Search

Investigates the phylogeny of primary-symbionts of species belonging to the subgeneral of Glossina based on 16S recombinant DNA sequences. Lineage of organisms in the gamma-subdivision of proteobacteria; Association of evolution with symbiosis; Evidence for the development of symbiosis acquisition by S-endosymbionts.

bri3 was identified to be a novel gene up-regulated in TNF-treated cells with suppressed subtractive hybridization (SSH) in our laboratory. Previous studies showed that overexpression of BRI3 induced apoptosis in L929 cells. To further study the function of bri3, we disrupted its expression by expressing bri3 antisense RNA. The antisense RNA promoted resistance to TNF-induced cell death by more than 1000-fold in L929 cells, suggesting the involvement of BRI3 in TNF-induced cell death in this cell line. Analysis of cell death caused by other apoptotic inducers showed that the effect of BRI3 antisense RNA is highly specific to TNF-induced cell death. Taken together, bri3 appears to play an important role in TNF-induced cell death. Finally, we reported here that BRI3 may be localized to lysosome and function through lysosome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cellular adhesion plays important roles in a variety of biological processes. The ADAM family contains disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase-like domains which potentially have cell adhesion and protease activities. Recent studies suggest that the interaction between 14-3-3ζ and ADAM22cyt can regulate cell adhesion and spreading, therefore it has a potential role in neural development and function. 14-3-3 family has seven highly conserved members that regulate various cellular functions. Using yeast two-hybrid method, we identified that ADAM22cyt bound some other 14-3-3 family members. The interaction was further confirmed by in vitro protein pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation. We also found that the overexpression of exogenous ADAM22 in HEK293 cells could significantly enhance cell adhesion and spreading, compared with the truncated ADAM22 lack of 14-3-3 binding motifs. These results strongly demonstrated a functional role for ADAM22/14-3-3 in cell adhesion and spreading. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The ADAM family consists of a number of transmembrane proteins that contain disintegrin-like and metalloproteinase-like domains. Therefore, ADAMs potentially have cell adhesion and protease activities. 14-3-3 proteins are a highly conserved family of cytoplasmic proteins that associate with several intracellular signaling molecules in the regulation of various cellular functions. Here we report the identification of a novel interaction between the ADAM 22 cytoplasmic tail and the 14-3-3ζ isoform by a yeast two-hybrid screen. The interaction between the ADAM 22 cytoplasmic tail and 14-3-3ζ was confirmed by an in vitro protein pull-down assay as well as by co-immunoprecipitation, and the binding sites were mapped to the 28 amino acid residues of the C-terminus of the ADAM 22 cytoplasmic tail. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of the ADAM 22 cytoplasmic tail in human SGH44 cells inhibited cell adhesion and spreading and that deletion or mutation of the binding site for 14-3-3ζ within the ADAM 22 cytoplasmic tail abolished the ability of the overexpressed cytoplasmic tail to alter cell adhesion and spreading. Taken together, these results for the first time demonstrate an association between ADAM 22 and a 14-3-3 protein and suggest a potential role for the 14-3-3ζ/ADAM 22 association in the regulation of cell adhesion and related signaling events. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on Wlbachia, a maternally inherited intracellular bacterium, which can infect arthropods. Association with a risk for cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI), parthenogenesis, the feminization of genetic males, and male-killing in different hosts; Investigation into the molecular mechanisms by which this bacterium causes reproductive abnormalities; Cloning and characterization of the gene encoding phage-related tail protein (PrTP) from Wolbachia in Drosophila melanogaster Cantons (wMelCS) and from Wolbachia in Drosophila melanogaster yw67c23 (wMel); Use of representational difference analysis (RDA) and ligation-mediated PCR (LM-PCR); Testing of the functionality of a bipartite nuclear localization signal sequence (NLS) in Drosophila S2 cells; Examination of PrTP expression in various strains of Wolbachia; Suggestion that PrTP has an indirect role in inducing CI; Assertion that the existence of prtp shows direct evidence of phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer (HGT) that might be linked to a variety of reproductive abnormalities of Wolbachia.

Studies the function of the murine BRI3 gene in inducing cell death by cloning the cDNA of murine BRI3 gene from the total RNA of murine brain endothelial cells treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Use of the suppression subtractive hybridization; Localization of the fusion protein in cytoplasm; Ability of the induction of the enhanced green fluorescence protein to induce cell death.

Studies the association of serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK) and 14-3-3 theta protein in serine/threonine phosphorylation mechanism for thrombopoietin/MPl signal transduction. Administration of yeast two-hybrid screening; Isolation of positive clones from independent transformants; Interaction between SGK and 14-3-3 protein.

Studies the isolation and characterization of a potential transposable element from Wolbachia, a group of Rickettsia-like bacteria. Nucleotide structure of the transposable element; Genomic difference between Wolbachia and different cytoplasmic incompatibility phenotype.

Discusses a study that cultured neural stem cells (NSC) isolated from the brains of embryonic mice in vitro and determined their distribution. Identification of NSC; Infection of NSC with an adenoviral vector; Expression of an exogenous reporter gene.