Early Stages Of Maturation Research Articles

Lectin panel screening for evaluating of murine thymocytes apoptosis stages

The aim of the study was to investigate the interaction of lectins with various populations of maturing murine T-lymphocytes, as well as with thymocytes at different stages of apoptosis.
 Materials and methods. Thymocyte typing of 80 CBA mice was performed by flow cytometry. The binding of lectins to cells in early and late apoptosis induced by the administration of hydrocortisone was also evaluated.
 Results. The suitability of peanut and Helix pomatia lectins for differentiation of mature and immature mouse thymocytes has been established. 11 lectins bound to living cells, during the transition of cells to the state of early apoptosis, thymocytes were stained with 16 lectins, and upon transition to late apoptosis, 20 of 23 lectins bound to the cells.
 Conclusion. The use of labeled lectins to assess the stage of murine thymocyte apoptosis does not have obvious advantages over existing methods. The degree of binding of all lectins to thymocytes in apoptosis increases as the charge on the membrane decreases and its permeability increases. For typing thymocytes in the early stages of maturation, peanut and Helix pomatia lectins can be used. Snowdrop and amaryllis lectins are not suitable for differentiation of thymocytes by maturity.

Thermal maturity modelling for the pre-Miocene source rocks in Ras Garra area, Suez rift Basin, Egypt

The main potential source rocks in the Ras Garra area of the Suez rift Basin are thought to be the pre-Miocene formations, Duwi, Esna, and Thebes, from the oldest to youngest. The total organic carbon content (TOC) ranges from 6.0 to 7.0 wt %, suggesting very good hydrocarbon generative potential. The hydrogen index (HI) ranges from 600 to 700 mg HC/g TOC and the kerogen is of type I/II. Burial and thermal maturity modelling indicates that the pre-Miocene source rocks started the oil generation as early mature stage in Langhian (14.3 Ma), and mid-mature stage in Pleistocene (2.4 Ma). The early mature stage is characterized by the depth to maturity of 1400 m, burial maximum temperature up to 87 °C and vitrinite reflectance (VR) up to 0.7% Ro. The mid-mature stage is characterized by the depth to maturity of 3007 m, burial maximum temperature up to 120 °C and vitrinite reflectance up to 0.75% Ro. The hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history is divided into two phases and Duwi source rock passed the second phase of hydrocarbon generation, and expulsion with transformation ratio (TR) of 29%. From 0.8 Ma until the present, the hydrocarbon generation and expulsion rates have been increased and the generated and expelled hydrocarbons are mainly oil with minor gases. The results show that the most important factor affecting the maturity of the source rocks and hydrocarbon generation and expulsion rates is the durations of early and mid-mature stages.

Evaluating the effect of organizational architecture in developing science and technology parks under differing innovation environments

Science and Technology Parks (STPs) are often used as tools to foster regional development. They seek innovations, innovators and encourage innovation amongst the constituent firms, including by networking and knowledge spill over between the inhabitants, Universities and sources of capital. The low success rate of STPs led us to investigate how STP architecture can best cope with a changing and challenging innovation environment, through start-up to early maturity and full maturity, in a preliminary effort to arrive at an evidence-based scheme to help avoid failure.Three different types of architecture were investigated: open (market), star (hierarchy), and closed strong (adhocracy, ambidextrous). Open (market) architecture suffered both from high transaction costs while not protecting against poor decision-making. Results show that it is very beneficial to have a central Cluster Initiative (CI) controlling the decision-making process (star hierarchy) in the early stages of STP development, where potential gains and losses are relatively modest. However in the early maturity stage with commitment to a high-growth trajectory, a high quality of decision–making is required amongst managers and decisions are best taken by the CI with the input of optimally two individual on-cluster firms. The situation where CI is supported by good-quality decisions from on-cluster firms – an ad hoc, ambidextrous situation – is superior when good innovations abound and the STP has acquired some maturity. However, in environments with a surfeit of poor-fit innovations, this becomes a high-risk strategy with high potential losses and indeed in this situation, retaining a hierarchical (CI only) decision process is most helpful, even when the quality of decision–making amongst CI managers is poor. Results indicate that success involves attracting enough small innovative firms which - in turn - attract larger firms, whose detailed sector-relevant insight improves CI decision-making.

Regulation of GATA1 levels in erythropoiesis.

