Difference in the distribution pattern of substrate enzymes in the metabolic network of Escherichia coli, according to chaperonin requirement

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chaperonins are important in living systems because they play a role in the folding of proteins. Earlier comprehensive analyses identified substrate proteins for which folding requires the chaperonin GroEL/GroES (GroE) in <it>Escherichia coli</it>, and they revealed that many chaperonin substrates are metabolic enzymes. This result implies the importance of chaperonins in metabolism. However, the relationship between chaperonins and metabolism is still unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We investigated the distribution of chaperonin substrate enzymes in the metabolic network using network analysis techniques as a first step towards revealing this relationship, and found that as chaperonin requirement increases, substrate enzymes are more laterally distributed in the metabolic. In addition, comparative genome analysis showed that the chaperonin-dependent substrates were less conserved, suggesting that these substrates were acquired later on in evolutionary history.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This result implies the expansion of metabolic networks due to this chaperonin, and it supports the existing hypothesis of acceleration of evolution by chaperonins. The distribution of chaperonin substrate enzymes in the metabolic network is inexplicable because it does not seem to be associated with individual protein features such as protein abundance, which has been observed characteristically in chaperonin substrates in previous works. However, it becomes clear by considering this expansion process due to chaperonin. This finding provides new insights into metabolic evolution and the roles of chaperonins in living systems.</p

CO oxidation on perovskite-type LaCoO3 synthesized using ethylene glycol and citric acid

In order to synthesize perovskite-type LaCoO3 with good surface crystallinity, the gel prepared by adding both ethylene glycol (EG) and citric acid (CA) to the aqueous solution of La(NO3)3 center dot 6H(2)O and Co(NO3)(2) center dot 6H(2)O was fired at 600 degrees C in air for 3 h. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation indicated that the particles of LaCoO3 tended to have a uniform shape at EG/CA = 4. Although, the specific surface area of LaCoO3 synthesized using both EG and CA was slightly smaller than that of LaCoO3 synthesized using only CA, the catalytic activity of CO oxidation became higher by adding EG

A Case of Bilateral Adrenal and Pleural Metastases from Prostate Cancer

Our case was 65 years old. At check-up, a high PSA level of 515 ng/ml was observed, the patient was diagnosed with having clinical stage D prostate cancer and a Maximum Androgen Blockade (MAB therapy) was started. In response to the exacerbated prostate cancer, we started a therapy involving the administration of 8 mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone and 55 mg/m2 of docetaxel every 3 weeks. After completing 8 courses, an enlargement of the bilateral adrenal tumor was observed, and after completing 12 courses, a pleural tumor was discovered and the PSA level was also increased. The patient was therefore diagnosed with having bilateral adrenal metastasis and pleural metastasis of prostate cancer through diagnostic imaging. So far, there have been no reports of multiple occurrences of prostate cancer in the adrenal glands and the pleura, thus making this case the first such case