[Determination of Histamine by a Rapid Fluorescamine-UPLC Method].

We have developed a rapid analysis method for determination of histamine using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescamine derivatization. Histamine was extracted from foods with trichloroacetic acid after homogenization. The supernatant obtained by centrifugation was filtered and derivatized without solid-phase extraction.

MZB1 in borderline resectable pancreatic cancer resected after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

Background: A high accumulation of CD8 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) induced by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) is associated with a favorable prognosis in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the correlation between a high accumulation of CD8 TILs and a favorable prognosis has yet to be fully clarified. The aim of this study was to determine predictive markers of a high accumulation of CD8 TILs, with a favorable prognosis, using proteomic analysis.

Identification of candidate diagnostic serum biomarkers for Kawasaki disease using proteomic analysis.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis and childhood febrile disease that can lead to cardiovascular complications. The diagnosis of KD depends on its clinical features, and thus it is sometimes difficult to make a definitive diagnosis. In order to identify diagnostic serum biomarkers for KD, we explored serum KD-related proteins, which differentially expressed during the acute and recovery phases of two patients by mass spectrometry (MS).

The tumour suppressor APC promotes HIV-1 assembly via interaction with Gag precursor protein.

Diverse cellular proteins and RNAs are tightly regulated in their subcellular localization to exert their local function. Here we report that the tumour suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli protein (APC) directs the localization and assembly of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Gag polyprotein at distinct membrane components to enable the efficient production and spread of infectious viral particles. A proteomic analysis and subsequent biomolecular interaction assay reveals that the carboxyl terminus of APC interacts with the matrix region of Gag.

A Novel Role for Flotillin-Containing Lipid Rafts in Negative-Feedback Regulation of Thyroid-Specific Gene Expression by Thyroglobulin.

Background: Thyroglobulin (Tg) stored in thyroid follicles regulates follicular function in thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis by suppressing thyroid-specific gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, Tg is an intrinsic negative-feedback regulator that can restrain the effect of thyrotropin (TSH) in the follicle. However, the underlying mechanisms by which Tg exerts its prominent autoregulatory effect following recognition by thyrocytes remains unclear.

Relationship between phosphorylation of sperm-specific antigen and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Unlabelled: Lung cancer is generally considered as a highly malignant cancer. A major challenge for the management of lung adenocarcinoma patients is to predict the clinical course of the disease after resection. We analyzed the different levels of phosphorylation of proteins in lung adenocarcinoma tissues between a poor prognosis (PP) group, in which six patients exhibited recurrence within five years after surgery, and a good prognosis (GP) group, in which seven patients did not exhibit recurrence within five years after surgery.

Identification of Tyrosine-Phosphorylated Proteins Upregulated during Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Induced with TGF-β.

The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a unique process for the phenotypic changes of tumor cells characterized by a transition from polarized rigid epithelial cells to migrant mesenchymal cells, thus conferring the ability of tumor invasion and metastasis. A major challenge in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma is to identify early stage patients at a high risk of recurrence or metastasis, thereby permitting the best therapeutic strategy and prognosis. In this study, we used a transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced EMT model to quantitatively identify protein tyrosine phosphorylation during the course of EMT in relation to malignant characteristics of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Oseltamivir-resistant seasonal A(H1N1) and A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses from the 2007/2008 to 2012/2013 season in Nara Prefecture, Japan.

We examined the incidence of oseltamivir-resistant seasonal A(H1N1) and A(H1N1)pdm09 influenza viruses from the 2007/2008 to 2012/2013 season in Nara Prefecture, Japan. To detect the oseltamivir resistance marker in neuraminidase (NA), 365 influenza viruses (60 seasonal A(H1N1) and 305 A(H1N1)pdm09) were sequenced. The H275Y mutation in the NA gene, which confers resistance to oseltamivir, was identified in 93.

Proteomic analysis of proteins related to prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

We attempted to identify prognosis-related proteins expressed in early resection lung adenocarcinomas that had higher metastatic potential. Early resection of lung adenocarcinoma tissues were collected from patients who experienced recurrence within 5 years after surgery; these patients are defined here as the poor prognosis group. From these samples, we prepared frozen tissue sections and then isolated cancerous areas by laser capture microdissection to allow extraction of cancer tissue-derived soluble proteins.

Wheat germ cell-free system-based production of hemagglutinin-neuraminidase glycoprotein of human parainfluenza virus type 3 for generation and characterization of monoclonal antibody.

Human parainfluenza virus 3 (HPIV3) commonly causes respiratory disorders in infants and young children. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) have been produced to several components of HPIV3 and commercially available. However, the utility of these antibodies for several immunological and proteomic assays for understanding the nature of HPIV3 infection remain to be characterized.

The phosphorylation of HIV-1 Gag by atypical protein kinase C facilitates viral infectivity by promoting Vpr incorporation into virions.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag is the main structural protein that mediates the assembly and release of virus-like particles (VLPs) from an infected cell membrane. The Gag C-terminal p6 domain contains short sequence motifs that facilitate virus release from the plasma membrane and mediate incorporation of the viral Vpr protein. Gag p6 has also been found to be phosphorylated during HIV-1 infection and this event may affect virus replication.

N-Terminal methylation of proteasome subunit Rpt1 in yeast.

