Lateral segregation of anionic phospholipids in model membranes induced by cytochrome P450 2B1: bi-directional coupling between CYP2B1 and anionic phospholipid.

The lateral segregation of anionic phospholipids phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylserine (PS) was detected after addition of cytochrome P450 2B1 (CYP2B1). The tendency of lipid clustering was highly dependent on the type of anionic phospholipids examined. PA was the most highly clustered while PI and PS clustered to a lesser degree.

Synthesis of bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons via palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation reactions.

[reaction: see text] Treatment of the benzannulated enediyne 11 with potassium tert-butoxide in refluxing toluene for 12 h produced 15 via a cascade sequence of cyclization reactions. Two subsequent palladium-catalyzed intramolecular arylation reactions then afforded the bowl-shaped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon 16. The X-ray structures of 16 and two closely related molecules show the presence of significant curvatures.

[Effects of bisphenol A on the placental function and reproduction in rats].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogen-like environmental endocrine disrupter, on the placental function and reproduction in rats. The mRNA levels of the placental prolactin-growth hormone(PRL-GH) gene family, placental trophoblast cell frequency and reproductive data were analyzed.

Methods: The pregnancies of F344 Fisher rats (160 g +/-20 g) were detected by the presence of the copulatory plug or sperm in the vaginal smear, which marked Day 0 of pregnancy.

Regulation of lipid-droplet transport by the perilipin homolog LSD2.

Background: Motor-driven transport along microtubules is a primary mechanism for moving and positioning organelles. How such transport is regulated remains poorly understood. For lipid droplets in Drosophila embryos, three distinct phases of transport can be distinguished.

Segmented heterochromia in scalp hair.

Segmented heterochromia of scalp hair is characterized by the irregularly alternating segmentation of hair into dark and light bands and is known to be associated with iron deficiency anemia. The authors report the case of an 11-year-old boy with segmented heterochromia associated with iron deficiency anemia. After 11 months of iron replacement, the boy's segmented heterochromic hair recovered completely.

Activating signal cointegrator 2 belongs to a novel steady-state complex that contains a subset of trithorax group proteins.

Many transcription coactivators interact with nuclear receptors in a ligand- and C-terminal transactivation function (AF2)-dependent manner. These include activating signal cointegrator 2 (ASC-2), a recently isolated transcriptional coactivator molecule, which is amplified in human cancers and stimulates transactivation by nuclear receptors and numerous other transcription factors. In this report, we show that ASC-2 belongs to a steady-state complex of approximately 2 MDa (ASC-2 complex [ASCOM]) in HeLa nuclei.

A phytochrome-associated protein phosphatase 2A modulates light signals in flowering time control in Arabidopsis.

Reversible protein phosphorylation, which is catalyzed by functionally coupled protein kinases and protein phosphatases, is a major signaling mechanism in eukaryotic cellular functions. The red and far-red light-absorbing phytochrome photoreceptors are light-regulated Ser/Thr-specific protein kinases that regulate diverse photomorphogenic processes in plants. Here, we demonstrate that the phytochromes functionally interact with the catalytic subunit of a Ser/Thr-specific protein phosphatase 2A designated FyPP.

Role of dermal melanocytes in cutaneous pigmentation of stasis dermatitis: a histopathological study of 20 cases.

Stasis dermatitis is an itchy, scaly, and hyperpigmented condition of the lower leg due to venous insufficiency. Hemosiderin and/or melanin have been considered responsible for the brown pigmentation. However, there are not sufficient histopathologic studies.