Optimal amounts of fluorescent dye improve expression microarray results in tumor specimens

Expression microarrays have great potential for clinical use but variability of the results represents a challenge for reliable practical application. The amount of fluorescent dye used in microarray experiments is a significant source of variability that has not been systematically studied. Here we demonstrate that the quantity of Cy3 dye affects microarray results performed on tumor specimens. Signal-to-noise ratios and coefficients of variation are significantly improved by increasing Cy3 to 150–180 pmol, but any further increase does not improve the data. In conclusion, optimal amounts of dye reduce variability and improve reliability of expression microarray experiments.     

Growing roles for the mTOR pathway

The mammalian TOR (mTOR) pathway is a key regulator of cell growth and proliferation and increasing evidence suggests that its deregulation is associated with human diseases, including cancer and diabetes. The mTOR pathway integrates signals from nutrients, energy status and growth factors to regulate many processes, including autophagy, ribosome biogenesis and metabolism. Recent work identifying two structurally and functionally distinct mTOR-containing multiprotein complexes and TSC1/2, rheb, and AMPK as upstream regulators of mTOR is beginning to reveal how mTOR can sense diverse signals and produce a myriad of responses.     

Modulation of carbohydrate metabolism and peptide hormones by soybean isoflavones and probiotics in obesity and diabetes

Soybean and its isoflavones have been shown to have beneficial effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and on renal function. Probiotics may potentiate the beneficial effects of isoflavones by converting the inactive isoflavone glycoside to aglycones, which are biologically active, thereby producing a synergistic effect. We therefore studied the effects of soybean isoflavones in the presence and absence of probiotics on glucose and triglyceride metabolism and the peptide hormones involved in their metabolism. Lean and obese SHR/N-cp rats were fed AIN-93 diets containing 0.1% soybean isoflavone mixture, 0.1% probiotics mixture or both. Plasma was analyzed for glucose, triglycerides, parameters of renal function and peptide hormones -- insulin, leptin, glucagon and ACTH -- that are involved in glucose and lipid metabolism. Isoflavones given alone lowered plasma glucose in both phenotypes while triglyceride was decreased only in lean animals. Isoflavones also lowered aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase in both phenotypes. Isoflavones had significant effect on plasma insulin, leptin and glucagon in lean rats but not in obese rats. Thus, our data show that in lean animals, isoflavones have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effect, and the effect is mediated by changes in peptide hormones. When lipid levels are very high as in obese rats, isoflavones fail to lower plasma triglyceride levels. Probiotics do not appear to enhance the effect of isoflavones.     

Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of [3H]PSB-0413, a selective antagonist radioligand for platelet P2Y12 receptors

The selective antagonist radioligand [³H]2-propylthioadenosine-5′-adenylic acid (1,1-dichloro-1-phosphonomethyl-1-phosphonyl) anhydride ([³H]PSB-0413) was prepared by catalytic hydrogenation of its propargyl precursor with a high specific radioactivity of 74 Ci/mmol. In preliminary saturation binding studies, [³H]PSB-0413 showed high affinity for platelet P2Y₁₂ receptors with a K_D value of 4.57 nM. Human platelets had a high density of P2Y₁₂ receptors exhibiting a B_max value of 7.66 pmol/mg of protein.     

Differential apoptotic and redox regulatory activities of curcumin and its derivatives

We have synthesized different bioconjugates of curcumin, which were tested for their pro- and antioxidant properties. In the present study five representative derivatives of curcumin, i.e., 4,4'-di-(O-acetyl) curcumin, 4,4'-di-(O-glycinoyl) curcumin, 4,4'-di-(O-glycinoyl-di-N-piperoyl) curcumin, 4,4'-di-(O-piperoyl) curcumin, and 4,4'-(O,O-cystinoyl)-3,3'-dimethoxydiphenyl-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione, were used for testing their apoptotic potential on tumor cells. Dipiperoyl and diglycinoyl derivatives showed higher apoptotic activity at lower concentrations, whereas diacetyl curcumin had slightly lower apoptotic activity on tumor cells. On the other hand, diglycinoyl-dipiperoyl and cystinoyl heptadiene derivatives had lost their apoptotic potential significantly. The apoptotic activity of these derivatives correlated very well with the generation of ROS by the tumor cells, whereas GSH levels remained unaltered. Our studies also indicate downregulation of Bcl-2 and participation of caspase-3 in the apoptotic death of tumor cells.     

Decolourisation of reactive textile dyes Drimarene Blue X3LR and Remazol Brilliant Blue R by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Funalia trogii</Emphasis> ATCC 200800

Decolourisation of reactive dyes Drimarene Blue X3LR and Remazol Brilliant Blue R by white rot fungi Funalia trogii was studied under static conditions. The effect of various conditions such as mycelial age, initial dye and glucose concentrations on decolourisation were also investigated. Decolourisation activity of F. trogii was compared with Phanerochaete chrysosporium known as test microorganism. It was found that 7-day-old cultures were more effective than 5-day-old cultures of F. trogii for decolourisation of these dyes. Decolourisations by F. trogii of both dyes were increased with glucose concentration decreasing. In contrast, decolourisations by P. chrysosporium were decreased. F. trogii decolourised 92–98% of both dyes within 4–10 h. However, P. chrysosporium partially decolourised (11–20%) these dyes during 10days incubation period under the same conditions.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity and essential oil composition of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. from Iran

The in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and its two main components of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. (Apiaceae) growing wild in Iran, as well as the composition of its essential oil were studied. A total of 19 compounds representing 99.9% of the oil has been identified. Gamma-Terpinene (73.5%), p-cymene (14.2%) and (E)-beta-farnesene (5.3%) were characterized as the main components. The oil showed remarkable activity against three Gram-negative and four Gram-positive test bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.31 to 10.00 mg/ml. The oil and its two main components were also subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging capacity of the oil was determined with an IC50 value of 6.6 mg/ml.     

Atrovirisidone B, a new prenylated depsidone with cytotoxic property from the roots of Garcinia atroviridis

A new prenylated depsidone, atrovirisidone B (2), together with naringenin (3) and 3,8"-binaringenin (4) were isolated from the roots of Garcinia atroviridis. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral data interpretation. Compound 2 showed cytotoxic activity against human breast (MCF-7), human prostate (DU-145) and human lung (H-460) cancer cells.     

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Grammosciadium platycarpum Boiss. from Iran

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from two samples (GP1 and GP2) of Grammosciadium platycarpum Boiss. was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The analysis of the oils resulted in the identification of twenty-two constituents. Linalool (79.0%-GP1, 81.8%-GP2) and limonene (10.0%, 5.8%) were found to be the major components, respectively. The in vitro antibacterial activities of these oils and their main compounds against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were investigated. The results exhibited that the total oils and their major components possess strong to moderate activities against all the tested bacteria except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.