bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A proteomic approach reveals transient association of reticulocalbin-3, a novel member of the CREC family, with the precursor of subtilisin-like proprotein convertase, PACE4
Authors: Tsuji Akihiko , Kikuchi Yayoi , Sato Yukimi , Koide Shizuyo , Yuasa Keizo , Nagahama Masami , Matsuda Yoshiko 
Published: April 2006

SPCs (subtilisin-like proprotein convertases) are a family of seven structurally related serine endoproteases that are involved in the proteolytic activation of proproteins. In an effort to examine the substrate protein for PACE4 (paired basic amino-acid-cleaving enzyme-4), an SPC, a potent protein inhibitor of PACE4, an α1-antitrypsin RVRR (Arg-Val-Arg-Arg) variant, was expressed in GH4C1 cells. Ectopic expression of the RVRR variant caused accumulation of the 48 kDa protein in cells. Sequence analysis indicates that the 48 kDa protein is a putative Ca2+-binding protein, RCN-3 (reticulocalbin-3), which had previously been predicted by bioinformatic analysis of cDNA from the human hypothalamus. RCN-3 is a member of the CREC (Cab45/reticulocalbin/ERC45/calumenin) family of multiple EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins localized to the secretory pathway. The most interesting feature of the RCN-3 sequence is the presence of five Arg-Xaa-Xaa-Arg motifs, which represents the target sequence of SPCs. Biosynthetic studies showed that RCN-3 is transiently associated with proPACE4, but not with mature PACE4. Inhibition of PACE4 maturation by a Ca2+ ionophore resulted in accumulation of the proPACE4–RCN-3 complex in cells. Furthermore, autoactivation and secretion of PACE4 was increased upon co-expression with RCN-3. Our findings suggest that selective and transient association of RCN-3 with the precursor of PACE4 plays an important role in the biosynthesis of PACE4.
IκB is a sensitive target for oxidation by cell-permeable chloramines: inhibition of NF-κB activity by glycine chloramine through methionine oxidation
Authors: Midwinter Robyn G. , Cheah Fook-Choe , Moskovitz Jackob , Vissers Margret C. , Winterbourn Christine C. 
Published: April 2006

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is produced by the neutrophil enzyme, myeloperoxidase, and reacts with amines to generate chloramines. These oxidants react readily with thiols and methionine and can affect cell-regulatory pathways. In the present study, we have investigated the ability of HOCl, glycine chloramine (Gly-Cl) and taurine chloramine (Tau-Cl) to oxidize IκBα, the inhibitor of NF-κB (nuclear factor κB), and to prevent activation of the NF-κB pathway in Jurkat cells. Glycine chloramine (Gly-Cl) and HOCl were permeable to the cells as determined by oxidation of intracellular GSH and inactivation of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, whereas Tau-Cl showed no detectable cell permeability. Both Gly-Cl (20–200 μM) and HOCl (50 μM) caused oxidation of IκBα methionine, measured by a shift in electrophoretic mobility, when added to the cells in Hanks buffer. In contrast, a high concentration of Tau-Cl (1 mM) in Hanks buffer had no effect. However, Tau-Cl in full medium did modify IκBα. This we attribute to chlorine exchange with other amines in the medium to form more permeable chloramines. Oxidation by Gly-Cl prevented IκBα degradation in cells treated with TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α) and inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB. IκBα modification was reversed by methionine sulphoxide reductase, with both A and B forms required for complete reduction. Oxidized IκBα persisted intracellularly for up to 6 h. Reversion occurred in the presence of cycloheximide, but was prevented if thioredoxin reductase was inhibited, suggesting that it was due to endogenous methionine sulphoxide reductase activity. These results show that cell-permeable chloramines, either directly or when formed in medium, could regulate NF-κB activation via reversible IκBα oxidation.
Construction and analysis of an AFLP molecular linkage map of the silkworm (Bombyx mori)
Authors: Yang-Hu Sima , Bin Li , Da-Xia Chen , De-Bin Sun , Ai-Chun Zhao , Lie Zhang , Cheng Lu , Si-Mei He , Zhong-Huai Xiang 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAn amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) molecular linkage map with a relatively high density for location of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling the quantitative traits of silkworm (Bombyx mori) cocoons, was constructed using 91 individuals of the F2generation. Among the 692 effective loci, 550 were allocated to subgroups a and b, of which 21 linkage groups in subgroup a had 233 molecular markers and 28 linkage groups in subgroup b had 317 markers. The number of markers on each linkage group in subgroups a and b ranged from 4 to 43 and 3 to 35, respectively. The total length of linkage groups for subgroup a was 1868.10 cM, and 2677.50 cM for subgroup b. The length of linkage group varied from 22.3 to 424.3 cM in subgroup a and from 2.4 to 366.5 cM in subgroup b. The average variation in the distance between markers was 3.39–17.43 cM in subgroup a and 0.8–26.96 cM in subgroup b. The average distance between the markers was 8.81 cM in subgroup a and 9.26 cM in subgroup b. There were 14 linkage groups, with an average distance below 10 cM, in subgroup a and 18 linkage groups in subgroup b. There were seven linkage groups with an average distance between 10 and 20 cM in subgroup a and ten linkage groups in subgroup b. Each linkage group in subgroup a had 11.1 loci on average, while there were 11.31 loci on each linkage group on average in subgroup b. The mean length for linkage groups in subgroups a and b was 89 and 95.6 cM, respectively. The total average length for both a and b subgroups was 2272.8, and 9.06 cM for the average marker distance, fulfilling the basic known requirements for locating QTLs.
Regeneration of vgb-transgenic poplar (Populus alba×P. glandulosa) and the primary observation of growth
Authors: Bing-Yu Zhang , Xiao-Hua Su , Yi-Liang Li , Qin-Jun Huang , Xiang-Hua Zhang , Lei Zhang 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIncreasing the growth rate is especially important for low-quality wood applications, so this has become an important goal in poplar breeding. The present study describes the transfer of Vitreoscilla haemoglobin (VHb) gene (vgb) driven by constitutive promoters, by Agrobacterium tumefaciens into poplar (Populus alba×P. glandulosa). From about 450 leaf discs used for transformation, 60 Kan-resistant plants were obtained, and 52 proved to be true transgenic plants. The transgenic nature of these plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and Southern dot blot hybridization. The expression of vgb gene in transgenic plants was confirmed by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). The performance of the transgenic lines was evaluated during the first year of growth in a greenhouse. These plants showed no significant stable morphological differences from the untransformed plants. Among them, three vgb-transgenic lines exhibited noticeably higher growth rates in terms of height and diameter.
EGFP expression in goat mammary epithelial cells
Authors: Yue-Mao Zheng , Zhi-Xing An , Xin-Rong Peng , Yu-Qiang Shi , Yong Zhang 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPrimary culture of goat mammary gland cells was achieved by outgrowth of migrating cells from fragments of tissue. The fibroblast and epithelial cells were purified according to their different sensitivity to trypsin and the characteristics of goat mammary epithelial cells were observed under a light microscope. The results showed that the purified goat mammary epithelial cells retained normal characteristics until the 15th passage. The purified mammary epithelial cells propagated and formed a dome-like structure that resembled a nipple and was called a ‘milk orb’. The mammary epithelial cells could produce and secrete milk. There were different cell types: the majority were short shuttle-like or polygons, resembling a beehive; while some were large, flat and round; and others were elongated. The enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was transferred successfully into the goat mammary epithelial cells using electrotransfection, and its expression was observed under a fluoroscope.
Isolation and characterization of endophytic Streptomyces sp. S5 with herbicidal activity from tomato roots
Authors: Zhi-Qi Qiu , Li-Xiang Cao , Hong-Ming Tan , Shi-Ning Zhou 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFifty-eight actinomycetes were isolated from surface-sterilized tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) roots and 43 isolates were screened for herbicidal activities. Isolate S5 was found to have potent herbicidal activity against germination of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), mung bean (Phaseolus radiatus L.) and grass (Paspalum notatum and Cynodon dactylon) seeds. But the metabolites of isolate S5 showed no influence on the growth of wheat seedlings. The S5 strain was identified as Streptomyces lavendulae var. glaucescens based on its morphological characteristics and physiological properties. The highest herbicidal activity was observed when 2% inocula were applied into S medium (containing 1% glucose, 0.3% beef extract and pH 7.0) and incubated at 25°C on a rotary shaker (160 rpm).
