C8orf4 is a transforming growth factor B induced transcript downregulated in metastatic colon cancer.

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta mediates a tumor suppressor pathway in human colon epithelial cells. We were interested in identifying and characterizing novel genes regulated by the TGF beta pathway in the colon. We employed expression microarrays to identify transcripts induced by TGF beta in Vaco 330, a colon adenoma cell line.

PMEPA1, a transforming growth factor-beta-induced marker of terminal colonocyte differentiation whose expression is maintained in primary and metastatic colon cancer.

To identify potential effectors of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-mediated suppression of colon cancer, we used GeneChip expression microarrays to identify TGF-beta-induced genes in VACO 330, a nontransformed TGF-beta-sensitive cell line derived from a human adenomatous colon polyp. PMEPA1 was identified as a gene highly up-regulated by TGF-beta treatment of VACO 330. Northern blot analysis confirmed TGF-beta induction of PMEPA1 in VACO 330, as well as a panel of three other TGF-beta-sensitive colon cell lines.

Properties of exogenously added GPI-anchored proteins following their incorporation into cells.

Isolated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins, when added to cells in vitro, incorporate into their surface membranes and, once incorporated, exert their native functions. Virtually any protein of interest, if expressed as a GPI-reanchored derivative, can be modified to acquire this capacity. Such transfer of proteins directly to cells, termed "protein engineering" or "painting" constitutes an alternative to conventional gene transfer for manipulating cell surface composition that has many potential applications.

Protein transfer of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-modified murine B7-1 and B7-2 costimulators.

The feasibility of using protein transfer as a means for enhancing the immunogenicity of murine tumor cells was evaluated. Glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-modified variants of the murine costimulators B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86), designated B7-1.GPI and B7-2.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-modified murine B7-1 and B7-2 retain costimulator function.

Glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-modified variants of murine B7-1 and B7-2 cell surface costimulators were produced via chimerization with alternative GPI-modification signal sequences from decay-accelerating factor (DAF). GPI anchorage was verified by demonstrating phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) sensitivity of the chimeric polypeptides in both immunofluorescence/flow-cytometric and immunoprecipitation analyses. The various GPI-modified chimeric B7-1:DAF and B7-2:DAF polypeptides were shown to retain costimulator function, in both an in vitro proliferation assay and an in vivo triggering of cytotoxicity assay.

Oral immunization against respiratory viruses in mice.

The results presented here extend our previous observations regarding oral immunization against respiratory viruses in three areas. First, from an experiment comparing Sendai virus with influenza virus it appears that the nature of the antigen as well as host-parasite interactions may play an important role in efficiency of oral immunization. Second, oral immunization with an inactivated virus can apparently induce a cell-mediated immune response.

A two-component T7 system for the overexpression of genes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A two-component T7 expression system was developed for efficient expression of genes in the nonenteric bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The first component of the expression system is a bacteriophage-based transposable element that contains a lacUV5/lacIq-regulated T7 RNA polymerase gene and a selectable antibiotic-resistance determinant. This element, designated miniD-180, was stably integrated into the P.