Non-helical DNA Triplex Forms a Unique Aptamer Scaffold for High Affinity Recognition of Nerve Growth Factor.

Discerning the structural building blocks of macromolecules is essential for understanding their folding and function. For a new generation of modified nucleic acid ligands (called slow off-rate modified aptamers or SOMAmers), we previously observed essential functions of hydrophobic aromatic side chains in the context of well-known nucleic acid motifs. Here we report a 2.

Association between beta-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms and relative response to beta 2-agonists and anticholinergic drugs in Japanese asthmatic patients.

Background And Objective: Whether beta(2)-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) polymorphisms are associated with airway responsiveness to beta(2)-agonist medications remains controversial, partly due to factors that may confound pharmacogenetic associations, including age, cigarette smoking and airway remodelling. To overcome these problems, we performed an analysis using parameters that reflected the specific bronchodilator response to beta(2)-agonists.

Methods: The increases in FEV(1) after inhalation of procaterol hydrochloride (Delta FEV(1) procaterol) or oxitropium bromide (Delta FEV(1) oxitropium), and after sequential inhalation of procaterol and oxitropium (total airway reversibility), were measured in 81 Japanese patients with moderate to severe asthma.

Molecular-based haplotype analysis of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) in Japanese asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects.

Background: The beta2-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB2) is a target molecule of beta2-agonists. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADRB2 are related to the effectiveness of beta2-agonists. However, there are some discrepancies in the results of pharmacogenetic studies of ADRB2 among different ethnic groups.

Phenotypic analysis of Meltrin alpha (ADAM12)-deficient mice: involvement of Meltrin alpha in adipogenesis and myogenesis.

Meltrin alpha (ADAM12) is a metalloprotease-disintegrin whose specific expression patterns during development suggest that it is involved in myogenesis and the development of other organs. To determine the roles Meltrin alpha plays in vivo, we generated Meltrin alpha-deficient mice by gene targeting. Although the number of homozygous embryos are close to the expected Mendelian ratio at embryonic days 17 to 18, ca.

Meltrin beta (ADAM19) gene: cloning, mapping, and analysis of the regulatory region.

Meltrin beta (ADAM19) is a member of the metalloprotease-disintegrin family. We report here chromosomal mapping of the mouse and rat meltrin beta genes and cloning and analysis of the mouse upstream regulatory regions. The meltrin beta transcript shows a spatially and temporally restricted expression pattern during morphogenesis, indicating that the actions of this membrane-bound protease are regulated, at least in part, at the transcriptional level.

Spatio-temporally regulated expression of receptor tyrosine kinases, mRor1, mRor2, during mouse development: implications in development and function of the nervous system.

Background: Drosophila neurospecific receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), Dror and Dnrk, as well as Ror1 and Ror2 RTKs, isolated from human neuroblastoma, have been identified as a structurally related novel family of RTKs (Ror-family RTKs). Thus far, little is known about the expression and function of mammalian Ror-family RTKs.

Results: We have identified murine Ror-family RTKs, mRor1 and mRor2.

Cloning and genomic mapping of the mouse matrin 3 gene and its pseudogenes.

Matrin 3 forms a family of nuclear proteins together with NP220s. Using cDNA sequences encoding rat matrin 3 as a probe, we isolated genomic clones of mouse matrin 3 gene and its two pseudogenes. The genuine mouse matrin 3 gene has an exon covering the N-terminal one third of matrin 3 with a sequence 99% identical to rat matrin 3 cDNA.

Genomic structures and chromosomal location of p91, a novel murine regulatory receptor family.

Recently, we found a novel murine cell-surface glycoprotein, designated as p91, expressed mainly in myeloid cells such as macrophages and mast cells. The molecule has six immunoglobulin-like extracellular domains, a transmembrane segment, and a cytoplasmic tail containing four immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) or ITIM-like sequences, resembling the structural features of human killer-cell inhibitory receptors (KIR). Here we show that p91 comprises a polymorphic gene family, harboring one potent inhibitory-type p91 and at least two other p91 genes.

Association of tyrosine phosphatases SHP-1 and SHP-2, inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP with gp49B1, and chromosomal assignment of the gene.

We have analyzed the molecules participating in the inhibitory function of gp49B1, a murine type I transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on mast cells and natural killer cells, as well as the chromosomal location of its gene. As assessed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis, tyrosine-phosphorylated, but not nonphosphorylated, synthetic peptides matching each of the two immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM)-like sequences found in the cytoplasmic portion of gp49B1 associated with the approximately 65-kDa tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 and approximately 70-kDa SHP-2 derived from RBL-2H3 cells. In addition, the phosphotyrosyl peptide matching the second ITIM-like sequence also bound the approximately 145-kDa inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase SHIP.

Chromosomal mapping of the gene encoding serotonin N-acetyltransferase to rat chromosome 10q32.3 and mouse chromosome 11E2.

Pineal melatonin is produced during the night. Its nocturnal increase regulates circadian rhythms and the photoperiodic reproductive response. Serotonin is acetylated to N-acetylserotonin by serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT) and then methylated to form melatonin by hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT).