A handy database for culture collections worldwide: CCINFO-PC

Culture collections are reservoirs of cultivable microbes, cell lines and gene libraries. Their role and duty are to supply biological resources to biomedical communities; nevertheless, their visibility from the public is low because most culture collections still have poor accesses via the Internet. Therefore the WFCC World Data Center on Micro-organisms (WDCM) developed a database that runs on IBM PCs and compatibles, which are the most popular computer and will be as powerful as workstations. The database includes various information: activities of 484 culture collections from 58 countries; an integrated list of their holdings of bacteria, fungi and yeast; and data entry system for culture collections.

Protection of dogs from Lyme disease with a vaccine containing outer surface protein (Osp) A, OspB, and the saponin adjuvant QS21

A vaccine consisting of purified Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant full-length outer surface proteins A (OspA) and B (OspB) and the saponin adjuvant QS21 was evaluated for protection against Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Eleven beagles were vaccinated twice and then challenged with 10 field-collected adult female Ixodes scapularis. Xenodiagnosis revealed that all 11 nonvaccinated control dogs and 2 of 10 vaccinated dogs were infected with B. burgdorferi. Six of 11 control dogs also developed fever (0.75 +/- 0.38 degrees C) and were lethargic. One of the control dogs also developed a limp. Both of the infected vaccinated dogs were asymptomatic. Thus, the vaccine prevented tick-vectored infection and associated symptoms of Lyme disease.

The location of untranscribed DNA sequences within ras genes essential for eliciting plant growth suppression

Three heterologous ras DNA-coding sequences and their deletion derivatives were introduced into plant cells to investigate the role of the ras-coding sequences, especially conserved regions, in eliciting growth inhibition. All three ras-coding sequences caused a similar inhibition of plant cell growth, and it was the conserved coding regions which were responsible for this inhibitory effect. The 493 bp conserved region within the v-Ha-ras-coding sequence was studied further, and was shown to be responsible for the inhibitory effect. This region is conserved (over 44%) among the three ras genes studied and encodes a catalytic region of the Ras protein. Small deletions at either the 5' or 3' end of this 493 bp sequence could abolish or dramatically reduce the inhibitory effect. A 36 bp region at the 5' end of the 493 bp region was found to be highly conserved between v-Ha-ras and eight different plant ras or ras-related genes based upon analysis of published sequences. Small deletions affecting this highly conserved 36 bp region completely abolished the inhibitory effect, while deletion of a similar number of base pairs in adjacent regions did not. These results indicate that plant growth inhibition by ras DNA requires small regions at both ends of the 493 bp conserved region.

Interleukin-1-induced calcium flux in human fibroblasts is mediated through focal adhesions

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an important mediator of inflammation and also modulates fibroblast metabolism. To assess mechanisms of IL-1-induced signal transduction and calcium flux, early passage human fibroblasts were loaded with fura2/AM. Cells grown on coverslips exhibited dose-dependent [Ca2+]i responses that were maximal at 10(-8) M IL-1 beta with time to maximum flux of 50 s. Cells incubated with anti-Type 1-IL-1 receptor antibody exhibited a 45 nM increase in [Ca2+]i above baseline but demonstrated no calcium response after IL-1 beta treatment. Incubation with EGTA (5 mM) or thapsigargin (1 microM) caused 75% and 37% reductions, respectively, in the IL-1-induced [Ca2+]i increase, suggesting that extracellular Ca2+ predominates in IL-1-stimulated calcium flux. Cells in suspension did not exhibit [Ca2+]i responses to IL-1 beta. The relationship between [Ca2+]i signaling and focal adhesions was examined by plating cells on fibronectin or poly-L-lysine, conditions that either permitted or blocked the formation of focal adhesions. Cells on fibronectin exhibited co-distribution of immunostaining for talin, vinculin, IL-1 receptor, and focal adhesion kinase (pp125fak) in focal adhesions and demonstrated [Ca2+]i responses with 10(-8) M IL-1 beta. Cells on poly-L-lysine or cells in suspension did not exhibit co-distribution of pp125fak, IL-1 receptor, and focal adhesion proteins and did not exhibit calcium flux. The dependence of IL-1-stimulated [Ca2+]i responses on tyrosine kinases was examined first by treating cells with genistein, a selective inhibitor of tyrosine kinases. Genistein (100 microM) completely blocked [Ca2+]i responses to 10(-8) M IL-1, whereas its inactive analogue genistin was not inhibitory. Second, fibroblasts lysates were immunoprecipitated with an antiphosphotyrosine antibody and the lysates were Western-blotted with an anti-pp125fak antibody. Cells grown on fibronectin and stimulated with IL-1 exhibited tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125fak whereas untreated cells or cells grown on poly-L-lysine and treated with IL-1 showed no reaction. Fibroblasts electroinjected with anti-pp125fak monoclonal antibody showed no [Ca2+], response, whereas cells treated with an irrelevant antibody exhibited a normal [Ca2+]i response. Collectively, these data indicate that fibroblasts require substrate attachment and clustering of IL-1 receptors to focal adhesions for IL-1-induced [Ca2+]i responses. Calcium fluxes are mediated through tyrosine kinases whose substrates include pp125fak. These studies therefore demonstrate that activation of intracellular signaling pathways by IL-1 is dependent on IL-1 receptor-cytoskeletal protein interactions.

