Displaying publications 1081 - 1100 of 9211 in total

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  1. Fulltext Linking prokaryotic community composition to carbon biogeochemical cycling across a tropical peat dome in Sarawak, Malaysia
    Dom SP, Ikenaga M, Lau SYL, Radu S, Midot F, Yap ML, et al.
    Sci Rep, 2021 Mar 19;11(1):6416.
    PMID: 33742002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81865-6
    Tropical peat swamp forest is a global store of carbon in a water-saturated, anoxic and acidic environment. This ecosystem holds diverse prokaryotic communities that play a major role in nutrient cycling. A study was conducted in which a total of 24 peat soil samples were collected in three forest types in a tropical peat dome in Sarawak, Malaysia namely, Mixed Peat Swamp (MPS), Alan Batu (ABt), and Alan Bunga (ABg) forests to profile the soil prokaryotic communities through meta 16S amplicon analysis using Illumina Miseq. Results showed these ecosystems were dominated by anaerobes and fermenters such as Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes that cover 80-90% of the total prokaryotic abundance. Overall, the microbial community composition was different amongst forest types and depths. Additionally, this study highlighted the prokaryotic communities' composition in MPS was driven by higher humification level and lower pH whereas in ABt and ABg, the less acidic condition and higher organic matter content were the main factors. It was also observed that prokaryotic diversity and abundance were higher in the more oligotrophic ABt and ABg forest despite the constantly waterlogged condition. In MPS, the methanotroph Methylovirgula ligni was found to be the major species in this forest type that utilize methane (CH4), which could potentially be the contributing factor to the low CH4 gas emissions. Aquitalea magnusonii and Paraburkholderia oxyphila, which can degrade aromatic compounds, were the major species in ABt and ABg forests respectively. This information can be advantageous for future study in understanding the underlying mechanisms of environmental-driven alterations in soil microbial communities and its potential implications on biogeochemical processes in relation to peatland management.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carbon/metabolism*; Carbon Dioxide/metabolism; Methane/metabolism; Trees/metabolism; Betaproteobacteria/metabolism*; Beijerinckiaceae/metabolism*; Burkholderiaceae/metabolism*; Acidobacteria/metabolism
  2. Quantitative autoradiographic studies of relaxin binding in rat atria, uterus and cerebral cortex: characterization and effects of oestrogen treatment
    Tan YY, Wade JD, Tregear GW, Summers RJ
    Br J Pharmacol, 1999 May;127(1):91-8.
    PMID: 10369460
    The binding characteristics of the relaxin receptor in rat atria, uterus and cortex were studied using a [33P]-labelled human gene 2 relaxin (B33) and quantitative receptor autoradiography. The binding kinetics of [33P]-human gene 2 relaxin (B33) were investigated in slide-mounted rat atrial sections. The binding achieved equilibrium after 60 min incubation at room temperature (23+/-1 degrees C) and dissociated slowly. The association and dissociation rate constants were 4.31+/-0.34x10(8) M(-1) x min(-1) and 1.55+/-0.38x10(-3) min(-1) respectively. Thus, the kinetic dissociation constant was 3.46+/-0.59 pM. Binding was saturable to a single population of non-interacting sites throughout atria, in uterine myometrium and the 5th layer of cerebral cortex. The binding affinities (pK(D)) of [33P]-human gene 2 relaxin (B33) were 8.92+/-0.09 in atrial myocardium and 8.79+/-0.04 in cerebral cortex of male rats, and 8.79+/-0.10 in uterine myometrium. Receptor densities in the cerebral cortex and atria were higher than in uterine myometrium, indicating that relaxin also has important roles in non-reproductive tissues. In male rats, treatment with 17beta-oestradiol (20 microg in 0.1 ml sesame oil s.c., 18-24 h) significantly decreased the density of relaxin receptors in atria and cerebral cortex. Identical treatment in female rats had no significant effect in atria and cerebral cortex, but it significantly increased the density of relaxin receptors in uterine