Loss of Urokinase Receptor Sensitizes Cells to DNA Damage and Delays DNA Repair

DNA damage induced by numerous exogenous or endogenous factors may have irreversible consequences on the cell leading to cell cycle arrest, senescence and cell death. The DNA damage response (DDR) is powerful signaling machinery triggered in response to DNA damage, to provide DNA damage recognition, signaling and repair. Most anticancer drugs induce DNA damage, and DNA repair in turn attenuates therapeutic efficiency of those drugs. Approaches delaying DNA repair are often used to increase efficiency of treatment. Recent data show that ubiquitin-proteasome system is essential for signaling and repair of DNA damage. However, mechanisms providing regulation of proteasome intracellular localization, activity, and recruitment to DNA damage sites are elusive. Even less investigated are the roles of extranuclear signaling proteins in these processes. In this study, we report the involvement of the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in DDR-associated regulation of proteasome. We show that in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) uPAR activates DNA single strand break repair signaling pathway. We provide evidence that uPAR is essential for functional assembly of the 26S proteasome. We further demonstrate that uPAR mediates DNA damage-induced phosphorylation, nuclear import, and recruitment of the regulatory subunit PSMD6 to proteasome. We found that deficiency of uPAR and PSMD6 delays DNA repair and leads to decreased cell survival. These data may offer new therapeutic approaches for diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders.     

Correction to: Active Tuning from Narrowband to Broadband Absorbers Using a Sub‑wavelength VO2 Embedded Layer

Plasmonics - The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The name of the fourth author is written reversely. The complete name of the fourth author is as follows:...     

Active Tuning from Narrowband to Broadband Absorbers Using a Sub-wavelength VO2 Embedded Layer

Plasmonics - Metamaterial perfect absorbers (MPAs) with dynamic thermal tuning features are able to control the absorption performance of the resonances, providing diverse applications spanning...     

Guided Plasmon Modes of a Graphene-Coated Kerr Slab

We study analytically propagating surface plasmon modes of a Kerr slab sandwiched between two graphene layers. We show that some of the modes that propagate forward at low field intensities start propagating with negative slope of dispersion and positive flux of energy (fast-light surface plasmons) when the field intensity becomes high. We also discover that our structure supports an additional branch of low-intensity fast-light guided modes. The possibility of dynamically switching between the forward and the fast-light plasmon modes by changing the intensity of the excitation light or the chemical potential of the graphene layers opens up wide opportunities for controlling light with light and electrical signals on the nanoscale.     

Recovery of lignocelluloses from pre-hydrolysis liquor in the lime kiln of kraft-based dissolving pulp production process by adsorption to lime mud

Dissolved lignocelluloses from the pre-hydrolysis liquor (PHL) of kraft-based dissolving pulp production process were recovered by adsorption to lime mud produced in the causticizing plant of the kraft process. The adsorption of lignocelluloses was a fast process, and could be completed within one hour. The addition of polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) significantly increased the amounts of adsorbed lignin and hemicelluloses, which more than doubled at the PDADMAC dosage of 0.1% (based on the weight of PHL). The measured heating values of the adsorbed lignocelluloses indicate that adsorption of lignocelluloses to lime mud may result in the energy saving of the lime kiln. The process proposed in this study could also be adapted to decrease inhibitor concentrations (lignin and acetic acid) if the dissolved hemicelluloses in the PHL were used to produce value-added products, e.g., ethanol, xylitol, based on the fermentation process.     

Effects of crowding on colour, size and larval activity of Spodoptera littoralis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Crowding larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) [= Prodenia litura F.] shortened the larval period but lengthened the pupal period. Crowding also reduced the pupal weight and the length of the body of the resultant adult, and produced darker coloured larvae. The type of food also affected the time taken to develop. When larvae are reared in isolation they are pale in colour, very inactive and hardly react to other larvae that touch them. Crowded larvae may be pale or darker in colour and show a number of reactions to one another on contact. They are more active than isolated larvae, and darker ones are more active than pale ones.

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Résumé Des chenilles de Spodoptera littora is élevées isolément et nourries de feuilles de Patience (Rumex patiencia), ont un développement larvaire plus long que celles élevées sur d'autres plantes à des températures analogues. Le groupement de 20 chenilles, dans une cage de 500 ml, diminue la durée de leur vie larvaire (22,3 jours en moyenne, contre 25,3 jours pour les chenilles témoins élevées isolément), mais accroît la durée de la nymphose (14,7 jours en moyenne, contre 9,7 jours pour les témoins). Toutefois la durée totale du développement larvaire et nymphal demeure semblable: en moyenne 35,0 et 35,6 jours respectivement.Les chrysalides obtenues à partir de chenilles isolées sont plus lourdes et les adultes qui en proviennent ont le corps et les ailes plus longs, par rapport aux chrysalides et adultes des élevages groupés. La mortalité est plus élevée dans les élevages en groupes, surtout pendant les derniers stades, larvaires. A l'éclosion les parties dorsales du corps sont de couleur vert jaune, mais en vieillisant les chenilles prennent dorsalement une coloration jaune — rouge foncé. Les chenilles isolées sont de coloration pâle, celles groupées sont pâles ou sombres; les premières sont les moins actives, les secondes les plus actives.Les chenilles elevées groupées se déplacent beaucoup plus que celles élevées isolement, L'activité varie d'ailleurs avec l'âge, elle est plus grande pour des chenilles âgées de 10 jours que pour celles âgées de 15 jours.II y a quelques similitudes entre le comportement des chenilles groupées de Spodoptera et celui des larves de Criquet, en particulier dans les mouvements de masse et l'aggrégation des chenilles de Spodoptera.

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This is a part of post-doctorate research carried out at the Anti-Locust Research Centre, London.     

Effects of crowding on clonal cultures of myzus persicae (sulz.)

Nymph production of the green peach aphid Myzus persicae decreased significantly under crowded conditions in leaf cages and on whole plants. The reduction was mainly caused by a reduced reproductive period but mean daily nymph production was also slightly decreased. Crowding also caused increased restlessness and a tendency for aphids to fall from plants. There were significant differences in nymph production among clones maintained under identical conditions of crowding.

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Résumé La fécondité du puceron vert de pècher, Myzus persicae, subit une réduction significative lorsqu'il y a surpopulation dans les cages sur les fehilles et sur les plantes entières. En cas de groupement excessif, la diminution de leur longévité est considérable, mais la moyenne de la production quotidienne des nymphes décroît légèrement. De plus, la surpopulation augmente l'inquiétude parmi les aphides qui par suite développent une tendance à tomber des plantes. La comparaison dans des conditions identiques, des clones des Etats du Washington et de l'Orégon produisirent des effets différents: le clone d'Orégon 02K4 et Idaho, produisit un nombre de nymphes considérablement plus élevé alors que le clone d'Orégon 03D6, comme les clones du Washington et de l'Etat de Californie maintinrent une population réduite pendant un mois.