Protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) was shown to be able to accelerate the refolding of unfolded recombinant prochymosin and to enhance the overall yield of active protein. Unlike previous reports in this study PDI was found to be active at pH values as high as 11. The coincidence of the similar apparent optimum pH values of uncatalysed and PDI-catalysed reactions suggests that conditions favour...

A chance observation has led to the development of a new murine model for inflammatory arthritis. Arthritis is induced, and transferred, by T-cell-dependent antibodies to glucose-6phosphate isomerase. This enzyme is expressed in all cells, and is detectable in serum. There are several similarities to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the murine disease. This elegant model raises several questions as...

[figure: see text] A catalyst formed in situ from Mo[N(t-Bu)(Ar)]3 1 (Ar = 3,5-dimethylphenyl) and CH2Cl2 in toluene effects cross metathesis reactions of functionalized alkynes that are beyond reach of more traditional promotors. An application to the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) 19 and the acetylated PGE derivative 18b shows the compatibility of this method with sensitive substrates.

Labour was induced successfully at or near term in 34 out of 35 cases by combined amniotomy and intravenous infusion of either prostaglandins F(2)alpha, E(2), or E(1). Of particular importance is the finding of hypertonus in 4 of the 18 cases induced with prostaglandin E(2).

Little is known about the reorganization capacity of water molecules at the active sites of enzymes and how this couples to the catalytic reaction. Here, we study the dynamics of water molecules at the active site of a highly proficient enzyme, Δ(5)-3-ketosteroid isomerase (KSI), during a light-activated mimic of its catalytic cycle. Photoexcitation of a nitrile-containing photoacid, coumarin18...

.................................................................................................................. ii Co-Authorship Statement....................................................................................... iii Acknowledgments.................................................................................................. iv Table of

Cysteinyl leukotrienes play a part in inflammatory processes such as inflammatory bowel diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the cys-LT-1 receptor antagonist montelukast on a mild colitis model in rats. Colitis was induced by administrating 4% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS, MW 45,000) in drinking water for 9 days. Montelukast (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was given by gastric...