Regeneration across metazoan phylogeny: lessons from model organisms.

Comprehending the diversity of the regenerative potential across metazoan phylogeny represents a fundamental challenge in biology. Invertebrates like Hydra and planarians exhibit amazing feats of regeneration, in which an entire organism can be restored from minute body segments. Vertebrates like teleost fish and amphibians can also regrow large sections of the body.

A 12-bp deletion in the 5'-flanking region of the SERPINH1 gene affects promoter activity and protects against preterm premature rupture of membranes in African Americans.

We identified a novel 12-bp deletion NT_033927.7: g.5495364_5495375del in the 5'-flanking region of the SERPINH1 gene that increases promoter activity.

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms combine to control MMP1 expression and its association with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Degradation of fibrillar collagens is believed to be involved in the rupture of the fetal membranes during normal parturition and when the membranes rupture prematurely. Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) is a key enzyme involved in extracellular matrix turnover, and genetic variation in the MMP1 promoter is associated with the risk of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM). We determined whether epigenetic factors contribute to the control of MMP1 expression in the human amnion.

The interaction between ADAM 22 and 14-3-3zeta: regulation of cell adhesion and spreading.

The ADAM family consists of a number of transmembrane proteins that contain disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase-like domains. Therefore, ADAMs potentially have cell adhesion and protease activities. 14-3-3 proteins are a highly conserved family of cytoplasmic proteins that associate with several intracellular signaling molecules in the regulation of various cellular functions.