No description available.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the smallest known mammalian RNA virus, containing a genome of ~ 1700 nt. Replication of HDV is extremely dependent on the host transcription machinery. Previous studies indicated that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) directly binds to and forms an active preinitiation complex on the right terminal stem-loop fragment (R199G) of HDV genomic RNA, and that the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) directly binds to the same region. Further studies demonstrated that PSF also binds to the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAP II. In my thesis, co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to show that PSF stimulates the interaction of RNAPII with R199G. Results of co-immunoprecipitation experiments also suggest that both the RNA recognition motif 2 (RRM2) and N-terminal proline-rich region (PRR) of PSF are required for the interaction between PSF and RNAPII, while the two RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and RRM2) might be required for the interaction of PSF with R199G. Furthermore, in vitro run-off transcription assays suggest that PSF facilitates the HDV RNA transcription from the R199G template. Together, the above experiments suggest that PSF might act as a transcription factor for the RNAPII transcription of HDV RNA by linking the CTD of RNAPII and the HDV RNA promoter. My experiments provide a better understanding of the mechanism of HDV RNA-dependent transcription by RNAP II.

The organotin compound tributyltin (TBT) has been used as a biocide on boats for anti-fouling paint and has been banned 1993 on all boats in Sweden. Storage sites for boats are therefore a contamination source, hull scraping and painting contribute to littering and spread to the waterbodies ultimately accumulating in Brunnsviken’s sediments. TBT is toxic in very small amounts for organism’s nerve-, immune- and production system and therefore becomes a threat to the bays ecosystem. The concentration of TBT in Brunnsviken’s sediments exceed acceptable threshold levels of what is considered hazardous to the environment. TBT bind to sediments and particles and are transported by the water currents, it is therefore of great importance to know the flow dynamics in Brunnsivken to get a larger understanding for the spread and accumulation of TBT. The origin and dissemination of TBT have to be evaluated for the right action to be made. According to new directive from EU, all surface waters must reach good chemical status. Whit in the frame of this Bachelor thesis and on behalf of the environmental administration Stockholm City, a field study has been conducted, regarding Brunnsviken’s water dynamics. The aim has been to see if a flow pattern could be found and explain the spread and high levels of the pollution of TBT in the northern parts of Brunnsviken’s sediments. Field investigations have been conducted using sonde and current floater in order to determine the stratification of water bodies and their propensity to behave vertically based on temperature, salinity and turbity. A second parameter was also considered in order to account for flow velocity and flow direction. High-resolution measurements were performed at 11 transects in Brunnsviken to determine if there are any geographical differences that could account for the spread of TBT. Calculations were made regarding volumetric flow, transport time and mass load at each transect, which was subsequently compared to turnover time previously established by the Swedish Metrological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) and previous studies by Karlsson (2016) with longer time reference were used, in order to corroborate the momentary high-resolution results from this study, by integrating them into a broader perspective. The results elucidate geographical variations in different water bodies in regards to temperature, salinity and turbidity. A pronounced stratification was identified in waterbodies located in the southern- and middle parts of the bay, whereas the northern part was less well defined as stratified, indicative of a more homogenous water body. The direction of flow appeared to move toward Brunnsivken’s central region with a relatively uniform flow velocity throughout the bay. No conclusions regarding a spread of TBT form south to north have been drawn. This is because the narrowest point in Brunnsviken, which separates the north form the south, have the lowest transport time and mass transport values. However, interactions of water bodies with different origins seems play an important role in the central parts of the bay and mixing in the northern regions has been found, which may explain the spread of suspended matter and TBT between the central and northern parts. Proposal of further studies has been made in order to get a better understanding of the high level of TBT in the northern parts of Brunnsivken, providing preliminary evidence where the result of this study can be used as a foundation. / Den organiska tennföreningen tributyltenn (TBT) har används som biocid i båtbottenfärger och är sedan 1993 helt förbjuden i Sverige. Båtuppläggningsplatser ses som en föroreningskälla i och med skrovskarpning och bottenfärgmålning, vars spill sprids vidare till Brunnsvikens vatten och avsätts i dess bottensediment. TBT är ett hormonstörande ämne som är skadlig för organismers nervsystem, immunförsvar och fortplantningssystem vid mycket små koncentrationer och ses därför som ett hot mot vikens ekosystem. Halten TBT i Brunnsvikens sediment överstiger de Svenska riktvärdena för kemisk status. Vattnets strömningsförhållanden är därför viktiga att förstå då de påverkar transporten och avsättningen av sediment och partikelbundet TBT. Dess