RNA interference (RNAi) is an incredibly powerful tool for rapid and efficient knockdown of gene expression. This technology can be used to induce apoptosis in the germline of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genotoxic stressors such as ionizing radiation (IR), ultraviolet light, chemical mutagens (e.g., N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea [ENU]), and DNA cross-linking reagents can also be used to stimulate apoptosis...

The use of tumor immunotherapy using whole ricin-antibody conjugates is complicated by the nonspecific lectin activity of the ricin B-chain which leads to toxic side effects. A novel method of coupling whole intact ricin to monoclonal antibody (MoAb) is described herein, where the nonspecific binding of the ricin B-chain is blocked. The coupling was done using the bifunctional reagents S-acetyl...

The proteins of 30S RNP particles containing pre-mRNA (hnRNA) were cross-linked with bifunctional reagents (dimethyl-suberimidate and dimethyl-3,3'-dithiobispropionimidate). Further treatment with 1 or 2 M NaCl dissociates all RNA from protein. However, a significant part of protein particles--informofers being cross-linked survived high salt treatment. Their sedimentation coefficients were clo...

Development of a simple, straightforward 3D fabrication method to culture cells in 3D, without relying on any complex fabrication methods, remains a challenge. In this paper, we describe a new technique that allows fabrication of scalable 3D cell-laden hydrogel structures easily, without complex machinery: the technique can be done using only apparatus already available in a typical cell biolog...

Chemical modifications were used to identify some of the functionally important amino acid residues of the potato plant uncoupling protein (StUCP). The proton-dependent swelling of potato mitochondria in K(+)-acetate in the presence of linoleic acid and valinomycin was inhibited by mersalyl (K(i) = 5 microM) and other hydrophilic SH reagents such as Thiolyte MB, iodoacetate and 5, 5'-dithio-bis...

Qbeta replicase is a complex of four nonidentical subunits readily dissociable into two subcomplexes: 30 S ribosomal protein S1 and the phage-coded polypeptide (Subunits I + II) and protein synthesis elongation factors EF-Tu and EF-Ts (Subunits III + IV). The affinity of the two subcomplexes for one another increases with increasing ionic strength. The enzyme is capable of initiation of RNA syn...

This report describes for the first time the identification of four forms of biliverdin reductase including two biliverdin-MP reductases and two biliverdin-Ma reductases, designated isozymes I and I1 and isozymes I11 and IV, respectively, in human liver cytosolic fractions. The four forms of biliverdin reductase were purified to homogeneity. There was a 7,80&15,000-fold increase in specific act...

Our earlier studies have demonstrated that exposure of Caucasoid skin to longwave uv light after the application of psoralens resulted in an increase in the average size of the melanosomes and changes in the distribution pattern of melanosomes within the keratinocytes. The photobiologic mechanism responsible for the changes in the size of melanosomes is still not clear. However, the action spec...

background: promoting mental health and preventing mental disorders are of the main concerns for every country. achieving these goals requires effective indexes for evaluating mental health. therefore, to develop mental health enhancement programs in iran, there is a need to measure the state of mental health in iran. objectives: this study aimed to select a set of mental health indicators that...