Emission spectra studies on the hydrogen-bonding complexes between p-methoxy-2-styrylquinoline and acids

The ground and excited state interactions between p-methoxy-2-styrylquinoline (2-StQ-OMe) and different protic acids with various acid concentrations were studied in different media. Emission bands due to the hydrogen bonding complex, protonation complex and aggregation or solid complex were observed for the first time, in n-hexane. The different reaction pathways were controlled by the solvent polarity and the concentrations of the protic acid. The acidity of acid was also important to the acid-base complex.

A study on occupational exposure to petrochemicals and smoking on seminal quality

A cross-sectional study of 68 petrochemical workers (23 had never smoked [E/NS], 45 were current smokers [E/S]) and 130 subjects with no known history of exposure to petrochemicals (49 had never smoked [NE/NS], 81 were current smokers [NE/S]) was conducted to assess the effect of occupational exposure to petrochemicals and smoking on semen quality. In-person interviews revealed occupational history, smoking habit, and lifestyle. Semen parameters such as volume, viability, sperm forward progression rate, sperm density, and total sperm count were determined for all subjects. The results show that the E/NS workers had a lower sperm forward progression rate (P < .05) compared with controls (NE/NS). Individuals in the NE/S group showed a significant inverse relationship between years smoked and sperm density (r = -.24, P < .05). The data also revealed that cigarette smokers who had worked in a petrochemical plant had significantly poorer quality semen, including sperm density, total sperm count, and forward progression rate, compared with the control (NE/NS) group (P < .01). Furthermore, there was a significant inverse correlation between combined exposure and smoking years, and sperm density (r = -.28, P < .05). These findings suggest that occupational exposure to petrochemical compounds may aggravate the adverse effect that smoking has on semen quality.

cDNA library screening using the SOS recruitment system

The SOS recruitment system (SRS), a recently developed method for detecting protein-protein interactions, provides an attractive alternative to identify biologically important protein interactions. In SRS, the protein-protein interactions take place in the cytoplasm instead of the nucleus, as is the case in the conventional two-hybrid system. Although the SRS has overcome some of the disadvantages of the conventional two-hybrid system, it still has several problems and limitations. Here, we describe a new protocol for SRS library screening. A new combination of growth media to avoid the tedious step of replica plating greatly increases the number of independent colonies in a single library screening. Furthermore, we designed a pair of ras-specific primers and a one-step simple PCR to rule out the most abundant false positive, the mammalian ras cDNA, in SRS library screening.

Thermal-Dependent dehydration process and intramolecular cyclization of lisinopril dihydrate in the solid state

The pathway of dehydration and intramolecular cyclization of lisinopril dihydrate in the solid state was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and a combination of thermal analyzer with Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (thermal FT-IR microscopic system). The results indicate that the dehydration from the solid-state lisinopril dihydrate had a two-step process from dihydrate to monohydrate at 76 degrees C and then from monohydrate to anhydrate at 99-101 approximately C, which could be clearly observed from the above three methods. Only the thermal FT-IR microscopic system could give vital information on diketopiperazine (DKP) formation via intramolecular cyclization in anhydrous lisinopril. A new peak at 1670 cm(-1) assigned to the carbonyl band of DKP formation was clearly evidenced. The water of reaction byproduct was liberated at a temperature >157 degrees C and appeared on the IR spectra near 3200-3400 cm(-1). Moreover, the peak at 1574 cm(-1) assigned to carboxylate shifted to 1552 cm(-1) due to the DKP formation. The peak at 1670 cm(-1) related to the DKP formation changed slightly in intensity from 147 degrees C and significantly near 157 degrees C. DSC and TGA methods were poor for use in supplying information on DKP formation in lisinopril. The thermal FT-IR microscopic system is useful from the view point that it can quickly and directly show the solid-state stability of drug.

Age-associated changes of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the rat brain

Oxygen free radicals have been proposed to be involved in the process of aging. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase are important for antioxidative defense. In this study, profiles of SOD, catalase, and their mRNA levels were investigated in the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, subcortex and cerebellum of male Wistar rats at ages 1-21 months. The total SOD and Mn SOD activities increased with age and exhibited higher levels at 6 and 12 months but decreased thereafter. Activity of catalase showed a similar trend and notably peaked at 12 months. The mRNA levels of Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD, and catalase remained constant in all areas tested (frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes, and subcortex) except the cerebellum. Post-transcriptional regulation was involved in modulating the enzymes' activities during aging. Furthermore, the rate of mitochondrial generation of the superoxide anion (O(2)(-).) increased gradually with aging. Taken together, the results suggest that the increase of oxidative potential and the loss of proper antioxidant defense in the rats appear to be highly involved in the aging process of the brain.

