These findings extend evidence of genetic factors potentially affecting human susceptibility to the toxic effects of mercury and other environmental chemicals.”
“Mobilization
and translation of mRNAs, two important events believed to involve stress granules (SGs), in neurons are important for their survival and activities. However, the formation and disassembly of SGs in neurons remains unclear. By using an arsenite-induced neuronal stress model of rat primary spinal cord neuron cultures, we demonstrate the formation of SGs that contain common SG components and RNAs in both stressed neuronal cell bodies and their neurites. By employing small interfering RNA (siRNA) knockdown, we discovered that dynein motor subunit localizes in SG, and is important for SG assembly in neurons. Under stress, dynein motor subunit also https://www.selleckchem.com/products/hmpl-504-azd6094-volitinib.html facilitates translational repression and enhances the formation and integrity of SG in neurons. By blocking PKC inhibitor the energy source of dynein motor, both the formation and disassembly of SG are attenuated. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that dynein motor complex plays a critical role in the dynamics of neuronal SGs, as well as translation of certain mRNAs. (C) 2009 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“As part of a community health study, an air quality investigation was carried out in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada,
which is located within a government-designated Area of Concern. The Sarnia area, also known as Chemical Valley, has been known to have an abundance of air quality problems that are frequently attributed to the large number of chemical companies located in the area, which are among the largest industrial sources of criteria air pollutants in Canada. Ambient volatile organic compounds (VOC) were monitored during a 2-wk period in October 2005 at 37 sites across the city of Sarnia, using 3M organic vapor monitors. The spatial variability was investigated using ranking and mapping techniques to identify spatial patterns of the VOC across the city. The results show a large spatial variability of most of the VOC investigated. Furthermore, most of the VOC were highly
correlated, suggesting common sources in Sarnia. The results also indicate that the industrial and Carbohydrate chemical facilities strongly influence the concentrations of VOC in Sarnia, with higher outdoor VOC levels found closer to industrial facilities. The measured VOC and those obtained from a long-term government monitoring station were compared. It was determined that the exposure gradients observed during the study period are relatively representative of the long-term pattern. The results of this study will be used for the community health study.”
“ACSL4 is a gene involved in non-syndromic X-linked mental retardation. It encodes for a ubiquitous protein that adds coenzyme A to long-chain fatty acids, with a high substrate preference for arachidonic acid.