Biomedical subjects

Susumu Ito

Publications and source records attributed to Susumu Ito.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

A patient with esophageal hemangioma treated by endoscopic mucosal resection: a case report and review of the literature.

In a 58-year-old male, upper digestive endoscopy revealed a protruding lesion in the esophagus on a medical examination. The patient was referred to the Department of Surgery in our hospital to undergo surgery. On the initial consultation, upper digestive endoscopy showed a smooth, soft, black purple, type II protruding lesion measuring approximately 25 mm at 35 cm apart from the incisor. For diagnostic treatment and patient's request, endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) was performed. The resected specimen measured 25 mm x 25 mm. The histological findings suggested cavernous hemangioma. To treat esophageal hemangioma, esohagectomy, tumor enucleation, or sclerotherapy has been performed. However, recently, thorough preoperative examination, such as endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), has facilitated endoscopic resection, such as EMR.

Esophageal Neoplasms↗

PubMed2006

Evaluation of the effects of mastication and swallowing on gastric motility using electrogastrography.

OBJECTIVES: The influence of mastication and swallowing on gastric motor function was evaluated by electrogastrography (EGG) and abdominal ultrasonography. METHODS: The subjects were 30 elderly patients with tubal feeding without mastication and swallowing (T group) and 30 elderly controls who processed food by mastication and swallowing (C group). Gastric motor function was percutaneously examined before and after the ingestion of 250 ml of a liquid diet using an electrogastrograph (NIPRO EGG, A and D, Tokyo, Japan). The cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum was measured at 1 and 30 min after the start of ingestion of the liquid diet by external ultrasonography of the abdomen, and the gastric excretion function was evaluated. Furthermore, the spectral analysis of heart rate variability was performed using Holter electrocardiograms before and after ingestion. The low frequency power (LF power, 0.04-0.15 Hz), high frequency power (HF power, 0.15-0.40 Hz), and the LF/HF ratio were determined. RESULTS: The peak amplitude at 3 cycles per minute (cpm) was significantly increased after ingestion in the C and T groups (p<0.05), and the ratio of increase was significantly lower in the T group (p<0.05). The mean amplitude for the brady-gastria and tachy-gastria was significantly higher in the T group than in the C group (p<0.05). The gastric excretion function, as evaluated by external ultrasonography of the abdomen, was significantly lower in the T group than in the C group (p<0.05). An analysis of heart rate variability demonstrated that the HF power, a parameter of parasympathetic activity, after ingestion was significantly higher in the C group than in the T group (p<0.05). No changes in LF power or LF/HF ratio, parameters of sympathetic activity, were induced by ingestion in either the C or T groups. CONCLUSIONS: The parasympathetic nerve dominantly controls gastric motor function, but autonomic nervous activity is reduced in patients who are unable to masticate and swallow food, resulting in adverse effects on gastric motor function and excretion function. Mastication and swallowing not only prepare food for passage from the oral cavity to the esophagus but are also important in terms of subsequent events that occur in stomach. It has been proposed that autonomic nervous activity might be involved in mastication and swallowing.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2006

A histochemical and immunohistochemical investigation of guanase and nedasin in rat and human tissues.

Human guanase is known as a specific enzyme in the liver, kidney, and brain. However, its functional significance remains poorly understood. In addition, interestingly, a different organ distribution between humans and rats was suggested. Here, we performed immunohistochemical staining with anti-human nedasin (neuronal and endocrine discs large/SAP102 associated protein), whose sequence was identical to that of guanase, antibody and histochemical staining for guanase in normal tissues of rat and human liver, kidney, and small intestine, and compared the results. Guanase activity was observed uniformly in the rat hepatocytes, biliary epithelium and vascular endothelium cells, while it was localized to the hepatocytes and biliary epithelium in the human liver. When the histochemical staining for guanase and the immunohistochemical staining for nedasin were compared, the stained regions were different in the rat liver but were almost consistent in all human tissues. Totally consistent staining results were also obtained between rats and humans in the other organization except the liver. Based upon the research reports to date, the experiments on guanase and nedasin in rat organs performed in this study are considered to have important implications in the investigation of their physiological significance.

Aminohydrolases↗

PubMed2006

Histochemical and immunohistochemical investigation of guanase and nedasin in human tissues.