myometrium. Relaxin binding was competitively displaced by porcine and rat native relaxins. Porcine native relaxin binds to the relaxin receptor in male rat atria (8.90+/-0.02), and cerebral cortex (8.90+/-0.03) and uterine myometrium (8.89+/-0.03) with affinities not significantly different from human gene 2 (B33) relaxin. Nevertheless, rat relaxin binds to the receptors with affinities (8.35+/-0.09 in atria, 8.22+/-0.07 in cerebral cortex and 8.48+/-0.06 in uterine myometrium) significantly less than human gene 2 (B33) and porcine relaxins. Quantitative receptor autoradiography is the method of choice for measurement of affinities and densities of relaxin receptor in atria, uterine myometrium and cerebral cortex. High densities were found in all these tissues. 17beta-oestradiol treatment produced complex effects where it increased the densities of relaxin receptors in uterus but decreased those in atria and cerebral cortex of the male rats, and had no effect on the atria and cerebral cortex of the female rats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cerebral Cortex/metabolism*; Heart Atria/metabolism; Myocardium/metabolism*; Myometrium/metabolism; Recombinant Proteins/metabolism; Relaxin/metabolism*; Uterus/metabolism*; Receptors, Peptide/metabolism*
  3. Fulltext Sphingosine Kinase 1 Regulates the Survival of Breast Cancer Stem Cells and Non-stem Breast Cancer Cells by Suppression of STAT1
    Hii LW, Chung FF, Mai CW, Yee ZY, Chan HH, Raja VJ, et al.
    Cells, 2020 04 04;9(4).
    PMID: 32260399 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040886
    Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent rare tumor cell populations capable of self-renewal, differentiation, and tumor initiation and are highly resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, therapeutic approaches that can effectively target CSCs and tumor cells could be the key to efficient tumor treatment. In this study, we explored the function of SPHK1 in breast CSCs and non-CSCs. We showed that RNAi-mediated knockdown of SPHK1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in both breast CSCs and non-CSCs, while ectopic expression of SPHK1 enhanced breast CSC survival and mammosphere forming efficiency. We identified STAT1 and IFN signaling as key regulatory targets of SPHK1 and demonstrated that an important mechanism by which SPHK1 promotes cancer cell survival is through the suppression of STAT1. We further demonstrated that SPHK1 inhibitors, FTY720 and PF543, synergized with doxorubicin in targeting both breast CSCs and non-CSCs. In conclusion, we provide important evidence that SPHK1 is a key regulator of cell survival and proliferation in breast CSCs and non-CSCs and is an attractive target for the design of future therapies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms/metabolism*; Interferons/metabolism; Lysophospholipids/metabolism; Sphingosine/metabolism; Neoplastic Stem Cells/metabolism; Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/metabolism*; Spheroids, Cellular/metabolism; STAT1 Transcription Factor/metabolism*
  4. Syringin from Tinospora crispa downregulates pro-inflammatory mediator production through MyD88-dependent pathways in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced U937 macrophages
    Arshad L, Haque MA, Harikrishnan H, Ibrahim S, Jantan I
    Mol Biol Rep, 2024 Jul 11;51(1):789.
    PMID: 38990383 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09722-z
    BACKGROUND: Syringin, a phenylpropanoid glycoside, has exhibited numerous biological properties including inhibitory activities against various immune and inflammatory disorders. In this study, syringin isolated from Tinospora crispa was evaluated for its ability to down-regulate activated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), phosphoinositide-3-kinase-Akt (PI3K-Akt) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signal transducing networks in U937 macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide.

    METHODS: The attenuating effects of syringin on the productions of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and the expressions of signaling molecules of the signaling pathways were investigated by using ELISA, Western blot, and qRT-PCR.

