Browsing by Subject "Base Sequence"

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    Choroid Plexus Papillomas in two siblings: Case report
    (2009) Okay, O.; Dağlıoğlu, E.; Yakıcıer, Cengiz; Üren, Deniz; Dalgıç, A.; Ergüngör, F.
    Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is a rare, benign epithelial brain tumor of the nervous system seen particularly in infants. Familial cases are extremely uncommon. Some other form of malignant tumors was noted in the relatives of patients with CPPs, and some genetic defects regarding this coincidence were reported in the literature. These neoplasms are occasionally bilateral and hydrocephalus is an associated sign in most of the cases. We report three lateral ventricle CPPs in two siblings, at the age of 7 month and 2 years respectively. All tumors were resected with parietotemporal craniotomy and a superior temporal sulcus approach to the lateral ventricle. To avoid a concomitant need of ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion, external ventricular drainage was inserted for a week in the postoperative period relieving symptoms of hydrocephalus. Search for a hereditary defect in the p53 gene of the second infant (7 months old) revealed no mutation. Postoperative courses were uneventful and the patients were followed for three years without any recurrence. Bilateral CPPS are rare and unusual in two siblings. A genetic predisposition such as the p53 mutation should be investigated in bilateral CPPs in particular.
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    Identification of novel neutralizing single-chain antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2
    (2011) Erdag, B.; Koray Balcioglu, B.; Ozdemir Bahadir, A.; Serhatli, M.; Kacar O.; Bahar, A.; Seker, U.O.S.; Akgun, E.; Ozkan, A.; Kilic, T.; Tamerler, C.; Baysal, K.
    Human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR-2/kinase domain receptor [KDR]) play a crucial role in angiogenesis, which makes the VEGFR-2 signaling pathway a major target for therapeutic applications. In this study, a single-chain antibody phage display library was constructed from spleen cells of mice immunized with recombinant human soluble extracellular VEGFR-2/KDR consisting of all seven extracellular domains (sKDR D1-7) to obtain antibodies that block VEGF binding to VEGFR-2. Two specific single-chain antibodies (KDR1.3 and KDR2.6) that recognized human VEGFR-2 were selected; diversity analysis of the clones was performed by BstNI fingerprinting and nucleotide sequencing. The single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) were expressed in soluble form and specificity of interactions between affinity purified scFvs and VEGFR-2 was confirmed by ELISA. Binding of the recombinant antibodies for VEGFR-2 receptors was investigated by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy. In vitro cell culture assays showed that KDR1.3 and KDR2.6 scFvs significantly suppressed the mitogenic response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to recombinant human VEGF 165 in a dose-dependent manner, and reduced VEGF-dependent cell proliferation by 60% and 40%, respectively. In vivo analysis of these recombinant antibodies in a rat cornea angiogenesis model revealed that both antibodies suppressed the development of new corneal vessels (p < 0.05). Overall, in vitro and in vivo results disclose strong interactions of KDR1.3 and KDR2.6 scFvs with VEGFR-2. These findings indicate that KDR1.3 and KDR2.6 scFvs are promising antiangiogenic therapeutic agents. © 2011 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.
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    Prostate stem cell antigen is an endogenous lynx1-like prototoxin that antagonizes α7-containing nicotinic receptors and prevents programmed cell death of parasympathetic neurons
    (2009) Hruska, M.; Keefe J.; Wert, D.; Tekinay, A.B.; Hulce J.J.; Ibañez-Tallon I.; Nishi, R.
