• Journal of Photoscience
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.209-212
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• 2002

Cutaneous hyperpigmentation is a well-known consequence of both acute and chronic X-irradiation, although the molecular mechanisms involved are not well understood. Recently, protein kinase C-$\beta$ (PKC-$\beta$) was shown to activate tyrosinase, a key and the rate-limiting enzyme in melanogenesis [1]. In this study, we have investigated its role in mediating ionizing radiation-induced pigmentation by exposing cultured human melanocytes to X-irradiation. Increased tyrosinase activity after the 4 Gys exposure was observed within 48 hrs and total melanin content doubled after 7 days. Interestingly, tyrosinase mRNA level was not affected by X-irradiation. However, there was a 2-3 fold increase in PKC-$\beta$ mRNA after 48 hours of irradiation, coinciding with the increase in tyrosinase activity. This induction was not due to non-specific heat generated during the irradiation because when melanocytes were incubated at 4$0^{\circ}C$, there was no induction of PKC-$\beta$ mRNA. Taken together, these data suggest that X-irradiation induces cutaneous hyperpigmentation, at least in part, by up-regulating the level of PKC-$\beta$.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.102-111
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• 2016

Olive culture is very important in the Mediterranean Basin. A severe outbreak of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS) caused by Xylella fastidiosa infection was first noticed in 2013 on olive trees in the southern part of Apulia region (Lecce province, southern Italy). Studies were carried out for detection and diversity evaluation of the Apulian strain of Xylella fastidiosa. The presence of the pathogen in olive samples was detected by PCR amplifying the 16S rDNA, gyrase B subunit (gyrB) and HL hypothetical protein genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) assessment was performed to genotype X. fastidiosa. Twelve SNPs were recorded over gyrB and six SNPs were found for HL gene. Less variations were detected on 16S rDNA gene. Only gyrB and HL provided sufficient information for dividing the Apulian X. fastidiosa olive strains into subspecies. Using HL nucleotide sequences was possible to separate X. fastidiosa into subspecies pauca and fastidiosa. Whereas, nucleotide variation present on gyrB gene allowed separation of X. fastidiosa subsp. pauca from the other subspecies multiplex and fastidiosa. The X. fastidiosa strain from Apulia region was included into the subspecies pauca based on three genes phylogenetic analyses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.733-737
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• 2012

Determination of sex origin of cattle meat by fast and reliable molecular methods is an important measure to ensure correct allocation of export refunds particularly in European countries and also female cattle (cow) slaughter is legally banned in India because of religious beliefs. Based on the DEAD box protein gene located on the X and Y chromosomes, 2 pair of primers were designed and the system of PCR was optimized. Upon PCR amplification, male tissue showed 2 bands, while female tissue resulted in only one band. The accuracy and specificity of the primers was assessed using DNA template extracted from cattle meat of known sex. The protocol was subjected to a blind test and showed 100% concordance, proving its accuracy and reliability.

• Biodesign
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.92-95
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• 2018

API5 is a unique oncogenic, non-BIR type IAP nuclear protein and is up-regulated in several cancers. It exerts several functions, such as apoptosis inhibition, cell cycle progression, cancer immune escape, and anticancer drug resistance. Although structural studies of API have revealed that API5 mediates protein-protein interactions, its detailed molecular functions remain unknown. Since FGF2 is one of API5's major interacting proteins, structural studies of the API5-FGF2 complex will provide insight into both proteins' molecular function. We overexpressed and purified API5 and FGF2 in Escherichia coli and crystallized the API-FGF2 complex using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 as a precipitant. Diffraction data were collected to a $2.7{\AA}$ resolution using synchrotron X-rays. Preliminary diffraction analysis revealed that the API5-FGF2 complex crystal belongs to the space group $P2_12_12_1$ with the following unit cell parameters: a = 46.862, b = 76.523, $c=208.161{\AA}$. One asymmetric unit with 49.9% solvent contains one API5-FGF2 complex. Molecular replacement calculation, using API5 and FGF2 coordinates, provided a clear electron density map for an API5-FGF2 complex.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제20권10호
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• pp.1567-1574
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• 2007

A study was carried out to study the response of total purine derivatives (PD) excretion in urine to determine microbial N (MN) supply at four fixed levels of feed intake (namely 95, 80, 60 and 40% of voluntary intake). The crossbred (CB) calves were allocated according to a $4{\times}4$ Latin Square Design and fed wheat straw and concentrate (1:1). The rate of PD excretion (mmol/d) as a linear function of feed intake was 15.85/kg DMI and 20.12/kg DOMI. Based on the endogenous and PD excretion rates obtained in this study, a relationship between daily urinary PD excretion (Y, mmol) and daily microbial protein supply (X, mmol) was developed for crossbred calves as Y = 0.83X+0.296 kg $W^{0.75}$. The derived microbial N values using this equation differed (p<0.001) among the 4 groups and was the highest in L-95 followed by L-80, L-60 and L-40. The relationship between urinary nitrogen loss (Y, g/d) and DOMI (X, kg/d) was established as: Y = 6.038X+21.753 ($r^2$ = 0.663, p<0.01). When urinary excretion of PD (Y, mmol/d) was plotted against intake of DM and DOM (X, kg/d), the equations obtained were: Y = 7.1711X+8.674 ($r^2$ = 0.889, p<0.01) and Y = 12.434X+7.683 ($r^2$ = 0.896, p<0.01), respectively. The proportional contribution of allantoin and uric acid to total PD remained stable irrespective of level of feed intake. Similarly, urinary excretion of creatinine did not differ (p>0.05) between animals fed at different levels. The MN supply was the highest to animals at intake levels L-95, and decreased linearly with corresponding decrease in feed intake. However, the MN supply when expressed per kg DOMI remained statistically (p>0.05) similar irrespective of level of intake. The results revealed that the excretion of urinary purine derivatives were positively correlated with the level of feed intake as well as rumen microbial supply and thus it could be a good indicator for measuring the microbial protein supply and nutritional status of animals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.353-356
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• 1995

