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PubMed1991

The secretin gene: evolutionary history, alternative splicing, and developmental regulation.

The gene encoding the hormone secretin has been isolated and structurally characterized. The transcriptional unit is divided into four exons spanning 813 nucleotides. Comparison of the rat secretin gene to the other members of the glucagon-secretin gene family reveals that similarities are restricted to the exons encoding the biologically active peptides. Analysis of RNA from porcine intestine indicates that at least two transcripts are generated from the porcine secretin gene as a result of differential splicing. The longer and more abundant transcript appears to be identical to a previously isolated cDNA, which encodes a precursor that includes a 72-amino acid C-terminal extension peptide. The shorter transcript does not contain the third exon and, as a result, encodes only 44 residues beyond the C terminus of secretin. The amino acid sequence deduced from the shorter transcript is identical to a precursor form of secretin recently isolated from porcine duodenum [Gafvelin, G., Jornvall, H. & Mutt, V. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87, 6781-6785]. Developmental studies reveal that both secretin mRNA and peptide levels in the intestine are highest just before birth, prior to the onset of gastric acid secretion and feeding. This observation implies that secretin biosynthesis in developing animals is controlled independently of the principal factors known to regulate secretin release in adult animals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Identification of an essential serine residue in glucagon: implication for an active site triad.

Several glucagon analogs containing substitutions for serine have been synthesized to assess the role of the four serine residues in the hormone. The strategic importance of His1 has been confirmed, and we have previously identified an aspartic acid critical for activity at position 9. While these findings have led to a series of pure glucagon antagonists, the details of specific glucagon-receptor interactions that switch on the ensuing signaling events are still not readily apparent. The requirement for serine was tested by the chemical synthesis of a series of analogs containing substitutions for the hydrophilic hydroxyl group in each of the highly conserved serine residues at positions 2, 8, 11, and 16 of glucagon. The resulting analogs were analyzed in rat hepatocyte membranes for their receptor-binding affinities as well as their abilities to stimulate adenylate cyclase. Positions 2 and 8 were the most sensitive to modification, where both binding and activity were adversely affected. This is consistent with the notion that although the sequence responsible for transduction lies in the amino-terminal half of glucagon, some residues at that end also contribute to binding affinity. Modifications at position 11 generated high-binding-affinity derivatives that were full or moderate agonists. In contrast, position 16 replacement analogs maintained significant receptor binding affinities while the agonist properties were almost completely lost, thus separating binding and transduction functions. Therefore, Ser16 is a third critical residue that determines glucagon activity. It is postulated, but not proven, that a serine residue, together with His1 and Asp9, may participate in the putative active center of glucagon, which, upon initial recognition and binding to receptor, leads to transduction of the biological signal. A dependence of the glucagon action on a three-residue cooperative mechanism might be analogous to the charge-relay scheme of serine proteases. It is suggested that, after binding to its receptor, glucagon becomes activated and functions like a coenzyme in catalyzing the specific hydrolysis of a peptide bond in the receptor, generating new amino and carboxyl end groups, and that one of these exposed chains may contact the GTP-binding protein and activate it for further interaction with adenylate cyclase. This idea was supported by inhibition experiments with 4-amidinophenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (APMSF), a specific and irreversible inhibitor of serine proteases, which at a concentration of 5 mM completely suppressed cAMP formation by glucagon in liver membranes. cAMP formation was not affected if either glucagon or membranes were separately pretreated with APMSF and then assayed.

Adenylyl Cyclases↗
PubMed1994

Analysis of E.coli promoter structures using neural networks.

