We previously reported that the retroviral vector expressing the herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase gene under the control of 0.3-kb human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) gene promoter (AF0.3) provided the cytotoxicity to ganciclovir (GCV) in high-AFP-producing human hepatoma cells but not in low-AFP-producing cells. Therefore, specific enhancement of AFP promoter activity is likely to be required t...

The activity of the exogenous, full-length insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) P3 promoter is significantly up-regulated during the logarithmic growth phase but rapidly declines in confluent CaCo2 cells undergoing differentiation. Nuclear run-on assays confirmed cell density-dependent regulation of endogenous P3 promoter. To identify regulatory elements in the P3 promoter that may be required ...

A clinical isolate of Mycobacterium avium was transformed with a new shuttle plasmid containing the Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase reporter gene under the control of the Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) hsp60 promoter. beta-Galactosidase activity was assayed spectrophotometrically in bacterial homogenates of the recombinant strain (M. avium::lacZ) and used for quantificat...

Mammalian cell growth is governed by regulatory activities that include the products of genes such as c-myc and ras that act early in G1, as well as the E2F family of transcription factors that accumulate later in G1 to regulate the expression of genes involved in DNA replication. Previous work has shown that the expression of the E2F1, E2F2, and E2F3 gene products is tightly regulated by cell ...

In the current study, the effect of dietary supplementation of poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) on growth performance, digestive enzymes activity, body composition, non-specific immune response and diseases resistance of rainbow trout fingerlings were investigated. Five hundred and fifty-two healthy fingerlings (8.2±1.0 g) were randomly distributed in 12 tanks (150 L) at a density of 46 fish/ tank ...

Background: The First apoptosis signal (FAS) and First apoptosis signal ligand (FASL) genes initiate the apoptosis pathway, playing a central role in the tumor growth and metastasis. Gene polymorphisms including -1377 G/A in the promoter region of FAS and -844 C/T in the promoter region of FASL have shown to change the transcription activities of these genes. Methods: In this study we evalua...

Background: Since the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoter in poultry ration by the European Union, poultry producers have been  trying to replace them by other growth promoters like medicinal herbs. Lipia citridora is a medicinal  herb enriched by several powerful phenolic compounds and with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties which lead to enhancing appetite and growth performance o...

Abstract Background The non-conventional yeast Rhodotorula toruloides is an emerging host organism in biotechnology by merit of its natural capacity to accumulate high levels carotenoids and intracellular storage lipids from a variety carbon sources. While the number genetic engineering strategies that employ R. increasing, lack tools available for modification this still limiting strain develo...