GATA1 is considered as the "master" transcription factor in erythropoiesis. It regulates at the transcriptional level all aspects of erythroid maturation and function, as revealed by gene knockout studies in mice and by genome-wide occupancies in erythroid cells. The GATA1 protein contains two zinc finger domains and an N-terminal transactivation domain. GATA1 translation results in the production of the full-length protein and of a shorter variant (GATA1s) lacking the N-terminal transactivation domain, which is functionally deficient in supporting erythropoiesis. GATA1 protein abundance is highly regulated in erythroid cells at different levels, including transcription, mRNA translation, posttranslational modifications, and protein degradation, in a differentiation-stage-specific manner. Maintaining high GATA1 protein levels is essential in the early stages of erythroid maturation, whereas downregulating GATA1 protein levels is a necessary step in terminal erythroid differentiation. The importance of maintaining proper GATA1 protein homeostasis in erythropoiesis is demonstrated by the fact that both GATA1 loss and its overexpression result in lethal anemia. Importantly, alterations in any of those GATA1 regulatory checkpoints have been recognized as an important cause of hematological disorders such as dyserythropoiesis (with or without thrombocytopenia), β-thalassemia, Diamond-Blackfan anemia, myelodysplasia, or leukemia. In this review, we provide an overview of the multilevel regulation of GATA1 protein homeostasis in erythropoiesis and of its deregulation in hematological disease.

Both near-surface and satellite remote sensing confirm drought legacy effect on tropical forest leaf phenology after 2015/2016 ENSO drought

Amazon forest leaf phenology patterns have often been inferred from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). But reliable MODIS detection of seasonal and interannual leaf phenology patterns has also been questioned and is generally not validated with field observation. Here we compare inter-annual patterns of local-scale upper canopy leaf phenology and demography derived from tower-mounted phenocams at two upland forest sites in the Central Amazon, to corresponding satellite vegetation indices retrieved from MODIS-MAIAC (Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction). We focus on forest response to an unprecedented drought caused by the El Niño of 2015-16. At both sites, multi-year phenocam data showed post-drought shifts in leaf demography. These were consistent with MODIS-MAIAC anomalies in two vegetation indices. Specifically, a precocious leaf flush at both sites during the first two post-drought months, Feb-Mar 2016, caused (1) an anomalous decrease in flushing trees in Jun–Jul of 2016 and (2) an increase of trees with early mature stage leaves (2-4 mo age) in Apr-May-Jun of 2016. At both sites, these two phenological anomalies showed up in MODIS-MAIAC as, respectively, (1) a strong negative anomaly in Gcc (Green chromatic coordinate), which prior work has shown to be sensitive to the abundance of leaves 0-1 mo old, and (2) a strong positive anomaly in EVI, which is sensitive to abundance of leaves 2-4 mo age. A shift to sub-optimal seasonal leaf age mix is expected to change the ecosystem-scale intrinsic photosynthetic capacity for ~18 month after the drought.

Source rock evaluation and hydrocarbon generation potential of Mid-Late Cretaceous sediments from Mintaq-01 well in the Wadi Hajar of Southern Sabatayn Basin, Yemen

Twenty-five cutting shale and coal samples from the Mid-Late Cretaceous Mukalla and Harshiyat formations in the Mintaq-01 well, Wadi Hajar of Southern Sabatayn Basin were investigated using organic geochemical methods. The geochemical results indicate that the analyzed shale and coal samples are fair to excellent source rocks, with TOC values between 0.50 and 53.13%. The analyzed samples also have Rock-Eval HI between 99 and 676 mg HC/g TOC, indicating types I/II and II/III kerogen and thus are oil and gas-prone source rocks. However, these Mid-Late Cretaceous sediments of the Wadi Hajar are still in an immature to very early mature stage, and they have not yet generated oil or gas.

Heptamethoxyflavone inhibits adipogenesis via enhancing PKA signaling

3,5,6,7,8,3′,4′-heptamethoxyflavone (HMF), a naturally occurring polymethoxyflavone found in citrus peel, is known to have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. However, the effects of HMF on adipogenesis remain unclear. Here, we demonstrate that HMF inhibits the early stage of adipogenesis and maturation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. HMF treatment during preadipocyte differentiation for 8 days reduced lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, and the expression levels of key adipogenic transcription factors (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα)) and the lipogenic transcription factor, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP1), were lower after the initial 4 days of the differentiation. Moreover, PPARγ expression level was lower even after the initial 2 days, but C/EBPα and SREBP1 expression was not. HMF upregulated the phosphorylation of protein kinase A catalytic subunit α (PKACα), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in 3T3-L1 cells. The phosphorylation of ACC leads to the inhibition of adipogenesis. Furthermore, the induction of phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC by HMF was abolished by RNA interference targeting PKACα. Taken together, our results suggest that HMF might inhibit the early stage of adipogenesis via the activation of PKA signaling in 3T3-L1 cells.

