ZFP57 is required to maintain the germline-marked differential methylation at imprinting control regions (ICRs) in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Although DNA methylation has a key role in genomic imprinting, several imprinted genes are controlled by different mechanisms, and a comprehensive study of the relationship between DMR methylation and imprinted gene expression is lacking. To address the latter issue, we differentiated wild-type and Zfp57-/- hybrid mouse ESCs into neural precursor cells (NPCs) and evaluated allelic expression of imprinted genes.

The properties of semiflexible polymers tethered by one end to an impenetrable wall and exposed to oscillatory shear flow are investigated by mesoscale simulations. A polymer, confined in two dimensions, is described by a linear bead-spring chain, and fluid interactions are incorporated by the Brownian multiparticle collision dynamics approach. At small strain, the polymers follow the applied flow field. However, at high strain, we find a strongly nonlinear response with major conformational changes.

We consider a natural generalization of the eigenvalue problem for the Laplacian with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. This corresponds to look for the critical values of the Dirichlet integral, constrained to the unit Lq sphere. We collect some results, present some counter-examples and compile a list of open problems.

Phosphoinositides (PtdIns) control fundamental cell processes, and inherited defects of PtdIns kinases or phosphatases cause severe human diseases, including Lowe syndrome due to mutations in OCRL, which encodes a PtdIns(4,5)P2 5-phosphatase. Here we unveil a lysosomal response to the arrival of autophagosomal cargo in which OCRL plays a key part. We identify mitochondrial DNA and TLR9 as the cargo and the receptor that triggers and mediates, respectively, this response.

Despite the international guidelines on the containment of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the European scientific community was not sufficiently prepared to coordinate scientific efforts. To improve preparedness for future pandemics, we have initiated a network of nine European-funded Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Actions that can help facilitate inter-, multi-, and trans-disciplinary communication and collaboration.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still requires fast and effective efforts from all fronts, including epidemiology, clinical practice, molecular medicine, and pharmacology. A comprehensive molecular framework of the disease is needed to better understand its pathological mechanisms, and to design successful treatments able to slow down and stop the impressive pace of the outbreak and harsh clinical symptomatology, possibly via the use of readily available, off-the-shelf drugs.

The non-equilibrium structural and dynamical properties of semiflexible polymers confined to two dimensions under oscillatory shear flow are investigated by Brownian multi-particle collision dynamics. Two different scenarios will be considered: Filaments with both fixed ends [1] and wall-anchored chains [2]. The results of the numerical studies will be presented and discussed. References [1] A. Lamura, R. G. Winkler Polymers 2019, 11, 737. DOI:10.3390/polym11040737 [2] A. Lamura, R. G. Winkler, G. Gompper pre-print 2021

We numerically study by lattice Boltzmann simulations the rheological properties of an active emulsion made of a suspension of an active polar gel embedded in an isotropic passive background. We find that the hexatic equilibrium configuration of polar droplets is highly sensitive to both active injection and external forcing and may either lead to asymmetric unidirectional states which break top-bottom symmetry or symmetric ones. In this latter case, for large enough activity, the system develops a shear thickening regime at low shear rates.

The present work is inspired by the recent developments in laboratory experiments made on chips, where the culturing of multiple cell species was possible. The model is based on coupled reaction-diffusion-transport equations with chemotaxis and takes into account the interactions among cell populations and the possibility of drug administration for drug testing effects.