DRG1 and DRG2 comprise a highly conserved subfamily of GTP-binding proteins and are thought to act as critical regulators of cell growth. Their abnormal expressions may trigger cell transformation or cell cycle arrest. Our aim is to clarify their physiological functions and regulatory mechanisms. Here we report identification of novel proteins, D RG f amily r egulatory p rotein (DFRP) 1 and DFRP2, which regulate expression of DRG proteins through specific binding. In transient transfection experiments, DFRP1 specifically binds DRG1, and DFRP2 preferentially binds DRG2. DFRPs provide stability to the target DRG proteins through physical association, possibly by blocking the poly-ubiquitination that would precede proteolysis of DRG proteins. DFRPs are highly conserved in eucaryotes, and the expression patterns of dfrp1 and drg1 transcripts in Xenopus embryos and tissues are similar, indicating that these genes work cooperatively in various types of eukaryotic cells. Immunofluorescence experiments have revealed that the interaction between DRG1 and DFRP1 may occur in the cytoplasm. We generated dfrp1 -knockout cells and found that endogenous expression of DRG1 is regulated by DFRP1, confirming that DFRP1 is a specific up-regulator of DRG1 in vivo . On the basis of these results, we propose that DRG1 and DRG2 are regulated differently despite their structural similarities.

BackgroundTo obtain a deep understanding of the mechanism by which breast cancer develops, the genes involved in tumorigenesis should be analyzed in vivo. Mouse mammary gland can regenerate completely from a mammary stem cell (MaSC), which enables us to analyze the effect of gene expression and repression on tumorigenesis in mammary gland regenerated from genetically manipulated MaSCs. Although lentiviral and retroviral systems have usually been applied for gene transduction into MaSCs, they are associated with difficulty in introducing long, repeated, or transcriptional termination sequences. There is thus a need for an easier and quicker gene delivery system.MethodsWe devised a new system for gene delivery into MaSCs using the piggyBac transposon vectors and electroporation. Compared with viral systems, this system enables easier and quicker transfection of even long, repeated, or transcriptional termination DNA sequences. We designed gene expression vectors of the transposon system, equipped with a luciferase (Luc) expression cassette for monitoring gene transduction into regenerative mammary gland in mice by in-vivo imaging. A doxycycline (Dox)-inducible system was also integrated for expressing the target gene after mammary regeneration to mimic the actual mechanism of tumorigenesis.ResultsWith this new gene delivery system, genetically manipulated mammary glands were successfully reconstituted even though the vector size was > 200 kb and even in the presence of DNA elements such as promoters and transcription termination sequences, which are major obstacles to viral vector packaging. They differentiated correctly into both basal and luminal cells, and showed normal morphological change and milk production after pregnancy, as well as self-renewal capacity. Using the Tet-On system, gene expression can be controlled by the addition of Dox after mammary reconstitution. In a case study using polyoma-virus middle T antigen (PyMT), oncogene-induced tumorigenesis was achieved. The histological appearance of the tumor was highly similar to that of the mouse mammary tumor virus-PyMT transgenic mouse model.ConclusionsWith this system, gene transduction in the mammary gland can be easily and quickly achieved, and gene expression can be controlled by Dox administration. This system for genetic manipulation could be useful for analyzing genes involved in breast cancer.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13058-018-1086-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Magnetic field effects (MFEs) on triplet pairs generated by singlet fission (SF) in an organic crystal, 1,6diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene, were studied by steady-state fluorescence measurements under ultrahigh magnetic fields of up to 10 T and by time-resolved fluorescence measurements with subnanosecond time resolution in the presence of magnetic field of 0.5 T. The observed MFEs were analyzed by using the stochastic Liouville equation based on the radical pair model with a modification of the spin Hamiltonian. Excellent agreements between the observed and the simulated MFEs demonstrate that the radical pair model used in the present study can apply to analysis of MFEs on triplet pairs generated by SF in organic materials. Model calculations were performed to clarify how the SF dynamics influences the features of MFE generated in the triplet pairs. The magnitude of the exchange interaction in a correlated triplet pair was precisely determined from the observation of the MFE caused by the level crossing mechanism. We also determined the structure of the correlated triplet pair generated by the SF in 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene crystal.

We report strikingly large contrasts in the thermal conductivity enhancement of phase change alkane in liquid and solid state with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) inclusions. With a small SWCNT loading of 0.25 wt % a strikingly high, 250% enhancement is achieved in the solid state and a nominal enhancement of 10% is achieved in the liquid state. The thermal conductivity contrast between solid and liquid state was found to increase with increasing SWCNT loading. The thermal conductivity contrast was more pronounced in the presence of SWCNTs compared to the presence of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets reported in the literature.

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