Mutual adaptation between mouse transglutaminase 4 and its native substrates in the formation of copulatory plug.

Formation of copulatory plugs by male animals is a common means of reducing competition with rival males. In mice, copulatory plugs are formed by the coagulation of seminal vesicle secretion (SVS), which is a very viscous and self-clotting fluid containing high concentration of proteins. In its native state, mouse SVS contains a variety of disulfide-linked high-molecular-weight complexes (HMWCs) composed of mouse SVS I-III, which are the major components of mouse SVS.

A proline rich acidic protein PRAP identified from uterine luminal fluid of estrous mice is able to enhance the estrogen responsiveness of Ishikawa cells.

Using mice as experimental animals, proteins in the uterine luminal fluid (ULF) from both adults and diethylstilbestrol dipropionate (DES)-treated immature animals were resolved by 2D gel electrophoresis. Two of the protein spots, (a) and (b) around the positions of 18-20 kDa, in the adult ULF were not found in the DES-treated ULF. Automated Edman degradation established the same N-terminal sequences of AHQVPVKTKGKHVFP for the two protein spots.

Glypican-3-mediated oncogenesis involves the Insulin-like growth factor-signaling pathway.

Glypican-3 (gpc3) is the gene responsible for Simpson-Golabi-Behmel overgrowth syndrome. Previously, we have shown that GPC3 is overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we demonstrated the mechanisms for GPC3-mediated oncogenesis.

DNA vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease via electroporation: study of molecular approaches for enhancing VP1 antigenicity.

Background: Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) affects susceptible livestock animals and causes disastrous economic impact. Immunization with plasmid expressing VP1 that contains the major antigenic epitope(s) of FMDV as cytoplasmic protein (cVP1) failed to elicit full protection against FMDV challenge.

Materials And Methods: In this study, mice were immunized via electroporation with four cDNA expression vectors that were constructed to express VP1 of FMDV, as cytoplasmic (cVP1), secreted (sVP1), membrane-anchored (mVP1) or capsid precursor protein (P1), respectively, to evaluate whether expression of VP1 in specific subcellular compartment(s) would result in better immune responses.

Flow cytoenzymology of intracellular tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase.

Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) is a cytochemical marker for hairy cell leukemia, macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts. Our purpose was to develop multicolor cytofluorometric methods to evaluate intracellular TRACP enzymic activity using a fluorogenic cytochemical reaction in combination with immunochemical stains for distinct surface membrane antigens. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were the model TRACP-expressing cells studied.

Microtubule damaging agents induce apoptosis in HL 60 cells and G2/M cell cycle arrest in HT 29 cells.

Microtubule damaging agents (such as paclitaxel and nocodazole (ND)) have been used in the clinical cancer chemotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms of these agents in the induction of anti-cancer activity are still unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that 0.

Antitumor effects of miconazole on human colon carcinoma xenografts in nude mice through induction of apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest.

Miconazole (MIC), a promising oral antifungal agent, has been used worldwide in the treatment of superficial mycosis. In this study, we demonstrated that MIC dose dependently arrested various human cancer cells at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. The protein levels of p53, p21/Cip1, and p27/Kip1 were significantly elevated by MIC treatment in COLO 205 cells.