Advances in our understanding of the expression of particular genes during the course of various human diseases have led to an increasing need to obtain high-quality and intact RNA from tissue specimens to facilitate functional genomic investigations. The emergence of laser microdissection microscopy technology has allowed researchers to undertake such studies on specific cell populations consi...

Background: The interplay between intrarenal angiotensinconverting enzyme (ACE) and type 2 ACE (ACE2) might play important roles in the pathogenesis of hypertensive nephrosclerosis (HTN), but human data are limited. Methods: Renal biopsy specimens of 41 patients with HTN and 10 transplant donors as controls (CTL) were studied. The glomerular and tubulointerstitial mRNA expression of ACE and ACE...

Objective: ORF134 of Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is a homolog of Autographa californica multiple NPV ORF5, but its function is unknown so far. The aim of this study is to characterize BmNPV ORF134 (Bm134). Methods: Transcription, protein expression and subcellular localization of Bm134 in BmN cells and silkworm midguts were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR...

We describe a novel genetic locus, wunen ( w u n ) , required for guidance of germ cell migration in early Drosophila development. Loss of wun function does not abolish movement but disrupts the orientation of the motion causing the germ cells to disperse even though their normal target, the somatic gonad, is well formed. We demonstrate that the product of this gene enables a signal to pass fro...

Androgens have been implicated as the causative factor for the post-injury immune dysfunction in males; however, it remains unknown whether androgens directly affect macrophages. To study this, male mice were sham-operated or subjected to trauma (i.e., midline laparotomy) and hemorrhagic shock (MAP 30 ± 5 mmHg for 90 min and then resuscitated). The mice received the 5α-reductase inhibitor 4-hyd...

Sperm surface/31,4-galaetosyltransferase (GalTase) mediates fertilization in mice by binding to specific O-linked oligosaccharide ligands on the egg coat glycoprotein ZP3. Before binding the egg, sperm GalTase is masked by epididymally derived glycosides that are shed from the sperm surface during capacitation. After binding the egg, sperm-bound oligosaecharides on ZP3 induce the acrosome react...

Cellular thiols are critical moieties in signal transduction, regulation of gene expression, and ultimately are determinants of specific protein activity. Whilst protein bound thiols are the critical effector molecules, low molecular weight thiols, such as glutathione, play a central role in cytoprotection through (1) direct consumption of oxidants, (2) regeneration of protein thiols and (3) ex...

For the purpose of constructing yam cDNA libraries, attempts to isolate high quality RNA using several previously reported protocols were unsuccessful. Therefore a protocol was standardized for yam total RNA isolation by using guanidium buffer at the Department of Biology, Virginia Sate University. The RNA isolated using this standardized protocol was high in quality and led to successful good ...

32 33 Hagfishes are the most ancient of the extant craniates, and demonstrate a 34 high tolerance for a number of unfavorable environmental conditions including 35 elevated ammonia. Proposed mechanisms of ammonia excretion in aquatic 36 organisms include vesicular NH4+ transport and release by exocytosis in marine 37 crabs, and passive NH3 diffusion, active NH4+ transport and paracellular leaka...

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways. Mast cell derived cytokines may mediate both airway inflammation as well as remodeling. It has also been shown that fibroblasts can be the source of proinflammatory cytokines. In the human airways, mast cellfibroblast interactions may have pivotal effects on modulating inflammation. To study this further, we cocultured normal human lung f...