Degradation of serum microRNAs during transient storage of serum samples at 4℃.

Background Numerous studies demonstrate the potential of circulating microRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for several diseases. Circulating microRNAs are much more stable than mRNAs and remain largely intact even after prolonged incubation at room temperature. However, recent reports show that microRNAs in serum or plasma samples have diverse stabilities.

Presence of Sex Steroid-Metabolizing Enzymes in the Olfactory Mucosa of Rats.

Although several lines of evidence have suggested that sex steroids influence olfaction, little is known about the cellular basis of steroid-metabolizing enzymes in the olfactory system. Thus, we aimed to examine gene expression and immunolocalization of four sex steroid-metabolizing enzymes in the olfactory mucosa (OM) of albino rats; steroid side chain-cleaving enzyme (P450scc), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (17β-HSD-1), 17β-HSD type 2 (17β-HSD-2), and aromatase. P450scc is known to catalyze conversion from cholesterol to pregnenolone.

Profile of plasma amino Acid levels in rats exposed to acute hypoxic hypoxia.

The effect of acute hypoxic hypoxia on the profile of plasma amino acids in rats was studied and compared to that resulting from acute liver injury induced by giving carbon tetrachloride. In hypoxic rats exposed to 45% air in N(2) for 5 h, the concentrations of branched chain amino acids, including valine, leucine and isoleucine, and aromatic amino acids such as phenylalanine and tyrosine were significantly increased as compared to those in normoxic rats. The ratio of branched-chain to aromatic amino acids (Fischer's ratio) was significantly decreased.

Phenazine methosulfate decreases HIF-1α accumulation during the exposure of cells to hypoxia.

In HEK293 cells, exposure to various NAD(P)H oxidants, including phenazine methosulfate (PMS), that non-enzymatically oxidize intracellular NAD(P)H to NAD(P), decreased hypoxia-induced hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α) accumulation. RT-PCR and cycloheximide inhibition experiments indicated that PMS-induced HIF-1α decrease is involved in post-translational degradation during hypoxia. The decrease in HIF-1α caused by PMS was not eliminated by proteasome inhibitor MG132.

Analysis of the promoter region of human placenta-specific DSCR4 gene.

The gene DSCR4 locates in the band q22.2 of human chromosome 21 and encodes a protein of 118 amino acids. Expression of DSCR4 is restricted to human placenta and placental choriocarcinoma cell lines BeWo and JEG3.

WITHDRAWN: Analysis of the promoter region of human placenta-specific DSCR4 gene.

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Biochem. Biophys. Acta, doi:10.

Transcription factor single-minded 2 (SIM2) is ubiquitinated by the RING-IBR-RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligases.

Human single-minded 2 (SIM2) is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix/Per-Arnt-Sim (bHLH/PAS) family of transcription factors and is associated with the etiology of Down syndrome phenotype. Here, we examined a possibility of the post-translational modification of SIM2 protein by transfecting various expression constructs followed by the analysis with immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. In fact, transient expression of SIM2 cDNA in HEK293 cells revealed poly-ubiquitination of SIM2 protein.

A novel nuclear localization signal in the human single-minded proteins SIM1 and SIM2.

Human Single-minded 1 (SIM1) and SIM2 genes were found as homologs of Drosophila sim gene which plays a key role in the midline cell lineage of the central nervous system. SIM proteins belong to a family of transcription factors, called bHLH/PAS. Here we examined the intracellular localization of SIM proteins using the expression constructs of whole SIM2 or SIM1 protein fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP).

Genotypes of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in Japanese.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common hereditary disorders. The prevalence of the ADPKD genotype in the Caucasian and Latin populations has been reported. Here, we used linkage analysis to demonstrate the prevalence of the genotype and the correlation between phenotypes and genotypes among 21 Japanese ADPKD families consisting of 96 individuals and including 57 affected members.