Backpropagation neural network is trained to identify E.coli promoters of all spacing classes (15 to 21). A three module approach is employed wherein the first neural net module predicts the consensus boxes, the second module aligns the promoters to a length of 65 bases and the third neural net module predicts the entire sequence of 65 bases taking care of the possible interdependencies between the bases in the promoters. The networks were trained with 106 promoters and random sequences which were 60% AT rich and tested on 126 promoters (Bacterial, Mutant and Phage promoters). The network was 98% successful in promoter recognition and 90.2% successful in non-promoter recognition when tested on 5000 randomly generated sequences. The network was further trained with 11 mutated non-promoters and 8 mutated promoters of the p22ant promoter. The testing set with 7 mutated promoters and 13 mutated non-promoters of p22ant were identified. The network was upgraded using total 1665 data of promoters and non-promoters to identify any promoter sequences in the gene sequences. The network identified the locations of P1, P2 and P3 promoters in the pBR322 plasmid. A search for the start codon, Ribosomal Binding Site and the stop codon by a string search procedure has also been added to find the possible promoters that can yield protein products. The network was also successfully tested on a synthetic plasmid pWM528.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Phylogenetic analysis of gram-positive bacteria based on grpE, encoded by the dnaK operon.

The dnaK operon in gram-positive bacteria includes grpE, dnaJ and, in some members, hrcA as well. Both DnaK and DnaJ have been utilized for constructing phylogenetic relationships among various organisms. Multiple copies exist for dnaK and dnaJ genes in some bacterial genera, as opposed to a single gene copy for grpE and for hrcA, according to the currently available data. Here, we present a partial protein-based phylogenetic tree for gram-positive bacteria, derived by using the amino acid sequence identity of GrpE; the results are compared with the phylogenetic trees generated from 5S rRNA, 16S rRNA, dnaK and dnaJ sequences. Our results indicate three main groupings: two are within low-G+C DNA gram-positive bacteria comprising Bacillus species and Staphylococcus aureus on the one hand and Streptococcus species/Lactococcus lactis/Enterococcus faecalis/Lactobacillus sakei on the other hand; the Mycobacterium species and Streptomyces coelicolor, belonging to the high-G+C DNA gram-positive bacteria, form the third cluster. This hierarchical arrangement is in close agreement with that obtained with 16S rRNA and DnaK sequences but not DnaJ-based phylogeny.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Generation and molecular characterization of new temperature-sensitive plasmids intended for genetic engineering of Pasteurellaceae.

Temperature-sensitive (TS) plasmids were generated through chemical mutagenesis of a derivative of the streptomycin resistance parent plasmid pD70, isolated from Mannheimia hemolytica serotype 1. Three TS plasmids which failed to replicate at or above 42 degrees C in M. hemolytica but which were fully functional below 31 degrees C were selected for further analysis. Two of the TS plasmids were shown by sequencing to possess unique single-base-pair mutations. The third TS plasmid contained a unique base pair substitution and a second mutation that had been previously identified. These mutations were clustered within a 200-bp region of the presumed plasmid origin of replication. Site-directed single-nucleotide substitutions were introduced into the wild-type pD70 origin of replication to confirm that mutations identified by sequencing had conferred thermoregulated replication. Deletion analysis on the wild-type pD70 plasmid replicon revealed that approximately 720 bp are necessary for plasmid maintenance. Replication of the TS plasmids was thermoregulated in Pasteurella multocida and Haemophilus somnus as well. To consistently transform H. somnus with TS plasmid, in vitro DNA methylation with commercially available HhaI methyltransferase was necessary to protect against the organism's restriction enzyme HsoI (recognition sequence 5'-GCGC-3') characterized herein.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Accessory DNA in the genomes of representatives of the Escherichia coli reference collection.

Different strains of the Escherichia coli reference collection (ECOR) differ widely in chromosomal size. To analyze the nature of the differential gene pool carried by different strains, we have followed an approach in which random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was used to generate several PCR fragments. Those present in some but not all the strains were screened by hybridization to assess their distribution throughout the ECOR collection. Thirteen fragments with various degrees of occurrence were sequenced. Three of them corresponded to RAPD markers of widespread distribution. Of these, two were housekeeping genes shown by hybridization to be present in all the E. coli strains and in Salmonella enterica LT2; the third fragment contained a paralogous copy of dnaK with widespread, but not global, distribution. The other 10 RAPD markers were found in only a few strains. However, hybridization results demonstrated that four of them were actually present in a large selection of the ECOR collection (between 42 and 97% of the strains); three of these fragments contained open reading frames associated with phages or plasmids known in E. coli K-12. The remaining six fragments were present in only between one and four strains; of these, four fragments showed no similarity to any sequence in the databases, and the other two had low but significant similarity to a protein involved in the Klebsiella capsule synthesis and to RNA helicases of archaeal genomes, respectively. Their percent GC, dinucleotide content, and codon adaptation index suggested an exogenous origin by horizontal transfer. These results can be interpreted as reflecting the presence of a large pool of strain-specific genes, whose origin could be outside the species boundaries.

