| 1. |
- Liu, Kui, et al.
(författare)
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Kallikrein genes are associated with lupus and glomerular basement membrane-specific antibody-induced nephritis in mice and humans
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 119:4, s. 911-923
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immune-mediated nephritis contributes to disease in systemic lupus erythematosus, Goodpasture syndrome (caused by antibodies specific for glomerular basement membrane [anti-GBM antibodies]), and spontaneous lupus nephritis. Inbred mouse strains differ in susceptibility to anti-GBM antibody-induced and spontaneous lupus nephritis. This study sought to clarify the genetic and molecular factors that maybe responsible for enhanced immune-mediated renal disease in these models. When the kidneys of 3 mouse strains sensitive to anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis were compared with those of 2 control strains using microarray analysis, one-fifth of the underexpressed genes belonged to the kallikrein gene family,which encodes serine esterases. Mouse strains that upregulated renal and urinary kallikreins exhibited less evidence of disease. Antagonizing the kallikrein pathway augmented disease, while agonists dampened the severity of anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis. In addition, nephritis-sensitive mouse strains had kallikrein haplotypes that were distinct from those of control strains, including several regulatory polymorphisms,some of which were associated with functional consequences. Indeed, increased susceptibility to anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis and spontaneous lupus nephritis was achieved by breeding mice with a genetic interval harboring the kallikrein genes onto a disease-resistant background. Finally, both human SLE and spontaneous lupus nephritis were found to be associated with kallikrein genes, particularly KLK1 and the KLK3 promoter, when DNA SNPs from independent cohorts of SLE patients and controls were compared. Collectively, these studies suggest that kallikreins are protective disease-associated genes in anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis and lupus.
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| 2. |
- Dubbaka Venu, Pradeep Reddy, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
-
Oocyte-specific deletion of Pten causes premature activation of the primordial follicle pool
- 2008
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 319:5863, s. 611-613
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the mammalian ovary, progressive activation of primordial follicles from the dormant pool serves as the source of fertilizable ova. Menopause, or the end of female reproductive life, occurs when the primordial follicle pool is exhausted. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying follicle activation are poorly understood. We provide genetic evidence that in mice lacking PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) in oocytes, a major negative regulator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), the entire primordial follicle pool becomes activated. Subsequently, all primordial follicles become depleted in early adulthood, causing premature ovarian failure (POF). Our results show that the mammalian oocyte serves as the headquarters of programming of follicle activation and that the oocyte PTEN-PI3K pathway governs follicle activation through control of initiation of oocyte growth.
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| 3. |
- Jagarlamudi, Krishna, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
-
Oocyte-specific deletion of Pten in mice reveals a stage-specific function of PTEN/PI3K signaling in oocytes in controlling follicular activation
- 2009
-
Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 4:7, s. e6186-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immature ovarian primordial follicles are essential for maintenance of the reproductive lifespan of female mammals. Recently, it was found that overactivation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in oocytes of primordial follicles by an oocyte-specific deletion of Pten (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten), the gene encoding PI3K negative regulator PTEN, results in premature activation of the entire pool of primordial follicles, indicating that activation of the PI3K pathway in oocytes is important for control of follicular activation. To investigate whether PI3K signaling in oocytes of primary and further developed follicles also plays a role at later stages in follicular development and ovulation, we conditionally deleted the Pten gene from oocytes of primary and further developed follicles by using transgenic mice expressing zona pellucida 3 (Zp3) promoter-mediated Cre recombinase. Our results show that Pten was efficiently deleted from oocytes of primary and further developed follicles, as indicated by the elevated phosphorylation of the major PI3K downstream component Akt. However, follicular development was not altered and oocyte maturation was also normal, which led to normal fertility with unaltered litter size in the mutant mice. Our data indicate that properly controlled PTEN/PI3K-Akt signaling in oocytes is essential for control of the development of primordial follicles whereas overactivation of PI3K signaling in oocytes does not appear to affect the development of growing follicles. This suggests that there is a stage-specific function of PTEN/PI3K signaling in mouse oocytes that controls follicular activation.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Liu, Lian, et al.
(författare)
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Infertility caused by retardation of follicular development in mice with oocyte-specific expression of Foxo3a
- 2007
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Ingår i: Development. - : The Company of Biologists. - 0950-1991 .- 1477-9129. ; 134:1, s. 199-209
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In recent years, mammalian oocytes have been proposed to have important roles in the orchestration of ovarian follicular development and fertility. To determine whether intra-oocyte Foxo3a, a component of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway, influences follicular development and female fertility, a transgenic mouse model was generated with constitutively active Foxo3a expressed in oocytes. We found that the female transgenic mice were infertile, which was caused by retarded oocyte growth and follicular development, and anovulation. Further mechanistic studies revealed that the constitutively active Foxo3a in oocytes caused a dramatic reduction in the expression of bone morphogenic protein 15 (Bmp15), connexin 37 and connexin 43, which are important molecules for the establishment of paracrine and gap junction communications in follicles. Foxo3a was also found to facilitate the nuclear localization of p27(kip1) in oocytes, a cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor that may serve to inhibit oocyte growth. The results from the current study indicate that Foxo3a is an important intra-oocyte signaling molecule that negatively regulates oocyte growth and follicular development. Our study may therefore give some insight into oocyte-borne genetic aberrations that cause defects in follicular development and anovulation in human diseases, such as premature ovarian failure.