[The study of mechanism by which mild hypothermia reduced delayed neuronal death after cerebral ischemia in gerbils]

AIM

To study the effect of mild hypothermia on delayed neuronal death as well as the relationship between hydroxyl radicals generation in hippocampus and the change of dopamine and ATP content in striatum following ischemia/reperfusion in gerbils.

METHODS

The ischemia was induced by occlusion the both carotid common arteries for 10 minutes in gerbils. Animals were divided into four groups: sham-operated group, ischemic group, ischemia/reperfusion group and mild hypothermic ischemia/reperfusin group. The numbers of delayed neuronal death were assessed by histological examination. OH. outputs in hippocampus and dopamine content in striatum were specifically identified and quantitated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrochemical detection (ECD). ATP content in striatum was also determined by HPLC.

RESULTS

Mild hypothermia significantly reduced the numbers of damaged neurons in hippocampus CA1 subfield after ischemia in gerbils. In MH group, 2,3-DHBA outputs were much less than that in IR group (P < 0.01). Dopamine and ATP content in striatum were higher than those in IR group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Mild hypothermia could decrease the delayed neuronal death in gerbils by reducing hydroxyl radicals production in hippocampus and inhibiting dopamine release as well as prompting the recovery of ATP content in striatum following ischemia/reperfusion in gerbils.

[Expression of CD44s and CD44v6 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and their significance]

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation between the expression of CD44s, CD44v6 and the clinicopathological characters of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) so as to analyze the role of them in occurrence and progression of LSCC.

METHOD

Expression of CD44 and CD44v6 in 46 cases of LSCC and 20 cases of adjacent normal tissues was inspected with immunohistochemical SP method.

RESULT

The expression of CD44s increased significantly in lymphnode metastasis group (94.4%) and stage III-IV group (96.2%), but decreased in non-lymphnode metastasis group (67.9%) and stage I-II group (55.0%). The expression of CD44v6 was lower (21.7%), which wasn't associated with any clinicopathological characters.

CONCLUSION

The role of CD44 and CD44v6 in carcinoma maybe dependent on the species, type of carcinoma, and the expression of CD44s may be a biologic marker to evaluate metastasis of LSCC.

Predictors of survival among elders suffering strokes in Taiwan: observation from a nationally representative sample

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Cerebrovascular disease was the leading cause of death in Taiwan from 1963 to 1982. Deaths due to stroke now rank second only to cancer, with more deaths resulting from strokes than from any other single pathology. It is important to understand stroke prognosis among elderly stroke survivors, with respect to survival and attendant predictive factors, because aged population in Taiwan is growing rapidly. The aim of the present study was to discern factors affecting survival in stroke patients from a nationally representative elderly sample.

METHODS

A total of 99 stroke survivors, from a representative national sample of elders aged >/=65 years on December 31, 1988, whose strokes occurred in the period 1989-1993, were followed for mortality until July 1, 1995. Personal data were gathered through home interviews conducted by well-trained community nurses, and mortality data were obtained from the national census office by using identification card numbers. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and the stepwise technique were used to search for important prognostic factors of survival.

RESULTS

Women experienced a higher mortality rate (139.8 per 1000 person-years) than men (126.4 per 1000 person-years), as age-adjusted for World Health Organization world-population figures. Stroke patients who received continuous treatment for diabetes experienced mortality risks similar to those of patients without diabetes and much lower risks than those with discontinuous diabetes treatment. Cognitive impairment was also an independent predictor of survival (relative risk 2.69, P<0.05). In addition, patients with both cognitive and mobility impairments had a 2- to 3-fold greater risk of mortality than those with only a single abnormality.

CONCLUSIONS

This first report on the various prognostic factors related to survival of elderly stroke patients in Taiwan's Chinese population emphasized the benefit of continuous diabetes treatment in improving survival chances. These stroke patients should also be monitored for cognitive and mobility impairments and undergo rehabilitation.