Guanase is known as an enzyme released from the liver. Recently, cloning and sequencing of the guanase gene were reported. In addition, almost simultaneously, it was reported that an unknown protein that binds to neuronal and endocrine lethal(1)-discs large (NE-dlg), one of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase homologues (MAGUK) family proteins involved in synaptic connection between neurons, was cloned and named nedasin (NE-dlg associated protein), whose sequence was almost identical to that of guanase. We immunostained fresh frozen sections of surgically removed human liver, kidney, and small intestine with anti-nedasin antibody, and simultaneously performed histochemical staining for guanase for comparison. Histochemically, guanase activity was observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and biliary epithelium on the liver, in the mucosal epithelium on the small intestine, and in the proximal tubule on the kidney. Immunohistochemically, a brown discoloration due to DAB oxidation was seen in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and biliary epithelium on the liver, in the proximal tubule but in the distal tubule a little on the kidney, in the mucosal epithelium on the small intestine. The stained region of the liver and the small intestine were different from that of the kidney. The different staining properties dependent on the organs were considered to be due to different isozymes. The physiological significance of guanase may vary with the isozymes, further studies are considered necessary.

Aminohydrolases↗

PubMed2006

The use of electrogastrography and external ultrasonography to evaluate gastric motility in Crohn's disease.

Although Crohn's disease is associated with various digestive symptoms, there have been few reports on gastric motility. In this study, we conducted a study of gastric motility in Crohn's disease using 20 healthy subjects (N group) and 15 patients with Crohn's disease (C group) by electrogastrography (EGG) using a Nipro electrogastrograph. An EGG was recorded for 30 minutes in a fasting state and after ingestion of 300 ml of a liquid meal. As an index of gastric emptying, the rate of change in the cross-sectional area of the gastric antrum was measured 1 and 15 minutes after ingestion of the liquid meal by external ultrasonography. In an EGG frequency analysis, waveforms with a peak of 3 cycles/minute (cpm) were noted in the N group, and the peak amplitude increased significantly after the ingestion of food. In the C group, division of the normal-gastria component was noted after the ingestion of food in 5 patients (33.3%). In a comparison of the peak amplitudes of fasting brady-gastria, normal-gastria, and tachy-gastria between the N and C groups, the peak amplitude was significantly increased in normal-gastria in the N group, and in brady-gastria and tachy-gastria in the C group. In a comparison of the rates of food ingestion-induced changes in the peak amplitudes for brady-gastria, normal-gastria, and tachy-gastria between the N and C groups, the peak amplitudes were significantly increased in normal-gastria in the N group, but not in the C group. In the case of gastric emptying investigated by external ultrasonography, the rate of food ingestion-induced change in the cross-sectional antrum area was significantly lower in the C group (50.5+/-9.2%) than in the N group (65.0+/-8.5%). For gastrointestinal motility, a 3 cpm normal-gastria represents efficient gastric motility. In the C group, the peak amplitudes of brady-gastria and tachy-gastria were significantly increased, but were low in normal-gastria in the fasting EGG, postprandial division of the normal-gastria component was noted, and the rate of food ingestion-induced increase in the normal-gastria peak amplitude was significantly lower than that in the N group, suggesting that patients with Crohn's disease have a functional abnormality in, not only the small and large intestine, but also the stomach.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Nateglinide with glibenclamide examination using the respiratory quotient (RQ).

PURPOSE: The respiratory quotient (RQ) is useful for evaluating glucose and lipid metabolism in vivo. We previously reported that the RQ value, even after fasting, was high in diabetics being treated with sulphonylurea (SU), which might explain the accumulation of fat, leading to weight gain in such individuals. In the present study, we measured the RQ in type II diabetic patients who were being treated with a rapid-onset/short-duration insulinotropic agent, nateglinide, and compared it with those being treated with SU. METHODS: A glucose tolerance test was performed in 20 patients with type II diabetes mellitus treated with nateglinide and in 14 patients treated with SU, and the RQ was simultaneously measured. RESULTS: The RQ values in the patients treated with nateglinide, were similar to those in healthy adults, but was lower than in those treated with SU. No weight gain was observed in patients treated with nateglinide. CONCLUSION: A significant weight gain was reported in subjects treated with SU, accompanied by an increase in RQ. However, weight gain was less frequent in diabetics treated with nateglinide.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Risk factors associated with soft coronary artery plaques in Japanese, as determined by 16 slice multidetector-row computed tomography.

