Paraoxonase1 polymorphism Leu-Met55 is associated with cerebral infarction in Japanese population.

Background: Paraoxonase1 (PON1) is HDL-associated ester hydrolase which has been shown to prevent LDL and HDL oxidation in vitro. PON1-coding region has two common polymorphisms (M/L55 and A/B192) that influence PON activity. We examined whether these polymorphisms relates with the incidence of cerebral infarction (CI) which is one of the major atherosclerotic disease in Japan.

Participation of two N-terminal residues in LPS-neutralizing activity of sarcotoxin IA.

Sarcotoxin IA is a cecropin-type antibacterial peptide of flesh fly. Using a mutant sarcotoxin IA lacking two N-terminal residues, we demonstrated that these residues are indispensable for its antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and LPS-binding. Contrary to the native sarcotoxin IA, the mutant sarcotoxin IA could not neutralize various biological activities of LPS.