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S Bai

Publications and source records attributed to S Bai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Smad6 as a transcriptional corepressor.

Smad6 and Smad7, a subgroup of Smad proteins, antagonize the signals elicited by transforming growth factor-beta. These two Smads, induced by transforming growth factor-beta or bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) stimulation, form stable associations with their activated type I receptors, blocking phosphorylation of receptor-regulated Smads in the cytoplasm. Here we show that Smad6 interacts with homeobox (Hox) c-8 as a transcriptional corepressor, inhibiting BMP signaling in the nucleus. The interaction between Smad6 and Hoxc-8 was identified by a yeast two-hybrid approach and further demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation assays in cells. Gel shift assays show that Smad6, but not Smad7, interacts with both Hoxc-8 and Hoxa-9 as a heterodimer when binding to DNA. More importantly, the Smad6-Hoxc-8 complex inhibits interaction of Smad1 with Hoxc-8- and Smad1-induced transcription activity. These data indicate that Smad6 interacts with Hox transcription factors as part of the negative feedback circuit in the BMP signaling pathway.

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Effect of dietary oil intake on hepatic cytochrome P450 activity in the rat.

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether or not different dietary oils, commonly used as drug vehicles, alter hepatic microsomal drug metabolism in the rat. Male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were administered 1 mL/kg/d of either corn, olive, sesame, or soybean oil via oral gavage for 7 days. An additional rat group was given an equal volume of water each day to serve as a control. We found that the hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A2 protein level increased by 16% (p < 0.01) in rats given soybean oil compared with control rats. In contrast, CYP2C11 protein levels decreased by 32% (p < 0.01) in the corn oil group and by 31% (p < 0. 01) in rats given olive oil. The changes in the in vitro production of 6beta- and 2alpha-hydroxytestosterone, markers of CYP3A2 and 2C11 activities, respectively, were consistent with their protein levels, although not statistically different than controls. The results demonstrate that dietary oils may have differential effects on specific hepatic CYP isoforms and may add to the variability in metabolism when xenobiotics are administered using dietary oils as vehicles.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Plasma membrane-adjacent actin filaments, but not microtubules, are essential for both polarization and hyphal tip morphogenesis in Saprolegnia ferax and Neurospora crassa.

The organization and roles of F-actin and microtubules in the maintenance and initiation of hyphal tip growth have been analyzed in Saprolegnia ferax and Neurospora crassa. In hyphae of both species, the apex is depleted of microtubules relative to subapical regions and near-normal morphogenesis occurs in concentrations of nocodazole or MBC which remove microtubules, slow growth, and disrupt nuclear positioning. In contrast, each species contains characteristic tip-high arrays of plasma membrane-adjacent F-actin, whose organization is largely unaltered by the loss of microtubules but disruption of which by latrunculin B disrupts tip morphology. Hyphal initiation and subsequent normal morphogenesis from protoplasts of both species and spores of S. ferax are independent of microtubules, but at least in S. ferax obligatorily involve the formation of F-actin caps adjacent to the hyphal tip plasma membrane. These observations indicate an obligatory role for F-actin in hyphal polarization and tip morphogenesis and only an indirect role for microtubules.

Actins↗
PubMed2000

1H dynamic nuclear polarization in supercritical ethylene at 1.4 T.

(1)H dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has been measured in supercritical ethylene in the pressure range 60-300 bar in an external field of 1.4 T. A single-cell sapphire tube was used as a high-pressure cell, and powdered 1,3-bisdiphenylene-2-phenyl allyl (BDPA) free radicals were added and distributed at the wall of the cell. At all pressures the dominant DNP mechanism was a positive Overhauser enhancement, caused by proton-electron contact interactions at the fluid/solid radical interface. The observed enhancements varied from 12 at 60 bar to 17 at 300 bar. Besides the Overhauser enhancement, small solid state and thermal mixing enhancements also were observed, indicating that part of the ethylene was adsorbed at the radical surface for a prolonged time. The impacts of the experimental conditions on the Overhauser enhancement factors are discussed, and enhancements of at least 40-60 are estimated when the EPR saturation factor and the leakage factor become maximal. These data indicate that DNP-enhanced NMR has the potential of extending the impact of NMR in research areas involving supercritical fluids.