PURPOSE: The acute coronary syndrome is often caused by the rupture of plaques and thrombus formation even without significant stenosis, and patients with soft plaques, but without significant stenosis evidenced by coronary angiography (CAG), often develop an acute coronary syndrome. To address this discrepancy, a qualitative diagnosis of coronary plaques using a 16 slice multidetector-row CT was conducted. METHODS AND RESULTS: Volume rendering and cross-sectional MPR images were obtained. Based on the CT values, plaques on the coronary artery wall were classified as lipid-rich soft plaques (CT value<50 HU) and non-soft plaques (>50 HU).A significant correlation was observed between the percent stenosis determined in cross-sectional MPR images and those determined by CAG (r=+0.92, p<0.01). Diffuse plaques with CT values of less than 50 HU often caused stenosis at level of 75% or less, which were not indicated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: Although diffuse soft plaques with CT values less than 50 HU are not an indication of intervention, a risk of an acute coronary syndrome exists, due to rupture. These soft plaques must be stabilized by treatment even when they do not cause significant stenosis, and MDCT is considered to be useful for their evaluation.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Optimal labeling condition of antibodies available for immunofluorescence endoscopy.

PURPOSE: In recent years, labeled antibodies have been used for diagnostic imaging in many studies. In this study, we investigated the mode of binding in antibodies labeled with ICG derivatives newly developed for the diagnosis of microcarcinomas, and evaluated the optimal binding molar ratio between the labeling compounds and antibody. METHODS: MUC 1 antibody and ICG derivatives (ICG-ATT and ICG-sulfo-OSu) were used. ICG derivatives non-covalently bound to the antibody were removed with ethyl acetate, and the ratio of ICG derivatives covalently bound to the labeled antibody was confirmed. During purification of the labeled antibody, the amount of each labeling compound reacting with 1 molecule of the antibody varied as follows: 4, 8, 16, and 32 molar equivalents. Subsequently, the intensity of fluorescence was evaluated by spectroscopy and infrared fluoroscopy. RESULTS: The ratio of residual ICG derivative labeling the antibody was 67.4% for ICG-ATT and 65.0% for ICG-sulfo-OSu. When fluorescent antibody labeled with ICG-ATT at an F/P ratio of 2.94 or 4.18 was used, specific and clear fluorescent images of the antigen were obtained. When ICG-ATT-labeled antibody at an F/P ratio of 6.50 or 6.75 was used, the fluorescence intensity decreased and the fluorescent images of antigen became unclear. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that the ICG-ATT-labeled antibody was a more specific and sensitive marker than ICG-sulfo-OSu-labeled antibody, and that lower binding molar ratios of ICG-ATT were more useful for labeling the antibody.

Antibodies, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2006

Efficacy of glimepiride on insulin resistance, adipocytokines, and atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Plasma adiponectin levels increase after the administration of glimepiride. This unique effects would also be expected to improve other adipocytokines and have anti-atherosclerotic action in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Thirty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were administrated glibenclamide were randomly divided into two groups. In 20 patients glibenclamide was changed to glimepiride (GP group), and the administration of glibenclamide (GB group) was continued in 14 patients. Twelve patients receiving insulin therapy (INS group) were enrolled for comparison. The levels of plasma adiponectin, high sensitive-CRP, TNF-alpha, interleukin-6, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and augmentation index (AI) were measured before and 28 weeks after the therapy. RESULTS: HOMA-IR in the GP group was significantly decreased compared to the GB group. Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly increased in the GP group but not in the other groups. TNF-alpha, interleukin-6 and high sensitive-CRP levels were significantly decreased in the GP group, but not in the other groups. The baPWV and AI levels did not change in either the GB or the INS group, but were significantly decreased in the GP group. CONCLUSIONS: Glimepiride appears to improve insulin resistance and atherosclerotic disorders.

Adipocytes↗

PubMed2006

123I-metaiodo-benzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in the Brugada-type ECG.

