The effect of pea albumin 1F on glucose metabolism in mice.

Pea albumin 1F (PA1F), a plant peptide isolated from pea seeds, can dramatically increase blood glucose concentration by subcutaneous injection with a dosage of 5 or 10 microg/g (body weight) in normal and type II diabetic mice (KK/upj-Ay). The voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC-1) has been identified as the PA1F binding protein from mice pancreatic cell membrane, which may be involved in the regulation of enhancing blood glucose in response to PA1F binding. The results clearly show that peptide-signaling molecules from plants can affect mammalian physiological functions, especially, in association with glucose metabolism.

Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against recombinant human thioredoxins.

Thioredoxin (Trx) is a member of the thioredoxin protein family and has a conserved catalytic domain (-Trp-Cys-Gly-Pro-Cys-Lys-) with reduction/oxidation (redox) activity. There are two main members in this family, Trx-1, a cytosolic and nuclear form, and Trx -2, a mitochondrial form. Trx-1 is a 104 amino acid multifunctional protein that has been extensively studied.

[Value of multiplanar reconstruction of lumbar nerve roots on the same level by high resolution computed tomography in diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation and/or bulge].

Objective: To explore value of multiplanar reconstruction of lumbar nerve roots on the same level by high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation and/or bulge (LDHB).

Methods: Thirty-one patients with manifestations of typical nerve root compression, such as lumbago and tenderness of percussion pain at the corresponding sites were scanned with 16-slice spiral CT and multiplanar reconstruction of lumbar nerve roots on the same level with the workshop ADW4.150, and were diagnosed as with LDHB with 50 segments.

Activity of the plant peptide aglycin in mammalian systems.

A 37 residue peptide, aglycin, has been purified from porcine intestine. The sequence is identical to that of residues 27-63 of plant albumin 1 B precursor (PA1B, chain b) from pea seeds. Aglycin resists in vitro proteolysis by pepsin, trypsin and Glu-C protease, compatible with its intestinal occurrence and an exogenous origin from plant food.

Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against daintain.

Daintain is a 17-kDa polypeptide originally purified from porcine intestine. This polypeptide is associated with insulin secretion and inflammatory responses. Daintain is highly similar in amino acid sequence to allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1).

Preparation and identification of monoclonal antibodies against pea albumin 1b (PA 1b).

PA 1b (pea albumin 1b), extracted from pea seeds, is thermostable and is multifunctional. It has an attractive peros toxicity, and is also involved in the regulation of callus growth and cell proliferation. Here we report the preparation of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against this peptide for further investigation of peptide distribution and functions.