Ethylenes↗
PubMed2000

Mechanisms of plant embryo development.

1. Evolution in plants has favored both a simpler body plan with fewer cell types and the epigenetic flexibility to regenerate, via growth, dedifferentiation, and redifferentiation, to recover from environmental insults. It has become increasingly apparent that a plant cell uses external signals to differentiate and to maintain or to change the differentiated state. A cell-cell signaling and positional information strategy seems to be the predominant mechanism employed in plant development. 2. An axis can be initiated by physical/chemical forces such as light and ion current, requiring no new gene action. Random chemical fluctuations and physicochemical forces could explain the initiation of differences among cells of equal developmental potential. Amplification of chemical polarizing events may lead to biochemical differences, new gene expression, and finally shoot/root axis establishment. 3. Radial and axial patterning may be governed by a mechanism involving polar auxin transport. 4. Because the meristems and the three fundamental tissues formed during embryogenesis are renewed and extended throughout the life of the plant, with some exceptions, most genes expressed in the embryo are also expressed during postgermination development. 5. Embryogenic competence is acquired during reproductive development. While the zygote is determined for embryogenesis, the developing embryo and often the seedling remain embryogenic. Embryogenic potential declines during vegetative development. The embryogenic strength of a tissue is correlated with its developmental distance from the zygote.

Embryonic Induction↗
PubMed2000

Unusual deregulation of cell cycle components in early and frank estrogen-induced renal neoplasias in the Syrian hamster.

There is strong evidence that estrogens are involved in the etiology, promotion and progression of a variety of cancers, including the cancers of the breast and endometrium. The Syrian hamster estrogen-induced, estrogen-dependent renal neoplasm is a well-established animal model used to elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in solely estrogen-induced carcinogenic processes. G(1) cell cycle progression was studied in estrogen-induced early renal tumor foci and in large kidney tumors of castrated male hamsters. Levels of cyclin D1, cyclin E and retinoblastoma (pRb) proteins were higher in these renal neoplasias than in adjacent uninvolved renal tissue and kidneys from untreated, age-matched animals. Of particular interest is the presence of a predominant 35 kDa cyclin E protein variant form in primary renal tumors. In addition, amounts of the phosphorylated forms of cyclin-dependent kinases (cdk) 2 and 4 were decreased, and both RNA and protein levels of p27(kip1) (p27), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, were markedly higher in early and frank renal tumors than in adjacent uninvolved renal tissue and kidneys of untreated, age-matched animals. These changes in cell cycle components coincided with a rise in renal tumor cell proliferation. Binding of the elevated p27 protein to cyclin E, cdk2 and cdk4, however, was not impaired, suggesting that this cell cycle suppressor protein is functional. In addition, cyclin D1-, cdk2-, cdk4- and cyclin E-associated kinase activities were also lower in these estrogen-induced renal neoplasms than in untreated, age-matched kidneys. Interestingly, when compared with untreated kidney tissue, early and frank renal neoplasms had less of the 62 kDa native form of E2F1 and contained a 57 kDa variant form. Thus we have characterized an unusual deregulation of the cell cycle during estrogen-induced renal tumorigenesis in Syrian hamsters which still allows for estrogen-driven kidney tumor cell proliferation and may contribute to the early genomic instability found.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Reactivation of denatured lysozyme with immobilized molecular chaperones GroE].

