http://www.hindawi.comThe latest articles from Hindawi Publishing Corporation© 2012, Hindawi Publishing Corporation. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2012/592806/There is evidence for an unexpected role of diferric transferrin as a terminal oxidase for the transplasma membrane oxidation of cytosolic NADH. In the original studies which showed the reduction of iron in transferrin by the plasma membranes NADH oxidase, the possible role of the reduction on iron uptake was emphasized. The rapid reoxidation of transferrin iron under aerobic conditions precludes a role for surface reduction at neutral pH for release of iron for uptake at the plasma membrane. The stimulation of cytosolic NADH oxidation by diferric transferrin indicates that the transferrin can act as a terminal oxidase for the transplasma membrane NADH oxidase or can bind to a site which activates the oxidase. Since plasma membrane NADH oxidases clearly play a role in cell signaling, the relation of ferric transferrin stimulation of NADH oxidase to cell control should be considered, especially in relation to the growth promotion by transferrin not related to iron uptake. The oxidase can also contribute to control of cytosolic NAD concentration, and thereby can activate sirtuins for control of ageing and growth.Frederick L. Crane and Hans LöwCopyright © 2012 Frederick L. Crane and Hans Löw. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2012/712315/The development of striated muscle in vertebrates requires the assembly of contractile myofibrils, consisting of highly ordered bundles of protein filaments. Myofibril formation occurs by the stepwise addition of complex proteins, a process that is mediated by a variety of molecular chaperones and quality control factors. Most notably, myosin of the thick filament requires specialized chaperone activity during late myofibrillogenesis, including that of Hsp90 and its cofactor, Unc45b. Unc45b has been proposed to act exclusively as an adaptor molecule, stabilizing interactions between Hsp90 and myosin; however, recent discoveries in zebrafish and C. elegans suggest the possibility of an earlier role for Unc45b during myofibrillogenesis. This role may involve functional control of nonmuscle myosins during the earliest stages of myogenesis, when premyofibril scaffolds are first formed from dynamic cytoskeletal actin. This paper will outline several lines of evidence that converge to build a model for Unc45b activity during early myofibrillogenesis.J. Layne Myhre and David B. PilgrimCopyright © 2012 J. Layne Myhre and David B. Pilgrim. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/681385/Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) remodel the pericellular environment by regulating the cleavage of extracellular matrix proteins, cell surface components, neurotransmitter receptors, and growth factors that mediate cell adhesion, synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, and long-term potentiation. Interestingly, increased MMP activity and dysregulation of the balance between MMPs and TIMPs have also been implicated in various pathologic conditions. In this paper, we discuss various animal models that suggest that the activation of the gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 is involved in pathogenesis of drug dependence, Alzheimer's disease, and epilepsy.Hiroyuki Mizoguchi, Kiyofumi Yamada, and Toshitaka NabeshimaCopyright © 2011 Hiroyuki Mizoguchi et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/809259/Caveolin-2 is one of the major protein components of cholesterol- and glycosphingolipid-rich flask-shaped invaginations of plasma membrane caveolae. A new body of evidence suggests that caveolin-2 plays an important, and often more direct, role than caveolin-1 in regulating signaling and function in a cell- and tissue type-specific manner. The purpose of this paper is to primarily focus on discussing how these recent discoveries may help better understand the specific contribution of caveolin-2 to lipid raft- and caveolae-regulated cell/tissue-specific signaling and functions.Grzegorz SowaCopyright © 2011 Grzegorz Sowa. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/245090/Membrane rafts are small (10–200 nm) sterol- and sphingolipid-enriched domains that compartmentalize cellular processes. Membrane rafts play an important role in viral infection cycles and viral virulence. Viruses are divided into four main classes, enveloped DNA virus, enveloped RNA virus, nonenveloped DNA virus, and nonenveloped RNA virus. General virus infection cycle is also classified into two sections, the early stage (entry process) and the late stage (assembly, budding, and release processes of virus particles). In the viral cycle, membrane rafts act as a scaffold of many cellular signal transductions, which are associated with symptoms caused by viral infections. In this paper, we describe the functions of membrane rafts in viral lifecycles and host cellular response according to each virus classification, each stage of the virus lifecycle, and each virus-induced signal transduction.Tadanobu Takahashi and Takashi SuzukiCopyright © 2011 Tadanobu Takahashi and Takashi Suzuki. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/925012/Secretory phospholipase A2, an enzyme that exhibits substantial immunological activity, was measured in the serum of three species of diverse West African crocodiles. Incubation of different volumes of crocodile serum with bacteria labeled with a fluorescent fatty acid in the sn-2 position of membrane lipids resulted in a volume-dependent liberation of fluorescent probe. Serum from the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) exhibited slightly higher activity than that of the slender-snouted crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus) and the African dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis). Product formation was inhibited by BPB, a specific PLA2 inhibitor, confirming that the activity was a direct result of the presence of serum PLA2. Kinetic analysis showed that C. niloticus serum produced product more rapidly than M. cataphractus or O. tetraspis. Serum from all three species exhibited temperature-dependent PLA2 activities but with slightly different thermal profiles. All three crocodilian species showed high levels of activity against eight different species of bacteria.Mark Merchant, Kate Juneau, Jared Gemillion, Rodolfo Falconi, Aaron Doucet, and Matthew H. ShirleyCopyright © 2011 Mark Merchant et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/198325/High- and low-angle X-ray diffraction studies of hard α-keratin have been studied, and various models have been proposed over the last 70 years. Most of these studies have been confined to one or two forms of alpha keratin. This high- and low-angle synchrotron fibre diffraction study extends the study to cover all available data for all known forms of hard α-keratin including hairs, fingernails, hooves, horn, and quills from mammals, marsupials, and a monotreme, and it confirms that the model proposed is universally acceptable for all mammals. A complete Bragg analysis of the meridional diffraction patterns, including multiple-time exposures to verify any weak reflections, verified the existence of a superlattice consisting of two infinite lattices and three finite lattices. An analysis of the equatorial patterns establishes the radii of the oligomeric levels of dimers, tetramers, and intermediate filaments (IFs) together with the centre to centre distance for the IFs, thus confirming the proposed helices within helices molecular architecture for hard α-keratin. The results verify that the structure proposed by Feughelman and James meets the criteria for a valid α-keratin structure.Veronica JamesCopyright © 2011 Veronica James. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/740370/Preterm is defined as a baby with a gestation of less than 37 completed weeks. In this study, serum calcium, phosphorus, ALP, creatinine, and electrolytes were measured in preterm babies. The present study comprised of 75 preterm babies of which 25 were of 28–30 weeks, 25 were of 30–32 weeks, and remaining 25 were of 34–36 weeks (controls) of gestational age. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were found to be significantly decreased, and serum ALP, creatinine, and electrolytes were found to be significantly increased (P<0.001) at 28–30 weeks as compared to controls, but serum calcium and phosphorous levels were found to be insignificantly decreased, whereas serum ALP activities were found to be insignificantly increased at 28–30 weeks as compared to 30–32 weeks of gestational age in preterm babies. It can be concluded that high serum ALP activity and low serum calcium and phosphorus levels are associated with preterm babies. A significant difference in the mean values of these renal function parameters was also obtained, except for serum sodium and potassium.Sarika Singh Chauhan, Purnima Dey Sarkar, and Bhawna BhimteCopyright © 2011 Sarika Singh Chauhan et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/369484/This paper deals with the purification of four proteins from Euphorbia characias latex, a copper amine oxidase, a nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase, a peroxidase, and a purple acid phosphatase. These proteins, very different in molecular weight, in primary structure, and in the catalyzed reaction, are purified using identical preliminary steps of purification and by chromatographic methods. In particular, the DEAE-cellulose chromatography is used as a useful purification step for all the four enzymes. The purification methods here reported allow to obtain a high purification of all the four proteins with a good yield. This paper will give some thorough suggestions for researchers busy in separation of macromolecules from different sources.Rosaria Medda, Francesca Pintus, Delia Spanò, and Giovanni FlorisCopyright © 2011 Rosaria Medda et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/901572/Hsp27 oligomer is reported to interact with F-actin as a barbed-end-capping protein. The present study determined the binding strength and stoichiometry of the interaction using fluorescence of probes attached to Hsp27 cysteine-137. The fluorescence of acrylodan