Applications and challenges of rhodopsin-based optogenetics in biomedicine.

Optogenetics is an emerging bioengineering technology that has been rapidly developed in recent years by cross-integrating optics, genetic engineering, electrophysiology, software control, and other disciplines. Since the first demonstration of the millisecond neuromodulation ability of the channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), the application of optogenetic technology in basic life science research has been rapidly progressed, especially in neurobiology, which has driven the development of the discipline. As the optogenetic tool protein, microbial rhodopsins have been continuously explored, modified, and optimized, with many variants becoming available, with structural characteristics and functions that are highly diversified. Their applicability has been broadened, encouraging more researchers and clinicians to utilize optogenetics technology in research. In this review, we summarize the species and variant types of the most important class of tool proteins in optogenetic techniques, the microbial rhodopsins, and review the current applications of optogenetics based on rhodopsin qualitative light in biology and other fields. We also review the challenges facing this technology, to ultimately provide an in-depth technical reference to support the application of optogenetics in translational and clinical research.

The progress of research into pseudophosphatases.

Pseudophosphatases are a class of phosphatases that mutate at the catalytically active site. They play important parts in many life processes and disorders, e.g., cell apoptosis, stress reaction, tumorigenesis, axon differentiation, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, and metabolic dysfunction. The present review considers the structures and action types of pseudophosphatases in four families, protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs), myotube protein phosphatases (MTMs), phosphatases and tensin homologues (PTENs) and dual specificity phosphatases (DUSPs), as well as their mechanisms in signaling and disease. We aimed to provide reference material for the research and treatment of related diseases.

Transcellular delivery of messenger RNA payloads by a cationic supramolecular MOF platform.

A supramolecular catiomer with a metal-organic framework (MOF) motif was developed to manufacture messenger RNA (mRNA) assemblies. In contrast to the linear catiomer, the dendritic MOF catiomer appeared to markedly improve the colloidal stability of the mRNA assemblies, particularly affording substantial protection to the mRNA payloads from enzymatic degradation, eventually conducing to appreciable mRNA transfection activities at the targeted cells.

Tumor-Targeted Accumulation of Ligand-Installed Polymeric Micelles Influenced by Surface PEGylation Crowdedness.

With respect to the intriguing biocompatibility and the stealthy functions of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), PEGylated nanoparticulates have been intensively engineered for utilities as drug delivery vehicles. To advocate the targeted drug transportation, targeting ligands were strategically installed onto the surface of PEGylated nanoparticulates. The previous in vitro investigations revealed that the ligand-specified cell endocytosis of nanoparticulates was pronounced for the nanoparticulates with adequately high PEG crowdedness. The present study aims to explore insight into the impact of PEGylation degree on in vivo tumor-targeted accumulation activities of cRGD-installed nanoparticulates. The subsequent investigations verified the importance of the PEGylation crowdedness in pursuit of prolonged retention in the blood circulation post intravenous administration. Unprecedentedly, the PEGylation crowdedness was also identified as a crucial important parameter to pursue the tumor-targeted accumulation. A plausible reason is the elevated PEGylation crowdedness eliciting the restricted involvement in nonspecific protein adsorption of nanoparticulates in the biological milieu and consequently pronouncing the ligand-receptor-mediated binding for the nanoparticulates. Noteworthy was the distinctive performance of the class of the proposed systems once utilized for transportation of the mRNA payload to the tumors. The protein expression in the targeted tumors appeared to follow a clear PEGylation crowdedness dependence manner, where merely 2-fold PEGylation crowdedness led to remarkably 10-fold augmentation in protein expression in tumors. Hence, the results provided important information and implications for design of active-targeting PEGylated nanomaterials to fulfill the targeting strategies in systemic applications.

A measurement model for real estate bubble size based on the panel data analysis: An empirical case study.

Employing the fundamental value of real estate determined by the economic fundamentals, a measurement model for real estate bubble size is established based on the panel data analysis. Using this model, real estate bubble sizes in various regions in Japan in the late 1980s and in recent China are examined. Two panel models for Japan provide results, which are consistent with the reality in the 1980s where a commercial land price bubble appeared in most area and was much larger than that of residential land. This provides evidence of the reliability of our model, overcoming the limit of existing literature with this method. The same models for housing prices in China at both the provincial and city levels show that contrary to the concern of serious housing price bubble in China, over-valuing in recent China is much smaller than that in 1980s Japan.

Familial Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is linked to the loci on chromosome 7q3.

OBJECTIVE: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW) is considered to be an autosomal dominant hereditary disease, but the gene is not identified. The objective of this study was to localize the genetic loci of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. METHODS: Linkage analysis between the disease of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and 3 STR (short tandem repeats) markers on 7q3 (D7S505, D7S688, and D7S483) was tested in 3 kindreds of the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (101 numbers in total) by genotyping. RESULTS: Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome was linked to the loci above. The maximum two-point Lod score detected at D7S505 was 6.4 at a recombination fraction (theta) of 0.1; the Lod score of D7S688, D7S483 was 5.3 vs 2.5. CONCLUSION: The gene of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is located at 7q3.