Molecular docking studies of anti-apoptotic BCL-2, BCL-XL, and MCL-1 proteins with ginsenosides from Panax ginseng.

Anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL-2, BCL-XL and MCL-1 bind with pro-apoptotic proteins to induce apoptosis mechanism. BCL-2 family proteins are key regulators of apoptosis process. Over expression of these anti-apoptotic proteins lead to several cancers by preventing apoptosis.

Biotransformation of Ginsenoside Rb1 to Prosapogenins, Gypenoside XVII, Ginsenoside Rd, Ginsenoside F2, and Compound K by Leuconostoc mesenteroides DC102.

Ginsenoside Rb1is the main component in ginsenosides. It is a protopanaxadiol-type ginsenoside that has a dammarane-type triterpenoid as an aglycone. In this study, ginsenoside Rb1 was transformed into gypenoside XVII, ginsenoside Rd, ginsenoside F2 and compound K by glycosidase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides DC102.

Sox4 cooperates with PU.1 haploinsufficiency in murine myeloid leukemia.

Cooperation of multiple mutations is thought to be required for cancer development. In previous studies, murine myeloid leukemias induced by transducing wild-type bone marrow progenitors with a SRY sex determining region Y-box 4 (Sox4)-expressing retrovirus frequently carried proviral insertions at Sfpi1, decreasing its mRNA levels, suggesting that reduced Sfpi1 expression cooperates with Sox4 in myeloid leukemia induction. In support of this hypothesis, we show here that mice receiving Sox4 virus-infected Sfpi1(ko/+) bone marrow progenitors developed myeloid leukemia with increased penetrance and shortened latency.

Biphasic and dosage-dependent regulation of osteoclastogenesis by β-catenin.

Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a critical regulator of skeletal physiology. However, previous studies have mainly focused on its roles in osteoblasts, while its specific function in osteoclasts is unknown. This is a clinically important question because neutralizing antibodies against Wnt antagonists are promising new drugs for bone diseases.

Simultaneous determination of three polyphenols in rat plasma after orally administering hawthorn leaves extract by the HPLC method.

A simple and sensitive HPLC method was developed to simultaneously determine three active compounds, vitexin-4″-O-glucoside (VG), vitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside (VR) and hyperoside (HP), in rat plasma after administering the hawthorn leaves extract (HLE). An HPLC assay with baicalin as the internal standard was carried out using a Phenomsil C₁₈ analytical column with UV detection at 332 nm. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-1% glacial acetic acid (6 : 1.

Bioadhesion and enhanced bioavailability by wheat germ agglutinin-grafted lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drug bufalin.

Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-grafted lipid nanoparticles has been prepared and its in vitro association with Caco-2 cells has been studied previously. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the potential of WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery of bufalin, a poorly water soluble drug, by evaluating its ex vivo bioadhesion with intestinal mucosal segments and in vivo bioavailability. A significant higher adhesion between WGA-grafted lipid nanoparticles and intestinal mucosa was found compared with that of WGA-free lipid nanoparticles (p<0.

Bioconversion of ginsenoside rb1 into compound k by Leuconostoc citreum LH1 isolated from kimchi.

About 40 different types of ginsenoside (ginseng saponin), a major pharmacological component of ginseng, have been identified along with their physiological activities. Among these, compound K has been reported to prevent the development of and the metastasis of cancer by blocking the formation of tumors and suppressing the invasion of cancerous cells. In this study, ginsenoside Rb1 was converted into compound K via interaction with the enzyme secreted by β-glucosidase active bacteria, Leuconostoc citreum LH1, extracted from kimchi.

Development of a multiplex amplification refractory mutation system for simultaneous authentication of Korean ginseng cultivars "Gumpoong" and "Chungsun".

BACKGROUND AND AIMS. Molecular authentication of Korean ginseng cultivars was investigated using the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 7 (nad7) intron 3 region. MATERIALS AND METHODS.

Complete genome sequence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LL3, which exhibits glutamic acid-independent production of poly-γ-glutamic acid.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is one of most prevalent Gram-positive aerobic spore-forming bacteria with the ability to synthesize polysaccharides and polypeptides. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of B. amyloliquefaciens LL3, which was isolated from fermented food and presents the glutamic acid-independent production of poly-γ-glutamic acid.

Biosorption of divalent Pb, Cd and Zn on aragonite and calcite mollusk shells.

The potential of using mollusk shell powder in aragonite (razor clam shells, RCS) and calcite phase (oyster shells, OS) to remove Pb(2+), Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) from contaminated water was investigated. Both biogenic sorbents displayed very high sorption capacities for the three metals except for Cd on OS. XRD, SEM and XPS results demonstrated that surface precipitation leading to crystal growth took place during sorption.

Evaluation of a newly developed online color training system.

This study evaluated a newly developed online color training system. The system incorporated basic color training, shade guide matching, and clinical shade selection simulation exercises. Thirty-seven dental students went through baseline Vita-Vita testing with VITA Classical shade guides and then practiced color training exercises with the system for 4 days; the same test was performed after the training program.

Structures of the substrate-binding protein provide insights into the multiple compatible solute binding specificities of the Bacillus subtilis ABC transporter OpuC.

The compatible solute ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters are indispensable for acquiring a variety of compatible solutes under osmotic stress in Bacillus subtilis. The substrate-binding protein OpuCC (Opu is osmoprotectant uptake) of the ABC transporter OpuC can recognize a broad spectrum of compatible solutes, compared with its 70% sequence-identical paralogue OpuBC that can solely bind choline. To explore the structural basis of this difference of substrate specificity, we determined crystal structures of OpuCC in the apo-form and in complex with carnitine, glycine betaine, choline and ectoine respectively.

Reliability and accuracy of Crystaleye spectrophotometric system.

Objective: to develop an in vitro shade-measuring model to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the Crystaleye spectrophotometric system, a newly developed spectrophotometer.

Methods: four shade guides, VITA Classical, VITA 3D-Master, Chromascop and Vintage Halo NCC, were measured with the Crystaleye spectrophotometer in a standardised model, ten times for 107 shade tabs. The shade-matching results and the CIE L*a*b* values of the cervical, body and incisal regions for each measurement were automatically analysed using the supporting software.

Crystal structure of the mucin-binding domain of Spr1345 from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The surface protein Spr1345 from Streptococcus pneumoniae R6 is a 22-kDa mucin-binding protein (MucBP) involved in adherence and colonization of the human lung and respiratory tract. It is composed of a mucin-binding domain (MucBD) and a proline-rich domain (PRD) followed by an LPxTG motif, which is recognized and cleaved by sortase, resulting in a mature form of 171 residues (MF171) that is anchored to the cell wall. We found that the MucBD alone possesses comparable in vitro mucin-binding affinity to the mature form, and can be specifically enriched at the surface of human lung carcinoma A549 cells.

HPLC determination of five polyphenols in rat plasma after intravenous administration of hawthorn leaves extract and its application to pharmacokinetic study.

A simple and specific HPLC-UV method was developed to simultaneously determine five active compounds including vitexin-4"-O-glucoside (VG), vitexin-2"-O-rhamnoside (VR), vitexin (VIT), rutin (RUT) and hyperoside (HP) in rat plasma after intravenous administrating the hawthorn leaves extract (HLE). With baicalin as internal standard (I.S.

Regulation of retinal progenitor cell differentiation by bone morphogenetic protein 4 is mediated by the smad/id cascade.

PURPOSE. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secreted signaling molecules that are implicated in the control of multiple events during mouse eye development. However, little is known about the mechanisms by which BMP signaling regulates these retinal developmental processes.

Bone morphogenetic proteins mediate cellular response and, together with Noggin, regulate astrocyte differentiation after spinal cord injury.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play a critical role in regulating cell fate determination during central nervous system (CNS) development. In light of recent findings that BMP-2/4/7 expressions are upregulated after spinal cord injury, we hypothesized that the BMP signaling pathway is important in regulating cellular composition in the injured spinal cord. We found that BMP expressions were upregulated in neural stem cells (NSCs), neurons, oligodendrocytes and microglia/macrophages.

Effects of bone morphogenetic protein 2 on Id expression and neuroblastoma cell differentiation.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are secretory signal molecules that have a variety of regulatory functions during embryonic morphogenesis. BMP2 has been shown to induce differentiation in many cell types, mediated through the activation of its target genes: the inhibitors of differentiation (Id1-3) and key transcription factors. In this study, we investigated the effects of BMP2 on mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro2a) cell differentiation and regulation of the expression of Id1-3 and neural-specific transcription factors.

Self-inactivating retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer induces oncogene activation and immortalization of primary murine bone marrow cells.

Insertional mutagenesis leading to insurgence of leukemia has been shown as a consequence of retroviral (RV)-mediated gene transfer in animal models and in clinical trials of gene therapy for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. Aberrant expression of oncogenes neighboring the gamma-RV vector insertion site via induction by the enhancer element of the viral long terminal repeats (LTRs) is thought to have played a role in leukemogenesis. Consequently, RV vectors devoid of LTR enhancer elements could prove as safer tools for gene transfer.

Electrochemistry of N-n-undecyl-N'-(sodium-p-aminobenzenesulfonate) thiourea and its interaction with bovine serum albumin.

In pH 5.5 phosphate buffer solution, N-n-undecyl-N'-(sodium-p-aminobenzenesulfonate) thiourea (UPT) produced a pair of redox peaks on the bare glassy carbon electrode. At the multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) modified electrode, the electrochemical behavior of UPT enhanced greatly.

Exogenous nitric oxide negatively regulates c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation via inhibiting endogenous NO-induced S-nitrosylation during cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rat hippocampus.

Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from l-arginine by NO synthases, is a small endogenous free radical with multiple functions. The c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway plays a critical role in mediating apoptosis in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. In this study, we found that the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) can decrease the damage of hippocampal neurons induced by cerebral ischemia and reperfusion.

Motor nerve graft is better than sensory nerve graft for survival and regeneration of motoneurons after spinal root avulsion in adult rats.

In the present study, we compared the effects of implanting peripheral sensory nerve and motor nerve on motoneuron survival and regeneration after spinal root avulsion in adult rats. Our results showed that 116% more motoneurons regenerated axons into the motor than the sensory nerve graft and 59% of motoneurons survived in the motor nerve-implanted group compared to 48% in the sensory nerve-implanted group. We demonstrated by real time PCR that levels of BDNF and GDNF mRNA were significantly higher in the motor than the sensory nerve five days after implantation into the spinal cord.

BHLHB2 controls Bdnf promoter 4 activity and neuronal excitability.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), via activation of TrkB receptors, mediates vital physiological functions in the brain, ranging from neuronal survival to synaptic plasticity, and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Although transcriptional regulation of the BDNF gene (Bdnf) has been extensively studied, much remains to be understood. We discovered a sequence within Bdnf promoter 4 that binds the basic helix-loop-helix protein BHLHB2 and is a target for BHLHB2-mediated transcriptional repression.