    RESULTS: Syringin downregulated the NF-κB, MAPKs, and PI3K-Akt signal networks by significantly reducing PGE2 production in the macrophages via suppression of COX-2 gene and protein expression levels. It also reduced TNF-α and IL-1β secretion and their mRNA expression, suppressed phosphorylation of NF-κB (p65), IKKα/β, and IκBα, and restored ability of IκBα to degrade. Syringin dose-dependently attenuated Akt, p38 MAPKs, JNK, and ERK phosphorylation. Also, the expression of corresponding upstream signaling molecules toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) were down-regulated in response to syringin treatment.

    CONCLUSION: The suppressive effect of syringin on the inflammatory signaling molecules in MyD88-dependent pathways suggested it's potential as a drug candidate for development into an agent for treatment of various immune-mediated inflammatory disorders.

    Matched MeSH terms: Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism; Dinoprostone/metabolism; Inflammation Mediators/metabolism; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism; Toll-Like Receptor 4/metabolism; Cyclooxygenase 2/metabolism; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism
  5. Estrogen and progesterone differentially regulate carbonic anhydrase II, III, IX, XII, and XIII in ovariectomized rat uteri
    Karim K, Giribabu N, Muniandy S, Salleh N
    Syst Biol Reprod Med, 2016;62(1):57-68.
    PMID: 26709452 DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2015.1112699
    Changes in the uterus expression of carbonic anhydrase (CA) II, III, IX, XII, and XIII were investigated under the influence of sex-steroids in order to elucidate mechanisms underlying differential effects of these hormones on uterine pH. Uteri of ovariectomised rats receiving over three days either vehicle, estrogen, or progesterone or three days estrogen followed by three days either vehicle or progesterone were harvested. Messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels were quantified by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The distribution of CA isoenzymes proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry. The levels of CAII, III, XII, and XIII mRNAs and proteins were elevated while levels of CAIX mRNA and protein were reduced following progesterone-only and estrogen plus progesterone treatment, compared to the control and estrogen plus vehicle, respectively. Following estrogen treatment, expression of CAII, IX, XII, and CAXIII mRNAs and proteins were reduced, but remained at a level higher than control, except for CAIX, where its level was higher than the control and following progesterone treatment. Under progesterone-only and estrogen plus progesterone influences, high levels of CAII, III, XII, and XIII were observed in uterine lumenal and glandular epithelia and myometrium. However, a high level of CAIX was observed only under the influence of estrogen at the similar locations. In conclusion, high expression of CAII, III, XII, and XIII under the influence of progesterone and estrogen plus progesterone could result in the reduction of uterine tissue and fluid pH; however, the significance of high levels of CAIX expression under the influence of estrogen remains unclear.
    Matched MeSH terms: Carbonic Anhydrases/metabolism*; Epithelium/metabolism; Isoenzymes/metabolism; Myometrium/metabolism
  6. Assessment of bioethanol yield by S. cerevisiae grown on oil palm residues: Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis
    Samsudin MD, Mat Don M
    Bioresour Technol, 2015 Jan;175:417-23.
    PMID: 25459850 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.10.116
    Oil palm trunk (OPT) sap was utilized for growth and bioethanol production by Saccharomycescerevisiae with addition of palm oil mill effluent (POME) as nutrients supplier. Maximum yield (YP/S) was attained at 0.464g bioethanol/g glucose presence in the OPT sap-POME-based media. However, OPT sap and POME are heterogeneous in properties and fermentation performance might change if it is repeated. Contribution of parametric uncertainty analysis on bioethanol fermentation performance was then assessed using Monte Carlo simulation (stochastic variable) to determine probability distributions due to fluctuation and variation of kinetic model parameters. Results showed that based on 100,000 samples tested, the yield (YP/S) ranged 0.423-0.501g/g. Sensitivity analysis was also done to evaluate the impact of each kinetic parameter on the fermentation performance. It is found that bioethanol fermentation highly depend on growth of the tested yeast.
