The performance of two commercial real-time PCR kits for the detection of Mycoplasma genitalium was evaluated in comparison to an in-house real-time PCR assay. Concordances of 96% and 93% were found for the TIB MOLBIOL and the Diagenode assays, respectively, compared to the results of the in-house assay.

The enzyme 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones. To date, this laboratory has isolated and characterized five distinct 3beta-HSD complementary DNAs (cDNAs) in the mouse (3beta-HSD I through V). These different forms are expressed in a tissue- and developmentally-specific manner and fall into two functionally distinct enzymes. 3be...

Four new cyclopropyl-triterpenes, 27-nor-3beta-hydroxy-25-oxocycloartane (1), (22E)-25,26,27-trinor-3beta-hydroxycycloart-22-en-24-al (2), 3beta-acetoxy-15alpha-hydroxy-13,27-cyclours-11-ene (3), 3beta-acetoxy-12alpha-formyloxy-13,27-cycloursan-11alpha-ol (4), together with (23E)-27-nor-3beta-hydroxycycloart-23-en-25-one (5) were isolated from the aerial roots of Ficus microcarpa. Compounds 3 a...

The human type 1 (placenta, breast tumors) and type 2 (gonads, adrenals) isoforms of 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase (3beta-HSD) are key enzymes in biosynthesis of all active steroid hormones. Human 3beta-HSD1 is a critical enzyme in the conversion of DHEA to estradiol in breast tumors and may be a major target enzyme for the treatment of breast cancer. 3beta-HSD2 participates in t...

Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) is closely involved in neuronal apoptosis and pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, whether GSK-3beta mediates apoptosis of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease remains elusive. In this study, using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinsonism models, we investigated wh...

Microtubule arrays direct intracellular organization and define cellular polarity. Here, we show a novel function of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) in the organization of microtubule arrays through the interaction with Bicaudal-D (BICD). BICD is known to form a complex with dynein-dynactin and to function in the intracellular vesicle trafficking. Our data revealed that GSK-3beta is ...

Two new beta-sitosterol esters have been isolated from the flowers of Punica granatum Linn. (Punicaceae) along with the known compounds n-tricosane (3), n-heptacosanyl n-hexanoate (4), olean-5,12-dien-3beta-ol-28-oic acid (5), and olean-12-en-3beta-ol-28-oic acid (6). The structures of the new phytosterols have been elucidated as stigmast-5-en-3beta-ol-3beta-dodecanoate (beta-sitosterol laurate...

The aim of this study was to determine the role of GSK-3beta in cardiomyocyte protection afforded by erythropoietin (EPO) against oxidant stress-induced apoptosis. Treatment with EPO (10 units/ml) induced Ser473 phosphorylation of Akt and Ser9 phosphorylation of GSK-3beta and significantly reduced the proportion of apoptotic H9c2 cardiomyocytes after exposure to H2O2 from 38.3 +/- 2.7% to 26.0 ...

Ex vivo expansion of cord blood cells generally results in reduced stem cell activity in vivo. Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) regulates the degradation of beta-catenin, a critical regulator of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Here we show that GSK-3beta inhibition activates beta-catenin in cord blood CD34(+) cells and upregulates beta-catenin transcriptional targets c-myc and HoxB4,...

Mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) is a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase member that activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Aberrant activation of MLK3 has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases. Similarly, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3beta has also been shown to activate JNK and contribute to neuronal apoptosis. Here, we show a functional interaction between ML...