Current sample handling methods for measurement of platinum-DNA adducts in leucocytes in man lead to discrepant results in DNA adduct levels and DNA repair

DNA adduct levels were measured with atomic spectroscopy in white blood cells (WBCs) from patients with solid tumours who were treated with six weekly courses of cisplatin. In 21 patients (I) the WBCs were collected after thawing frozen whole-blood samples according to a previously described method. In 32 other patients (II) WBCs were collected immediately after blood sample collection. The two methods for WBC collection were also compared in vitro. The maximal DNA adduct levels in vivo after the first course were in I 2.48 +/- 1.14 and in II 1.28 +/- 0.40 pg of platinum per microgram of DNA (P < 0.0001). The DNA 'repair' in the first course (DNA adduct level at the end of the infusion minus the level 15 h post infusion) was in I 40% +/- 29% and in II 18% +/- 29% (P = 0.009). These differences were consistent in all measured courses. In vitro, the DNA adduct levels in the freshly prepared WBCs were significantly lower at 0, 1 and 4, but not 24 h, after start of the incubation with cisplatin than in the WBCs collected after freezing and thawing the blood sample. The same experiment with carboplatin in vitro also resulted in significantly lower adducts in freshly isolated WBCs. The higher DNA adduct levels and DNA 'repair' in I are caused by remaining unbound cisplatin in the sample tubes, which can form DNA adducts ex vivo. The same results in vivo can be anticipated when carboplatin is used.

Effective water model for Monte Carlo simulations of proteins

We present an effective theory for water. Our goal is to formulate an accurate model for the effects of solvation on protein dynamics, without incurring the huge computational cost and the slow temporal evolution typical of molecular dynamics simulations of liquids. We replace the individual water molecules in an all-atom potential with a local dielectric density field, with self-interactions given by the Landau-Ginzburg free energy and external interactions by Lennard-Jones forces at the surface of the protein atoms. We explore conformational space with finite temperature Monte Carlo dynamics, using parallel Langevin and Fourier acceleration algorithms well suited to data-parallel computer architectures such as the Connection Machine. To establish the validity of our approximations, we compare our electrostatic contribution to the solvation energy with the results of Lim, Bashford, and Karplus using a conventional static continuum dielectric cavity model, and the nonelectrostatic contributions with estimates of hydrophobic surface free energy. Our model can also accommodate ionic charges and temperature fluctuations. We propose future investigations extending our effective theory of solvation to include explicit orientational entropy and hydrogen-bonding terms.

