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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Anopheles Gambiae Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase: Catalysis, Structure And Inhibition, Erika Taylor, Agnes Rinaldo-Matthis, Lei Li, Mahmoud Ghanem, Keith Hazleton, M. Belen Cassera, Steven Almo, Vern Schramm Oct 2007

Anopheles Gambiae Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase: Catalysis, Structure And Inhibition, Erika Taylor, Agnes Rinaldo-Matthis, Lei Li, Mahmoud Ghanem, Keith Hazleton, M. Belen Cassera, Steven Almo, Vern Schramm

Erika A. Taylor, Ph.D.

The purine salvage pathway of Anopheles gambiae, a mosquito that transmits malaria, has been identified in genome searches on the basis of sequence homology with characterized enzymes. Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) is a target for the development of therapeutic agents in humans and purine auxotrophs, including malarial parasites. The PNP from Anopheles gambiae (AgPNP) was expressed in Escherichia coli and compared to the PNPs from Homo sapiens (HsPNP) and Plasmodium falciparum (PfPNP). AgPNP has kcat values of 54 and 41 s-1 for 2'-deoxyinosine and inosine, its preferred substrates, and 1.0 s-1 for guanosine. However, the chemical step is fast for …


A Role For The Forebrain In Mediating Time-Of-Day Differences In Glucocorticoid Counterregulatory Responses To Hypoglycemia In Rats, Lori M. Gorton, Arshad M. Khan, Maryann Bohland, Graciela Sanchez-Watts, Casey M. Donovan, Alan G. Watts Sep 2007

A Role For The Forebrain In Mediating Time-Of-Day Differences In Glucocorticoid Counterregulatory Responses To Hypoglycemia In Rats, Lori M. Gorton, Arshad M. Khan, Maryann Bohland, Graciela Sanchez-Watts, Casey M. Donovan, Alan G. Watts

Arshad M. Khan, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.


Meta-Analysis Evidence Of A Differential Risk Of The Fcrl3 -169t->C Polymorphism In White And East Asian Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Steven J. Schrodi, Begovich Ann, Chang Monica Jul 2007

Meta-Analysis Evidence Of A Differential Risk Of The Fcrl3 -169t->C Polymorphism In White And East Asian Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients, Steven J. Schrodi, Begovich Ann, Chang Monica

Steven J Schrodi

Association between a functional promoter polymorphism (rs7528684) in the Fc receptor-like gene, FCRL3, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been observed in 3 independent Japanese case-control sample sets ([1][2]). Studies examining the role of this polymorphism in risk of RA in 9 independent white sample sets, however, have yielded conflicting results ([3-8]). Further, a large study of Korean subjects failed to demonstrate association of this single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with RA ([9]). Although the precise function of FCRL3, which has strong structural homology with the classic Fc receptors, is unknown, the existing data are consistent with the hypothesis that it may influence …


Catecholaminergic Control Of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling In Paraventricular Neuroendocrine Neurons In Vivo And In Vitro: A Proposed Role During Glycemic Challenges, Arshad M. Khan, Todd A. Ponzio, Graciela Sanchez-Watts, B. Glenn Stanley, Glenn I. Hatton, Alan G. Watts Jul 2007

Catecholaminergic Control Of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling In Paraventricular Neuroendocrine Neurons In Vivo And In Vitro: A Proposed Role During Glycemic Challenges, Arshad M. Khan, Todd A. Ponzio, Graciela Sanchez-Watts, B. Glenn Stanley, Glenn I. Hatton, Alan G. Watts

Arshad M. Khan, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.


A Large-Scale Rheumatoid Arthritis Genetic Study Identifies Association At Chr 9q33.2, Steven J. Schrodi May 2007

A Large-Scale Rheumatoid Arthritis Genetic Study Identifies Association At Chr 9q33.2, Steven J. Schrodi

Steven J Schrodi

No abstract provided.


The Neuropharmacology Of The Ketogenic Diet, Adam Hartman, Maciej Gasior, Elaine Vining, Michael Rogawski Apr 2007

The Neuropharmacology Of The Ketogenic Diet, Adam Hartman, Maciej Gasior, Elaine Vining, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

The ketogenic diet is a valuable therapeutic approach for epilepsy, one in which most clinical experience has been with children. Although the mechanism by which the diet protects against seizures is unknown, there is evidence that it causes effects on intermediary metabolism that influence the dynamics of the major inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitter systems in brain. The pattern of protection of the ketogenic diet in animal models of seizures is distinct from that of other anticonvulsants, suggesting that it has a unique mechanism of action. During consumption of the ketogenic diet, marked alterations in brain energy metabolism occur, with ketone …


High-Loading Nanosized Micelles Of Copoly(Styrene-Maleic Acid)-Zinc Protoporphyrin For Targeted Delivery Of A Potent Heme Oxygenase Inhibitor., Arun Iyer Mar 2007