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| 6. |
- Liu, Lian, et al.
(författare)
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Phosphorylation and inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 by soluble kit ligand in mouse oocytes during early follicular development.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Molecular Endocrinology. - : Bioscientifica. - 0952-5041 .- 1479-6813. ; 38:1-2, s. 137-146
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Communication between mammalian oocytes and their surrounding granulosa cells through the Kit-Kit ligand (KL, or stem cell factor, SCF) system has been shown to be crucial for follicular development. Our previous studies (Reddy et al. 2005, Liu et al. 2006) have indicated that the intra-oocyte KL-Kit-PI3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt-Foxo3a cascade may play an important role in follicular activation and early development. In the present study, using in situ hybridization and in vitro culture of growing oocytes from 8-day-old postnatal mice, we have demonstrated that another Akt substrate, glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3), is expressed in growing oocytes. Also, treatment of cultured mouse oocytes with soluble KL not only leads to increased Akt kinase activity in the oocytes, which can phosphorylate recombinant GSK-3 in vitro, but also leads to phosphorylation of oocyte GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta, which can result in the inactivation of GSK-3 function in oocytes. In addition, we have shown that the regulation of GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta in cultured oocytes by soluble KL is accomplished through PI3K, since the PI3K-specific inhibitor LY294002 completely abolished the KL-induced phosphorylation of GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta. Moreover, blockage of the Kit signaling pathway by a Kit function-blocking antibody, ACK2, resulted in reduced phosphorylation of GSK-3. Taken together, our data suggest that the cascade from granulosa cell-derived KL to Kit-PI3K-Akt-GSK-3 in oocytes may take part in regulation of oocyte growth and early ovarian follicular development.
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| 7. |
- Rajareddy, Singareddy, et al.
(författare)
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p27kip1 (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B) controls ovarian development by suppressing follicle endowment and activation and promoting follicle atresia in mice
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Molecular Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0888-8809 .- 1944-9917. ; 21:9, s. 2189-2202
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In humans, the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian follicle endowment and activation, which are closely related to the control of female reproduction, occurrence of menopause, and related diseases such as premature ovarian failure, are poorly understood. In the current study, we provide several lines of genetic evidence that the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor 1B (commonly known as p27kip1 or p27) controls ovarian development in mice by suppressing follicle endowment and activation, and by promoting follicle death. In p27-deficient (p27−/−) mice, postnatal follicle assembly was accelerated, and the number of endowed follicles was doubled as compared with p27+/+ mice. Moreover, in p27−/− ovaries the primordial follicle pool was prematurely activated once it was endowed, and at the same time the massive follicular death that occurs before sexual maturity was rescued by loss of p27. In early adulthood, however, the overactivated follicular pool in p27−/− ovaries was largely depleted, causing premature ovarian failure. Furthermore, we have extensively studied the molecular mechanisms underlying the above-mentioned phenotypes seen in p27−/− ovaries and have found that p27 controls follicular development by several distinct mechanisms at different stages of development of the ovary. For example, p27 controls oocyte growth by suppressing the functions of Cdk2/Cdc2-cyclin A/E1 in oocytes that are arrested at the diplotene stage of meiosis I. This function of p27 is distinct from its well-known role as a suppressor of cell cycle progression. In addition, we have found that p27 activates the caspase-9-caspase-3-caspase-7-poly (ADP-ribose) polymeraseapoptotic cascade by inhibiting Cdk2/Cdc2-cyclin A/B1 kinase activities in follicles, thereby inducing follicle atresia. Our results suggest that the p27 gene is important in determining mammalian ovarian development. This study therefore provides insight into ovary-borne genetic aberrations that cause defects in folliculogenesis and infertility in humans.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Reddy, Pradeep, et al.
(författare)
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Formation of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion activates AKT and mitogen activated protein kinase via phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase and ligand-independent activation of epidermal growth factor receptor in ovarian cancer cells
- 2005
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Ingår i: Mol Endocrinol. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0888-8809. ; 19:10, s. 2564-2578
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- E-cadherin is a well characterized adhesion molecule that plays a major role in epithelial cell adhesion. Based on findings that expression of E-cadherin is frequently lost in human epithelial cancers, it has been implicated as a tumor suppressor in carcinogenesis of most human epithelial cancers. However, in ovarian cancer development, our data from the current study showed that E-cadherin expression is uniquely elevated in 86.5% of benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian carcinomas irrespective of the degree of differentiation, whereas normal ovarian samples do not express E-cadherin. Thus, we hypothesize that E-cadherin may play a distinct role in the development of ovarian epithelial cancers. Using an E-cadherin-expressing ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR-3, we have demonstrated for the first time that the establishment of E-cadherin mediated cell-cell adhesions leads to the activation of Akt and MAPK. Akt activation is mediated through the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase, and both Akt and MAPK activation are mediated by an E-cadherin adhesion-induced ligand-independent activation of epidermal growth factor receptor. We have also demonstrated that suppression of E-cadherin function leads to retarded cell proliferation and reduced viability. We therefore suggest that the concurrent formation of E-cadherin adhesion and activation of downstream proliferation signals may enhance the proliferation and survival of ovarian cancer cells. Our data partly explain why E-cadherin is always expressed during ovarian tumor development and progression.