Isolation, cloning and sequence analysis of differentially expressed genes in the backfat tissue between hybrids and parents in pigs
Authors: Zhu-Qing Ren , Yuan-Zhu Xiong , Chang-Yang Deng , Ming-Gang Lei , Bo Zuo , Rong Zheng , Feng-E Li , Si-Wen Jiang , Xun-Ping Jiang 
Published: April 2006

AbstractIn order to reveal the molecular basis of heterosis, Large White (LW), an introduced European pig breed, and Meishan (MS), a Chinese indigenous pig breed, were selected to hybridize directly and reciprocally in the present experiment. mRNA differential display (DD) technique was performed to identify genes that were differentially expressed in the backfat tissues of hybrids (LW×MS, MS×LW) and purebred (LW×LW, MS×MS) pigs. The ten anchor primers in combination with ten arbitrary primers (100 sets in total) were used and nearly 1500 reproducible bands were observed in polyacrylamide gels. The 40 differentially displayed bands were selected for cloning and sequencing. Thirty-six out of 40 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) proved to be novel and the sequences were submitted to GenBank (accession No. CV507051-CV507087); the other four showed similarity to known genes published in GenBank. Three among 36 novel ESTs were chosen for further identification with semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The result showed that two ESTs were differentially expressed, and the third showed no obvious difference between hybrids and purebreds. In order to reduce the percentage of false-positive DD, RNA pools of four types of pigs were constructed, by mixing samples from six pigs of the same genotype, and subjected to DD. Stringent annealing temperature was applied and only bands that could be repeated in duplicate PCR were used for further study. The results showed that the expression pattern of these 36 ESTs differed among the four genotypes of pigs, suggesting that the genes corresponding to these differentially expressed ESTs might be related to the heterosis occurring in fat tissue.
Method for identifying transcription factor binding sites in yeast
Authors: Tsai Huai-Kuang , Huang Grace Tzu-Wei , Chou Meng-Yuan , Lu Henry Horng-Shing , Li Wen-Hsiung 
Published: April 2006

Abstract
Motivation: Identifying transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) is helpful for understanding the mechanism of transcriptional regulation. The abundance and the diversity of genomic data provide an excellent opportunity for identifying TFBSs. Developing methods to integrate various types of data has become a major trend in this pursuit.
Results: We develop a TFBS identification method, TFBSfinder, which utilizes several data sources, including DNA sequences, phylogenetic information, microarray data and ChIP-chip data. For a TF, TFBSfinder rigorously selects a set of reliable target genes and a set of non-target genes (as a background set) to find overrepresented and conserved motifs in target genes. A new metric for measuring the degree of conservation at a binding site across species and methods for clustering motifs and for inferring position weight matrices are proposed. For synthetic data and yeast cell cycle TFs, TFBSfinder identifies motifs that are highly similar to known consensuses. Moreover, TFBSfinder outperforms well-known methods.
Availability:
Contact: whli@uchicago.edu
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available on Bioinformatics online.
Tissue‐Engineered Calcium Alginate Patches in the Repair of Chronic Chinchilla Tympanic Membrane Perforations
Authors: Weber David E. , Semaan Maroun T. , Wasman Jay K. , Beane Richard , Bonassar Lawrence J. , Megerian Cliff A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractObjective: Chronic tympanic membrane perforations are a common problem in the United States. A high number of these cases results from placement of pressure equalization tubes. These perforations may initially be treated with paper patch techniques and although safe and well tolerated, the procedure demonstrates poor efficacy. The ideal treatment for small perforations should be rapid, minimally invasive, and efficacious. Calcium alginate‐based tissue engineered tympanic membrane patches represent an attractive option, but in vivo data are required.Methods: A controlled prospective study of tympanic membrane perforation repair using a well‐known chinchilla model of chronic tympanic membrane perforation was performed. Calcium alginate‐based tympanic membrane patches were created using computer‐aided design techniques. A previously described chinchilla model of chronic tympanic membrane perforations was used to create stable perforations ranging from 2 to 5 mm. Ears with chronic perforations were divided into three groups: control (no patch), paper patch, and calcium alginate plugs. At 10 weeks postimplantation, all animals were killed and inspected both grossly and histologically for healing.Results: In the chinchilla model, the alginate grafts demonstrated significantly improved healing rates over both the untreated control group (spontaneous repair) and the paper patch group; nine of 13 healed in the alginate group versus two of nine healed in the paper patch group (P < .05) versus one of 11 healed in the control group (P < .05).Conclusion: Calcium alginate tympanic membrane perforation patches offer a significant advantage in the repair of chronic perforations over traditional techniques in the chinchilla perforation model and may offer attractive opportunities in the clinical setting.
