1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and its analog, 2-methylene-19-nor-(20S)-1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (2MD), suppress intraocular pressure in non-human primates.

Ocular hypertension is the greatest known risk factor for glaucoma that affects an estimated 70 million people worldwide. Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) remains the mainstay of therapy in the management of glaucoma. By means of microarray analysis, we have discovered that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1α,25-(OH)(2)D(3)) regulates genes that are known to be involved in the determination of intraocular pressure (IOP).

TRPV6 is not required for 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced intestinal calcium absorption in vivo.

The requirement for TRPV6 for vitamin D-dependent intestinal calcium absorption in vivo has been examined by using vitamin D-deficient TRPV6 null mice and littermate wild-type mice. Each of the vitamin D-deficient animals received each day for 4 days 50 ng of 1,25-dihydroyvitamin D(3) in 0.1 ml of 95% propylene glycol:5% ethanol vehicle or vehicle only.

Calbindin D9k is not required for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-mediated Ca2+ absorption in small intestine.

The exact role of calbindin D9k in vitamin D-mediated calcium absorption has been debated but remains unsettled. In 129/OlaHsd mice, calbindin D9k was found highest in duodenum (36-50%) and kidney (24-34%) followed by stomach, lung and uterus. Age does not affect the relative distribution of calbindin D9k but it does decline with age in duodenum of both male and female 129/Ola mice.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 regulates genes responsible for detoxification in intestine.

1Alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)), the biologically active form of vitamin D(3), not only plays a major role in mammalian calcium and phosphorous homeostasis but also exerts pleiotropic effects on cell proliferation, differentiation and the immune system. Further, vitamin D is believed to play a significant role in the prevention of colon, prostate, and breast cancer and in reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases. To gain insight into the mechanism whereby vitamin D can have such diverse actions, we have employed microarray technology.

Calbindin D(9k) knockout mice are indistinguishable from wild-type mice in phenotype and serum calcium level.

Since the discovery of calbindin D(9k), its role in intestinal calcium absorption has remained unsettled. Further, a wide distribution of calbindin D(9k) among tissues has argued for its biological importance. We discovered a frameshift deletion in the calbindin D(9k) gene in an ES cell line, E14.

Gene expression profiles in rat intestine identify pathways for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) stimulated calcium absorption and clarify its immunomodulatory properties.

Microarray technology has been used to discover 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)) induced gene expression changes in rat small intestine in vivo. Here, we report gene expression changes related to intestinal absorption or transport, the immune system and angiogenesis in response to 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3). Vitamin D deficient rats were intrajugularly given vehicle or vehicle containing 730 ng of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)/kg of body weight.

Diphosphoryl lipid A from Rhodobacter sphaeroides blocks the binding and internalization of lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cells.

Diphosphoryl lipid A derived from the nontoxic LPS of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (RsDPLA) has been shown to be a powerful LPS antagonist in both human and murine cell lines. In addition, RsDPLA also can protect mice against the lethal effects of toxic LPS. In this study, we complexed both the deep rough LPS from Escherichia coli D31 m4 (ReLPS) and RsDPLA with 5- and 30-nm colloidal gold and compared their binding to the RAW 264.

[Analysis of peculiarities in nucleotides disposition in the origin of chromosome replication-oriC from Escherichia coli].

Along with symmetrical features (palindromes, direct and inverted repeats), periodicities in the disposition of nucleotides in the origin of chromosome replication oriC from E. coli were studied by means of Fourier analysis. Peaks corresponding to the periods T = 2, 17, 95-100 nucleotides are the highest in the Fourier spectrum of oriC.

[Inhibition of horseradish peroxidase by N-ethylamide of o-sulfobenzoylacetic acid].

The carboxylic groups of horseradish peroxidase were modified by 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl)carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate by the Koshland method. The catalytic properties of the native and modified peroxidase were studied in the presence of N-ethylamide of o-sulfobenzoylacetic acid (EASBA) at pH 5.0-7.

