A review on interplay between small RNAs and oxidative stress in cancer progression

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Oxidative stress has been known to be the underlying cause in many instances of cancer development. The new aspect of cancer genesis that has caught the...     

Transcriptional profiling of CD133(+) cells in coronary artery disease and effects of exercise on gene expression

Background aimsBone marrow (BM)-derived progenitor cells are under investigation for cardiovascular repair but may be altered by disease. Our aim was to identify differences in gene expression in CD133⁺ cells of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy controls, and determine whether exercise modifies gene expression.MethodsCD133⁺ cells were flow-sorted from 10 CAD patients and four controls, and total RNA was isolated for microarray-based gene expression profiling. Genes that were found to be differentially regulated in patients were analyzed further to investigate whether exercise had any normalizing effect on CD133⁺ cells in CAD patients following 3 months of an exercise program.ResultsImprovement in effort tolerance and increases in the number of CD133⁺ cells were observed in CAD patients after 3 months of exercise. Gene expression analysis of the CD133⁺ cells identified 82 differentially expressed genes (2-fold cut-off, 25% false-discovery rate and % present calls) in patients compared with controls, of which 59 were found to be up-regulated and 23 down-regulated. These genes were found to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism, cell cycle, cellular development and signaling, and molecular transport. Following completion of the exercise program, gene expression patterns resembled those of controls in seven of 10 patients.ConclusionsAlterations in gene expression of BM-derived CD133⁺ progenitor cells were found in CAD patients, which in part may be normalized by exercise.     

Development of a multiplex amplification refractory mutation system for simultaneous authentication of Korean ginseng cultivars "Gumpoong" and "Chungsun"

BACKGROUND AND AIMS. Molecular authentication of Korean ginseng cultivars was investigated using the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 7 (nad7) intron 3 region. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A mutation site specific to Panax ginseng "Gumpoong" and "Chungsun" cultivars was detected within the sequence data. Based on this mutation site and the "Gumpoong"-specific single nucleotide polymorphism site reported in 26S rDNA, two modified allele-specific primer pairs were designed and a multiplex amplification refractory mutation system (MARMS) was applied to identify "Gumpoong" and "Chungsun." RESULTS. The results showed that "Gumpoong" and "Chungsun" can be clearly discriminated from the other Korean ginseng cultivars by simultaneously identifying the haplotype of "Gumpoong" and the specific allele of "Chungsun" by applying the MARMS. CONCLUSION. This study, therefore, provides a simple and reliable method for simultaneous authentication of "Gumpoong" and "Chungsun" cultivars.     

Cycling of Etk and Etp phosphorylation states is involved in formation of group 4 capsule by Escherichia coli

Capsules frequently play a key role in bacterial interactions with their environment. Escherichia coli capsules were categorized as groups 1 through 4, each produced by a distinct mechanism. Etk and Etp are members of protein families required for the production of group 1 and group 4 capsules. These members function as a protein tyrosine kinase and protein tyrosine phosphatase, respectively. We show that Etp dephosphorylates Etk in vivo, and mutations rendering Etk or Etp catalytically inactive result in loss of group 4 capsule production, supporting the notion that cyclic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Etk is required for capsule formation. Notably, Etp also becomes tyrosine phosphorylated in vivo and catalyzes rapid auto-dephosphorylation. Further analysis identified Tyr121 as the phosphorylated residue of Etp. Etp containing Phe, Glu or Ala in place of Tyr121 retained phosphatase activity and catalyzed dephosphorylation of Etp and Etk. Although EtpY121E and EtpY121A still supported capsule formation, EtpY121F failed to do so. These results suggest that cycles of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of Etp, as well as Etk, are involved in the formation of group 4 capsule, providing an additional regulatory layer to the complex control of capsule production.     

