Inhibition of de novo synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) by some anti-cancer drugs such as hexadecylphosphocholine leads to apoptosis in various cell lines. Likewise, in MT58, a mutant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line containing a thermo-sensitive mutation in CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT), an important regulatory enzyme in the CDP-choline pathway, inhibition of PC synthes...

introduction: bombesin is a 14-aminoacid peptide isolated from frog skin. the mammalian counterparts of the frog peptide are neuromedin b (nmb) and gastrin-releasing peptide (grp). bombesin (bbn) is a peptide showing high affinity for the gastrin releasing peptide receptor (grpr). prostate, small cell lung cancer, breast, gastric, and colon cancers are known to over express receptors to bombesi...

The main objective of this paper is to present and evaluate a method that helps to calibrate the parameters of an evolutionary algorithm in a systematic and semi-automated manner. The method for Relevance Estimation and Value Calibration of EA parameters (REVAC) is empirically evaluated in two different ways. First, we use abstract test cases reflecting the typical properties of EA parameter sp...

We recently reported a novel surface architecture for the generation of biocompatible and stable photoswitchable quantum dots (psQDs). The system is based on Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) from a QD donor to diheteroarylethenes photochromic (PC) acceptors (pcFRET). The PC molecules are linked to an amphiphilic polymer that self-assembles, creating an interior lipophilic space, in whic...

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 6 (SCA6) is one of the common dominantly inherited ataxias in Japan, featuring late-onset ataxia and selective Purkinje cell (PC) degeneration. Molecular pathogenesis of SCA6 has been attracting considerable attention since it is caused by small CAG repeat expansions within the Ca(v)2.1 voltage-gated Ca(++) channel gene (CACNA1A). During the past 9 years, efforts hav...

The existence and identity of non-Watson-Crick base pairs (bps) within RNA bulges, internal loops, and hairpin loops cannot reliably be predicted by existing algorithms. We have developed the Isfold (Isosteric Folding) program as a tool to examine patterns of nucleotide substitutions from sequence alignments or mutation experiments and identify plausible bp interactions. We infer these interact...

Functional neural circuit formation during development involves massive elimination of redundant synapses. In the cerebellum, one-to-one connection from excitatory climbing fiber (CF) to Purkinje cell (PC) is established by elimination of early-formed surplus CFs. This process depends on glutamatergic excitatory inputs, but contribution of GABAergic transmission remains unclear. Here, we demons...

BACKGROUND Germline mutations at the INK4a/p16 locus are implicated in several human cancer syndromes, including familial atypical multiple mole melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome, FAMMM-pancreatic cancer (FAMMM-PC) syndrome, and in familial head and neck cancer syndrome. METHODS We present an individual with a family history of melanoma and pancreatic cancer who had multiple dysplastic nevi, squamous...