Chemical heterogeneity of organic matter at nanoscale by AFM-based IR spectroscopy

This study aims to differentiate between bacteria-algae interactions and thermal maturation, at the same time, shed light on the hydrocarbon generation pathways based on chemical changes at the submicron scale. For this goal, samples were taken from the lower shale member of the Bakken Formation in Willison Basin at the early and peak thermal maturity stages and analyzed with surface probes. Sample selection was based on bulk geochemical screening, organic petrology and fluorescence emission of the liptinite group macerals and solid bitumen reflectance. Submicron scale chemical heterogeneity resulting from biodegradation and different thermal maturity pathways was documented and compared using AFM-based Nano-IR spectroscopy. A significant chemical heterogeneity was noticed within unaltered telalginite and bacterially degraded Tasmanites, and also between solid bitumen particles that were adjacent to the telalginite at the same stage of maturity. Results suggest that separate pathways of maturation took place in the neighboring solid bitumen particles based on their infrared spectroscopic data. It was also found that thermal maturity progression reduced chemical heterogeneity in the organic matter particles. During bacterial degradation, Tasmanites lost its fluorescence emission while its relative chemical heterogeneity increased compared to the unaltered telalginite, a feature that has been reported at such a very fine scale of measurement. This study will ultimately improve our understanding of the processes that may result in hydrocarbon generation from organic matter.

Bibliometric Analysis of Fitness Equipment: How Scientific Focuses Affect Life-Cycle Approaches and Sustainable Ways of Development

Research Question: Although fitness equipment is recognised worldwide as a tool for physical activities and a sustainable result in optimizing human movements within a wide range of environments, the state of the art and scientific advances have not been analysed from a bibliometric point of view. Research Methods: Using descriptive bibliometric software, this study examined the scientific production, and the most prolific authors, articles, and institutions. Bibliometric maps were used to visualise the content of published articles and to determine the most prolific terms, co-citation, and co-authorship. Results and Findings: A total of 678 original papers were retrieved from 447 journals in Web of Science®. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research had the highest number of articles (25), while the American Journal of Preventive Medicine the highest number of global citations (656). Citation and co-authorship networks were defined. Implications: Research on fitness equipment is still in an early maturation stage with 30 years of scientific development in its timeline. Fitness equipment and its related fields of application could represent a real step into a more sustainable balance between the economic, environmental, and social spheres.

Evaluating the total oil yield using a single routine Rock-Eval experiment on as-received shales

Shales in the early maturity and oil window stages contain a considerable amount of heavy hydrocarbons (S2oil) having strong interactions with kerogen/rock that make the accurate measurement of total oil (total extractable organic matter) more difficult from the routine Rock-Eval experiment. In this study, a fast method for evaluating the total oil yield using a single routine Rock-Eval experiment on as-received shales is proposed. First, the temperature threshold (TOK) of the S2oil and cracking hydrocarbons were determined by combining the pyrograms of the as-received shale with a solvent-extracted replicate. Then, the total oil yield was directly derived from the hydrocarbons evaporate at a temperature below than TOK in a routine Rock-Eval experiment. The results show that the TOK value is controlled by the sample’s maturity and pore structure. The higher the maturity, the larger the specific surface area and the smaller the pore size, the greater the TOK. A prediction model of TOK was proposed based on the sample’s production index (PI). The total oil yields estimated by the two methods of both the TOK prediction model and the average TOK value (465 °C) are consistent with those obtained by Jarvie (2012) using the thermal-extraction method with correlation coefficients of 0.983 and 0.9548, respectively. Compared with the previous methods, the single routine Rock-Eval experiment method proposed in this study is convenient and not requires an extraction experiment. In addition, there are archived routine pyrolysis data available that can be used to directly calculate the total oil yield based on the temperature threshold.

