Isoform-specific expression and characterization of 14-3-3 proteins in human glioma tissues discovered by stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture-based proteomic analysis

Human 14-3-3 proteins have isoform-specific expression and functions in different kinds of normal or tumor cells and tissues. However, the expression profiling of 14-3-3 proteins and isoform-specific biological functions are unclear in human glioma so far. In our study, the expression levels and characterization of 14-3-3 isoforms in human glioma tissues were investigated by a sensitive, accurate stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture-based quantitative proteomic strategy. As a result, except unexpressed 14-3-3σ, the other six isoforms, with different expression levels, were existed in glioma tissues and para-cancerous brain tissues (PBTs). 14-3-3β and η were upregulated, whereas 14-3-3ζ was downregulated in glioma tissues compared with that in PBTs. And the other three isoforms 14-3-3ε, θ, and γ had similar expression levels in human glioma tissues and PBTs. Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis were both consistent with the quantitative proteomic data. The loss of expression of 14-3-3σ was further discovered due to DNA high methylation in its coding region in glioma by methylation-specific PCR analysis. These results indicated that the four isoforms, including 14-3-3β, η, ζ, and σ, may play important roles in tumorigenesis of human glioma, which is probably used as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targets for treatment of human gliomas in future.     

Regulation of proteins mediating neurodegeneration in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is characterized by inflammatory demyelination and axonal loss as pathophysiological correlates of relapsing activity and progressive development of clinical disability. The molecular processes involved in this pathogenesis are still unclear as they are quite complex and heterogeneous. In this article we present protein expression analysis of brain and spinal cord tissues from different models of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the most commonly used animal model for multiple sclerosis. We observed a number of EAE-specific protein expression and PTM differences. Proteome analysis was extended to multiple sclerosis specimens in order to validate the EAE findings. Our findings suggest the regulation of a number of proteins that shed light on the molecular mechanisms of the disease processes taking place in EAE and multiple sclerosis. We found consistent modulation of proteins including serum amyloid P component, sirtuin 2, dihydropyrimidinase-related protein family proteins, stathmin 1, creatine kinase B and chloride intracellular channel protein 1. Functional classification of the proteins by database and the literature mining reveals their association with neuronal development and myelinogenesis, suggesting possible disease processes that mediate neurodegeneration.     

Infrared optical constants of polycrystalline boron nitride: reply to comment

This reply is to the comment by C. G. Ribbing [Appl. Opt. 33, 8055 (1994)] on our paper on IR optical constants of polycrystalline boron nitride.     

Synthesis, Structure and Antitumour Properties of a New 1,2-Propylenediaminetetraacetate-Ruthenium(III) Compound

A novel complex formed by ruthenium (III) and the sequestering ligand 1,2-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA) has been synthetized and characterized. The structure of the monomeric compound, studied by X-ray diffraction , shows an almost symmetric octahedral geometry around the metal ion, with two chlorine atoms in a cis conformation. The antitumour activity against a variety of murine and human cancers is reported.     

Fiber-linked telescope array: description and laboratory tests of a two-channel prototype

We present a complete two-telescope version of a fiber-linked coherent array that is meant to be used for mounting on the dish of a radio telescope. This was built with 20-cm amateur telescopes and includes three different servo subsystems for guiding, nulling of the air path difference, and fiber length control. Laboratory tests of the fully integrated system in front of a star simulator are described.     

Simple laser velocimeter that uses photoconductive semiconductors to measure optical frequency differences

The dc photocurrents generated by steady-state moving space-charge fields inside photoconductive semiconductors containing deep level donors and traps can be used to determine the relative frequency differences between the two interfering optical fields that establish the space-charge fields. A simple laser velocimeter that uses a semi-insulating GaAs:Cr sample to detect the Doppler frequency shift between two laser beams is demonstrated.     

Fiducial markers for increasing the versatility of optical correlation in the measurement of faults on integrated-circuit wafers

A microscope-coherent optical processor is used for the measurement of the registration errors on integrated-circuit wafers. The measurements are obtained from the optical correlation of wafers with reference wafer patterns by use of matched spatial filters. Previously, the intricate pattern of the active circuit area of wafers has been used in the correlation process, and a new matched spatial filter had to be created for each different integrated circuit. Here, the results of using comparatively plain fiducial markers on a wafer for the registration-error measurement are presented, and these show that the measurements can be made independent of the design of the integrated circuit while maintaining the advantages and accuracy of the optical correlation technique.     

Effects of hypergravity on the cell shape and on the organization of cytoskeleton and extracelluar matrix molecules of in vitro human dermal fibroblasts

In vitro human dermal fibroblasts were submitted to normal gravity (1 g) or to chronic hypergravity ranging from 2 to 20 g for 8 days. Changes only appeared above 15 g. The majority of 20 g-subjected cells showed fine filipods in the shape of a star whereas most control cells had rounded shapes and spread by forming lamellipodia. Indirect immunofluorescence staining of vinculin, alpha-actinin and actin stress fibers showed changes of the arrangement anchoring points of stress fibers under hypergravity. Tubulin staining showed that the centrosomal material generally located above the nucleus in control cells had migrated to the nucleus side in 20 g-exposed cells. After 8 d of culture under 20 g hypergravity the thickness of fibronectin network seemed to be increased and bundles of fibrils appeared linking ordered arrays of fibers. The fibrils of collagen I formed better delimited and thicker bundles of fibers. We may assume that 20 g hypergravity can induce changes in fibroblast cell shape, migration way, and anchorage leading to a reorganization of extracellular matrix without concomitant change of cell proliferation.