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Kanazawa University research: High speed atomic force microscopy studies provide insights into influenza A viral replication

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KANAZAWA, Japan, July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, IMDEA Nanoscience (Madrid, Spain) and CNB-CSIC (Madrid, Spain) report in ACS Nano experiments that reveal a cycle of conformational stages that recombinant Influenza A genomes pass through during RNA synthesis.

Influenza A is a global health risk responsible for local epidemics and deadly pandemics. As such, the mechanism by which the virus replicates itself has attracted significant interest. Researchers led by Shingo Fukuda at Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University in Japan, Jaime Martin-Benito at CNB-CSIC and Borja Ibarra  at IMDEA Nanociencia in Spain, used high-speed atomic force microscopy and electron microscopy to pin down the conformational dynamics of recombinant viral genomes (or rRNPs) during RNA synthesis.

Previous attempts to understand what possible conformational changes occur during Influenza A viral multiplication cycle had been hindered by what the researchers describe as the “bulky double-helical structure” of the viral RNPs (vRNP, Fig.1 A), which made it hard to see what was going on. As a result the researchers produced a circular recombinant ribonucleoprotein complex (rRNP) (Fig.1 B), which allowed them to overcome the ‘bulky issue’. The authors used HS-AFM to follow conformational changes of individual rRNP complexes in real-time during active RNA synthesis (Fig.1 C).

Their work provides first direct experimental evidence showing that individual rRNPs can be recycled for multiple transcription and replication cycles. This is a key feature for viral multiplication. In addition, their study highlights how factors that affect the stability of the secondary structures of the nascent RNA affect the rate of RNA synthesis.

The authors concluded that the approach is useful for investigating viral transcription and replication mechanisms. “Transcriptional pausing is an intrinsic property of most RNA polymerases, and its regulation constitutes one of the central mechanisms of control of gene expression,” they add. “Future single-molecule experiments of real-time RNA synthesis kinetics by the IAV RdRp [influenza A virus RNA dependent RNA polymerase] within the context of the RNP will help to elucidate the nature of putative pause states and their roles in viral transcription and replication.”

Figure

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/Figure-1-2.jpg

Caption : Fig.1 (A, B) HS-AFM images of vRNP (A) and rRNP (B). (C) Successive HS-AFM images of rRNP during RNA synthesis. © 2024 Carlero, et al. Published by American Chemical Society

Glossary

RNA synthesis

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymer and a nucleic acid. Its replication is catalyzed by an enzyme known as RNA polymerase. The synthesis only proceeds in the presence of the nucleotide and proteins required to build up the RNA molecule.

Although RNA synthesis can use DNA as the synthesis template, a number of viruses replicate with RNA as the template. The enzyme that catalyzes this type of synthesis is known as RNA dependent RNA polymerase.

Recombinant ribonucleic proteins

Recombinant ribonucleoproteins are useful for ways of studying RNA processes. In this instance the authors used a recombinant ribonucleoprotein made up of the same protein components but just 352 nucleotides long, where the RNA segment used had been shown to avoid supercoiling.

High-speed atomic force microscopy

This imaging technique uses a nanosized tip at the end of a cantilever that is scanned over a sample. It can be used to determine the topography of a sample surface from the change in the strength of forces between the tip and the sample with distance, and the resulting deflection of the cantilever. It was first developed in the 1980s but a number of modifications have augmented the functionality of the technique since. It is better suited to imaging biological samples than the scanning tunneling microscope that had been developed because it does not require a conducting sample.

In the 2000s Toshio Ando at Kanazawa University was able to improve the scanning speed to such an extent that moving images could be captured. This allowed people to use the technique to visualize molecular processes for the first time.

Reference

Diego Carlero, Shingo Fukuda, Rebeca Bocanegra, Toshio Ando, Jaime Martin-Benito, and Borja Ibarra Conformational Dynamics of Influenza A Virus Ribonucleoprotein Complexes during RNA Synthesis ACS Nano 2024.

