Miniproteins are currently developed as alternative, non-immunoglobin proteins for the generation of novel binding motifs. Miniproteins are rigid scaffolds that are stabilised by alpha-helices, beta-sheets and disulfide-constrained secondary structural elements. They are tolerant to multiple amino acid substitutions, which allow for the integration of a randomised affinity function into the sta...

The myofibrils of cross-striated muscle fibers contain in their M bands cytoskeletal proteins whose main function seems to be the stabilization of the three-dimensional arrangement of thick filaments. We identified two immunoglobin domains (Mp2-Mp3) of M-protein as a site binding to the central region of light meromyosin. This binding is regulated in vitro by phosphorylation of a single serine ...

The recognition of modified histones by "reader" proteins constitutes a key mechanism regulating gene expression in the chromatin context. Compared with the great variety of readers for histone methylation, few protein modules that recognize histone acetylation are known. Here, we show that the AF9 YEATS domain binds strongly to histone H3K9 acetylation and, to a lesser extent, H3K27 and H3K18 ...

In view of the uncertainty of location and significance of immunoglobulin in tumors found by elution or rosette formation (as reported in the literature), the presence of IgG, IgM, and IgA in human carcinoma of the lung was studied by means of the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. Surgically obtained specimens from patients with known survival times were used in this study. Membranous as well a...

When beta-pleated sheets pack face to face in proteins, the angle between the strand directions of the two beta-sheets is observed to be near -30 degrees . We propose a simple model for beta-sheet-to-beta-sheet packing in concanavalin A, plastocyanin, gamma-crystallin, superoxide dismutase, prealbumin, and the immunoglobin fragment V(REI). This model shows how the observed relative orientation ...

Resistance to 3rd generation cephalosporins in Salmonella has been attributed to the production of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), but AmpC and KPC or metallo β-lactamase (MBL) mediated resistance have also been reported1. ESBLs reported in Salmonella spp. are the derivatives of TEM, SHV, CTX-M and PER type β-lactamase families1. We isolated Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (B9903) ...

B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients frequently suffer from moderate to severe hypogammaglobulinemia. This complication is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in this disorder. There is recent evidence that natural killer (NK) cells modulate B-cell immunoglobin (Ig) synthesis/secretion. The authors therefore evaluated the circulating NK cells from B-CLL patients on their ability...

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant vascular dysplasia and severe, recurrent epistaxis is a common clinical phenotype associated with HHT. An intranasal treatment regime of diluted AvastinTM (Bevacizumab; recombinant humanized anti-vascular epithelial growth factor immunoglobin G1) using a pulsatile nasal irrigator has proven efficacious in clinical practice. Ho...

The specific chromosomal translocation t(X;1)(p11.2;q21.2) has been observed in human papillary renal cell carcinomas. In this study we demonstrated that this translocation results in the fusion of a novel gene designated PRCC at 1q21.2 to the TFE3 gene at Xp11.2. TFE3 encodes a member of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors originally identified by its ability to b...

Clinicians sometimes are confronted with the challenge of transfusing haemorrhaging Rhesus (Rh) D negative patients with Rh D positive blood to save their lives. There are concerns about alloimmunization and future haemolytic disease of the newborn in women of the reproductive age. Another fear is transfusion reaction if they receive another Rh D positive blood in future. We present a 32-year-o...