3D Bioprinted Human Cortical Neural Constructs Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Bioprinting techniques use bioinks made of biocompatible non-living materials and cells to build 3D constructs in a controlled manner and with micrometric resolution. 3D bioprinted structures representative of several human tissues have been recently produced using cells derived by differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Human iPSCs can be differentiated in a wide range of neurons and glia, providing an ideal tool for modeling the human nervous system. Here we report a neural construct generated by 3D bioprinting of cortical neurons and glial precursors derived from human iPSCs. We show that the extrusion-based printing process does not impair cell viability in the short and long term. Bioprinted cells can be further differentiated within the construct and properly express neuronal and astrocytic markers. Functional analysis of 3D bioprinted cells highlights an early stage of maturation and the establishment of early network activity behaviors. This work lays the basis for generating more complex and faithful 3D models of the human nervous systems by bioprinting neural cells derived from iPSCs.

Comparison of the Dakhla Formation source rock potential between Komombo Basin and Gebel Duwi, Upper Egypt

The Campanian-Maastrichtian Dakhla Formation consists mainly of dark gray, laminated shale with siltstone and sandstone inter-beds containing highly organic matter and is a potential source rock. The main objectives of the present research are to correlate the geochemical characteristics of the Dakhla Formation east and west of the River Nile in Upper Egypt and to discuss the main reasons for their variations. Fifty-nine samples were collected from the Komombo Basin and examined along with 230 published ditch and core samples from Gebel Duwi. These data indicate that the quality of the Dakhla source rock potentially varies from fair to good in the Komombo Basin with TOC 0.46–2.66 wt.% and good to excellent in Gebel Duwi with TOC of 2.1–14 wt.%. Additionally, the Dakhla Formation kerogen is type III and type I/II kerogen in the Komombo Basin and Gebel Duwi, respectively; the organic matter of the Dakhla Formation in the Komombo Basin is mostly of terrigenous origin, while in Gebel Duwi, it is mostly of marine origin. Based on vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) and Tmax values, the analyzed samples of Dakhla source rock are in the immature to early mature stage for oil and gas generation in both areas where the Tmax values have a range of 422–444 °C in the Komombo Basin and 412–435 °C in the Gebel Duwi area, while %Ro values range from 0.43 to 0.78% in the Komombo Basin.

Appraisal of Geomorphic Diversity with Special Reference to Basin-Area Extremity in Central Lesser Himalaya

ABSTRACT The standard for the selection of two fourth order watersheds for intensive geomorphic study was extremity in basin-area to assess diversity in between two watersheds in regard to their geomorphic environment. The diversity in geological traits reveals that the Phalal watershed was characterized by contact zone of two lithological formations (Augun gneiss 95% and Rautgara quartzites 5%) separated by north Almora thrust (NAT) while the entire Siya watershed was developed only in one formation, i.e. Rautgara (quartzites) Formation. The diversity in geo-morphometric personality and geomorphic evolution speaks of a differential development of both watersheds in context of stage of erosion. The zone of critical-height above which the erosion is acute is 1700 to 1800 m in Phalal watershed, whereas 1500 to 1600 m in Siya watershed; the hypsometric integral determines Phalal watershed (49.96 %) under middle-mature stage while Siya watershed (57.07 %) achieved early-mature stage. Diversity in erosion status was observed along the varying altitudes of the watersheds under different land use/cover. Diversity in the spatial distribution of altitude, erosion intensity, average slope versus land use/cover status under both watersheds determines the impact of basin-area extremity. The hazardous geomorphic processes also indicate the impact of basin-area extremity as eleven types of geomorphic hazards were experienced by the Phalal watershed while only four types of hazards were experienced by Siya watershed. Phalal watershed was 18.42 % hazardous area while 21.04 % hazardous area was possessed by Siya watershed. The hazard of ‘surficial erosion’ covers maximum area, i.e. 13.78 % in Phalal watershed while 20.52 % area is possessed by Siya watershed. Likewise maximum study units attained degree 4 instability for Phalal watershed (80%) while degree 2 instability for Siya (50%) watershed. Thus, basin–area has direct posture on geological traits, geomorphic evolution, geomorphometric personality and hazardous geomorphic processes while land use/cover status has no bearing on basin-area extremity under the studied watersheds.

