Several multiprotein DNA complexes capable of insulator activity have been identified in Drosophila melanogaster, yet only CTCF, a highly conserved zinc finger protein, and the transcription factor TFIIIC have been shown to function in mammals. CTCF is involved in diverse nuclear activities, and recent studies suggest that the proteins with which it associates and the DNA sequences that it targets may underlie these various roles. Here we show that the Drosophila homolog of CTCF (dCTCF) aligns in the genome with other Drosophila insulator proteins such as Suppressor of Hairy wing [SU(HW)] and Boundary Element Associated Factor of 32 kDa (BEAF-32) at the borders of H3K27me3 domains, which are also enriched for associated insulator proteins and additional cofactors. RNAi depletion of dCTCF and combinatorial knockdown of gene expression for other Drosophila insulator proteins leads to a reduction in H3K27me3 levels within repressed domains, suggesting that insulators are important for the maintenance of appropriate repressive chromatin structure in Polycomb (Pc) domains. These results shed new insights into the roles of insulators in chromatin domain organization and support recent models suggesting that insulators underlie interactions important for Pc-mediated repression. We reveal an important relationship between dCTCF and other Drosophila insulator proteins and speculate that vertebrate CTCF may also align with other nuclear proteins to accomplish similar functions.

Cancer cells possess aberrant proteomes that can arise by the disruption of genes involved in physiological protein degradation. Here we demonstrate the presence of promoter CpG island hypermethylation-linked inactivation of DERL3 (Derlin-3), a key gene in the endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation pathway, in human tumours. The restoration of in vitro and in vivo DERL3 activity highlights the tumour suppressor features of the gene. Using the stable isotopic labelling of amino acids in cell culture workflow for differential proteome analysis, we identify SLC2A1 (glucose transporter 1, GLUT1) as a downstream target of DERL3. Most importantly, SLC2A1 overexpression mediated by DERL3 epigenetic loss contributes to the Warburg effect in the studied cells and pinpoints a subset of human tumours with greater vulnerability to drugs targeting glycolysis.

In diabetic patients with hypertension, QUI reduces blood pressure, proteinuria, and improves endothelial function. Moreover, this effect is strongly potentiated with a combination of QUI and ALA. These results may attenuate the progression of vascular pathophysiology seen in patients with a combination of diabetes and hypertension.

Reduced BP with nebivolol in hypertensive African Americans and echocardiographic evidence of diastolic dysfunction correlates with improved endothelial function. Furthermore, improvement in endothelial function and increased nitric oxide bioavailability suggests a potential mechanism of efficacy of nebivolol in these patients.

Four Indian patients with occipital lesions of cysticercosis presented with visual hallucinations. Neuro-ophthalmic and systemic examinations were normal in all cases except for one patient who had a partial homonymous hemianopia. Electroencephalography was normal in all cases. Neuroimaging revealed ring-enhancing lesions in the occipital lobe typical of neurocysticercosis. In endemic regions like India, neurocysticercosis should be suspected in patients presenting with visual hallucinations, even when there are no other clinical findings.