Biology subjects

Barrington, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Barrington, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

"Pain in my heart": Understanding perinatal depression among women living with HIV in Malawi

BackgroundPerinatal depression (PND) can interfere with HIV care engagement and outcomes. We examined experiences of PND among women living with HIV (WLWH) in Malawi. MethodsWe screened 73 WLWH presenting for perinatal care in Lilongwe, Malawi using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). We conducted interviews with 24 women experiencing PND and analyzed data using inductive and deductive coding and narrative analysis. ResultsWomen experienced a double burden of physical and mental illness, expressed as pain in ones heart. Receiving an HIV diagnosis unexpectedly during antenatal care was a key contributor to developing PND. This development was influenced by stigmatization and social support. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the need to recognize the mental health implications of routine screening for HIV and to routinely screen and treat PND among WLWH. Culturally appropriate mental health interventions are needed in settings with a high HIV burden.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2019

Species-specific developmental timing is associated with global differences in protein stability in mouse and human

What determines the pace of embryonic development? Although many molecular mechanisms controlling developmental processes are evolutionarily conserved, the speed at which these operate can vary substantially between species. For example, the same genetic programme, comprising sequential changes in transcriptional states, governs the differentiation of motor neurons in mouse and human, but the tempo at which it operates differs between species. Using in vitro directed differentiation of embryonic stem cells to motor neurons, we show that the programme runs twice as fast in mouse as in human. We provide evidence that this is neither due to differences in signalling, nor the genomic sequence of genes or their regulatory elements. Instead, we find an approximately two-fold increase in protein stability and cell cycle duration in human cells compared to mouse. This can account for the slower pace of human development, indicating that global differences in key kinetic parameters play a major role in interspecies differences in developmental tempo.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Egg activation triggers clearance of maternally deposited RNA binding proteins

The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is a conserved step in animal development, where control is passed from the maternal genome to the zygotic one. Although the MZT is typically considered from its impact on the transcriptome, we previously found that three maternally deposited Drosophila RNA binding proteins (ME31B, Trailer Hitch [TRAL], and Cup) are also cleared during the MZT by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that these proteins are degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Kondo, an E2 conjugating enzyme, and the E3 CTLH ligase are required for the destruction of ME31B, TRAL, and Cup. Importantly, despite occurring hours earlier, egg activation establishes the timer for clearance of these proteins by activating the Pan Gu kinase, which in turn stimulates translation of Kondo mRNA. In other words, egg activation triggers a series of regulatory events that culminate in the degradation of maternally deposited RNA binding proteins several hours later. Clearance of the maternal protein dowry thus appears to be a coordinated, but as-yet underappreciated, aspect of the MZT.\n\nHIGHLIGHTSO_LIDegradation of ME31B requires the PNG kinase, but not fertilization\nC_LIO_LIThe ubiquitin-proteasome system degrades ME31B via CTLH E3 ligase and the UBC-E2H/Kondo ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme\nC_LIO_LIThe association of ME31B with the CTLH complex does not require PNG activity\nC_LIO_LIPNG kinase mediates the translational upregulation of Kondo at egg activation\nC_LI

developmental biology↗