Inner Ear Hemorrhage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Sugiura Makoto , Naganawa Shinji , Teranishi Masaaki , Sato Eisuke , Kojima Sawako , Nakashima Tsutomu 
Published: April 2006

AbstractA 33‐year‐old man had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with anticardiolipin antibody. At the age of 40 years, he experienced bilateral hearing deterioration. The three‐dimensional fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery of magnetic resonance imaging showed high signals bilaterally in the cochlea and vestibule. He was diagnosed with bilateral inner ear hemorrhage on the basis of the presence of anticardiolipin antibody. This is the first published case of inner ear hemorrhage in a patient with SLE. Our findings suggest that inner ear hemorrhage is associated with hearing deterioration in some patients with SLE.
Methylation of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 promoter in rat hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Uematsu Fumiyuki , Takahashi Masakazu , Yoshida Midori , Igarashi Maki , Nakae Dai 
Published: April 2006

Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP), a cell‐surface enzyme expressed by epithelial cells that cleaves and inactivates biologically active small peptides, is downregulated in various cancers. NEP is encoded by a gene that contains a CpG island in the promoter region, whose hypermethylation appears related to decreased expression. Altered expression of NEP has also been reported in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), suggesting its possible role in hepatocarcinogenesis. To elucidate the status of NEP in HCC, methylation in the promoter region of the gene that encodes NEP in male Fischer 344 rats with HCC, induced by a choline‐deficient, l‐amino acid‐defined diet, was investigated by methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction, combined bisulfite restriction analysis, and bisulfite genomic sequencing. These analyses together showed the promoter to be frequently methylated in HCC in contrast to its unmethylated status in normal liver, the degree of methylation being inversely related to the level of mRNA expression evaluated by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (P = 0.031). In two rat liver cell lines, RLC‐16 and RLC‐27, the promoter was heavily methylated and NEP mRNA expression was negative. However, administration of 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine caused NEP expression, suggesting that methylation of CpG is a factor regulating transcriptional expression. Together with the data from microarray analyses performed previously using the same animal model, the current results suggest that reduced expression of NEP or other ectopeptidases could impact on molecules involved in signal‐transducing systems, including G‐protein coupled receptors, via modified turnover of extracellularly active small peptides. (Cancer Sci 2006; 97: 611–617)
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy: three novel MDR3 gene mutations
Authors: FLOREANI A. , CARDERI I. , PATERNOSTER D. , SOARDO G. , AZZAROLI F. , ESPOSITO W. , VARIOLA A. , TOMMASI A. M. , MARCHESONI D. , BRAGHIN C. , MAZZELLA G. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryBackgroundThe aetiology of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is unknown, but more than 10 different MDR3 gene mutations have recently been identified.AimTo evaluate the genetic contribution of the MDR3 gene in the pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in Italian subjects.MethodsWe performed a multicentre prospective case–control study, enrolling 80 women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy at the third trimester of pregnancy and 80 pregnant women without intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood leucocytes using standard procedures. The polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify exon 14 of the MDR3 gene and the polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced using a Big Dye Terminator Cycle Sequencing kit.ResultsThree novel non‐synonymous heterozygous mutations in exon 14 were found (4%; E528D, R549H, G536R) among the 80 intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients, whereas the pregnant controls were all negative for exon 14 polymorphisms. The three patients involved had normal GGT and bilirubin, but high levels of both ALT and serum bile acids. One had cholesterol bile stones. The outcome of pregnancy was normal for two (with vaginal delivery), while foetal distress was recorded in the third.ConclusionsThese three novel mutations add further information on the involvement of the MDR3 gene in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. As in other studies, we found only heterozygous mutations that could cause an impaired transport protein function, not its absence (which is responsible for more severe liver disease). Different genetic backgrounds might justify the presence of novel MDR3 gene mutations.