Bacteriology↗
PubMed1988

Characterization of point mutations in the same arginine codon in three unrelated patients with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Point mutations in the X-linked ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) gene have been detected at the same Taq I restriction site in 3 of 24 unrelated probands with OTC deficiency. A de novo mutation could be traced in all three families to an individual in a prior generation, confirming independent recurrence. The DNA sequence in the region of the altered Taq I site was determined in the three probands. In two unrelated male probands with neonatal onset of severe OTC deficiency, a guanine (G) to adenine (A) mutation on the sense strand (antisense cytosine [C] to thymine [T]) was found, resulting in glutamine for arginine at amino acid 109 of the mature polypeptide. In the third case, where the proband was a symptomatic female, C to T (sense strand) transition converted residue 109 to a premature stop. These results support the observation that Taq I restriction sites, which contain an internal CG, are particularly susceptible to C to T transition mutation due to deamination of a methylated C in either the sense or antisense strand. The OTC gene seems especially sensitive to C to T transition mutation at arginine codon 109 because either a nonsense mutation or an extremely deleterious missense mutation will result.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Nucleic acid and protein metabolism in undernutrition and protein deficiency.

This review discusses the metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins in various models of undernutrition in female rats and their neonatal and 21-day-old progeny. Based on the observations noted in our laboratories and those of other investigators, it is concluded that body and organ weights as well as various parameters of cellular growth (DNA, RNA, proteins, amino acids and total nucleotides) fail to increase normally in dietary-insulted animals. Protein and RNA synthesis demonstrate variable responses, leading to the speculation that modulation of mRNA metabolism and of protein synthesis occurs in dietary-restricted rats. These findings are also confirmed by the organ weight to DNA ratios. It is further noted that, despite the increases in protein and RNA synthesis in certain organs, protein and RNA register below-normal values, indicating that their degradation is much faster than their formation. This postulate is supported: by the enhanced activities of acid cathepsin (a protein-degrading enzyme) and of RNAse A (a RNA-degrading enzyme); by the elevated concentrations of circulating amino acids and total nucleotides; as well as by the accelerated excretion of nitrogenous compounds in the urine and feces of dietary-restricted animals. Modifications of RNA turnover are also evident in the tRNA and soluble RNA fractions of the liver of dietary-insulted rats. Studies on brain mRNA translatability have revealed: that food deprivation elicits a shorter species of pre-mRNA via a reduced polynucleotide elongation rate; that not all poly A+ RNA sequences present in control rats occur in dietary-restricted animals; and that the translatability of polymerase II is far lower in dietary-insulted rats. Other investigations on the translatability of liver, brain, kidney, spleen and thymus mRNA have demonstrated changes in mRNA via altered protein synthesis in various organs of dietary-restricted rats. Generation studies have shown that adaptation prevails in the first, second and third generation offspring of dietary-insulted rats, after which all parameters decline in fourth and fifth generation offspring. By reducing the litter size and exchanging the pups of control and dietary-restricted rats during the lactation period, partial restoration of the cellular growth of different organs is effected with the exception of the brain, in which damage is irreversible.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Analysis of T-cell receptor beta of the T-cell clones reactive to the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide in the context of HLA-DR53 in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.

