Kumamoto University

About: Kumamoto University is a education organization based out in Kumamoto, Kumamoto, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 19602 authors who have published 35513 publications receiving 901260 citations. The organization is also known as: Kumamoto Daigaku.

The new gene mukB codes for a 177 kd protein with coiled-coil domains involved in chromosome partitioning of E. coli.

Abstract: An Escherichia coli temperature sensitive mutant which produces spontaneously normal size anucleate cells at low temperature was isolated. The mutant is defective in a previously undescribed gene, named mukB, located at 21 min on the chromosome. The mukB gene codes for a large protein (approximately 180 kd). A 1534 amino acid protein (176,826 daltons) was deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the mukB gene. Computer analysis revealed that the predicted MukB protein has distinct domains: an amino-terminal globular domain containing a nucleotide binding sequence, a central region containing two alpha-helical coiled-coil domains and one globular domain, and a carboxyl-terminal globular domain which is rich in Cys, Arg and Lys. A 180 kd protein detected in wild-type cell extracts by electrophoresis is absent in mukB null mutants. Although the null mutants are not lethal at low temperature, the absence of MukB leads to aberrant chromosome partitioning. At high temperature the mukB null mutants cannot form colonies and many nucleoids are distributed irregularly along elongated cells. We conclude that the MukB protein is required for chromosome partitioning in E. coli.

Clinical impact of serum exosomal microRNA-21 as a clinical biomarker in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Exosomes are 40-nm to 100-nm membrane vesicles that are secreted by various cells, and they play a major role in cell-cell communication. The objective of this study was to clarify the significance of the levels of microRNA in exosomes extracted from the sera of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). METHODS: The authors isolated exosomes in serum samples from patients who had ESCC and from patients who had benign diseases without systemic inflammation. Total RNA was purified from the exosomes, and expression levels of microRNA-21 (miR-21) were analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Serum exosomes from patients with ESCC induced the proliferation of ESCC cells in vitro. The expression levels of exosomal miR-21 were significantly higher in patients with ESCC than those with benign diseases with and without (C-reactive protein <0.3 mg/dL) systemic inflammation. MiR-21 was not detected in serum that remained after exosome extraction. Exosomal miR-21 expression was correlated with advanced tumor classification, positive lymph node status, and the presence of metastasis with inflammation or and clinical stage without inflammation (C-reactive protein <0.3 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS: The current results confirmed that exosomal miR-21 expression is up-regulated in serum from patients with ESCC versus serum from patients who have benign diseases without systemic inflammation. Exosomal miR-21 was positively correlated with tumor progression and aggressiveness, suggesting that it may be a useful target for cancer therapy. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.

Transthyretin-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy.

Abstract: Transthyretin-related familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is a fatal hereditary amyloidosis. Until 20 years ago, FAP was thought to be restricted to endemic occurrence in certain areas. However, owing to progress in biochemical and molecular genetic analyses, FAP is now believed to occur worldwide. As of today, reports of about 100 different points of single or double mutations, or a deletion in the transthyretin gene, have been published, and several different phenotypes of FAP have been documented, even for the same mutation in the transthyretin gene. We present herein the current clinicopathological, biochemical, molecular genetic, and epidemiological aspects of transthyretin-related FAP, and we introduce a new diagnostic procedure for the disease.