| 1. |
- Duan, Ming-Rui, et al.
(författare)
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DNA binding mechanism revealed by high resolution crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana WRKY1 protein
- 2007
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Ingår i: Nucleic Acids Research. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1362-4962 .- 0305-1048. ; 35:4, s. 54-1145
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- WRKY proteins, defined by the conserved WRKYGQK sequence, are comprised of a large superfamily of transcription factors identified specifically from the plant kingdom. This superfamily plays important roles in plant disease resistance, abiotic stress, senescence as well as in some developmental processes. In this study, the Arabidopsis WRKY1 was shown to be involved in the salicylic acid signaling pathway and partially dependent on NPR1; a C-terminal domain of WRKY1, AtWRKY1-C, was constructed for structural studies. Previous investigations showed that DNA binding of the WRKY proteins was localized at the WRKY domains and these domains may define novel zinc-binding motifs. The crystal structure of the AtWRKY1-C determined at 1.6 A resolution has revealed that this domain is composed of a globular structure with five beta strands, forming an antiparallel beta-sheet. A novel zinc-binding site is situated at one end of the beta-sheet, between strands beta4 and beta5. Based on this high-resolution crystal structure and site-directed mutagenesis, we have defined and confirmed that the DNA-binding residues of AtWRKY1-C are located at beta2 and beta3 strands. These results provided us with structural information to understand the mechanism of transcriptional control and signal transduction events of the WRKY proteins.
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| 2. |
- Fu, Tian-Min, et al.
(författare)
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Protein preparation, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of the C-terminal domain of human RSK1 serine/threonine protein kinase
- 2007
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Ingår i: Acta Crystallographica. Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications. - 2053-230X. ; 63:Pt 12, s. 8-1026
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a substrate of extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), the p90 ribosome S6 kinase 1 (RSK1) is at the terminus of the Ras/ERK pathway. Residues 411-735 of human RSK1, covering the C-terminal serine/threonine kinase catalytic domain and the functionally important tail, were cloned into an Escherichia coli expression vector. The protein was expressed, purified and crystallized. The crystals diffracted to 2.7 A and belonged to space group P2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 39.8, b = 143.8, c = 59.9 A, beta = 95.7 degrees.
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| 3. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy in higher eukaryotes
- 2008
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Landes Bioscience. - 1554-8627 .- 1554-8635. ; 4:2, s. 151-175
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Research in autophagy continues to accelerate,1 and as a result many new scientists are entering the field. Accordingly, it is important to establish a standard set of criteria for monitoring macroautophagy in different organisms. Recent reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose.2,3 There are many useful and convenient methods that can be used to monitor macroautophagy in yeast, but relatively few in other model systems, and there is much confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure macroautophagy in higher eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers of autophagosomes versus those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway; thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from fully functional autophagy that includes delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of the methods that can be used by investigators who are attempting to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as by reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that investigate these processes. This set of guidelines is not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to verify an autophagic response.
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| 4. |
- Li, Dong-gang, et al.
(författare)
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Diffusion layer growth at Zn/Cu interface under uniform and gradient high magnetic fields
- 2008
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Ingår i: Materials Science & Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 0921-5093 .- 1873-4936. ; 495:1-2, s. 244-248
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As a common phenomenon occurring in many material processes, diffusion may induce significant changes in composition and microstructure near the interface. In the present study, liquid/solid (Zn/Cu) interface diffusion experiments in high magnetic fields (up to 12 T) were conducted and the thickness changes of diffusion layer under different magnetic field conditions were examined. It was found that there were no noticeable effects of high magnetic fields on the formation of intermetallic phases at the interface. However, the magnetic flux density exerted a non-linear influence on the diffusion layer thickness. This phenomenon should be attributed to the effect of magnetic fields suppressing natural convection and inducing thermo-electromagnetic convection. In addition, the diffusion of Zn into Cu could be retarded by a magnetic field gradient. These results indicate that both the strength and the gradient of high magnetic fields can be used to control the diffusion behavior.