Ploidy influences on metabolic substrate deposition of rainbow trout

Triploid fish are usually sterile. Thus, the energy and nutrients intended for sexual maturation may be available to enhance flesh quality and physical growth. The present study aimed to investigate differences in the metabolic substrates, lipids and proteins, between storage tissues from diploid and triploid female rainbow trout. Monthly, metabolic substrates were quantified in liver, muscle, and ovaries, which were collected during the first reproductive cycle. In general, it was possible to identify a seasonal and similar deposition of metabolites in different tissues of 2n and 3n females, mainly at early stages of gonadal maturation. However, from the stages 5-6, the ovaries showed great differences between ploidies, with higher concentration of lipids and protein in 2n females. This result reflects the incorporation of vitellogenin in oocytes, which is a process that does not occur in 3n females. It was possible to observe seasonal hepato-somatic index changes in 2n females, with higher values observed in the post-ovulatory stage, and the triploid animals showed lower values compared to 2n, with no seasonal difference. Viscero-somatic index can reflect the mobilization of substrates, with higher values found for 2n females in stage 5-6, which is the period of active mobilization of tissue substrates.

The Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Infests Rice at Low Population Levels in Florida.

The sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.), rice stalk borer, Chilo plejadellus Zincken, and Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), are stem borers (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) that infest rice (Oryza sativa L.) in the southern United States. A 2-yr study was conducted to determine stem borer injury, infestation, and parasitism levels in Florida. Thirty commercial rice fields were selected during the 2017 and 2018 growing seasons throughout the rice production region in southern Florida. Sampling for stem borer injury and infestations was conducted in each field between the milk and early maturation stages by observing plants at 10 locations, with three 1-m2 quadrats per location. In addition, monitoring for E. loftini adults was conducted using one pheromone trap adjacent to each field. In 2017, the number of rice tillers exhibiting stem borer injury averaged 0.024 tillers/m2 and infestation levels averaged 0.008 stem borers/m2, with only D. saccharalis being observed. In 2018, injury and infestation levels averaged 0.062 injured tillers/m2 and 0.023 D. saccharalis larvae or pupae/m2, respectively. The solitary parasitoid Alabagrus stigma Brullé (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitized 33 and 40% of the collected D. saccharalis in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In addition, pheromone traps did not capture E. loftini adults. This study shows that D. saccharalis infests rice in Florida but at relatively low levels not threatening production and that rice fields are habitats for D. saccharalis parasitoids. This study also suggests that C. plejadellus and E. loftini do not occur in southern Florida.

Analysis of Mogrosides in Siraitia grosvenorii Fruits at Different Stages of Maturity

Monk fruit extract has been approved as a natural sweetener by many countries. Its major sweet components, mogrosides, display different sweet intensities and profiles. Therefore, it is important to understand the change of mogroside contents in Siraitia grosvenorii at different maturity stages. In this study, monk fruit cultivars were collected from 4 locations in GuangXi, GuiZhou, and HuNan, at different times. Mogroside IIe, mogroside III, mogroside IIIe, mogroside IV, mogroside V, isomogroside V, and siamenoside I in each sample were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-MS-MS). As a result, mogroside IIe was the major component at the early maturity stage. It is converted to mogroside III from 15 to 45 days, then continued the glycosylation rapidly to yield mogroside V which kept predominant after 60 days. Highly glycosylated mogrosides, such as mogroside V and siamenoside I, which provide a better taste profile, accumulated and stabilized from 75 to 90 days. It is recommended to harvest the fruit after 75 days of pollination.

Hydrocarbon generation potential of Paleogene coals and organic rich mudstones in Xihu sag, East China Sea Shelf basin, offshore eastern China

Paleogene coals and organic rich mudstones in Xihu sag, East China Sea Shelf basin in offshore eastern China were analysed to evaluate the hydrocarbon generation potential based on organic petrographic and organic geochemical methods. The results reveal that the source rocks are dominated by Type III-II2 kerogens deposited in sub-oxic to oxic environments as coal-bearing source rocks. The total organic carbon (TOC) content values for the samples range from 0.31 wt% to 75.68 wt%, suggesting fair to excellent hydrocarbon generation potential, which is also consistent with the Hydrogen Index (HI) and extractable organic matter (EOM) content results. Thermal maturity of organic matter in Western Depression Group (WDG) area are mainly in early thermal maturity stage (Rr ranges from 0.57% to 0.76%), while Central Uplift Group (CUG) area samples have relatively higher thermal maturity (Rr ranges from 0.72% to 1.41%). The characteristics of Paleogene coal and organic rich mudstones reveal that the potential source rocks in both WDG and CUG area have fair to excellent hydrocarbon generative potential, but vary in hydrocarbon phase. WDG source rocks are expected to generate both commercial liquid hydrocarbons and gaseous hydrocarbons, which is also implied by the presence of significant liptinite and exsudatinite macerals. On the other hand, source rocks for CUG area exhibit a dominant gaseous hydrocarbon generation and some oil hydrocarbon generation potential. The data exhibited in this study illustrate source rock characteristics and provide evidence for hydrocarbon generation potential of Paleogene coal and organic rich mudstones in Xihu sag, in offshore eastern China.

