Hairless regulates heterochromatin maintenance and muscle stem cell function as a histone demethylase antagonist.

Skeletal muscle possesses remarkable regenerative ability because of the resident muscle stem cells (MuSCs). A prominent feature of quiescent MuSCs is a high content of heterochromatin. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which heterochromatin is maintained in MuSCs. By comparing gene-expression profiles from quiescent and activated MuSCs, we found that the mammalian Hairless (Hr) gene is expressed in quiescent MuSCs and rapidly down-regulated upon MuSC activation. Using a mouse model in which Hr can be specifically ablated in MuSCs, we demonstrate that Hr expression is critical for MuSC function and muscle regeneration. In MuSCs, loss of Hr results in reduced trimethylated Histone 3 Lysine 9 (H3K9me3) levels, reduced heterochromatin, increased susceptibility to genotoxic stress, and the accumulation of DNA damage. Deletion of Hr leads to an acceleration of the age-related decline in MuSC numbers. We have also demonstrated that despite the fact that Hr is homologous to a family of histone demethylases and binds to di- and trimethylated H3K9, the expression of Hr does not lead to H3K9 demethylation. In contrast, we show that the expression of Hr leads to the inhibition of the H3K9 demethylase Jmjd1a and an increase in H3K9 methylation. Taking these data together, our study has established that Hr is a H3K9 demethylase antagonist specifically expressed in quiescent MuSCs.

Early thermal decay of energetic hydrogen- and nitro-free furoxan compounds: the case of DNTF and BTF.

Exploration of the initial reactions of H-free and nitro-free energetic materials could enrich our understanding of the thermal decomposition mechanism of various energetic materials (EMs). In this work, two furoxan compounds, 3,4-dinitrofurazanfuroxan (DNTF) and benzotrifuroxan (BTF), were investigated to shed light on the decay mechanism of furoxan compounds based on the combination of self-consistent charge density functional tight binding and molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that DNTF and BTF decay via a unimolecular mechanism, and the transformation of the furoxan ring into a nitro group is suggested as a novel initial channel. Five initial steps of DNTF thermal decomposition are observed, including NO2 loss and the N(O)-O bond cleavage of the central and peripheral rings. The bond cleavage of peripheral rings dominates the decay at low temperatures, while the central ring opening and C-NO2 dissociation govern the high temperature decay. Besides, NO2, CO and NO fragments are mainly yielded at high temperatures, while CO3N2 is dominant at low temperatures. The three-stage characteristic of the exothermic BTF decay is described under programmed heating conditions for the first time. Four initial steps of BTF thermal decomposition were identified, including furoxan ring opening reactions and the breakage of the 6-membered ring C-C bond. The cleavage of the N(O)-O bond is dominant in the initial step of BTF decomposition under different heating conditions, and the frequency increases with increasing temperature. In addition, the amounts of CON, ON and CO are higher at high temperatures, while C2O2N2 shows an opposite trend. The findings of this work provide deep insights into the complicated sensitivity mechanism of EMs.

Comparative Quantum Chemistry Study on the Unimolecular Decomposition Channels of Pyrazole and Imidazole Energetic Materials.

The difference in the initial decomposition step of pyrazoles and imidazoles was explored using the M062X method for optimization and G4-MP2 and approximated CCSD(T) methods for energies. Laplacian bond order analysis was used to study the effect of the nitro group on the bond strength and predict the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of the ring. Thermochemistry results show that the most possible decay channel of 1H-pyrazole and 3-nitropyrazole is the N2 elimination, while the preferred initial step of 1H-imidazole is the CHN elimination. However, the nitro-nitrite isomerization dominates the decomposition of other nitro derivatives of 1H-pyrazole and 1H-imidazole. As for the formation of HO and HONO, the high energy barrier makes it difficult to take place. Based on the analysis of the lowest energy barrier and the BDE of NO2 loss, it can be concluded that imidazoles are more stable than pyrazoles. This work contributes to revealing the difference in the initial step of energetic isomers and the understanding of the decomposition mechanism of energetic azoles.

Initial Steps and Thermochemistry of Unimolecular Decomposition of Oxadiazole Energetic Materials: Quantum Chemistry Modeling.