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| 10. |
- Yu, Ling-Zhu, et al.
(författare)
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MEK1/2 regulates microtubule organization, spindle pole tethering and asymmetric division during mouse oocyte meiotic maturation.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.). - 1551-4005. ; 6:3, s. 330-8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is well known that MAPK plays pivotal roles in oocyte maturation, but the function of MEK (MAPK kinase) remains unknown. We have studied the expression, subcellular localization and functional roles of MEK during meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes. Firstly, we found that MEK1/2 phoshorylation (p-MEK1/2, indicative of MEK activation) was low in GV (germinal vesicle) stage, increased 2h after GVBD (germinal vesicle breakdown), and reached the maximum at metaphase II. Secondly, we found that P-MEK1/2 was restricted in the GV prior to GVBD. In prometaphase I and metaphase I, P-MEK1/2 was mainly associated with the spindle, especially with the spindle poles. At anaphase I and telophase I, p-MEK1/2 became diffusely distributed in the region between the separating chromosomes, and then became associated with the midbody. The association of p-MEK1/2 with spindle poles was further confirmed by its colocalization with the centrosomal proteins, gamma-tubulin and NuMA. Thirdly, we have investigated the possible functional role of MEK1/2 activation by intravenous administration and intrabursal injection of a specific MEK inhibitor, U0126, and by microinjection of MEK siRNA into oocytes. All these manipulations cause disorganized spindle poles and spindle structure, misaligned chromosomes and larger than normal polar bodies. Our results suggest that MEK1/2 may function as a centrosomal protein and may have roles in microtubule organization, spindle pole tethering and asymmetric division during mouse oocyte maturation.
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| 11. |
- Adhikari, Deepak, et al.
(författare)
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Disruption of Tsc2 in oocytes leads to overactivation of the entire pool of primordial follicles
- 2009
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Ingår i: Molecular human reproduction. - : Oxford University Press. - 1360-9947 .- 1460-2407. ; 15:12, s. 765-770
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To maintain the length of reproductive life in a woman, it is essential that most of her ovarian primordial follicles are maintained in a quiescent state to provide a continuous supply of oocytes. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control the quiescence and activation of primordial follicles is still in its infancy. In this study, we provide some genetic evidence to show that the tumor suppressor tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2), which negatively regulates mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), functions in oocytes to maintain the dormancy of primordial follicles. In mutant mice lacking the Tsc2 gene in oocytes, the pool of primordial follicles is activated prematurely due to elevated mTORC1 activity in oocytes. This results in depletion of follicles in early adulthood, causing premature ovarian failure (POF). Our results suggest that the Tsc1-Tsc2 complex mediated suppression of mTORC1 activity is indispensable for maintenance of the dormancy of primordial follicles, thus preserving the follicular pool, and that mTORC1 activity in oocytes promotes follicular activation. Our results also indicate that deregulation of Tsc/mTOR signaling in oocytes may cause pathological conditions of the ovary such as infertility and POF.
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| 12. |
- Adhikari, Deepak, et al.
(författare)
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Molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of mammalian primordial follicles
- 2009
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Ingår i: Endocrine reviews. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0163-769X .- 1945-7189. ; 30:5, s. 438-464
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In humans and other mammalian species, the pool of resting primordial follicles serves as the source of developing follicles and fertilizable ova for the entire length of female reproductive life. One question that has intrigued biologists is: what are the mechanisms controlling the activation of dormant primordial follicles. Studies from previous decades have laid a solid, but yet incomplete, foundation. In recent years, molecular mechanisms underlying follicular activation have become more evident, mainly through the use of genetically modified mouse models. As hypothesized in the 1990s, the pool of primordial follicles is now known to be maintained in a dormant state by various forms of inhibitory machinery, which are provided by several inhibitory signals and molecules. Several recently reported mutant mouse models have shown that a synergistic and coordinated suppression of follicular activation provided by multiple inhibitory molecules is necessary to preserve the dormant follicular pool. Loss of function of any of the inhibitory molecules for follicular activation, including PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10), Foxo3a, p27, and Foxl2, leads to premature and irreversible activation of the primordial follicle pool. Such global activation of the primordial follicle pool leads to the exhaustion of the resting follicle reserve, resulting in premature ovarian failure in mice. In this review, we summarize both historical and recent results on mammalian primordial follicular activation and focus on the up-to-date knowledge of molecular networks controlling this important physiological event. We believe that information obtained from mutant mouse models may also reflect the molecular machinery responsible for follicular activation in humans. These advances may provide a better understanding of human ovarian physiology and pathophysiology for future clinical applications.
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| 13. |
- Costa e Silva, Andre, et al.
