Les particules ribonucléoprotéiques (RNP) sont impliquées dans divers mécanismes cellulaires : les UsnRNP, la SRP, les RNP à boîtes C/D et H/ACA dans la modification des ARN et la maturation des ARN ribosomiques, et la télomérase dans le maintien des extrémités chromosomiques. L'assemblage de ces RNP est un processus complexe faisant intervenir de nombreux facteurs, dont le complexe SMN. Un déficit de l’une des protéines de ce complexe conduit à l’amyotrophie spinale. Il est essentiel à la survie cellulaire et est nécessaire à l’assemblage des UsnRNP et de la SRP. Il est suggèré que le complexe SMN joue un rôle dans la biogenèse des RNP à boîtes C/D et H/ACA. Nous avons montré des interactions in vitro et des associations in cellulo entre le complexe SMN et la protéine NUFIP (un facteur d’assemblage de ces RNP). Ces résultats suggèrent l’existence d’un lien fonctionnel entre le complexe SMN et NUFIP dans l'assemblage des RNP à boîtes C/D et H/ACA et de la snRNP U4. Des interactions in vitro entre le complexe SMN et la protéine NAF1 (un facteur d’assemblage des RNP à boîtes H/ACA) ont révélés, que le complexe SMN est capable de s’associer avec la RNP à boîtes H/ACA en formation. Si le complexe SMN intervient dans l’assemblage des RNP, on peut supposer que cet assemblage soit défectueux dans la SMA. Nous avons montré que certains ARN sont accumulés dans la moelle épinière et le cerveau de souris SMA. La télomérase est réactivée dans les cellules cancéreuses. En collaboration avec l’équipe de J-M Vignaud (CHU central, Nancy), nous avons montré une augmentation du taux des protéines cœur des RNP à boîtes H/ACA et de NUFIP dans les cellules tumorales / Ribonucleoprotein particles (RNPs) are involved in various cellular mechanisms in eukaryotic cells: UsnRNP, SRP, C/D and H/ACA box RNPs in RNA modifications and rRNA maturation and telomerase in the synthesis of the chromosome extremities. RNP assembly is a very complex process, which involves numerous factors. One of these factors is the SMN complex. Decreased level of one of its components leads to spinal muscular atrophy. It is essential for cell survival and necessary for UsnRNP and SRP assembly. It is suggested that the SMN complex plays a role in C/D and H/ACA RNP biogenesis. We showed in vitro interactions and in cellulo associations between the SMN complex and the protein NUFIP (an assembly factor of these RNP). These results suggest the existence of a functional link between the SMN complex and NUFIP in the assembly of the C/D and H/ACA box RNPs and the U4 snRNP. In vitro interactions between the SMN complex and the protein NAF1 (an assembly factor of the H/ACA boxes RNPs) revealed, that the SMN complex is capable of joining with the H/ACA boxes RNPs in formation. If the SMN complex intervenes in the RNPs assembly, we can suppose that this assembly is defective in the SMA. We showed that any ARN is accumulated in the spinal cord and the brain of SMA mouse. The telomerase is reactivated in cancer cells. In association with the team of J-M Vignaud (CHU central, Nancy), we showed an increase of H/ACA box RNP proteins and NUFIP in these cancer cells

Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that results from the loss and/or degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the lower part of the spinal cord. With ~ 1 in 6000 live births per year being affected, this disease is the second leading cause of infant death and is caused by the loss or decrease of the Survival of Motor Neuron protein (SMN). While a lot is known about the role that SMN plays in the cytoplasmic assembly of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), it remains a crucial question in the field to gain a better understanding of what specific/distinct function(s) SMN might have in motor neurons. We have identified novel interactions between SMN and two RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) known to be components of axonal RNA granules. More specifically, we demonstrated that SMN interacts with HuD and SERBP1 in a direct fashion in foci-like structures along neurites of motor neuron-derived cells. We have also demonstrated that the SMN/HuD interaction is required for the localization of HuD into RNA granules in neurites of motor neuron-derived cells. Furthermore, I have shown that SERBP1 is down-regulated in the absence of normal levels of SMN and, most importantly, that over-expression of SERBP1 can rescue SMA-like neuronal defects using a cell culture model of the disease. These findings may help shed light on the non-canonical molecular pathway(s) involving SMN and RBPs in motor neurons and underscores the possible therapeutic benefits of targeting these RBPs in the treatment of SMA.

No description available.

