Alterations in the spatiotemporal expression pattern of geminin during human epidermal morphogenesis.

Introduction: Geminin, a (25 kDa) protein, was originally identified as a key regulator of DNA replication licensing in the cell cycle and of cell fate during embryonic nervous system formation. Although geminin is involved in mechanisms underlying the regulation of transcription and patterning in embryonic development, its expression and possible significance in human epidermal morphogenesis remains unknown.

Methods: Forty-one skin biopsy specimens obtained from human fetuses (10th to 23rd week of estimated gestational age) were processed for immunohistochemistry using a primary rabbit polyclonal antibody against geminin.

The expression pattern of galectins during human epidermal morphogenesis.

Introduction: Galectins constitute a phylogenetically conserved family of proteins with high binding affinity for glycoconjugates bearing β-galactoside residues. Surprisingly, knowledge of the expression pattern of galectins during human epidermal morphogenesis is very limited.

Methods: Fifty-eight biopsy skin specimens obtained from human embryos and 10 biopsy specimens obtained from healthy adult volunteers were processed for immunohistochemistry using a panel of antibodies against galectins 1, 3, 7, and 9.

Depression and Self-Efficacy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Northern Greece.

Background: Depression represents one of the most common disorders in diabetic patients and frequently complicates the health care of this population. Poor self-efficacy has been associated with increased depressive symptoms as well as poor glycemic control.

Objective: To assess depression and self-efficacy in adults with type 2 diabetes in Northern Greece and to explore the factors which may affect them in this group of population.

Forward genetic screening for the improved production of fermentable sugars from plant biomass.

With their unique metabolism and the potential to produce large amounts of biomass, plants are an excellent bio-energy feedstock for a variety of industrial purposes. Here we developed a high-throughput strategy, using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, to identify mutants with improved sugar release from plant biomass. Molecular analysis indicates a variety of processes including starch degradation, cell wall composition and polar transport of the plant hormone auxin can contribute to this improved saccharification.

Next-generation mapping of Arabidopsis genes.

Next-generation genomic sequencing technologies have made it possible to directly map mutations responsible for phenotypes of interest via direct sequencing. However, most mapping strategies proposed to date require some prior genetic analysis, which can be very time-consuming even in genetically tractable organisms. Here we present a de novo method for rapidly and robustly mapping the physical location of EMS mutations by sequencing a small pooled F₂ population.

Synthesis, conformational characteristics and anti-influenza virus A activity of some 2-adamantylsubstituted azacycles.

The broad-spectrum antiviral activity of 2-(2-adamantyl)piperidines 11, 13a,b, and 15, 3-(2-adamantyl)pyrrolidines 27, 21a-g and 2-(2-adamantylmethyl)piperidines 30, 32a-c, and 35a-d was examined. Several compounds in the new series were potent against influenza A H(3)N(2) virus. When 1-aminoethyl pharmacophore group of 2-rimantadine 4 (2-isomer of rimantadine) is included into a saturated nitrogen heterocycle, see compound 11, potency was retained.

Hsp27 expression coincides with epidermal stratification during human epidermal morphogenesis.

Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27), apart from its protective function in response to stress, is implicated in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Data on the expression of Hsp27 in the developing human epidermis are sparse and partially conflicting. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate Hsp27 expression during the morphogenesis of human epidermis.

Overlapping and non-redundant functions of the Arabidopsis auxin response factors MONOPTEROS and NONPHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL 4.

Transcription factors of the auxin response factor (ARF) family have been implicated in auxin-dependent gene regulation, but little is known about the functions of individual ARFs in plants. Here, interaction assays, expression studies and combinations of multiple loss- and gain-of-function mutants were used to assess the roles of two ARFs, NONPHOTOTROPIC HYPOCOTYL 4 (NPH4/ARF7) and MONOPTEROS (MP/ARF5), in Arabidopsis development. Both MP and NPH4 interact strongly and selectively with themselves and with each other, and are expressed in vastly overlapping domains.

Heterocyclic rimantadine analogues with antiviral activity.

2-(1-Adamantyl)pyrrolidines 6, 7, 2-(1-adamantyl)piperidines 10, 12a-c, 15a,b and 2-(1-adamantyl)hexahydroazepines 19, 21, 22 were synthesized and tested for their antiviral activity against influenza A, B viruses and the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). The synthetic procedure followed for the preparation of the parent piperidine 10 represents a general method for the synthesis of 2-alkyl- or cycloalkyl-substituted piperidine alkaloids. Parent aminoadamantanes 6, 10 and 19 contain the 1-aminoethyl pharmacophore group of rimantadine drug 2, extended into a saturated nitrogen heterocycle: pyrrolidine, piperidine and hexahydroazepine, respectively.

Genetic complexity of cellulose synthase a gene function in Arabidopsis embryogenesis.

The products of the cellulose synthase A (CESA) gene family are thought to function as isoforms of the cellulose synthase catalytic subunit, but for most CESA genes, the exact role in plant growth is still unknown. Assessing the function of individual CESA genes will require the identification of the null-mutant phenotypes and of the gene expression profiles for each gene. Here, we report that only four of 10 CESA genes, CESA1, CESA2, CESA3, and CESA9 are significantly expressed in the Arabidopsis embryo.

New 2-(1-adamantylcarbonyl)pyridine and 1-acetyladamantane thiosemicarbazones-thiocarbonohydrazones: cell growth inhibitory, antiviral and antimicrobial activity evaluation.

The new thiosemicarbazones and thiocarbonohydrazones derived from 2-(1-adamantylcarbonyl)pyridine and 1-acetyladamantane were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory effect on tumor cell proliferation and their antiviral and antimicrobial activity. Thiosemicarbazone inhibited tumor cell proliferation (GI50's range: 2.4-100 microM and mean GI50 43.