A novel biomarker TERTmRNA is applicable for early detection of hepatoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Backgrounds</p> <p>We previously reported a highly sensitive method for serum human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) are good markers for HCC. In this study, we verified the significance of hTERTmRNA in a large scale multi-centered trial, collating quantified values with clinical course.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 638 subjects including 303 patients with HCC, 89 with chronic hepatitis (CH), 45 with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 201 healthy individuals, we quantified serum hTERTmRNA using the real-time RT-PCR. We examined its sensitivity and specificity in HCC diagnosis, clinical significance, ROC curve analysis in comparison with other tumor markers, and its correlations with the clinical parameters using Pearson relative test and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, we performed a prospective and comparative study to observe the change of biomarkers, including hTERTmRNA in HCC patients receiving anti-cancer therapies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>hTERTmRNA was demonstrated to be independently correlated with clinical parameters; tumor size and tumor differentiation (P < 0.001, each). The sensitivity/specificity of hTERTmRNA in HCC diagnosis showed 90.2%/85.4% for hTERT. hTERTmRNA proved to be superior to AFP, AFP-L3, and DCP in the diagnosis and underwent an indisputable change in response to therapy. The detection rate of small HCC by hTERTmRNA was superior to the other markers.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>hTERTmRNA is superior to conventional tumor markers in the diagnosis and recurrence of HCC at an early stage.</p

A review of the systematic biology of fossil and living bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha (Actinopterygii: Teleostei)

The bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha, have been the focus of a great deal of morphological, systematic, and evolutionary study, due in part to their basal position among extant teleostean fishes. This group includes the mooneyes (Hiodontidae), knifefishes (Notopteridae), the abu (Gymnarchidae), elephantfishes (Mormyridae), arawanas and pirarucu (Osteoglossidae), and the African butterfly fish (Pantodontidae). This morphologically heterogeneous group also has a long and diverse fossil record, including taxa from all continents and both freshwater and marine deposits. The phylogenetic relationships among most extant osteoglossomorph families are widely agreed upon. However, there is still much to discover about the systematic biology of these fishes, particularly with regard to the phylogenetic affinities of several fossil taxa, within Mormyridae, and the position of Pantodon. In this paper we review the state of knowledge for osteoglossomorph fishes. We first provide an overview of the diversity of Osteoglossomorpha, and then discuss studies of the phylogeny of Osteoglossomorpha from both morphological and molecular perspectives, as well as biogeographic analyses of the group. Finally, we offer our perspectives on future needs for research on the systematic biology of Osteoglossomorpha

Universal DNA methylation age across mammalian tissues.

Aging, often considered a result of random cellular damage, can be accurately estimated using DNA methylation profiles, the foundation of pan-tissue epigenetic clocks. Here, we demonstrate the development of universal pan-mammalian clocks, using 11,754 methylation arrays from our Mammalian Methylation Consortium, which encompass 59 tissue types across 185 mammalian species. These predictive models estimate mammalian tissue age with high accuracy (r > 0.96). Age deviations correlate with human mortality risk, mouse somatotropic axis mutations and caloric restriction. We identified specific cytosines with methylation levels that change with age across numerous species. These sites, highly enriched in polycomb repressive complex 2-binding locations, are near genes implicated in mammalian development, cancer, obesity and longevity. Our findings offer new evidence suggesting that aging is evolutionarily conserved and intertwined with developmental processes across all mammals

A small heat shock protein from Leuconostoc oenos induced by multiple stresses and during stationary growth phase

In Leuconostoc oenos, a malolactic bacterium, the synthesis of a stress protein called LO18 with an apparent molecular mass of 18 kDa was greatly induced after heat (42 degrees C), acid (pH 3) or ethanolic (12% (v/v)) shocks. Moreover, the LO18 protein synthesis was induced in stationary growth phase and was detected for a long time (30 h) during this growth phase. Significant identity was found between the N-terminal parts of the LO18 protein and the Hsp18 from Clostridium acetobutylicum suggesting that LO18 protein belongs to the family of small heat shock proteins conserved in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

Lactobacillus pentosus genes involved in olive brine stress response

Background: Olives can be consumed only after a fermentation process driven by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts. Only few adapted strains of LAB are able to grow and ferment table olives. In fact olive brine represents a stressful environment due to high NaCl concentration, presence of phenolic compounds known as antimicrobials, and low availability of nutrients. Objectives and methods: Lactobacillus pentosus C11 is a particularly resistant strain isolated from naturally fermented table olives. In order to identify the mechanisms by which this strain is able to tolerate olive brine stress conditions, a random transposition mutagenesis using the Pjunc-TpaseIS1223-based system was carried out. A library of 6000 mutants was generated and screened for the ability to grow in a brine based medium. Results and conclusion: Five transposition mutants impaired in growth on brine based medium were identified. The genotypic analysis allowed the identification of 5 genes involved in brine stress response of L. pentosus C11

Survey of enzyme activity responsible for phenolic off-flavour production by Dekkera and Brettanomyces yeast

© Springer. Part of Springer Science+Business MediaVolatile phenols are produced by Dekkera yeasts and are of organoleptic importance in alcoholic beverages. The key compound in this respect is 4-ethylphenol, responsible for the medicinal and phenolic aromas in spoiled wines. The microbial synthesis of volatile phenols is thought to occur in two steps, beginning with naturally occurring hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs). The enzyme phenolic acid decarboxylase (PAD) converts HCAs to vinyl derivatives, which are the substrates of a second enzyme, postulated to be a vinylphenol reductase (VPR), whose activity results in the formation of ethylphenols. Here, both steps of the pathway are investigated, using cell extracts from a number of Dekkera and Brettanomyces species. Dekkera species catabolise ferulic, caffeic and p-coumaric acids and possess inducible enzymes with similar pH and temperature optima. Brettanomyces does not decarboxylate HCAs but does metabolise vinylphenols. Dekkera species form ethylphenols but the VPR enzyme appears to be highly unstable in cell extracts. A partial protein sequence for PAD was determined from Dekkera anomala and may indicate the presence of a novel enzyme in this genusVictoria Harris, Christopher M. Ford, Vladimir Jiranek and Paul R. Grbi