(författare)
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Applications of computational thermodynamics - the extension from phase equilibrium to phase transformations and other properties
- 2007
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Ingår i: Calphad. - : Elsevier BV. - 0364-5916 .- 1873-2984. ; 31:1, s. 53-74
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Complex equilibria and phase transformations involving diffusion can now be calculated quickly and efficiently. Detailed examples are given for cases which involve varying degrees of non-equilibrium and therefore time-dependence. Despite very good agreement between such calculations and experimental results, many potential end-users are still not convinced that such techniques could be usefully applied to their own specific problems. Friendly graphic interface versions of calculating software are now generally available, so the authors conclude that the most likely source of the reluctance to use such tools lies in the formulation of relevant questions and the interpretation of the results. Although the potential impact of such tools was foreseen many years ago [M. Hillert, Calculation of phase equilibria, in: Conference on Phase Transformations, 1968], few changes in the relevant teaching curricula have taken into account the availability and power of such techniques. This paper has therefore been designed not only as a collection of interesting problems, but also highlights the critical steps needed to achieve a solution. Each example includes a presentation of the "real" problem, any simplifications that are needed for its solution, the adopted thermodynamic formulation, and a critical evaluation of the results. The availability of such examples should facilitate changes in subject matter that will both make it easier for the next generation of students to use these tools, and at the same time reduce the time and effort currently needed to solve such problems by less efficient methods. The first set of detailed examples includes the deoxidation of steel by aluminum; heat balance calculations associated with ladle additions to steel; the determination of conditions that avoid undesirable inclusions; the role of methane in sintering atmospheres; interface control during the physical vapour deposition of cemented carbide; oxidation of gamma-TiAl materials; and simulation of the thermolysis of metallorganic precursors for Si-C-N ceramics and interface reaction of yttrium silicates with SiC-coated C/C-SiC composites for heat shield applications. A second set of examples, more dependent on competitive nucleation and growth, includes segregation and carburization in multicomponent steels and features a series of sophisticated simulatons using DICTRA software. Interfacial and strain energies become increasingly important in defining phase nucleation and morphology in such problems, but relatively little information is available compared to free energy and diffusion databases. The final section therefore demonstrates how computational thermodynamics, semi-empirical atomistic approaches and first-principles calculations are being used to aid filling this gap in our knowledge. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 14. |
- Dubbaka Venu, Pradeep Reddy, 1982-
(författare)
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Molecular studies of intra-oocyte phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in controlling female fertility
- 2009
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The primordial follicle pool is the main source of developing follicles in the ovary. The length of reproductive life and the onset of menopause are governed by the amount of primordial follicles in the ovary. The genetic factors and molecular mechanisms that maintain the primordial follicles in a dormant and surviving state for the whole of reproductive life are not well understood. The phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways in the oocyte that control oocyte growth and early follicular development are largely unknown. The major aim of this thesis was to investigate the functional role of the intra-oocyte PI3K pathway in the regulation of primordial follicle activation and survival. Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) is a major negative regulator of PI3K. The conditional deletion of Pten in the oocytes of primordial follicles led to the overgrowth of oocytes and activation of the entire pool of primordial follicles. There were higher numbers of activated primordial follicles at postnatal day 8 (PD8) in ovaries lacking PTEN in oocytes; by PD35 all the primordial follicles were activated and all the follicles were depleted by 12 weeks, causing premature ovarian failure (POF). In addition, the rate of follicular death that occurs during sexual maturity is reduced in ovaries that lack PTEN in oocytes. Further mechanistic studies revealed that loss of Pten in oocytes resulted in elevated Akt signaling and upregulation of both expression and activation of ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6). The overactivation of primordial follicles in ovaries that lack PTEN in oocytes is believed to be due to elevated expression and activation of rpS6. PTEN in oocytes is indispensable for the maintenance of primordial follicles in dormancy. To study the role of the intra-oocyte PI3K signaling pathway in controlling the survival and maintenance of primordial follicles, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) was deleted in oocytes of primordial follicle. The loss of Pdk1 in oocytes led to the depletion of most primordial follicles around the onset of sexual maturity, causing POF during early adulthood. Furthermore, the activation of Akt, p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), and rpS6 was impaired in oocytes that lacked PDK1. The suppressed PDK1–Akt–S6K1–rpS6 signaling in oocytes appears to be responsible for the loss of primordial follicles. The excessive activation of primordial follicles seen in the absence of Pten in oocytes could be reversed by concurrent deletion of Pdk1. In addition, the elevated activation of Akt and S6K1 in the absence of PTEN in oocytes was not observed in PTEN and PDK1 double mutant mice. Similarly, the hyperphosphorylation of rpS6 in oocytes that lack PTEN was prevented in double mutant mice, which was most likely due to downregulation of S6K1 activation. Thus, inactivation of rpS6 in double mutant mice might be the reason for the prevention of excessive primordial follicular activation and survival. PTEN and PDK1 in oocytes are essential for the maintenance of quiescence and survival of primordial follicles. The molecular network involving PI3K/PTEN–PDK1 signaling in oocyte controls the survival, loss, and activation of primordial follicles, which together govern reproductive aging and determine the length of reproductive life in females. The results of the above studies indicate that the mammalian oocyte serves as the seat of programming of follicular activation and survival.
