Xanthine oxidase-derived ROS upregulate Egr-1 via ERK1/2 in PA smooth muscle cells; model to test impact of extracellular ROS in chronic hypoxia.

Exposure of newborn calves to chronic hypoxia causes pulmonary artery (PA) hypertension and remodeling. Previous studies showed that the redox-sensitive transcription factor, early growth response-1 (Egr-1), is upregulated in the PA of chronically hypoxic calves and regulates cell proliferation. Furthermore, we established in mice a correlation between hypoxic induction of Egr-1 and reduced activity of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), an antioxidant that scavenges extracellular superoxide.

Single-step purification of full-length human androgen receptor.

The full-length human androgen receptor with an N-terminal biotin acceptor peptide tag was overexpressed in Spodoptera frugiperda cells in the presence of 1 microM dihydrotestosterone. Site-specific biotinylation of BAP was achieved in vivo by co-expression of E. coli biotin holoenzyme synthetase.

Development of peptide antagonists for the androgen receptor using combinatorial peptide phage display.

Under the auspices of the Nuclear Receptor Signaling Atlas (NURSA), we have undertaken to evaluate the feasibility of targeting nuclear receptor-coactivator surfaces for new drug discovery. The underlying objective of this approach is to provide the research community with reagents that can be used to modulate the transcriptional activity of nuclear receptors. Using combinatorial peptide phage display, we have been able to develop peptide antagonists that target specific nuclear receptor (NR)-coactivator binding surfaces.