Chromatin insulators or boundaries are proposed to structure the chromatin fiber into functionally independent domains by promoting the formation of chromatin loops. These elements can block the communication between an enhancer and a gene when placed between them. Interestingly, it has been previously observed that two tandem copies of the Drosophila Su(Hw) insulator abolish this enhancer-bloc...

The upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-loaded polypeptide composite nanoparticles that present fast NIR-sensitivity and tunable sugar-targeting properties are fabricated, opening a new avenue for on-demand and targeted cancer therapy. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the nanoparticles dropped 4.7-fold or 3.1-fold compared to non-targeted or non-irradiated counterparts.

Model-type sputter deposited platinum microelectrodes with different grain sizes were investigated on single crystalline yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) by means of impedance spectroscopy. Measurements on single platinum microelectrodes could be continuously performed for > 100 h and from 250 to 800 °C without losing contact. From the temperature dependence, two parallel reaction pathways for ...

Understanding the structural organization of eukaryotic chromatin and its control of gene expression represents one of the most fundamental and open challenges in modern biology. Recent experimental advances have revealed important characteristics of chromatin in response to changes in external conditions and histone composition, such as the conformational complexity of linker DNA and histone t...

This paper presents the application of the Taguchi experimental design in developing nanostructured yittria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings by plasma spraying process. This paper depicts dependence of adhesion strength of as-sprayed nanostructured YSZ coatings on various process parameters, and effect of those process parameters on performance output has been studied using Taguchi's L16 orth...

Advances in microscopy and genomic techniques have provided new insight into spatial chromatin organization inside of the nucleus. In particular, chromosome conformation capture data has highlighted the relevance of polymer physics for high-order chromatin organization. In this context, we review basic polymer states, discuss how an appropriate polymer model can be determined from experimental ...

Directed cell migration is a property central to multiple basic biological processes. Here, we show that directed cell migration is associated with global changes in the chromatin fiber. Polarized posttranslational changes in histone H1 along with a transient decrease in H1 mobility were detected in cells facing the scratch in a wound healing assay. In parallel to the changes in H1, the levels ...

Cell migration is a fundamental process that is necessary for the development and survival of multicellular organisms. Here, we show that cell migration is contingent on global condensation of the chromatin fiber. Induction of directed cell migration by the scratch-wound assay leads to decreased DNaseI sensitivity, alterations in the chromatin binding of architectural proteins and elevated leve...

In the presence of 1.7 mM Mg2+, the diameter of the circular structures produced by small chromatin fragments isolated from chicken erythrocytes remains essentially unchanged when the number of nucleosomes in these fragments increases from 10 to 36. In contrast, the results obtained in unidirectional shadowing experiments show that under the same conditions the height of the chromatin fragments...

We here present a modeling study of the chromatin fiber functional organization. Multi-scale modeling is required to unravel the complex interplay between the fiber and the DNA levels. It suggests plausible scenarios, including both physical and biological aspects, for fiber condensation, its targeted decompaction, and transcription regulation. We conclude that a major role of the chromatin fib...