No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

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Tam Wai-Kwan Karen. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-128). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis committee --- p.i / Statement --- p.ii / Abstract --- p.iii / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / Abbreviations --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.ix / List of Tables --- p.xii / List of Figures --- p.xiv / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.2 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction of Cordyceps --- p.2 / Chapter 2.2 --- Pharmacological functions of Cordyceps --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Functions in respiratory system --- p.3 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Functions in renal system --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Functions in hepatic system --- p.8 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Functions in cardiovascular system --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Functions in endocrine and steroid system --- p.10 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Functions in the immune system --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Functions in nervous system --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Controls in glucose metabolism --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Anti-oxidation activity --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Anti-tumor activity --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- Active ingredients of Cordyceps and their related biological activities --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Polysaccharides --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Nucleosides --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Adenosine --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Cordycepin --- p.24 / Chapter 2.4 --- Proteomic tools in studies of the change in protein expression --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Two-dimensional electrophoresis --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Mass Spectrometry --- p.28 / Chapter 3. --- Methods and Materials --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Cell lines and culture conditions --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Trypan blue exclusion method --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- Cell counting --- p.31 / Chapter 3.4 --- Anti-proliferation assay --- p.31 / Chapter 3.5 --- Anti-proliferation assay of normal cell line --- p.32 / Chapter 3.6 --- Determination of ic50 --- p.33 / Chapter 3.7 --- Sample preparation for proteins studies --- p.33 / Chapter 3.8 --- Protein quantitation --- p.34 / Chapter 3.9 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.36 / Chapter 3.10 --- Image analysis --- p.37 / Chapter 3.11 --- In-gel digestion and MALDI-ToF MS --- p.37 / Chapter 3.12 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.39 / Chapter 3.13 --- Chemicals --- p.39 / Chapter 4. --- Results --- p.41 / Chapter 4.1 --- MTT assay --- p.41 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- The anti-proliferating activity of adenosine against cancer cell lines (HepG2 and SV7tert) and normal cell line (Hs68) --- p.41 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- The anti-proliferating activity of cordycepin against cancer cell lines (HepG2 and SV7tert) and normal cell line (Hs68) --- p.42 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- The anti-proliferation effects of adenosine and cordycepin --- p.42 / Chapter 4.2 --- Changes in protein expression --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- "Corresponding drug treatment of cell lines (HepG2, SV7tert and Hs68)" --- p.50 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- "Comparison of protein profiles from cells (HepG2, SV7tert or Hs68) under the normal and drug treated (with either adenosine or cordycepin) conditions" --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- HepG2 study --- p.51 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- SV7tert study --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Hs68 study --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Protein identification --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2.3.1 --- HepG2 cell line --- p.53 / Chapter 4.2.3.2 --- HepG2-changes in protein expressions after adenosine treatment --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.3.3 --- HepG2-changes in protein expressions after cordycepin treatment --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.3.4 --- SV7tert cell line --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.3.5 --- SV7tert-changes in protein expressions after cordycepin treatment --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.3.6 --- Hs68 cell line --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.3.7 --- Hs68-changes in protein expressions after cordycepin treatment --- p.56 / Chapter 5. --- Discussion --- p.89 / Chapter 5.1 --- anti-proliferation assays --- p.89 / Chapter 5.2 --- changes in protein expression: --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Protein alterations in HepG2 --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Changes in protein expression (membrane protein and transport: Trimethyllysine hydroxylase) --- p.91 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Changes in protein expression (protein synthesis and folding: carboxypeptidase E) --- p.92 / Chapter 5.2.1.3 --- Changes in protein expression (membrane proteins and transport: calumenin and electron transfer flavoproteins) --- p.93 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Protein alterations in SV7tert --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Changes in protein expression (protein synthesis and folding: BiP(GRP78)) --- p.94 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Changes in protein expression (cell defense and tolerance: Hsp60 (chaperonin); TANK binding kinase-1) --- p.96 / Chapter 5.2.2.3 --- Changes in protein expression (metabolism: prolyl 4-hydroxylase; aldolase A; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) --- p.97 / Chapter 5.2.2.4 --- Changes in protein expression (cell growth and division: βII tubulin; HnRNP Al) --- p.100 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Protein alterations in Hs68 --- p.101 / Chapter 5.2.3.1 --- Changes in protein expression (metabolism: triosephosphate isomerse 1) --- p.101 / Chapter 6. --- Discussion --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1 --- The antiproliferating activities of adenosine and cordycepin --- p.103 / Chapter 6.2 --- "Effects of adenosine and cordycepin on the changes in protein expressions in HepG2, SV7tert and Hs68" --- p.104 / Chapter 6.3 --- Problems and improvements in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis --- p.105 / Chapter 7. --- Conclusion and future prospectives --- p.107 / References --- p.109

