Liver-specific silencing of the human gene encoding succinyl-CoA: 3-ketoacid CoA transferase.

The human succinyl-CoA: 3-ketoacid CoA transferase (SCOT) gene encodes the ketolytic enzyme that functions in the mitochondrial matrix. The activation of acetoacetate to acetoacetyl-CoA by SCOT is essential for the use of ketone bodies as an energy source. The ketolytic capacity of tissues is proportional to their level of SCOT activity.

Functional conservation of HIV-1 Vpr and variability in a mother-child pair of long-term non-progressors.

Increasing evidence suggests that HIV-1 Vpr is required in vivo for viral pathogenesis. Since Vpr displays multiple activities, little is known about which Vpr-specific activities are conserved in naturally occurring viruses or how natural mutations in Vpr might modulate viral pathogenesis in HIV-infected individuals. The goals of this study were to evaluate the functional variability of Vpr in naturally occurring viruses.

Involvement of rhp23, a Schizosaccharomyces pombe homolog of the human HHR23A and Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD23 nucleotide excision repair genes, in cell cycle control and protein ubiquitination.

A functional homolog (rhp23) of human HHR23A and Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD23 was cloned from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and characterized. Consistent with the role of Rad23 homologs in nucleotide excision repair, rhp23 mutant cells are moderately sensitive to UV light but demonstrate wild-type resistance to gamma-rays and hydroxyurea. Expression of the rhp23, RAD23 or HHR23A cDNA restores UV resistance to the mutant, indicating that rhp23 is a functional homolog of the human and S.