DOI:10.1021/acsnano.4c01362

URL: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c01362

Funding acknowledgements

This work was supported by the NanoLSI Visiting Fellows Program 2019 (to B.I.), the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), MEXT (Japan), and grants PGC2018-099341-B-I00 (to B.I.), PID2021-126755NB-I00 (to B.I.), and PID2020-117752RB-I00 (to J.M.B.) financed by MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and FEDER, UE,  Grant TED2021-132748B-I00 financed by the European Union “NextGeneration EU”/PRTR (to J.M.B.), and Grant No. 20K15140 financed by JSPS KAKENHI (to S.F.). IMDEA Nanociencia acknowledges support from the Severo Ochoa Program for Centers of Excellence in R&D (CEX2020-001039-S).

Contact

Hiroe Yoneda (Ms)
Senior Specialist in Project Planning and Outreach
NanoLSI Administration Office, Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI)
Kanazawa University
Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan
Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp
Tel: +81 (76) 234-4555

About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University

Understanding nanoscale mechanisms of life phenomena by exploring “uncharted nano-realms”

Cells are the basic units of almost all life forms. We are developing nanoprobe technologies that allow direct imaging, analysis, and manipulation of the behavior and dynamics of important macromolecules in living organisms, such as proteins and nucleic acids, at the surface and interior of cells. We aim at acquiring a fundamental understanding of the various life phenomena at the nanoscale.

https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

About the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI)

The WPI program was launched in 2007 by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to foster globally visible research centers boasting the highest standards and outstanding research environments. Numbering more than a dozen and operating at institutions throughout the country, these centers are given a high degree of autonomy, allowing them to engage in innovative modes of management and research. The program is administered by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

See the latest research news from the centers at the WPI News Portal: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsportal/WPI

Main WPI program site: 

www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-toplevel

About Kanazawa University

As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities.

The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa – a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas.

http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/

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PicoCELA Inc. Announces Closing of Public Offering

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TOKYO, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PicoCELA Inc. (“PicoCELA” or the “Company,”) (Nasdaq: PLCA), a Tokyo-based provider of enterprise wireless mesh solutions, today announced the closing of its previously announced best-efforts public offering (the “Offering”) of 6,100,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”) at a public placement price of $0.30 per ADS. The Company received aggregate gross proceeds of $1,830,000, before deducting placement agent commission and other offering expenses. Each ADS represents one common share of the Company.

The Company intends to use approximately 70% of the net proceeds from the Offering for working capital and general corporate purposes and approximately 30% for product development and research.

Revere Securities LLC acted as the lead placement agent and Dominari Securities LLC acted as the co-placement agent in connection with the Offering. Hunter Taubman Fischer & Li LLC acted as U.S. counsel to the Company, and Winston & Strawn LLP acted as U.S. counsel to the placement agents in connection with the Offering. Spirit Advisors LLC acted as the financial advisor for the Company.

A registration statement on Form F-1, as amended (File No. 333-285764), relating to the Offering was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and was declared effective by the SEC on May 22, 2025. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming part of the effective registration statement. A copy of the final prospectus relating to the Offering was filed with the SEC on May 27, 2025 and is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from: Revere Securities LLC, 560 Lexington Ave, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022, or by email at contact@reveresecurities.com.  

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About PicoCELA Inc.

PicoCELA is a Tokyo-based provider of enterprise wireless mesh solutions, specializing in the manufacturing, installation, and services of mesh Wi-Fi access point devices. PicoCELA Backhaul Engine, the Company’s proprietary patented wireless mesh communication technology software, eliminates the need for extensive LAN cabling and enables flexible and easy installation of Wi-Fi network devices. PicoCELA also offers a cloud portal service, PicoManager, which allows users to monitor connectivity and communication traffic, as well as install edge-computing software on the Company’s PCWL mesh Wi-Fi access points.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: the uncertainties related to market conditions, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
global@picocela.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2599954/5340089/PicoCELA_Logo.jpg

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Galaxy Digital Inc. Announces Public Offering of Common Stock

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NEW YORK, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Galaxy Digital Inc. (“Galaxy” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GLXY) (TSX: GLXY), a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, today announced an underwritten offering of 29,000,000 shares of its Class A common stock, consisting of 24,150,000 shares offered by Galaxy and 4,850,000 shares offered by certain stockholders of Galaxy. The underwriters for the offering also have a 30-day option to purchase up to 4,350,000 additional shares of its Class A common stock from secondary shares. This is Galaxy’s first underwritten public offering of its Class A common stock as a listed company on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.

