Ku protein levels, localization and association to replication origins in different stages of breast tumor progression.

Human origins of DNA replication are specific sequences within the genome whereby DNA replication is initiated. A select group of proteins, known as the pre-replication (pre-RC) complex, in whose formation the Ku protein (Ku70/Ku86) was shown to play a role, bind to replication origins to initiate DNA replication. In this study, we have examined the involvement of Ku in breast tumorigenesis and tumor progression and found that the Ku protein expression levels in human breast metastatic (MCF10AC1a) cells were higher in the chromatin fraction compared to hyperplastic (MCF10AT) and normal (MCF10A) human breast cells, but remained constant in both the nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions.

Antiandrogenic and growth inhibitory effects of ring-substituted analogs of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (ring-DIMs) in hormone-responsive LNCaP human prostate cancer cells.

Background: Cruciferous vegetables protect against prostate cancer. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its major metabolite 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), exhibit antitumor activities in vitro and in vivo. Several synthetic ring-substituted dihaloDIMs (ring-DIMs) appear to have increased anticancer activity.

Development of a real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer PCR to detect arcobacter species.

A real-time PCR targeting the gyrase A subunit gene outside the quinolone resistance-determining region has been developed to detect Arcobacter species. The species identification was done by probe hybridization and melting curve analysis, using fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology. Discrimination between Arcobacter species was straightforward, as the corresponding melting points showed significant differences with the characteristic melting temperatures of 63.

Nucleotide sequence of the gyrA gene of Arcobacter species and characterization of human ciprofloxacin-resistant clinical isolates.

The nucleotide sequence of the gyrA gene of Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, Arcobacter cibarius, and Arcobacter skirrowii was determined. The deduced GyrA proteins are closely related to those of Wolinella succinogenes and Helicobacter pullorum, whereas those of Campylobacter species showed less sequence identity. The phylogenetic analysis of GyrA sequences provides a result similar to 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analysis and allows the discrimination among A.