Aggregation of the 43 kDa TAR DNA‐binding protein (TDP‐43) is a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). RNA binding and TDP‐43 N‐terminal domain dimerisation has been suggested to ameliorate TDP‐43 aggregation. However, the relationship between these factors and the solubility of TDP‐43 is largely unknown. Therefore, we developed new oligonucleotides that can recruit two TDP‐43 molecules and interfere with their intermolecular interactions via spatial separation. Using these oligonucleotides and TDP‐43‐preferable UG‐repeats, we uncovered two distinct mechanisms for modulating TDP‐43 solubility by RNA binding: One is N‐terminal domain dimerisation, and the other is the spatial separation of two TDP‐43 molecules. This study provides new molecular insights into the regulation of TDP‐43 solubility.

According to recent surveys, the ratio of utilised patents is around 50% out of the number of patents. This situation means that the protected inventions are not utilised on the market efficiently, resulting less contribution to the innovations and economic growth. There are some researches on the causes and characteristics of unutilised patents but it is not enough to refine patent strategy. Then, in this research, we focused on the relationship between the probability of utilisation and the 'basic-ness' of patents or the evaluations of patents by an applicant, and performed empirical analysis by using patent licensing database and logistic regression. As a result, it was found that the evaluations of patents by an applicant affected the probability both positively and negatively though the basic-ness did not affect. These results are implicative for enterprises, authorities and subsequently researches to improve the utilisation of patents for further industrial development.