RNA-associated protein 55 (RAP55) localizes to mRNA processing bodies and stress granules.

The mRNA processing body (P-body) is a cellular structure that has an important role in mRNA degradation. P-bodies have also been implicated in RNAi-mediated post-transcriptional gene silencing. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize novel components of the mammalian P-body.

Ge-1 is a central component of the mammalian cytoplasmic mRNA processing body.

The mRNA processing body (P-body) is a cellular structure that regulates gene expression by degrading cytoplasmic mRNA. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize novel components of the mammalian P-body. Approximately 5% of patients with the autoimmune disease primary biliary cirrhosis have antibodies directed against this structure.

Mediation of Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-LP transcriptional coactivation by Sp100.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) EBNA-LP protein is important for EBV-mediated B-cell immortalization and is a potent gene-specific coactivator of the viral transcriptional activator, EBNA2. The mechanism(s) by which EBNA-LP functions as a coactivator remains an important question in the biology of EBV-induced B-cell immortalization. In this study, we found that EBNA-LP interacts with the promyelocytic leukemia nuclear body (PML NB)-associated protein Sp100 and displaces Sp100 and heterochromatin protein 1alpha (HP1alpha) from PML NBs.

The cytoplasmic dot staining pattern is detected in a subgroup of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

Objective: To determine the clinical significance of the cytoplasmic dot anti-"nuclear" antibody (ANA) staining pattern.

Methods: We describe a patient with fatigue, arthralgias, elevated serum transaminase, and antibodies staining 5-20 cytoplasmic dots in HEp-2 cells. A liver biopsy revealed the presence of Stage III primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Do antinuclear antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis patients identify increased risk for liver failure?

Background & Aims: Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease with a variable clinical course. Identification of serologic markers associated with increased risk of liver failure would assist in management of PBC patients. The objective of this study was to identify antinuclear antibody (ANA) markers that may be used to predict PBC outcome.

Restoration of promyelocytic leukemia protein-nuclear bodies in neuroblastoma cells enhances retinoic acid responsiveness.

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor of infancy and is believed to result from impaired differentiation of neuronal crest embryonal cells. The promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML)-nuclear body is a cellular structure that is disrupted during the pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia, a disease characterized by impaired myeloid cell differentiation. During the course of studies to examine the composition and function of PML-nuclear bodies, we observed that the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y lacked these structures and that the absence of PML-nuclear bodies was a feature of N- and I-type, but not S-type, neuroblastoma cell lines.

Physical and functional interactions between PML and MDM2.

The tumor suppressor protein PML and oncoprotein MDM2 have opposing effects on p53. PML stimulates p53 activity by recruiting it to nuclear foci termed PML nuclear bodies. In contrast, MDM2 inhibits p53 by promoting its degradation.