Evaluating soluble Axl as a biomarker for glioblastoma: A pilot study.

With current imaging, discriminating tumor progression from treatment effect following immunotherapy or oncolytic virotherapy of glioblastoma (GBM) is challenging. A blood based diagnostic biomarker would therefore be helpful. Axl is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is highly expressed by many cancers including GBM.

AXL receptor is required for Zika virus strain MR-766 infection in human glioblastoma cell lines.

Recent reports have shown that Zika virus (ZIKV) has oncolytic potential against human glioblastoma (GBM); however, the mechanisms underlying its tropism and cell entry are not completely understood. The receptor tyrosine kinase AXL has been identified as an entry receptor for ZIKV in a cell-type-specific manner. Interestingly, AXL is frequently overexpressed in GBM patients.

Force and twist dependence of RepC nicking activity on torsionally-constrained DNA molecules.

Many bacterial plasmids replicate by an asymmetric rolling-circle mechanism that requires sequence-specific recognition for initiation, nicking of one of the template DNA strands and unwinding of the duplex prior to subsequent leading strand DNA synthesis. Nicking is performed by a replication-initiation protein (Rep) that directly binds to the plasmid double-stranded origin and remains covalently bound to its substrate 5'-end via a phosphotyrosine linkage. It has been proposed that the inverted DNA sequences at the nick site form a cruciform structure that facilitates DNA cleavage.

Effect of plasmid replication deregulation via inc mutations on E. coli proteome & simple flux model analysis.

When the replication of a plasmid based on sucrose selection is deregulated via the inc1 and inc2 mutations, high copy numbers (7,000 or greater) are attained while the growth rate on minimal medium is negligibly affected. Adaptions were assumed to be required in order to sustain the growth rate. Proteomics indicated that indeed a number of adaptations occurred that included increased expression of ribosomal proteins and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase.

High-Level Production of Plasmid DNA by Escherichia coli DH5α ΩsacB by Introducing inc Mutations.

For small-copy-number pUC-type plasmids, the inc1 and inc2 mutations, which deregulate replication, were previously found to increase the plasmid copy number 6- to 7-fold. Because plasmids can exert a growth burden, it was not clear if further amplification of copy number would occur due to inc mutations when the starting point for plasmid copy number was orders of magnitude higher. To investigate further the effects of the inc mutations and the possible limits of plasmid synthesis, the parent plasmid pNTC8485 was used as a starting point.

Two independent replicons can support replication of the anthrax toxin-encoding plasmid pXO1 of Bacillus anthracis.

The large pXO1 plasmid (181.6kb) of Bacillus anthracis encodes the anthrax toxin proteins. Previous studies have shown that two separate regions of pXO1 can support replication of pXO1 miniplasmids when introduced into plasmid-less strains of this organism.

Variable-number tandem repeat 3690 polymorphism in Indian clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its influence on transcription.

Variable-number tandem repeat (VNTRs) occur throughout the chromosome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although these polymorphic VNTRs, also known as mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRUs), have proved to be useful tools in molecular epidemiology, their biological significance is less well understood. This study investigated the polymorphism of the VNTR 3690 locus located in the intergenic region between rv3304 and rv3303c (encoding the gplD2 and lpdA genes, respectively) and its possible function in the regulation of gene expression.

The tubulin-like RepX protein encoded by the pXO1 plasmid forms polymers in vivo in Bacillus anthracis.

Bacillus anthracis contains two megaplasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, that are critical for its pathogenesis. Stable inheritance of pXO1 in B. anthracis is dependent upon the tubulin/FtsZ-like RepX protein encoded by this plasmid.

GTP-dependent polymerization of the tubulin-like RepX replication protein encoded by the pXO1 plasmid of Bacillus anthracis.

RepX protein encoded by the pXO1 plasmid of Bacillus anthracis is required for plasmid replication. RepX harbours the tubulin signature motif and contains limited amino acid sequence homology to the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ. Although replication proteins are not known to polymerize, here we show by electron microscopy that RepX undergoes GTP-dependent polymerization into long filaments.

Rv3303c of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protects tubercle bacilli against oxidative stress in vivo and contributes to virulence in mice.

Ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to survive under oxidative stress in vivo is an important aspect of pathogenesis. Rv3303c gene from M. tuberculosis encodes an NAD(P)H quinone reductase.