Polymorphisms in the human apolipoprotein E receptor 2 gene in Japanese sporadic Alzheimer's disease patients.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) polymorphism is associated with onset of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We found seven polymorphisms in apoE receptor 2 (ApoER2), an apoE-binding receptor, in Japanese sporadic AD patients, but no association of ApoER2 polymorphisms with AD. We consider that the functions of ApoER2 in the brain may be compensated for by those of other apoE-binding receptors such as VLDL receptor.

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 10 is a negative regulator of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.

Wnt signaling pathways play fundamental roles in the differentiation, proliferation and functions of many cells as well as developmental, growth, and homeostatic processes in animals. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-related protein (LRP) 5 and LRP6 serve as coreceptors of Wnt proteins together with Frizzled receptors, triggering activation of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. Here, we found that LRP10, a new member of the LDLR gene family, inhibits the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.

Use of dietary supplements among preschool children in Japan.

This study was conducted to examine the characteristics and use of dietary supplements by preschool children in Japan. A survey was conducted among 2,125 parents of preschool children to discover the status of dietary supplement use and their attitudes towards supplement use by their children. Logistic regression models were used to determine which characteristics predict supplement use in this population.

Selective protection of curcumin against carbon tetrachloride-induced inactivation of hepatic cytochrome P450 isozymes in rats.

We investigated the effects of curcumin, a major antioxidant constituent of turmeric, on hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity in rats. Wistar rats received curcumin-containing diets (0.05, 0.

Assessing matrix assisted laser desorption/ ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry as a means of rapid embryo protein identification in rice.

Rice embryo proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). A total of 105 spots were digested with trypsin and the resultant peptides were analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). Raw mass spectra were fully-automatically processed and searched with selected monoisotopic masses against SWISS-PROT/TrEMBL and NCBInr databases.