Basic fibroblast growth factor can mediate the early inductive events in renal development.

The earliest characterized events during induction of tubulogenesis in renal anlage include the condensation or compaction of metanephrogenic mesenchyme with the concurrent upregulation of WT1, the gene encoding the Wilms tumor transcriptional activator/suppressor. We report that basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) can mimic the early effects of an inductor tissue by promoting the condensation of mesenchyme and inhibiting the tissue degeneration associated with the absence of an inductor tissue. By in situ hybridization, FGF2 was also found to mediate the transcriptional activation of WT1 and of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor gene, c-met. Although FGF2 can induce these early events of renal tubulogenesis, it cannot promote the epithelial conversion associated with tubule formation in metanephrogenic mesenchyme. For this, an undefined factor(s) from pituitary extract in combination with FGF2 can cause tubule formation in uninduced mesenchyme. These findings support the concept that induction in kidney is a multiphasic process that is mediated by more than a single comprehensive inductive factor and that soluble molecules can mimic these inductive activities in isolated uninduced metanephrogenic mesenchyme.

Persistent identifier Studies

The studies have aimed to overcome the confusing variety of existing persistent identifier systems, by; analysing the current national URN:NBN and other identifier initiatives providing guidelines for an international harmonized persistent identifier framework that serves the long-term preservation needs of the research and cultural heritage communities advising these communities about a roadmap to gain the potential benefits. This roadmap also includes a blueprint for an organisation for the distribution and maintenance of the Persistent Identifier infrastructure. These studies are connected to the broader PersId project with DEFF, SURF, DANS, the national libraries of Germany, Finland and Sweden and CNR and FDR from Italy. A number of organisations have been involved in the process: Europeana, the British library, the Dutch Royal Library, the National library of Norway and the Ministry of Education, Flanders, Belgium. PersID - III: Current State and State of the Art (IIIa) & User Requirements (IIIb) (Persistent Identifier: urn:nbn:nl:ui:13-9g4-i1s) PersID - IV: Prototype for a Meta Resolver System/ Work on Standards (Persistent Identifier: urn:nbn:nl:ui:13-wt1-6n9) PersID - V: Sustainability (Persistent Identifier: urn:nbn:nl:ui:13-o4p-8py) Please note that there are also two broader reports on the project as a whole: PersID - I: Project report and II:Communication. For further information please visit the website of the Persistent Identifier project: www.persid.org