Galaxy intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of Class A common stock offered in the offering by Galaxy to purchase newly issued limited partnership units (“LP Units”) from its operating subsidiary, Galaxy Digital Holdings LP (“GDH LP”). GDH LP will use the proceeds from the sale of LP Units to finance the continued expansion of its artificial intelligence and high-performance computing infrastructure at its Helios data center campus in the panhandle region of West Texas, and for general corporate purposes. Galaxy will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of the selling stockholders.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies and Morgan Stanley are acting as active joint book-running managers for the offering; Canaccord Genuity, Cantor, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, A Stifel Company, Piper Sandler and BTIG are acting as additional joint book-running managers for the offering; and ATB Capital Markets, The Benchmark Company, Compass Point, H.C. Wainwright & Co. and Rosenblatt are acting as co-managers for the offering. Galaxy Digital Partners acted as strategic advisor for the offering.

Galaxy has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates, but such registration has not yet become effective. The shares of Class A common stock proposed to be offered pursuant to such registration statement may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Galaxy has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Galaxy and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov

Alternatively, Galaxy, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the preliminary prospectus if you request it from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone: 1-866-471-2526 or by email at Prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by telephone (877) 821-7388 or by email at Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com; or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014.

The proposed offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any shares of Class A common stock, nor shall there be any sale of shares of Class A common stock, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The shares of Class A common stock subject to the offering have not been qualified for distribution by a prospectus in Canada and consequently may not be offered, sold or delivered in Canada or for the account of any Canadian resident except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws. Shares of Class A common stock issued by the Company in Canada as part of the offering will be subject to resale restrictions for a period of four months and one day from the date of their issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities law. The TSX has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. No securities commission or similar regulatory authority in Canada has reviewed or passed on the merits of the offering.

ABOUT GALAXY DIGITAL INC.

Galaxy Digital Inc. (NASDAQ/TSX: GLXY) is a global leader in digital assets and data center infrastructure, delivering solutions that accelerate progress in finance and artificial intelligence. Our digital assets platform offers institutional access to trading, advisory, asset management, staking, self-custody, and tokenization technology. In addition, we invest in and operate cutting-edge data center infrastructure to power AI and high-performance computing, meeting the growing demand for scalable energy and compute solutions in the U.S. The Company is headquartered in New York City, with offices across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and “forward-looking information” under Canadian securities laws (collectively, “forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and may include statements that address future operating, financial or business performance or Galaxy’s strategies or expectations, including those about the offering. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us taking into account information currently available to us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to the risks contained in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time, including in the prospectus for the offering and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2025. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to update the reasons if actual results differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. You should not take any statement regarding past trends or activities as a representation that the trends or activities will continue in the future. Accordingly, you should not put undue reliance on these statements.

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Bristol Bay Government Services Group Notifies Individuals of a Data Security Incident

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SAN ANTONIO, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bristol Bay Government Services Group, LLC (“BBGSG”), formerly known as Bristol Bay Shared Services, LLC (“BBSS”), is encouraging individuals to take precautionary measures to protect their information following a security incident. BBGSG is a service provider to its wholly owned subsidiaries. As part of its operations, BBGSG collects personal information from its workers, such as employees and contractors, as well as vendors.

On or around October 19, 2024, BBGSG became aware of a security incident impacting a portion of its environment. Upon detection, BBGSG immediately took steps to secure its systems and engaged external cybersecurity specialists to assist with the investigation. BBGSG then conducted a review of the data involved to determine whose information may be involved and to what extent.

After investigating the incident, BBGSG determined that the specific information involved may differ for each individual. The details depend on the person’s relationship or connection with BBGSG. This information may include contact details like name and address, and possibly one or more of the following: Social Security number (SSN), government-issued identifier (such as a driver’s license, state ID, or passport number), financial account information, medical information, passport, and health-related information.

BBGSG is currently sending letters to individuals whose contact information is known to BBGSG. BBGSG has also established a dedicated website for individuals to learn more about this incident and access resources to help protect their information. The website is available at https://bbssllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bristol-Bay-Website-Notice.pdf.

If individuals have any questions relating to this incident, they are encouraged to contact BBGSG’s dedicated, toll-free number set up for this incident at 855-260-0803, which is available Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 9:00pm Eastern Time.

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