attached to Hsp27 increased 4-5-fold upon interaction with F-actin. Titration of the fluorescence with F-actin yielded a weak binding constant (KDapp=5.3 μM) with an actin/Hsp27 stoichiometry between < 1 and 6. This stoichiometry is inconsistent with an F-actin end-capping protein. Pyrene attached to Hsp27 exhibited a large excimer fluorescence, in agreement with the known proximity of the cysteine-137's in the Hsp27 oligomer. Upon interaction with F-actin the pyrene-Hsp27 excimer fluorescence was largely lost, suggesting that Hsp27 interacts with F-actin as a monomer, consistent with the acrylodan-Hsp27 results. EM images of F-actin-Hsp27 demonstrated that Hsp27 is not a strong G-actin sequester. Thus, Hsp27, in vitro, is a weak F-actin side-binding protein.Philip GraceffaCopyright © 2011 Philip Graceffa. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/285618/Introduction. Adipose tissue contributes to atherosclerosis with mechanisms related to adipokine secretion. Polyphenols may exhibit antiatherogenic properties. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of three polyphenols, namely, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol on adipokine secretion from cultured human adipocytes. Methods. Human SGBS adipocytes were treated with quercetin, EGCG, and resveratrol for 24 and 48 hours. Visfatin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured in the supernatant. Results. Visfatin secretion was inhibited by quercetin 10 μM by 16% and 24% at 24 and 48 hours respectively. The corresponding changes for quercetin 25 μM were 47% and 48%. Resveratrol 25 μM reduced visfatin by 28% and 38% at 24 and 48 hours. EGCG did not have an effect on visfatin. None of tested polyphenols influenced leptin and adiponectin secretion. Conclusion. Quercetin and resveratrol significantly decreased visfatin secretion from SGBS adipocytes. This effect may contribute to their overall antiatherogenic properties.Christos S. Derdemezis, Dimitrios N. Kiortsis, Vasilis Tsimihodimos, Maria P. Petraki, Patra Vezyraki, Moses S. Elisaf, and Alexandros D. TselepisCopyright © 2011 Christos S. Derdemezis et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/159439/Loranthus micranthus (LM), also called African mistletoe is a major Nigerian Loranthaceae plant used traditionally to treat hypertension. The methanolic leaf extract of the plant (LMME) has been shown to elicit anti-hypertensive activity in rats but mechanism remains unclear. This study was undertaken to study the effect of LM on pressor-induced contraction of rat aorta smooth muscles and serum lipid profiles in mice. The LMME was partitioned to produce n-butanol (NBF-LMME), chloroform (CF-LMME), ethyl acetate (EAF-LMME) and water (WF-LMME) fractions. The median effective concentrations and maximum relaxation of the fractions were determined against epinephrine and KCl pre-contracted rat aorta ring model. Serum lipid profiles and nitric oxide (NO) were determined spectrophotometrically in mice administered per orally 250 mg/kg b.w. of each fraction for 21 days. Data were analyzed statistically. NBF-LMME elicited the highest dose-dependent inhibitory effect on rat aorta pre-contracted with norepinephrine and KCl, followed in decreasing order by WF-LMME > CF-LMME > EAF-LMME. Similar order of activity was observed in the ability of these fractions to inhibit elevation in artherogenic lipids, raise serum nitric oxide and reduce cardiac arginase in mice. We conclude the anti-hypertensive activity of L. micranthus involve anti-artherogenic events, vasorelaxation, cardiac arginase reduction and NO elevation.Bamidele A. Iwalokun, Sedoten A. Hodonu, Stella Nwoke, Olabisi Ojo, and Phillip U. AgomoCopyright © 2011 Bamidele A. Iwalokun et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/739712/Persistent alteration of protein conformation due to interaction with isoflurane may be a novel molecular aspect of preconditioning. We preincubated human serum albumin with isoflurane, dialyzed to release agent, and assessed protein conformation. Susceptibility to chemical modification by methylglyoxal and nitrophenylacetate was also examined. Isoflurane had a persistent effect on protein conformation. An increase in the susceptibility of surface residues to chemical modification attended this change in conformation. Modification of isoflurane-treated HSA included intra- and intersubunit cross-linking that may be a consequence of anesthetic-induced changes in multimeric subpopulations. This irreversible effect of isoflurane may represent a mechanism for preconditioning.Michelle R. Baker, Sean K. Benton, Christopher S. Theisen, Chad A. McClintick, Eugene E. Fibuch, and Norbert W. SeidlerCopyright © 2011 Michelle R. Baker et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/387297/Mitochondria of AS-30D rat ascites hepatoma cells are found to be the main target for Zn2+ and sodium selenite (Na2SeO3). High [mu]M concentrations of Zn2+ or selenite were strongly cytotoxic, killing the AS-30D cells by both apoptotic and necrotic ways. Both Zn2+ and selenite produced strong changes in intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the mitochondrial