Cloning And Characterization Of The Dhdps Gene Encoding The Lysine Biosynthetic Enzyme Dihydrodipocolinate Synthase From Zizania Latifolia (Griseb),
2013
University of Iowa
Cloning And Characterization Of The Dhdps Gene Encoding The Lysine Biosynthetic Enzyme Dihydrodipocolinate Synthase From Zizania Latifolia (Griseb), Fanna Kong, Shaomei Jiang, Xiangbing Meng, Chengli Song, Jinfeng Shi, Demin Jin, Shaolin Jiang, Bin Wang
Xiangbing Meng
Dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) is the main enzyme of a specific branch of the aspartate pathway leading to lysine biosynthesis in higher plants. We have cloned and characterized the DHDPS gene from Zizania latifolia Griseb, which was named ZlDHDPS. Sequence analysis indicates that it contains an ORF of 954 bp interrupted by two exons and one intron encoding a polypeptide of 317 amino acids lacking a plastid transit peptide and a stop codon. The sequence of ZlDHDPS has high identity with known plant DHDPS in GenBank. Southern blotting analysis indicates that there are two copies of Z. latifolia DHDPS (ZlDHDPS) gene …
Differential Expression Of Ikaros Isoforms In Monozygotic Twins With Mll-Rearranged Precursor-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia,
2013
University of Iowa
Differential Expression Of Ikaros Isoforms In Monozygotic Twins With Mll-Rearranged Precursor-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Thomas Russell, Janet Oliver, Bridget Wilson, Christy Tarleton, Stuart Winter, Xiangbing Meng
Xiangbing Meng
Infant leukemia associated with rearrangement of the MLL gene typically presents with high-risk clinical features. Relapse is common despite aggressive therapy and perturbations in signaling pathways may contribute to disease resistance. We evaluated twin 4-month-old monozygotic baby boys who presented with MLL-rearranged precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Two different MLL/AF4 variants were found in both the twins, the first involving MLL intron 8 and AF4 intron 3 and the second stemming from translocations of MLL exon 10 and AF4 exon 4. We detected expression of the DNA-binding Ikaros isoforms, Ik1, Ikx +, Ik2 and the dominant-negative 114 Ikaros isoform in both …
Abrogation Of The Transactivation Activity Of P53 By Bccip Down-Regulation,
2013
University of Iowa
Abrogation Of The Transactivation Activity Of P53 By Bccip Down-Regulation, Xiangbing Meng, Jingyin Yue, Zhihe Liu, Zhiyuan Shen
Xiangbing Meng
The tumor suppression function of p53 is mostly conferred by its transactivation activity, which is inactivated by p53 mutations in similar to 50% of human cancers. In cancers harboring wild type p53, the p53 transactivation activity may be compromised by other mechanisms. Identifying the mechanisms by which wild type p53 transactivation activity can be abrogated may provide insights into the molecular etiology of cancers harboring wild type p53. In this report, we show that BCCIP, a BRCA2 and CDKN1A- interacting protein, is required for the transactivation activity of wild type p53. In p53 wild type cells, BCCIP knock down by …
Dwarf27, An Iron-Containing Protein Required For The Biosynthesis Of Strigolactones, Regulates Rice Tiller Bud Outgrowth,
2013
University of Iowa
Dwarf27, An Iron-Containing Protein Required For The Biosynthesis Of Strigolactones, Regulates Rice Tiller Bud Outgrowth, Hao Lin, Renxiao Wang, Qian Qian, Meixian Yan, Xiangbing Meng, Zhiming Fu, Cunyu Yan, Biao Jiang, Zhen Su, Jiayang Li, Yonghong Wang
Xiangbing Meng
Tillering in rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most important agronomic traits that determine grain yields. Previous studies on rice tillering mutants have shown that the outgrowth of tiller buds in rice is regulated by a carotenoid-derived MAX/RMS/D (more axillary branching) pathway, which may be conserved in higher plants. Strigolactones, a group of terpenoid lactones, have been recently identified as products of the MAX/RMS/D pathway that inhibits axillary bud outgrowth. We report here the molecular genetic characterization of d27, a classic rice mutant exhibiting increased tillers and reduced plant height. D27 encodes a novel iron-containing protein that localizes in …
Recovery From Dna Damage-Induced G(2) Arrest Requires Actin-Binding Protein Filamin-A/Actin-Binding Protein 280,
2013
University of Iowa
Recovery From Dna Damage-Induced G(2) Arrest Requires Actin-Binding Protein Filamin-A/Actin-Binding Protein 280, Xiangbing Meng, Y. Yuan, A. Maestas, Z. Shen
Xiangbing Meng
Filamin-A (filamin-1) is an actin-binding protein involved in the organization of actin networks. Our previous study shows that filamin-A interacts with BRCA2, and lack of filamin-A expression results in increased cellular sensitivity to several DNA damaging agents in melanoma cells (Yuan, Y., and Shen, Z. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 48318-48324), suggesting a role of filamin-A in DNA damage response. In this report, we demonstrated that deficiency of filamin-A results in an 8-h delay in the recovery from G(2) arrest in response to ionizing radiation. However, filamin-A deficiency does not affect the initial activation of the G(2)/M checkpoint. We also …
