USP7 regulates the stability and function of HLTF through deubiquitination.

Human helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF) is a functional homologue of yeast Rad5 that regulates error-free replication through DNA lesions. HLTF promotes the Lys-63-linked polyubiquitination of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) that is required for maintaining genomic stability. Here, we identified the deubiquitylating enzyme ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7) as a novel regulator of HLTF stability.

OsIAA23-mediated auxin signaling defines postembryonic maintenance of QC in rice.

Although the quiescent center (QC) is crucial to root development, the molecular mechanisms that regulate its postembryonic maintenance remain obscure. In this study, a semi-dominant mutant that exhibits pleiotropic defects in root tissues, which includes the root cap, lateral and crown roots, was isolated. The mutant is characterized by a loss of QC identity during postembryonic development, and the displayed defects result from a stabilizing mutation in domain II of OsIAA23 (Os06g39590).

[Fermentation optimization by response surface methodology for enhanced production of beta-glucosidase of Aspergillus niger HDF05].

In order to obtain high beta-glucosidase productivity, we optimized the fermentation parameters for beta-glucosidase production by Aspergillus niger HDF05. First, we screened the important parameters by Plackeet-Burman design. Second, we used the path of steepest ascent to approach to the biggest response region of parameters affecting beta-glucosidase production.

[Optimization of xylose fermentation for ethanol production by Candida shehatae HDYXHT-01].

Plackett-Burman (PB) design and central composite design (CCD) were applied to optimize of xylose fermentation for ethanol production by Candida shehatae HDYXHT-01. The PB results showed that (NH4)2SO4, KH2PO4, yeast extract and inoculum volume were the main affecting factors. With ethanol productivity as the target response, the optimal fermentation was determined by CCD and response surface analysis (RSM).

Flexible ureteroscopy and holmium laser lithotripsy for treatment of upper urinary tract calculi in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

The objective of the study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy and holmium laser lithotripsy for the management of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and associated nephrolithiasis. Between 2005 and 2010, flexible ureteroscopic stone treatment was attempted in 13 patients with ADPKD. Two patients had bilateral renal stones.

Molecular engineering of the glass transition: glass-forming ability across a homologous series of cyclic stilbenes.

We report on the glass-forming abilities of the homologous series 1,2-diphenylcyclo-butene, pentene, hexene and heptene-a series that retains the cis-phenyl configuration characteristic of the well-studied glass former, o-terphenyl. We find that the glass-forming ability shows a sharp maximum for the six-membered ring and demonstrate that this trend in glass-forming ability is a consequence of a maximum, for the 1,2-diphenylcyclohexene, of the reduced glass transition temperature T(g)/T(m). Since the nonmonotonic trend in T(g)/T(m) is entirely due to variations in T(m), we conclude that the design target for maximizing the glass-forming ability across an homologous series should focus on the crystal stability and the factors that determine it.

Effects of simulated weightlessness on tight junction protein occludin and Zonula Occluden-1 expression levels in the intestinal mucosa of rats.

This study investigated the tight junction (TJ) protein expression of the intestinal mucosa in a rat tail-suspension model under simulated weightlessness. Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: CON group (n=8), control; SUS-14 d group (n=8), tail-suspension for 14 days; SUS-21 d group (n=8), tail-suspension for 21 days. Occludin and Zonula Occluden-1 (ZO-1) expression levels were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and mRNA fluorescent quantitative PCR.

Root hair-specific expansins modulate root hair elongation in rice.

Root hair growth requires intensive cell-wall modification. This study demonstrates that root hair-specific expansin As, a sub-clade of the cell wall-loosening expansin proteins, are required for root hair elongation in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Effects of acute supplementation of caffeine on cardiorespiratory responses during endurance running in a hot & humid climate.

Background & Objectives: Athletes in Malaysia need to perform in a hot and humid climate. Chronic supplementation of caffeine on endurance performance have been studied extensively in different populations. However, concurrent research on the effects of acute supplementation of caffeine on cardiorespiratory responses during endurance exercise in the Malaysian context especially in a hot and humid environment is unavailable.

[Construction of integrative vector for xylulokinase gene and its overexpression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae].

Objective: An integrative vector of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for xylulokinase gene expression was constructed to overexpress xylulokinase activity.

Methods: On the basis of plasmid p406ADH1, 4 components were integrated, which were KanR gene as G418 resistant marker, ADH1 terminator fragment, xylulokinase gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae W5 and 18S rDNA sequence for homologous recombination. After enzyme digestion and ligation, high copy recombinant expression vector pCXS-RKTr was constructed.

Decreased expression of annexin A10 in gastric cancer and its overexpression in tumor cell growth suppression.

