Identifying the genes and genetic interrelationships underlying the impact of calorie restriction on maximum lifespan: an artificial intelligence-based approach.

Novel artificial intelligence methodologies were applied to analyze gene expression microarray data gathered from mice under a calorie restriction (CR) regimen. The data were gathered from three previously published mouse studies; these datasets were merged together into a single composite dataset for the purpose of conducting a broader-based analysis. The result was a list of genes that are important for the impact of CR on lifespan, not necessarily in terms of their individual actions but in terms of their interactions with other genes.

Prospection, structural analysis and phylogenetic relationships of endogenous gamma-phospholipase A(2) inhibitors in Brazilian Bothrops snakes (Viperidae, Crotalinae).

During the last 20 years, there have been an increasing number of reports on endogenous phospholipase A(2) inhibitors (PLIs) in the sera of snakes. These studies have demonstrated the existence of three different structural classes of PLIs (alpha, beta and gamma). The gamma class members are potent inhibitors of phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)) from the venom of Viperidae snakes.

A picture of gene sampling/expression in model organisms using ESTs and KOG proteins.

The expressed sequence tag (EST) is an instrument of gene discovery. When available in large numbers, ESTs may be used to estimate gene expression. We analyzed gene expression by EST sampling, using the KOG database, which includes 24,154 proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana (Ath), 17,101 from Caenorhabditis elegans (Cel), 10,517 from Drosophila melanogaster (Dme), and 26,324 from Homo sapiens (Hsa), and 178,538 ESTs for Ath, 215,200 for Cel, 261,404 for Dme, and 1,941,556 for Hsa.