Bccip Functions Through P53 To Regulate The Expression Of P21(Waf1/Cip1),
2013
University of Iowa
Bccip Functions Through P53 To Regulate The Expression Of P21(Waf1/Cip1), Xiangbing Meng, H. Lu, Z. Shen
Xiangbing Meng
The BCCIP protein is a BRCA2 and CDKN1A (p21(Waf1/Cip1)) Interacting Protein, which binds to a highly conserved domain of BRCA2, and a C-terminal domain of the CDK-inhibitor p21. We have previously reported that overexpression of BCCIP increases p21 mRNA and protein levels, and inhibits G(1) to S progression. In this report, we show that a partial shutdown of BCCIP expression by RNA interference reduces p21 levels and impairs G(1)/S checkpoint activation in response to ionizing radiation in HT1080 cells. We further show that the regulation of p21 expression by BCCIP is dependent on p53, and BCCIP regulates p53 transcription activity. …
Molecular Cloning And Characterization Of A Rice Gene Encoding Ap2/Erebp-Type Transcription Factor And Its Expression In Response To Infection With Blast Fungus And Abiotic Stresses,
2013
University of Iowa
Molecular Cloning And Characterization Of A Rice Gene Encoding Ap2/Erebp-Type Transcription Factor And Its Expression In Response To Infection With Blast Fungus And Abiotic Stresses, Running Lin, Wensheng Zhao, Xiangbing Meng, You-Liang Peng
Xiangbing Meng
The AP2/EREBP domain-containing transcription factors play various functions in developmental processes and stress-related responses in plants. In present study, a full-length cDNA OsEBP2 (Oryza sativa ethylene-responsive-element binding protein2), encoding a 396-amino-acid protein containing one AP2/EREBP domain, was isolated from a cDNA library prepared with japonica rice leaves infected by blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea, which is identity to the locus OsO9g26420 and has been isolated from the japonica variety before. OsEBP2 is a member of Group VII of ERF family and is orthologous to OsBIERF1 in indica variety. OsEBP2 transcripts were detected at a similar level in the leaf, sheath and …
Bccip Regulates Homologous Recombination By Distinct Domains And Suppresses Spontaneous Dna Damage,
2013
University of Iowa
Bccip Regulates Homologous Recombination By Distinct Domains And Suppresses Spontaneous Dna Damage, Huimei Lu, Jingyin Yue, Xiangbing Meng, Jac Nickoloff, Zhiyuan Shen
Xiangbing Meng
Homologous recombination (HR) is critical for maintaining genome stability through precise repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and restarting stalled or collapsed DNA replication forks. HR is regulated by many proteins through distinct mechanisms. Some proteins have direct enzymatic roles in HR reactions, while others act as accessory factors that regulate HR enzymatic activity or coordinate HR with other cellular processes such as the cell cycle. The breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA2 encodes a critical accessory protein that interacts with the RAD51 recombinase and this interaction fluctuates during the cell cycle. We previously showed that a BRCA2- and p21-interacting protein, …
Combination Therapy With Mtor And Pi3 Kinase Inhibitors Is Broadly Synergistic In A Wide Variety Of Endometrial Cancer Cells,
2013
University of Iowa
Combination Therapy With Mtor And Pi3 Kinase Inhibitors Is Broadly Synergistic In A Wide Variety Of Endometrial Cancer Cells, Shujie Yang, Xue Xiao, Xiangbing Meng, Kimberly K. Leslie
Xiangbing Meng
Dysregulation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling has been found in many human tumors, including endometrial cancer, and mTOR inhibitors have been utilized in clinical trials as targeted therapies with only limited success. Herein we identify a viable treatment alternative that overcomes temsirolimus-induced AKT phosphorylation in endometrial cancer. Our data suggest temsirolimus and BEZ235 inhibit different components of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway to accomplish synergistic pathway inhibition, which is necessary for therapeutic efficacy to abrogate the increased signaling through AKT that occurs with mTOR inhibition alone
Knockdown Of Mtdh Increases Drug Sensitivity To Hdac Inhibitor And Trail Combination Treatment In Endometrial Cancer Cells,
2013
University of Iowa
Knockdown Of Mtdh Increases Drug Sensitivity To Hdac Inhibitor And Trail Combination Treatment In Endometrial Cancer Cells, Xiangbing Meng, Pavla Brachova, Shujie Yang, Zhi Xiong, Yuping Zhang, Kimberly Leslie
Xiangbing Meng
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance is vital to design therapies to restore chemosensitivity. MTDH mediates drug resistance by regulating expression of genes required for the control of apoptosis and cell cycle. These findings indicate that sensitivity to chemotherapy agents and combination treatment with HDAC inhibitor and TRAIL can be restored by manipulating MTDH, and hence depletion of MTDH is a potentially novel avenue for effective cancer therapy.