T-cell-mediated autoimmune mechanisms are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). In the previous study, we identified the immunodominant T-cell epitope on the E2 component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2) in patients with PBC who have HLA-DRB4*0101. In this report, we revealed that the frequency of the T cells reactive to the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide is significantly increased in the peripheral blood of patients with PBC as compared with healthy subjects. We also confirmed that these T cells were all restricted with HLA-DRB4*01 (DR53) by using HLA-DR-transfected L cells. These results together with the evidence that the immunodominant B-cell epitope overlaps with the human T-cell epitope of the PDC-E2 antigen indicate that the T cells reactive to this epitope are closely associated with the pathogenesis of PBC at least in patients who have HLA-DR53. Therefore, we analyzed the T-cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta sequence of the five different T-cell clones and the three T-cell clones derived from three patients with PBC and healthy subjects, respectively, which are reactive to the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide in the context of HLA-DR53. The Vbeta- and the Jbeta-gene usages were diverse among the T-cell clones (Vbeta11-Jbeta1.4, Vbeta8-Jbeta1.2, Vbeta12-Jbeta2.1, Vbeta10-Jbeta1.5, and Vbeta20-Jbeta2.1) in patients with PBC. By contrast, in the third complementarity determining region (CDR3), G was frequently found and GXG or GXS motif was identified in all T-cell clones. Moreover, RGXG motif was found in three clones generated from two patients. In healthy subjects, the Vbeta- and the Jbeta-gene usages were also diverse, and GXG and RGXG motif were found. These results indicate that the T cells may recognize the ligand (the human PDC-E2 163-176 peptide/HLA-DR53 complex) using the limited motif in the CDR3 region and that the design of CDR3-specific immunotherapy would be possible using these motifs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Towards third generation matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors for cancer therapy.

The failure of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor drug clinical trials in cancer was partly due to the inadvertent inhibition of MMP antitargets that counterbalanced the benefits of MMP target inhibition. We explore how MMP inhibitor drugs might be developed to achieve potent selectivity for validated MMP targets yet therapeutically spare MMP antitargets that are critical in host protection.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1982

Third component of human complement: localization of the internal thiolester bond.

Human complement protein C3 was inactivated by using methylamine and thereby generating a SH group from the internal thiol ester. The protein was coupled via this SH group to activated thiol-Sepharose and digested with elastase. Fragment C3d remained attached to the thiol-Sepharose and was subsequently eluted with L-cysteine. Concomitantly, the original SH group was regenerated, and it was then labeled with iodo[2-(3)H]acetic acid. Partial sequence analysis of the radiolabeled C3d fragment showed that both components of the thiol ester are located close to the amino terminus (residues 23 and 26). Specific chemical cleavage of the alpha-chain was achieved after S-cyanylation of the thiol. The two fragments obtained corresponded to the amino-terminal section (M(r) approximately 46,000) and the carboxy-terminal section (M(r) approximately 70,000). These results together indicate that fragment C3d occupies approximately positions 345-610 of the alpha-chain. The partial sequence of C3d was extended by completion of the sequence of a previously described tryptic peptide. Comparison of residues 1-49 of C3d with a peptide from alpha(2)-macroglobulin [Swenson, R. P. & Howard, J. B. (1980) J. Biol. Chem. 255, 8087-8091] shows a previously recognized identity of seven residues around the thiol ester site and a second region of identity around a known glycosylation site of alpha(2)-macroglobulin. The relationships among these proteins and protein C4 are discussed. An overall outline of the structure of C3 is presented, showing the locations of various fragments and cleavage sites. The thiol ester group places constraints on the local folding of the peptide chain; a possible conformation is suggested and discussed in relation to the mechanism of activation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1983

The "third" dimension in craniofacial surgery.

A new method for reconstruction of a three-dimensional surface from a sequence of high-resolution axial CT scans has been developed. This algorithm is realized as a set of computer programs that can operate on commercially available CT scanners or evaluation consoles. The program is both efficient and easy to implement. No operator intervention is required. The images produced simulate photographs of the skull. Frontal, lateral, oblique, bird's eye, worm's eye, and rear views are generated. As with photographs and conventional radiographs, each of these projections uniquely displays specific anatomic details. This method of osseous surface reconstruction is now routinely applied to all patients evaluated for major craniofacial reconstruction at our institution. The images are useful in defining aberrant anatomy, planning surgical procedures, and evaluating the results of such operations. This method replaces an inexact concept in the surgeon's imagination with a three-dimensional image of the craniofacial skeleton.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The 1A protein of respiratory syncytial virus is an integral membrane protein present as multiple, structurally distinct species.

