We present the first measurement of the vertical binding energy (VBE) of a hydrated electron in bulk water by the time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) of the charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) reaction in aqueous NaI solution. Our best estimate of VBE is 3.27 +/- 0.10 eV for H(2)O and 3.20 +/- 0.10 eV for D(2)O.

Recent studies indicate important roles for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as essential regulators of myogenesis and adult skeletal muscle regeneration. However, the specific roles of lncRNAs in myogenic differentiation of adult skeletal muscle stem cells and myogenesis are still largely unknown. Here we identify a lncRNA that is specifically enriched in skeletal muscle (myogenesis-associated lncRNA, in short, lnc-mg). In mice, conditional knockout of lnc-mg in skeletal muscle results in muscle atrophy and the loss of muscular endurance during exercise. Alternatively, skeletal muscle-specific overexpression of lnc-mg promotes muscle hypertrophy. In vitro analysis of primary skeletal muscle cells shows that lnc-mg increases gradually during myogenic differentiation and its overexpression improves cell differentiation. Mechanistically, lnc-mg promotes myogenesis, by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for microRNA-125b to control protein abundance of insulin-like growth factor 2. These findings identify lnc-mg as a novel noncoding regulator for muscle cell differentiation and skeletal muscle development.

Transport through the cell membrane can be divided into active, passive and vesicular types (exosomes). Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles released by a variety of cells. Emerging evidence shows that exosomes play a critical role in cancers. Exosomes mediate communication between stroma and cancer cells through the transfer of nucleic acid and proteins. It is demonstrated that the contents and the quantity of exosomes will change after occurrence of cancers. Over the last decade, growing attention has been paid to the role of exosomes in the development of breast cancer, the most life-threatening cancer in women. Breast cancer could induce salivary glands to secret specific exosomes, which could be used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of early breast cancer. Exosome-delivered nucleic acid and proteins partly facilitate the tumorigenesis, metastasis and resistance of breast cancer. Exosomes could also transmit anti-cancer drugs outside breast cancer cells, therefore leading to drug resistance. However, exosomes are effective tools for transportation of anti-cancer drugs with lower immunogenicity and toxicity. This is a promising way to establish a drug delivery system.

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TR-PES) of ultrafast dynamics in solution is presented. To measure the photoelectron kinetic energy distribution (PKED) that is free from inelastic scattering in solution, photoelectrons were generated with ultra-low kinetic energies (ULKE: <5 eV). Time constants of the elementary processes in the charge-transfer-to-solvent (CTTS) reaction from Ito bulk water were in excellent agreement with those obtained by transient absorption spectroscopy, demonstrating the bulk-sensitivity of TR-PES-ULKE. The analysis suggests that the CTTS reaction proceeds via two intermediates, and that 30% of the first intermediate and 70 % of the second intermediate respectively are quenched by geminate recombination between the electron and the neutral iodine atom.

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The microRNA family, miR-30, plays diverse roles in regulating key aspects of neoplastic transformation, metastasis, and clinical outcomes in different types of tumors. Accumulating evidence proves that miR-30 family is pivotal in the breast cancer development by controlling critical signaling pathways and relevant oncogenes. Here, we review the roles of miR-30 family members in the tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance of breast cancer, and their application to predict the prognosis of breast cancer patients. We think miR-30 family members would be promising biomarkers for breast cancer and may bring a novel insight in molecular targeted therapy of breast cancer.

Photoelectron spectra of solvated electrons in bulk liquids were obtained at energy-resolution of 60 meV using a linear time-of-flight photoelectron spectrometer and a 100 kHz ultraviolet femtosecond laser. Solvated electrons in H 2 O, D 2 O, methanol, and ethanol were generated by 226 nm excitation of the charge-transfer-to-solvent bands of Iin 0.1 M NaI solutions, and the photoelectron spectra were measured using 260 nm pulses with a time delay of 2 ns. The electron binding energies and band shapes are discussed.

Exosomes have been shown to transmit drug resistance through delivering miRNAs. We aimed to explore their roles in breast cancer. Three resistant sublines were established by exposing parental MDA-MB-231 cell line to docetaxel, epirubicin and vinorelbine, respectively. Preneoadjuvant chemotherapy biopsies and paired surgically-resected specimens embedded in paraffin from 23 breast cancer patients were collected. MiRNA expression profiles of the cell lines and their exosomes were evaluated using microarray. The result showed that most miRNAs in exosomes had a lower expression level than that in cells, however, some miRNAs expressed higher in exosomes than in cells, suggesting a number of miRNAs is concentrated in exosomes. Among the dysregulated miRNAs, 22 miRNAs were consistently up-regulated in exosomes and their cells of origin. We further found that 12 of the 22 miRNAs were significantly up-regulated after preneoadjuvant chemotherapy. Further study of the role of these 12 miRNAs in acquisition of drug resistance is needed to clarify their contribution to chemoresistance.