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To characterize the brain responses to traumatic memories in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we conducted task-employed functional magnetic resonance imaging and, in the process, devised a simple but innovative approach--correlation computation between task conditions. A script-driven imagery task was used to compare the responses with a script of the patients' own traumatic memories and with that of tooth brushing as a daily activity and to evaluate how eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), an established therapy for PTSD, resolved the alterations in patients. Nine patients with PTSD (seven females, aged 27-50 years) and nine age- and gender-matched healthy controls participated in this study. Six patients underwent the second scan under the same paradigm after EMDR. We discovered intense negative correlations between daily and traumatic memory conditions in broad areas, including the hippocampus; patients who had an intense suppression of activation during daily recognition showed an intense activation while remembering a traumatic memory, whereas patients who had a hyperarousal in daily recognition showed an intense suppression while remembering a traumatic memory as a form of "shut-down." Moreover, the magnitude of the discrepancy was reduced in patients who remitted after EMDR, which might predict an improved prognosis of PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planci (COTS), are common in coral reefs of Indo-Pacific Ocean. Since they are highly fecund predators of corals, periodic outbreaks of COTS cause substantial loss of healthy coral reefs. Using complete mitochondrial DNA sequences, we here examined how COTS outbreaks in the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan are reflected by the profile of their population genetics. Population genetics of the blue starfish, Linckia laevigata, which lives in the Ryukyu Archipelago, but not break out and the northern Pacific sea star, Asterias amurensis, which lives in colder seawater around the main Islands of Japan, were also examined as controls. Our results showed that As. amurensis has at least two local populations that diverged approximately 4.7 million years ago (MYA), and no genetic exchanges have occurred between the populations since then. Linckia laevigata shows two major populations in the Ryukyu Archipelago that likely diverged 6.8 MYA. The two populations, each comprised of individuals collected from coast of the Okinawa Island and those from the Ishigaki Island, suggest the presence of two cryptic species in the Ryukyu Archipelago. On the other hand, population genetics of COTS showed a profile quite different from those of Asterias and Linckia. At least five lineages of COTS have arisen since their divergence 0.7 MYA, and each of the lineages is present at the Okinawa Island, Miyako Island, and Ishigaki Island. These results suggest that COTS have experienced repeated genetic bottlenecks that may be associated with or caused by repeated outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viruses are considered to use vesicular trafficking in infected cells, but the details of assembly/release pathways of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are still unknown. To identify key regulators of HBV production, we performed short interfering RNA (siRNA) screening for Rab proteins, which are considered to act as molecular switches in vesicular trafficking using HepG2.2.15 cells. Among 62 Rab proteins, the suppression of Rab5B most significantly increased HBV DNA in the culture supernatant. Surprisingly, 5days after the transfection of Rab5B siRNA, HBV DNA in the supernatant was increased more than 30-fold, reflecting the increase of infectious HBV particles. Northern blotting showed that transcription of 2.4/2.1-kb mRNA coding envelope proteins containing large hepatitis B surface protein (LHBs) was increased. Analysis of hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs) showed that transcription of HNF4α, which is known to enhance 2.4-kb mRNA transcription, was regulated by Rab5B. Also, it was revealed that LHBs had accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) after Rab5B depletion but not in the multivesicular body (MVB), which is thought to be an organelle utilized for HBV envelope formation. Therefore, it was considered that Rab5B is required for the transport of LHBs from the ER to MVB. Immunofluorescent microscopy showed that HBs proteins, including LHBs, colocalized with HBc in the ER of Rab5B-depleted cells, suggesting that HBV envelopment occurs not only in the MVB but also in the ER. In conclusion, Rab5B is a key regulator of HBV production and could be a target of antiviral therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The T-box family transcription-factor gene, Brachyury, has two expression domains with discrete functions during