Inhibitory effects of the phenolic fraction from the pomace of Vitis coignetiae on biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans.

Objectives: The anti-cariogenic properties of the phenolic fraction from the pomace of Vitis coignetiae (VcPP) were evaluated by in vitro assays and compared with fruit juices from V. coignetiae and common grapes and with other phenolic fractions. The effects of VcPP against the biofilm of Streptococcus mutans were investigated.

Critical role of estrogen receptor on anoikis and invasion of squamous cell carcinoma.

Estrogen receptor (ER) plays an important role in various physiological functions. We examined whether ERalpha and ERbeta are expressed in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and whether ER is a potential target for antitumor therapy. High-level expression of ERbeta, but not ERalpha, was observed in tumor cells of human primary SCC tissues and various SCC cultured cell lines.

The formation mechanism by yeast of 4-hydroxy-2(or 5)-ethyl-5(or 2)-methyl-3(2H)-furanone in Miso.

The mechanism of the formation of 4-hydroxy-2(or 5)-ethyl-5-(or 2)-methyl-3(2H)-furanone (HEMF) with yeast under caltivation in a medium containing amino-carbonyl reactants of ribose and glycine was investigated using stable isotopes of the corresponding compounds. It was confirmed that the skeleton of the five-membered ring and the methyl group of the side chain of HEMF was formed from ribose, and that the ethyl group was derived from the glucose metabolite by yeast. The formation of HEMF was confirmed when acetaldehyde as the glucose metabolite and a cell-free extract from yeast were added to the medium containing amino-carbonyl reactants.

Gicerin/CD146 is involved in neurite extension of NGF-treated PC12 cells.

Gicerin/CD146 is a cell adhesion molecule, which belongs to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily. We have reported that it has a homophilic binding activity, which participates in the neurite extension from embryonic neurons. To elucidate how gicerin is involved in the neurite extension mechanism, we employed PC12 cells, which expresses gicerin/CD146.

Molecular cloning and analysis of the mouse gicerin gene.

Gicerin is a cell adhesion molecule, which has five immunoglobulin-like loop structures in an extracellular domain followed by a single transmembrane domain and a short cytoplasmic tail. We have reported that gicerin participates in neurite extension and structural organization of the nervous system, and its expression in the nervous system is high during the development and dramatically decreased after birth. To elucidate the mechanism how the expression of gicerin is regulated, we performed a genomic cloning of a mouse gicerin.

Expression and involvement of gicerin, a cell adhesion molecule, in the development of chick optic tectum.

Gicerin is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It has both a homophilic binding activity and a heterophilic binding activity to neurite outgrowth factor (NOF) a molecule belonging to the laminin family. We have reported many studies on the heterophilic activity of gicerin and NOF, but the function of its homophilic binding activity in vivo had been unclear.

Characterization of Gicerin/MUC18/CD146 in the rat nervous system.

Gicerin is a cell adhesion molecule of an immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily isolated from a chicken. It shows homophilic and heterophilic binding activities and has two isoforms. s-Gicerin which has small cytoplasmic domain and the same extracellular domain as l-gicerin shows stronger cell adhesion activity.

Reticulon3 expression in rat optic and olfactory systems.

Reticulon3 (RTN3), which belongs to a reticulon family, is first isolated from the retina, but little is known about its function. We investigated the distribution of RTN3 in rat retina and olfactory bulb by immunohistochemistry. In the retina, Müller cells highly expressed RTN3.

Induction of gicerin/CD146 in the rat carotid artery after balloon injury.

Gicerin is a cell adhesion molecule belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. It is reported that the human homologous molecule, CD146, is expressed in the endothelial cells. Here, we found that the expression of gicerin was increased in the rat carotid arteries after balloon injury.