University of Dundee

About: University of Dundee is a education organization based out in Dundee, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Protein kinase A. The organization has 19258 authors who have published 39640 publications receiving 1919433 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitas Dundensis & Dundee University.

Emerging roles of nuclear protein phosphatases

Abstract: Large-scale approaches have linked protein phosphatase function to a multitude of nuclear processes, such as the DNA-damage response, cell-cycle progression and gene regulation. In addition, proteomics techniques have enabled the identification of new components of multiprotein phosphatase complexes, such as targeting and regulatory subunits.

The stress of the transition to university: A longitudinal study of psychological disturbance, absent-mindedness and vulnerability to homesickness

Abstract: A longitudinal study was conducted to examine the effects of the transition to university in residential and home-based students. All students showed evidence of raised psychological disturbance and absent-mindedness following the transition. Although there were no differences between resident and home-based students in this respect, those who reported homesickness were distinguished from the remainder in terms of higher levels of psychological disturbance and cognitive failure following the transition to university. Covariate analysis established that the gain in psychological disturbance following the transition was greater for the homesick group. The results are discussed in terms of the effects of stressful transitions on psychological state and the concept of personal vulnerability.

Cohort Profile: Generation Scotland: Scottish Family Health Study (GS:SFHS). The study, its participants and their potential for genetic research on health and illness

Abstract: GS:SFHS is a family-based genetic epidemiology study with DNA and socio-demographic and clinical data from about 24 000 volunteers across Scotland, aged 18–98 years, from February 2006 to March 2011. Biological samples and anonymized data form a resource for research on the genetics of health, disease and quantitative traits of current and projected public health importance. Specific and important features of GS:SFHS include the family-based recruitment, with the intent of obtaining family groups; the breadth and depth of phenotype information, including detailed data on cognitive function, personality traits and mental health; consent and mechanisms for linkage of all data to comprehensive routine health-care records; and ‘broad’ consent from participants to use their data and samples for a wide range of medical research, including commercial research, and for re-contact for the potential collection of other data or samples, or for participation in related studies and the design and review of the protocol in parallel with in-depth sociological research on (potential) participants and users of the research outcomes. These features were designed to maximize the power of the resource to identify, replicate or control for genetic factors associated with a wide spectrum of illnesses and risk factors, both now and in the future.

HLA-E is expressed on trophoblast and interacts with CD94/NKG2 receptors on decidual NK cells.

Abstract: Non-classical MHC class I molecule HLA-E is the ligand for CD94/NKG2 NK cell receptors. Surface expression of HLA-E requires binding of specific HLA class I leader sequences. The uterine mucosa in early pregnancy (decidua) is infiltrated by large numbers of NK cells, which are closely associated with placental trophoblast cells. In this study we demonstrate that trophoblast cells express HLA-E on their cell surface in addition to the previously reported expression of HLA-G and HLA-C. Furthermore, we show that the vast majority of decidual NK cells bind to HLA-E tetrameric complexes and this binding is inhibited by mAb to CD94. Thus, recognition of fetal HLA-E by decidual NK cells may play a key role in regulation of placentation. The functional consequences of decidual NK cell interaction were investigated in cytotoxicity assays using polyclonal decidual NK cells. The overall effect of CD94/NKG2 interaction with HLA-E is inhibition of cytotoxicity by decidual NK cells. However, since decidual NK cells are unable to kill trophoblast even in the presence of mAb to MHC class I molecules and NK cell receptors, HLA-E interaction with CD94/NKG2 receptors may regulate other functions besides cytolysis during implantation.