animal embryogenesis. The primary domain, associated with the blastopore, is shared by most metazoans, while the secondary domain, involved in the notochord, is specific to chordates. In most animals, Brachyury is present in a single copy, but in cephalochordates, the most basal of the chordates, the gene is present in two copies, suggesting allotment of the two domains to each of the duplicates. Results: In order to clarify whether Brachyury duplication occurred in the common ancestor of chordates after which one of duplicates was lost in the urochordate and vertebrate lineages, we estimated phylogenetic relationships of Brachyury genes and examined the synteny of a Brachyury-containing genomic region of deuterostomes with decoded genomes. The monophyletic origin of tandemly arranged Brachyury genes of cephalochordates indicates that the tandem duplication occurred in the cephalochordate lineage, but not in the chordate ancestor. Conclusions: Our results thus suggest that, in the common ancestor of chordates, a single copy of Brachyury acquired two expression domains and that the duplication was not involved in the acquisition of the notochord. However, in relation to regulatory mechanisms, both possibilities--namely a single copy with two domains and two copies with different domains--should be considered in future studies of Brachyury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole-genome duplication (WGD) is believed to be a significant source of major evolutionary innovation. Redundant genes resulting from WGD are thought to be lost or acquire new functions. However, the rates of gene loss and thus temporal process of genome reshaping after WGD remain unclear. The WGD shared by all teleost fish, one-half of all jawed vertebrates, was more recent than the two ancient WGDs that occurred before the origin of jawed vertebrates, and thus lends itself to analysis of gene loss and genome reshaping. Using a newly developed orthology identification pipeline, we inferred the post--teleost-specific WGD evolutionary histories of 6,892 protein-coding genes from nine phylogenetically representative teleost genomes on a time-calibrated tree. We found that rapid gene loss did occur in the first 60 My, with a loss of more than 70-80% of duplicated genes, and produced similar genomic gene arrangements within teleosts in that relatively short time. Mathematical modeling suggests that rapid gene loss occurred mainly by events involving simultaneous loss of multiple genes. We found that the subsequent 250 My were characterized by slow and steady loss of individual genes. Our pipeline also identified about 1,100 shared single-copy genes that are inferred to have become singletons before the divergence of clupeocephalan teleosts. Therefore, our comparative genome analysis suggests that rapid gene loss just after the WGD reshaped teleost genomes before the major divergence, and provides a useful set of marker genes for future phylogenetic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some tumor-suppressing miRNAs target multiple oncogenes concurrently and therefore may be useful as cancer therapeutic agents. Further, such miRNAs may be useful to address chemotherapeutic resistance in cancer, which remains a primary clinical challenge in need of solutions. Thus, cytoprotective processes upregulated in cancer cells that are resistant to chemotherapy are a logical target for investigation. Here, we report that overexpression of miR-634 activates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway by direct concurrent targeting of genes associated with mitochondrial homeostasis, antiapoptosis, antioxidant ability, and autophagy. In particular, we show how enforced expression of miR-634 enhanced chemotherapyinduced cytotoxicity in a model of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, where resistance to chemotherapy remains clinically problematic. Our findings illustrate how reversing miR-634--mediated cytoprotective processes may offer a broadly useful approach to improving cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are key transcription factors that stimulate the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Here, we demonstrate that a prenylated flavonoid in hops, xanthohumol (XN), is a novel SREBP inactivator that reduces the de novo synthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol. XN independently suppressed the maturation of SREBPs of insulin-induced genes in a manner different from sterols. Our results suggest that XN impairs the endoplasmic reticulum-to-Golgi translocation of the SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP)-SREBP complex by binding to Sec23/24 and blocking SCAP/SREBP incorporation into common coated protein II vesicles. Furthermore, in diet-induced obese mice, dietary XN suppressed SREBP-1 target gene expression in the liver accompanied by a reduction of the mature form of hepatic SREBP-1, and