BACKGROUND Hypoxia induces the proliferation of lung fibroblasts in vivo and in vitro. However, the subcellular interactions between hypoxia and expression of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27 remain unclear. METHODS Normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) were cultured in a hypoxic chamber or exposed to desferroxamine (DFX). DNA synthesis was measured using...

Mechanical interaction of cells and their surroundings are prominent in mechanically active tissues such as cartilage. Chondrocytes regulate their growth, matrix synthesis, metabolism, and differentiation in response to mechanical loadings. Cells sense and respond to applied physical forces through mechanosensors such as integrin receptors. Herein, we examine the role of mechanical stimulation ...

Homogeneous preparations of phage T7 gene 4 protein catalyze the hydrolysis of dNTPs and rNTPs to NDPs and Pi in the presence of single-stranded DNA. Synthesis on single-stranded DNA by T7 DNA polymerase (DNA nucleotidyltransferase; deoxynucleosidetriphosphate:DNA deoxynucleotidyltransferase, EC 2.7.7.7) does not affect the hydrolysis of NTPs by the gene 4 protein. Gene 4 protein does not catal...

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a well-known peptide that maintains the balance of electrolytes in higher vertebrates. Ang stimulation adrenal gland induces synthesis mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone, through up-regulation aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) gene expression. Additionally, it has been reported activates multiple signaling pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and ...

Chemical contamination of aquatic environments to EDCs has become a major focus of environmental toxicology research. The exposure of fishes to estrogenic EDCs in aquatic environments is most frequently assessed by analyzing Vitellogenin (Vg) (the egg yolk precursor protein) expression. Therefore, characterization of Vg gene is of high priority for EDCs bio-monitoring. So, we prepared liver tis...

For current gene synthesis protocols, usually a set of individually designed single-stranded oligonucleotides is first constructed using automated solid-phase synthesisers. Then the oligonucleotides are purified and subsequently assembled using specific annealing and standard ligation or polymerase reactions. To improve specificity of oligonucleotide annealing, the synthesis step relies on a se...