A receptor fusion protein for the inhibition of murine oncostatin M

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Most cytokines signal through heteromeric receptor complexes consisting of two or more different receptor subunits. Fusion proteins of the extracellular parts of receptor subunits turned out to be promising cytokine inhibitors useful in anti-cytokine therapy and cytokine research.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We constructed receptor fusion proteins (RFP) consisting of the ligand binding domains of the murine oncostatin M (mOSM) receptor subunits mOSMR and mgp130 connected by a flexible linker as potential mOSM inhibitors. mgp130 is a shared cytokine receptor that is also used by other cytokines such as IL-6 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In this study we compare four types of mOSM-RFPs that contain either domains D1-D3 or domains D2-D3 of mgp130 and are arranged in two ways. Domain D1 of mgp130 turned out to be dispensable for mOSM-binding. However, the arrangement of the two receptor subunits is essential for the inhibitory activity. We found mOSM induced STAT3 phosphorylation to be suppressed only when the mOSMR fragment was fused in front of the mgp130 fragment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>mOSM-RFP consisting of D1-D4 of mOSMR and D2-D3 of mgp130 is a highly potent and specific inhibitor of mOSM. Since mOSM-RFP is encoded by a single gene it offers numerous possibilities for specific cytokine inhibition in gene delivery approaches based on viral vectors, transgenic animals and finally gene therapy.</p

Research of spectral and luminescent properties of humic acids of various genesis

The spectral-luminescent properties isolated by means of aqueous-alkaline extraction humic acids of various origin have been studied. A comparative analysis of humic acids obtained from brown coal with "Fluka" humic acids standard sample was carried out. It is shown that the obtained samples of humic acids have their own unique properties and differences due to the complexity of their structure

Oscillations and temporal signalling in cells

ArXiv pre-print: http://arxiv.org/abs/q-bio/0703047.-- Final full-text version of the paper available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1478-3975/4/2/R01.PMID: 17664651The development of new techniques to quantitatively measure gene expression in cells has shed light on a number of systems that display oscillations in protein concentration. Here we review the different mechanisms which can produce oscillations in gene expression or protein concentration using a framework of simple mathematical models. We focus on three eukaryotic genetic regulatory networks which show ultradian oscillations, with a time period of the order of hours, and involve, respectively, proteins important for development (Hes1), apoptosis (p53) and immune response (NF-κB). We argue that underlying all three is a common design consisting of a negative feedback loop with time delay which is responsible for the oscillatory behaviour.SK, MHJ and KS acknowledge support from the Danish National Research Foundation and Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation. GT acknowledges support from the FIRB 2003 program of the Italian Ministry for University and Scientific Research

Impact of estrogen receptor alpha on the tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients

Genetic aberrations and changes in the activity of estrogen receptors alpha (ERa[lpha]) play an important role in the endocrine sensitivity. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the ESR1 expression level, its polymorphic variants, and the distribution pattern of ER[alpha] expression with the prognosis and efficacy of tamoxifen treatment in breast cancer patients. Our data suggest that the ESR1 expression level, SNPs in the ESR1 gene and the distribution pattern of ERα expression can be a potential molecular marker of tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer patients

Формирование интегрированной системы менеджмента качества на предприятии

Объектом исследования является система менеджмента качества ООО "Томскводоканал". Цель: разработка рекомендаций по созданию и внедрению интегрированной системы менеджмента В процессе исследования проводились: ?Анализ литературных источников по теме ВКР. ?Изучение нормативно-методической базы для разработки документации. ?Анализ систем менеджмента ООО "Томскводоканал". ?Изучение специфики требований стандарта ISO 18000:2007. ?Изучение специфики требований стандарта ISO 14000:2015. -- Создание рекомендации по разработке и внедрению интегрированной системы менеджмента.Object of a research is the quality management system of LLC Tomskvodokanal. Purpose: development of recommendations about creation and introduction of the integrated system of management In the course of the research were carried out: ? The analysis of references on subject VKR. ? Studying of standard and methodical base for development of documentation. ? Analysis of systems of management of LLC Tomskvodokanal. ? Studying of specifics of requirements of ISO 18000:2007. ? Studying of specifics of requirements of ISO 14000:2015. - Creation of the recommendation about development and deployment of the integrated system of management

Caspase-8-mediated PAR-4 cleavage is required for TNFα-induced apoptosis

The tumor suppressor protein prostate apoptosis response-4 (PAR-4) is silenced in a subset of human cancers and its down-regulation serves as a mechanism for cancer cell survival following chemotherapy. PAR-4 re-expression selectively causes apoptosis in cancer cells but how its pro-apoptotic functions are controlled and executed precisely is currently unknown. We demonstrate here that UV-induced apoptosis results in a rapid caspase-dependent PAR-4 cleavage at EEPD131¯G, a sequence that was preferentially recognized by caspase-8. To investigate the effect on cell growth for this cleavage event we established stable cell lines that express wild-type-PAR-4 or the caspase cleavage resistant mutant PAR-4 D131G under the control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter. Induction of the wild-type protein but not the mutant interfered with cell proliferation, predominantly through induction of apoptosis. We further demonstrate that TNFα-induced apoptosis leads to caspase-8-dependent PAR-4-cleavage followed by nuclear accumulation of the C-terminal PAR-4 (132-340) fragment, which then induces apoptosis. Taken together, our results indicate that the mechanism by which PAR-4 orchestrates the apoptotic process requires cleavage by caspase-8

Mathematical processing of experimental data ignition composite solid propellant solitary heated particles

This article presents a mathematical method for processing experimental data. Were obtained mathematical expressions for delay the ignition of condensed matter by single particles heated from the initial temperature of the particles of the obtained data, and select the most appropriate dependences