric study of h-IMRT and VMAT plans for breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery.

AIM: To compare the dosimetric advantages and disadvantages between hybrid intensity-modulated radiation therapy (h-IMRT) and the volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) technique in hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (HF-WBI) for early-stage breast cancer (BC). METHODS: The dose distribution of h-IMRT and VMAT plans was compared in 20 breast cancer patients. This comparison included evaluation of dosimetric parameters using dose volume histograms (DVHs) for the planning target volume (PTV) and organs-at-risk (OARs). Additionally, the study examined the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), the second cancer complication probability (SCCP) and the tumor control probability (TCP) based on different models. RESULTS: Significant differences were detected between the two plans, in terms of Machine units (MUs), the control points, 95 % volume (V95 %), dose homogeneity index (DHI) and conformity index (CI). The endpoint of grade II radiation pneumonitis and cardiac death due to ischemic heart disease were assessed. In h-IMRT plan, the NTCP values were marginally lower for radiation pneumonitis and slightly higher for cardiac death compared to VMAT plan, as determined by the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman model. The Schneider model was employed to predict the SCCP for both the bilateral lungs and contralateral breast, the results demonstrate that the h-IMRT plan outperforms the VMAT plan, with statistical significance. Additionally, the LQ-Poisson model was employed to forecast the TCP of the PTV, showing that the h-IMRT plan outperformed the VMAT plan (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The h-IMRT technique, offering superior dose coverage and better therapeutic efficacy with fewer side effects as calculated by models, is more suitable for HF-WBI compared to the VMAT technique.

Performance of a multiphase bioactive socket plug with a barrier function for alveolar ridge preservation.

The natural healing process of extraction socket and traditional socket plug material could not prevent buccal bone wall resorption and down growth of epithelium from the socket orifice. A multiphase bioactive socket plug (BP) is designed to overcome the natural healing process by maintaining the three-dimensional (3D) volume of extraction sockets, particularly in sockets with wall defects, and later provide sufficient alveolar bone volume for implant placement. The study aimed to fabricate and evaluate the physical, chemical, and biological performance of BPin vitro. The BP was fabricated through freeze-drying and layer-by-layer assembly, comprised of a base serving as a scaffold, a central portion for promoting bone regeneration, an upper buccal portion for maintaining alveolar socket dimension with a covering collagen membrane (Memb) on the top and upper buccal surface to prevent soft tissue infiltration. The BP as the experimental group and a pure collagen plug (CP) as the control group were investigated and compared. Radiograph, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy mapping confirmed that the four-part BP was successfully assembled and fabricated. Swelling rate analysis indicated that BP, CP, and Memb reached swelling equilibrium within 1 hour. BP exhibited a high remaining weight percentage in collagenase solution (68.81 ± 2.21% on day 90) and sustained calcium ion release, reaching the maximum 0.13 ± 0.04 mmol l-1on day 14. In biological assays, BP exhibited excellent cell proliferation (The OD value increased from 0.02 on day 1 to 0.23 on day 21.). The BP group exhibited higher alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin content than the CP group within 21 days. Memb and BP exhibited outstanding barrier function, as evidenced by Hematoxylin and eosin staining. In summary, the multiphase bioactive socket plug represents a promising scaffold for alveolar ridge preservation application.

Data center TCP dataset.

In this paper, we would like to introduce a unique dataset that covers thousands of network flow measurements realized through TCP in a data center environment. The TCP protocol is widely used for reliable data transfers and has many different versions. The various versions of TCP are specific in how they deal with link congestion through the congestion control algorithm (CCA). Our dataset represents a unique, comprehensive comparison of the 17 currently used versions of TCP with different CCAs. Each TCP flow was measured precisely 50 times to eliminate the measurement instability. The comparison of the various TCP versions is based on the knowledge of 18 quantitative attributes representing the parameters of a TCP transmission. Our dataset is suitable for testing and comparing different versions of TCP, creating new CCAs based on machine learning models, or creating and testing machine learning models, allowing the identification and optimization of the currently existing versions of TCP.

A tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) based light-cured biomaterial for vital pulp therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate a new light-cured material with better properties for vital pulp therapy. METHODS: Light-cured resin materials consisted of polyethylene glycol (600) diacrylate mixed with different ratios of TCP to HA. In addition to the temperature change (n = 5 for each subgroup) were tested, cell viability and Alizarin Red Staining (ARS) assay were also tested in vitro on human dental pulp cells (n = 6 for each subgroup). Lastly, the material was then compared with Biodentine and control groups in the molars of Wistar rats in vivo for histology assessment. RESULTS: The temperature change for the new materials were under 5 degrees Celsius. For the in vitro assessments, there was no significant difference on day 3 and day 7 for cell viability test. ARS assay showed significantly higher mineralized nodule formation when treated without induction medium for Group D and Biodentine on day 10 compared to Group C and control. On the contrary, Biodentine and control groups treated with induction medium showed significant higher mineralization than the new materials. Histology assessments demonstrated higher mineralized content in Group D and Biodentine on week 3 and week 6. The inflammatory cells in the dental pulp complex of the Biodentine group resolved on week 6 while the inflammation resolved in Group D on week 3. SIGNIFICANCE: The new material exhibits low heat production, low cytotoxicity, and good calcium ion release capability. Compared to traditional materials, it has shorter setting time and better aesthetic outcomes, making it highly suitable for use in vital pulp therapy.