[Periodicity in contacts of RNA-polymerase with promotors].

Periodicities in the position of E.coli RNA polymerase promoter contacts on several promoters (lacUV5, T7 A3, tetR, lambda cin, lambda c17, RNA1, and trp S.t.

[Fourier analysis of nucleotide sequences. Periodicity in E. coli promoter sequences].

Fourier spectra of E. coli promoter DNA sequences have been obtained. The periodical structure of individual promoter sequences is characterized.

The stress-related production of the active Photinus pyralis and Luciola mingrelica firefly luciferases in Escherichia coli.

The kinetics of Photinus pyralis and Luciola mingrelica luciferase gene expression was studied on plasmids with the thermoinducible lambda PR promoter in Escherichia coli by SDS-gel electrophoresis of cell lysates to follow luciferase protein-synthesized, enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to follow native enzyme conformer, and the luciferase activity assay. E. coli cells were cultivated at temperature schemes 28-42-21 degrees C or 28-21 degrees C, or at alkali pH shift.

[Physicochemical properties of recombinant luciferase from the firefly Luciola mingrelica and its mutant forms].

Physico-chemical properties of the recombinant L. mingrelica luciferase synthesized by E. coli cells have been studied.

[An algorithm for searching for specific segments in the primary structure of DNA].

A simple method of revealing peculiarities in the nucleic acid primary structure. Efficiency comparison between the method suggested and that one based on the use of Kohonen neural network has also carried out.

[Kinetics of luciferase gene expression from fireflies Photinus pyralis and Luciola mingrelica in Escherichia coli cells. II. The role of pH in the biosynthesis of proteins and their transformation into active conformers].

The Photinus pyralis and Luciola mingrelica luciferases genes expression kinetics has been studied, repectively, on the pME61 and pJG lambda plasmids with a thermoinducible lambda PR promoter in the E. coli strain CA under conditions of a pH shift. An increase in the enzyme activity after a pH shift has been revealed.

[Kinetics of luciferase gene expression from fireflies Photinus pyralis and Luciola mingrelica in Escherichia coli cells. I. Kinetics of the transformation of recombinant luciferase into enzymatically-active conformers].

The Photinus pyralis and Luciola mingrelica luciferases genes expression has been studied on the pME61 or pJG lambda plasmids with a thermoinducible lambda Pr promoter in the E. coli strain CA using three independent methods: SDS gel electrophoresis to quantify the synthesized luciferase protein, EIA to quantify the enzyme native conformer and activity measurements. The cultures were incubated by the temperature schemes 28 degrees-42 degrees-21 degrees C and 28 degrees-21 degrees C.

[Bioluminescence and bioluminescent analysis: development of certain aspects of the problem over the last decade].

Recent data from gene engineering, kinetic and fluorescent studies concerning the structure and functions of firefly luciferase are reviewed. Some new trends in the development of bioluminescent methods of control over bacterial contaminations, dynamics of intracellular processes and methods of bioluminescent detection in immuno- and DNA-assays are described. Possible applications of luciferase genes as markers are considered.

Luciferase from the east European firefly Luciola mingrelica: cloning and nucleotide sequence of the cDNA, overexpression in Escherichia coli and purification of the enzyme.

We have cloned cDNA encoding luciferase in Luciola mingrelica, fireflies living near the Black Sea in southern Russia, and obtained high level expression of the cloned sequences in Escherichia coli. The nucleotide sequences of two isolated clones were determined; five single base differences were observed, but none resulted in a change in the encoded amino acid residue. The cDNA encoded a protein of 548 amino acid residues.

Synthesis and pathway of Luciola mingrelica firefly luciferase in Xenopus laevis frog oocytes and in cell-free systems.

Poly (A+)RNA was isolated from the lanterns of adult fireflies of L. mingrelica. The poly (A+)RNA was translated in a cell-free translation mixture from rabbit reticulocyte and from Krebs II mouse ascites cells and in Xenopus laevis frog oocytes.