Desensitization of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor: evidence for heterogeneity of calcium release channels

Ca release channels from the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membranes of rabbit skeletal muscle were incorporated into the lipid bilayer membrane, and the inactivation kinetics of the channel were studied at large membrane potentials. The channels conducting Cs currents exhibited a characteristic desensitization that is both ligand and voltage dependent: 1) with a test pulse to -100 mV (myoplasmic minus luminal SR), the channel inactivated with a time constant of 3.9 s; 2) the inactivation had an asymmetric voltage dependence; it was only observed at voltages more negative than -80 mV; and 3) repetitive tests to -100 mV usually led to immobilization of the channel, which could be recovered by a conditioning pulse to positive voltages. The apparent desensitization was seen in approximately 50% of the experiments, with both the native Ca release channel (in the absence of ryanodine) and the ryanodine-activated channel (1 microM ryanodine). The native Ca release channels revealed heterogeneous gating with regard to activation by ATP and binding to ryanodine. Most channels had high affinity to ATP activation (average open probability (po) = 0.55, 2 mM ATP, 100 microM Ca), whereas a small portion of channels had low affinity to ATP activation (po = 0.11, 2 mM ATP, 100 microM Ca), and some channels bound ryanodine faster (< 2 min), whereas others bound much slower (> 20 min). The faster ryanodine-binding channels always desensitized at large negative voltages, whereas those that bound slowly did not show apparent desensitization. The heterogeneity of the reconstituted Ca release channels is likely due to the regulatory roles of other junctional SR membrane proteins on the Ca release channel.

[A radiological study of the nasopharynx]

Since the difficulty to objectively assess the adenoidal tissue and the nasopharyngeal airway in children, it is necessary to find out an accurate method of measuring these structures. The present work studied the efficacy of the cavum lateral X-ray to measure the adenoidal tissue and to assess the obstruction in causes in the nasopharynx. With this purpose, different radiological measurements were carried out in 90 children who were going to undergo adenoidectomy. A significant correlation between these measurements and the volume and weight of the removed tissue was found. Also, a postadenoidectomy radiological control showed a significant decrease of the adenoidal tissue and a significant increase of the nasopharyngeal airway. The authors conclude that the lateral cavum X-ray is a good procedure to measure the adenoidal tissue and the nasopharyngeal airway.

Temperature Dependence of the Superconducting Gap Anisotropy in Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+x

Detailed data on the momentum-resolved temperature dependence of the superconducting gap of Bi(2)Sr(2)CaCu(2)O(8+x) are presented, complemented by similar data on the intensity of the photoemission superconducting condensate spectral area. The gap anisotropy between the Gamma-Mand Gamma-X directions increases markedly with increasing temperature, contrary to what happens for conventional anisotropic-gap superconductors, such as lead. Specifically, the size of the superconducting gap along the Gamma-X direction decreases to values indistinguishable from zero at temperatures for which the gap retains virtually full value along the Gamma-M direction. These data rule out the simplest type of d-wave order parameter.

The endolymphatic sac: microsurgical topographic anatomy

The endolymphatic sac is part of the membranous labyrinth; it plays an important role in the hearing mechanism. Injury to the endolymphatic sac may, over time, severely compromise hearing. The endolymphatic sac is located in a duplication of the dura of the posterior aspect of the petrous pyramid and is, therefore, in the surgical field of many neurosurgical operations performed on the posterolateral cranial base. The endolymphatic sac was exposed bilaterally in 10 anatomic specimens; the distance from the center of the sac to the posterior lip of the internal auditory meatus and to the XIth nerve in the jugular foramen was measured with a caliper. Also measured was the distance between the center of the sac and the closest point on the petrous ridge and the distance between that point and the petro-sigmoid intersection. The petro-sigmoid intersection was defined as the point at which the medial aspect of the sigmoid sinus intersects the lateral aspect of the petrous ridge. The dimensions of the sac were also recorded. On the average, the sac was found to be 15.7 mm posterosuperior (superolateral) to the XIth nerve in the jugular foramen (range, 11.0-18.5 mm) and 13.3 mm posterior (lateral) to the internal auditory meatus (range, 10.0-18.0 mm). The center of the sac was 24.1 mm (mean value) (range, 20.0-28.0 mm) in front of the petro-sigmoid intersection at a point 11.5 mm (mean value) (range, 8-17 mm) below the petrous ridge. The mean width and height of the sac were 3.83 (range, 2-6 mm) and 3.80 mm (range, 2.5-8 mm), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Central actions of parathyroid hormone on blood calcium and hypothalamic neuronal activity in the rat