Chemical defense over decadal scales: Ontogenetic allocation trajectories and consequences for fitness in a foundation tree species

Abstract Expression of herbivore defense traits can change dramatically during the course of plant development. Little is known, however, about the degree of genetic or sexual variation in these ontogenetic defense trajectories or whether the trajectories themselves are adaptive, especially in long‐lived species. We used a 13‐year dataset of chemical defense traits, growth and survivorship from a common garden of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) genotypes to document long‐term defense trajectories and their relationship to tree fitness during juvenile and early mature stages. Overall, concentrations of the two principal classes of aspen defense compounds (salicinoid phenolic glycosides [SPGs] and condensed tannins [CTs]) decreased to differing degrees in foliage of juvenile trees and then remained relatively constant in maturity. Initial values, juvenile rates of change and average mature values all exhibited significant genetic variation for both SPGs and CTs. Relationships between defense trajectory parameters and metrics of tree fitness (growth and survivorship) depended on compound type and tree sex. Females with higher‐allocation SPG trajectories (high initial juvenile concentrations, slow juvenile declines, high mature concentrations) grew more slowly relative to females with lower‐allocation trajectories. In males, higher‐allocation SPG trajectories had a lesser effect on growth but were associated with reduced mortality. Juvenile CT trajectories were not correlated with tree fitness, but average CT concentration in maturity was positively related to growth in females. These results suggest that ontogenetic defense trajectories are adaptive and subject to natural selection. Genotypic variation and ontogeny shape tree defensive chemistry, both independently and interactively. These patterns of defense expression have the potential to structure trophic interactions and the genetic composition of forests in both space and time. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Microtubules: A Key to Understand and Correct Neuronal Defects in CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder?

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a severe neurodevelopmental encephalopathy caused by mutations in the X-linked CDKL5 gene that encodes a serine/threonine kinase. CDD is characterised by the early onset of seizures and impaired cognitive and motor skills. Loss of CDKL5 in vitro and in vivo affects neuronal morphology at early and late stages of maturation, suggesting a link between CDKL5 and the neuronal cytoskeleton. Recently, various microtubule (MT)-binding proteins have been identified as interactors of CDKL5, indicating that its roles converge on regulating MT functioning. MTs are dynamic structures that are important for neuronal morphology, migration and polarity. The delicate control of MT dynamics is fundamental for proper neuronal functions, as evidenced by the fact that aberrant MT dynamics are involved in various neurological disorders. In this review, we highlight the link between CDKL5 and MTs, discussing how CDKL5 deficiency may lead to deranged neuronal functions through aberrant MT dynamics. Finally, we discuss whether the regulation of MT dynamics through microtubule-targeting agents may represent a novel strategy for future pharmacological approaches in the CDD field.

To the approximate size of the nuclear region occupied by nucleolar bodies during cell differentiation and maturation using the human leukemic granulocytic lineage as a convenient model.

The present study was undertaken to estimate the approximate size of nuclear regions occupied by nucleolar bodies during the cell differentiation and maturation. The differentiation and maturation of human leukemic granulocytic cells in patients suffering from the chronic phase of the chronic granulocytic leukemia (CML) represented a convenient model for such study because of the large number of cells for the diameter measurements at the single cell level. Early and advanced differentiation or maturation stages of these cells are well defined and nucleolar bodies and nuclear outlines are easily seen by simple cytochemical methods for the visualization of RNA and silver stained proteins in smear preparations. During the cell differentiation and maturation, the estimated size of the nuclear region occupied by nucleolar bodies decreased in both untreated and treated patients with the anti-leukemic therapy. However, the size reduction of nucleolar bodies in differentiated and mature cells was larger than that of the nucleus. In addition, the results also indicated that the nuclear region occupied by nucleolar bodies was characteristic for each differentiation and maturation stage of the granulocytic cell lineage and was not substantially influenced by the anti-leukemic therapy of CML patients.