    Matched MeSH terms: Ethanol/metabolism*; Glucose/metabolism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism*; Arecaceae/metabolism*
  7. Fulltext Proteomic analysis of the salt-responsive leaf and root proteins in the anticancer plant Andrographis paniculata Nees
    Talei D, Valdiani A, Rafii MY, Maziah M
    PLoS One, 2014;9(11):e112907.
    PMID: 25423252 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0112907
    Separation of proteins based on the physicochemical properties with different molecular weight and isoelectric points would be more accurate. In the current research, the 45-day-old seedlings were treated with 0 (control) and 12 dS m(-1) of sodium chloride in the hydroponic system. After 15 days of salt exposure, the total protein of the fresh leaves and roots was extracted and analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis system (2-DE). The analysis led to the detection of 32 induced proteins (19 proteins in leaf and 13 proteins in the root) as well as 12 upregulated proteins (four proteins in leaf and eight proteins in the root) in the salt-treated plants. Of the 44 detected proteins, 12 were sequenced, and three of them matched with superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase and ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate oxygenase whereas the rest remained unknown. The three known proteins associate with plants response to environmental stresses and could represent the general stress proteins in the present study too. In addition, the proteomic feedback of different accessions of A. paniculata to salt stress can potentially be used to breed salt-tolerant varieties of the herb.
    Matched MeSH terms: Plant Leaves/metabolism*; Plant Roots/metabolism*; Proteome/metabolism; Andrographis/metabolism*
  8. Bioinformatics survey of the metal usage by psychrophilic yeast Glaciozyma antarctica PI12
    Foong PM, Abedi Karjiban R, Normi YM, Salleh AB, Abdul Rahman MB
    Metallomics, 2015 Jan;7(1):156-64.
    PMID: 25412156 DOI: 10.1039/c4mt00163j
    Metal ions are one of the essential elements which are extensively involved in many cellular activities. With rapid advancements in genome sequencing techniques, bioinformatics approaches have provided a promising way to extract functional information of a protein directly from its primary structure. Recent findings have suggested that the metal content of an organism can be predicted from its complete genome sequences. Characterizing the biological metal usage of cold-adapted organisms may help to outline a comprehensive understanding of the metal-partnerships between the psychrophile and its adjacent environment. The focus of this study is targeted towards the analysis of the metal composition of a psychrophilic yeast Glaciozyma antarctica PI12 isolated from sea ice of Antarctica. Since the cellular metal content of an organism is usually reflected in the expressed metal-binding proteins, the putative metal-binding sequences from G. antarctica PI12 were identified with respect to their sequence homologies, domain compositions, protein families and cellular distribution. Most of the analyses revealed that the proteome was enriched with zinc, and the content of metal decreased in the order of Zn > Fe > Mg > Mn, Ca > Cu. Upon comparison, it was found that the metal compositions among yeasts were almost identical. These observations suggested that G. antarctica PI12 could have inherited a conserved trend of metal usage similar to modern eukaryotes, despite its geographically isolated habitat.
    Matched MeSH terms: Basidiomycota/metabolism*; Carrier Proteins/metabolism; Fungal Proteins/metabolism; Metals, Heavy/metabolism*
  9. The degree of astrocyte activation in multiple system atrophy is inversely proportional to the distance to α-synuclein inclusions
    Radford R, Rcom-H'cheo-Gauthier A, Wong MB, Eaton ED, Quilty M, Blizzard C, et al.
    Mol. Cell. Neurosci., 2015 Mar;65:68-81.