In vitro root induction by 24-epibrassinolide on hypocotyl segments of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]

Soybean hypocotyl segments were treated in the dark with 24-epibrassinolide (BR) at a range of concentrations for different durations. The maximum effect on adventitious root induction, both in terms of number and length was obtained at very low concentration (0.0001 ppm) of BR applied for 8 h. Higher concentrations were supraoptimal unless applied for a shorter period (4 h). BR was ineffective when applied at low concentration in continuous light.     

Assembly and Architecture of the EBV B Cell Entry Triggering Complex

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the gammaherpesvirinae sub-family that predominantly infects humans through epithelial cells and B cells. Three EBV glycoproteins, gH, gL and gp42, form a complex that targets EBV infection of B cells. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules expressed on B cells serve as the receptor for gp42, triggering membrane fusion and virus entry. The mechanistic role of gHgL in herpesvirus entry has been largely unresolved, but it is thought to regulate the activation of the virally-encoded gB protein, which acts as the primary fusogen. Here we study the assembly and function of the reconstituted B cell entry complex comprised of gHgL, gp42 and HLA class II. The structure from negative-stain electron microscopy provides a detailed snapshot of an intermediate state in EBV entry and highlights the potential for the triggering complex to bring the two membrane bilayers into proximity. Furthermore, gHgL interacts with a previously identified, functionally important hydrophobic pocket on gp42, defining the overall architecture of the complex and playing a critical role in membrane fusion activation. We propose a macroscopic model of the initiating events in EBV B cell fusion centered on the formation of the triggering complex in the context of both viral and host membranes. This model suggests how the triggering complex may bridge the two membrane bilayers, orienting critical regions of the N- and C- terminal ends of gHgL to promote the activation of gB and efficient membrane fusion.     

Preparation of cyanobacterial peptide toxin as a biopesticide against cotton pests

Glycine-rich peptide toxin of cyanobacterium Scytonema MKU 106 was purified. UV spectral analysis showed an absorption maximum at 228 nm and the molecular mass was less than 12 kDa. The mortality rate of American boll worms (Helicoverpa armigera) was about 80% and 40% 84 h after treatment with 0.001% crude and purified peptide toxins respectively; 100% mortality was observed after 108 h treatment with both purified and crude peptide toxins. The LC₅₀ (lethal concentration to 50% of the population) for Heliothis larvae after 96 h was 8.3 μg/ml purified peptide toxin and 6.2 μg/ml crude peptide toxin. Observations also show that the peptide toxin at 0.01% concentration acts as a biopesticide and at high (0.1%) concentrations it will act as an anti-feeding compound for Stylepta derogata (leaf-roller) larvae of the cotton crop. Received: 22 May 1996 / Accepted: 8 July 1996     

Gene ontology study of methyl jasmonate-treated and non-treated hairy roots of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panax ginseng</Emphasis> to identify genes involved in secondary metabolic pathway

The roots of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, known as Korean ginseng have been a valuable and important folk medicine in East Asian countries. It mainly used to maintain the homeostasis of the human body, with the presence of ginsenosides and non-saponin compounds like phenol compounds, acidic polysaccharides and polyethylene compounds. Functional genomics aid to annotate EST sequences based on gene ontology. In this study, we focused, genes which involve in secondary metabolic pathways and to visualize temporal changes of gene expression in ginseng hairy roots with methyl ester methyl jasmonate (MeJA) along with non-treated hairy roots. A 5.774 EST clones were clustered and assembled into 501 contigs and 2.955 singletons. Annotations categorized with molecular functions, biological processes, cellular compounds of gene ontological terms and biochemical functions, enzyme commission number, and metabolic pathways are assigned through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database. Comparatively, EST sequences are assigned to cellular process, metabolic process, biotic and abiotic stress stimuli, developmental and biological regulations and transports are up-regulated 2–3 fold in MeJA treated hairy roots. 46 different sub groups of enzymes found in the MeJA treated plants. These annotated ESTs represents a significant proportion of the P. ginseng and provides molecular resource for develop microarray to study genes expressions to development, metabolism and reproduction.