*Department of Molecular and Developmental Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokane-dai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108, Japan; tDepartment of Cell Signaling, DNAX Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Palo Alto, California 943041104; tDepartment of Cytogenetics, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bu...

BACKGROUND Group II introns are RNA enzymes that splice themselves from pre-mRNA transcripts. Most bacterial group II introns harbour an open reading frame (ORF), coding for a protein with reverse transcriptase, maturase and occasionally DNA binding and endonuclease activities. Some ORF-containing group II introns were shown to be mobile retroelements that invade new DNA target sites. From an e...

A copolymer of dodecyl methacrylate/styrene (DMA/St) containing the amidine functionality was synthesized and characterized. The one-step solution copolymerization process was carried out using a mixed solvent, high temperature, and a functional azo initiator, 2,2 -azobis[N,N -dimethylene isobutyramidine]. Copolymers with different compositions (DMA/St 10/1 to 1/2), molecular weight (Mn 2000–90...

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by a variety of congenital abnormalities. Cells from FA patients show chromosomal instability and are hypersensitive to DNA cross-linking agents, though the basic cellular defect in FA is not known. The FANCA gene encodes a protein with an Mr of 162 kDa and with unknown function. The cellular localization of the FANCA protein h...