Follistatin-derived peptide expression in muscle decreases adipose tissue mass and prevents hepatic steatosis.

Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily, plays a potent inhibitory role in regulating skeletal muscle mass. Inhibition of myostatin by gene disruption, transgenic (Tg) expression of myostatin propeptide, or injection of propeptide or myostatin antibodies causes a widespread increase in skeletal muscle mass. Several peptides, in addition to myostatin propeptide and myostatin antibodies, can bind directly to and neutralize the activity of myostatin.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and presence of angiovascular cells in tissues from different thyroid disorders.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is involved in tumor angiogenesis and other pathophysiological processes.

Materials And Methods: We studied the localization of VEGF in human thyroid tissues to clarify its involvement in proliferative processes in a variety of thyroid disorders. Immunohistochemical analysis using purified rabbit polyclonal anti-human VEGF or anti-human CD34 antibody and a streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex detection system was performed on 58 tissue specimens from 53 patients with different thyroid disorders and 5 normal thyroid glands.

Asymmetric localization of Notch2 on the microvillous surface in choroid plexus epithelial cells.

Notch family molecules are transmembrane receptors that play various roles in contact-dependent cell-cell interactions in a wide range of organs. In the brain, Notch2, but not the other members of Notch, is expressed in the choroid plexus at an exceptionally high level. We immunohistochemically examined the cellular and subcellular localization of Notch2 protein in the choroid plexus using confocal and electron microscopy.

Novel substrate specificity of glutathione synthesis enzymes from Streptococcus agalactiae and Clostridium acetobutylicum.

Glutathione (GSH) is synthesized by gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) and glutathione synthetase (GS) in living organisms. Recently, bifunctional fusion protein, termed gamma-GCS-GS catalyzing both gamma-GCS and GS reactions from gram-positive firmicutes Streptococcus agalactiae, has been reported. We revealed that in the gamma-GCS activity, S.