The belly spot and tail (Bst+/−) mouse phenotype is caused by mutations of the ribosomal protein L24 (Rpl24). Among various phenotypes in Bst+/− mice, the most interesting are its retinal abnormalities, consisting of delayed closure of choroid fissures, decreased ganglion cells and subretinal vascularization. We further characterized the Bst+/− mouse and investigated the underlying molecular me...

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a New World primate species, is potentially a useful animal model for preclinical studies in drug development. However, cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes have not been fully identified and characterized in marmosets. In this study, we identified P450 2A6 cDNA with the sequence highly identical (91–94%) to human P450 2A6, 2A7, and 2A13 cDNA and cynomolgus m...

In the 1980s, medical research set its focus more and more on molecular aspects of diseases, and it was not long until an individual mutation in a single protein species was found to cause the complete phenotype of a disease. Unsurprisingly, ion channels were among those culprits. Significant public attention was aroused when mutations in the (then appropriately named) cystic fibrosis transmemb...

Pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α and IFN-γ (TI), play important yet diverse roles in cell survival, proliferation, and death. Recent evidence highlights FAT10 as a downstream molecule in the pathway of inflammation-induced tumorigenesis through mediating the effect of cytokines in causing numerical CIN and protecting cells from cytokines-induced cell death. cDNA microarray analysis...

BACKGROUND There are very few population-based studies investigating the incidence of food hypersensitivity during the first year of life. OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of parentally reported food hypersensitivity and objectively diagnosed food hypersensitivity during the first year of life. METHODS A birth cohort was recruited (n = 969). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, information regard...

[This corrects the article on p. 969 in vol. 11.].

Huntingtin (Htt) mutation causes Huntington's disease. Sequence analysis of Htt revealed a possible thrombin cleavage site in the N-terminal region of Htt. In order to investigate if thrombin can cleave Htt, we expressed the N-terminal fragment (1-969) of wild-type (wt) Htt (Htt 1-969) in MCF-7 cells and studied its cleavage pattern by thrombin in vitro. An expression plasmid pcDNA3-Htt-18Q-969...