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| 15. |
- Dubbaka Venu, Pradeep Reddy, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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PDK1 signaling in oocytes controls reproductive aging and lifespan by manipulating the survival of primordial follicles
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Human Molecular Genetics. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0964-6906 .- 1460-2083. ; 18:15, s. 2813-2824
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The molecular mechanisms that control reproductive aging and menopausal age in females are poorly understood. Here, we provide genetic evidence that 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) signaling in oocytes preserves reproductive lifespan by maintaining the survival of ovarian primordial follicles. In mice lacking the PDK1-encoding gene Pdk1 in oocytes, the majority of primordial follicles are depleted around the onset of sexual maturity, causing premature ovarian failure (POF) during early adulthood. We further showed that suppressed PDK1-Akt-p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1)-ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) signaling in oocytes appears to be responsible for the loss of primordial follicles, and mice lacking the Rps6 gene in oocytes show POF similar to that in Pdk1-deficient mice. In combination with our earlier finding that phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) in oocytes suppresses follicular activation, we have now pinpointed the molecular network involving phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/PTEN-PDK1 signaling in oocytes that controls the survival, loss and activation of primordial follicles, which together determine reproductive aging and the length of reproductive life in females. Underactivation or overactivation of this signaling pathway in oocytes is shown to cause pathological conditions in the ovary, including POF and infertility.
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| 16. |
- Gunnarsson, David, et al.
(författare)
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Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate stimulates basal steroidogenesis by a cAMP-independent mechanism in mouse gonadal cells of both sexes
- 2008
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Ingår i: Reproduction. - 1470-1626 .- 1476-3990. ; 135:5, s. 693-703
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in a number of daily-life products. In this study, we investigated the influence of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the active metabolite of the frequently used plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), on gonadal steroidogenesis in vitro. MEHP (25–100 µM) stimulated basal steroid synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner in immortalized mouse Leydig tumor cells (MLTC-1). The stimulatory effect was also detected in KK-1 granulosa tumor cells. MEHP exposure did not influence cAMP or StAR protein levels and induced a gene expression profile of key steroidogenic proteins different from the one induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Simultaneous treatment with MEHP and a p450scc inhibitor (aminoglutethimide) indicated that MEHP exerts its main stimulatory effect prior to pregnenolone formation. MEHP (10–100 µM) up-regulated hormone-sensitive lipase and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, suggesting that MEHP increases the amount of cholesterol available for steroidogenesis. Our data suggest that MEHP, besides its known inhibitory effect on hCG action, can directly stimulate gonadal steroidogenesis in both sexes through a cAMP- and StAR-independent mechanism. The anti-steroidogenic effect of DEHP has been proposed to cause developmental disorders such as hypospadias and cryptorchidism, whereas a stimulation of steroid synthesis may prematurely initiate the onset of puberty and theoretically affect the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis.
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| 17. |
- Jagarlamudi, Krishna Rao, 1980-
(författare)
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The functional roles of the intra-oocyte phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling in controlling follicular development in mice
- 2009
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The key functions of the mammalian ovary are the production of fertilizable oocytes and thesecretion of steroid hormones. At the time of birth the human ovary is composed of basic unitstermed primordial follicles. Primordial follicles are long-lived structures in the ovary and some ofthem last until the woman reaches menopause. However, the intra-oocyte signaling pathways thatactivate primordial follicles and early follicular development are largely unknown. In this thesis, the functional roles that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathwayplays in follicular development were investigated. In vivo approaches using genetically modifiedmouse models were used to determine the functions of several members of the PI3K signalingpathway in oocytes and in follicles. The function of Foxo3a, a substrate of Akt, was investigatedby expressing Foxo3a constitutively in oocytes of primary follicles. We found that continuouslyactive Foxo3a in mouse oocytes caused retardation of oocyte growth, resulting in arrest offollicular development. The functions of p27kip1 (p27) were studied using p27-deficient (p27-/-)mice. It was found that p27 suppresses follicle endowment/formation and activation, and that itinduces follicle atresia. The functions of PI3K signaling in oocytes during follicular activationwere also investigated using conditional mutant mice, by disrupting the Pten in oocytes ofprimordial follicles. We found that, all primordial follicles were prematurely activated due toovergrowth of oocytes and these follicles were depleted in young adulthood, causing prematureovarian failure (POF). At the same time, disruption of the Pten from oocytes of primary follicleshad no effect on activation of primordial follicles, and the follicles developed and maturednormally. The results clearly show that the PI3K pathway in the mammalian oocyte plays a keyrole in follicular activation through control of initiation of oocyte growth and folliculardevelopment.
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Liu, Ji-Cai, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamics of cooperative emissions in a cascade three-level molecular system driven by an ultrashort laser pulse
- 2008
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Ingår i: Chinese Physics B. - : IOP Publishing. - 1674-1056. ; 17:11, s. 4211-4217
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper investigates the dynamics of cooperative emissions in a cascade three-level system driven by an ultras short laser pulse by solving numerically the full-wave Maxwell-Bloch equations. The 4, 40-bis(dimethylamino) stilbene molecule is used as the model molecule because of its strong two-photon absorption property. The two-colour cooperative emissions are studied as functions of molecular number density and dephasing rate of the dipole coherence. The propagation effects on the evolution of the cooperative radiations are also taken into account. The cooperative radiations are enhanced for large number density of the molecule, while the fast dephasing of the dipole coherence reduces the intensity of the cooperative radiations and delays the emission times or even inhibits the formation of the emissions. The delay time of the radiation decreases with the increase of the molecular number density and the propagation distance.
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| 20. |
- Liu, Ji-Cai, et al.
