Further characterization of Chinese hamster carbonyl reductases (CHCRs).

Three cDNAs encoding carbonyl reductases (CHC1-3) have been isolated and expressed in bacterial cells. The recombinant enzymes were further characterized with respect to substrate specificity, inhibitor sensitivity and response to pyruvate. In addition, the expression of the mRNAs of CHCRs encoding in brain, liver and kidney was analyzed by RT-PCR.

A Caenorhabditis elegans TGF-beta, DBL-1, controls the expression of LON-1, a PR-related protein, that regulates polyploidization and body length.

Using cDNA-based array analysis combined with double-stranded RNA interference (dsRNAi), we have identified yk298h6 as a target gene of Caenorhabditis elegans TGF-beta signaling. Worms overexpressing dbl-1, a TGF-beta ligand, are 16% longer than wild type. Array analysis shows yk298h6 to be one of several genes suppressed in such worms.