Hsp-27 induction requires POU4F2/Brn-3b TF in doxorubicin-treated breast cancer cells, whereas phosphorylation alters its cellular localisation following drug treatment.

POU4F2/Brn-3b transcription factor (referred to as Brn-3b) is elevated in >60% of breast cancers and profoundly alters growth and behaviour of cancer cells by regulating distinct subsets of target genes. Previous studies showed that Brn-3b was required to maximally transactivate small heat shock protein, HSPB1/Hsp-27 (referred to as Hsp-27), and consequently, Brn-3b expression correlated well with Hsp27 levels in human breast biopsies. In these studies, we showed that Brn-3b is increased in MCF7 breast cancer cells that survive following treatment with chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (Dox) with concomitant increases in Hsp-27 expression.

Proliferation-associated POU4F2/Brn-3b transcription factor expression is regulated by oestrogen through ERα and growth factors via MAPK pathway.

Introduction: In cancer cells, elevated transcription factor-related Brn-3a regulator isolated from brain cDNA (Brn-3b) transcription factor enhances proliferation in vitro and increases tumour growth in vivo whilst conferring drug resistance and migratory potential, whereas reducing Brn-3b slows growth both in vitro and in vivo. Brn-3b regulates distinct groups of key target genes that control cell growth and behaviour. Brn-3b is elevated in >65% of breast cancer biopsies, but mechanisms controlling its expression in these cells are not known.

Sporolactobacillus putidus sp. nov., an endospore-forming lactic acid bacterium isolated from spoiled orange juice.

A Gram-positive, endospore-forming, lactic acid bacterium was isolated from spoiled orange juice. The organism, strain QC81-06(T), grew microaerobically or anaerobically at 30-45 degrees C (optimum 35 degrees C) and pH 3.5-5.

Proposal of six species of moderately thermophilic, acidophilic, endospore-forming bacteria: Alicyclobacillus contaminans sp. nov., Alicyclobacillus fastidiosus sp. nov., Alicyclobacillus kakegawensis sp. nov., Alicyclobacillus macrosporangiidus sp. nov., Alicyclobacillus sacchari sp. nov. and Alicyclobacillus shizuokensis sp. nov.

Moderately thermophilic, acidophilic, spore-forming bacteria (146 strains) were isolated from various beverages and environments. Based on the results of sequence analysis of the hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene, eight of the strains represent novel species of the genus Alicyclobacillus. These strains were designated 3-A191(T), 4-A336(T), 5-A83J(T), 5-A167N, 5-A239-2O-A(T), E-8, RB718(T) and S-TAB(T).

Reclassification of Brevibacillus brevis strains NCIMB 13288 and DSM 6472 (=NRRL NRS-887) as Aneurinibacillus danicus sp. nov. and Brevibacillus limnophilus sp. nov.

Comparison of the hypervariable region (269-279 bases in length) at the 5' end of the 16S rDNA sequences of 29 bacterial strains that were identified previously as Brevibacillus brevis showed that 13 strains clustered with Aneurinibacillus species, eight strains clustered with Bacillus species and eight strains clustered with Brevibacillus species. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization results, 27 strains, not including [Brevibacillus brevis] NCIMB 13288 and [Brevibacillus brevis] DSM 6472, were reidentified as Aneurinibacillus migulanus, Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus, Bacillus methanolicus, Bacillus oleronius, Brevibacillus agri, Brevibacillus brevis and Brevibacillus parabrevis. [Brevibacillus brevis] NCIMB 13288, which was located in the Aneurinibacillus cluster, showed low DNA-DNA relatedness (<14 %) and low 16S rDNA sequence similarity (96.