(författare)
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Dynamics of multilevel molecules and pulse propagation beyond rotating wave approximation near two-photon resonance
- 2007
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Ingår i: Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. - 1050-2947 .- 1094-1622. ; 76:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Dynamics of multilevel molecules and pulse propagation is studied near the two-photon resonance. We have found a strict solution of this problem beyond the rotating wave approximation. Our analytical solution is in close agreement with the strict numerical solution for the 4,4(')-bis(dimethylamino) stilbene molecule. The compensation of the dynamical Stark shift is studied for fixed-in-space molecules. It is shown that the orientational disorder does not allow complete compensation of the dynamical Stark shift.
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| 21. |
- Liu, Ji-Cai, et al.
(författare)
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Optical limiting of short laser pulses
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Physical Review A. Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics. - 1050-2947 .- 1094-1622. ; 76:053804
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dynamics of pulse propagation accompanied by harmonic generation, stimulated Raman scattering, amplified spontaneous emission, and superfluorescence is studied near the two-photon resonance. We explore the optical limiting of intense and short laser pulses. The numerical solutions of the coupled Bloch and Maxwell's equations for the 4,4(')-bis(dimethylamino) stilbene molecule are compared with the two-photon area theorem. It is shown that the area theorem explains qualitatively the major dynamical properties of pulse propagation even if the propagation is accompanied by the generation of new fields. In agreement with the area theorem, we see that the conventional dependence of the transmittance on the propagation depth is not valid for intense pulses.
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| 22. |
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| 23. |
- Liu, Kui
(författare)
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Stem cell factor (SCF)-kit mediated phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase signaling during mammalian oocyte growth and early follicular development.
- 2006
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in bioscience : a journal and virtual library. - 1093-4715. ; 11, s. 126-35
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Forskningsöversikt (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The bi-directional communication between mammalian oocytes and their surrounding granulosa cells has been shown to be crucial for ovarian follicular development. Studies on molecules derived from the oocytes, such as growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) and bone morphogenetic protein-15 (BMP-15), have attracted great interest during the past decade, and it is common knowledge nowadays that these molecules participate in the bi-directional dialogue between the oocytes and their surrounding granulosa cells as well as follicular development. However, signaling molecules and pathways inside mammalian oocytes that control oocyte growth and early development of ovarian follicles, which may be monitored by factors produced by granulosa cells, have not been studied extensively. Based on our own data as well as ovarian phenotypes observed in several gene modified mice strains that were generated for studies of signal transduction, immunology and cancer, the current review focuses on the key features of the activation of oocyte phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3 kinase) pathway and its possible roles during mammalian oocyte growth and follicular development. We propose that the cascade from the granulosa cell-produced stem cell factor (SCF) to the oocyte surface SCF receptor Kit, and to the oocyte PI3 kinase pathway, may play an important role in the regulation of growth rate of mammalian oocytes, as well as in the activation and development of ovarian follicles.
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| 24. |
- Liu, Kui, et al.
(författare)
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Successful ovulation in plasminogen-deficient mice treated with the broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor galardin.
- 2006
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Ingår i: Developmental Biology. - New York : Academic P.. - 0012-1606 .- 1095-564X. ; 295:2, s. 615-622
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many studies have suggested the hypothesis that the plasminogen activator (PA) system and the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) system, either separately or in combination, may provide the proteolytic activity that is required for rupture of the follicular wall at the time of ovulation. Our recent studies on ovulation in plasminogen (plg)-deficient mice have, however, shown that plasmin is not required for normal ovulation, leading us to the hypothesis that MMPs may be a more important source of proteolysis for this process. To investigate the role of MMPs and also the possibility of a functional overlap or synergy between the MMP and PA systems during ovulation, we have studied ovulation efficiency in wild-type and plg-deficient mice treated with the broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor galardin. We found that in both wild-type mice and heterozygous plg-deficient (plg(+/-)) mice that had been treated with galardin prior to ovulation, there was a mild (18-20%) reduction in ovulation efficiency. Surprisingly, galardin treatment of plg-deficient (plg(-/-)) mice only caused an additional 14% reduction in ovulation efficiency as compared to vehicle-treated plg(-/-) mice. Our data therefore suggest that although MMPs may play a role in degradation of the follicular wall, they may not be obligatory for ovulation. In contrast to previous studies on tissue remodeling during wound heating and placental development, we have demonstrated that there is no obvious functional overlap or synergy between the PA and MMP systems, which has previously been thought to be essential for the ovulatory process.