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| 5. |
- Li, Gui-Lan, et al.
(författare)
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Open-closed conformational change revealed by the crystal structures of 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate decarboxylase from Streptococcus mutans
- 2009
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Ingår i: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2104 .- 0006-291X. ; 381:3, s. 33-429
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate decarboxylase (KGPDC) catalyses the decarboxylation of 3-keto-L-gulonate 6-phosphate to L-xylulose in the presence of magnesium ions. The enzyme is involved in L-ascorbate metabolism and plays an essential role in the pathway of glucuronate interconversion. Crystal structures of Streptococcus mutans KGPDC were determined in the absence and presence of the product analog D-ribulose 5-phosphate. We have observed an 8 A alphaB-helix movement and other structural rearrangements around the active site between the apo-structures and product analog bound structure. These drastic conformational changes upon ligand binding are the first observation of this kind for the KGPDC family. The flexibilities of both the alpha-helix lid and the side chains of Arg144 and Arg197 are associated with substrate binding and product releasing. The open-closed conformational changes of the active site, through the movements of the alpha-helix lid and the arginine residues are important for substrate binding and catalysis.
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| 6. |
- Li, Q., et al.
(författare)
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Expression of interferon-gamma in human adrenal gland and kidney tumours
- 2007
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Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 97:3, s. 420-425
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- It is known that interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is produced by activated T and NK lymphoid cells, mononuclear cells, and macrophage and dendritic cells. Our previous studies have shown that IFN-γ-like immunoreactivity also appears in human adrenal cortical tumour and phaeochromocytoma. To investigate whether human tumour cells can produce IFN-γ, we examined 429 biopsy specimens of 30 kinds of tumour and tumour-surrounding tissues in adrenal glands and in kidneys by using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation. IFN-γ immunoactivity was shown in 34.3% of the adrenal cortical adenomas, 50% of the adrenal cortical carcinomas, 26.7% of the phaeochromocytomas, 26.7% of the clear cell renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), 22% of the adrenal cortexes and 40% of medullas adjacent to tumours. The positive samples and expression areas were well overlapped between the IFN-γ mRNA and the immunohistochemistry staining. Western blot analysis has further confirmed the immunohistochemistry results by showing a distinct IFN-γ band corresponding to 17.4 kDa in tissue extracts from adrenal cortical adenoma, phaeochromocytoma and clear cell RCCs. These results indicate that IFN-γ is produced by some types of tumour cells, suggesting it may play a dual role in the development of these tumours.
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| 7. |
- Liu, Cong, et al.
(författare)
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Preparation, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of protein YtlP from Bacillus subtilis
- 2006
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Ingår i: Acta Crystallographica. Section F: Structural Biology and Crystallization Communications. - 2053-230X. ; 62:10, s. 967-969
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bacillus subtilis YtlP is a protein that is predicted to belong to the bacterial and archael 2'-5' RNA-ligase family. It contains 183 residues and two copies of the HXTX sequence motif conserved among proteins belonging to this family. In order to determine the structure of YtlP and to compare it with the paralogue YjcG and identified 2'-5' RNA ligases, the gene ytlP was amplified from B. subtilis genomic DNA and cloned into expression vector pET-21a. The soluble protein was produced in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and crystals suitable for X-ray analysis were obtained. The crystal diffracted to 2.0 angstrom and belonged to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a = 34.16, b = 48.54, c = 105.75 angstrom.
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| 8. |
- Mao Li, J.-F., et al.