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) 1A protein was previously identified as a 7.5-kilodalton (kDa) nonglycosylated species that, on the basis of its predicted sequence determined from the sequence of its mRNA, contains a hydrophobic central domain that was suggestive of membrane interaction. Here, four major, structurally distinct intracellular species of the 1A protein were identified in cells infected by RSV or by a recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the 1A gene. The four species of 1A were: (i) the previously described, nonglycosylated 7.5-kDa species that appeared to be the full-length, unmodified 1A protein; (ii) a nonglycosylated 4.8-kDa species that was carboxy-coterminal with the 7.5-kDa species and might be generated by translational initiation at the second AUG in the sequence; (iii) a 13- to 15-kDa species that contained one or two N-linked carbohydrate side chains of the high-mannose type; and (iv) a 21- to 30-kDa glycosylated species that appeared to be generated from the 13- to 15-kDa species by further modification of the N-linked carbohydrate. All four forms of the 1A protein were synthesized and processed on intracellular membranes, and several lines of biochemical evidence showed that all four species were integral membrane proteins. Thus, the 1A protein is a third RSV integral membrane protein and is present as such in both glycosylated and nonglycosylated forms. With the use of antiserum raised against a synthetic peptide representing the C terminus of the 1A protein, indirect immunofluorescence showed that the 1A protein was expressed at the cell surface. Antibody-antigen complexes formed at the surface of intact infected cells were immunoprecipitated, showing that the 7.5-kDa, 13- to 15-kDa, and 21- to 30-kDa, but not the 4.8-kDa, species, were accessible to extracellular antibodies. Thus, the 1A protein is a candidate to be a viral surface antigen. The small size, gene map location integral membrane association, and cell surface expression of the 1A protein strongly suggested that it is a counterpart to the SH protein that has been described for simian virus type 5. We suggest that, in the future, the RSV 1A protein be given the same designation, namely, SH.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Human-proto-oncogene nucleotide sequences corresponding to the transforming region of simian sarcoma virus.

The nucleotide sequences of the six regions within the normal human cellular locus (c-sis) that correspond to the entire transforming region of the simian sarcoma virus (SSV) genome (v-sis) were determined. The regions are bounded by acceptor and donor splice sites and, except for region 6, resemble exons. Region 6 lacks a 3' donor splice site and terminates -5 base pairs from the 3' v-sis-helper-viral junction. This is consistent with a model proposing that SSV was generated by recombination between proviral DNA of a simian sarcoma associated virus and proto-sis and that introns were spliced out subsequently from a fused viral-sis messenger RNA. This also suggests that the 3' recombination occurred within an exon of the woolly monkey (Lagothrix) genome. The open reading frames predicting the v-sis and c-sis gene products coincide with the stop codon of c-sis located 123 nucleotides into the fifth region of homology. The overall nucleotide homology was 91 percent with substitutions mainly in the third codon positions within the open reading frame and with greatest divergence within the untranslated 3' portion of the sequences. The predicted protein products for v-sis and c-sis are 93 percent homologous. The predicted c-sis gene product is identical in 31 of 31 amino acids to one of the published sequences of platelet-derived growth factor. Thus, c-sis encodes one chain of human platelet-derived growth factor.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

The development of a third generation system for entering microbiology data into a clinical laboratory information system.

Increased demands on technologists' time and the desire to have electronic storage of patient information have led to numerous computer-based efforts to manage microbiology data. Our approach to the design of a new microbiology subsystem has been to maximize the functionality without requiring unusual input devices. DEC VT100-compatible terminals are used for data entry and display. Data are displayed taking advantage of such features of these terminals as reverse video, highlighting, and scroll windowing. Numerous single-key instructions for invoking functions and changing cursor positions have been implemented to minimize keystrokes and to anticipate the entry sequences of the technologists. A program that allows the quick location and display of specimens and results is also included in the package.