The central actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH) on the blood ionized calcium level in anesthetized rats and the neuronal activity of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) in vitro were investigated. An intracerebroventricular injection of PTH (0.01, 0.1, and 1 microgram) prevented urethan-induced hypocalcemia in a dose-dependent manner, whereas either an intravenous or an intracisternal injection of PTH (1 microgram) was ineffective. Eighty-three of 177 VMH neurons responded to a bath application of PTH (10(-7) or 3 x 10(-7) M): a majority (72, 83%) of the responsive cells decreased, whereas 11 increased their activity. This inhibitory effect of PTH on neuronal activity still persisted after synaptic blocking in a Ca(2+)-free/high-Mg2+ medium. A PTH receptor antagonist, [Tyr34]bPTH-(7-34)-NH2, suppressed the effect of PTH on the neuronal activity. These findings thus suggest that brain PTH has a calciotropic function and that one of the possible target sites is the VMH, where PTH inhibits its neuronal activity through a postsynaptic mechanism mediated by PTH receptors.

Expression of the Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase in Escherichia coli for use as antigen for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) encoded DNA polymerase (POL) was cloned and over-expressed in Escherichia coli. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of antibody to this POL protein in sera from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients. By Western blot analysis, moderate to high concentration of IgG POL-specific antibodies were present in 43 of 48 NPC sera and only 4 of 48 healthy, seropositive controls. The POL-specific IgG antibodies appear as early as stage I of NPC, suggesting that the recombinant POL protein can be a useful diagnostic marker for early diagnosis of the disease. It was also found that human sera containing high titer of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies or herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) antibodies did not cross-react with the recombinant EBV POL, despite the homology shared by DNA polymerase proteins of these viruses.

Hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.): identification and parentage determination by RAPD fingerprinting

DNA from three families of rice plants selected in Northern China (each comprising the male sterile, the restorer, the hybrid F1 and the maintainer lines) has been extracted and amplified by PCR with different random DNA primers (RAPD analysis). Then, DNA has been analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA bands scored as present or absent. The generated matrices are reproducible and amenable for identification of each single plant line. Thus, RAPD fingerprinting of the inbred parental lines and of the resulting hybrid is proposed as a convenient tool for the identification, protection and parentage determination of plant hybrids. Furthermore, by offering a molecular tool to verify the degree of dissimilarity between the parental lines, the RAPD analysis may also be used to search for new parental combinations.

Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition and factor VII coagulant activity

Plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition reflects, to a moderate degree, the fatty acid composition of the diet. To determine whether plasma phospholipid fatty acid composition might influence factor VII coagulant activity (factor VIIc), we examined 2207 middle-aged adults free of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Factor VIIc was associated positively with the percentage of fatty acids that was saturated, and it was associated negatively with the linoleic acid percentage and the phospholipid polyunsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio. For example, a 1.9% greater saturated fatty acid level was associated with approximately a 5% higher factor VIIc. These results suggest a role for dietary fat composition, or related dietary patterns, in determining levels of factor VIIc.

A new staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China

PURPOSE

An accurate and rational nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) stage based on images is proposed.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Four hundred and twenty-one cases of NPC, treated in the Cancer Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), with computed tomography scanning before initial radiotherapy, are analyzed. Important prognostic factors that form the basis of the new staging system are screened out by means of Cox model and clinical experiences. Survival curves of various kinds of T and N stages are compared by computer simulation. A new staging system is proposed by studying the traditional staging systems such as the AJC, UICC, Ho's and Changsha systems.

RESULTS

According to the new staging criteria, the 5-year survival rates for Stages I-IV are 89.7%, 75.9%, 51.3%, and 22.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This new clinical staging for NPC based on a large amount of cases multivariate analysis is satisfactory and widely used in China.

