Chemical inhibitors destabilize HuR binding to the AU-rich element of TNF-alpha mRNA.

Hu protein R (HuR) binds to the AU-rich element (ARE) in the 3UTR to stabilize TNF-alpha mRNA. Here, we identified chemical inhibitors of the interaction between HuR and the ARE of TNF-alpha mRNA using RNA electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay (EMSA) and filter binding assay. Of 179 chemicals screened, we identified three with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) below 10 microM.

Three pairs of protease-serpin complexes cooperatively regulate the insect innate immune responses.

Serpins are known to be necessary for the regulation of several serine protease cascades. However, the mechanisms of how serpins regulate the innate immune responses of invertebrates are not well understood due to the uncertainty of the identity of the serine proteases targeted by the serpins. We recently reported the molecular activation mechanisms of three serine protease-mediated Toll and melanin synthesis cascades in a large beetle, Tenebrio molitor.

Reduction-sensitive and cysteine residue-mediated Streptococcus pneumoniae HrcA oligomerization in vitro.

In both gram-positive and several gram-negative bacteria, the transcription of dnaK and groE operons is negatively regulated by HrcA; however, the mechanism modulating HrcA protein activity upon thermal stress remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that HrcA is modulated via reduction and oligomerization in vitro. Native-PAGE analysis was used to reveal the oligomeric structure of HrcA.

Characterization of the Streptococcus pneumoniae BgaC protein as a novel surface beta-galactosidase with specific hydrolysis activity for the Galbeta1-3GlcNAc moiety of oligosaccharides.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a causative agent of high morbidity and mortality. Although sugar moieties have been recognized as ligands for initial contact with the host, only a few exoglycosidases have been reported to occur in S. pneumoniae.

Isolation and expression analysis of Alzheimer's disease-related gene xb51 in zebrafish.

XB51 protein is known to interact with the amino-terminal of the X11L protein and to be involved in Abeta40 generation, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we isolated a zebrafish xb51 homologue and analyzed its spatio-temporal expression pattern during early brain development. The xb51 transcript was first detected in the forebrain at 22 hr post-fertilization.

Hydrodynamic interactions in colloidal ferrofluids: a lattice Boltzmann study.

We use lattice Boltzmann simulations, in conjunction with Ewald summation methods, to investigate the role of hydrodynamic interactions in colloidal suspensions of dipolar particles, such as ferrofluids. Our work addresses volume fractions phi of up to 0.20 and dimensionless dipolar interaction parameters lambda of up to 8.

Phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activities of edible and medicinal mushrooms from Korea.

A study was conducted to determine the content of phenolic compounds and the antioxidative activity of five edible and five medicinal mushrooms commonly cultivated in Korea. Phenolic compounds were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography, and antioxidant activity was evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase activity. A total of 28 phenolic compounds were detected in the mushrooms studied.

Selective toxicity of ginsenoside Rg3 on multidrug resistant cells by membrane fluidity modulation.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major problem in cancer chemotherapy. It was previously reported that a red ginseng saponin, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 could modulate MDR in vitro and extend the survival of mice implanted with ADR-resistant murine leukemia P388 cells. This study examined the cytotoxicity of Rg3 on normal and transformed cells, along with its effect on the membrane fluidity.

Size control and registration of nano-structured thin films by cross- units.

Thermoset thin films via directed self-assembly, where benzocyclobutene (BCB) groups are incorporated selectively into the one block, have been prepared from cross-linkable block copolymers in a simple process, which allows size controllability and the registration of oriented microdomains in multi-layer applications.

Nonequilibrium relaxations within the ground-state manifold in the antiferromagnetic Ising model on a triangular lattice.

We present an extensive Monte Carlo simulation study on the nonequilibrium kinetics of triangular antiferromagnetic Ising model within the ground state ensemble which consists of sectors, each of which is characterized by a unique value of the string density p through a dimer covering method. Building upon our recent work [Phys. Rev.

Snx5, as a Mind bomb-binding protein, is expressed in hematopoietic and endothelial precursor cells in zebrafish.

Notch signaling has an evolutionarily conserved function for cell fate determination and stem cell maintenance. Previously, we identified a novel component of the Notch signaling pathway in zebrafish, mind bomb, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase essential for Notch signal activation. Further studies showed that Mind bomb(-/-) mouse embryos exhibited pan-Notch phenotypes in various tissues, suggesting that Mind bomb function is conserved in mammals.

Surface modification of silica nanoparticles by UV-induced graft polymerization of methyl methacrylate.

In this study we modified the surface of silica nanoparticles with methyl methacrylate by UV-induced graft polymerization. It is a surface-initiated polymerization reaction induced by ultraviolet irradiation. The resulting organic-inorganic nanocomposites were near-monodisperse and fabricated without homopolymerization of the monomer.

Nonequilibrium critical dynamics of the triangular antiferromagnetic Ising model.

We investigate the nonequilibrium critical dynamics of antiferromagnetic Ising model on a two-dimensional triangular lattice via dynamic Monte Carlo simulation employing spin-flip kinetics. Macroscopic degeneracy of the ground state originating from geometric frustration fundamentally affects the nonequilibrium dynamics of the system. In particular, the defects and the loose spins (whose flip costs no energy) play key roles in the dynamics.