The molecular chaperones GroEL and GroES were expressed in recombinant E. coli and purified by anion exchange chromatography. The renaturation of the denatured lysozyme with the free and immobilized GroEL/ES or GroEL was studied. We show here that using free GroEL alone could reactive the denatured lysozyme up to a relative activity of over 90%. The immobilized GroEL was also effective for promoting lysozyme refolding. Moreover, the optimal temperature (i.e., 37 degrees C) and (pH(i.e., 6 to 8) for the immobilizde GroEL-facilitated lysozyme refolding operation were determined. Under the optimal condition, the activity of lysozyme could be recovered up to 85%. In addition, the immobilized GroEL was repeatedly used five times without loss of its renaturation ability, indicating its potentiality to be used in practical downstream bioprocesses.

Chaperonin 10↗
PubMed2000

Effect of simulated weightlessness on phase II drug metabolism in the rat.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to weightlessness is known to alter physiological processes in humans and animals. As a result of these changes, hepatic drug metabolism may be altered as well. Indeed, short term simulated weightlessness in the rat has been shown to increase oxidative metabolism. HYPOTHESIS: Simulated weightlessness will increase Phase II drug metabolism in the rat during short-term tail suspension. METHODS: The tail-suspended rat model was used to simulate weightlessness. Rats were subjected to 1, 3, 7, or 10 d of tail-suspension in order to mimic the effect of exposure to a microgravity environment. One additional rat group was not suspended and served as a control. On the final day of the study, rats we administered a single intravenous bolus dose of acetaminophen 25 mg x kg(-1) through an implanted jugular catheter and serial blood samples were taken for 90 min. Serum acetaminophen concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by using standard model independent methods. RESULTS: The results show that simulated weightlessness in the rat has no effect on Phase II drug metabolism, using acetaminophen as a marker compound. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that simulated weightlessness in the rat modulates oxidative metabolism, but not drug conjugation to glucuronide or sulfate metabolites. These data offer insight into the physiological changes and variability seen in hepatic metabolic profiles in humans and animals following actual spaceflight.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed2000

[Utilization of insoluble phosphate by Larix gmelini seedlings under phosphorus starvation].

The utilization of insoluble phosphate by 2 years old larch(Larix gmelini) seedlings was studied in greenhouse. The seedlings were grown in sand and AlPO4 was supplied as a source of P. The results showed that larch seedlings could utilize some amount of AlPO4. Supplied with AlPO4 but not incubated with mycorrhizal-fungi, the seedlings could absorb 35.1% and 64.9% of the phosphorus uptake when supplied with soluble phosphate. The effects of various mycorrhizal-fungi on utilization of phosphate were different, i.e., the utilization rate of AlPO4 was higher when incubated with Suillus granulatus, but was similar to control when incubated with Suillus grevillei. The proportion of root/crown became higher under P-starvation, and larch seedlings could gain more P by enlarging their root growth.

Aluminum Compounds↗
PubMed2000

Oral mucosal conditions and some related factors in 140 Uygur centenarians.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the condition of the oral mucosae in Xinjiang Uygur centenarians and explore some related factors. METHODS: The oral mucosae and mucosal exfoliative cells of 140 Xinjiang Uygur centenarians were examined. Saliva and blood were collected from some centenarians. Salivary immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, IgG), complements (C3 and C4), nitrous oxide (NO), 10 trace elements, serum sex hormones, thyroid hormones and osteocalcin (OST) were analysed using immunoglobulin, complement and NO kits, an ionochromatophotometer, and the kits for sex hormones and thyroid hormones, and fluorescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: Most centenarians (64.29%) had normal labial, buccal, palatal and gingival mucosae. The abnormal changes in mucosae were mainly vascular nevus patches and senile plaques. Their mucosal exfoliative cells showed similar characteristics to those in elderly Han. The centenarians who had normal mucosae had higher level of the trace element molybdenum (Mo) in their saliva than who had abnormal mucosae (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The oral mucosal condition of Uygur centenarians was generally good. The abnormal changes in oral mucosae of the centenarians were lesions not harmful to health and may be related to the lower level of Mo in their saliva.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

[Gena types of Shigella enterotoxins of S. flexneri 2a].

