Human DNA polymerase delta (Pol delta4), a key enzyme in chromosomal replication, is a heterotetramer composed of the p125, p50, p68 and p12 subunits. Genotoxic agents such as UV and alkylating chemicals trigger a DNA damage response in which Pol delta4 is converted to a trimer (Pol delta3) by degradation of p12. We show that Pol delta3 has altered enzymatic properties: it is less able to perfo...

OBJECTIVE To determine plasma adiponectin concentration in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to assess possible correlations of adiponectin to the hormonal and metabolic parameters, including measures of insulin resistance (IR). DESIGN Case-control study. SETTING Tertiary-referral university hospital. PATIENT(S) One hundred eighty selected women were classified a...

Carboxypeptidase E (CPE) functions as a regulated secretory pathway sorting receptor for several prohormones, including pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proenkephalin and proinsulin. The association of CPE with lipid rafts in the trans -Golgi network and secretory granule membranes is necessary for its sorting receptor function. We now provide evidence that a domain within the C-terminal 25 residue...

In this project, we investigated the use of an electronic portal imaging device (EPID), together with the treatment planning system (TPS) and MLC log files, to determine the delivered doses to the patient and evaluate the agreement between the treatment plan and the delivered dose distribution. The QA analysis results are presented for 15 VMAT patients using the EPID measurements, the ScandiDos...

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sensitivities of 3D diode arrays to setup error for patient-specific quality assurance (QA) of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Translational setup errors of ± 1, ± 2, and ± 3 mm in the RL, SI, and AP directions and rotational setup errors of ± 1° and ± 2° in the pitch, roll, and yaw directions were set up in two phantom systems, ArcCHECK and...

A patient specific quality assurance (QA) should detect errors that originate anywhere in the treatment planning process. However, the increasing complexity of treatment plans has increased the need for improvements in the accuracy of the patient specific pretreatment verification process. This has led to the utilization of higher resolution QA methods such as the electronic portal imaging devi...

The C-4 hydroxylation of sphinganine and dihydroceramide is a rate-limiting reaction in the biosynthesis of phytosphingolipids. Mouse DES1 (MDES1) cDNA homologous to the Drosophila melanogaster degenerative spermatocyte gene-1 (des-1) cDNA leads to sphingosine Delta4-desaturase activity, and another mouse homologue, MDES2, has bifunctional activity, producing C-4 hydroxysphinganine and Delta4-s...

The present study was conducted to establish a method to induce differentiation of bone marrow (MB)-derived mesenchymal cells into insulin-producing cells. When mouse BM-derived mesenchymal cells were cultured for 60 days in medium containing 10% fetal calf serum and 25 mM glucose, they expressed insulin. Addition of activin A and betacellulin (BTC) accelerated differentiation, and immunoreacti...

The pyruvate uptake rate in inverted submitochondrial vesicles prepared from rat liver was optimized and further characterized; the potential inhibitory effects of the anticonvulsive drug valproic acid or 2-n-propyl-pentanoic acid (VPA), Delta4-valproic acid or 2-n-propyl-4-pentenoic acid and the respective coenzyme A (CoA) conjugates were studied in the presence of a proton gradient. All teste...