Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are heterogeneous with respect to their self-renewal, lineage, and reconstitution potentials. Although c-Kit is required for HSC function, gain and loss-of-function c-Kit mutants suggest that even small changes in c-Kit signaling profoundly affect HSC function. Herein, we demonstrate that even the most rigorously defined HSCs can be separated into functionally di...

We screened for natural mutations in Crl:CF1 closed colony mice using an ordinary backcrossing system. Five of 30 CF1 males carried novel genes that caused white spots on colored coats. Their backcross progenies showed a white spot phenotype. The white spot gene was mapped to approximately 39 cM on chromosome 5, where the Kit gene is known to reside. Allelism testing between this spot gene and ...

Objective: Via the use of an alternative promoter, a truncated c-KIT protein (tr-KIT) 30-50 kDa is generated, lacking extracellular and transmembrane domains. Moreover, over-expression tr-KIT, stronger activator than c-KIT, appears to be specific prostate cancer (PCa). Also, Imatinib, tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocks activity full-length but has no effect on tr-KIT in PCa. Tr-KIT its own nucle...

DNA methylation analyses usually require a preceding bisulfite conversion of the DNA. The choice of an appropriate kit for a specific application should be based on the specific performance requirements with regard to the respective sample material. In this study, the performance of nine kits was evaluated: EpiTect Fast FFPE Bisulfite Kit, EpiTect Bisulfite Kit, EpiTect Fast DNA Bisulfite Kit (...

An immunoradiometric assay of factor IX was developed based on homologous antibodies that arose in a hemophilic patient. With this assay, 11 of 12 patients with severe hemophilia B had factor IX antigen levels below 1 U/dl and 6 patients with mild hemophilia B had various levels. Factor IX antigen in 8 fetuses (16th-20th gestational week) aborted for therapeutic reasons ranged from 1.8 to 10.0 ...

To seek the pathophysiologic significance of measuring the concentration of total renin instead of prorenin, we determined the plasma total renin concentration by immunoradiometric assay and correlated the results with various clinical features and laboratory parameters of diabetic complication in 108 patients with diabetes mellitus. The plasma prorenin concentration was estimated as the differ...