The growth of thin-film metal nitride materials from elemental metal targets by plasma-assisted pulsed laser deposition (PLD) has been explored and analysed. A new UHV PLD growth system has been installed and assembled and its system elements were calibrated. A series of GaN thin films have been grown to calibrate the system. In-situ RHEED indicated that the films were single crystal and that growth proceeded in a three-dimensional fashion. SEM images showed heavy particulation of film surfaces that was not in evidence for later refractory metal nitride films. This may be connected to the fact that Ga targets were liquid while refractory metals were solid. Most GaN films were not continuous due to insufficient laser fluence. Continuous films did not exhibit photoluminescence. HfN films have been grown by PLD for the first time. Films grown have been shown to have high reflectivity in the visible region and low resistivity. These factors, along with their crystal structure, make them suitable candidates to be used as back-contacts in GaN LEDs and could also serve as buffer layers to enable the integration of GaN and Si technologies. Growth factors affecting the films’ final properties have been investigated. Nitrogen pressure, within the operating range of the plasma source, has been shown to have little effect on HfN films. Substrate temperature has been demonstrated to have more influence on the films’ properties, with 500 °C being established as optimum. ZrN films have also been grown by PLD. Early results indicated that they exhibit reflectivities 50 % ± 5 % lower than those of HfN. However, further growth and characterisation would be required in order to establish this as a fundamental property of ZrN as nitride targets were mostly used in ZrN production. Single-crystal epitaxial GdN and SmN films have been produced by PLD. This represents an improvement in the existing quality of GdN films reported in the literature, which are mostly polycrystalline. In the case of SmN, these are the first epitaxial films of this material to be grown. Film quality has been monitored in-situ by RHEED which has allowed growth to be tailored to produce ever-higher crystal quality. Post-growth analyses by collaborators was also of assistance in improving film growth. Substrate temperatures and nitrogen plasma parameters have been adjusted to find optimum values for each. In addition, laser fluence has been altered to minimise the presence of metal particulates in the films, which interfere with magnetic measurements carried out in analyses. Capping layers of Cr, YSZ or AlN have been deposited on the GdN and SmN prior to removal from vacuum to prevent their degradation upon exposure to atmospheric water vapour. The caps have been steadily improved over the course of this work, extending the lifetime of the nitride films in ambient. However, they remain volatile and this may persist since water vapour can enter the film at the edge regardless of capping quality. Optical transmission has shown an onset of absorption at 1.3 eV for GdN and 1.0 eV for SmN.

Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that results from the loss and/or degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the lower part of the spinal cord. With ~ 1 in 6000 live births per year being affected, this disease is the second leading cause of infant death and is caused by the loss or decrease of the Survival of Motor Neuron protein (SMN). While a lot is known about the role that SMN plays in the cytoplasmic assembly of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), it remains a crucial question in the field to gain a better understanding of what specific/distinct function(s) SMN might have in motor neurons. We have identified novel interactions between SMN and two RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) known to be components of axonal RNA granules. More specifically, we demonstrated that SMN interacts with HuD and SERBP1 in a direct fashion in foci-like structures along neurites of motor neuron-derived cells. We have also demonstrated that the SMN/HuD interaction is required for the localization of HuD into RNA granules in neurites of motor neuron-derived cells. Furthermore, I have shown that SERBP1 is down-regulated in the absence of normal levels of SMN and, most importantly, that over-expression of SERBP1 can rescue SMA-like neuronal defects using a cell culture model of the disease. These findings may help shed light on the non-canonical molecular pathway(s) involving SMN and RBPs in motor neurons and underscores the possible therapeutic benefits of targeting these RBPs in the treatment of SMA.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2008. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Vita. "May 2008" Includes bibliographical references.

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on March 25, 2010). Vita. Thesis advisor: Christian Lorson. "July 2009" Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

Spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that results from the loss and/or degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the lower part of the spinal cord. With ~ 1 in 6000 live births per year being affected, this disease is the second leading cause of infant death and is caused by the loss or decrease of the Survival of Motor Neuron protein (SMN). While a lot is known about the role that SMN plays in the cytoplasmic assembly of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), it remains a crucial question in the field to gain a better understanding of what specific/distinct function(s) SMN might have in motor neurons. We have identified novel interactions between SMN and two RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) known to be components of axonal RNA granules. More specifically, we demonstrated that SMN interacts with HuD and SERBP1 in a direct fashion in foci-like structures along neurites of motor neuron-derived cells. We have also demonstrated that the SMN/HuD interaction is required for the localization of HuD into RNA granules in neurites of motor neuron-derived cells. Furthermore, I have shown that SERBP1 is down-regulated in the absence of normal levels of SMN and, most importantly, that over-expression of SERBP1 can rescue SMA-like neuronal defects using a cell culture model of the disease. These findings may help shed light on the non-canonical molecular pathway(s) involving SMN and RBPs in motor neurons and underscores the possible therapeutic benefits of targeting these RBPs in the treatment of SMA.

(English) snRNPs are key components of the spliceosome. During their life, they are found in the cytoplasm and also in the nucleus, where carry out their function. There are five major snRNPs named according to RNA they contain U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6. Each snRNP consists from RNA, ring of seven Sm or LSm proteins and additional proteins specific for each snRNP. Their biogenesis starts in the nucleus, where they are transcribed. Then they are transported into the cytoplasm. During their cytoplasmic phase, the SMN complex forms the Sm ring around the specific sequence on snRNA and cap is trimethylated. These two modifications are the signals for reimport of snRNA into the nucleus, where they accumulate in the nuclear structures called Cajal bodies (CBs), where the final maturation steps occur. There are several quality control points during snRNP biogenesis that ensure that only fully assembled particles reach the spliceosome. The first checkpoint is in the nucleus immediately after the transcription, when the export complex is formed. The second checkpoint is in the cytoplasm and proofreads Sm ring assembly. If the Sm ring formation fails, the defective snRNPs are degraded in the cytoplasm by Xrn1 exonuclease. However, it is still unclear, how the cell distinguishes between normal and defective...