Amyloid-associated proteins alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and apolipoprotein E promote assembly of Alzheimer beta-protein into filaments

The protease inhibitor alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and the lipid transport protein apolipoprotein E (apoE) are intimately associated with the 42-amino-acid beta-peptide (A beta) in the filamentous amyloid deposits of Alzheimer's disease. We report here that these two amyloid-associated proteins serve a strong stimulatory role in the polymerization of A beta into amyloid filaments. Addition of either alpha 1-anti-chymotrypsin or apoE to the A beta peptide promoted a 10- to 20-fold increase in filament formation, with apoE-4, the isoform recently linked to the development of late-onset Alzheimer's disease, showing the highest catalytic activity. These and other experiments suggest that Alzheimer amyloid deposits arise when A beta is induced to form filaments by amyloid-promoting factors (pathological chaperones) expressed in certain brain regions.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 is pre-synaptic at mouse neuromuscular synapses and is transported in nerve

In a previous study, we localized insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1) to mouse neuromuscular junctions, and intramuscular nerves. To determine if pre-synaptic accumulation of IGFBP-1 occurred, we used double ligation of sciatic nerve in adult mice at different time points. IGFBPs were detected by Western ligand blot (WLB) with 125I-IGF-I. WLB and Western immunoblot (WIB) analysis of extracts from double-ligated nerves showed a delayed (6 days) increase of IGFBP-1 in the soluble fraction between the ligatures and distal to the distal ligature. For comparison we evaluated transport of neurofilament components, using WIB and confirmed the primarily anterograde transport of these intraaxonal proteins. These data suggest that expression of IGFBP-1 is both by activated Schwann cells as well as retrograde axonal transport with likely entry into the axon at the synapse.

Long-term care facility policies on life-sustaining treatments and advance directives in Canada

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence and content of long-term care facility policies regarding the use of life-sustaining treatments (cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), artificial hydration and nutrition, dialysis, antibiotics for life-threatening infections, transfer to acute care hospital) and advance directives in Canada.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional mailed survey.

SETTING

Canadian long-term care facilities with 25 beds or more listed in the 1991-92 Directory of Long Term Care Centres in Canada. Institutions listed as, "general hospitals," "psychiatric hospitals," "children's treatment centres," "group homes," or as purely residential facilities were excluded.

PARTICIPANTS

Chief Executive Officers or their designates.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Respondents' self-reports regarding the existence of life-sustaining treatment or advance directive policies and content analysis of the policies themselves.

RESULTS

Of 1472 long-term care facilities, 1021 (69%) responded. Of these, 344 (34%) institutions had 397 policies regarding the use of life-sustaining treatments or advance directives. Three hundred twenty facilities (31%) had 349 do-not-resuscitate (DNR) policies (40% on CPR alone and 60% on CPR plus other life-sustaining treatments). Seventeen institutions (2%) each had one policy addressing life-sustaining treatments other than CPR, and 31 institutions (3%) each had one policy addressing advance directives. Of the 397 policies, 171 (43%) required routine discussion with all patients, 156 (39%) mentioned futility, 331 (83%) indicated that the competent patient had the right to make a decision about life-sustaining treatment, 265 (67%) indicated that the family of the incompetent patient had this right, 27 policies (7%) mentioned conflict resolution, 378 (95%) had an explicit requirement for recording the decision, 10 (3%) required explicit communication of the decision to the competent patient, 10 (3%) required such communication to the family of the incompetent patient, 260 (66%) required updating of the decision, and 213 (54%) mentioned rescinding or changing the decision.

CONCLUSIONS

Only one-third of Canadian long-term care facilities have do-not-resuscitate policies, and even fewer have policies on advance directives or life-sustaining treatments other than CPR. The policies themselves could be improved by encouraging routine advance discussions, scrutinizing the use of the futility standard, stipulating procedures for conflict resolution, and explicitly requiring communication of the decision to competent patients or substitute decision makers of incompetent patients.