    PMID: 25731829 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.02.015
    Multiple system atrophy (MSA) exhibits widespread astrogliosis together with α-synuclein (α-syn) glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) in mature oligodendrocytes. We quantified astrocyte activation by morphometric analysis of MSA cases, and investigated the correlation to GCI proximity. Using Imaris software, we obtained "skinned" three-dimensional models of GFAP-positive astrocytes in MSA and control tissue (n=75) from confocal z-stacks and measured the astrocyte process length and thickness and radial distance to the GCI. Astrocytes proximal to GCI-containing oligodendrocytes (r<25μm) had significantly (p, 0.05) longer and thicker processes characteristic of activation than distal astrocytes (r>25μm), with a reciprocal linear correlation (m, 90μm(2)) between mean process length and radial distance to the nearest GCI (R(2), 0.7). In primary cell culture studies, α-syn addition caused ERK-dependent activation of rat astrocytes and perinuclear α-syn inclusions in mature (MOSP-positive) rat oligodendrocytes. Activated astrocytes were also observed in close proximity to α-syn deposits in a unilateral rotenone-lesion mouse model. Moreover, unilateral injection of MSA tissue-derived α-syn into the mouse medial forebrain bundle resulted in widespread neuroinflammation in the α-syn-injected, but not sham-injected hemisphere. Taken together, our data suggests that the action of localized concentrations of α-syn may underlie both astrocyte and oligodendrocyte MSA pathological features.
    Matched MeSH terms: Astrocytes/metabolism*; Inclusion Bodies/metabolism*; Multiple System Atrophy/metabolism*; alpha-Synuclein/metabolism*
  10. Fulltext Bioconversion of rebaudioside I from rebaudioside A
    Prakash I, Bunders C, Devkota KP, Charan RD, Ramirez C, Snyder TM, et al.
    Molecules, 2014 Oct 28;19(11):17345-55.
    PMID: 25353385 DOI: 10.3390/molecules191117345
    To supply the increasing demand of natural high potency sweeteners to reduce the calories in food and beverages, we have looked to steviol glycosides. In this work we report the bioconversion of rebaudioside A to rebaudioside I using a glucosyltransferase enzyme. This bioconversion reaction adds one sugar unit with a 1→3 linkage. We utilized 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, COSY, HSQC-DEPT, HMBC, 1D TOCSY and NOESY) and mass spectral data to fully characterize rebaudioside I.
    Matched MeSH terms: Glucosides/metabolism; Glucosyltransferases/metabolism; Sweetening Agents/metabolism; Diterpenes, Kaurane/metabolism*
  11. Production of a bioflocculant from Aspergillus niger using palm oil mill effluent as carbon source
    Aljuboori AH, Uemura Y, Osman NB, Yusup S
    Bioresour Technol, 2014 Nov;171:66-70.
    PMID: 25189510 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.08.038
    This study evaluated the potential of bioflocculant production from Aspergillus niger using palm oil mill effluent (POME) as carbon source. The bioflocculant named PM-5 produced by A. niger showed a good flocculating capability and flocculating rate of 76.8% to kaolin suspension could be achieved at 60 h of culture time. Glutamic acid was the most favorable nitrogen source for A. niger in bioflocculant production at pH 6 and temperature 35 °C. The chemical composition of purified PM-5 was mainly carbohydrate and protein with 66.8% and 31.4%, respectively. Results showed the novel bioflocculant (PM-5) had high potential to treat river water from colloids and 63% of turbidity removal with the present of Ca(2+) ion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Bacterial Proteins/metabolism; Glutamic Acid/metabolism; Macromolecular Substances/metabolism*; Carbohydrate Metabolism
  12. Fulltext In vitro porcine blood-brain barrier model for permeability studies: pCEL-X software pKa(FLUX) method for aqueous boundary layer correction and detailed data analysis
    Yusof SR, Avdeef A, Abbott NJ
    Eur J Pharm Sci, 2014 Dec 18;65:98-111.