High-Loading Nanosized Micelles Of Copoly(Styrene-Maleic Acid)-Zinc Protoporphyrin For Targeted Delivery Of A Potent Heme Oxygenase Inhibitor., Arun Iyer

Arun Iyer

Amphiphilic styrene-maleic acid (SMA) copolymer efficiently formed micelles with a potent heme oxygenase inhibitor-zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP). The micelles were constructed by subtle pH adjustments to form non-covalent interaction between the hydrophobic ZnPP and amphiphilic SMA. The micelles (SMA-ZnPP) thus formed were nanoparticles with narrow size distribution in water (mean diameter 176.5nm), having tunable loading (from 15% to 60% w/w of ZnPP) with remarkable aqueous solubility. SMA-ZnPP had an average molecular size of 144kDa as determined by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), this size is a marked increase from the molecular weight of free ZnPP (626.03Da), suggesting the formation of micellar structure. The …


Epilepsy: Mechanisms Of Drug Action And Clinical Treatment, William Theodore, Michael Rogawski Dec 2006

Epilepsy: Mechanisms Of Drug Action And Clinical Treatment, William Theodore, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

No abstract provided.


The Anticonvulsant Activity Of Acetone, The Major Ketone Body In The Ketogenic Diet, Is Not Dependent On Its Metabolites Acetol, 1,2-Propanediol, Methylglyoxal, Or Pyruvic Acid, Maciej Gasior, Amy French, Michelle Joy, Rebecca Tang, Adam Hartman, Michael Rogawski Dec 2006

The Anticonvulsant Activity Of Acetone, The Major Ketone Body In The Ketogenic Diet, Is Not Dependent On Its Metabolites Acetol, 1,2-Propanediol, Methylglyoxal, Or Pyruvic Acid, Maciej Gasior, Amy French, Michelle Joy, Rebecca Tang, Adam Hartman, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

BACKGROUND: Acetone, one of the principal ketone bodies elevated during treatment with the ketogenic diet, exhibits anticonvulsant properties that may contribute to the seizure protection conferred by the diet. The anticonvulsant mechanism of acetone is unknown, but it is metabolized to several bioactive substances that could play a role. METHODS: Acetone and its major metabolites-acetol, 1,2-propanediol, methylglyoxal, and pyruvic acid-were assessed for anticonvulsant activity in two mouse seizure models. Various doses of the substances administered intraperitoneally were characterized for their ability to elevate the threshold for clonic seizures induced by intravenous infusion of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) and for protection against tonic …


Molecular Targets For Antiepileptic Drug Development, Brian S. Meldrum, Michael A. Rogawski Dec 2006

Molecular Targets For Antiepileptic Drug Development, Brian S. Meldrum, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

This review considers how recent advances in the physiology of ion channels and other potential molecular targets, in conjunction with new information on the genetics of idiopathic epilepsies, can be applied to the search for improved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Marketed AEDs predominantly target voltage-gated cation channels (the alpha subunits of voltage-gated Na+ channels and also T-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels) or influence GABA-mediated inhibition. Recently, alpha2-delta voltage-gated Ca2+ channel subunits and the SV2A synaptic vesicle protein have been recognized as likely targets. Genetic studies of familial idiopathic epilepsies have identified numerous genes associated with diverse epilepsy syndromes, including genes encoding Na+ …


Controlled Language: The Next Big Thing In Translation?, Uwe Muegge Dec 2006

Controlled Language: The Next Big Thing In Translation?, Uwe Muegge

Uwe Muegge

Many global organizations are beginning to see the productivity indicators for their translation and localization processes reach a plateau. That’s an inevitable fact even for those organizations that use what’s currently billed as the latest and greatest in translation technology, such as translation memory with automated workflow components or globalization management systems. Even with these tools in place, making content available in multiple languages remains a very expensive and time-consuming proposition. For those looking for ways to reduce the cost of translation to the point where almost all materials that should be translation actually can be translated, controlled language may …


Single Unit And Population Responses During Inhibitory Gating Of Striatal Activity In Freely Moving Rats, Howard C. Cromwell Dec 2006

Single Unit And Population Responses During Inhibitory Gating Of Striatal Activity In Freely Moving Rats, Howard C. Cromwell

Howard Casey Cromwell

Abstract—The striatum is thought to be an essential region for integrating diverse information in the brain. Rapid inhibitory gating (IG) of sensory input is most likely an early factor necessary for appropriate integration to be completed. Gating is currently evaluated in clinical settings and is dramatically altered in a variety of psychiatric illnesses. Basic neuroscience research using animals has revealed specific neural sites involved in IG including the hippocampus, thalamus, brainstem, amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. The present study investigated local IG in the basal ganglia structure of the striatum using chronic recording microwires. We obtained both single unit activations …