Cleavage and cell adhesion properties of human epithelial cell adhesion molecule (HEPCAM).

Human epithelial cell adhesion molecule (HEPCAM) is a tumor-associated antigen frequently expressed in carcinomas, which promotes proliferation after regulated intramembrane proteolysis. Here, we describe extracellular shedding of HEPCAM at two α-sites through a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) and at one β-site through BACE1. Transmembrane cleavage by γ-secretase occurs at three γ-sites to generate extracellular Aβ-like fragments and at two ϵ-sites to release human EPCAM intracellular domain HEPICD, which is efficiently degraded by the proteasome.

Context-dependent adaption of EpCAM expression in early systemic esophageal cancer.

The role of the epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM in cancer progression remains largely unclear. High expression of EpCAM in primary tumors is often associated with more aggressive phenotypes and EpCAM is the prime epithelial antigen in use to isolate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and characterize disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). However, reduced expression of EpCAM was associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and reports on a lack of EpCAM on CTCs emerged.

Regulated intramembrane proteolysis and degradation of murine epithelial cell adhesion molecule mEpCAM.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecule EpCAM is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which is highly and frequently expressed in carcinomas and (cancer-)stem cells, and which plays an important role in the regulation of stem cell pluripotency. We show here that murine EpCAM (mEpCAM) is subject to regulated intramembrane proteolysis in various cells including embryonic stem cells and teratocarcinomas. As shown with ectopically expressed EpCAM variants, cleavages occur at α-, β-, γ-, and ε-sites to generate soluble ectodomains, soluble Aβ-like-, and intracellular fragments termed mEpEX, mEp-β, and mEpICD, respectively.

EpCAM regulates cell cycle progression via control of cyclin D1 expression.

The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is an integral transmembrane protein that is frequently overexpressed in embryonic stem cells, tissue progenitors, carcinomas and cancer-initiating cells. In cancer cells, expression of EpCAM is associated with enhanced proliferation and upregulation of target genes including c-myc. However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying the observed EpCAM-dependent cell proliferation remained unexplored.

GAS2L3, a target gene of the DREAM complex, is required for proper cytokinesis and genomic stability.

The mammalian DREAM complex is a key regulator of cell-cycle-regulated gene transcription and drives the expression of many gene products required for mitosis and cytokinesis. In this study, we characterized GAS2L3, which belongs to the GAS2 family of proteins with putative actin- and microtubule-binding domains as a target gene of DREAM. We found that GAS2L3 localizes to the spindle midzone and the midbody during anaphase and cytokinesis, respectively.

[Historical considerations on preventive medicine].

Efforts in order to prevent disease have been made at all times. Attempts in prevention, however, were different from one cultural region to another. In recent times prevention of disease has increased thanks to multiple research results.

Absolute measurement of F2-laser power at 157 nm.

We report a comparison of laser power measurements at the F2-laser wavelength of 157 nm made at two facilities of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), the German national metrology institute. At the PTB laboratory at the electron storage ring BESSY II in Berlin, the scale for laser power was directly traced to a cryogenic radiometer operating at 157 nm, whereas at the PTB laser radiometry facility in Braunschweig the calibration of transfer detectors was performed with a newly developed standard for laser power at 157 nm, which is traceable in several steps to a cryogenic radiometer operating at 633 nm. The comparison was performed under vacuum conditions with laser pulse energies of approximately 10 microJ, however with different average powers because different primary standard radiometers were used.

[Development of clinical diagnosis].

History of clinical diagnosis starts with HIPPOCRATES and his school. History taking and inspection are fundamental diagnostic tools. later on feeling of the pulse, and observation of the tone of the voice are added.

[Interdisciplinary questions of gynecology and urology].

Disease of the female genital system often lead to involvement of the urinary tract. This mostly is caused by topical relations between both systems. Futhermore renal disease and disease of the urinary tract are frequent complications of pregnancy.

Species variation in the testicular angiotensin converting enzyme promoter studied in transgenic mice.

We have studied the control of transcription of the testicular angiotensin converting enzyme (ACEt) in normal and transgenic mice. Northern analyses, including a developmental curve and separated germ cells, for ACEt mRNA suggest predominantly post-meiotic expression. Mice transgenic for a construct containing the proximal 298 bp of the rabbit ACEt promoter, with chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) as a recorder, showed correct tissue regulation while a 86 bp fragment of the promoter led to no expression.

The structures of the bovine and porcine proacrosin genes and their conservation among mammals.

Sperm acrosin is a serine protease that is involved in the recognition, binding and penetration of the sperm of the zona pellucida of the ovum. The bovine and porcine genes were cloned and characterized. Alignment of the intron/exon structure of both genes with the previously characterized human, rat and mouse genes and with other serine protease genes reveals that the coded sequence of the mammalian proacrosin is distributed in 5 exons and the splice junction types are identical to the exons encoding the catalytic domain of other serine protease genes.

[Prognosis in gynecologic diseases].

Besides early diagnosis, the prognosis of gynecological disease is dependent on the state of the urinary tract. Mainly tumours and site anomalies of the female genital system as well as endometriosis and chronic-inflammatory masses of the appendages lead to malfunction of urinary bladder, ureter and kidneys. Ureteric changes are seen in 3 to 55% of genital tumours and in 20 to 40% of cases of endometriosis.

Stage and developmental specific gene expression during mammalian spermatogenesis.

Spermatogenesis is a complex developmental process which involves amplification of germinal stem cells, their differentiation into spermatocytes, meiotic division and finally transformation into mature spermatozoa. Therefore, spermatogenesis provides an interesting system for examining the regulation of gene expression during development and differentiation. The genes expressed during spermatogenesis can be divided into two main groups: diploid and haploid expressed genes.

Cloning, expression, and chromosomal localization of the rat mitochondrial capsule selenoprotein gene (MCS): the reading frame does not contain potential UGA selenocysteine codons.

The mitochondrial capsule selenoprotein (MCS) is a selenium-containing polypeptide. It is one of three proteins that are important for the maintenance and stabilization of the crescent structure of the sperm mitochondria. In this paper, we report the isolation and characterization of the rat MCS cDNA and gene.

[Labor-induced bladder injuries: historical observations].

Injuries to the urinary bladder with development of a fistula during birth were first mentioned around 1030 AD in the opus called 'Al-Kanoun' by the Arabic physician and philosopher Avicenna (Ali Ibn Sina). The observations of D.E.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the bovine and porcine outer dense fibers cDNA and organization of the bovine gene.

Outer dense fibers (ODF) or accessory fibers are filamentous structures of the sperm tail of many eumetozoan organisms endowed with internal fecundation. The bovine and porcine cDNA of an outer dense fiber protein was cloned, sequenced and compared to the previously characterized human and rat cDNA sequences. The coding sequences and the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the ODF cDNAs are highly conserved.

[Expert assessment of gynecologic diseases].

Medical reports in Gynecology have to consider the evaluation of organic diagnosis as well as connected psychical disorders. It has to be examined if psychical insults have led to dysfunction in the genital system. A typical example is hypothalamic amenorrhea as a sequel of extreme stress or chance of surroundings.