Selective malformation of the splenic white pulp border in L1-deficient mice

Lymphocytes enter the splenic white pulp by crossing the poorly characterized boundary of the marginal sinus. In this study, we describe the importance of L1, an adhesion molecule of the Ig superfamily, for marginal sinus integrity. We find that germline insertional mutation of L1 is associated with a selective malformation of the splenic marginal sinus. Other splenic structures remain intact. Immunofluorescence analysis of the extracellular framework of the spleen, using an Ab to laminin, reveals that L1 knockout mice have an irregularly shaped, discontinuous white pulp margin. Electron microscopic analysis shows that it is associated with bizarrely shaped marginal sinus lining cells at the periphery of the white pulp. These abnormalities correlate with the localization of L1 in normal mice in that L1 is normally expressed on marginal sinus lining cells at the white pulp border. These L1-immunopositive lining cells coexpress high levels of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 and vimentin, indicating that they are of fibroblastic lineage and express a well-characterized addressin. Our findings are the first to implicate L1 in splenic lymphoid architectural development. Moreover, these findings help define the poorly characterized sinusoidal boundary across which mononuclear cells cross to enter the splenic white pulp.

The Drosophila caspase DRONC cleaves following glutamate or aspartate and is regulated by DIAP1, HID, and GRIM

The caspase family of cysteine proteases plays important roles in bringing about apoptotic cell death. All caspases studied to date cleave substrates COOH-terminal to an aspartate. Here we show that the Drosophila caspase DRONC cleaves COOH-terminal to glutamate as well as aspartate. DRONC autoprocesses itself following a glutamate residue, but processes a second caspase, drICE, following an aspartate. DRONC prefers tetrapeptide substrates in which aliphatic amino acids are present at the P2 position, and the P1 residue can be either aspartate or glutamate. Expression of a dominant negative form of DRONC blocks cell death induced by the Drosophila cell death activators reaper, hid, and grim, and DRONC overexpression in flies promotes cell death. Furthermore, the Drosophila cell death inhibitor DIAP1 inhibits DRONC activity in yeast, and DIAP1's ability to inhibit DRONC-dependent yeast cell death is suppressed by HID and GRIM. These observations suggest that DRONC acts to promote cell death. However, DRONC activity is not suppressed by the caspase inhibitor and cell death suppressor baculovirus p35. We discuss possible models for DRONC function as a cell death inhibitor.

Bile acid induction of cytokine expression by macrophages correlates with repression of hepatic cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase

In the studies reported herein, we show that two complementary experimental models: inbred strains of mice (i.e. C57BL/6 and C3H/HeJ), and a differentiated line of rat hepatoma cells (i.e. L35 cells), require the activation of cytokines by monocyte/macrophages to display bile acid negative feedback repression of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). Feeding a bile acid-containing atherogenic diet for 3 weeks to C57BL/6 mice led to a 70% reduction in the expression of hepatic CYP7A1 mRNA, whereas no reduction was observed in C3H/HeJ mice. The strain-specific response to repression of CYP7A1 paralleled the activation of hepatic cytokine expression. Studies using cultured THP-1 monocyte/macrophages showed that the hydrophobic bile acid chenodeoxycholate, a well established potent repressor of CYP7A1, induced the expression of mRNAs encoding interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). In contrast, the hydrophilic bile acid ursodeoxycholate, which does not repress CYP7A1, did not induce cytokine mRNA expression by THP-1 cells. Chenodeoxycholate activation of cytokines by THP-1 cells was blocked by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist rosiglitazone. The expression of cytokines (e.g. IL-1 and TNFalpha) by THP-1 cells paralleled with the ability of these cells to produce conditioned medium that when added to rat L35 hepatoma cells, repressed CYP7A1. Moreover, rosiglitazone, which blocks cytokine activation by macrophages, also blocked the repression of CYP7A1 normally exhibited by C57BL/6 mice fed the bile acid-containing atherogenic diet. The combined data indicate that the activation of cytokines may mediate CYP7A1 repression caused by feeding mice an atherogenic diet containing bile acids.