dysfunction via the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mtETC) disturbance, the membrane potential dissipation, and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. The significant distinctions in toxic action of Zn2+ and selenite on AS-30D cells were found. Selenite induced a much higher intracellular ROS level (the early event) compared to Zn2+ but a lower membrane potential loss and a lower decrease of the uncoupled respiration rate of the cells, whereas the mtETC disturbance was the early and critical event in the mechanism of Zn2+ cytotoxicity. Sequences of events manifested in the mitochondrial dysfunction produced by the metal/metalloid under test are compared with those obtained earlier for Cd2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+ on the same model system.Elena A. Belyaeva and Nils-Erik L. SarisCopyright © 2011 Elena A. Belyaeva and Nils-Erik L. Saris. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/784698/Procyanidins (PCs) are major components of the apple polyphenols (APs). We previously reported that treatment with PC extended the mean lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (Sunagawa et al., 2011). In order to estimate the neuroprotective effects of PC, we investigated the antiaggregative activity of PC on amyloid β-protein (Aβ) aggregation, which is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. We herein report that PC significantly suppressed Aβ42 aggregation and dissociated Aβ42 aggregates in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that PC is a potent suppressor of Aβ aggregation. Furthermore, PC significantly inhibited Aβ42 neurotoxicity and stimulated proliferation in PC-12 cells. These results suggested that the PC and AP acted as neuroprotective factors against toxic Aβ aggregates.Toshihiko Toda, Tadahiro Sunagawa, Tomomasa Kanda, Motoyuki Tagashira, Takuji Shirasawa, and Takahiko ShimizuCopyright © 2011 Toshihiko Toda et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/631607/Escherichia coli is one of the most widely used hosts for the production of recombinant proteins but insoluble expression of heterologous proteins is a major bottleneck in production of recombinant proteins in E. coli. In vitro refolding of inclusion body into proteins with native conformations is a solution for this problem but there is a need for optimization of condition for each protein specifically. Several approaches have been described for in vitro refolding; most of them involve the use of additives for assisting correct folding. Cosolutes play a major role in refolding process and can be classified according to their function as aggregation suppressors and folding enhancers. This paper presents a review of additives that are used in refolding process of insoluble recombinant proteins in small scale and industrial processes.Mona Alibolandi and Hasan MirzahoseiniCopyright © 2011 Mona Alibolandi and Hasan Mirzahoseini. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/396560/The concept of the presence of passageways, chreodes, created by the influence of the hydropathic states of amino acid side chains on the surface water of proteins, has been proposed. These chreodes facilitate and direct the diffusion of neurotransmitters through surface water, to the receptor or active site on a protein. This system of chreodes is vulnerable to the presence of some other molecules that may encounter the chreode system. This encounter and disruption has been proposed to explain the mechanism of general anesthesia. Based on much recent evidence of the similarities between anesthesia from volatile anesthetic agents and sleep, a comparable mechanism has been proposed for sleep. Since this must be an exogenous substance to be comparable to a general anesthetic agent, it was proposed that this exogenous, sleep-producing substance is elemental nitrogen. Recent evidence supports these hypotheses.Lemont B. KierCopyright © 2011 Lemont B. Kier. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/459839/Oxidative stress and impaired antioxidant system have been implicated in the pathophysiology of diverse disease states. The phytochemical screening and antioxidant property of fresh leaves of Vitex doniana and Mucuna pruriens, used in the management and treatment of various diseases, were studied. The extracts (ethanol and distilled water) were screened for the presence of phytochemicals, and their inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical was used to evaluate their free radical scavenging activity. Liver levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4) treated albino rats were also used to assess the antioxidant activity of the extracts. The animals were treated with 250 mg/kg body weight of the extracts for six consecutive days before a single dose (2.5 mL/kg body weight) of CCl4. Vitamin C was used as the standard antioxidant. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, terpenoids, and flavonoids in all the extracts, while alkaloids were detected in extracts of Vitex doniana only, and cardiac glycosides occurred in extracts of Mucuna pruriens only. All the extracts inhibited DPPH radical in a concentration-dependent manner, water extract of Vitex doniana producing highest inhibition which was not significantly different (P>.05) from vitamin C. The extracts produced a significant decrease (P<.05) in liver MDA, while the levels of SOD and CAT significantly increased (P<.05) relative to the positive control. These results are an indication of antioxidant potential of the extracts and may be responsible for some of the therapeutic uses of these plants.K. N. Agbafor and N. NwachukwuCopyright © 2011 K. N. Agbafor and N. Nwachukwu. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/250349/Plant antibacterial peptides have been isolated from a wide variety of species. They consist of several protein groups with different features, such as the overall charge of the molecule, the content of disulphide bonds, and structural stability under environmental stress. Although the three-dimensional structures of several classes of plant peptides are well determined, the mechanism of action of some of these molecules is still not well defined. However, further studies may provide new evidences for their function on bacterial cell wall. Therefore, this paper focuses on plant peptides that show activity against plant-pathogenic and human-pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, we describe the folding of several peptides and similarities among their three-dimensional structures. Some hypotheses for their mechanisms of action and attack on the bacterial membrane surface are also proposed.Patrícia Barbosa Pelegrini, Rafael Perseghini del Sarto, Osmar Nascimento Silva, Octávio Luiz Franco, and Maria Fátima Grossi-de-SaCopyright © 2011 Patrícia Barbosa Pelegrini et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/164197/Matrix-metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) has been shown to be an important protease in inflammatory and neoplastic conditions of the skeletal system. In particular, the stromal cells of giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) express very high levels of MMP-13 in response to the cytokine-rich environment of the tumor. We have previously shown that MMP-13 expression in these cells is regulated, at least in part, by the RUNX2 transcription factor. In the current study, we identify the expression of the c-Fos and c-Jun elements of the AP-1 transcription factor in these cells by protein screening assays and real-time PCR. We then used siRNA gene knockdown to determine that these elements, in particular c-Jun, are upstream regulators of MMP-13 expression and activity in GCT stromal cells. We conclude that there was no synergy found between RUNX2 and AP-1 in the regulation of the MMP13 expression and that these transcription factors may be independently regulated in these cells.Isabella W. Y. Mak, Robert E. Turcotte, Snezana Popovic, Gurmit Singh, and Michelle GhertCopyright © 2011 Isabella W. Y. Mak et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/845975/Marine environment has been the source of diverse life forms that produce different biologically active compounds. Marine organisms are consistently contributing with unparalleled bioactive compounds that have profound applications in nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. In this process, screening of natural products from marine organisms that could potentially inhibit the expression of metalloproteinases has gained a huge popularity, which became a hot field of research in life sciences. Metalloproteinases, especially, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a class of structurally similar enzymes that contribute to the extracellular matrix degradation and play major role in normal and pathological tissue remodeling. Imbalance in the expression of MMPs leads to severe pathological condition that could initiate cardiac, cartilage, and cancer-related diseases. Three decades of endeavor for designing potent matrix metalloproteinase inhibitory substances (MMPIs) with many not making upto final clinical trials seek new resources for devising MMPIs. Umpteen number of medicinally valuable compounds being reported from marine organisms, which encourage current researchers to screen potent MMPIs from marine organisms. In this paper, we have made an attempt to report the metalloproteinase inhibiting substances from various marine organisms.Noel Vinay Thomas and Se-Kwon KimCopyright © 2010 Noel Vinay Thomas and Se-Kwon Kim. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/409640/Due to the biochemical complexity of seminal fluid, we attempt to study the possible correlation between fructose, which is secreted under the effect of androgen hormone, and autoimmunity, which might play a role in varicocele associated infertility, in reducing sperm motility. Seminal fructose, antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and blood steroids hormones (testosterone and progesterone) levels were measured in 66 infertile males with varicocele and 84 without varicocele referred for fertility treatment. Seminal analysis was performed with biochemical measurements of seminal fructose and mixed agglutination reaction (MAR) for ASA. Serum levels of progesterone and testosterone were estimated using a competitive chemoluminescent enzyme immunoassay. The mean values for serum testosterone were 380.74±24.331, 365.9±16.55, and 367.5±21.8 ng/dl, progesterone 0.325±0.243, 0.341±0.022, and 0.357  ±  0.0306 ng/ml, and seminal plasma fructose 359.6  ±  26.75, 315.6  ±  13.08, and 332.08  ±  24.38 mg/dl in males with varicocele, without varicocele, and fertile males, respectively. A significant high level of testosterone was observed within varicocele group (P=.001). This result showed that testosterone may play a role as an infertility determinant in subjects with varicocele. ASA was detected in 18 (26.47%) of cases with varicocele, 20 (38.46%) without varicocele, and in 16 (32.0%) fertile men. Cases with ASAs associated with low sperm motility morphology. An inverse correlation between sperm-bound antibodies and viscosity has been shown (P=.017). ASA showed some significant inverse relations with ages, durations of infertility, and viscosity (P<.05). In addition, a significant correlation was observed between ASA positive seminal plasma and testosterone concentration among infertile cases (with or without varicocele) and fertile (P<.05). Our results suggest a relationship between testicular steroid hormone levels with autoimmunity and sperm antibodies which influence the motility of ejaculated spermatozoa among Jordanian infertile males.Hala I. Al-Daghistani, Abdul-Wahab R. Hamad, Muna Abdel-Dayem, Mohammad Al-Swaifi, and Mohammad Abu ZaidCopyright © 2010 Hala I. Al-Daghistani et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/630319/Although MMP-28 is involved in numerous important physiologic and pathologic conditions, the mechanisms of action of this secreted proteinase is not well understood. We now have demonstrated that furin serves as an intermolecular chaperone for MMP-28 secretion by interacting with the propeptide domain of MMP-28. Employing COS-1 cells transfected with MMP-28 cDNA, protein levels of MMP-28 were quite low in conditioned media as compared to cell lysates. Coexpression of MMP-28 with furin cDNA resulted in markedly enhanced MMP-28 secretion. Contrary to expectation, cleavage of MMP-28 at the furin consensus sequence did not occur and proteolytic inactive furin was equally effective in enhancing MMP-28 secretion. Furin and MMP-28 coimmunoprecipitated and were partially coimmunolocalized in the cytoplasm of transfected cells. Cotransfection with furin cDNA also enhanced MMP-28 induced cell migration. In conclusion, our data provide a novel mechanism for MMP-28 function in cells in which furin serves as an intermolecular chaperone.Maria Pavlaki, Stanley Zucker, Antoine Dufour, Nikki Calabrese, Wadie Bahou, and Jian CaoCopyright © 2011 Maria Pavlaki et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/191670/MMP intervention strategies have met with limited clinical success due to severe toxicities. In particular, treatment with broad-spectrum MMP-inhibitors (MMPIs) caused musculoskeletal pain and inflammation. Selectivity may be essential for realizing the clinical potential of MMPIs. Here we review discoveries pinpointing membrane-bound MMPs as mediators of mechanisms underlying cancer and inflammation and as possible therapeutic targets for prevention/treatment of these diseases. We discuss strategies to target these therapeutic proteases using highly selective inhibitory agents (i.e., human blocking antibodies) against individual membrane-bound MMPs.Laetitia Devy and Daniel T. DransfieldCopyright © 2011 Laetitia Devy and Daniel T. Dransfield. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/213936/Using molecular dynamics simulation, we study the evaporation of water molecules off partially solvated ubiquitin. The evaporation and cooling rates are determined for a molecule at the initial temperature of 300 K. The cooling rate is found to be around 3 K/ns, and decreases with water temperature in the course of the evaporation. The conformation changes are monitored by studying a variety of intermediate partially solvated ubiquitin structures. We find that ubiquitin shrinks with decreasing hydration shell and exposes more of its hydrophilic surface area to the surrounding.Saravana Prakash Thirumuruganandham and Herbert M. UrbassekCopyright © 2010 Saravana Prakash Thirumuruganandham and Herbert M. Urbassek. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2011/721463/Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative condition characterized by an accumulation of toxic amyloid beta- (Aβ-)peptides in the brain causing progressive neuronal death. Aβ-peptides are produced by aspartyl proteinase-mediated cleavage of the larger amyloid precursor protein (APP). In contrast to this detrimental “amyloidogenic” form of proteolysis, a range of zinc metalloproteinases can process APP via an alternative “nonamyloidogenic” pathway in which the protein is cleaved within its Aβ region thereby precluding the formation of intact Aβ-peptides. In addition, other members of the zinc metalloproteinase family can degrade preformed Aβ-peptides. As such, the zinc metalloproteinases, collectively, are key to downregulating