The PBAP remodeling complex is required for histone H3.3 replacement at chromatin boundaries and for boundary functions.

Establishment and maintenance of epigenetic memories are essential for development. Replacement of canonical histone H3 by its variant H3.3 has been implicated in cellular memory.

Silkworm expression and sugar profiling of human immune cell surface receptor, KIR2DL1.

Immune cell surface receptors are directly involved in human diseases, and thus represent major drug targets. However, it is generally difficult to obtain sufficient amounts of these receptors for biochemical and structural studies because they often require posttranslational modifications, especially sugar modification. Recently, we have established a bacmid expression system for the baculovirus BmNPV, which directly infects silkworms, an attractive host for the large-scale production of recombinant sugar-modified proteins.

Efficient silkworm expression of human GPCR (nociceptin receptor) by a Bombyx mori bacmid DNA system.

Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein) coupled receptors (GPCRs) are frequently expressed by a baculovirus expression vector system (BEVS). We recently established a novel BEVS using the bacmid system of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV), which is directly applicable for protein expression in silkworms. Here, we report the first example of GPCR expression in silkworms by the simple injection of BmNPV bacmid DNA.

MDM2 acts downstream of p53 as an E3 ligase to promote FOXO ubiquitination and degradation.

Members of the FOXO (forkhead O) class of transcription factors are tumor suppressors that also control aging and organismal life span. Mammalian FOXO degradation is proteasome-mediated, although the ubiquitin E3 ligase for FOXO factors remains to be defined. We show that MDM2 binds to FOXO1 and FOXO3A and promotes their ubiquitination and degradation, a process apparently dependent on FOXO phosphorylation at AKT sites and the E3 ligase activity of MDM2.

Drosophila GAGA factor directs histone H3.3 replacement that prevents the heterochromatin spreading.

Epigenetic maintenance of the expression state of the genome is critical for development. Drosophila GAGA factor interacts with FACT and modulates chromatin structure for the maintenance of gene expression. Here we show that the GAGA factor-FACT complex and its binding site just downstream from the white gene are crucial for position effect variegation.

Entropically driven MHC class I recognition by human inhibitory receptor leukocyte Ig-like receptor B1 (LILRB1/ILT2/CD85j).

The human inhibitory receptor, leukocyte immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptor B1 (also called Ig-like transcript (ILT) 2, CD85j), is broadly expressed on leukocytes. LILRB1 binds to a wide range of major histocompatibility complex class I molecules (MHCIs) and transduces negative signals that can, for example, prevent killing of MHCI-expressing cells. Here we report the kinetic, thermodynamic, NMR and crystallographic analyses of MHCI recognition by LILRB1.

Efficient large-scale protein production of larvae and pupae of silkworm by Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus bacmid system.

Silkworm is one of the most attractive hosts for large-scale production of eukaryotic proteins as well as recombinant baculoviruses for gene transfer to mammalian cells. The bacmid system of Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) has already been established and widely used. However, the AcNPV does not have a potential to infect silkworm.

Cloning CYP2D21 and CYP3A22 cDNAs from liver of miniature pigs.

To compare the identity of the primary structure of drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 between miniature pigs and humans, two cDNA clones, coding for miniature pig CYP2D21 and CYP3A22, were isolated. The deduced amino acid sequences of CYP2D21 and CYP3A22 were 78.3 and 75.

Drosophila FACT contributes to Hox gene expression through physical and functional interactions with GAGA factor.

Chromatin structure plays a critical role in the regulation of transcription. Drosophila GAGA factor directs chromatin remodeling to its binding sites. We show here that Drosophila FACT (facilitates chromatin transcription), a heterodimer of dSPT16 and dSSRP1, is associated with GAGA factor through its dSSRP1 subunit, binds to a nucleosome, and facilitates GAGA factor-directed chromatin remodeling.