One or more labile proteins regulate the stability of chimeric mRNAs containing the 3'-untranslated region of cholesterol-7alpha -hydroxylase mRNA

Multiple AUUUA elements similar to those that regulate the degradation of several different mRNAs are conserved in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of cholesterol-7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNAs from several species. We examined if stabilization of mRNA decay could account for the >20-fold increase in the expression of CYP7A1 mRNA without a detectable change in transcription following dexamethasone treatment of rat hepatoma cells (L35 cells). Following RNA polymerase II-dependent transcription block or protein synthesis block, the decay of CYP7A1 mRNA displayed a short half-life ( approximately 30 min). Control experiments showed that in cells pre-treated with a RNA polymerase II inhibitor, dexamethasone had no detectable effect on CYP7A1 mRNA decay. Stable expression of luciferase reporter mRNAs in L35 cells showed that the CYP7A1 3'-UTR was required to observe a dexamethasone induction. To examine the hypothesis that a labile protein is required for dexamethasone-induced mRNA stabilization, cells were stably transfected with a tetracycline-repressible promoter that drives the expression of a green fluorescent protein analogue (ECFP) with or without the 3'-UTR of CYP7A1. Cells expressing ECFP with the 3'-UTR of CYP7A1 displayed a 3-fold dexamethasone induction of ECFP mRNA, whereas cells expressing ECFP without the 3'-UTR did not. Moreover, specific block of the transcription of ECFP containing the 3'-UTR by adding the tetracycline analogue doxycycline clearly displayed dexamethasone-induced stabilization of mRNA decay. These data provide compelling evidence that a putative labile protein and the 3'-UTR of CYP7A1 act together to decrease the rate of CYP7A1 mRNA degradation.

Crystal and molecular structure of an eight-coodinate N-methyltetraphenylporphyrin complex: diacetato(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)thallium(III)

The crystal structure of diacetato(N-methyl-meso-tetraphenylporphyrinato)thallium(III), Tl(N-Me-tpp)(OAc)2 (1), was established, and the coordination sphere around the Tl3+ ion is described as an eight-coordinate square-based antiprism in which two cis chelating bidentate OAc- groups occupy two apical sites. The plane of the three pyrrole nitrogen atoms (i.e., N(1), N(3), N(4)) strongly bonded to Tl3+ is adopted as a reference plane 3N. The pyrrole N(2) ring bearing the methyl group (i.e., C(45)H3) is the most deviated one from the 3N plane, making a dihedral angle of 21.4 degrees, whereas smaller angles of 9.1 degrees, 7.1 degrees, and 0.9 degree occur with pyrroles N(1), N(3), and N(4), respectively. Because of its larger size, the thallium(III) ion Tl3+ is considerably out of the 3N plane; its displacement of 1.17 A is in the same direction as that of the two apical OAc- ligands. The intermolecular acetate exchange process for 1 in THF-d8 solvent is examined through 1H NMR temperature-dependent measurements. In the slow-exchange region, the methyl and carbonyl carbons of the OAc- groups in 1 are separately located at delta 18.6 [3J(Tl-13C) = 405 Hz] and 170.8 [2J(Tl-13C) = 334 Hz] at -80 degrees C, respectively.

Novel gallium phosphate framework encapsulating trinuclear Mn3(H2O)6O8 cluster: hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of Mn3(H2O)6Ga4(PO4)6

A new manganese gallium phosphate, Mn3(H2O)6Ga4(PO4)6, has been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions at 150 degrees C and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. It crystallized in the monoclinic space group, P2(1)/n, with a = 8.9468(4) A, b = 10.148(5) A, c = 13.5540(7) A, beta = 108.249(1) degrees, and Z = 2. The compound is unusual in that it is not only the first nonoranically templated MnGaPO phase but also the first instance where edge-shared trinuclear manganese-oxygen clusters are encapsulated in a metal phosphate lattice. The trimer involves a central Mn(H2O)4O2 octahedron, which links to two Mn (H2O)2O4 octahedra at trans edges. The Mn3(H2O)6O8 clusters reside in tunnels built from GaO5 trigonal bipyramids and PO4 tetrahedra. Our magnetic study revealed that superexchange interactions occurred between the neighboring MnII centers. A good fit of the magnetic susceptibility data for the isolated trimers was obtained by using a derived expression based on Van Vleck's equation. Unlike all existing linear trinuclear MnII complexes, the chi MT product in the range 8-4 K remains at a constant value corresponding to one spin S = 5/2 per three MnII centers. The Curie behavior at such low temperatures has been confirmed by EPR data. According to the thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA) results, the title compound is thermally stable up to ca. 200 degrees C.