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| 25. |
- Rajareddy, Singareddy, 1977-
(författare)
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Studies of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in mammalian ovarian follicle activation and development
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The intra-oocyte signaling pathways that control oocyte growth and early follicular development are largely unknown. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the regulation and functions of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway in the oocyte, focusing in the roles of Foxo3a, p27, and Pten (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten). The physiological significance of Foxo3a in oocytes had been investigated by generating a transgenic mouse, whereby constitutively active Foxo3a is maintained in oocytes using the oocyte-specific ZP3 (Zona pellucida) promoter. The expression of the constantly active “negative” molecule Foxo3a in mouse oocytes was found to cause retardation of oocyte growth, resulting in a significant reduction in oocyte volume in secondary follicles. The transgenic mice also showed arrested follicular development and were infertile. In addition, when Foxo3a was overexpressed in oocytes of primary follicles, oocyte growth and follicular development were retarded. One of the causes of this phenotype may be the retained expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor 1B (Cdkn1b), commonly known as p27kip1 or p27, in the nuclei of oocytes. The role and related mechanisms of p27 in controlling early follicular development and oocyte growth were then investigated using wild-type and p27-deficient (p27-/-) mice, and we demonstrated that (i) p27 suppresses follicle endowment/formation and activation, (ii) p27 induces follicle atresia that occurs prior to sexual maturity, and (iii) the overactivated follicles in p27-/- ovaries are depleted in early adulthood, causing premature ovarian failure (POF). In this thesis, we also provide genetic evidence that in mice with conditional deletion of Pten a major negative regulator of PI3K in oocytes, the entire pool of primordial follicles becomes activated, and subsequently all activated follicles are depleted in young adulthood, causing POF. Further mechanistic studies revealed that loss of Pten in oocytes resulted in elevated Akt signaling, which led to upregulation of both expression and activation of ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) in oocytes. The results thus show that the mammalian oocyte serves as the headquarters of programming of the occurrence of follicle activation, and that the PI3K pathway of the oocyte governs follicle activation through control of initiation of oocyte growth.
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| 26. |
- Sun, Qing-Yuan, et al.
(författare)
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Oocyte-specific knockout : a novel in vivo approach for studying gene functions during folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryogenesis.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Biology of Reproduction. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0006-3363 .- 1529-7268. ; 79:6, s. 1014-20
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Knockout mice have been highly useful tools in helping to understand the functional roles of specific genes in development and diseases. However, in many cases, knockout mice are embryonic lethal, which prevents investigation into a number of important questions, or they display developmental abnormalities, including fertility defects. In contrast, conditional knockout, which is achieved by the Cre-LoxP system, can be used to delete a gene in a specific organ or tissue, or at a specific developmental stage. This technique has advantages over conventional knockout, especially when conventional knockout causes embryonic lethality or when the function of maternal transcripts in early development needs to be defined. Recently, a widely used practice has been used to specifically delete genes of interest in oocytes: Zp3-Cre or Gdf9-Cre transgenic mouse lines, in which Cre-recombinase expression is driven by oocyte-specific zona pellucida 3 (Zp3) promoter or growth differentiation factor 9 (Gdf9) promoter, are crossed with mice bearing floxed target genes. This novel in vivo approach has helped to increase the understanding of the functions of specific genes in folliculogenesis/oogenesis, oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryogenesis. In this minireview we discuss recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating major reproductive and developmental events as revealed by oocyte-specific conditional knockout and perspectives on this technology and related studies.
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| 27. |
- Velkov, Yasen, et al.
(författare)
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X-ray absorption of N2 accompanied by infrared-induced transitions between the ungerade and gerade core levels
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics B. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-4075 .- 1361-6455. ; 41:14, s. 145601-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We study a two-colour pump–probe scheme of x-ray absorption accompanied by core-hole hopping in the field of a strong IR laser. The process is exemplified for fixed-in-space and randomly oriented homonuclear diatomic molecules N2 near the 1σu → 1πg x-ray absorption transition. The laser field mixes the core holes of opposite parities and causes Rabi splitting of the core-excited states. The IR field results in spectral broadening and shifts of the x-ray resonances as well as decrease of x-ray photoabsorption. The Stark broadening of the x-ray absorption spectrum depends on the orientation of the molecule and the angle between the polarization vectors of the x-ray and IR fields. The spectral changes caused by the IR field are weaker for randomly oriented molecules in comparison with fixed-in-space molecules.
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| 28. |
- Wahlberg, Patrik, et al.
(författare)
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Expression and localization of the serine proteases high-temperature requirement factor A1, serine protease 23, and serine protease 35 in the mouse ovary.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 149:10, s. 5070-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proteolytic degradation of extracellular matrix components has been suggested to play an essential role in the occurrence of ovulation. Recent studies in our laboratory have indicated that the plasminogen activator and matrix metalloproteinase systems, which were previously believed to be crucial for ovulation, are not required in this process. In this study we have used a microarray approach to identify new proteases that are involved in ovulation. We found three serine proteases that were relatively highly expressed during ovulation: high-temperature requirement factor A1 (HtrA1), which was not regulated much during ovulation; serine protease 23 (PRSS23), which was down-regulated by gonadotropins; and serine protease 35 (PRSS35), which was up-regulated by gonadotropins. We have further investigated the expression patterns of these proteases during gonadotropin-induced ovulation in immature mice and in the corpus luteum (CL) of pseudopregnant mice. We found that HtrA1 was highly expressed in granulosa cells throughout follicular development and ovulation, as well as in the forming and regressing CL. PRSS23 was highly expressed in atretic follicles, and it was expressed in the ovarian stroma and theca tissues just before ovulation. PRSS35 was expressed in the theca layers of developing follicles. It was also highly induced in granulosa cells of preovulatory follicles. PRSS35 was also expressed in the forming and regressing CL. These data suggest that HtrA1 and PRSS35 may be involved in ovulation and CL formation and regression, and that PRSS23 may play a role in follicular atresia.
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| 29. |
- Wahlberg, Patrik, et al.
