The actin-binding protein αE-catenin may contribute to transitions between cell migration and cell-cell adhesion that depend on remodeling the actin cytoskeleton, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We show that the αE-catenin actin-binding domain (ABD) binds cooperatively to individual actin filaments and that binding is accompanied by a conformational change in the actin protomer that ...

Abdominal-B (Abd-B) mutants of the bithorax-complex (BX-C) were studied in trans with tuh-3 to evaluate their interactions with this homeotic mutant and the maternal effect locus (tuh-I) controlling tuh-3 expression. Head defects occur in tuh-3 offspring from tuh-lh homozygous mothers, while genital defects occur in homozygous tuh-3 offspring from mothers carrying the tuh-Ig allele. The influen...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the activation of the gluteus medius (Gmed), rectus femoris (RF), and biceps femoris (BF) muscles during neutral (N) sit to stand (STS) and STS involving hip abduction (ABD) in elderly females. [Subjects] We recruited 16 healthy elderly females with no pain in the knee joint or any other orthopedic problems of the lower limbs. [Methods] The act...

Background: Cancer immunotherapy is a promising strategy for cancer treatment. In this strategy,   the immune system is triggered to destroy cancer cells. IL-2 is an important factor in passive cancer immunotherapy that helps modulating some important immune functions. One of the IL-2 limitations is low serum half-life; therefore, repetitive high doses of the injections are required t...

Dear Editor, Adamantiades-Behçet’s disease (ABD) is an inflammatory disease classified as vasculitis, which was originally diagnosed in patients with aphthous stomatitis, genital ulcerations, and ocular manifestations. However, any organ or system may be involved, particularly the central and peripheral nervous systems, joints, as well as the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of ABD is still...

A key question in our understanding of the cis-regulation of gene expression during embryonic development has been the molecular mechanism that directs enhancers to specific promoters within a gene complex. Promoter competition and insulators are thought to play a role in regulating these interactions. In the bithorax complex of Drosophila, the IAB5 enhancer is located 55 kb 3' of the Abdominal...

Transabdominal (Tab) is a dominant gain-of-function mutation that results in islands of sexually dimorphic abdominal cuticle in the dorsal thorax of the adult fly. This phenotype has complete penetrance and constant expressivity, and we show that it results from ectopic expression of ABD-BII, one of two proteins derived from the Abdominal B (Abd-B) domain of the bithorax complex (BX-C) and one ...

OBJECTIVES Implant osseointegration is dependent upon various factors, such as bone quality and type of implant surface. It is also subject to adaptation in response to changes in bone metabolism or transmission of masticatory forces. Understanding of long-term physiologic adjustment is critical to prevention of potential loss of osseointegration, especially because excessive occlusal forces le...

BACKGROUND Female sexual receptivity offers an excellent model for complex behavioral decisions. The female must parse her own reproductive state, the external environment, and male sensory cues to decide whether to copulate. In the fly Drosophila melanogaster, virgin female receptivity has received relatively little attention, and its neural circuitry and individual behavioral components remai...

We construct a novel recombinant secondary antibody mimic, GST-ABD, which can bind to the Fc regions of target-bound primary antibodies and acquire multiple HRPs simultaneously. We produce it in tenth of mg quantities with a bacterial overexpression system and simple purification procedures, significantly reducing the manufacturing cost and time without the use of animals. GST-ABD is effectivel...