Association of CYP1A1 and microsomal epoxide hydrolase polymorphisms with lung squamous cell carcinoma

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among cancers in Taiwan. Although the etiology of lung cancer has yet to be defined, genetic variability in activities of metabolic enzymes has been correlated with lung cancer. In the present study, the possibility of association of CYP1A1 and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (HYL1) genetic polymorphisms with lung cancer was examined among 132 lung cancer patients and 259 controls in Taiwan. No significant association was observed for either CYP1A1 or HYL1 polymorphism alone and the overall incidence of lung cancer after adjusting for age, gender and smoking status. When cases were stratified according to histological type, there was significant association between CYP1A1*2A homozygote and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (odds ratio (OR) 2.86; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.33-6.12). Similarly, the proportion of HYL1 genotypes corresponding to high or normal enzyme activities was higher in SCC than in controls (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.04-3.70). A combination of susceptible CYP1A1 and HYL1 genotypes was found to be highly associated with lung cancer, especially with SCC (OR 6.76; 95% CI 2.29-19.10). Our results suggest that the combination of CYP1A1 and HYL1 polymorphisms is an important risk factor for lung SCC.

Heritable and inducible genetic interference by double-stranded RNA encoded by transgenes

Double-stranded RNA interference (RNAi) is an effective method for disrupting expression of specific genes in Caenorhabditis elegans and other organisms. Applications of this reverse-genetics tool, however, are somewhat restricted in nematodes because introduced dsRNA is not stably inherited. Another difficulty is that RNAi disruption of late-acting genes has been generally less consistent than that of embryonically expressed genes, perhaps because the concentration of dsRNA becomes lower as cellular division proceeds or as developmental time advances. In particular, some neuronally expressed genes appear refractory to dsRNA-mediated interference. We sought to extend the applicability of RNAi by in vivo expression of heritable inverted-repeat (IR) genes. We assayed the efficacy of in vivo-driven RNAi in three situations for which heritable, inducible RNAi would be advantageous: (i) production of large numbers of animals deficient for gene activities required for viability or reproduction; (ii) generation of large populations of phenocopy mutants for biochemical analysis; and (iii) effective gene inactivation in the nervous system. We report that heritable IR genes confer potent and specific gene inactivation for each of these applications. We suggest that a similar strategy might be used to test for dsRNA interference effects in higher organisms in which it is feasible to construct transgenic animals, but impossible to directly or transiently introduce high concentrations of dsRNA.

Proline inhibits aggregation during protein refolding

The in vitro refolding of hen egg-white lysozyme is studied in the presence of various osmolytes. Proline is found to prevent aggregation during protein refolding. However, other osmolytes used in this study fail to exhibit a similar property. Experimental evidence suggests that proline inhibits protein aggregation by binding to folding intermediate(s) and trapping the folding intermediate(s) into enzymatically inactive, "aggregation-insensitive" state(s). However, elimination of proline from the refolded protein mixture results in significant recovery of the bacteriolytic activity. At higher concentrations (>1.5 M), proline is shown to form loose, higher-order molecular aggregate(s). The supramolecular assembly of proline is found to possess an amphipathic character. Formation of higher-order aggregates is believed to be crucial for proline to function as a protein folding aid. In addition to its role in osmoregulation under water stress conditions, the results of this study hint at the possibility of proline behaving as a protein folding chaperone.

NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase polymorphism and lung cancer in Taiwan

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death in Taiwan since 1996. Genetic variation in metabolic activation or detoxification enzymes has been associated with the occurrence of lung cancer. NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) enzyme is a cytosolic two-electron reductase thought to be involved in bioactivation and detoxification of environmental carcinogens. The possible association between NQO1 genetic polymorphism and lung cancer risk was examined among 95 male smokers without cancer and 100 male smokers with lung cancer in Taiwan. There was no significant difference in the proportion of wild-type NQO1 among all cancer cases and controls. When cases were stratified according to histological subtypes, the wild-type NQO1 was more common in adenocarcinoma than in controls. The odds ratio was 2.93 (95% confidence interval, 1.23-7.02; p = .02). This is the first observation for the positive association of this locus with lung cancer in an Asian population. These results suggest that NQO1 polymorphism is an important genetic risk factor for lung adenocarcinoma among smokers in Taiwan.

Cytochrome P4502E1 genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer in a Taiwanese population

Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) is involved in metabolic activation of carcinogenic nitrosamines, benzene and low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbons. In this study, we assessed the association between CYP2E1 RsaI and DraI genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer in a Taiwanese population. The RsaI genotype distribution was significantly different between 119 lung cancer patients and 231 non-cancer controls. The homozygote variants of RsaI genotypes were more common in controls (6.9%) than in lung cancer patients (0.8%). The estimated odds ratio (OR) was 0.11 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01-0.87). After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking status, the OR was 0.12 (95%, CI, 0.02-0.95). This is the first observation of a positive association between this locus and lung cancer in an Asian population. No significant differences in CYP2E1 DraI genotype distributions were found between cases and controls. The results of this study indicate that CYP2E1 RsaI polymorphism, but not DraI polymorphism, may contribute to the development of lung cancer in Taiwan.