The degree of ST-segment elevation and amplitude of J waves, which may change in patients with the Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) over time, are influenced by autonomic nervous activity and the administration of antiarrhythmic drugs. In the present study, we evaluated whether the shape of ST-segment elevation in patients with a Brugada-type ECG might alter the parameters of an 123I-MIBG myocardial scintigraphy and body surface signal-averaged ECG (SAECG). The subjects consisted of 12 patients with a Brugada-type ECG and 15 healthy volunteers (N group). The patients with a Brugada-type ECG were classified into the following 2 groups based on the type of ST-segment elevation: 6 patients with the coved type ST-segment elevation (C group), and 6 patients with the saddle-back type ST-segment elevation (S group). Planar and SPECT images were obtained 15 minutes (early images) and 3 hours (delayed images) after the administration of 123I-MIBG, respectively. In addition, the washout rate (% WR) of 123I-MIBG was obtained in a bull's eye map of the SPECT image. There were no significant differences in the early H/M ratio between the C and S groups. In the C group, however, there were some patients who showed a decreased accumulation or defect of 123I-MIBG in the planar and SPECT images. Furthermore, in contrast to the N and S groups, the C group showed a decreased delayed H/M ratio and increased % WR. SAECG did not show any significant differences between the S and C groups. These results of the present study suggest that the shape of ST-segment elevation may be associated with myocardial autonomic nervous function. In addition, the electric heterogeneity of the action potential in the right ventricular epicardial myocardium, which is frequently influenced by autonomic nervous activity, is closely associated with the development of Brugada syndrome.

3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗

PubMed2005

alpha-Glucosidase from a strain of deep-sea Geobacillus: a potential enzyme for the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates.

An alpha-glucosidase from Geobacillus sp. strain HTA-462, one of the deepest sea bacteria isolated from the sediment of the Mariana Trench, was purified to homogeneity and estimated to be a 65-kDa protein by SDS-PAGE. At low ion strength, the enzyme exists in the homodimeric form (130 kDa). It is a thermo- and alkaline-stable enzyme with a half-life of 13.4 h and a maximum hydrolytic activity at 60 degrees C and pH 9.0 in 15 mM glycine-NaOH buffer. The enzyme exclusively hydrolyzed alpha-1,4-glycosidic linkages of oligosaccharides in an exo-type manner. The enzyme had an overwhelming transglycosylation activity and glycosylated various non-sugar molecules when maltose was used as a sugar donor. It converted maltose to isomaltose. The gene encoding the enzyme was cloned and sequenced. The recombinant enzyme could be extracellularly overproduced by Bacillus subtilis harboring its gene and preserved the primary properties of the native enzyme. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that Asp98 is essential for the enzyme activity in addition to Asp199, Asp326, and Glu256.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Sequence of the gene for a high-alkaline mannanase from an alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain JAMB-750, its expression in Bacillus subtilis and characterization of the recombinant enzyme.

A novel alkaline mannanase Man26A has been found in the culture of an alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. strain JAMB-750 and the optimal pH for the mannanase activity of the enzyme was around pH 10 (J Biol Macromol 4: 67-74, 2004). This optimal pH is the highest among those of the mannanases reported to date. The gene man26A coding the enzyme was cloned from the genomic DNA of strain JAMB-750 and sequenced. It encodes a protein of 997 amino acids including a signal peptide. The N-terminal half (Glu27-Val486) of the enzyme exhibited moderate similarities to other mannanases belonging to glycoside hydrolase family 26, such as the enzymes from Cellvibrio japonicus (37% identity), Cellulomonas fimi (33% identity), and Bacillus sp. strain AM-001 (28% identity). The C-terminal half was found to contain four domains. The first, second, third, and fourth domains exhibited similarities to the carbohydrate-binding module, the mannan-binding module, the Homo sapiens collagen type IX alpha I chain, and the membrane anchor region of Gram-positive surface proteins, respectively. Its recombinant mannanase was produced extracellularly using Bacillus subtilis as the host. The optimal pH for the mannanase activity of the recombinant enzyme was around pH 10. The enzyme was very resistant to surfactants, for example, SDS up to 2.0% (w/v).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

A novel beta-glucanase gene from Bacillus halodurans C-125.

