Epigenetic regulation of caspase-3 gene expression in rat brain development.

The expression levels of caspase-3, a major contributor to the execution of neuronal apoptosis, markedly decrease in the process of brain maturation. We have previously cloned the rat caspase-3 gene promoter and identified its essential regulatory elements. In the present study, we extended previous findings by examining transcriptional regulation of caspase-3 expression in the rat brain of two different ages, corresponding to the immature and mature brain.

[Determination of unique peptide fragments in nerve growth factors].

A new classificational method based on the availability of peptide fragments unique for a certain protein family is presented. Seven common peptide fragments unique for the nerve growth factor amino acid sequence are determined, and two of them are found in the neurotrophic factor from pig brain.

[Isolation and characteristics of a nerve growth factor from the venom of the Central Asiatic viper Echis multisquamatus].

The nerve growth factor (NGF) was isolated from the Echis multisquamatus venom by ultrafiltration on PM-10 filter, chromatography on TSK-55 gel, ion-exchange chromatography on CM-cellulose and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. The protein exhibited a marked nerve growth activity within the concentration range of 10-15 ng/ml in cultures of chicken embryo spinal ganglia. The molecular mass of NGF is equal to 33,000-37,000 Da according to Sephadex G-75 gel filtration data; however, according to SDS electrophoresis data its Mr is 13,000 Da.