Height and weight percentile curves of Beijing children and adolescents 0-18 years, 1995

Nationwide growth survey has been performed once every 10 years in Mainland China since 1975. However, no percentile growth curves for children from birth to 18 years have ever been constructed for clinical use. The third survey was performed in 1995 and from this survey, data of the Beijing population were retrieved to construct the height for age and weight for age percentile curves. A total of 12218 healthy children were examined for height and weight, using the standardized methods. Height, but not weight, was normally distributed. Smoothing was performed separately for each sex, using JPA2 model for mean height for age > 2 years. Otherwise, smoothing was performed for the following curves by polynomial equations up to the order of the 5th degree for height and 12th degree for weight, mean height for age < 2 years, SD curve of height for age from birth to 18 years, median weight for age < 2 years, median weight for age > 2 years, differences between the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 75th, 90th, 97th centiles and the median for age from birth to 18 years. The predicted adult height was 173.43cm for boys and 160.86 cm for girls, with age of peak velocity at 13 years and 11.5 years for boys and girls respectively. Compared to those in Hong Kong, they were 2.3-2.5 cm taller signifying a geographical difference in growth even within one country. Compared to the Beijing data collected in 1975 and 1985 the secular changes in growth were more obvious in the first decade, suggesting that the Beijing population was approaching the optimal adult height.

The Drosophila caspase inhibitor DIAP1 is essential for cell survival and is negatively regulated by HID

Drosophila Reaper (RPR), Head Involution Defective (HID), and GRIM induce caspase-dependent cell death and physically interact with the cell death inhibitor DIAP1. Here we show that HID blocks DIAP1's ability to inhibit caspase activity and provide evidence suggesting that RPR and GRIM can act similarly. Based on these results, we propose that RPR, HID, and GRIM promote apoptosis by disrupting productive IAP-caspase interactions and that DIAP1 is required to block apoptosis-inducing caspase activity. Supporting this hypothesis, we show that elimination of DIAP1 function results in global early embryonic cell death and a large increase in DIAP1-inhibitable caspase activity and that DIAP1 is still required for cell survival when expression of rpr, hid, and grim is eliminated.

Retinoid and androgen regulation of cell growth, epidermal growth factor and retinoic acid receptors in normal and carcinoma rat prostate cells

Recent in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that retinoic acid receptor (RAR)-mediated processes may be involved in androgen regulation of prostate cells in a manner that may be altered during prostatic carcinogenesis. We tested this hypothesis in the newly established carcinoma and non-carcinoma rat prostate epithelial cell lines, NRP-154 and NRP-152, respectively. In DMEM/F-12 medium supplemented with 10% charcoal stripped fetal calf serum (cFCS), the number of both NRP-152 and NRP-154 cells were stimulated by testosterone (T), with a 4-fold greater effect in NRP-152 than in NRP-154 cells. Retinoic acid (RA) alone also stimulated the growth of NRP-152 cells, but failed to induce cell growth of NRP-154 cells. Importantly, the level of RAR alpha mRNA was elevated whereas the levels of RAR gamma and androgen receptor (AR) mRNA were lower in NRP-154 cells compared to those in NRP-152 cells. Treatment of NRP-152 cells with increasing doses of T resulted in a dose-dependent decrease and rebound of the level of RAR alpha and gamma mRNA in NRP-152 cells; these effects were not apparent, if not reversed, in NRP-154 cells. Both ligand binding and Western blot analyses revealed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) was stimulated by 20 nM T but was suppressed by 0.1 microM RA, which also attenuated the stimulating effects of T on EGF-R in NRP-152 and to a lesser extent in NRP-154 cells. The differences in the level and androgen regulation of RAR mRNAs and reciprocal regulation of EGF-R expression by T and RA between NRP-154 and NRP-152 cells suggest that variations in the EGF-R and RAR signal events may contribute to differences in growth rate between these two cell lines.

