Primary structures of and genes for new ribosomal proteins A and B in Escherichia coli

We determined the partial primary structures of and identified the genes for new basic proteins A and B in Escherichia coli ribosomal 50S subunits, found by means of an improved two-dimensional gel electrophoresis method. The sequence up to the 17th amino acid of protein B was in agreement with that of the X gene in the spc operon. The gene for protein A was searched for in the GenBank data base using the sequence up to the 35th amino acid, and was found at a locus between infC and rplT. The base sequence indicated that protein A contained 64 amino acids and had a molecular weight of 6,984. We conclude that proteins A and B are intrinsic ribosomal proteins, and propose calling their genes, rpmI and rpmJ, respectively.     

Varicella infection in a children's hospital: prevention by vaccine and an episode of airborne transmission

Varicella vaccine was used safely and effectively for preventing ward infection with varicella. Ward infection was experienced 34 times in 5 years between 1977 and 1982. During these ward infections, varicella developed in 4 of 142 patients who received vaccine, 21 of 47 patients who did not receive vaccine and 1 of 9 who received transfusion with vaccine-boostered blood. Of the 142 vaccinated patients, the four in whom varicella developed showed symptoms 3 to 10 days after vaccination, indicating that vaccination had been too late. Details of a ward infection with varicella by airborne transmission and its prevention by vaccination are presented.     

Nanosized paclitaxel-loaded niosomes: formulation,in vitro cytotoxicity,and apoptosis gene expression in breast cancer cell lines

Molecular Biology Reports - In this study, the optimized niosomal formulation containing paclitaxel using non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol was designed and its cytotoxic effects against...     

A Highlights from MBoC Selection: p52Shc regulates the sustainability of ERK activation in a RAF-independent manner

p52SHC (SHC) and GRB2 are adaptor proteins involved in the RAS/MAPK (ERK) pathway mediating signals from cell-surface receptors to various cytoplasmic proteins. To further examine their roles in signal transduction, we studied the translocation of fluorescently labeled SHC and GRB2 to the cell surface, caused by the activation of ERBB receptors by heregulin (HRG). We simultaneously evaluated activated ERK translocation to the nucleus. Unexpectedly, the translocation dynamics of SHC were sustained when those of GRB2 were transient. The sustained localization of SHC positively correlated with the sustained nuclear localization of ERK, which became more transient after SHC knockdown. SHC-mediated PI3K activation was required to maintain the sustainability of the ERK translocation regulating MEK but not RAF. In cells overexpressing ERBB1, SHC translocation became transient, and the HRG-induced cell fate shifted from a differentiation to a proliferation bias. Our results indicate that SHC and GRB2 functions are not redundant but that SHC plays the critical role in the temporal regulation of ERK activation.     

Hypersomatostatinemia in chronic renal failure

Plasma concentrations of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) were determined in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Plasma SLI levels were significantly (p less than 0.001) elevated in 26 diabetic uremic patients (67.1 +/- 6.8 pg/ml, mean +/- SE) and in 24 non-diabetic uremic patients (43.5 +/- 7.2 pg/ml), when compared with 60 healthy subjects (5.0 +/- 0.7 pg/ml). Paired pooled plasma from uremic patients before and after hemodialysis was subjected to a reverse-phase octadecasilyl-silica (C-18) cartridge and then the extract was gel filtered on a Sephadex G-25 column (1.6 X 90 cm). Both elution profiles showed two peaks of SLI which coeluted with synthetic somatostatin (SS)-28 and SS-14 markers, respectively. The SS-28-like immunoreactivity (LI) peak, which was estimated by using SS-14 as a reference standard, was 3-fold larger than that for SS-14 LI. On the basis of immunoequivalency of the two components in the present assay, SS-28 LI constitutes approximately 75% of circulating somatostatin. In conclusion, plasma SLI is substantially high in uremic patients of both diabetic and non-diabetic etiology and the SS-28 is a predominant form of circulating SLI in these patients, probably, in part, for a lower clearance of this molecule.     

An arylbenzofuran and four isoflavonoids from the roots of Erythrina poeppigiana

An arylbenzofuran, erypoegin F and four isoflavonoids, erypoegins G-J, together with six known compounds were isolated from the roots of Erythrina poeppigiana, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Erypoegin F is a rare 2-arylbenzofuran possessing a formyl group from a natural source, and erypoegin I is the first naturally occurring isoflavonoid with a 2-oxo-3-methylbutyl group.     

Acquired Thermotolerance and Temperature-Induced Protein Accumulation in the Extremely Thermophilic Bacterium Rhodothermus obamensis

Temperature-induced changes in thermotolerance and protein composition were examined in heat-shocked cells and high-temperature-grown cells of the extremely thermophilic bacterium Rhodothermus obamensis. The survival at temperatures superoptimal for growth (90 and 95°C) was enhanced in both heat-shocked cells and high-temperature-grown cells relative to that of cells grown at optimal temperatures. In a comparison of protein composition using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, putative heat shock proteins (HSPs) and high-temperature growth-specific proteins (HGPs) were detected. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the putative HSPs were quite similar to the ATP-binding subunits of ABC transporters and the HGPs were proteins corresponding to domains II and III of elongation factor Tu. These results suggested that this extreme thermophile has developed temperature-induced responses that include increased survival under hyperthermal conditions, changes in protein composition, and also the production of novel HSPs.     

Raman and Autofluorescence Spectrum Dynamics along the HRG-Induced Differentiation Pathway of MCF-7 Cells

Cellular differentiation proceeds along complicated pathways, even when it is induced by extracellular signaling molecules. One of the major reasons for this complexity is the highly multidimensional internal dynamics of cells, which sometimes causes apparently stochastic responses in individual cells to extracellular stimuli. Therefore, to understand cell differentiation, it is necessary to monitor the internal dynamics of cells at single-cell resolution. Here, we used a Raman and autofluorescence spectrum analysis of single cells to detect dynamic changes in intracellular molecular components. MCF-7 cells are a human cancer-derived cell line that can be induced to differentiate into mammary-gland-like cells with the addition of heregulin (HRG) to the culture medium. We measured the spectra in the cytoplasm of MCF-7 cells during 12 days of HRG stimulation. The Raman scattering spectrum, which was the major component of the signal, changed with time. A multicomponent analysis of the Raman spectrum revealed that the dynamics of the major components of the intracellular molecules, including proteins and lipids, changed cyclically along the differentiation pathway. The background autofluorescence signals of Raman scattering also provided information about the differentiation process. Using the total information from the Raman and autofluorescence spectra, we were able to visualize the pathway of cell differentiation in the multicomponent phase space.     

An ocular cysticercosis in Bali, Indonesia caused by Taenia solium Asian genotype

An ocular cysticercosis case of a nine-year-old Balinese girl in Indonesia is reported. She presented with redness and pain in the left eye and showed a cysticercus in the anterior chamber in December 2010. Morphological feature of the cysticercus removed from the anterior chamber indicated that it was an immature cysticercus of Taenia species with no hooklets. However, mitochondrial DNA analysis using a piece of histopathological specimen revealed it a cysticercus of Taenia solium Asian genotype. Serology by immunoblot and ELISA highly specific to cysticercosis was negative.