    PMID: 25239510 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2014.09.009
    In vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models from primary brain endothelial cells can closely resemble the in vivo BBB, offering valuable models to assay BBB functions and to screen potential central nervous system drugs. We have recently developed an in vitro BBB model using primary porcine brain endothelial cells. The model shows expression of tight junction proteins and high transendothelial electrical resistance, evidence for a restrictive paracellular pathway. Validation studies using small drug-like compounds demonstrated functional uptake and efflux transporters, showing the suitability of the model to assay drug permeability. However, one limitation of in vitro model permeability measurement is the presence of the aqueous boundary layer (ABL) resulting from inefficient stirring during the permeability assay. The ABL can be a rate-limiting step in permeation, particularly for lipophilic compounds, causing underestimation of the permeability. If the ABL effect is ignored, the permeability measured in vitro will not reflect the permeability in vivo. To address the issue, we explored the combination of in vitro permeability measurement using our porcine model with the pKa(FLUX) method in pCEL-X software to correct for the ABL effect and allow a detailed analysis of in vitro (transendothelial) permeability data, Papp. Published Papp using porcine models generated by our group and other groups are also analyzed. From the Papp, intrinsic transcellular permeability (P0) is derived by simultaneous refinement using a weighted nonlinear regression, taking into account permeability through the ABL, paracellular permeability and filter restrictions on permeation. The in vitro P0 derived for 22 compounds (35 measurements) showed good correlation with P0 derived from in situ brain perfusion data (r(2)=0.61). The analysis also gave evidence for carrier-mediated uptake of naloxone, propranolol and vinblastine. The combination of the in vitro porcine model and the software analysis provides a useful tool to better predict BBB permeability in vivo and gain better mechanistic information about BBB permeation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism*; Swine/metabolism*; Tight Junctions/metabolism; Endothelial Cells/metabolism
  13. Testosterone decreases fluid and chloride secretions in the uterus of adult female rats via down-regulating cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) expression and functional activity
    Mohd Mokhtar H, Giribabu N, Kassim N, Muniandy S, Salleh N
    J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol, 2014 Oct;144 Pt B:361-72.
    PMID: 25125390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.08.007
    Estrogen is known to stimulate uterine fluid and Cl(-) secretion via CFTR. This study investigated testosterone effect on these changes in a rat model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cyclic AMP/metabolism; Chlorides/metabolism*; Uterus/metabolism; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/metabolism*
  14. Fulltext Role of rutin on nitric oxide synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells
    Ugusman A, Zakaria Z, Chua KH, Nordin NA, Abdullah Mahdy Z
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:169370.
    PMID: 25093198 DOI: 10.1155/2014/169370
    Nitric oxide (NO), produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), is a major antiatherogenic factor in the blood vessel. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Decreased availability of endothelial NO promotes the progression of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Rutin is a flavonoid with multiple cardiovascular protective effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of rutin on eNOS and NO production in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). HUVEC were divided into four groups: control; oxidative stress induction with 180 μM H₂O₂; treatment with 300 μM rutin; and concomitant induction with rutin and H₂O₂ for 24 hours. HUVEC treated with rutin produced higher amount of NO compared to control (P < 0.01). In the oxidative stress-induced HUVEC, rutin successfully induced cells' NO production (P < 0.01). Rutin promoted NO production in HUVEC by inducing eNOS gene expression (P < 0.05), eNOS protein synthesis (P < 0.01), and eNOS activity (P < 0.05). Treatment with rutin also led to increased gene and protein expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in HUVEC. Therefore, upregulation of eNOS expression by rutin may be mediated by bFGF. The results showed that rutin may improve endothelial function by augmenting NO production in human endothelial cells.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hydrogen Peroxide/metabolism; Nitric Oxide/metabolism*; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
  15. Fulltext 5' isomiR variation is of functional and evolutionary importance
    Tan GC, Chan E, Molnar A, Sarkar R, Alexieva D, Isa IM, et al.
    Nucleic Acids Res, 2014 Aug;42(14):9424-35.
