All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the most biologically active metabolite of vitamin A, is known to induce p14 expression via promoter hypomethylation to activate the p14-MDM2-p53 pathway, which leads to activation of the p53-dependent apoptotic pathway and subsequent induction of apoptosis in human hepatoma cells. In the present study, we found that hepatitis C virus (HCV) Core derived from ecto...

The molecular interactions driving reactive center loop (RCL) insertion are of considerable interest in gaining a better understanding of the serpin inhibitory mechanism. Previous studies have suggested that interactions in the proximal hinge/breach region may be critical determinants of RCL insertion in serpins. In this study, conformational and functional changes in plasminogen activator inhi...

T cell survival and homeostatic proliferation in the periphery requires T cell receptor (TCR) binding to restricting major histocompatability complex (MHC)-encoded molecules, as well as the availability of certain lymphokines. However, the exact mechanisms by which these signals interrelate and contribute to homeostasis are not understood. By performing T cell transfers into TCR transgenic host...

PURPOSE This study sought to elucidate changes in the levels and distribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the retina throughout aging and depending on visual experience. METHODS Protein and mRNA levels of BDNF were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Levels were ...

This study was aimed to isolate and characterize antibiotic producing fungi from the soil environment within Ahmadu Bello University main campus Samaru, Zaria. Soil samples were collected five different locations for Isolation of fungi. Spread plate method involving serial dilution technique used using Saboraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Six species isolated then characterized microscopically macrosc...

The role of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) in R(-)-deprenyl-mediated rescue of rat facial motoneurons axotomized at postnatal day 14 (P14) was investigated using the (+)- and (-)-enantiomers of deprenyl [S(+)-deprenyl and R(-)-deprenyl]. Previously, doses of R(-)-deprenyl sufficient to inhibit MAO-B were shown to increase the survival of motoneurons following an apparent loss of target-derived tro...

BACKGROUND Chemoresistance is the main obstacle to cure in most malignant diseases. Anthracyclines are among the main drugs used for breast cancer therapy and in many other malignant conditions. Single parameter analysis or global gene expression profiles have failed to identify mechanisms causing in vivo resistance to anthracyclines. While we previously found TP53 mutations in the L2/L3 domain...

Introduction: Retinoblastoma is the most common primary ocular malignancy in pediatric age. Knudson proposed his two-hit model, allowing the distinction of retinoblastoma in two major classes: heritable and non-heritable. Retinoblastoma was first considered to arise from a well known mutation in the RB1 tumor-suppressor gene (chromosome 13q14). Currently, evidence supports that biallelic inacti...