The Combination Of Paclitaxel And Gefitinib Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Cells By Inducing Mitotic Catastrophe: Proof Of Principle For Dual Therapy In Endometrial Cancer,
2013
University of Iowa
The Combination Of Paclitaxel And Gefitinib Inhibits Endometrial Cancer Cells By Inducing Mitotic Catastrophe: Proof Of Principle For Dual Therapy In Endometrial Cancer, Xiangbing Meng, Laura Laidler, Lina Albitar, Anna Holmes, Donghai Dai, Thomas Buekers, David Bender, Kimberly Leslie
Xiangbing Meng
Serous uterine endometrial cancer is a lethal disease for which new therapeutic regimens are urgently needed. Combinations of chemotherapeutic agents and small molecule growth factor inhibitors have demonstrated activity in cancers from other sites. Our objective was to determine whether such a combination using Paclitaxel and Gefitinib could be active in serous endometrial cancer cells.
Induction Of Mitotic Cell Death By Overriding G2/M Checkpoint In Endometrial Cancer Cells With Non-Functional P53,
2013
University of Iowa
Induction Of Mitotic Cell Death By Overriding G2/M Checkpoint In Endometrial Cancer Cells With Non-Functional P53, Xiangbing Meng, Laura Laidler, Elizabeth Kosmacek, Shujie Yang, Zhi Xiong, Danlin Zhu, Xinjun Wang, Donghai Dai, Yuping Zhang, Xiaofang Wang, Pavia Brachova, Lina Albitar, Dawei Liu, Florenza Ianzini, Michael Mackey, Kimberly Leslie
Kimberly K. Leslie
OBJECTIVE: Endometrial tumors with non-functional p53, such as serous uterine endometrial carcinomas, are aggressive malignancies with a poor outcome, yet they have an Achilles' heel: due to loss of p53 function, these tumors may be sensitive to treatments which abrogate the G2/M checkpoint. Our objective was to exploit this weakness to induce mitotic cell death using two strategies: (1) EGFR inhibitor gefitinib combined with paclitaxel to arrest cells at mitosis, or (2) BI2536, an inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), to block PLK1 activity. METHODS: We examined the impact of combining gefitinib and paclitaxel or PLK1 inhibitor on expression of …
Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase (Ido) Deficiency Results: In Vascular Dysfunction And Proteinuria In Pregnancy,
2013
University of Iowa
Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase (Ido) Deficiency Results: In Vascular Dysfunction And Proteinuria In Pregnancy, Mark Santillan, Christopher Pelham, Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron, Donna Santillan, Baoli Yang, Stephen Hunter, Curt Sigmund
Stephen K. Hunter
No abstract provided.