it inhibited the development of obesity and hepatic steatosis. Altogether, our data suggest that XN attenuates the function of SREBP-1 by repressing its maturation and that it has the potential of becoming a nutraceutical food or pharmacological agent for improving metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Beaufort High (BH) is a well-known climatological feature of the Arctic with close ties to sea ice variability. Here, an objective cyclone-tracking algorithm was utilized to link the summertime interannual variability of the BH to cyclone migration pattern and its intensity. The results indicated that rather than the in situ change of anticyclone in the region, the variability of BH is influenced more by passive effects of cyclone activity with its center near the North Pole. The effect of cyclones is twofold. One is the effect of more intense cyclones entering the peripheral region of the BH where three times as many cyclones below 980 hPa reach the Arctic for years in which BH is weak. The other is intensification of cyclones forming within the Arctic contributing to an average difference of 4.9 hPa between years with strong and weak BH. We argue that along with the in-situ change in the BH, such peripheral cyclone activity spreads into the BH region strongly affecting the observed interannual variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical compositions of fly ash particles emitted in Northeast Asia were studied to better understand the long-range transportation of atmospheric pollutants. We examined the compositions of spheroidal carbonaceous particles (SCPs), a type of fly ash from several to ~20 µm in diameter found in surface sediments in or near the main industrial cities of Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan. SCPs from different countries were found to vary; SCPs from Japan and South Korea were characterized by low Ti/Si and high S/Si ratios, whereas SCPs in China exhibited high Ti/Si and low S/Si ratios and particles from Taiwan showed high Ti/Si and S/Si ratios. We also examined the SCPs found in remote islands in the Sea of Japan, at least 100 km from any industrial city. On the basis of their chemical compositions, these SCPs were classified as Japan and Korea, China, and Taiwan types using discriminant analysis. The results indicated that 30-50% of the particles found in these islands were assigned to the China type, suggesting that most of these SCPs were probably transported from Chinese industrial regions to these islands. It implies that even large particulate pollutants of ~10 µm, such as SCPs, could be transported long distances of ~1000 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fossil record suggests a rapid radiation of placental mammals following the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) mass extinction 65 million years ago (Ma); nevertheless, molecular time estimates, while highly variable, are generally much older. Early molecular studies suffer from inadequate dating methods, reliance on the molecular clock, and simplistic and over-confident interpretations of the fossil record. More recent studies have used Bayesian dating methods that circumvent those issues, but the use of limited data has led to large estimation uncertainties, precluding a decisive conclusion on the timing of mammalian diversifications. Here we use a powerful Bayesian method to analyse 36 nuclear genomes and 274 mitochondrial genomes (20.6 million base pairs), combined with robust but flexible fossil calibrations. Our posterior time estimates suggest that marsupials diverged from eutherians 168–178 Ma, and crown Marsupialia diverged 64–84 Ma. Placentalia diverged 88–90 Ma, and present-day placental orders (except Primates and Xenarthra) originated in a ∼20 Myr window (45–65 Ma) after the K–Pg extinction. Therefore we reject a pre K–Pg model of placental ordinal diversification. We suggest other infamous instances of mismatch between molecular and palaeontological divergence time estimates will be resolved with this same approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates cellular energy homeostasis by inhibiting anabolic processes and activating catabolic processes. Recent studies have demonstrated that metformin, which is an AMPK activator, modifies alternative precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) splicing. However, no direct substrate of AMPK for alternative pre-mRNA splicing has been reported. In the present study, we identified the splicing factor serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) as a novel AMPK substrate. AMPK directly phosphorylated SRSF1 at Ser133 in an RNA recognition motif. Ser133 phosphorylation suppressed the interaction between SRSF1 and specific RNA sequences without altering the subcellular localization of SRSF1. Moreover, AMPK regulated the SRSF1-mediated alternative pre-mRNA splicing of Ron, which is a