Von Willebrand Factor Multimer Analysis by Low Resolution SDS-Agarose Gel Electrophoresis.

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a complex glycoprotein found in plasma, composed of disulfide-bond-linked multimers with apparent molecular weights between 500 kDa and 20,000 kDa. After release of VWF from storage granules, it is cleaved in flowing blood by the specific metalloproteinase ADAMTS13, resulting in a highly characteristic cleavage pattern and structure. As the structure of VWF multimers determines diagnosis of von Willebrand disease, which has different sub-types with different multimer- and cleavage patterns, VWF analysis is performed using low-resolution horizontal SDS-agarose gel electrophoresis.

Comparison of p53 mutational status with mRNA and protein expression in a panel of 24 human breast carcinoma cell lines.

We analyzed the p53 mutational status, mRNA and protein expression in 24 human breast carcinoma cell lines. Following measurement of their DNA content with flow cytometry, we ascertained the copy numbers of the centromere of chromosome 17 (cen17) and p53 with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A functional yeast assay (FASAY) was used to screen for inactivating mutations.

Role of p53 in G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to gamma-irradiation in ovarian carcinoma cell lines.

We investigated the cell cycle and apoptotic response to irradiation in 4 human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, i.e., PA-1, Caov-3, SK-OV-3, and ES-2.

Expression of MUCI splice variants correlates with invasive growth of breast cancer cell lines.

On the basis of alternative splicing the human breast cancer associated MUCI gene codes for different protein products. MUCI splice variants A and B have been shown to be determined by a single A/G nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 2 of the MUCI gene. We now describe two new splice variants C and D and show by that in human breast cancer cell lines there is selective co-expression of these variants, namely co-expression of variants A and D.

Vascular endothelial growth factor splice variants and their prognostic value in breast and ovarian cancer.

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a promotor for tumor angiogenesis, and is known to be elevated in breast and ovarian cancers. Through alternative splicing six VEGF isoforms were identified. We studied VEGF isoform expression in breast and ovarian cancer cell lines, as well as in breast carcinomas and ovarian tumors, and correlated the expression pattern with the in vitro invasiveness of the breast carcinoma cell lines and the clinicopathologic characteristics of the tumors.