    Vertebrate α-bungarotoxin-like molecules of the Ly-6 superfamily have been implicated as balancers of activity and survival in the adult nervous system. To determine whether a member of this family could be involved in the development of the avian ciliary ganglion, we identified 6 Gallus genes by their homology in structure to mouse lynx1 and lynx2. One of these genes, an ortholog of prostate stem cell antigen (psca), is barely detectable at embryonic day (E) 8, before neuronal cell loss in the ciliary ganglion, but increases > 100-fold as the number of neurons begins to decline between E9 and E14. PSCA is highly expressed in chicken and mouse telencephalon and peripheral ganglia and correlates with expression of α7-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChRs). Misexpressing PSCA before cell death in the ciliary ganglion blocks α7-nAChR activation by nicotine and rescues the choroid subpopulation from dying. Thus, PSCA, a molecule previously identified as a marker of prostate cancer, is a member of the Ly-6 neurotoxin-like family in the nervous system, and is likely to play a role as a modulator of α7 signaling-induced cell death during development. Copyright © 2009 Society for Neuroscience.
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    SIP1 is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma by promoter hypermethylation
    (2011) Acun, T.; Oztas, E.; Yagci, T.; Yakicier, M.C.
    Background: Smad interacting protein-1 is a transcription factor that is implicated in transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic protein signaling and a repressor of E-cadherin and human telomerase reverse transcriptase. It is also involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumorigenesis. However, genetic and epigenetic alterations of SIP1 have not been fully elucidated in cancers. In this study, we investigated mutations and promoter hypermethylation of the SIP1 gene in human hepatocellular carcinomas.Methods: SIP1 expression was analyzed in HCC cell lines and primary tumors in comparison to normal and non-tumor liver tissues by using semi-quantitative RT-PCR, quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Mutation and deletion screening of the SIP1 gene were performed by direct sequencing in HCC-derived cells. Restoration of SIP1 expression was sought by treating HCC cell lines with the DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, 5-AzaC, and the histone deacetylase inhibitor, TSA. SIP1 promoter methylation was analyzed by the combined bisulfite restriction analysis assay in in silico-predicted putative promoter and CpG island regions.Results: We found that the expression of SIP1 was completely lost or reduced in five of 14 (36%) HCC cell lines and 17 of 23 (74%) primary HCC tumors. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that SIP1 mRNA downregulation was associated with decreased expression of the SIP1 protein in HCC tissues (82.8%). No somatic mutation was observed in SIP1 exons in any of the 14 HCC cell lines. Combined treatment with DNA methyl transferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors synergistically restored SIP1 expression in SIP1-negative cell lines. Analysis of three putative gene regulatory regions revealed tumor-specific methylation in more than half of the HCC cases.Conclusions: Epigenetic mechanisms contribute significantly to the downregulation of SIP1 expression in HCC. This finding adds a new level of complexity to the role of SIP1 in hepatocarcinogenesis. © 2011 Acun et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
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    Skewed X inactivation in an X linked nystagmus family resulted from a novel, p.R229G, missense mutation in the FRMD7 gene
    (BMJ Group, 2008) Kaplan, Y.; Vargel, I.; Kansu, T.; Akin, B.; Rohmann, E.; Kamaci, S.; Uz, E.; Ozcelik, T.; Wollnik, B.; Akarsu, N. A.
    Aims: This study aimed to identify the underlying genetic defect of a large Turkish X linked nystagmus (NYS) family. Methods: Both Xp11 and Xq26 loci were tested by linkage analysis. The 12 exons and intron-exon junctions of the FRMD7 gene were screened by direct sequencing. X chromosome inactivation analysis was performed by enzymatic predigestion of DNA with a methylation-sensitive enzyme, followed by PCR of the polymorphic CAG repeat of the androgen receptor gene. Results: The family contained 162 individuals, among whom 28 had NYS. Linkage analysis confirmed the Xq26 locus. A novel missense c.686C>G mutation, which causes the substitution of a conserved arginine at amino acid position 229 by glycine (p.R229G) in exon 8 of the FRMD7 gene, was observed. This change was not documented in 120 control individuals. The clinical findings in a female who was homozygous for the mutation were not different from those of affected heterozygous females. Skewed X inactivation was remarkable in the affected females of the family. Conclusions: A novel p.R229G mutation in the FRMD7 gene causes the NYS phenotype, and skewed X inactivation influences the manifestation of the disease in X linked NYS females.