Aβ generation and enhancing its degradation. It is the role of zinc metalloproteinases in this “positive side of proteolysis in Alzheimer's disease” that is discussed in the current paper.Mallory Gough, Catherine Parr-Sturgess, and Edward ParkinCopyright © 2011 Mallory Gough et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/361387/Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate if hyperhomocysteinaemia is a contributive risk factor for the pathogenesis and the activity of Behçet's disease (BD). Design and Methods. Fifty four patients fullfiling the criteria of the International Study Group for BD were enrolled. Fifty healthy volunteers matched for age and sex with the BD group were included as a negative control group. Patients, with any condition that might affect plasma homocysteine concentration, were excluded. Results. Mean serum homocysteine concentration was significantly higher in patients with BD than in the healthy controls (P<.001), in patients with active disease (P=.04), and in masculine gender (P=.05). There was no significant difference between homocysteine level and clinical involvement. Conclusions. We demonstrated that plasma total homocysteine level (tHcy) is increased in BD and correlated with disease activity. No association was found between homocysteine levels and clinical involvement.Amira Hamzaoui, Olfa Harzallah, Rim Klii, and Silvia MahjoubCopyright © 2010 Amira Hamzaoui et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/549572/The aminotransferase gene family in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana consists of 44 genes. Twenty six of these enzymes are classified as characterized meaning that the reaction(s) that the enzyme catalyzes are documented using experimental means. The remaining 18 enzymes are uncharacterized and are therefore deemed putative. Our laboratory is interested in elucidating the function(s) of the remaining putative aminotransferase enzymes. To this end, we have identified and partially characterized an aminotransferase (TAT) enzyme from Arabidopsis annotated by the locus tag At5g36160. The full-length cDNA was cloned and the purified recombinant enzyme was characterized using in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro analysis showed that the enzyme is capable of interconverting L-Tyrosine and 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate, and L-Phenylalanine and phenylpyruvate. In vivo analysis by functional complementation showed that the gene was able to complement an E. coli with a background of aminotransferase mutations that confers auxotrophy for L-Tyrosine and L-Phenylalanine.Pranav R. Prabhu and André O. HudsonCopyright © 2010 Pranav R. Prabhu and André O. Hudson. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/854656/Ophthalmic mycoses caused by infectious fungi are being recognized as a serious concern since they lead to total blindness. Cephalosporium is one amongst several opportunistic fungal species implicated in ophthalmic infections leading to mycotic keratitis. A mitogenic lectin has been purified from the mycelia of fungus Cephalosporium, isolated from the corneal smears of a keratitis patient. Cephalosporium lectin (CSL) is a tetramer with subunit mass of 14 kDa, agglutinates human A, B, and O erythrocytes, and exhibits high affinity for mucin compared to fetuin and asialofetuin but does not bind to simple sugars indicating its complex sugar specificity. CSL showed strong binding to normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to elicit mitogenic activity. The sugar specificity of the lectin and its interaction with PBMCs to exhibit mitogenic effect indicate its possible role in adhesion and infection process of Cephalosporium.Nagaraja N. Nagre, Vishwanath B. Chachadi, Sachin M. Eligar, C. Shubhada, Radha Pujari, Padma Shastry, Bale M. Swamy, and Shashikala R. InamdarCopyright © 2010 Nagaraja N. Nagre et al. All rights reserved.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bcri/2010/395758/The cell wall teichuronic acid (TUA) of Micrococcus luteus is a long-chain polysaccharide composed of disaccharide repeating units [-4-β-D-ManNAcAp-(1→6)α-D-Glcp−1-]n, which is covalently anchored to the peptidoglycan on the inner cell wall and extended to the outer surface of the cell envelope. An enzyme complex responsible for the TUA chain biosynthesis was purified and characterized. The 440 kDa enzyme complex, named teichuronic acid synthetase (TUAS), is an octomer composed of two kinds of glycosyltransferases, Glucosyltransferase, and ManNAcA-transferase, which is capable of catalyzing the transfer of disaccharide glycosyl residues containing both glucose and the N-acetylmannosaminuronic acid residues. TUAS displays hydrophobic properties and is found primarily associated with the cytoplasmic membrane. The purified TUAS contains carotinoids and lipids. TUAS activity is diminished by phospholipase digestion. We propose that TUAS serves as a multitasking polysaccharide assembling station on the bacterial membrane.Lingyi Lynn Deng, Alice A. Alexander, Sijin Lei, and John S. AndersonCopyright © 2010 Lingyi Lynn Deng et al. All rights reserved.