Gastric carcinoma is the most common neoplasm in Southeast Asian populations and is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Annexins are a family of cytosolic calcium and membrane binding proteins that have been implicated in a wide variety of cell functions. Recent studies have suggested that Annexin A10 (ANXA10), a member of the Annexin protein family, is down-regulated in specific types of cancer.

Uric acid increases fibronectin synthesis through upregulation of lysyl oxidase expression in rat renal tubular epithelial cells.

Urate is produced as the major end product of purine metabolism. In the last decade, the incidence of hyperuricemia increased markedly, and similar trends in the epidemiology of metabolic syndrome have been observed. Hyperuricemia is associated with renal disease, and recent studies have reported that mild hyperuricemia results in hypertension, intrarenal vascular disease, and renal injury.

Statistical optimization of xylitol production from corncob hemicellulose hydrolysate by Candida tropicalis HDY-02.

The statistical experimental designs were adopted to optimize the culture medium in xylitol production by Candida tropicalis HDY-02 with corncob hemicellulose hydrolysate as substrate. In the first step, Plackett-Burman design was used for screening the important variables. KH(2)PO(4), yeast extract, (NH(4))(2)SO(4) and MgSO(4)·7H(2)O were found to significantly affect xylitol yield.

[Current status of the study on complement activation by solid biomaterial].

Objective: To improve our comprehensions to complement activation by biomaterial and lay the foundation for biosafety evaluation of solid biomaterials together with the corresponding blood contacting medical devices.

Methods: Analyzed new requirements of current standards on complement activation by solid biomaterial as well as the mechanism of complement activation by solid biomaterial and how to select the related standards for inspection.

Results And Conclusion: The new edition of international standards has enhanced types of blood contacting medical devices which are appropriate to complement activation test.

PPARα agonist prevented the apoptosis induced by glucose and fatty acid in neonatal cardiomyocytes.

Objective: We investigated the effect of peroxisome proliferator activator receptors α (PPARα) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by glucose and fatty acid, and if high glucose levels could increase fatty acid-induced apoptosis.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes were maintained in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium and divided into 5 groups: Group N (control Group); Group G (exposed to 25.5 mmol/l glucose); Group L (exposed to 5 mmol/l glucose, fatty acid); Group H (exposed to 25.

[Retrieval model for subtle variation of contamination stressed maize chlorophyll using hyperspectral data].

Chlorophyll content is an important indicator of photosynthesis activity, stress and nutritional state. In the present paper, the hyperspectral data, foliar chlorophyll content and heavy metal contents in foliar and soil were measured for the maize growing in three natural fields. In most previous research, the contamination stress was controlled artificially in laboratory by adding chromium, zinc or copper pollutant etc.

[The expression of IBDV VP2 in chicken primary myoblast cells using the baculovirus vector].

Objective: To construct the recombinant baculovirus expressing Infectious bursal disease (IBDV) VP2 gene in the chicken primary myoblast cells.

Methods: A proteinase K digestion and phenol-chloroform extraction method was used to extract dsRNA genome from IBDV. VP2 gene was amplified by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) with the genome RNA as template.

Molecular modeling study of binding site selectivity of TQMP to G-quadruplex DNA.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of four-stranded G-quadruplex DNA complexes formed by the sequence d(TTAGGG)(4) and the TQMP ligand are presented. The TQMP complex was examined both in two possible binding modes (diagonal loop and parallel loop positions). Simulations show that the G-quadruplex DNAs with two K(+) ions in the central channel are fairly stable during 30 ns MD runs in explicit water box.

[Statistical methods to optimize immobilization and bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus paracasei HD1.7].

Objective: To enhance bacteriocin production by Lactobacillus paracasei HD1.7 immobilized with calcium alginate gel by statistical methods.

Methods: A 2(6-2) two-level fractional factorial design was employed first where 6 variables were studied for their influence on bacteriocin production.

Paracin 1.7, a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus paracasei HD1.7 isolated from Chinese cabbage sauerkraut, a traditional Chinese fermented vegetable food.

Objects: To purify and characterize bacteriocin produced by L. paracasei HD1.7.

Aspergillus niger var. taxi, a new species variant of taxol-producing fungus isolated from Taxus cuspidata in China.

Aims: To characterize and identify a new taxol-producing fungal strain HD86-9 isolated from Taxus cuspidata in China.

Methods And Results: Taxol extracted from strain HD86-9 was identified by HPLC and MS analyses. Strain HD86-9 was cultured and its morphology and phenotypes were described.

Diversity and ecological distribution of endophytic fungi associated with medicinal plants.

A total of 973 isolates of endophytic fungi were recovered from 1,144 tissue fragments of the six medicinal plant species belonging to 4 families collected in the Beijing Botanical Garden. Of these isolates 778 sporulated and were identified into 21 taxa by morphological characteristics. Among the taxa 11 belonged to Coelomycetes, 6 to Ascomycetes, and 4 to Hyphomycetes.