Devoy et al. develop the first mouse model to fully recapitulate human FUS-ALS, as defined by midlife-onset progressive degeneration of motor neurons with dominant inheritance. A toxic gain of function occurs in the absence of FUS protein aggregation, involving disturbance of ribosomes and mitochondria at the endoplasmic reticulum.

Abstract. To investigate the potential pathophysiologic role of human SRIF receptor gene expression in GH-secreting adenomas in acromegalic patients, we studied the relationship between the SRIF receptor gene expression, endogenous SRIF activity and exogenous response to octreotide in 16 acromagalic patients. Hypothalamic somatostatinergic activity (HSA) was assessed by glucose-induced suppression of TRH-stimulated TSH secretion. As an indicator of somatotrope sensitivity to HSA, glucose-induced suppression of TRH-stimulated GH secretion was determined. For the acute octreotide response, a 100 mg bolus of octreotide was injected intravenously and GH was measured hourly for 6 hr. Pituitary tumor SRIF receptor subtype 2 and 5 (sst2 and sst5) mRNA levels were measured by real-time RT-PCR. Gsp oncogene was also detected by direct PCR sequencing. Sst2 and sst5 mRNA levels were detected in all tumors. Sst2 mRNA levels positively correlated with that of sst5. Sst2 and sst5 mRNA levels did not show any correlation with basal GH values (nadir or peak). Expression of sst2, but not sst5, showed a positive correlation with the GH response to HSA, while the octreotide response positively correlated with the sum of sst2 and sst5 mRNA levels. Individuals with gsp-positive tumors were more responsive to octreotide than those with gsp-negative tumors but sst2 and sst5 mRNA levels did not differ between these two groups. These results suggest common transcriptional and/or post-transcriptonal regulatory mechanisms for these SRIF receptor subtypes within GH-secreting pituitary adenomas. The functional observations suggest that the degree (or level) of sst2 and sst5 expression is critical for the ultimate GH response of somatotropinomas to endogenous SRIF tone and exogenous SRIF analogue therapy. However, sst2 and sst5 mRNA levels are not the only factors mediating the response to SRIF.

We present a novel method for fabricating large-area field-effect transistors (FETs) based on densely packed multichannel graphene nanoribbon (GNR) arrays using advanced direct self-assembly (DSA) nanolithography. The design of our strategy focused on the efficient integration of the FET channel and using fab-compatible processes such as thermal annealing and chemical vapor deposition. We achieved linearly stacked DSA nanopattern arrays with sub-10 nm half-pitch critical dimensions (CD) by controlling the thickness of topographic Au confinement patterns. Excellent roughness values (∼10% of CD) were obtained, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating sub-10 nm GNRs into commercial semiconductor processes. Based on this facile process, FETs with such densely packed multichannel GNR arrays were successfully fabricated on 6 in. silicon wafers. With these high-quality GNR arrays, we achieved FETs showing the highest performance reported to date (an on-to-off ratio larger than 10(2)) for similar devices produced using conventional photolithography and block-copolymer lithography.

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We isolated nickel-resistant bacterium from soil in order to identify a novel nickel resistance determinant. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, an isolate was identified as Enterobacter sp. Ni15. This species showed a medium-level (resistant to up to 10 mM) nickel resistance in nutrient-rich media. Enterobacter sp. Ni15 has a novel plasmid, pNi15, and an increased nickel resistance to Escherichia coli DH5alphain trans. To isolate the nickel resistance gene from pNi15, the plasmid was digested with XbaI and its fragments were cloned into pBluescriptIISK(+). The clones were transferred into E. coli DH5alpha. The nickel resistance of the clones was then assayed. From these results, a pNi15100 isolate containing a 5,328 bp XbaI fragment of pNi15 was identified and sequenced. The E. coli DH5alpha harboring the pNi15100 showed a resistance to up to 7 mM nickel. Using a subcloning analysis, we were able to identify the novel nickel resistance determinant: the nrp gene encoding the putative proteins NrpA and NrpB.