Identification of the Thioredoxin-Like 2 Autoantibody as a Specific Biomarker for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a higher risk of death within 5 years of being diagnosed than the other forms of breast cancer. It is the second leading cause of death due to cancer among women. Currently, however, no diagnostic blood-based biomarker exists to identify the early stages of TNBC.

C-terminal dimerization of apo-cyclic AMP receptor protein validated in solution.

Although cyclic AMP receptor protein (CRP) has long served as a typical example of effector-mediated protein allostery, mechanistic details into its regulation have been controversial due to discrepancy between the known crystal structure and NMR structure of apo-CRP. Here, we report that the recombinant protein corresponding to its C-terminal DNA-binding domain (CDD) forms a dimer. This result, together with structural information obtained in the present NMR study, is consistent with the previous crystal structure and validates its relevance also in solution.

Bacterial production and structure-functional validation of a recombinant antigen-binding fragment (Fab) of an anti-cancer therapeutic antibody targeting epidermal growth factor receptor.

Fragment engineering of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has emerged as an excellent paradigm to develop highly efficient therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents. Engineered mAb fragments can be economically produced in bacterial systems using recombinant DNA technologies. In this work, we established recombinant production in Escherichia coli for monovalent antigen-binding fragment (Fab) adopted from a clinically used anticancer mAB drug cetuximab targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).

Effective therapeutic approach for head and neck cancer by an engineered minibody targeting the EGFR receptor.

Cetuximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody developed for targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), has been intensively used to treat cancer patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and head and neck cancer. Intact immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody like cetuximab, however, has some limitations such as high production cost and low penetration rate from vasculature into solid tumor mass due to its large size. In attempt to overcome these limitations, we engineered cetuximab to create single chain variable fragments (scFv-CH3; Minibody) that were expressed in bacterial system.

Poly (ADP-ribose) in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.

The defining feature of Parkinson's disease is a progressive and selective demise of dopaminergic neurons. A recent report on Parkinson's disease animal model demonstrates that poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) dependent cell death, also named parthanatos, is accountable for selective dopaminergic neuronal loss. Parthanatos is a programmed necrotic cell death, characterized by PARP1 activation, apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) nuclear translocation, and large scale DNA fragmentation.

Anti-inflammatory effects of β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside from Trachelospermum jasminoides (Apocynaceae) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages.

Trachelospermum jasminoides (Apocynaceae) has pharmacological effects that include anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral activities, which have been observed from various studies. Of these pharmacological effects, the anti-inflammatory capacity of compounds from T. jasminoides is not yet known exactly.

Treatment with SI000413, a new herbal formula, ameliorates murine collagen-induced arthritis.

We tested the effects of SI000413, a new formula, consisting of Pyrolae herba and Trachelospermi caulis, on type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA was induced in DBA/1J mice by immunization with bovine type II collagen (CII) on days 1 and 21. SI000413 was orally administered 3 times per week throughout the experiment and indomethacin was served as a positive control.

Streptomyces-derived induction system for gene expression in cultured plant cells.

We have constructed an induction system for plant gene expression using an operator/repressor gene pair of Streptomyces virginiae. In this system, the repressor protein BarA dissociates from the operator sequence BARE in the presence of an inducer virginiae butanolide (VB), resulting in the induction of the transcription of the operator's downstream genes required for virginiamycin biosynthesis [Kinoshita et al., J.

Effects of ingested turmeric oleoresin on glucose and lipid metabolisms in obese diabetic mice: a DNA microarray study.

Turmeric, the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., has a wide range of effects on human health. Turmeric oleoresin, an extract of turmeric, is often used for flavoring and coloring.

Effects of a new extracorporeal system using CTR on mortality and inflammatory responses to bacterial toxin-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in rabbits.

Background/aims: In the pathogenesis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) caused by bacterial infection, a complex series of systemically secreted bacterial toxins and cytokines are intensely associated. Our previous study demonstrated that a new adsorbent, CTR, was capable of removing cytokines and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) in vitro. Moreover, extracorporeal treatment with CTR reduced the high mortality rate and inhibited inflammatory responses in endotoxin-induced shock in rats.

Microbial synthesis of chiral amines by (R)-specific transamination with Arthrobacter sp. KNK168.

Arthrobacter sp. KNK168 shows (R)-enantioselective transaminase [(R)-transaminase] activity, which converts prochiral ketones into the corresponding chiral (R)-amines in the presence of an amino donor. The cultural conditions and reaction conditions for asymmetric synthesis of chiral amines with this microorganism were examined.

Curcuminoids and sesquiterpenoids in turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) suppress an increase in blood glucose level in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice.

Turmeric, the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., has a wide range of effects on human health. The chemistry includes curcuminoids and sesquiterpenoids as components, which are known to have antioxidative, anticarcinogenic, and antiinflammatory activities.

Microbial synthesis of (R)- and (S)-3,4-dimethoxyamphetamines through stereoselective transamination.

Two soil isolates, Arthrobactersp. KNK168 and Pseudomonas sp. KNK425, aminated 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacetone in presence of sec-butylamine as an amino donor to yield 3,4-dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA) with different enantioselectivities.

A licorice ethanolic extract with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma ligand-binding activity affects diabetes in KK-Ay mice, abdominal obesity in diet-induced obese C57BL mice and hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The metabolic syndrome, including type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity/abdominal obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia, is a major public health problem. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligands such as thiazolidinediones are effective against this syndrome. In this study, we showed that nonaqueous fractions of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisher) extracted with ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetone, but not an aqueous extract, had PPAR-gamma ligand-binding activity with a GAL4-PPAR-gamma chimera assay.