Immunoglobulin E antibodies to milk proteins
Authors: LETTER B. K , GERY I. , FREIER S. , NOAH Z. , DAVIES M. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryNinety‐eight sera of normal and hospitalized infants were tested for IgE antibodies against milk antigens. These antibodies were detected by the radioimmunodiffusion (RID) technique using rabbit anti‐human IgE and prick tests of the skin.Immunoglobulin E antibodies were found in seven out of twenty‐six infants who were suspected of suffering from milk allergy. These antibodies were found also in one out of three coeliac patients and in two out of five suffering from recurrent aspiration. Other sera were negative. Most of the positive sera which were taken from milk allergic patients, reacted with beta‐lactoglobulin. Positive results in skin tests were more frequent than those obtained in the RID technique.Oral challenge tests with alpha‐lactalbumin and bovine gamma‐globulin caused clinical symptoms in allergic infants whose sera lacked detectable amounts of IgE antibodies to these antigens.There was complete correlation between IgE type antibodies to beta‐lactoglobulin and clinical symptoms after oral challenge in the six patients tested. Before definite conclusions can be drawn from this observation, however, more cases will have to be tested.
The relationship of a topic disease and immunoglobulin levels with special reference to selective IgA deficiency
Authors: COLLINS‐WILLIAMS C. , CHIU A. W. , VARGA E. A. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryWe have confirmed that the presence of IgE in selective IgA deficient patients does not give protection against increased susceptibility to infections. Atopic individuals with selective IgA deficiency may have higher levels of IgE than non‐atopic individuals. Immunoglobulin levels for G, A or M tend to be lower in atopic individuals than in normal individuals.
The role of infection in the morbidity of asthmatic children admitted to hospital
Authors: DISNEY M. E. , MATTHEWS R. , WILLIAMS J. D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryTwo aspects of the role of infection in asthmatic attacks in children have been investigated. Virus isolations from children admitted to a paediatric department during 1968 showed close correlation with the incidence of admissions with upper respiratory tract infection and with lower respiratory tract infection. The peaks of virus isolation corresponded to the peaks of respiratory infection admissions. There was a clear dissociation between virus isolations and admissions with acute asthma. Fifty‐one children admitted with clinical acute attacks of asthma were investigated more thoroughly. Only three viruses were isolated from these case? compared to eleven viruses isolated from a control group of children with respiratory infections. The incidence of bacterial pathogens was similar in both groups. Serological evidence of virus infection was obtained in two out of twenty‐six children with asthma and in four out often children with respiratory infections. Our results indicate that bacterial or viral infections are not responsible for the autumn peak of asthma admissions.
Platinum sensitivity: treatment by specific hyposensitization
Authors: LEVENE G. M. , CALNAN C. D. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAn analytical chemist developed respiratory tract and cutaneous allergy to complex salts of platinum in the course of his work.Specific hyposensitization was achieved by means of intradermal injections of allergen given in increasing doses. During the course of injections he developed symptoms and signs suggestive of a serum‐sickness reaction.The immunological significance of these phenomena was investigated.
Studies on vasculitis
Authors: PARISH W. E. 
Published: April 2006

SummaryAntibodies to protein and polysaccharide antigens of streptococci in persons with cutaneous vasculitis following streptococcal pharyngeal infection have no special ability to form tissue‐damaging complexes, when compared with antibody from patients without vasculitis though convalescent from similar infection.Antibodies from patients with vasculitis were less effective than those from patients without vasculitis in fixing complement, in mediating erythrocyte immune‐adherence, formed complexes releasing less acid phosphatase and acid protease from monkey or human neutrophils, and induced smaller vascular lesions in guinea‐pig skin.Similarly, antibodies to staphylococci from persons with and without vasculitis were equally effective in fixing complement or mediating immune‐adherence.Examination of the properties of antibodies in a patient's serum cannot be used to determine his susceptibility to vasculitis, which depends as much on the release of sufficient antigen to form tissue‐damaging complexes.