ursprung och spridning måste därför undersökas för att rätt åtgärder skall kunna framtas för att nå god kemisk status till år 2027, i enlighet med EUs ramdirektivför vatten (2000/60/EC). Inom ramen för detta kandidatarbete och på uppdrag av miljöförvaltningen i Stockholm stad, har en fältstudie utförts gällande Brunnsvikens vattendynamik för att se om det förekommer strömningsmönster som kan förklara spridningen och de svårförklarade höga halterna av TBT i vikens norra delar. Fältundersökningar har utförts där sond- och strömkors har använts för att ta reda på hur skiktningen i vattenmassorna ser ut för att vidare kunna beräkna strömningshastigheter och flödesriktning i de olika vattenmassorna. Högupplösta mätningar utfördes längs 11 transekter i Brunnsviken för att se om det förekommer geografiska skillnader i vattenmassorna som kan förklara spridningen av TBT. Enklare överslagsberäkningar utfördes gällande vattenföring, transporttid och masstransport vid vardera transekt. Beräkningar gällande vattenföring och transporttider har kompletterats med omsättningstider från Sveriges metrologiska och hydrologiska institut (SMHI) och tidigare utredningar av Karlsson (2016) med längre tidupplösning, för att bädda in de egna mätningarna i ett bredare perspektiv och för att se om dessa kan stödja de momentana resultaten från denna studie. Vid mättillfällena observerades variationer i vattenmassorna i de olika delarna i viken gällande temperatur, salinitet och tubiditet, med en tydligare skiktning i vikens södra och mellersta delar jämfört med de norra delarna. Strömningsriktningen ser ut att röra sig mot vikens mellersta delar, vilket möjligen kan förklaras av utpumpning av vatten som sker i dessa områden. Hastigheterna är relativt jämn i hela viken förutom i de norra delarna. Baserat på resultaten i denna studie, har inga slutsatser gällande spridning från söder till norr har kunnat göras då vikens smalaste delar som även separerar delarna åt visar sig ha lägsta transporttiderna och masstransporterna. Det har dock hittats interaktioner mellan ett möjligt möte av vattenmassor i vikens mellersta delar och en effektiv omblandning i vikens norra delar som skulle kunna förklara en spridning av suspenderat material och där med TBT från de mellersta till de norra delarna. Förslag på fortsatta studier har gjorts för att kunna få en större förståelse för de höga halterna av TBT i vikens norra delar, där resultat från denna studie kan användas som underlag.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is the smallest known mammalian RNA virus, containing a genome of ~ 1700 nt. Replication of HDV is extremely dependent on the host transcription machinery. Previous studies indicated that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) directly binds to and forms an active preinitiation complex on the right terminal stem-loop fragment (R199G) of HDV genomic RNA, and that the polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) directly binds to the same region. Further studies demonstrated that PSF also binds to the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNAP II. In my thesis, co-immunoprecipitation assays were performed to show that PSF stimulates the interaction of RNAPII with R199G. Results of co-immunoprecipitation experiments also suggest that both the RNA recognition motif 2 (RRM2) and N-terminal proline-rich region (PRR) of PSF are required for the interaction between PSF and RNAPII, while the two RNA recognition motifs (RRM1 and RRM2) might be required for the interaction of PSF with R199G. Furthermore, in vitro run-off transcription assays suggest that PSF facilitates the HDV RNA transcription from the R199G template. Together, the above experiments suggest that PSF might act as a transcription factor for the RNAPII transcription of HDV RNA by linking the CTD of RNAPII and the HDV RNA promoter. My experiments provide a better understanding of the mechanism of HDV RNA-dependent transcription by RNAP II.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) is regulated by multiple modifications to the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest subunit, Rpb1. This study has focused on the relationship between hyperphosphorylation of the CTD and RNAPII turnover and proteolytic degradation as well as post-translational modifications of the globular core of RNAPII. Following tandem affinity purification, western blot analysis showed that MG132 treated RTR1 ERG6 deletion yeast cells have accumulation of total RNAPII and in particular, the hyperphosphorylated form of the protein complex. In addition, proteomic studies using MuDPIT have revealed increased interaction between proteins of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation system in the mutant MG132 treated yeast cells as well as potential ubiquitin and phosphorylation sites in RNAPII subunits, Rpb6 and Rpb1, respectively. A novel Rpb1 phosphorylation site, T1471-P, is located in the linker region between the CTD and globular domain of Rpb1 and will be the focus of future studies to determine biological significance of this post-translational modification.

我國公債期貨市場發展至今，市場流動性未能有效提振，本文將針對此問題嘗試從市場結構、實務狀況、相關學理等各方面，探討諸多可能的影響因素，並加以分析研究，找出問題的癥結以提供解決之道。此外，本文亦從問券調查的結果中，歸納出市場參予者對現行公債期貨的看法，希冀能作為台灣期貨交易所未來商品規劃之參考。 / Since the Taiwan government bond futures trade, the market is lack of liquidity during the year. For the problem, this paper considers the layers of market structure, trading convention and relative theories, try to analysis the causes of less liquidity and resolve the liquidity problem. On the other hand, by making the survey this paper sums up the opinions from the participants of the bond futures market. This paper, which could help the Taiwan Futures Exchange in designing other interest rate derivatives, will wish to give some useful reference.