Subcellular dynamics of estrogen-related receptors involved in transrepression through interactions with scaffold attachment factor B1.

Estrogen-related receptor (ERR), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, consists of three subtypes (α, ß, γ) and has strong homology with estrogen receptor. No endogenous ligands have been identified for ERRs, but they play key roles in metabolic, hormonal, and developmental processes as transcription factors without ligand binding. Although subnuclear dynamics are essential for nuclear events including nuclear receptor-mediated transcriptional regulation, the dynamics of ERRs are poorly understood. Here, we report that ERRs show subcellular kinetic changes in response to diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen that represses the transactivity of all three ERR subtypes, using live-cell imaging with fluorescent protein labeling. Upon DES treatment, all ERR subtypes formed discrete clusters in the nucleus, with ERRγ also displaying nuclear export. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analyses revealed significant reductions in the intranuclear mobility of DES-bound ERRα and ERRß, and a slight reduction in the intranuclear mobility of DES-bound ERRγ. After DES treatment, colocalization of all ERR subtypes with scaffold attachment factor B1 (SAFB1), a nuclear matrix-associated protein, was observed in dot-like subnuclear clusters, suggesting interactions of the ERRs with the nuclear matrix. Consistently, co-immunoprecipitation analyses confirmed enhanced interactions between ERRs and SAFB1 in the presence of DES. SAFB1 was clarified to repress the transactivity of all ERR subtypes through the ERR-response element. These results demonstrate ligand-dependent cluster formation of ERRs in the nucleus that is closely associated with SAFB1-mediated transrepression. Taken together, the present findings provide a new understanding of the pathophysiology regulated by ERR/SAFB1 signaling pathways and their subcellular dynamics.

Detecting the dynamical instability of complex time series via partitioned entropy.

A method is proposed to detect the dynamical instability of complex time series. We focus on how the partitioned entropy of an initially localized region of the attractor evolves in time and show that its growth rate corresponds to the first Lyapunov exponent. To avoid spurious detection of the dynamical instability, a criterion is further introduced to distinguish chaos from limit cycles or tori. Numerical experiments using prototypical models of chaotic systems demonstrate that the growth rate of the partitioned entropy indeed provides a good estimate of the first Lyapunov exponent. The method is also shown to be robust against observational noise and dynamical noise. Analysis of experimental data measured from a physical model of the vocal folds highlights the practical applicability of the present method to real-world data. Advantages of the present method over conventional methods are also discussed.

Physical modeling of the vocal membranes and their influence on animal voice production.

The vocal membrane, i.e., an extended part of the vocal fold, is observed in a wide range of species including bats and primates. A theoretical study [Mergell, Fitch, and Herzel (1999). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 105(3), 2020-2028] predicted that the vocal membranes can make the animal vocalizations more efficient by lowering the phonation threshold pressure. To examine this prediction, a synthetic model of the vocal membrane was developed, and its oscillation properties were examined. The experiments revealed that the phonation threshold pressure was lower in the vocal membrane model compared to that in a model with no vocal membrane. Chaotic oscillations were observed as well.

Laparoscopic approach to recurrence following multiple surgeries for external rectal prolapse: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: The optimal procedure for recurrent external rectal prolapse remains unclear, particularly in laparoscopic approach. In addition, pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is sometimes concomitant with rectal prolapse. We present a case who underwent laparoscopic procedure for the recurrence of full-thickness external rectal prolapse coexisting POP. CASE PRESENTATION: An 81-year-old parous female had a 10-cm full-thickness external rectal prolapse following the two operations: the first was perineal recto-sigmoidectomy and the second was laparoscopic posterior mesh rectopexy. Imaging study revealed that the recurrent rectal prolapse was concomitant with both cystocele and exposed vagina, what we call POP. We planned and successfully performed laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy (LVMR) with laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) using self-cut meshes without any perioperative complication. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of LVMR and LSC for recurrent rectal prolapse with POP following the perineal recto-sigmoidectomy and laparoscopic posterior mesh rectopexy. Even for recurrent rectal prolapse with POP, our experience suggests that LVMR and LSC could be utilized.

Synthesis of Semiconducting Polymers through Soluble Precursor Polymers with Thermally Removable Groups and Their Application to Organic Transistors.

Novel semiconducting polymers consisting of thiophene and anthracene units without alkyl groups were successfully synthesized through soluble precursor polymers and applied to the organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). Thermal elimination of leaving groups from the precursor polymers by retro Diels-Alder reaction was proved by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), FT-IR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The resulting films of the semiconducting polymers showed good surface morphologies even after thermal elimination, resulting in good semiconducting behavior with mobility of 0.015 cm2 V-1 s-1 in the typical top-contact OTFT. In addition, the devices based on these polymers are stable under ambient conditions and maintained good transistor performance even after being stored in air for 2 months.

syn-/anti-Anthradithiophene derivative isomer effects on semiconducting properties.

Isomerically pure syn-/anti-anthradithiophene derivatives have been developed in the past few years. Although anti-isomers showed higher field-effect mobilities than mixture of isomers have been reported, a detailed comparison of syn-isomer and anti-isomer molecules has not been carried out. In this study, we took newly synthesized pure unsubstituted syn-/anti-anthradithiophenes (ADTs) and compared their single crystal structures, physical properties and semiconducting behavior with a previously studied syn-/anti-dimethylanthradithiophenes (DMADTs). Although the both isomers were typical herringbone packing structures with similar parameters, anti-isomers involved less disordered atoms in the crystal packing. The results from thermal analysis, UV-vis spectra, photo luminescence spectra and cyclic voltammograms of syn-/anti-anthradithiophenes were nearly the in the solid state as well as in solution. However, field-effect transistors showed obvious differences with mobilities of 0.12 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for anti-anthradithiophene and 0.02 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) for syn-anthradithiophene. Because the crystallinity of thin-films measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) seems to be better in syn-isomers, the differences in transistor performance are likely attributed to local defects affecting intermolecular interactions, such as disorder in the crystal packing and charge-dipole interactions.