In vivo treatment with anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 antibodies inhibits contact sensitization-induced migration of epidermal Langerhans cells to regional lymph nodes

Development of contact hypersensitivity in mice depends on the migration of Langerhans cells from the epidermis to regional lymph nodes. Since ICAM-1 and LFA-1 play important roles in leukocyte migration, we sought to determine whether in vivo administration of anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 antibodies would inhibit contact sensitization-induced migration of epidermal Langerhans cells to regional lymph nodes. Twenty-four hours after contact sensitization of mice with FITC, a brightly FITC-stained Ia+ population of dendritic cells capable of stimulating a FITC-specific Ia-restricted T-cell hybridoma was readily detected in their draining lymph nodes. Animals treated with anti-Ia mAb, which depletes Ia+ cells in lymph nodes and spleen but not Ia+ Langerhans cells in the epidermis, had normal numbers of FITC-bearing Ia+ cells capable of stimulating the T-cell hybridoma. Dendritic lymph node cells from mice treated with anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAb were devoid of brightly FITC-stained cells and cells capable of stimulating the FITC-specific T-cell hybridoma. The combination of anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAb completely inhibited the induction of contact hypersensitivity to FITC. Animals treated with anti-ICAM-1 or anti-LFA-1 monoclonal antibodies alone had significantly reduced (by 79 and 36%, respectively) numbers of brightly stained cells capable of stimulating the hybridomas. These data suggest that the adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and LFA-1, play a significant role in contact hypersensitivity-induced migration of Langerhans cells to regional lymph nodes. The immunomodulatory effects of anti-adhesion molecule antibodies in vivo may be in part due to their effects on antigen-presenting cell migration.

In situ ischemia and hypoxia enhance alveolar macrophage tissue factor expression

Alveolar and interstitial fibrin deposition is a prominent pathologic feature in many acute lung injury syndromes. Previous studies have suggested that ischemic lung preservation has a stimulatory effect on donor alveolar macrophages (Mphis) during transplantation. An animal model of lung preservation was developed to examine the hypothesis that ischemia enhances Mphi procoagulant activity (PCA) as a potential mechanism contributing to lung reperfusion injury. Histologic examination of ischemic lungs reperfused ex vivo revealed evidence of alveolar fibrin deposition. Mphis lavaged from lungs stored for at least 8 h at 21 degrees C exhibited increased PCA. The use of factor-deficient human plasma characterized this Mphi procoagulant as tissue factor (TF). Since increased PCA correlated with decreased airspace pO2 at the end of preservation, the effect of various O2 concentrations on PCA induction in vivo and in vitro was examined. Lung inflation during ischemia with decreasing O2 concentrations confirmed that hypoxia was associated with a rise in Mphi PCA in situ. However, in vitro exposure of Mphis to hypoxia did not increase Mphi PCA, suggesting that hypoxia alone was not responsible for induction of this procoagulant effect. Northern blot analysis demonstrated an increase in TF mRNA levels from in situ but not in vitro Mphis, thereby confirming transcriptional TF induction in this group. In addition, enhanced PCA was observed when Mphis were suspended in the bronchoalveolar lavage supernatant from the ischemic lungs stored at 21 degrees C. This suggests that in situ lung ischemia and hypoxia may produce soluble factors that either directly or indirectly stimulate Mphi TF expression. These factors may contribute to Mphi-mediated ischemic lung injury.

An HMG-like protein that can switch a transcriptional activator to a repressor

One protein can activate some genes and repress others in the same cell. The Drosophila protein Dorsal (which, like the human protein NF-kappa B3, is a member of the Rel family of transcriptional activators) activates the twist gene and represses the zen gene in the ventral region of early embryos. Here we describe a Drosophila HMG1 protein, called DSP1 (dorsal switch protein), that converts Dorsal and NF-kappa B from transcriptional activators to repressors. This effect requires a sequence termed a negative regulatory element (NRE), found adjacent to Dorsal-binding sites in the zen promoter and adjacent to the NF-kappa B-binding site in the human interferon-beta (IFN-beta) enhancer. Previous studies have shown that another type of HMG protein, HMG I(Y), can stimulate NF-kappa B activity. Thus, the HMG-like proteins DSP1 and HMG I(Y) can determine whether a specific regulator functions as an activator or a repressor of transcription.