Field-effect transistor (FET) biosensors based on low-dimensional materials present the advantages of low cost, high speed, small size, and excellent compatibility with integrated circuits (ICs). In this work, we fabricated highly sensitive FET-based DNA biosensors based on chemical vapor deposition (CVD)-grown monolayer MoS2 films in batches and explored their application in noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) for trisomy 21 syndrome. Specifically, MoS2 was functionalized with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of an optimized size and at an ideal density, and then, probe DNAs for the specific capture of target DNAs were immobilized on the nanoparticles. The fabricated FET biosensors are able to reliably detect target DNA fragments (chromosome 21 or 13) with a detection limit below 100 aM, a high response up to 240%, and a high specificity, which satisfy the requirement for the screening of Down syndrome. In addition, a real-time test was conducted to show that the biosensor clearly responds to the target DNA at concentrations as low as 1 fM. Our approach shows the potential for detecting the over-expression of chromosome 21 in the peripheral blood of pregnant women and achieving Down syndrome screening.

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Data on the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition of human muscle spindles are scarce in spite of the well-known correlation between MyHC composition and functional properties of skeletal muscle fibers. The MyHC composition of intrafusal fibers from 36 spindles of human biceps brachii muscle was studied in detail by immunocytochemistry with a large battery of antibodies. The MyHC content of isolated muscle spindles was assessed with SDS-PAGE and immunoblots. Four major MyHC isoforms (MyHCI, IIa, embryonic, and intrafusal) were detected with SDS-PAGE. Immunocytochemistry revealed very complex staining patterns for each intrafusal fiber type. The bag(1) fibers contained slow tonic MyHC along their entire fiber length and MyHCI, alpha-cardiac, embryonic, and fetal isoforms along a variable part of their length. The bag(2) fibers contained MyHC slow tonic, I, alpha-cardiac, embryonic, and fetal isoforms with regional variations. Chain fibers contained MyHCIIa, embryonic, and fetal isoforms throughout the fiber, and MyHCIIx at least in the juxtaequatorial region. Virtually each muscle spindle had a different allotment of numbers of bag(1), bag(2) and chain fibers. Taken together, the complexity in intrafusal fiber content and MyHC composition observed indicate that each muscle spindle in the human biceps has a unique identity.

S U M M A R YMuscle spindle density is extremely high in the deep muscles of the human neck. However, there is a paucity of information regarding the morphology and immunoreactivity of these muscle spindles. The objective of this study was to investigate the intrafusal fiber content and to assess the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition of muscle spindles from human deep neck muscles. In addition to the conventional spindles containing bag 1 , bag 2 , and chain fibers (b 1 b 2 c spindle), we observed a number of spindles lacking bag 1 (b 2 c spindle) or bag 2 (b 1 c spindle) fibers. Both bag 1 and bag 2 fibers contained slow tonic MyHCs along their entire fiber length and MyHCI, MyHCIIa, embryonic, and ␣ -cardiac MyHC isoforms along a variable length of the fibers. Fetal MyHC was present in bag 2 fibers but not in bag 1 fibers. Nuclear chain fibers contained MyHCIIa, embryonic, and fetal isoforms with regional variations. We also compared the present data with our previous results obtained from muscle spindles in human biceps brachii and the first lumbrical muscles. The allotment of numbers of intrafusal fibers and the MyHC composition showed some muscle-related differences, suggesting functional specialization in the control of movement among different human muscles.

The abundant and synaptic-specific binding of anti-GQ1b, -GT1a, and -GD1b ganglioside antibodies and the rich capillary supply in the human EOMs may partly explain the selective paralysis of these muscles in Miller Fisher syndrome.

Sweden (J-XL,P-OE,L-ET,FP-D)S U M M A R Y The present study investigated potential age-related changes in human muscle spindles with respect to the intrafusal fiber-type content and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) composition in biceps brachii muscle. The total number of intrafusal fibers per spindle decreased significantly with aging, due to a significant reduction in the number of nuclear chain fibers. Nuclear chain fibers in old spindles were short and some showed novel expression of MyHC ␣ -cardiac. The expression of MyHC ␣ -cardiac in bag 1 and bag 2 fibers was greatly decreased in the A region. The expression of slow MyHC was increased in nuclear bag 1 fibers and that of fetal MyHC decreased in bag 2 fibers whereas the patterns of distribution of the remaining MyHC isoforms were generally not affected by aging. We conclude that aging appears to have an important impact on muscle spindle composition. These changes in muscle spindle phenotype may reflect an age-related deterioration in sensory and motor innervation and are likely to have an impact in motor control in the elderly.

SUMMARYEaf factors play a crucial role in tumor suppression and embryogenesis. To investigate the potential mechanism of Eaf activity, we performed loss-and gain-of-function assays in zebrafish using morpholino and mRNA injections, respectively. We found that eaf1 and eaf2 inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thereby modulating mesodermal and neural patterning in the embryo. Moreover, ectopic expression of eaf1 and eaf2 in embryos and cultured cells blocked β-catenin reporter activity. By immunoprecipitation, we also observed that Eaf1 and Eaf2 bound to the Armadillo repeat region and C-terminus of β-catenin, as well as to other β-catenin transcription complex proteins, such as c-Jun, Tcf and Axin, suggesting the formation of a novel complex. In addition, the N-terminus of Eaf1 and Eaf2 bound to β-catenin and exhibited dominant-negative activity, whereas the C-terminus appeared to either harbor a suppression domain or to recruit a repressor. Both the N-and C-terminus must be intact for Eaf1 and Eaf2 suppressive activity. Lastly, we demonstrate a conservation of biological activities for Eaf family proteins across species. In summary, our evidence points to a novel role for Eaf1 and Eaf2 in inhibiting canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which might form the mechanistic basis for Eaf1 and Eaf2 tumor suppressor activity.

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