A cloning method to identify caspases and their regulators in yeast: identification of Drosophila IAP1 as an inhibitor of the Drosophila caspase DCP-1

Site-specific proteases play critical roles in regulating many cellular processes. To identify novel site-specific proteases, their regulators, and substrates, we have designed a general reporter system in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in which a transcription factor is linked to the intracellular domain of a transmembrane protein by protease cleavage sites. Here, we explore the efficacy of this approach by using caspases, a family of aspartate-specific cysteine proteases, as a model. Introduction of an active caspase into cells that express a caspase-cleavable reporter results in the release of the transcription factor from the membrane and subsequent activation of a nuclear reporter. We show that known caspases activate the reporter, that an activator of caspase activity stimulates reporter activation in the presence of an otherwise inactive caspase, and that caspase inhibitors suppress caspase-dependent reporter activity. We also find that, although low or moderate levels of active caspase expression do not compromise yeast cell growth, higher level expression leads to lethality. We have exploited this observation to isolate clones from a Drosophila embryo cDNA library that block DCP-1 caspase-dependent yeast cell death. Among these clones, we identified the known cell death inhibitor DIAP1. We showed, by using bacterially synthesized proteins, that glutathione S-transferase-DIAP1 directly inhibits DCP-1 caspase activity but that it had minimal effect on the activity of a predomainless version of a second Drosophila caspase, drICE.

G169R mutation diminishes the metabolic activity of CYP2D6 in Chinese

The molecular basis of the reduced ability of a Chinese to metabolize debrisoquine was explored by sequencing all of the nine exons of the CYP2D6 gene. The subject has T188, A1846, T2938, and C4268 (CYP2D6*14) instead of C188, G1846, C2938, and G4268 as in wild-type subjects. XbaI restriction fragment length polymorphism indicated that the subject has a 29-kb allele and a gene deletion (11.5 kb) in another allele (CYP2D6*5). A CYP2D6*14 allele together with a CYP2D6*5 allele may cause the poor metabolism of the subject. T188, T2938, and C4268 are common haplotypes in Chinese-extensive metabolizers. The effect of G1846 to A mutation in CYP2D6 metabolism has not been reported. A polymerase chain reaction-based endonuclease digestion test was designed for the G/N1846 polymorphism and 124 Chinese subjects were screened. With DNA sequencing, two other subjects showed the heterozygous G/A1846 and have a relatively high metabolic ratio of debrisoquine hydroxylation. The site-directed mutagenesis was used to create recombinant CYP2D6 cDNA with T188, A1846, or C4268. The cDNA was then transfected into Rat-1 cells. The transfection was confirmed by Southern, Northern, and Western blots. Based on the same microsomal protein level, the bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation activity of CYP2D6(T188) or CYP2D6(A1846) was significantly lower than that of the wild-type CYP2D6. P34S mutation (C188 to T) significantly decreased CYP2D6 activity. G169R mutation (G1846 to A) also decreased CYP2D6 activity and may further reduce the metabolic activity of CYP2D6 protein with P34S, R296C, and S486T mutations.

Translocation-arrested apolipoprotein B evades proteasome degradation via a sterol-sensitive block in ubiquitin conjugation

In this study, we explored how sterol metabolism altered by the expression of cholesterol-7alpha-hydroxylase NADPH:oxygen oxidoreductase (7alpha-hydroxylase) affects the ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation of translocation-arrested apoB53 in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Stable expression of two different plasmids that encode either rat or human 7alpha-hydroxylase inhibited the ubiquitin conjugation of apoB and its subsequent degradation by the proteasome. Oxysterols (25-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol) reversed the inhibition of apoB degradation caused by 7alpha-hydroxylase. The combined results suggest that the normally rapid proteasome degradation of translocation-arrested apoB can be regulated by a sterol-sensitive polyubiquitin conjugation step in the endoplasmic reticulum. Blocked ubiquitin-dependent proteasome degradation caused translocation-arrested apoB to become sequestered in segregated membrane domains. Our results described for the first time a novel mechanism through which the "quality control" proteasome endoplasmic reticulum degradative pathway of translocation-arrested apoB is linked to sterol metabolism. Sterol-sensitive blocked ubiquitin conjugation appears to selectively inhibit the proteasome degradation of apoB, but not 7alpha-hydroxylase protein, with no impairment of cell vitality or function. Our findings may help to explain why the hepatic production of lipoproteins is increased when familial hypertriglyceridemic patients are treated with drugs that activate 7alpha-hydroxylase (e.g. bile acid-binding resins).