macrophage-stimulating protein receptor, by suppressing its interaction with exon 12 of Ron pre-mRNA. The findings of this study revealed that the AMPK-dependent phosphorylation of SRSF1 at Ser133 inhibited the ability of SRSF1 to bind RNA and regulated alternative pre-mRNA splicing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuropeptides play pivotal roles in various biological events in the nervous, neuroendocrine, and endocrine systems, and are correlated with both physiological functions and unique behavioral traits of animals. Elucidation of functional interaction between neuropeptides and receptors is a crucial step for the verification of their biological roles and evolutionary processes. However, most receptors for novel peptides remain to be identified. Here, we show the identification of multiple G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) for species-specific neuropeptides of the vertebrate sister group, Ciona intestinalis Type A, by combining machine learning and experimental validation. We developed an original peptide descriptor-incorporated support vector machine and used it to predict 22 neuropeptide-GPCR pairs. Of note, signaling assays of the predicted pairs identified 1 homologous and 11 Ciona-specific neuropeptide- GPCR pairs for a 41% hit rate: the respective GPCRs for Ci-GALP, Ci-NTLP-2, Ci-LF-1, Ci-LF-2, Ci-LF-5, Ci-LF-6, Ci-LF-7, Ci-LF-8, Ci-YFV-1, and Ci-YFV-3. Interestingly, molecular phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that these receptors, excluding the Ci-GALP receptor, were evolutionarily unrelated to any other known peptide GPCRs, confirming that these GPCRs constitute unprecedented neuropeptide receptor clusters. Altogether, these results verified the neuropeptide-GPCR pairs in the protochordate and evolutionary lineages of neuropeptide GPCRs, and pave the way for investigating the endogenous roles of novel neuropeptides in the closest relatives of vertebrates and the evolutionary processes of neuropeptidergic systems throughout chordates. In addition, the present study also indicates the versatility of the machine-learning-assisted strategy for the identification of novel peptide-receptor pairs in various organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TGR5 (also known as G protein–coupled bile acid receptor 1, GPBAR1) is a G protein–coupled bile acid receptor that is expressed in many diverse tissues. TGR5 is involved in various metabolic processes, including glucose metabolism and energy expenditure; however, TGR5's function in skeletal muscle is not fully understood. Using both gain- and loss-of-function mouse models, we demonstrate here that Tgr5 activation promotes muscle cell differentiation and muscle hypertrophy. Both young and old transgenic mice with muscle-specific Tgr5 expression exhibited increased muscle strength. Moreover, we found that Tgr5 expression is increased by the unfolded protein response (UPR), which is an adaptive response required for maintenance of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis. Both ER stress response element (ERSE)- and unfolded protein response element (UPRE)-like sites are present in the 5′ upstream region of the Tgr5 gene promoter and are essential for Tgr5 expression by Atf6α (activating transcription factor 6α), a well known UPR-activated transcriptional regulator. We observed that in the skeletal muscle of mice, exercise-induced UPR increases Tgr5 expression, an effect that was abrogated in Atf6α KO mice, indicating that Atf6α is essential for this response. These findings indicate that the bile acid receptor Tgr5 contributes to improved muscle function and provide an additional explanation for the beneficial effects of exercise on skeletal muscle activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acids (AAs) are biologically important nutrient compounds necessary for the survival of any cell. Of the 20 AAs, cancer cells depend on the uptake of several extracellular AAs for survival. However, which extracellular AA is indispensable for the survival of cancer cells and the molecular mechanism involved have not been fully defined. In this study, we found that the reduction of cell survival caused by glutamine (Gln) depletion is inversely correlated with the expression level of glutamine synthetase (GS) in ovarian cancer (OVC) cells. GS expression was downregulated in 45 of 316 OVC cases (14.2%). The depletion of extracellular Gln by treatment with l-asparaginase, in addition to inhibiting Gln uptake via the knockdown of a Gln transporter, led to the inhibition of cell growth in OVC cells with low expression of GS (GSlow-OVC cells). Furthermore, the re-expression of GS in GSlow-OVC cells induced the inhibition of tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Thus, these findings provide novel insight into the development of an OVC therapy based on the requirement of Gln. