Ref-1 is a multifunctional protein that stimulates DNA binding by a number of transcription factors and serves as the abasic (A/P) endonuclease in base excision repair. Ref-1 was discovered to be a potent activator of p53 DNA binding in vitro. To address the physiological significance of the effects of Ref-1 on p53, we have analyzed its role in regulating p53 function in vivo. We found that Ref...

Pancreatic cancer is a largely incurable disease, and increasing evidence supports strategies targeting multiple molecular mediators of critical functions of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells. Intracellular redox state modulates the activity of various signal transduction pathways and biological processes, including cell survival, drug resistance and responsiveness to microenvironmental fa...

A key feature of prostate cancer progression is the induction and activation of survival proteins, including the Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) family member survivin. Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox effector factor 1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a multifunctional protein that is essential in activating oncogenic transcription factors. Because APE1/Ref-1 is expressed and elevated in prostate cancer...

AIMS To evaluate ophthalmological findings in children adopted from eastern Europe. METHODS A prospective study on 72/99 children, born 1990-5 and adopted from eastern Europe to western Sweden during 1993-7 was performed. The children (41 boys; mean age 7.5 years) were compared with an age and sex matched reference group ("ref") of Swedish children. RESULTS 78% of the adopted children had a...

The bacteriophage P1-encoded Ref protein enhances RecA-dependent recombination in vivo by an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that Ref is a new type of enzyme; that is, a RecA-dependent nuclease. Ref binds to ss- and dsDNA but does not cleave any DNA substrate until RecA protein and ATP are added to form RecA nucleoprotein filaments. Ref cleaves only where RecA protein is bound. RecA functions...

Methods 40 consecutive patients suffering from FMF according to the Livneh criteria and 40 healthy controls (C) were included into the study in Herne, Germany. All participants were Turkish migrants aged ≥18 years. Patients were excluded if they reported symptoms of FMF ≤7 days prior to inclusion. Frequency of FMF attacks during the 3 months preceding the study inclusion was assessed. Patients ...

TO THE EDITOR: We thank the authors of the comments (see Ref. 1) who contributed their thoughts to this debate (3, 5). Many additional interesting arguments were provided, and most of the comments are in line with our view that hypobaric hypoxia induces different physiological responses from normobaric hypoxia but also that the underlying mechanisms and clinical/ practical relevance have not ye...