OBJECTIVE: To identify homogenous clones of S. flexneri 2a, using gene distribution polymorphism of Shigella enterotoxin 1 (set 1) and Shigella enterotoxin 2 (set 2) in a Shigellosis outbreak caused by S. flexneri 2a. METHODS: In addition to field epidemiological investigation, 43 strains of S. flexneri 2a were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The 43 strains (1 from food, 1 from a carrier, 41 from patients) were divided into 3 clones (set1 +/set2 + for 39 strains, set1 -/set2 + for 1, set1 +/set2 - for 3 strains). CONCLUSION: This outbreak was caused by S. flexneri 2a. The route of transmission was contaminated-food borne. Some sporadic cases were noticed during the outbreak. The method used in this study was satisfactory to the identification of S. flexneri 2a.

China↗
PubMed2000

[The study of p16 gene mutation and methylation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the development and mechanism of the p16 gene inactivation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS: With PCR-based methylation assay and PCR-SSCP, first and second exon mutation in p16 gene and methylation of endogenase in promoter in 32 cases of LSCC and paracancer tissue were studied. RESULTS: No mutation were found in first and second exon in the samples; methylation of Cfo I were detected in 6 cases in first exon, methylation of Sac II was found in 4 cases, and methylation of Hpa II in 4 cases. In second exon, methylation of Hpa II was detected in 5 cases and methylation of Cfo I in 6 cases. CONCLUSION: Methylation of promoter in p16 gene is one of the important mechanisms of the inactivation of the gene. The inactivation of p16 gene has a close relation with the development and progress of LSCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1999

Simple and rapid assay for acetaminophen and conjugated metabolites in low-volume serum samples.

The use of marker compounds for estimating drug metabolic capacity or pharmacokinetic parameters is common in the biological sciences. Often small laboratory animals are used and thus sample size is a limiting concern. In this report, we describe an assay we developed for measuring the concentration of acetaminophen and its conjugated metabolites in low-volume serum samples. Acetaminophen and metabolites were removed from 10 microl serum samples by a single-step 6% (v/v) perchloric acid deproteination using theophylline as internal standard. Samples were separated in a pH 2.2 sodium sulfate-acetonitrile mobile phase at a flow-rate of 1.5 ml/min on a 15 cm octadecylsilyl column at room temperature. Analytes were detected at a wavelength of 254 nm. The resulting chromatograms showed no interfering peaks from endogenous serum components. The concentration ranges measured were 1.56-200 microg/ml for acetaminophen and acetaminophen sulfate and 3.91-500 microg/ml for acetaminophen glucuronide. The assay was linear in the range of concentrations analyzed. The intra-day and inter-day coefficient of variation ranged from 0.4 to 8.2% and 0.2 to 12.3% for acetaminophen, 0.5 to 12.9% and 0.3 to 16.1% for acetaminophen glucuronide, and 0.4 to 8.1% and 0.2 to 14.3% for acetaminophen sulfate, respectively. Results from the experiments show that acetaminophen and its conjugated metabolites can easily and reproducibly be measured in low-volume serum samples and thus may offer an additional method to measure these compounds when the volume of biological samples may be limited.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1999

Tentative novel mechanism of the bystander effect in glioma gene therapy with HSV-TK/GCV system.

Although many works support gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) having a close relation to bystander cell killing in herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) gene and ganciclovir (GCV) treatment, our previous work suggested that other factors involved in bystander effect besides GJIC exist. To confirm our primary work, we evaluated the mode of the bystander cell (C6) co-cultured with TK-positive cells (TF10.2) in our designed "insert plates" in which two cell lines could be separated but share the same medium. Another method that we used was adding the supernatant from the medium of GCV-treated TF10.2 cells to the wild type C6. Growth inhibition of the bystander cells was observed despite the absence of GJIC. In addition, apoptotic cell death of TK+ cells and bystander cells was obvious. These studies suggested that other pathways besides cell-cell contacts may play a role in bystander cell killing; the factors released from TK-positive cells could induce apoptosis of bystander cells.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed1999