Effect of a synthetic hydroxyapatite-based bone grafting material compared to established bone substitute materials on regeneration of critical-size bone defects in the ovine scapula.

Lately, the potential risk of disease transmission due to the use of bovine-derived bone substitutes has become obvious, demonstrating the urgent need for a synthetic grafting material with comparable bioactive behaviour and properties. Therefore, the effect of a synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) (Osbone®) bone grafting material on bone regeneration was evaluated 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after implantation in critical-size bone defects in the ovine scapula and compared to that of a bovine-derived HA (Bio-Oss®) and ß-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) (Cerasorb® M). New bone formation and the biodegradability of the bone substitutes were assessed histomorphometrically. Hard tissue histology and immunohistochemical analysis were employed to characterize collagen type I, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, as well as bone sialoprotein expression in the various cell and matrix components of the bone tissue to evaluate the bioactive properties of the bone grafting materials. No inflammatory tissue response was detected with any of the bone substitute materials studied. After 3 and 6 months, ß-TCP (Cerasorb® M) showed superior bone formation when compared to both HA-based materials (3 months: ß-TCP 55.65 ± 2.03% vs. SHA 49.05 ± 3.84% and BHA 47.59 ± 1.97%; p ≤ 0.03; 6 months: ß-TCP 62.03 ± 1.58%; SHA: 55.83 ± 2.59%; BHA: 53.44 ± 0.78%; p ≤ 0.04). Further, after 12 and 18 months, a similar degree of bone formation and bone-particle contact was noted for all three bone substitute materials without any significant differences. The synthetic HA supported new bone formation, osteogenic marker expression, matrix mineralization and good bone-bonding behaviour to an equal and even slightly superior degree compared to the bovine-derived HA. As a result, synthetic HA can be regarded as a valuable alternative to the bovine-derived HA without the potential risk of disease transmission.

Isomer-specific cardiotoxicity induced by tricresyl phosphate in zebrafish embryos/larvae.

Tricresyl phosphate (TCP) has received extensive attentions due to its potential adverse effects, while the toxicological information of TCP isomers is limited. In this study, 2 h post-fertilization zebrafish embryos were exposed to tri-o-cresyl phosphate (ToCP), tri-m-cresyl phosphate (TmCP) or tri-p-cresyl phosphate (TpCP) at concentrations of 0, 100, 300 and 600 µg/L until 120 hpf, and the cardiotoxicity and mechanism of TCP isomers in zebrafish embryos/larvae were evaluated. The results showed that ToCP or TmCP exposure induced cardiac morphological defects and dysfunction in zebrafish, characterized by increased distance between sinus venosus and bulbus arteriosis, increased atrium and pericardial sac area, trabecular defects, and decreased heart rate and blood flow velocity, while no adverse effects of TpCP on zebrafish heart were found. Transcriptomic results revealed that extracellular matrix (ECM) and motor proteins, as well as PPAR signaling pathways, were included in the cardiac morphological defects and dysfunction induced by ToCP and TmCP. Co-exposure test with D-mannitol indicated that the inhibition of energy metabolism by ToCP and TmCP affected cardiac morphology and function by decreasing osmoregulation. This study is the first to report the cardiotoxicity induced by TCP in zebrafish from an isomer perspective, providing a new insight into the toxicity of TCP isomers and highlighting the importance of evaluating the toxicity of different isomers.

Class I TCP in fruit development: much more than growth.

Fruit development can be viewed as the succession of three main steps consisting of the fruit initiation, growth and ripening. These processes are orchestrated by different factors, notably the successful fertilization of flowers, the environmental conditions and the hormones whose action is coordinated by a large variety of transcription factors. Among the different transcription factor families, TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) family has received little attention in the frame of fruit biology despite its large effects on several developmental processes and its action as modulator of different hormonal pathways. In this respect, the comprehension of TCP functions in fruit development remains an incomplete puzzle that needs to be assembled. Building on the abundance of genomic and transcriptomic data, this review aims at collecting available TCP expression data to allow their integration in the light of the different functional genetic studies reported so far. This reveals that several Class I TCP genes, already known for their involvement in the cell proliferation and growth, display significant expression levels in developing fruit, although clear evidence supporting their functional significance in this process remains scarce. The extensive expression data compiled in our study provide convincing elements that shed light on the specific involvement of Class I TCP genes in fruit ripening, once these reproductive organs acquire their mature size. They also emphasize their putative role in the control of specific biological processes such as fruit metabolism and hormonal dialogue.

Dual release of daptomycin and BMP-2 from a composite of ß-TCP ceramic and ADA gelatin.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-containing carrier systems are one option that offers the advantage of releasing active ingredients over a longer period of time. In vitro sustained drug release from a carrier system consisting of microporous ß-TCP ceramic and alginate has been reported in previous works. Alginate dialdehyde (ADA) gelatin gel showed both better mechanical properties when loaded into a ß-TCP ceramic and higher biodegradability than pure alginate. METHODS: Dual release of daptomycin and BMP-2 was measured on days 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 14, 21, and 28 by HPLC and ELISA. After release, the microbial efficacy of the daptomycin was verified and the biocompatibility of the composite was tested in cell culture. RESULTS: Daptomycin and the model compound FITC protein A (n = 30) were released from the composite over 28 days. A Daptomycin release above the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) by day 9 and a burst release of 71.7 ± 5.9% were observed in the loaded ceramics. Low concentrations of BMP-2 were released from the loaded ceramics over 28 days.