In order to resolve the existing discrepancies in the mechanism and key intermediates of oxadiazole thermolysis, the initial decomposition pathways of oxadiazoles have been studied comprehensively using the M062X method for optimization and CBS-QB3 and DLPNO-CCSD(T) methods for energies. The transformation from the furoxan ring to nitro group was suggested as a potential decay channel of furoxan compounds. Results of thermochemistry calculations showed that the preferred decomposition reaction of oxadiazoles is the ring-opening through the cleavage of the O-C or O-N bond. The introduction of the nitro group has little effect on the preferential path of oxadiazole thermal decomposition, but a great impact on the energy barrier. The lowest energy barrier and bond dissociation energy of NO2 loss of azoles were comprehensively studied based on the quantum chemistry calculations. The initial decay steps of 3,4-dinitrofurazanfuroxan and benzotrifuroxan were also studied to give insights into the mechanism of primary stages of thermal decomposition of oxadiazoles.

Monitoring disease activity noninvasively in the mdx model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, muscle degenerative disease resulting from the absence of the dystrophin protein. DMD is characterized by progressive loss of muscle fibers, muscle weakness, and eventually loss of ambulation and premature death. Currently, there is no cure for DMD and improved methods of disease monitoring are crucial for the development of novel treatments. In this study, we describe a new method of assessing disease progression noninvasively in the mdx model of DMD. The reporter mice, which we term the dystrophic Degeneration Reporter strains, contain an inducible CRE-responsive luciferase reporter active in mature myofibers. In these mice, muscle degeneration is reflected in changes in the level of luciferase expression, which can be monitored using noninvasive, bioluminescence imaging. We monitored the natural history and disease progression in these dystrophic report mice and found that decreases in luciferase signals directly correlated with muscle degeneration. We further demonstrated that this reporter strain, as well as a previously reported Regeneration Reporter strain, successfully reveals the effectiveness of a gene therapy treatment following systemic administration of a recombinant adeno-associated virus-6 (rAAV-6) encoding a microdystrophin construct. Our data demonstrate the value of these noninvasive imaging modalities for monitoring disease progression and response to therapy in mouse models of muscular dystrophy.

Staufen1 inhibits MyoD translation to actively maintain muscle stem cell quiescence.

Tissue regeneration depends on the timely activation of adult stem cells. In skeletal muscle, the adult stem cells maintain a quiescent state and proliferate upon injury. We show that muscle stem cells (MuSCs) use direct translational repression to maintain the quiescent state. High-resolution single-molecule and single-cell analyses demonstrate that quiescent MuSCs express high levels of Myogenic Differentiation 1 (MyoD) transcript in vivo, whereas MyoD protein is absent. RNA pulldowns and costainings show that MyoD mRNA interacts with Staufen1, a potent regulator of mRNA localization, translation, and stability. Staufen1 prevents MyoD translation through its interaction with the MyoD 3'-UTR. MuSCs from Staufen1 heterozygous (Staufen1+/-) mice have increased MyoD protein expression, exit quiescence, and begin proliferating. Conversely, blocking MyoD translation maintains the quiescent phenotype. Collectively, our data show that MuSCs express MyoD mRNA and actively repress its translation to remain quiescent yet primed for activation.

Virtual Screening of Novel and Selective Inhibitors of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B over T-Cell Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Using a Bidentate Inhibition Strategy.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a promising target for type II diabetes, obesity, and cancer therapeutics, plays an important negative role in insulin signaling pathways. However, the lack of selectivity over other PTPs, especially for T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP), is still a challenge for inhibitor development. Recent studies have suggested that the second phosphotyrosine (pTyr) binding site, close to the catalytic domain, may elevate binding affinity while bringing selectivity to inhibitors. Inspired by these studies, a virtual screening method based on a bidentate strategy was employed to identify novel selective inhibitors of PTP1B. Targeting both the active site and the second pTyr binding site of PTP1B, three compounds (CD00466, JFD02943, JFD02945) were found to be competitive inhibitors ( Ki range from 1.79 to 10.49 µM). The most effective compound, CD00466, exhibited selectivity over TCPTP (31-fold). Using molecular dynamics simulation and the MM/GBSA binding free energy calculation, this study confirmed that the three inhibitors bound to PTP1B in a bidentate pattern. Our work indicates that bidentate virtual screening is a potential approach to the further investigation of selective PTP1B inhibitors.

Initial Mechanisms for the Unimolecular Thermal Decomposition of 2,6-Diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide.

