Biochemical analyses reveal new insights into RCAN1/Rcn1 inhibition of calcineurin.

Calcineurin is a serine/threonine protein phosphatase that is highly conserved from yeast to human and plays a critical role in many physiological processes. Regulators of calcineurin (RCANs) are a family of endogenous calcineurin regulators, which are capable of inhibiting the catalytic activity of calcineurin in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we first characterized the biochemical properties of yeast calcineurin and its endogenous regulator Rcn1, a yeast homolog of RCAN1.

[Intravenous contrast imaging in diagnosis of acute renal allograft rejection: a comparative study with color flow Doppler imaging].

Objective: To assess the value of intermittent contrast second harmonic imaging (SHI) incorporating acoustic densitometry in the diagnosis of acute renal allograft rejection in comparison with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) for determining the resistance index (RI).

Methods: Eight canine models of acute renal allograft rejection were established, subjected subsequently to examinations with SHI and acoustic densitometry to determine the acoustic density. Color flow Doppler was also performed to determine RI, and serum creatinine (Cr) levels were measured.

Sequence-specific assignments of proton NMR resonance peaks and analysis of secondary structural elements of LC1, a novel antibacterial polypeptide.

LC1 is a type of novel antibacterial polypeptide secreted by a Bacillus subtilis strain. It consists of 47 residues. Using bioengineering, LC1 was expressed in E.