The RFX DNA binding domain (DBD) is a novel highly conserved motif belonging to a large number of dimer DNA binding proteins which have diverse regulatory functions in eukaryotic organisms. To characterize this novel motif, a 78mer polypeptide corresponding to the DBD of human hRFX (hrfX1/DBD), a prototypical member of the RFX family has been cloned and overproduced in Escherichia coli. A purif...

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase [PARP; NAD+ ADP-ribosyltransferase; NAD+:poly(adenosine-diphosphate-D-ribosyl)-acceptor ADP-D-ribosyltransferase, EC 2.4.2.30] is a zinc-dependent eukaryotic DNA-binding protein that specifically recognizes DNA strand breaks produced by various genotoxic agents. To study the biological function of this enzyme, we have established stable HeLa cell lines that constitut...

The dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) has a number of industrial applications and has been a subject of research for many years. Many studies have been carried out to understand the underlying DBD physics. Despite the fact that much progress has been made, some important issues are still far from being clear. In this work, we summarize the basics of DBD physics and introduce innovative concept...

Cervical cancer is caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) in collaboration with other non-viral factors. The uterine cervix is hormone responsive and female hormones have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. HPV transgenic mice expressing HPV16 oncogenes E6 (K14E6) and/or E7 (K14E7) have been employed to study a mechanism of estrogen and estrogen receptor α (ERα) in cervical carcin...

Thyroid hormone 3,3',5-tri-iodothyronine (T3) regulates gene expression in a positive and negative manner. Here, we analyzed the regulation of a positively (mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and negatively T3-regulated target gene (TSHalpha). Thyroid hormone receptor (TR) activates mGPDH but not TSH promoter fragments in a mammalian one-hybrid assay. Furthermore, we investigated...

The plasma-based aerosol process developed for the direct coating of particles in gases with silicon oxide in a continuous chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process is presented. It is shown that non-thermal plasma filaments induced in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) at atmospheric pressure trigger post-DBD gas phase reactions. DBD operating conditions are first scanned to produce ozone and ...

PmrA, an OmpR/PhoB family response regulator, manages genes for antibiotic resistance. Phosphorylation of OmpR/PhoB response regulator induces the formation of a symmetric dimer in the N-terminal receiver domain (REC), promoting two C-terminal DNA-binding domains (DBDs) to recognize promoter DNA to elicit adaptive responses. Recently, determination of the KdpE-DNA complex structure revealed an ...

Based on the assumption that facial mimicry is a key factor in emotional empathy, and clinical observations that children with disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) are weak empathizers, the present study explored whether DBD boys are less facially responsive to facial expressions of emotions than normal controls. Facial electromyographic (EMG) activity in the zygomaticus major and corrugator sup...

BACKGROUND Impairments in facial mimicry are considered a proxy for deficits in affective empathy and have been demonstrated in 10 year old children and in adolescents with disruptive behavior disorder (DBD). However, it is not known whether these impairments are already present at an earlier age. Emotional deficits have also been shown in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ...