Widespread bidirectional promoters are the major source of cryptic transcripts in yeast.

Pervasive and hidden transcription is widespread in eukaryotes, but its global level, the mechanisms from which it originates and its functional significance are unclear. Cryptic unstable transcripts (CUTs) were recently described as a principal class of RNA polymerase II transcripts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These transcripts are targeted for degradation immediately after synthesis by the action of the Nrd1-exosome-TRAMP complexes.

Bidirectional promoters generate pervasive transcription in yeast.

Genome-wide pervasive transcription has been reported in many eukaryotic organisms, revealing a highly interleaved transcriptome organization that involves hundreds of previously unknown non-coding RNAs. These recently identified transcripts either exist stably in cells (stable unannotated transcripts, SUTs) or are rapidly degraded by the RNA surveillance pathway (cryptic unstable transcripts, CUTs). One characteristic of pervasive transcription is the extensive overlap of SUTs and CUTs with previously annotated features, which prompts questions regarding how these transcripts are generated, and whether they exert function.

[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NS398 regulates the RECK gene expression in the prostate carcinoma strain DU145].

Objectives: To investigate the regulative effect of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug NS398 on the RECK gene in the prostate carcinoma strain DU145.

Methods: DU145 was treated with various concentrations of NS398 for 48 hours. The mRNA level was measured by RT PCR technique and the expression of the RECK protein determined by Western blot.

Antisense artifacts in transcriptome microarray experiments are resolved by actinomycin D.

Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unanticipatedly large proportion of antisense transcription across eukaryotic and bacterial genomes. However, the extent and significance of antisense transcripts is controversial partly because experimental artifacts are suspected. Here, we present a method to generate clean genome-wide transcriptome profiles, using actinomycin D (ActD) during reverse transcription.

[Expression and significance of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor RECK gene in prostate cell strains].

Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of RECK gene and MMP-9 in prostate cell strains such as BPH-1, DU45, LNCaP and PC-3.

Methods: The expression of mRNA of RECK and MMP-9 was measured by RT-PCR and RECK protein was evaluated by Western blot.

Results: The mRNA level of the RECK gene in the prostate carcinoma cell strains, such as DU45, LNCaP and PC-3, was lower than that in the benign prostate hyperplasia cell line BPH-1, while MMP-9 had a higher expression.

Purification and Characterization of a Platelet Agglutinating Inhibiting Protein (Agkisacutacin) from Agkistrodon acutus Venom.

A platelet agglutinating inhibiting protein (agkisacutacin) was isolated from the venom of Agkistrodon acutus by DEAE Sepharose Fast Flow and size exclusion chromatography. The purified product was a 29 kD protein composed of two disulfide bond-linked polypeptide chains of molecular weight of 14 kD, 15 kD, respectively. It completely inhibited ristocetin-induced platelet agglutination with an IC(50) value of 18.