FUN14 domain-containing protein 1 (FUNDC1) is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein which is responsible for hypoxia-induced mitophagy in mammalian cells. Knockdown of fundc1 is known to cause severe defects in the body axis of a rare minnow. To understand the role of Fundc1 in embryogenesis, we used zebrafish in this study. We used bioimaging to locate zebrafish Fundc1 (DrFundc1) with MitoTracker, a marker of mitochondria, and/or CellLight Lysosomes-GFP, a label of lysosomes, in the transfected ovary cells of grass carp. The use of Western blotting detected DrFundc1 as a component of mitochondrial proteins with endogenous COX IV, LC3B, and FUNDC1 in transgenic human embryonic kidney 293 T cells. DrFundc1 induced LC3B activation. The ectopic expression of Drfundc1 caused cell death and apoptosis as well as impairing cell proliferation in the 293 T cell line, as detected by Trypan blue, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and incorporation of BrdU. DrFundc1 up-regulated expression of both autophagy- and apoptosis-related genes, including ATG5, ATG7, LC3B, BECLIN1, and BAX in transgenic 293 T cells. A knockdown of Drfundc1 using short hairpin RNA (shRNA) led to midline bifurcation with two notochords and two spinal cords in zebrafish embryos. Co-injection of Drfundc1 mRNA repaired defects resulting from shRNA. Knockdown of Drfundc1 resulted in up- or down-regulation of genes related to autophagy and apoptosis, as well as decreased expression of neural genes such as cyclinD1, pax2a, opl, and neuroD1. In summary, DrFundc1 is a mitochondrial protein which is involved in mitophagy and is critical for typical body axis development in zebrafish.
We present a simple technique to determine the design parameters of an optical interconnect system that uses integral planar lenses. The technique is based on the ABCD transformation matrix method. This analysis technique is significantly simpler and more efficient than the previously published methods for finding the design parameters and predicting the coupling efficiency of the system. The proposed method is applied to compute the coupling efficiency of singleand two-level optical systems.
Micro/nano-electromechanical resonator-based logic elements have revitalized the notion of mechanical computing as a potential alternative to surpass the limitations of semiconductor electronics. A vital step forward for this technology is to develop a platform for cascadable logic units that communicate among each other executable signals of the same form; which is key to construct true and complex computation machines. Here, we utilize the dynamic characteristics of a clamped-clamped microbeam vibrating at the second resonance mode to realize cascadable logic elements. The logic operations are performed by on-demand activation and deactivation of the second mode of vibration of a clamped-clamped microbeam resonator. Fundamental logic gates, such as OR, XOR, and NOT, which constitute a functionally complete set for digital applications are demonstrated experimentally. We show that the demonstrated approach unifies the input and output signal waveform and performs all the gate operations on a single operating frequency, hence satisfying the prerequisites to realize cascadable resonator logic devices. This can potentially pave the way for the development of a novel technology platform for an alternative computing paradigm.
T‐cell immunoglobulin (Ig) and mucin domain‐containing 1 (Tim‐1) and Tim‐4 are two members of the Tim family. In mammals, Tim‐1 and Tim‐4 are proteins mainly expressed in immune cells and are associated with immune response. In the present study, medaka Oryzias latipes' Tim‐1 (OlTim‐1) and OlTim‐4 were identified and characterized using bioinformatics analyses. With the use of reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction, the expression profiles of OlTim‐1 and OlTim‐4 were examined in embryos and adult fish and in immune tissues following the intraperitoneal injection of stimulants. The results revealed that OlTim‐1 possesses a cytoplasmic region, a transmembrane region, a mucin domain, and an Ig‐like domain, while OlTim‐4 is composed of two Ig‐like domains and a mucin domain, but without the transmembrane region and cytoplasmic region. OlTim‐1 and OlTim‐4 expressions are detectable from the gastrula stage on, indicating that they are zygotic genes. Furthermore, OlTim‐1 and OlTim‐4 are expressed ubiquitously in the adult. Administration of immune stimulants, namely lipopolysaccharides and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid, significantly increased the expression levels of OlTim‐1 and OlTim‐4 in the liver and intestine within 1 day and in the head, kidney, and spleen within 3 to 4 days postinjection. These results suggest that OlTim‐1 and OlTim‐4 are possibly involved in both innate and adaptive immunities.
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