Voltage-gated K(+) channels are tetramers with each subunit containing six (S1-S6) putative membrane spanning segments. The fifth through sixth transmembrane segments (S5-S6) from each of four subunits assemble to form a central pore domain. A growing body of evidence suggests that the first four segments (S1-S4) comprise a domain-like voltage-sensing structure. While the topology of this regio...

Stainless steel coupons were treated with skim milk and subsequently challenged with individual bacterial suspensions of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas fragi, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Serratia marcescens. The numbers of attached bacteria were determined by direct epifluorescence microscopy and compared with the attachment levels on clean stainless steel with two differe...

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of sevoflurane combination with epidural anesthesia on myocardial injury in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing non-cardiac surgery METHODS The investigation was performed in TianJin NanKai Hospital, TianJin, China from November 2009 to March 2010. Eighty patients with CAD undergoing elective abdominal surgery were randomized into 4 groups:...

The application of Raman spectroscopy to characterize natively unfolded proteins has been underdeveloped, even though it has significant technical advantages. We propose that a simple three-component band fitting of the amide I region can assist in the conformational characterization of the ensemble of structures present in natively unfolded proteins. The Raman spectra of alpha-synuclein, a pro...

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and LPS-binding protein (LBP) are both components of the innate immune system. LBP is a plasma protein that binds to lipid A and enhances the biological activity of LPS 100- to 1000-fold. Recently it was reported that LBP-deficient mice are more susceptible to Salmonella typhimurium infection. Here we report that LBP KO mice are more susceptible to Salmonella ...

The proteolytic activities of alpha-chymotrypsin, trypsin, pepsin, bromelain, and an extract from germinating pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita moschata) were determined by their ability to effect the release of 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate bound to internal hydrophobic sites in intact protein substrates. Casein, glyceraldehyde-3-P dehydrogenase, urease, catalase, pumpkin seed globulin, and bovine s...

The genetic polymorphism of the CSN1S1 (casein alpha-S1) locus was investigated in two endangered Czech goat breeds (White Shorthair and Brown Shorthair). These breeds are kept mainly for their good dairy performance. Genetic characterization of the CSN1S1 locus contributes to the knowledge of the genetic structure of these two endangered breeds. The study was performed on 498 goats (333 White ...

The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of in vitro rumen solubility or degradability of dietary protein on net absorption of nitrogenous compounds from portal-drained viscera of beef heifers. Four protein sources, casein, soya-bean meal, maize-gluten meal and blood meal provided about two-thirds of total dietary nitrogen in semi-purified diets given to four beef heifers in a...

Streptomyces rugosporus LL-42D005 was shown to produce the novel pyrroindomycin antibiotics. Production of pyrroindomycin (alpha) and chloro-pyrroindomycin (beta) was characterized in a semi-defined fermentation medium containing glucose, casein, phosphate, vitamins and minerals. Accumulation of pyrroindomycin beta increased with increasing concentrations of glucose, reaching maximum titers at ...

Tissue-specific gene expression in mammary epithelium is dependent on the extracellular matrix as well as hormones. There is good evidence that the basement membrane provides signals for regulating beta-casein expression, and that integrins are involved in this process. Here, we demonstrate that in the presence of lactogenic hormones, laminin can direct expression of the beta-casein gene. Mouse...