SDF-1a induces PDGF-B expression and the differentiation of bone marrow cells into pericytes.
AuthorsHamdan R, Zhou Z, Kleinerman ES
JournalMol Cancer Res
PubMed ID21911740
'Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) and its receptor, PDGFR-ß, play a critical role in pericyte maturation; however, the mechanisms by which PDGF-B is upregulated in the tumor microenvironment remain unclear. We previously showed that upregulating stromal-derived factor, SDF-1a, in VEGF(165)-inhibited Ewing''s sarcoma tumors (TC/siVEGF(7-1)) induced PDGF-B mRNA expression, increased infiltration ... More
Genetic engineering of phytochrome biosynthesis in bacteria.
Authors Gambetta G A; Lagarias J C;
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID11553807
The bilin prosthetic groups of the phytochrome photoreceptors and the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein antennae arise from the oxygen-dependent ring opening of heme. Two ferredoxin-dependent enzymes contribute to this conversion: a heme oxygenase and a bilin reductase with discrete double-bond specificity. Using a dual plasmid system, one expressing a truncated cyanobacterial apophytochrome ... More
Allurin, a 21-kDa sperm chemoattractant from Xenopus egg jelly, is related to mammalian sperm-binding proteins.
Authors Olson J H; Xiang X; Ziegert T; Kittelson A; Rawls A; Bieber A L; Chandler D E;
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID11562501
Previously, we demonstrated that a protein from Xenopus egg jelly exhibits sperm chemoattractant activity when assayed by either video microscopy or by sperm passage across a porous filter. Here we describe the isolation and purification of allurin, the protein responsible for this activity. Freshly oviposited jellied eggs were soaked in ... More
Determination of the loss of function complement C4 exon 29 CT insertion using a novel paralog-specific assay in healthy UK and Spanish populations.
AuthorsBoteva L, Wu YL, Cortes-Hernández J, Martin J, Vyse TJ, Fernando MM
JournalPLoS One
PubMed ID21857912
Genetic variants resulting in non-expression of complement C4A and C4B genes are common in healthy European populations and have shown association with a number of diseases, most notably the autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus. The most frequent cause of a C4 "null" allele, following that of C4 gene copy number ... More
Identification of seven haplotypes of the caprine PrP gene at codons 127, 142, 154, 211, 222 and 240 in French Alpine and Saanen breeds and their association with classical scrapie.
AuthorsBarillet F, Mariat D, Amigues Y, Faugeras R, Caillat H, Moazami-Goudarzi K, Rupp R, Babilliot JM, Lacroux C, Lugan S, Schelcher F, Chartier C, Corbière F, Andréoletti O, Perrin-Chauvineau C
JournalJ Gen Virol
PubMed ID19218225
In sheep, susceptibility to scrapie is mainly influenced by polymorphisms of the PrP gene. In goats, there are to date few data related to scrapie susceptibility association with PrP gene polymorphisms. In this study, we first investigated PrP gene polymorphisms of the French Alpine and Saanen breeds. Based on PrP ... More
CD47 deficiency confers cell and tissue radioprotection by activation of autophagy.
AuthorsSoto-Pantoja DR, Miller TW, Pendrak ML, DeGraff WG, Sullivan C, Ridnour LA, Abu-Asab M, Wink DA, Tsokos M, Roberts DD
JournalAutophagy
PubMed ID22874555
Accidental or therapeutic exposure to ionizing radiation has severe physiological consequences and can result in cell death. We previously demonstrated that deficiency or blockade of the ubiquitously expressed receptor CD47 results in remarkable cell and tissue protection against ischemic and radiation stress. Antagonists of CD47 or its ligand THBS1/thrombospondin 1 ... More