Chromosomal Localization of the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Gene Family and Differential Expression in Various Tumors

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a glycoprotein which is important as a tumor marker for a number of human cancers. It is a member of a gene family comprising about 10 closely related genes. In order to characterize mUNAs transcribed from individual genes we have identified by DNA and RNA hybridization experiments, gene-specific sequences from the 3 ' noncoding regions of CEA, and of nonspecific cross-reacting antigen (NCA) mRNAs, which have been recently cloned. With these probes, CEA mRNAs with lengths of 3.5 and 3.0 kilobases and an NCA mRNA species of 2.5 kilobases were identified in various human tumors. A 2.2-kilobase mRNA species, however, could only be detected in leu kocytes of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia by hybridization with a probe from the immunoglobulin-like repeat domain of CEA. This region is known to be very similar among the various members of the CEA gene family, and indeed the probe hybridizes with all four mRNA species. In situ hybridization with a cross-hybridizing probe from the NCA gene localized the members of the CEA gene family to the short and to the long arm of chromosome 19. In addition, a CEA cDNA probe was found to hybridize to the long arm of chromosome 19 only

CGM2, a Member of the Carcinoembryonic Antigen Gene Family is Down- Regulated in Colorectal Carcinomas

We have determined the precise chromosomal location, the exon structure, and the expression pattern of CGM2, a member of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) gene family. CGM2 cDNA was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR) from the colon adenocarcinoma cell line, LS174T. A defective exon is missing from this cDNA clone, leading to a novel domain organization for the human CEA family with two immunoglobulin-like domains. The derived C-terminal domain predicts that the CGM2 protein is membrane-bound through a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol anchor. RT/PCR analyses identified CGM2 transcripts in mucinous ovarian and colonic adenocarcinomas as well as in adjacent colonic tissue, but not in other tumors including leukocytes from six chronic myeloid leukemia patients. Thus, unlike several other family members, CGM2 is not expressed in granulocytes but reveals a more CEA-like expression pattern. Northern blot analyses identified a 2.5-kilobase CGM2 mRNA that is strongly down-regulated in colonic adenocarcinomas compared with adjacent colonic mucosa, suggesting a possible tumor suppressor function. In addition, a 3.2- kilobase transcript was observed in a number of colon tumors that is not detectable in normal colonic tissue. This mRNA species could represent a tumor-specific CGM2 splice variant

Microbes Pumping Iron: Anaerobic Microbial Iron Oxidation and Reduction

Iron (Fe) has long been a recognized physiological requirement for life, yet for many microorganisms that persist in water, soils and sediments, its role extends well beyond that of a nutritional necessity. Fe(II) can function as an electron source for iron-oxidizing microorganisms under both oxic and anoxic conditions and Fe(III) can function as a terminal electron acceptor under anoxic conditions for iron-reducing microorganisms. Given that iron is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth\u27s crust, iron redox reactions have the potential to support substantial microbial populations in soil and sedimentary environments. As such, biological iron apportionment has been described as one of the most ancient forms of microbial metabolism on Earth, and as a conceivable extraterrestrial metabolism on other iron-mineral-rich planets such as Mars. Furthermore, the metabolic versatility of the microorganisms involved in these reactions has resulted in the development of biotechnological applications to remediate contaminated environments and harvest energy

Towards a Strategy for Improving Agricultural Inputs Markets in Africa

Agribusiness, Downloads July 2008-July 2009: 19,

Draft Genome Sequence of the Anaerobic, Nitrate-Dependent, Fe(II)-Oxidizing Bacterium \u3ci\u3ePseudogulbenkiania ferrooxidans\u3c/i\u3e Strain 2002

Pseudogulbenkiania ferrooxidans strain 2002 was isolated as a lithoautotrophic, Fe(II)-oxidizing, nitrate-reducing bacterium. Phylogenetically, it is in a clade within the family Neisseriaceae in the order Nessieriales of the class Betaproteobacteria. It is anticipated that comparative genomic analysis of this strain with other nitrate-dependent, Fe(II)-oxidizing bacteria will aid in the elucidation of the genetics and biochemistry underlying this critically important geochemical metabolism

The management of tree genetic resources and the livelihoods of rural communities in the tropics: non-timber forest products, smallholder agroforestry practices and tree commodity crops

Products and services provided by trees in forests and farmland support the needs and promote the wellbeing of hundreds of millions of people in the tropics. Value depends on managing both the diversity of tree species present in landscapes and the genetic variation within these species. The benefits from trees and their genetic resources are, however, often not well quantified because trade is frequently outside formal markets, there is a multiplicity of species and ways in which trees are used and managed, and genetic diversity within species is frequently not given proper consideration. We review here what is known about the value of trees to rural communities through considering three production categories: non-timber products harvested from trees in natural and managed forests and woodlands; the various products and services obtained from a wide range of trees planted and/or retained in smallholders’ agroforestry systems; and the commercial products harvested from cultivated tree commodity crops. Where possible, we focus on the role of intra-specific genetic variation in providing support to livelihoods, and for each of the three production categories we also consider wider conservation and sustainability issues, including the linkages between categories in terms of management. Challenges to ‘conventional wisdom’ on tree resource use, value and management – such as in the posited links between commercialisation, cultivation and conservation – are highlighted, and constraints and opportunities to maintain and enhance value are described

Elective affinities of the Protestant ethic : Weber and the chemistry of capitalism

Peer reviewedPostprin

Monetary Policy, Regulation and Volatile Markets

Turmoil in financial markets causes reflection. Is monetary policy conducted in the most efficient way? Are regulatory and supervisory arrangements adequate when market volatility increases and financial institutions come under stress? In the present SUERF Study, we have collected the reflections by an outstanding group of top officials, researchers and observers. The editors are proud to be able to present their joint insights to SUERF readers. The papers were presented at the 27th SUERF Colloquium in Munich in June 2008: New trends in asset management: Exploring the implications.Financial markets, volatility, regulatory and supervisory arrangements, LATW, bubbles, monetary policy, asset prices, interest rate policy, LTCM, Basel II, MiFID, subprime, CDOs