FANCD2 and RAD51 recombinase directly inhibit DNA2 nuclease at stalled replication forks and FANCD2 acts as a novel RAD51 mediator in strand exchange to promote genome stability.

FANCD2 protein, a key coordinator and effector of the interstrand crosslink repair pathway, is also required to prevent excessive nascent strand degradation at hydroxyurea-induced stalled forks. The RAD51 recombinase has also been implicated in regulation of resection at stalled replication forks. The mechanistic contributions of these proteins to fork protection are not well understood. Here, we used purified FANCD2 and RAD51 to study how each protein regulates DNA resection at stalled forks. We characterized three mechanisms of FANCD2-mediated fork protection: (1) The N-terminal domain of FANCD2 inhibits the essential DNA2 nuclease activity by directly binding to DNA2 accounting for over-resection in FANCD2 defective cells. (2) Independent of dimerization with FANCI, FANCD2 itself stabilizes RAD51 filaments to inhibit multiple nucleases, including DNA2, MRE11 and EXO1. (3) Unexpectedly, we uncovered a new FANCD2 function: by stabilizing RAD51 filaments, FANCD2 acts to stimulate the strand exchange activity of RAD51. Our work biochemically explains non-canonical mechanisms by which FANCD2 and RAD51 protect stalled forks. We propose a model in which the strand exchange activity of FANCD2 provides a simple molecular explanation for genetic interactions between FANCD2 and BRCA2 in the FA/BRCA fork protection pathway.

Derivation of Neural Precursor Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells for DNA Methylomic Analysis.

Embryonic stem cells are self-renewing pluripotent cells with competency to differentiate into all three-germ lineages. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of genetic and epigenetic molecular mechanisms in the maintenance of self-renewal and pluripotency. Stem cells are under unique molecular and cellular regulations different from somatic cells. Proper regulation should be ensured to maintain their unique self-renewal and undifferentiated characteristics. Understanding key mechanisms in stem cell biology will be important for the successful application of stem cells for regenerative therapeutic medicine. More importantly practical use of stem cells will require our knowledge on how to properly direct and differentiate stem cells into the necessary type of cells. Embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells have been used as study models to unveil molecular and cellular mechanisms in various signaling pathways. They are especially beneficial to developmental studies where in vivo molecular/cellular study models are not available. We have derived neural stem cells from human embryonic stem cells as a model to study the effect of teratogen in neural development. We have tested commercial neural differentiation system and successfully derived neural precursor cells exhibiting key molecular features of neural stem cells, which will be useful for experimental application.

Alcohol-Induced Molecular Dysregulation in Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Neural Precursor Cells.

Adverse effect of alcohol on neural function has been well documented. Especially, the teratogenic effect of alcohol on neurodevelopment during embryogenesis has been demonstrated in various models, which could be a pathologic basis for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). While the developmental defects from alcohol abuse during gestation have been described, the specific mechanisms by which alcohol mediates these injuries have yet to be determined. Recent studies have shown that alcohol has significant effect on molecular and cellular regulatory mechanisms in embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation including genes involved in neural development. To test our hypothesis that alcohol induces molecular alterations during neural differentiation we have derived neural precursor cells from pluripotent human ESCs in the presence or absence of ethanol treatment. Genome-wide transcriptomic profiling identified molecular alterations induced by ethanol exposure during neural differentiation of hESCs into neural rosettes and neural precursor cell populations. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) functional analysis on significantly altered genes showed potential ethanol's effect on JAK-STAT signaling pathway, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and regulation of autophagy. We have further quantitatively verified ethanol-induced alterations of selected candidate genes. Among verified genes we further examined the expression of P2RX3, which is associated with nociception, a peripheral pain response. We found ethanol significantly reduced the level of P2RX3 in undifferentiated hESCs, but induced the level of P2RX3 mRNA and protein in hESC-derived NPCs. Our result suggests ethanol-induced dysregulation of P2RX3 along with alterations in molecules involved in neural activity such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction may be a molecular event associated with alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy of an enhanced nociceptive response.

Outsourced teleradiology imaging services: an analysis of discordant interpretation in 124,870 cases.

PURPOSE: Outsourcing after-hours radiology coverage to a teleradiology coverage company has become common in recent years. However, concerns have been raised over the quality of these types of coverage and the implications on patient care. This study details the quality assurance program of a teleradiology company that provides after-hours coverage to 64 California hospitals. METHOD: The records of all examinations interpreted by 10 radiologists during 2003 were reviewed. Interpretations were compared with the final interpretations of the host practices and evaluated for timeliness. RESULTS: A total of 124,870 radiologic studies were interpreted by 10 teleradiologists during 2003. Computed tomography (CT) comprised 74% of these examinations: CT head (35%) examinations were the most commonly transmitted examinations, and CT abdomen/pelvis examinations were the second most common studies (27%). The average turnaround time was 12.2 min; 93% of the examinations were reported within 30 min, and 99% were completed within 1 hour. The overall discordant rate for individual teleradiologists ranged from 0.70% to 1.41%, with an average of 1.09%. Of the most commonly ordered examinations, CT of the abdomen/pelvis had the highest rate of discordance, at 2.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Outsourcing to a teleradiology program with an active quality-assurance program can be safe. An active quality-assurance program should be an integral component of any teleradiology program. Constant feedback improves the performance of the radiologists.