[Transdermal delivery of Gentiana macrophylla complex components system under micro-needle conditions].

The purpose of this study is to investigate the transdermal delivery characteristics of Gentiana macrophylla complex components system through different parts of the skin under micro-needles conditions. Two-chamber diffusion cells were used, different parts of isolated skin and micro-needle pretreated isolated mouse skin were applied separately, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) similarity evaluation methods were used to evaluate transdermal delivery characteristics of Gentiana macrophylla complex components system on receiving pool and the permeation rate and penetration amount of Gentiopicroside at different parts of mouse skin. In the 24 h, the similarity between receiving fluid which was on passive transdermal delivery and micro-needle transdermal delivery conditions and original fluid were ranged from 83.

Crystal structure of histidine-containing phosphocarrier protein from Thermoanaerobacter tengcongensis MB4 and the implications for thermostability.

Protein thermostability is an inherent characteristic of proteins from thermophilic microorganisms, and therefore enables these organisms to survive at extreme temperatures. Although it is well-known that thermostable proteins are critical for the growth of thermophilic organisms, the structural basis of protein thermostability is not yet fully understood. The histidine-containing phosphocarrier (HPr) protein, a phosphate shuttle protein in the phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent sugar transport system (PTS) of bacterial species, is an ideal model for investigating protein thermostability with respect to its small size and deficiency in disulphide bonds or cofactors.

Na(+)/K (+)-ATPase β1 subunit interacts with M2 proteins of influenza A and B viruses and affects the virus replication.

Interplay between the host and influenza virus has a pivotal role for the outcome of infection. The matrix proteins M2/BM2 from influenza (A and B) viruses are small type III integral membrane proteins with a single transmembrane domain, a short amino-terminal ectodomain and a long carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain. They function as proton channels, mainly forming a membrane-spanning pore through the transmembrane domain tetramer, and are essential for virus assembly and release of the viral genetic materials in the endosomal fusion process.

In silico characterization of the functional and structural modules of the hemagglutinin protein from the swine-origin influenza virus A (H1N1)-2009.

The 2009 swine-origin influenza virus (S-OIV, H1N1 subtype) has developed into a new pandemic influenza as announced by the World Health Organization. In order to uncover clues about the determinants for virulence and pathogenicity of the virus, we characterized the functional modules of the surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA), the most important protein in molecular epidemiology and pathogenesis of influenza viruses. We analyzed receptor binding sites, basic patch, neutralization antibody epitopes and T cell epitopes in the HA protein of the current S-OIV according to the corresponding functional and structural modules previously characterized in other H1 HA molecules or HA molecules of other subtypes.

Detection of avian influenza virus subtype H5 using a biosensor based on imaging ellipsometry.

A novel method is reported for the detection of avian influenza virus subtype H5 using a biosensor based on high spatial resolution imaging ellipsometry (IE). Monoclonal antibodies specific to H5 hemagglutinin protein were immobilized on silicon wafers and used to capture virus particles. Resultant changes on the surface of the wafers were visualized directly in gray-scale on an imaging ellipsometry image.

Genetic requirement for pneumococcal ear infection.

Background: Ear infection or otitis media (OM) accounts for most bacterial respiratory infections in children in both developed and developing nations. Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are the major OM pathogens. However, little is known about the genetic basis of bacterial OM largely due to practical difficulties in conducting research in ear infection models and genetically manipulating clinical isolates.

[Effects of exogenous ER beta expression on the cell growth properties of MCF-7 breast cancer cell line].

Objective: To study the effects of exogenous ER beta on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells under different treatment.

Methods: An eukaryotic expression vector containing 1.6 kb of human entire coding sequence of ER beta (pCDNA3-ER beta) was transfected into human breast cancer MCF-7 cells using lipofectamine 2000.

[XBP-1 interacts with estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)].

Estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) has been a primary target of treatment as well as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer. The level of human X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) mRNA was related with that of ERalpha in breast tumors and was over-expressed in some breast tumors. These previous studies suggested that XBP-1 may interact with ERalpha.

[Advance in researches on BRCA1].

BRCA1 is one of the most important breast cancer susceptibility genes. It plays key roles in DNA damage repair, cell cycle checkpoint regulation, gene transcription chromatin stability, and cell proliferation. In this paper, advance in basic researches on BRCA1 is reviewed, and the role of BRCA1 in cancer development and progression is discussed, that may facilitate potential clinical application of BRCA1.

[Expression of XBP-1 in breast cancer cell lines and its role in ERalpha signaling].

Estrogen receptor (ERalpha) plays an important role in the development and progression of breast cancer. Several recent studies have demonstrated that expression of human X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) is associated with ERalpha status in breast tumors and overexpressed in a subset of breast tumors. XBP-1 has two splicing variants, which were designated as XBP-1S and XBP-1U, respectively.

[Isolation and characterization of a BRCA1-interacting protein].

BRCA1 (breast cancer susceptibility gene-1) plays important roles in DNA damage repair, cell checkpoint regulation, gene transcription, chromosome stability, and apoptosis. At the C-terminus of BRCA1 is the activation domain with a number of acidic amino acid residues that includes two tandem repeats of BRCT(BRCT1 and BRCT2). In this study, to identify proteins that interact with the BRCT2 domain of BRCA1, the standard yeast two-hybird screen was performed.

[XBP-1 enhances the transcriptional activity of estrogen receptor alpha].

The estrogen receptor (ERalpha) is a member of a large superfamily of nuclear receptors that regulates the transcription of estrogen-responsive genes. Several recent studies have demonstrated that human X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) mRNA expression is associated with ERalpha status in breast tumors. More recently, two forms of XBP-1 were identified due to their unique splicing.

[Construction of ERbeta expression vector and its function in different cancer cells].

Objective: To construct an ERbeta expression vector and study its expression and function in different cancer cells.

Methods: Standard PCR was used to amplify the full-length coding sequence of ERbeta. The amplified ERbeta gene was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3, generating pCDNA3-ERbeta.

[Mapping of FHL2 transcription activation domain].

FHL2, a member of LIM-only protein family, plays an important role in transcription regulation, apoptosis, cancer development and progression. In this study, a mammalian transcription activation system was constructed by using DNA binding domain(DBD) of GAL4 and luciferase reporter gene with DBD binding sequence, and used for mapping of FHL2 transcription activation domain. First, the coding sequence of GAL4-DBD was inserted into expression vector pcDNA3, generating the pDBD recombinant plasmid, then the wild-type FHL2 and its mutants were fused in-frame with GAL4-DBD, resulting in expression vectors for wild-type FHL2 and its mutants.