Protein separation using affinity-based reversed micelles

Reversed micellar two-phase extraction is a developing technique for protein separation. Introduction of an affinity ligand is considered to be an effective approach to increase the selectivity and capacity of reversed micelles. In this article, Cibacron Blue F3G-A (CB) as an affinity ligand was immobilized to reversed micelles composed of soybean lecithin by a two-phase reaction. The affinity partitioning of lysozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to the CB-lecithin micelles was studied. Formation of mixed micelles by additionally introducing a nonionic surfactant, Tween 85, to the CB-lecithin micelles was effective to increase the solubilization of lysozyme due to the increase of W0 (water/surfactant molar ratio)/micellar size. The partitioning isotherms of lysozyme to the CB-lecithin micelles with and without Tween 85 were expressed by the Langmuir equation. The dissociation constants in the Langmuir equation decreased on addition of Tween 85, indicating the increase of the effectiveness of lysozyme binding to the immobilized CB. On addition of 20 g/L Tween 85 to 50 g/L lecithin/hexane micellar phase containing 0.1 mmol/L CB, the extraction capacity for lysozyme could be increased by 42%. Moreover, the CB-lecithin micelles with or without Tween 85 showed significant size exclusion for BSA due to its high molecular weight. Thus, lysozyme and BSA were separated from artificial solutions containing the two proteins. In addition, the affinity-based reversed micellar phase containing Tween 85 was recycled three times for lysozyme purification from crude egg-white solutions. Lysozyme purity increased by 16-18-fold, reaching 60-70% in the recycled use.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

[Study on the inhibition of nude mice transplantation tumor growth by telomerase ribozyme].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether telomerase ribozyme could inhibit the growth of nude mice transplantation tumor. METHODS: A xenograft human-nude mouse model was constructed. A total of 24 mice were divided into 4 groups, namely, the saline control(Group 1), the blank plasmid control(Group 2), the 20 microg/mouse/day p(XJ-neo-teloRZ)(Group 3) and the 30 microg/mouse/day p(XJ-neo-teloRZ)(Group 4). All plasmids were packaged by lipofectamine and used for subcutaneous, continuous infusions over 14 days. Tumor measurements and observations of animal behavior were recorded daily. On completion of the study, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation and their organs were removed, weighed, and stored in formaldehyde for histological examination. The telomerase activities of tumor tissues of each group were also detected. RESULTS: The telomerase ribozyme effectively inhibited the telomerase activities of tumor tissues and promoted the apoptosis of tumor cells. The in vivo studies showed a significant decrease in tumor size in mice treated with p(XJ-neo-teloRZ) when compared to the mice treated with controls. Furthermore, the in vivo effect of p(XJ-neo-teloRZ) was dose dependent. CONCLUSION: Telomerase ribozyme is a powerful telomerase inhibition agent; probably it could be effective in tumor gene therapy.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Tentative association of the serotonin transporter with schizophrenia and unipolar depression but not with bipolar disorder in Han Chinese.

The serotonin transporter gene (SERT) plays an important role in the serotonin uptake into neurons. Recently, several polymorphisms including a variable-number-tandem-repeat (VNTR) in the second intron and an insertion/deletion polymorphism (5-HTT linked polymorphic region, 5-HTTLPR) were identified and reported to be associated with a variety of mental illnesses, including major depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety-related traits, and autism. In our study, we performed an association study between the SERT VNTR polymorphism and schizophrenia (n = 260), bipolar disorder (n = 137), and unipolar depression (n = 33) in the Han Chinese. A large group of ethnically matched control individuals (n = 362) were also genotyped. Allele 12 of the VNTR polymorphism was associated with schizophrenia (P = 0.007) and unipolar depression (P = 0.011). Bipolar disorder was not associated with the VNTR (P = 0.93). Thus, we conclude that the SERT VNTR polymorphism may be a risk factor for both schizophrenia and unipolar depression, but not for bipolar disorder, in the Han Chinese.

Alleles↗