A novel endo-beta-1,3(4)-D-glucanase gene was found in the complete genome sequence of Bacillus halodurans C-125. The gene was previously annotated as an "unknown" protein and assigned an incorrect open reading frame (ORF). However, determining the biochemical characteristics has elucidated the function and correct ORF of the gene. The gene encodes 231 amino acids, and its calculated molecular mass was estimated to be 26743.16 Da. The amino acid sequence alignment showed that the highest sequence identity was only 28% with that of the beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase from Bacillus subtilis. Moreover, the nucleotide sequence did not match any other known Bacillus beta-glucanase gene. The member of the gene cluster that includes this novel gene was apparently different from that of the gene cluster including the putative beta-glucanase genes (bh3231 and bh3232) from B. halodurans C-125. Therefore, the novel gene is not a copy of either of these genes, and in B. halodurans cells, the putative role of the encoded protein may differ from that of bh3231 and bh3232. To examine the activity of the gene product, the gene was cloned as a His-tagged protein and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified enzyme showed activity against lichenan, barley beta-glucan, laminarin, and carboxymethyl curdlan. Thin-layer chromatography showed that the enzyme hydrolyzes substrates in an endo-type manner. When beta-glucan was used as a substrate, the pH optimum was between 6 and 8, and the temperature optimum was 60 degrees C. After 2 h incubation at 50 and 60 degrees C, the residual activity remained 100% and 50%, respectively. The enzymatic activity was abolished after 30 min incubation at 70 degrees C. Based on the results, the gene encodes an endo-type beta-1,3(4)-D-glucanase (E.C. 3.2.1.6).

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Purification and characterization of a novel alpha-agarase from a Thalassomonas sp.

An agar-degrading Thalassomonas bacterium, strain JAMB-A33, was isolated from the sediment off Noma Point, Japan, at a depth of 230 m. A novel alpha-agarase from the isolate was purified to homogeneity from cultures containing agar as a carbon source. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme, designated as agaraseA33, was 85 kDa on both SDS-PAGE and gel-filtration chromatography, suggesting that it is a monomer. The optimal pH and temperature for activity were about 8.5 and 45 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme had a specific activity of 40.7 U/mg protein. The pattern of agarose hydrolysis showed that the enzyme is an endo-type alpha-agarase, and the final main product was agarotetraose. The enzyme degraded not only agarose but also agarohexaose, neoagarohexaose, and porphyran.

Gammaproteobacteria↗

PubMed2005

Biocompatible polymer enhances the in vitro and in vivo transfection efficiency of HVJ envelope vector.

BACKGROUND: Vector development is critical for the advancement of human gene therapy. However, the use of viral vectors raises many safety concerns and most non-viral methods are less efficient for gene transfer. One of the breakthroughs in vector technology is the combination of the vector with various polymers. METHODS: HVJ (hemagglutinating virus of Japan) envelope vector (HVJ-E) has been developed as a versatile gene transfer vector. In this study, we combined HVJ-E with cationized gelatin to make it a more powerful tool and assessed its transfection efficiency in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we investigated the mechanism of the gene transfer by means of the inhibition of fusion or endocytosis. RESULTS: The combination of both protamine sulfate and cationized gelatin with HVJ-E, referred to as PS-CG-HVJ-E, further enhanced the in vitro transfection efficiency. In CT26 cells, the luciferase gene expression of PS-CG-HVJ-E was approximately 10 times higher than that of the combination of protamine sulfate with HVJ-E or the combination of cationized gelatin with HVJ-E, referred to as PS-HVJ-E or CG-HVJ-E, respectively. Furthermore, the luciferase gene expression in liver mediated by intravenous administration of CG-HVJ-E was much higher than the luciferase gene expression mediated by PS-HVJ-E or PS-CG-HVJ-E and approximately 100 times higher than that mediated by HVJ-E alone. CONCLUSIONS: Cationized gelatin-conjugated HVJ-E enhanced gene transfection efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that low molecular weight cationized gelatin may be appropriate for complex formation with various envelope viruses, such as retrovirus, herpes virus and HIV.

Androstadienes↗

PubMed2005

Ultrasonographic assessment of gastric motility in diabetic gastroparesis before and after attaining glycemic control.

