How to achieve Tat transport with alien TatA.

TatA is an essential and structurally conserved component of all known Twin-arginine transport (Tat) machineries which are able to catalyse membrane transport of fully folded proteins. Here we have investigated if bacterial TatA, or chimeric pea/E. coli TatA derivatives, are capable of replacing thylakoidal TatA in function.

Enough is enough: TatA demand during Tat-dependent protein transport.

The twin-arginine translocation (Tat(1)) pathway is unique with respect to its property to translocate proteins in a fully folded conformation across ion-tight membranes. In chloroplasts and Gram-negative bacteria, Tat translocase consists of the integral subunits TatB and TatC, which are assumed to constitute the membrane receptor, and TatA, a bitopic membrane protein being responsible in a yet unknown manner for the membrane translocation step. Antibody inhibition of intrinsic thylakoidal TatA activity and recovery of transport by heterologously expressed, purified TatA allowed to exactly quantify the amount of TatA required to catalyse membrane transport of the model Tat substrate 16/23.

Homocysteine, folate and vitamin b12 in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background/aims: Homocysteine and possibly also folate and vitamin B(12) are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We investigated the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), as well as folate and vitamin B(12), the main nutritional factors determining the level of homocysteine.

Methods: Patients with angiographically documented CHD were prospectively investigated (n = 315, 70% male, mean age 61 [range 36-81] years).

No evidence of hepatitis B virus activity in patients with anti-HBc antibody positivity with or without anti-hepatitis C virus antibody positivity.

Background: The serological pattern of anti-HBc antibody positivity without both, HBsAg and anti-HBs antibody positivity may be present in up to 4% of the population of Europe and the United States.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity by detection of serum HBV DNA in patients with anti-HBc antibody positivity only and with confirmed anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) antibody positivity or without anti-HCV antibody positivity.

Study Design: A total of 141 patients positive for anti-HBc antibodies only, were investigated on serum HBV DNA load.

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus-comparison of three assays.

Background: Genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is clinically relevant to epidemiology, prognosis, and therapeutical management of HCV infection.

Objectives: Accuracy and specificity of three assays for HCV genotyping/subtyping were determined. The TruGene HCV 5'NC Genotyping Kit (TruGene), which is a direct sequencing test and two assays based on reversed hybridization, Inno-LiPA HCV II assay and ViennaLab HCV Strip Assay, were compared.

Hepatitis B virus activity in patients with anti-hepatitis C virus antibody positivity and hepatitis B antigen positivity.

Background: Co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV seems to be relatively frequent. There might be a mutual influence on replication activity of HBV and HCV.

Objectives: To determine the HBV activity in patients with serum HCV RNA and HBsAg positivity and in those with confirmed anti-HCV antibody and HBsAg positivity but serum HCV RNA negativity.

Relation of homocysteine, vitamin B(12), and folate to coronary in-stent restenosis.

Coronary in-stent restenosis represents a clinical problem. Because homocysteine is being discussed as a new risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis, this study investigated the relations of homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B(12) to the rate of in-stent restenosis. Patients undergoing successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of native coronary lesions with stent implantation were investigated for fasting total serum homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B(12).