Theoretical design of a new chimeric protein for the treatment of breast cancer.

p28 and NRC peptides are two anticancer peptides with various mechanisms have shown to be effective against breast cancer. Therefore, it seems that construction of a chimeric protein containing the two peptides might cause synergistic cytotoxic effects. However, since the two peptides bear opposite charges, production of a chimeric protein in which the two moieties do not intervene each other is difficult.

Expression and purification of toxic anti-breast cancer p28-NRC chimeric protein.

Background: Chimeric proteins consisting of a targeting moiety and a cytotoxic moiety are now under intense research focus for targeted therapy of cancer. Here, we report cloning, expression, and purification of such a targeted chimeric protein made up of p28 peptide as both targeting and anticancer moiety fused to NRC peptide as a cytotoxic moiety. However, since the antimicrobial activity of the NRC peptide would intervene expression of the chimeric protein in Escherichia coli, we evaluated the effects of two fusion tags, that is, thioredoxin (Trx) and 6x-His tags, and various expression conditions, on the expression of p28-NRC chimeric protein.

Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Genotype, Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and Saphenous Vein Graft Atherosclerosis in Iranian Patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate possible interactions among Angiotensin-I converting enzyme genotype, insertion/deletion polymorphism and atherosclerosis of vein grafts in Iranian patients, and characterize their clinical and demographic profile.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft surgery more than five years ago, were included for angiographic analysis. Atherosclerosis was determined by quantitative angiography and adjusted Gensini score.

Isolation and Characterization of a New Thermoalkalophilic Lipase from Soil Bacteria.

Lipases are diversified enzymes in their properties and substrate specificity, which make them attractive tools for various industrial applications. In this study, an alkalinethermostable lipase producing bacteria were isolated from soil of different regions of Isfahan province (Iran) and its lipase was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. To select a thermoalkalophil lipase producing bacterium, Rhodamine B and Horikoshi media were used and the strain that can grow at 45° Cwas selected.

EphB4 tyrosine kinase stimulation inhibits growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in a dose and time dependent manner.

Background: EphB4 receptor tyrosine kinase is of diagnostic and therapeutic value due to its overexpression in breast tumors. Dual functions of tumor promotion and suppression have been reported for this receptor based on presence or absence of its ligand. To elucidate such discrepancy, we aimed to determine the effect of time- and dose-dependent stimulation of EphB4 on viability and invasion of breast cancer cells via recombinant ephrinB2-Fc.

Association between PRO12ALA polymorphism of the PPAR-γ2 gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iranian patients.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs) have been identified as ligand-activated transcription factors that belong to the nuclear receptor superfamily. It has been shown that an association exists between Proline 12 alanine (Pro12Ala) polymorphism of PPAR-GAMMA2 (PPAR-γ2) gene and increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in different populations. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the association between Pro12Ala polymorphism of PPAR-γ2 gene and T2DM in an Iranian population.

Preparation and characterization of oligochitosan-tragacanth nanoparticles as a novel gene carrier.

The nanoparticles of oligochitosan-water soluble tragacanth (OCH-WST) as novel gene carriers have been prepared and their transfection efficiency has been investigated on Hela and HepG2 cell lines. Different OCH:WST weight ratios were prepared to obtain particles with low size distribution and high surface charge, and also in range of below 200 nm. Nanoparticles with 132.