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the differences between the RS92 radiosonde and its improved counterpart, the Vaisala RS41-SGP radiosonde version with a pressure sensor, 36 twinradiosonde launches were made over the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, western North Pacific Ocean, and the tropical Indian Ocean during two cruises of R/V Mirai in 2015. The biases, standard deviations, and root mean squares (rms's) of the differences between the RS41 and RS92 data over all flights and altitudes were smaller than the nominal combined uncertainties of the RS41, except that the rms of the differences of pressure above 100 exceeded 0.6 hPa. A comparison between daytime and nighttime flights in the tropics revealed that the pressure difference was systematically larger during the day than at night above an altitude of 4.5 km, suggesting that there was some effect of solar heating on the pressure measurements, but the exact reason is unclear. The agreement between the RS41 and RS92 temperature measurements was better than the combined uncertainties. However, there were some noteworthy discrepancies presumably caused by the "wet-bulbing" effect on the RS92 radiosonde and the stagnation of the balloon. Although the median of the relative humidity differences was only a little more than 2% of the relative humidity at all altitudes, the relative humidity of the RS92 was much lower than that of the RS41 at altitudes of about 17 km in the tropics. This dry bias might have been caused by the incomplete solar radiation correction of the RS92, and a correction table for the daytime RS92 humidity was calculated. This study showed that the RS41 measurements were consistent with the specifications of the manufacturer in most cases over both the tropical and polar oceans. However, further studies on the causes of the discrepancies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the differences between the RS92 radiosonde and its improved counterpart, the Vaisala RS41-SGP radiosonde that has a pressure sensor, 36 twin-radiosonde launches were made over the Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea, northwestern Pacific Ocean, and the tropical Indian Ocean during two cruises of the R/V Mirai in 2015. The biases, standard deviations, and root mean squares (RMSs) of the differences between the RS41 and RS92 data over all flights and altitudes were smaller than the nominal combined uncertainties of the RS41, except that the RMS of the differences of pressure above 100hPa exceeded 0.6hPa. A comparison between daytime and nighttime flights in the tropics revealed that the pressure difference was systematically larger during the day than at night above an altitude of 4.5km, the suggestion being that there was some effect of solar heating on the pressure measurements, but the exact reason is unclear. The agreement between the RS41 and RS92 temperature measurements was better than the combined uncertainties. However, there were some noteworthy discrepancies that were presumably caused by the "wet-bulbing" effect and stagnation of the balloon. Although the median of the relative humidity differences was only a little more than 2% of the relative humidity at all altitudes, the relative humidity of the RS92 was much lower than that of the RS41 at altitudes of about 17km in the tropics. This dry bias might have been caused by the incomplete solar radiation correction of the RS92, and a correction table for the daytime RS92 humidity was calculated. This study showed that the RS41 measurements were consistent with the specifications of the manufacturer in most cases over both the tropical and polar oceans. However, further studies of the causes of the discrepancies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are the key transcription factors that modulate lipid biosynthesis. SREBPs are synthesized as endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-bound precursors that require proteolytic activation in the Golgi apparatus. The stability and maturation of precursor SREBPs depend on their binding to SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), which escorts SCAP/SREBP complex to the Golgi apparatus. In this study, we identified heat shock protein (HSP) 90 as a novel SREBP regulator that binds to and stabilizes SCAP/SREBP. In HepG2 cells, HSP90 inhibition led to proteasome dependent degradation of SCAP/SREBP, which resulted in the downregulation of SREBP-target genes and the reduction in intracellular triglyceride and cholesterol levels. We also demonstrated in vivo that HSP90 inhibition decreased SCAP/SREBP protein, downregulated SREBP-target genes, and reduced lipids levels in mouse livers. We propose that HSP90 plays an indispensable role in SREBP regulation by stabilizing the SCAP/SREBP complex, facilitating the activation of SREBP to maintain lipids homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on role of the polar prediction systems towards advancements for prediction capacity in polar regions. It mentions issues concerning climatic changes across the Arctic and Antarctica regions. It also highlights contribution for making the polar regions a target for application of improved environmental prediction science.