    PMID: 25056318 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku656
    We have sequenced miRNA libraries from human embryonic, neural and foetal mesenchymal stem cells. We report that the majority of miRNA genes encode mature isomers that vary in size by one or more bases at the 3' and/or 5' end of the miRNA. Northern blotting for individual miRNAs showed that the proportions of isomiRs expressed by a single miRNA gene often differ between cell and tissue types. IsomiRs were readily co-immunoprecipitated with Argonaute proteins in vivo and were active in luciferase assays, indicating that they are functional. Bioinformatics analysis predicts substantial differences in targeting between miRNAs with minor 5' differences and in support of this we report that a 5' isomiR-9-1 gained the ability to inhibit the expression of DNMT3B and NCAM2 but lost the ability to inhibit CDH1 in vitro. This result was confirmed by the use of isomiR-specific sponges. Our analysis of the miRGator database indicates that a small percentage of human miRNA genes express isomiRs as the dominant transcript in certain cell types and analysis of miRBase shows that 5' isomiRs have replaced canonical miRNAs many times during evolution. This strongly indicates that isomiRs are of functional importance and have contributed to the evolution of miRNA genes.
    Matched MeSH terms: RNA, Messenger/metabolism; Stem Cells/metabolism; MicroRNAs/metabolism*; Argonaute Proteins/metabolism
  16. Fulltext RNA interference of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO1 and ACO2) genes expression prolongs the shelf life of Eksotika (Carica papaya L.) papaya fruit
    Sekeli R, Abdullah JO, Namasivayam P, Muda P, Abu Bakar UK, Yeong WC, et al.
    Molecules, 2014 Jun 19;19(6):8350-62.
    PMID: 24950439 DOI: 10.3390/molecules19068350
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using RNA interference in down regulating the expression of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase gene in Eksotika papaya. One-month old embryogenic calli were separately transformed with Agrobacterium strain LBA 4404 harbouring the three different RNAi pOpOff2 constructs bearing the 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase gene. A total of 176 putative transformed lines were produced from 15,000 calli transformed, selected, then regenerated on medium supplemented with kanamycin. Integration and expression of the targeted gene in putatively transformed lines were verified by PCR and real-time RT-PCR. Confined field evaluation of a total of 31 putative transgenic lines planted showed a knockdown expression of the targeted ACO1 and ACO2 genes in 13 lines, which required more than 8 days to achieve the full yellow colour (Index 6). Fruits harvested from lines pRNAiACO2 L2-9 and pRNAiACO1 L2 exhibited about 20 and 14 days extended post-harvest shelf life to reach Index 6, respectively. The total soluble solids contents of the fruits ranged from 11 to 14° Brix, a range similar to fruits from non-transformed, wild type seed-derived plants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/metabolism*; Fruit/metabolism*; Carica/metabolism*; Plants, Genetically Modified/metabolism*
  17. HnRNP-like proteins as post-transcriptional regulators
    Yeap WC, Namasivayam P, Ho CL
    Plant Sci, 2014 Oct;227:90-100.
    PMID: 25219311 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.07.005
    Plant cells contain a diverse repertoire of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that coordinate a network of post-transcriptional regulation. RBPs govern diverse developmental processes by modulating the gene expression of specific transcripts. Recent gene annotation and RNA sequencing clearly showed that heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP)-like proteins which form a family of RBPs, are also expressed in higher plants and serve specific plant functions. In addition to their involvement in post-transcriptional regulation from mRNA capping to translation, they are also involved in telomere regulation, gene silencing and regulation in chloroplast. Here, we review the involvement of plant hnRNP-like proteins in post-transcription regulation of RNA processes and their functional roles in control of plant developmental processes especially plant-specific functions including flowering, chloroplastic-specific mRNA regulation, long-distance phloem transportation and plant responses to environmental stresses.