(författare)
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Empirical assessment of the reproductive fitness components of the hybrid pine Pinus densata on the Tibetan Plateau
- 2009
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Ingår i: Evolutionary Ecology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0269-7653 .- 1573-8477. ; 23:3, s. 447-462
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pinus densata is distributed on the Tibetan Plateau, where it forms extensive forests at high elevations. Genetic studies have provided evidence that P. densata originated through hybridization between P. yunnanensis and P. tabuliformis. To clarify the relationships among these pines, and assess their reproductive fitness in their respective habitats, we conducted a comparative analysis of eight cone and seed morphometric traits and six reproductive traits in them. Among the eight morphometric traits examined, six appeared to be intermediate in P. densata between those of P. yunnanensis and P. tabuliformis. There were significant differences among the three pines in all of the morphometric traits, and P. densata showed greater variability in these traits than the other two pines. In contrast to the morphometric traits, the reproductive traits (including the proportions of filled and empty seeds, ovule abortion rate, seed efficiency, meiotic abnormalities during microsporogenesis and pollen viability) differed little among the three pines, indicating that they have similar overall rates of effective pollination and fertilization in their respective natural environments. Despite their location on the high plateau, natural populations of P. densata appeared to have normal levels of reproductive success, comparable to those of the two parental species in their natural habitats. This study provides empirical data characterizing the reproductive success and adaptation of a stabilized homoploid hybrid in a novel habitat that is ecologically and spatially inaccessible to its parental species.
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| 9. |
- Tian, Chao, et al.
(författare)
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Overexpression of connective tissue growth factor WISP-1 in Chinese primary rectal cancer patients
- 2007
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Ingår i: World Journal of Gastroenterology. - 1007-9327 .- 2219-2840. ; 13:28, s. 3878-3882
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: To clarify the expression change of Wnt-induced secreted protein-1 (WISP-1) in human rectal cancer and to determine whether it is correlated with invasion and metastasis of human rectal cancer. Methods: Eighty-six paired samples of rectal cancer and surgically resected distant normal rectal tissue were collected and allocated into cancer group and control group respectively. WISP-1 mRNA was detected by relative quantitative real-time RT-PCR and WISP-1 protein was examined by immunohistochemical staining. Results: WISP-1 gene overexpression was found in 65% (56/86) primary rectal cancers, 2-30 times that of the level in normal matched rectal tissues (P = 0.001). The mRNA expression level was correlated with Duke's staging, histological differentiation grade and lymph node status. The WISP-1 protein expression was in accordance with mRNA expression level. The positive degree of immunohistochemical staining in the cancer group (1.40 ± 0.35) was different from that in control group (1.04 ± 0.08, P < 0.001). Moreover, in cancer group the positive staining degree in high-level mRNA cancers (1.46 ± 0.37, n = 56) was higher than that in low-level mRNA (1.28 ± 0.28, n = 30, P = 0.018). Conclusion: Aberrant levels of WISP-1 expression may play a role in rectal tumorigenesis. WISP-1 may be used as a specific clinical diagnosis and prognosis marker in rectal cancer. © 2007 WJG. All rights reserved.
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| 10. |
- Wang, Yong, et al.
(författare)
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mRNA expression of minichromosome maintenance 2 in colonic adenoma and adenocarcinoma
- 2009
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Ingår i: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER PREVENTION. - 0959-8278. ; 18:1, s. 40-45
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As proliferation is essential for Progression from normal cells to tumor, certain markers specific to proliferating cells may permit detection of premalignant lesions. Here, we aimed to evaluate the possible value of a proliferation marker, minichromosome maintenance 2 (MCM2), in the early diagnosis of colorectal cancer, by analyzing the difference in MCM2 expression among normal mucosa, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma, and investigating the relationship of MCM2 expression in adenomas with clinicopathologic variables. Using immunohistochemistry and real-time reverse transcription-PCR, we observed that the expression of MCM2 protein was present on basal third to half of colonic crypts in normal mucosa, whereas throughout the epithelium in adenomas and adenocarcinomas, the expression of MCM2 mRNA in adenocarcinomas was significantly higher than in adenomas (P=0.001), whereas the difference between adenoma and normal mucosa was not significant (P=0.184); we also found that the expression of MCM2 mRNA tended to be increased in the adenomas with high-grade dysplasia, or in older patients, respectively, compared with those with low-grade dysplasia, and younger patients. These results suggested the potential value of MCM2 in early diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
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