The 26S proteasome is a multicatalytic protease complex that degrades ubiquitinated proteins in eukaryotic cells. It consists of a proteolytic core (the 20S proteasome) as well as regulatory particles, which contain six ATPase (Rpt) subunits involved in unfolding and translocation of substrates to the catalytic chamber of the 20S proteasome. In this study, we used MS to analyze the N-terminal modifications of the yeast Rpt1 subunit, which contains the N-terminal recognition sequence for N-methyltransferase.

Mass spectrometric identification of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored peptides.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchoring is a post-translational modification widely observed among eukaryotic membrane proteins. GPI anchors are attached to proteins via the carboxy-terminus in the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, where GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) perform important functions as coreceptors and enzymes. Precursors of GPI-APs (Pre-GPI-APs) contain a C-terminal hydrophobic sequence that is involved in cleavage of the signal sequence from the protein and addition of the GPI anchor by the transamidase complex.

Epidemiological characteristics of norovirus associated with sporadic gastroenteritis among children from the 2006/2007 to 2011/2012 season in Nara Prefecture, Japan.

The present study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of norovirus (NoV) associated with sporadic gastroenteritis in regional populations of Nara Prefecture, Japan, from the 2006/2007 to 2011/2012 epidemic season. Fecal specimens of sporadic gastroenteritis collected between September 2006 and August 2012 in Nara Prefecture were examined for the presence of NoV by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The NoV genotype was determined by nucleotide sequence analysis.

[Clinical review of influenza (H1N1) 2009 detected in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 flu season in Nara Prefecture].

This study is based on clinical information on 894 subjects diagnosed with influenza (H1N1) 2009 in Nara Prefecture from June 15, 2009, to March 4, 2010, and from July 9, 2010, to March 6, 2011. Clinical data for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 was compared. Results showed that 43% of 2009-2010 subjects were 0-9 years old and 38% were 10-19 years old.

[Validation study of a method for multiresidue analysis of pesticides in cereals and pulses using supercritical fluid extraction].

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was applied to extraction of pesticides from cereals and pulses. Residues were extracted from homogenized samples mixed with water-absorbent polymer and supercritical carbon dioxide in a stainless steel tube, followed by elution with acetonitrile. Co-extractives were removed by means of mini-column clean-up.

A distinct role for Pin1 in the induction and maintenance of pluripotency.

The prominent characteristics of pluripotent stem cells are their unique capacity to self-renew and pluripotency. Although pluripotent stem cell proliferation is maintained by specific intracellular phosphorylation signaling events, it has not been well characterized how the resulting phosphorylated proteins are subsequently regulated. We here report that the peptidylprolyl isomerase Pin1 is indispensable for the self-renewal and maintenance of pluripotent stem cells via the regulation of phosphorylated Oct4 and other substrates.

Co- and post-translational modifications of the 26S proteasome in yeast.

The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) 26S proteasome consists of the 19S regulatory particle (19S RP) and 20S proteasome subunits. We detected comprehensively co- and post-translational modifications of these subunits using proteomic techniques. First, using MS/MS, we investigated the N-terminal modifications of three 19S RP subunits, Rpt1, Rpn13, and Rpn15, which had been unclear, and found that the N-terminus of Rpt1 is not modified, whereas that of Rpn13 and Rpn15 is acetylated.

Multiplex detection and identification of proteins on a PVDF membrane blocked with a synthetic polymer-based reagent.

2-DE is one of the most powerful methods for analyzing proteins expressed in cells and tissues. Immunodetection of proteins blotted on a polymer membrane is the method of choice for detecting specific proteins in 2-D gels. To precisely locate spots of immunoreactive proteins in 2-D gels, both dye staining and immunodetection were performed on the same PVDF membrane.

On-chip identification and interaction analysis of gel-resolved proteins using a diamond-like carbon-coated plate.

We developed a novel protein chip made of a diamond-like, carbon-coated stainless steel plate (DLC plate), the surface of which is chemically modified with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. To produce a high-density protein chip using the DLC plate, proteins separated by SDS gel electrophoresis or two-dimensional electrophoresis were electroblotted onto the DLC plate and immobilized covalently. A high blotting efficiency (25-70%) for transferring proteins from the gels onto the DLC plates was achieved by improvement of the electrophoresis device and electroblotting techniques.

Development of a routine laboratory direct detection system of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes.

A novel direct detection system has been developed for eight staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE)-encoding genes (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh and sei) in milk. Specific detection by real-time PCR was successful for all SE-encoding genes in the reference strains. Furthermore, a novel DNA-preparation method with good reproducibility [coefficients of variation 0.

Analysis of gene expression during staurosporine-induced neuronal differentiation of human prostate cancer cells.

Staurosporine induces neuronal differentiation and suppresses malignancy of human prostate cancer TSU-Pr1 cells. To investigate the mechanism underlying neuronal differentiation and suppression of malignancy, we used cDNA microarrays to examine gene expression profiles in TSU-Pr1 cells treated with staurosporine. mRNAs isolated from untreated and staurosporine-treated TSU-Pr1 cells were hybridised to microarrays consisting of approximately 9100 genes.

An interventional approach to block brain damage caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection, by use of a combination of phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

We tested the combination of phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 and PDE4 inhibitors as an interventional approach to prevent the development of brain damage after Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, using mice with protein calorie malnutrition. The combination consisted of pentoxifylline and rolipram; the dose of each inhibitor was 7.5 mg/kg.