(författare)
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Functional corpora lutea are formed in matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-treated plasminogen-deficient mice.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Endocrinology. - 0013-7227. ; 148:3, s. 1226-34
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The extended Förster theory (EFT) is for the first time applied to the quantitative determination of the intramolecular distances in proteins. It is shown how the EFT (J. Chem. Phys., 1996, 105, 10896) can be adapted to the analyses of fluorescence depolarisation experiments based on the time-correlated single photon counting technique (TCSPC). The protein system studied was the latent form of plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI-1), which was mutated and labelled by the thiol reactive BODIPY® derivative {N-(4,4-difluoro-5,7-dimethyl-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene-3-yl)methyl iodoacetamide}. The energy migration occurs within pairs of photophysically identical donor groups that undergo reorientational motions on the timescales of energy migration and fluorescence relaxation. Unlike all models currently used for analysing fluorescence TCSPC data, the EFT explicitly accounts for the time-dependent reorientations that influence the rate of electronic energy transfer/migration in a complex manner. The complexity is related to the 2 problem, which has been discussed for years. The EFT brings the analyses of DDEM data to the same level of molecular description as in ESR and NMR spectroscopy, i.e. it yields microscopic information about the reorientation correlation times, the order parameters, as well as inter-chromophoric distances.
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| 30. |
- Wang, Chuan-Kui, et al.
(författare)
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Breakdown of optical power limiting and dynamical two-photon absorption for femtosecond laser pulses in molecular medium
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of the Optical Society of America. B, Optical physics. - 0740-3224 .- 1520-8540. ; 24:9, s. 2436-2442
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We solve numerically the Maxwell-Bloch equations using an iterative predictor-corrector finite-difference time-domain technique to study the propagation of femtosecond laser pulses in a strong two-photon absorption (TPA) organic molecular medium [4,4'-bis(dimethylamino) stilbene]. The hybrid density functional theory is used to calculate electronic structures of the compound. The molecular system is described by a three-level model in an optical regime and has demonstrated a good optical power limiting behavior in a certain intensity region. Thresholds for the breakdown of optical power limiting are observed that are dependent on the input pulse width and, slightly, the propagation distance. The dynamical two-photon absorption cross section is obtained, which is almost a linearly increasing function of the pulse width in the femtosecond time domain. The propagation distance also has an obvious influence on the measurement of the TPA cross section, and non-monotonic dependence of the TPA cross section on propagation distance is observed. The input pulse width and the thickness of the molecular samples thus should be taken into account when the TPA cross section is measured.
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| 31. |
- Zhao, Guang-Jiu, et al.
(författare)
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Photoinduced intramolecular charge transfer and S-2 fluorescence in thiophene-pi-conjugated donor-acceptor systems : Experimental and TDDFT studies
- 2008
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Ingår i: Chemistry - A European Journal. - : Wiley. - 0947-6539 .- 1521-3765. ; 14:23, s. 6935-6947
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Experimental and theoretical methods were used to study newly synthesized thiophene-pi-cojugated donor-acceptor compounds, which were found to exhibit efficient intramolecular charge-transfer emission in polar solvents with relatively large Stokes shifts and strong solvatochromism. To gain insight into the solvatochromic behavior of these compounds, the dependence of the spectra on solvent polarity was studied on the basis of Lippert-Mataga models. We found that intramolecular charge transfer in these donor-acceptor systems is significantly dependent on the electron-with-drawing substituents at the thienyl 2-position. The dependence of the absorption and emission spectra of these compounds in methanol on the concentration of trifluoroacetic acid was used to confirm intramolecular charge-tranfer emission. Moreover, the calculated absorption and emission energies, which are in accordance with the experimental values, suggested that fluorescence can be emitted from different geometric confirmations. In addition, a novel S-2 fluorescence phenomenon for some of these compounds was also be observed. The fluorescence excitation spectra were used to confirm the S-2 fluorescence. We demonstrate that S-2 fluorescence can be explained by the calculated energy gap between the S-2 and S-1 states of these molecules. Furthermore, nonlinear optical behavior of the thiophene-pi-conjugated compound with diethylcyanomethylphosphonate substituents was predicted in theory.
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| 32. |
- Zhao, Ke, et al.
(författare)
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Modulation of supercontinuum generation and formation of an attosecond pulse from a generalized two-level medium
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Physics B. - : IOP Publishing. - 0953-4075 .- 1361-6455. ; 40, s. 1523-1534
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The propagation of ultrashort pulses in a generalized two- level system, consisting of permanent dipole moments, is simulated by solving the full Maxwell - Bloch equations. Special attention has been paid to the supercontinuum generation of spectra and the formation of attosecond ( as) pulses. It is found that the supercontinuum generation is strongly modulated by both area and width of the pulse, resulting from the interference between the splitting pulses in the time domain and the implication of the time - energy uncertainty relation. The effect of the permanent dipole moment on the supercontinuum generation is discussed in detail. Calculations show that a well- shaped 132 as pulse can be generated from a 2 fs incoming pulse under the condition where the permanent dipole moment difference between two levels is equal to the transition dipole moment between them. Influences of carrier- envelope phase and time- dependent ionization on the spectral and temporal evolution of the ultrashort pulses are also discussed at length.
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