BACKGROUND: Glycemic control is important for maintaining gastric motility in diabetic patients, but gastric motility has not yet been studied ultrasonographically in relation to glycemic control. METHODS: We made such observations before and after establishing glycemic control in diabetic patients with gastroparesis. We studied 30 diabetic patients with upper abdominal digestive symptoms who were hospitalized for correction of poor blood sugar control and who underwent upper digestive tract endoscopy to rule out structural causes such as gastric/duodenal lesions. Gastric motility was evaluated by transabdominal ultrasonography, using a test meal, before and after attainment of glycemic control (within 3 days after admission and 3 days before discharge). Also, upper abdominal digestive symptoms present on admission and at discharge were compared. RESULTS: After glycemic control was established, contractions of the antral region were more frequent than before the attainment of control (8.93 +/- 1.17/3 min vs 7.63 +/- 2.22/3 min, respectively; P < 0.001). Glycemic control also significantly improved gastric emptying (before glycemic control, 49.2 +/- 14.8%; after, 67.1 +/- 11.5%; P < 0.001). This was also true for the motility index, concerning antral gastric contractility (before control, 2.97 +/- 1.57; after, 3.75 +/- 1.09; P < 0.05). Upper abdominal symptom scores were also significantly lower after attainment of control than before (0.47 +/- 0.78 vs 3.17 +/- 2.00, respectively; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that attaining glycemic control improves gastric motility and attainments upper abdominal symptoms in diabetic patients with gastroparesis.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Prediction of prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma by mucin and p53 immunohistochemistry.

Mucin core proteins are known to be present in various organs and are specifically expressed with carcinogenesis and closely associated with the prognoses of various malignant tumors in the digestive tract such as colorectal cancer. The present study evaluated correlations between mucin and p53 expression and prognosis of gallbladder cancer using surgically resected tissue specimens from 26 patients with gallbladder carcinoma surgically treated at our hospital. Immunohistochemical staining was performed using MUC 1, MUC2, and p53 monoclonal antibody. The level of antigen expression in the lesion was classified into four stages: none(-), slight(+), moderate (++), and severe (+ + +). According to the UICC classification, histopathological grading, levels of T, N, and M factors, and tumor stages were compared with regard to the correlations with mucin and p53 expression. All cases were classified into two groups according to the results of mucin immunohistochemistry: group A (MUC1, > or = ++; and MUC2, < or = +) and group B (MUC1, < ++; or MUC2, > +). Postoperative survival periods were compared between the two groups and p53-positive and -negative groups. Neither histological grading nor T factor correlated with mucin or p53 expression, respectively. Moreover, neither N factor nor M factor correlated with mucin or p53 expression. Furthermore, stage grouping did not correlate with mucin or p53 expression. However, when the correlation between the postoperative survival period and mucin expression was evaluated, the mean postoperative surgical period was significantly shorter in Group A than in Group B (1.02 years in Group A vs 2.92 years in Group B; P = 0.016). There was no relationship between postoperative survival period and p53 positivity. Mucin expression was independent of various tumor growth factors and clearly reflected the prognosis of gallbladder cancer. Because the relative malignancy of gallbladder cancer could be evaluated by examining the level of glycoprotein expression in tumor tissue, mucin could be a more important marker than p53 for predicting prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma using surgically resected tissue specimens.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

An alkali-inducible flotillin-like protein from Bacillus halodurans C-125.

Flotillins are markers of lipid microdomains, and have emerged as a key concept in cellular biology. However, it remains unclear whether flotillin proteins exist in prokaryotic cells. The amino acid sequence of the BH3500 protein from Bacillus halodurans was 30% identical to that of flotillin-1. Motif analysis revealed that several specific residues (SPFH and flotillin domains, an AEA-repeat structure) and five potential phosphorylation sites are conserved in the BH3500 protein. In addition, the BH3500 protein was found to possess two transmembrane-spanning domains at the N-terminus, which is consistent with the common properties of flotillin-1. The BH3500 protein was detected in the Triton-insoluble, buoyant membrane fraction of B. halodurans by mass spectrometry and Western blotting. Interestingly, BH3500 was expressed strongly in alkaline conditions at both transcriptional and translational levels, which implies that it is one of the alkali-inducible proteins.

Alkalies↗