Clinical Laboratory Information Systems↗
PubMed1996

Common occurrence of an antiidiotypic antibody that recognizes T14+ anti-DNA antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether antibodies to a T14 anti-DNA antibody can be found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Seventy-six serum samples (37 from patients with SLE) were randomly selected from among sera submitted for routine antinuclear antibody testing. Short, overlapping peptides based on the partial VH (variable region of the heavy chain) sequence of the T14 antibody were synthesized on multipins and screened for reactivity with SLE sera. In addition, selected peptides from T14 and related proteins were synthesized in bulk and screened for reactivity with both SLE and control sera. A monoclonal antibody was generated to determine the prevalence of the T14 idiotype (T14+ Id) in the different study populations. RESULTS: Antibodies were detected by a peptide based on the third complementarity-determining region (CDR3) of the T14 protein in 15 (41%) of 37 patients with SLE or 15 (54%) of 28 who had anti-DNA antibodies, in 3 (9%) of 34 patients without anti-DNA antibodies (9 of whom had SLE), and in 6 (10%) of 57 healthy controls. In SLE sera, the antiidiotypic (anti-Id) responses (IgM and IgG) correlated well with the anti-DNA responses (IgG), and both responses correlated well with the T14+ Id activity in SLE sera. Control peptides based on the 18/2 (16/6+ Id) and S107 proteins detected low antibody activities in SLE sera, attributable to cross-reactivity with the T14 peptide. A peptide based on an unrelated human antibody was not reactive with these sera. CONCLUSION: Anti-Id antibodies directed to T14 VHCDR3 were found commonly in the sera of patients with SLE, and they appeared to be induced by the anti-DNA antibodies present in the sera. Based on these findings, these secondary antibodies may be pathogenic in SLE.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Plasmodium falciparum: recombinant baculoviruses direct the expression of circumsporozoite proteins in Spodoptera frugiperda cell cultures.

The DNA coding for the circumsporozoite protein (CPS) of Plasmodium falciparum has been cloned into the baculovirus expression vector pAcYM1 and expressed in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells. Three DNA constructs have been made: the first one directs the synthesis of the complete CSP (aa 1-412), the second leads to the production of a species devoid of the anchor domain (aa 1-391) and the third one to a molecule lacking both signal and membrane anchor sequences (aa 18-391). All three recombinant CPS were produced at about 3 micrograms per 10(6) infected cells and were characterized in terms of immunoreactivity and apparent molecular weight. Analytical purification of the recombinant proteins was achieved by a combination of heat treatment, acidification, isoelectric focusing and ion exchange chromatography. The purified material, when injected into mice, generated only modest antibody responses, although antisera from immunized mice reacted with control CSP antigens carrying or not the major immunodominant repeat region.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Purification and characterization of a 43 kD hepatoprotective protein from the herb Cajanus indicus L.

Cajanus indicus L, a herb, is popularly known for its hepatoprotective activity. Aqueous extract of the leaves of this plant contains hepatoprotective and hepatostimulatory molecule(s). Present study was aimed to isolate, purify and characterize the active principle(s) responsible for that activity. A hepatoprotective protein molecule has been purified to homogeneity (approximately 300 fold). Homogeneous preparation of the protein was achieved by homogenization, (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography, gel filtration and high performance liquid chromatography. The protein purified is composed of a single polypeptide chain having an apparent molecular mass of 43 kD as determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration through sephadex G-75 column. The isoelectric point of the protein determined was 4.8. Loss of biological activity after heat and protease treatment confirmed that the active molecule is a protein. Peptide fragments of the protein generated by trypsin cleavage were subjected to MALDI-TOF as well as LC-MS analyses and among the various fragments, four were very prominent and used for the determination of the amino acid sequence of the hepatoprotective protein. While one of the peptide fragment revealed strong sequence homology with plastocyanin, another fragment showed some similarity with a tomato protein present in the NCBI non-redundant database. The third peptide, on the other hand, is unique as it did not show any sequence homology with any known protein in the database. The protein showed maximum hepatoprotective activity when administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg body weight for five days after CCl(4 )administration. Histopathological studies also supported the hepatoprotective nature of the protein. Along with its curative property, the protein also possesses preventive role against a number of toxin induced hepatic damages.

Animals↗