Hydroxylation and dechlorination of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (CB77) by rat and human CYP1A1s and critical roles of amino acids composing their substrate-binding cavity.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenases play critical roles in determining the toxicity of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in mammals. Hydroxylation of PCBs by these enzymes leads to increased water solubility, promoting the elimination of PCBs from the body. The CYP1 family is mainly responsible for metabolizing PCBs that exhibit a dioxin-like toxicity.

First record of non-native hybrid catfish Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus in the Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil.

The aim of this study is to report the presence of a three non-native hybrid long-whiskered catfishes (family Pimelodidae) in the Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Genetic analyses demonstrated that the three presumptive hybrids were a result of the crossbreeding of Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum (central Amazonas River basin and Lower Paraná River) and Leiarius marmoratus (Amazonas, Essequibo and Orinoco rivers), producing a hybrid commonly known in Brazil as cachandiá. The potential threat to biodiversity, due to possible genetic contamination, competition and predation of wild stocks, of such artificially produced hybrid fishes is discussed.

From the Cover: Structural Determinants of the Position of 2,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (CB118) Hydroxylation by Mammalian Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) accumulate in mammals via the food chain because of their characteristics such as slow degradation and high hydrophobicity. One of the 209 PCB congeners, 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (CB118), is abundantly found in the environment and in mammals. Understanding the metabolic fate of CB118 can provide important information toward evaluating its toxicity.

Oxaliplatin Alters Expression of T1R2 Receptor and Sensitivity to Sweet Taste in Rats.

As one of the adverse effects of oxaliplatin, a key agent in colon cancer chemotherapy, a taste disorder is a severe issue in a clinical situation because it decreases the quality of life of patients. However, there is little information on the mechanism underlying the oxaliplatin-induced taste disorder. Here, we examined the molecular and behavioral characteristics of the oxaliplatin-induced taste disorder in rats.

Elevation of CA19-9-Related Novel Marker, Core 1 Sialyl Lewis A, in Sera of Adenocarcinoma Patients Verified by a SRM-Based Method.

We have attempted to identify a novel glycan tumor marker. Pyridylaminated (PA) O-glycans were prepared from sera, and the corresponding O-glycan profiles were constructed by HPLC separation. By comparing the serum O-glycan profiles from healthy controls with those of cancer patients, we identified a marker candidate, core 1 sialyl Lewis A (NeuAcα2-3Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAcβ1-3Gal) (abbreviated C1SLA), whose concentration appeared to be weakly correlated with CA19-9 values.