The red cell X-protein, NADH-diaphorase 1, malic enzyme and serum arylesterase phenotypes of 50 Thai Longtail and 53 Cameroon X Thai Longtail ($F_1$) crossbred sheep were determined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. None of the economic traits was influenced by DIA1, ME and EsA phenotypes. However, XP phenotypes showed a highly significant association with body weight, body height, heart girth and back girth, with mean values of XP+ve phenotype greater than XP-ve. The $XP^+$ allele was associated with greater body weight, body height, heart girth and back girth.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권10호
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• pp.1374-1382
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• 2001

Fifteen Inner Mongolian wethers with permanent ruminal and duodenal cannulas were used to study the effects of dietary rumen-undegradable protein (RUP) to rumen-degradable protein (RDP) ratios or protein sources on fiber digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and ruminal fluid characteristics. Fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation were not affected (p>0.05) by dietary RUP to RDP ratios (from 1.54 to 0.72). Soybean meal supplementation improved ruminal digestion. Fish meal supplementation increased (p<0.05) the ruminal degradability of fiber. The different RUP to RDP ratios (from 1.54 to 0.72) did not influence (p>0.05) ruminal fluid pH, but there were differences (p<0.05) in ruminal fluid $NH_3-N$ concentration because of urea replacement. Soybean meal as a dietary protein source decreased (p<0.05) ruminal fluid pH and increased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) $NH_3-N$, acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations in the rumen. Fish meal as a dietary protein source decreased (p<0.05 or p<0.01) ruminal $NH_3-N$ and acetate concentrations and increased (p<0.05) ruminal propionate concentration. It can be concluded that dietary protein sources have more significant effect on fiber digestion and ruminal fermentation than different dietary RUP to RDP ratios, when the dietary crude protein requirements of growing sheep are satisfied.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.75-79
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• 2003

Purpose: Evidence exists that dysregulation of apoptosis is involved in the pathogenesis of cancer development. The Bcl-$x_{L}$/Bcl-2-associated death promoter (BAD), a member of the Bcl-2 family, is a critical regulatory component of the intrinsic cell-death pathway that exerts its pro-apoptotic effect upon heterodimerization with anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-$X_{L}$. Expression of the BAD protein has been reported in several cancer types, but not in stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to explore the expression status of the BAD protein in gastric carcinomas. Materials and Methods: In the current study, we analyzed the expression of the BAD protein in 60 advanced gastric adenocarcinomas by using immunohistochemistry and a tissue microarray approach. Results: Immunopositivity (defined as $\geq\30\%$) was observed for the BAD protein in 57 ($95\%$) of the 60 cancers. Normal gastric mucosal cells showed weaker expressions of the BAD protein than gastric carcinomas. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that stomach cancer cells in vivo may need BAD protein expression for apoptosis. Also, the higher expression of the BAD protein in stomach cancer cells than in normal gastric mucosal cells suggests that apoptosis might be easily triggered in susceptible stomach cancer cells, thereby producing selective pressure to make more apoptosis-resistant cells during tumor development.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제45권3호
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• pp.148-157
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• 2022

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease and is highly dependent on cellular proteins for viral propagation. Using protein microarray analysis, we identified 90 cellular proteins as HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) interacting partners, and selected telomere length regulation protein (TEN1) for further study. TEN1 forms a heterotrimeric complex with CTC and STN1, which is essential for telomere protection and maintenance. Telomere length decreases in patients with active HCV, chronic liver disease, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the molecular mechanism of telomere length shortening in HCV-associated disease is largely unknown. In the present study, protein interactions between NS5A and TEN1 were confirmed by immunoprecipitation assays. Silencing of TEN1 reduced both viral RNA and protein expression levels of HCV, while ectopic expression of the siRNA-resistant TEN1 recovered the viral protein level, suggesting that TEN1 was specifically required for HCV propagation. Importantly, we found that TEN1 is re-localized from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in HCV-infected cells. These data suggest that HCV exploits TEN1 to promote viral propagation and that telomere protection is compromised in HCV-infected cells. Overall, our findings provide mechanistic insight into the telomere shortening in HCV-infected cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제28권9호
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• pp.817-824
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• 1995

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary protein level on Ca efficiency in bone mineral density in growing male rats. Twenty male rate were divided into two groups. The rats in one group were fed on casein 20% diet as control group and the others were fed on casein 40% diet as protein group. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. The total body, spine and femur bone mineral density and bone mineral content were measured using dual energy-x ray absorptiometry. Urinary calcium, phosphate, pyridinoline and creatinine, serum calcium, phosphate, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and osteocalcin were measured. Urinary Ca excretion, pyridinoline and crosslinks value and serum ALP content seem to be increased in high protein group. It appears that the growing rats in high protein group had a higher bone resprption and bone formation than those in control group. Animal fad a high protein diet had a siginficantly higher Ca efficiency in BMD, BMC of total body, spine and femur. The results of this show that increasing of dietary protein level (40%) is beneficial of improvement of Ca efficiency during growing period.