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An efficient system for producing human cytochrome c variants is important to help us understand the roles of this protein in biological processes relevant to human diseases including apoptosis and oxidative stress. Here, we describe an Escherichia coli expression system for producing recombinant human cytochrome c. We also characterize the structure, stability, and function of the protein and show its utility for studying apoptosis. Yields of greater than 8 mg of pure protein per liter culture were attained. Circular dichroism spectropolarimetry studies show that the secondary and tertiary structures of the human protein are nearly identical to those of the horse protein, but the human protein is more stable than other eukaryotic cytochromes c. Furthermore, recombinant human cytochrome c is capable of inducing caspase-3 activity in a cell-free caspase activation assay. We use data from this assay along with data from the literature to define the apaf-1 binding site on human cytochrome c.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.10.182 | DOI Listing |
Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev
June 2025
Eisai Co., Ltd., Tsukuba Research Laboratories, 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan.
Liver-humanized chimeric mice (PXB-mice) are widely utilized for predicting human pharmacokinetics (PK) and as human disease models. However, residual metabolic activity of mouse hepatocytes in chimeric mice can interfere with accurate human PK estimation. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment makes it possible to eliminate the shortcomings of chimeras and create new models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHum Reprod
September 2025
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Santé Publique, Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail, Université de Rennes-UMR_S1085, Rennes, France.
Study Question: What is the direct effect of mumps virus (MuV) replication within the human testis on the tissue innate immune responses and testicular cell functions?
Summary Answer: MuV induces an early pro-inflammatory response in the human testis ex vivo and infects both Leydig cells and Sertoli cells, which drastically alters testosterone and inhibin B production.
What Is Known Already: Despite widespread vaccination efforts, orchitis remains a significant complication of MuV infection, especially in young men, which potentially results in infertility in up to 87% of patients with bilateral orchitis. Our understanding of MuV pathogenesis in the human testis has been limited by the lack of relevant animal models, impairing the development of effective treatments.
J Inorg Biochem
September 2025
Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States; Center for Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, United States. Electronic address:
Omega loop C (residues 40-57) of cytochrome c (Cytc) is a common location for naturally-occurring variants of human Cytc that cause thrombocytopenia 4 (THC4). These variants are characterized by significant increases in the intrinsic peroxidase activity of Cytc, which appears to be linked to increased dynamics in Ω-loop D (residues 71-85). The mutations in Ω-loop C enhance the dynamics of Ω-loop D by decreasing the acid dissociation constant of the trigger group (pK) of the alkaline conformational transition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
September 2025
Biobank of Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
Heart failure (HF) and lung cancer (LC) often coexist, yet their shared molecular mechanisms are unclear. We analyzed transcriptome data from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database (GSE141910, GSE57338) to identify 346 HF‑related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), then combined weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) pinpointed 70 hub candidates. Further screening of these 70 hub candidates in TCGA lung cancer cohorts via LASSO, Random Forest, and multivariate Cox regression suggested CYP4B1 as the only independent prognostic marker.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAllergol Immunopathol (Madr)
September 2025
Molecular Biology, Translational Research Laboratory, Hospital da Criança de Brasília José Alencar, Brasília-Brazil.
The diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), a congenital immunodeficiency affecting phagocyte function, remains a challenge for patients in Latin America. It is well established that dihydrorhodamine (DHR) flow cytometry is the most commonly used screening assay; however, few pediatric immunology centers in Brazil perform this test. This study reports data from a routine diagnostic workup for CGD conducted at a Brazilian children's hospital.
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