WSXWS motif is a conserved amino acid sequence that is present in type I cytokine receptors. This motif that can be found both in the ligand binding chains and signal transducer molecule of the receptors with different amino acids at the position "X" plays a role in the receptor folding, ligand binding and signal transduction as well. Structural analysis proved that WSEWS motif of IL-6R is loca...

Although mechanisms of arsenic trioxide (As(2)O(3))-induced cell death have been studied extensively in hematologic cancers, those in solid cancers have yet to be clearly defined. In this study, we showed that the translocation of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to the nucleus is required for As(2)O(3)-induced cell death in human cervical cancer cells. We also showed that reac...

A locally isolated white rot fungal strain Trametes versicolor IBL-04 produced high laccase activities in solid state bio-processing of corn cobs. Addition of glucose and yeast extract (C: N ratio; 25:1) enhanced laccase synthesis. Addition of Tween-80 and CuSO4 enhanced laccase production to 1012 U/mL under optimized process conditions. Laccase was further purified to 2.89-fold (specific activ...

The reaction of glyoxal with nucleophilic amino acids was monitored for β-casein as well as β-lactoglobulin. As predicted from previous experiments with hippuryl amino acids, a measurable decrease of arginine can be found in the thiol-free β-casein, while the lysine content remained almost unchanged. For β-lactoglobulin, the incubation with glyoxal led to a slight decrease in the lysine content...

proteins, which link the activity contracting action and myosin components to the non-contracting structures in the fiber and outside, are defective. In our article we will strictly confine ourselves to this anchoring device which is called the dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC). As shown in Fig. 1 (after Lim and Campbell) dystrophin, the gene product defective in DMD, is a large rod-shaped ...

Activating mutations of Ras gene families have been found in a variety of human malignancies, including lung cancer, suggesting their dominant role in tumorigenesis. Many studies have showed that the Kras gene is activated by point mutations in approximately 15-20% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs), however, there are only a few reports on Nras mutations in NSCLC. We have genotyped Nras m...

Received January 14, 2014 It is critical to seek potential alternative treatments for H1N1 infections by inhibiting neuraminidase-1 enzyme. One of the viable options for inhibiting the activity of neuraminidase-1 is peptide drug design. In order to increase peptide stability, cyclization is necessary to prevent its digestion by protease enzyme. Cyclization of peptide ligands by formation of dis...

The aim of the study was to elucidate the mechanism by which advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promote cell proliferation in liver cancer cells.We treated liver cancer HepG2 cells with 200 mg/L AGEs or bovine serum albumin (BSA) and assayed for cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptosis. We performed real-time PCR and Western blot analysis for RNA and protein levels of carbohydrate responsi...

Proteases are the most important group of the enzymes produced commercially and industrial purpose[1,2]. They have extensive applications in a range of industrial products and processes including detergents, food, pharmaceuticals and leather[3,4]. They are classified into various groups such as alkaline protease, serine protease, cystein protease, aspartic protease and metallo protease[5]. Prot...

In this work, we investigated the effects of Casiopeina II-gly (Cas IIgly)--a new copper compound exhibiting antineoplastic activity--on glioma C6 cells under both in vitro and in vivo conditions, as an approach to identify potential therapeutic agents against malignant glioma. The exposure of C6 cells to Cas IIgly significantly inhibited cell proliferation, increased reactive oxygen species (R...