Fusion of the C-terminal triskaidecapeptide of hirudin variant 3 to alpha1-proteinase inhibitor M358R increases the serpin-mediated rate of thrombin inhibition
Conclusions:
Fusing the C-terminal triskaidecapeptide of HV3 to API M358R-containing serpins significantly increased their effectiveness as thrombin inhibitors, but the enhancement was less than that seen in HCII 1-75--API M358R fusion proteins. HCII 1-75 was a superior fusion partner, in spite of the greater affinity of the HV3 triskaidecapeptide, manifested both in isolated and API-fused form, for thrombin exosite 1. Our results suggest that HCII 1-75 binds thrombin exosite 1 and orients the attached serpin scaffold for more efficient interaction with the active site of thrombin than the HV3 triskaidecapeptide. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - November 11, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Leigh RoddickVarsha BhaktaWilliam Sheffield Source Type: research
Bionanotechnology and bionanomaterials: John Honek explains the good things that can come in very small packages
No abstract. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - November 4, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: John Honek Source Type: research
Biosynthesis and release of pheromonal bile salts in mature male sea lamprey
Conclusions:
This report presents a rare example where specific genes associated with biosynthesis and release of a sexual pheromone are dramatically upregulated upon sexual maturation in a vertebrate. We provide a well characterized example of a complex mechanism of bile salt biosynthesis and excretion that has likely evolved for an additional function of bile salts as a mating pheromone. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - November 4, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Cory BrantYu-Wen Chung-DavidsonKe LiAnne ScottWeiming Li Source Type: research
Detrimental effect of the 6 His C-terminal tag on YedY enzymatic activity and influence of the TAT signal sequence on YedY synthesis
Conclusion:
Our study thus underscores the risk of using a C-terminus tagged enzyme while studying YedY, and presents an alternative strategy to express signal sequence-containing enzymes with an N-terminal tag. It brings new insights into molybdoenzyme maturation in R. sphaeroides showing that for some enzymes, maturation can occur in the absence of the signal sequence but that its presence is required for high expression of active enzyme. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - November 1, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Monique SabatySandrine GrosseGeraldine AdryanczykSéverine BoiryFrédéric BiasoPascal ArnouxDavid Pignol Source Type: research
KCTD20, a relative of BTBD10, is a positive regulator of Akt
Conclusions:
KCTD20 is a positive regulator of Akt and may play an important role in regulating the death and growth of some non-nervous and nervous cells. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - October 24, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Mikiro NawaMasaaki Matsuoka Source Type: research
Power to the people: does Eterna signal the arrival of a new wave of crowd-sourced projects?
No abstract (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - October 23, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Thomas Rowles Source Type: research
Optimization and validation of a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography method for the measurement of bovine liver methylmalonyl-coenzyme a mutase activity
Conclusions:
The improved method provides a way for studying the effects of stages of lactation, diet composition, and physiology in cattle on MCM activity over long periods of time, such as a complete lactation period. Interestingly, this sensitive and accurate method could benefit the study of the cobalamin status in experimental studies and clinical cases. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - October 16, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Bazoumana OuattaraMélissa DuplessisChristiane Girard Source Type: research
Proteomic analysis of differentially expressed proteins in Vitamin C-treated AGS cells
Background:
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient of most living tissues that readily acts as a strong reducing agent, which is abundant in fruits and vegetables. Although, it inhibits cell growth in many human cancer cells in vitro, treatment in cancer is still controversial. Hence, the purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of vitamin C on AGS cell growth, and protein profiles in AGS cells after exposure to vitamin C treatment, by using proteomic tools.
Results:
Vitamin C showed a cytotoxic effect on AGS cells (IC50 300mug/mL) and, 20 differentially expresse...
Source: BMC Biochemistry - September 26, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Arulkumar NagappanHyeon ParkKwang ParkJin KimGyeong HongSang KangJue ZhangEun KimWon LeeChung WonGon Kim Source Type: research
Functional redundancy between trans-Golgi network SNARE family members in Arabidopsis thaliana
Conclusions:
Our data provide biochemical evidence for functional overlap in membrane fusion between members of the SYP4 or VTI1 SNARE groups, supporting previous genetic data suggesting redundancy. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - September 11, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Sang-Jin KimDiane Bassham Source Type: research
Newly developed TGF-beta2 knock down transgenic mouse lines express TGF-beta2 differently and its distribution in multiple tissues varies
Conclusions:
The present study generated transgenic mice with TGF-beta2 down-regulated, which established mice model for systemic exploring the possible roles of TGF-beta2 in vivo in different pathology conditions. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - August 6, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Yan-Bin XiYangFang WangBao-Jiang QianLing YouBing-Tuan LuWei ZhangXiong-Zhi QuanWen-Ping GeSu LiuLian-Feng ZhangTing-Hua Wang Source Type: research
TNFa alter cholesterol metabolism in human macrophages via PKC-¿-dependent pathway
Conclusions:
Our results suggest TNFa alter cholesterol metabolism in human macrophages through the inhibition of Reverse cholesterol transport and enhancing cholesterol uptake via PKC-θ-dependent pathway, implicating a potential mechanism of inflammation on atherogenic effects. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - August 3, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: A Sha MaQian ZhangZhi Song Source Type: research
TNFa alter cholesterol metabolism in human macrophages via PKC-theta-dependent pathway
Conclusions:
Our results suggest TNFa alter cholesterol metabolism in human macrophages through the inhibition of Reverse cholesterol transport and enhancing cholesterol uptake via PKC-theta-dependent pathway, implicating a potential mechanism of inflammation on atherogenic effects. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - August 3, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: A Sha MaQian ZhangZhi Song Source Type: research
Peroxygenase activity of cytochrome c peroxidase and three apolar distal heme pocket mutants: hydroxylation of 1-methoxynaphthalene
Conclusions:
Protein engineering of CcP can increase the rate of peroxygenation of apolar substrates but the initial constructs are more susceptible to oxidative degradation than wild-type enzyme. Further developments will require constructs with increased rates and selectivity while maintaining the stability of wild-type CcP toward oxidative degradation by hydrogen peroxide. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - July 30, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: James ErmanHeather KilheeneyAnil BidwaiCaitlan AyalaLidia Vitello Source Type: research
Identification of the lamin A/C phosphoepitope recognized by the antibody P-STM in mitotic HeLa S3 cells
Conclusions:
Collectively, our results demonstrate that P-STM is a useful tool for detecting Thr-19-phosphorylated lamin A/C in cells and reveal quantitative changes in the phosphorylation status of major lamin A/C phosphorylation sites during mitosis. (Source: BMC Biochemistry)
Source: BMC Biochemistry - July 19, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Jeng-Ting ChenChia-Wen HoLang-Ming ChiKun-Yi ChienYa-Ju HsiehShih-Jie LinJau-Song Yu Source Type: research
Transcription start sites and epigenetic analysis of the HSD17B10 proximal promoter
Background:
Hydroxysteroid (17beta) dehydrogenase X (HSD10) is a multifunctional protein encoded by the HSD17B10 gene at Xp11.2. In response to stress or hypoxia-ischemia its levels increase rapidly. Expression of this gene is also elevated significantly in colonic mucosa of the inactive ulcerative colitis patients. However, accurate information about its several transcripts is still lacking, and additional evidence for its escape from X-chromosome inactivation remains to be obtained in order to help settle a debate (He XY, Dobkin C, Yang SY: Does the HSD17B10 gene escape from X-inactivation? Eur J Hum Genet 2011, 19: 123-...
Source: BMC Biochemistry - July 8, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Song-Yu YangCarl DobkinXue-Ying HeW Brown Source Type: research