The initial channels of thermal decomposition mechanism of 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide (LLM-105) molecule were investigated. The results of quantum chemical calculations revealed four candidates involved in the reaction pathway, including the C⁻NO2 bond homolysis, nitro⁻nitrite rearrangement followed by NO elimination, and H transfer from amino to acyl O and to nitro O with the subsequent OH or HONO elimination, respectively. In view of the further kinetic analysis and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, the C⁻NO2 bond homolysis was suggested to be the dominant step that triggered the decomposition of LLM-105 at temperatures above 580 K. Below this temperature, two types of H transfer were considered as the primary reactions, which have advantages including lower barrier and high rate compared to the C⁻NO2 bond dissociation. It could be affirmed that these two types of H transfer are reversible processes, which could buffer against external thermal stimulation. Therefore, the excellent thermal stability of LLM-105, that is nearly identical to that of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, can be attributed to the reversibility of H transfers at relatively low temperatures. However, subsequent OH or HONO elimination reactions occur with difficulty because of their slow rates and extra energy barriers. Although nitro⁻nitrite rearrangement is theoretically feasible, its rate constant is too small to be observed. This study facilitates the understanding of the essence of thermal stability and detailed decomposition mechanism of LLM-105.

MicroRNAs downregulate Bag of marbles to ensure proper terminal differentiation in the Drosophila male germline.

In many adult stem cell lineages, the continuous production of functional differentiated cells depends on the maintenance of progenitor cells in an undifferentiated and proliferative state, as well as the subsequent commitment to proper terminal differentiation. In the Drosophila male germline stem cell (GSC) lineage, a key differentiation factor, Bag of marbles (Bam), is required for the transition from proliferative spermatogonia to differentiating spermatocytes. We show that bam mRNA, but not Bam, is present in spermatocytes, suggesting that bam is regulated post-transcriptionally. Consistent with this, repression of Bam accumulation is achieved by microRNAs via the bam 3'UTR. When the bam 3'UTR was substituted with the 3'UTR of a constitutively expressed α-Tubulin, Bam became stabilized in spermatocytes. Moreover, such a persistent expression of Bam in spermatocytes was recapitulated by specifically mutating the putative miR-275/miR-306 recognition site at the bam 3'UTR. In addition, overexpression of miR-275 or miR-306 in spermatogonial cells resulted in a delay of the proliferation-to-differentiation transition and resembled the bam loss-of-function phenotype, suggesting that these microRNAs are sufficient to downregulate Bam. Finally, the failure of Bam downregulation in spermatocytes affected spermatid terminal differentiation and resulted in increased male sterility. Our results demonstrate that microRNAs control the stem cell differentiation pathway through regulating Bam, the downregulation of which is crucial for proper spermatid terminal differentiation.

Monitoring of monocyte recruitment in reperfused myocardial infarction with intramyocardial hemorrhage and microvascular obstruction by combined fluorine 19 and proton cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: Monocytes and macrophages are indispensable in the healing process after myocardial infarction (MI); however, the spatiotemporal distribution of monocyte infiltration and its correlation to prognostic indicators of reperfused MI have not been well described. METHODS AND RESULTS: With combined fluorine 19/proton ((1)H) magnetic resonance imaging, we noninvasively visualized the spatiotemporal recruitment of monocytes in vivo in a rat model of reperfused MI. Blood monocytes were labeled by intravenous injection of (19)F-perfluorocarbon emulsion 1 day after MI. The distribution patterns of monocyte infiltration were correlated to the presence of microvascular obstruction (MVO) and intramyocardial hemorrhage. In vivo, (19)F/(1)H magnetic resonance imaging performed in series revealed that monocyte infiltration was spatially inhomogeneous in reperfused MI areas. In the absence of MVO, monocyte infiltration was more intense in MI regions with serious ischemia-reperfusion injuries, indicated by severe intramyocardial hemorrhage; however, monocyte recruitment was significantly impaired in MVO areas accompanied by severe intramyocardial hemorrhage. Compared with MI with isolated intramyocardial hemorrhage, MI with MVO resulted in significantly worse pump function of the left ventricle 28 days after MI. CONCLUSIONS: Monocyte recruitment was inhomogeneous in reperfused MI tissue. It was highly reduced in MVO areas defined by magnetic resonance imaging. The impaired monocyte infiltration in MVO regions could be related to delayed healing and worse functional outcomes in the long term. Therefore, monocyte recruitment in MI with MVO could be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target that could be monitored noninvasively and longitudinally by (19)F/(1)H magnetic resonance imaging in vivo.