    Matched MeSH terms: RNA, Messenger/metabolism*; RNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism; RNA, Plant/metabolism*; Heterogeneous-Nuclear Ribonucleoproteins/metabolism*
  18. Fulltext Lack of clinical manifestations in asymptomatic dengue infection is attributed to broad down-regulation and selective up-regulation of host defence response genes
    Yeo AS, Azhar NA, Yeow W, Talbot CC, Khan MA, Shankar EM, et al.
    PLoS One, 2014;9(4):e92240.
    PMID: 24727912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092240
    Dengue represents one of the most serious life-threatening vector-borne infectious diseases that afflicts approximately 50 million people across the globe annually. Whilst symptomatic infections are frequently reported, asymptomatic dengue remains largely unnoticed. Therefore, we sought to investigate the immune correlates conferring protection to individuals that remain clinically asymptomatic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism; Cytokines/metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism; Antibodies, Neutralizing/metabolism
  19. Fulltext Potential activity of 3-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-phenyl-propenonein accelerating wound healing in rats
    Dhiyaaldeen SM, Alshawsh MA, Salama SM, Alwajeeh NS, Al Batran R, Ismail S, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2014;2014:792086.
    PMID: 24587992 DOI: 10.1155/2014/792086
    Wound healing involves inflammation followed by granular tissue development and scar formation. In this study, synthetic chalcone 3-(2-Chlorophenyl)-1-phenyl-propenone (CPPP) was investigated for a potential role in enhancing wound healing and closure. Twenty-four male rats were divided randomly into 4 groups: carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (0.2 mL), Intrasite gel, and CPPP (25 or 50 mg/mL). Gross morphology, wounds treatment with the CPPP, and Intrasite gel accelerate the rate of wound healing compared to CMC group. Ten days after surgery, the animals were sacrificed. Histological assessment revealed that the wounds treated with CPPP showed that wound closure site contained little amount of scar and the granulation tissue contained more collagen and less inflammatory cells than wound treated with CMC. This finding was confirmed with Masson's trichrome staining. The antioxidant defence enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were significantly increased in the wound homogenates treated with CPPP (P < 0.05) compared to CMC treated group. However, in the CPPP treatment group, lipid peroxidation (MDA) was significantly decreased (P < 0.05), suggesting that the CPPP also has an important role in protection against lipid peroxidation-induced skin injury after ten days of treatment with CPPP, which is similar to the values of cytokines TGF-β and TNF-α in tissue homogenate. Finally the administration of CPPP at a dosage of 25 and 50 mg/kg was suitable for the stimulation of wound healing.
    Matched MeSH terms: Antioxidants/metabolism*; Collagen/metabolism; Granulation Tissue/metabolism; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism
  20. Oil palm trunk and sugarcane bagasse derived solid acid catalysts for rapid esterification of fatty acids and moisture-assisted transesterification of oils under pseudo-infinite methanol
    Ezebor F, Khairuddean M, Abdullah AZ, Boey PL
    Bioresour Technol, 2014 Apr;157:254-62.
    PMID: 24561631 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.110
    The use of pseudo-infinite methanol in increasing the rate of esterification and transesterification reactions was studied using oil palm trunk (OPT) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) derived solid acid catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by incomplete carbonisation at 400°C for 8h, followed by sulfonation at 150°C for 15h and characterised using TGA/DTA, XRD, FT-IR, SEM-EDS, EA and titrimetric determinations of acid sites. Under optimal reaction conditions, the process demonstrated rapid esterification of palmitic acid, with FAME yields of 93% and 94% in 45min for OPT and SCB catalysts, respectively. With the process, moisture levels up to 16.7% accelerated the conversion of low FFA oils by sulfonated carbon catalysts, through moisture-induced violent bumping. Moisture assisted transesterification of palm olein containing 1.78% FFA and 8.33% added water gave FAME yield of 90% in 10h, which was two folds over neat oil.
    Matched MeSH terms: Methanol/metabolism; Esters/metabolism; Fatty Acids/metabolism; Palmitic Acid/metabolism
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