Biodegradable Microspheres Containing Group B Streptococcus Vaccine: Immune Response In Mice,
2013
University of Iowa
Biodegradable Microspheres Containing Group B Streptococcus Vaccine: Immune Response In Mice, Stephen Hunter, M. Andracki, A. Krieg
Stephen K. Hunter
OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to show the feasibility of producing a group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine, which is capable of producing both a local IgA immune response at the mucosal surface where GBS is colonized and a humoral IgG response, which is capable of transplacental passive immunization. STUDY DESIGN: Inactivated GBS antigen was microencapsulated in poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLG) with a water-in-oil-in-water double emulsion technique. Immunostimulatory synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing cytidine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) motifs were coencapsulated as a potent adjuvant. The ICR strain of mouse was used in these studies. Female mice with normal immune systems were immunized with the PLG …
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents In Pregnancy,
2013
University of Iowa
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents In Pregnancy, N. Tran, Stephen Hunter, J. Yankowitz
Stephen K. Hunter
Pregnancies in diabetic women are associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations, preeclampsia, preterm labor, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, and cesarean section. Advances in antepartum cares and strict adherence to dietary and insulin regimens have been shown to significantly reduce the rate of maternal morbidity as well as perinatal morbidity and mortality. Historically, reports of potential fetal teratogenicity and hypoglycemic effects on the fetus contraindicated the use of oral hypoglycemic agents in pregnancies complicated with either type II diabetes mellitus (DM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Recently, physicians increasingly prescribe newer generations of oral hypoglycemic agents to treat GDM …
Maternal Parenting Stress And Mothers' Reports Of Their Infants' Mastery Motivation,
2013
University of Iowa
Maternal Parenting Stress And Mothers' Reports Of Their Infants' Mastery Motivation, T. Sparks, Stephen Hunter, T. Backman, G. Morgan, R. Ross
Stephen K. Hunter
No abstract provided.
Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Identification And Management,
2013
University of Iowa
Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Identification And Management, D. Peleg, Colleen Stockdale, Stephen Hunter
Stephen K. Hunter
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common diagnosis in obstetrics and carries an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity. Identification of IUGR is crucial because proper evaluation and management can result in a favorable outcome. Certain pregnancies are at high risk for growth restriction, although a substantial percentage of cases occur in the general obstetric population. Accurate dating early in pregnancy is essential for a diagnosis of IUGR. Ultrasound biometry is the gold standard for assessment of fetal size and the amount of amniotic fluid. Growth restriction is classified as symmetric and asymmetric. A lag in fundal height of …
Antidepressants May Mitigate The Effects Of Prenatal Maternal Anxiety On Infant Auditory Sensory Gating,
2013
University of Iowa
Antidepressants May Mitigate The Effects Of Prenatal Maternal Anxiety On Infant Auditory Sensory Gating, Stephen Hunter, J. Mendoza, K. D'Anna, G. Zerbe, L. Mccarthy, C. Hoffman, R. Freedman, R. Ross
Stephen K. Hunter
OBJECTIVE: Prenatal maternal anxiety has detrimental effects on the offspring's neurocognitive development, including impaired attentional function. Antidepressants are commonly used during pregnancy, yet their impact on offspring attention and their interaction with maternal anxiety has not been assessed. The authors used P50 auditory sensory gating, a putative marker of early attentional processes measurable in young infants, to assess the impact of maternal anxiety and antidepressant use. METHOD: A total of 242 mother-infant dyads were classified relative to maternal history of anxiety and maternal prenatal antidepressant use. Infant P50 auditory sensory gating was recorded during active sleep at a mean age …
Can Myoglobin Expression In Pancreatic Beta Cells Improve Insulin Secretion Under Hypoxia? An Exploratory Study With Transgenic Porcine Islets,
2013
University of Iowa
Can Myoglobin Expression In Pancreatic Beta Cells Improve Insulin Secretion Under Hypoxia? An Exploratory Study With Transgenic Porcine Islets, Himantha Tilakaratne, Baoli Yang, Stephen Hunter, Mark Andracki, Victor Rodgers
Stephen K. Hunter
No abstract provided.
Liver Transplant After Massive Spontaneous Hepatic Rupture In Pregnancy Complicated By Preeclampsia,
2013
University of Iowa
Liver Transplant After Massive Spontaneous Hepatic Rupture In Pregnancy Complicated By Preeclampsia, Stephen Hunter, M. Martin, J. Benda, F. Zlatnik
Stephen K. Hunter
BACKGROUND: Spontaneous hepatic rupture associated with preeclampsia is a rare but life-threatening situation. Several different surgical treatments have been described, depending on the severity of the rupture. Liver transplantation has become the mainstay for patients with end-stage liver disease. Transplantation in the setting of liver trauma or massive parenchymal disruption is not well defined. To our knowledge, this treatment has not been reported for spontaneous hepatic rupture in pregnancy. CASE: Massive, spontaneous hepatic rupture occurred in a patient at 36 weeks' gestation as a result of severe preeclampsia. Conventional surgical therapies were unsuccessful in controlling the massive hemorrhage. As a …