Pyroxasulfone inhibits very-long-chain fatty acid elongase in susceptible weeds and facilitates preemergence weed control. Pyroxasulfone showed 98% control of Echinochloa crus-galli (ECHCG) for up to 63 days at a use rate lower than that of chloroacetamide herbicides. ED90 of pyroxasulfone against ECHCG in soil with high organic matter (OM) content did not differ significantly from that in lower OM soils. The low water solubility and the low vapor pressure of pyroxasulfone resulted in limited horizontal diffusion on the soil surface and low risk of volatilization, respectively. The herbicidal efficacy of pyroxasulfone was affected by clod size and improved with smooth soil surface preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to stellate cells and immune cells, inflamed hepatocytes and hepatoma cells express various kinds of chemokines that attract various kinds of immune cells. Previously, we reported that hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication can induce physiological stress. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of chemokines produced by HBV-infected hepatocytes and hepatoma cells. A real-time PCR array targeting genes related to chemokines and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were carried out to detect the specific chemokines produced by Huh7 cells and HepG2 cells infected with various HBV genotypes. A migration assay, flow cytometry analysis, and immunohistochemistry were carried out to analyze the candidate immune cells that can affect the immunopathogenesis of HBV infection. The expressions of CX3CL1 mRNA and protein were significantly different among HBV genotypes A, B, and C and control cells (mock) (P<0.05). CD56+ NK cells and CD8+ T cells migrated to the hepatoma cells with HBV replication. Moreover, the migration activity of both immune cells was partially cancelled after the treatment of CX3CL1 neutralizing antibody. The expression level of NKG2D on CX3CR1+ NK cells in HCC with HBV infection was significantly lower than that in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with HCV infection and chronic hepatitis B and C patients (P< 0.05). On the other hand, the frequency of PD-1high CX3CR1+ CD8+ T cells in HCC with HBV infection was significantly higher than that in HCC with HCV infection and chronic hepatitis B and C (P<0.05). The expression of CX3CL1 in HBV-replicating hepatocytes and hepatoma cells could contribute to the immunopathogenesis of HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exercise can effectively ameliorate type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. Here we show that the mRNA levels of one of peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor (PPAR) family members, PPARα1, and genes related to energy metabolism, including PPARα coactivator-1 protein- 1α (PGC-1α) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL), increased in the gastrocnemius muscle of habitual exercise-trained mice. When mice were intraperitoneally administered an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside (AICAR), the mRNA levels of the aforementioned three genes increased in gastrocnemius muscle. AICAR treatment to C2C12 differentiated myotubes also increased PPARα1 mRNA levels, but not PPARα and -γ mRNA levels, concomitant with increased PGC-1α mRNA levels. An AMPK inhibitor, compound C, blocked these AICAR effects. AICAR treatment increased the half-life of PPARα1 mRNA nearly threefold (4-12 h) by activating AMPK. When C2C12 myoblast cells infected with a PPARα1 expression lentivirus were differentiated into myotubes, PPARα1 overexpression dramatically increased LPL mRNA levels more than 40-fold. In contrast, when PPARα1 expression was suppressed in C2C12 myotubes, LPL mRNA levels were significantly reduced, and the effect of AICAR on increased LPL gene expression was almost completely blocked. These results indicated that PPARα1 was intimately involved in LPL gene expression in skeletal muscle and the AMPK-PPARα1 pathway may play a role in exercise-induced LPL expression. Thus, we identified a novel critical role for PPARα1 in response to AMPK activation for controlling the expression of a subset of genes associated with metabolic regulation in skeletal muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study that was conducted to examine the stimulatory effect of the transcrioption factor ATF6a on cholesterogenic gene expression and de Novo cholesterol synthesis. It mentions the procedure where Luciferase assays and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that ATF6a can regulate de novo cholesterol synthesis through stimulation of cholesterogenic gene expression.