A novel chromatin-remodeling complex variant, dcPBAF, is involved in maintaining transcription in differentiated neurons.

The Polybromo-associated BAF (BRG1- or BRM-associated factors) (PBAF) chromatin-remodeling complex is essential for transcription in mammalian cells. In this study, we describe a novel variant of the PBAF complex from differentiated neuronal cells, called dcPBAF, that differs from the canonical PBAF existing in proliferating neuroblasts. We describe that in differentiated adult neurons, a specific subunit of PBAF, PHF10, is replaced by a PHF10 isoform that lacks N- and C-terminal domains (called PHF10D). In addition, dcPBAF does not contain the canonical BRD7 subunit. dcPBAF binds promoters of the actively transcribed neuron-specific and housekeeping genes in terminally differentiated neurons of adult mice. Furthermore, in differentiated human neuronal cells, PHF10D-containing dcPBAF maintains a high transcriptional level at several neuron-specific genes.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Gut Microbiota Composition in Moscow Long-Livers.

The aim was to assess the gut microbiota of long-livers from Moscow. This study included two groups of patients who signed their consent to participate. The group of long-livers (LL) included 20 participants aged 97-100 years (4 men and 16 women). The second group included 22 participants aged 60-76 years (6 men) without clinical manifestations of chronic diseases (healthy elderly). Gut microbiota was studied by 16S rRNA sequencing. Long-livers underwent a complex geriatric assessment as well as expanded blood biochemistry. Gut microbiota composition in the cohorts was also compared with microbiome in long-livers from Japan and Italy. Russian long-livers' microbiome contained more beneficial bacteria than healthy elderly including Ruminococcaceae, Christensenellaceae, Lactobacillaceae families. Conditional pathogens like Veillonellaceae, Mogibacteriaceae, Alcaligenaceae, Peptococcaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae were more abundant in the healthy elderly. Compared with Italian and Japanese microbiome LL, the Russian LL appeared to be more similar to the Italian cohort. Bifidobacterium/Coprococcus and Faecalibacterium/Coprococcus balances were associated with femoral and carotid intima-media thickness, respectively. Bifidobacterium/Coriobacteriaceae balance was assessed with the folic acid level and Faecalibacterium/Coriobacteriaceae_u the with Mini Nutritional Assessment score. Long-livers' microbiome appeared to be unexpectedly balanced. The high representation of beneficial bacteria in long-livers may prevent them from low-grade inflammation and thus protect them from the development of atherosclerosis and other aging-associated conditions.