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are the glial cells responsible for the synthesis and maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system. Recently, Hoxa2 was found by our laboratory to be expressed by OLs and down-regulated at the terminal differentiation stage during oligodendrogenesis in mice (Nicolay et al., 2004b). To further investigate the role of Hoxa2 in oligodendroglial development, a tetracycline regulated controllable expression system was utilized to establish two stable cell lines where the expression level of Hoxa2 gene could be up-regulated (CG4-SHoxa2 [sense Hoxa2]) or down-regulated (CG4-ASHoxa2 [Antisense Hoxa2]) in CG4 glial cells. Morphologically, no obvious differences were observed between CG4-SHoxa2 and CG4 wild-type cells, whereas CG4-ASHoxa2 cells exhibited much shorter processes compared with those of CG4 wild-type cells. Data from BrdU uptake assays indicated that an up-regulation of Hoxa2 gene promoted the proliferation of CG4-SHoxa2 cells. PDGF&alphaR (Platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] receptor alpha), a receptor for the mitogen PDGF that enhances the survival and proliferation of OLs, was assessed at the mRNA level in both CG4 and CG4-SHoxa2 cells, but no significant differences were observed between Hoxa2 up-regulated cells and wild-type CG4 cells with respect to the mRNA level of PDGF&alphaR. In addition, specific investigations of the differentiation of CG4-SHoxa2 cells were carried out by characterizing the composition of stage specific oligodendroglial subpopulations in culture. Our immunocytochemical study did not indicate the differentiation course of the genetically engineered cells was significantly altered compared to CG4 wild-type cells, although results from semi-quantitative RT-PCR of oligodendrocyte-specific ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) and myelin basic protein (MBP) indicate that the differentiation of CG4-SHoxa2 cells was delayed when Hoxa2 gene was up-regulated.

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) are the glial cells responsible for the synthesis and maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system. Recently, Hoxa2 was found by our laboratory to be expressed by OLs and down-regulated at the terminal differentiation stage during oligodendrogenesis in mice (Nicolay et al., 2004b). To further investigate the role of Hoxa2 in oligodendroglial development, a tetracycline regulated controllable expression system was utilized to establish two stable cell lines where the expression level of Hoxa2 gene could be up-regulated (CG4-SHoxa2 [sense Hoxa2]) or down-regulated (CG4-ASHoxa2 [Antisense Hoxa2]) in CG4 glial cells. Morphologically, no obvious differences were observed between CG4-SHoxa2 and CG4 wild-type cells, whereas CG4-ASHoxa2 cells exhibited much shorter processes compared with those of CG4 wild-type cells. Data from BrdU uptake assays indicated that an up-regulation of Hoxa2 gene promoted the proliferation of CG4-SHoxa2 cells. PDGF&alphaR (Platelet-derived growth factor [PDGF] receptor alpha), a receptor for the mitogen PDGF that enhances the survival and proliferation of OLs, was assessed at the mRNA level in both CG4 and CG4-SHoxa2 cells, but no significant differences were observed between Hoxa2 up-regulated cells and wild-type CG4 cells with respect to the mRNA level of PDGF&alphaR. In addition, specific investigations of the differentiation of CG4-SHoxa2 cells were carried out by characterizing the composition of stage specific oligodendroglial subpopulations in culture. Our immunocytochemical study did not indicate the differentiation course of the genetically engineered cells was significantly altered compared to CG4 wild-type cells, although results from semi-quantitative RT-PCR of oligodendrocyte-specific ceramide galactosyltransferase (CGT) and myelin basic protein (MBP) indicate that the differentiation of CG4-SHoxa2 cells was delayed when Hoxa2 gene was up-regulated.

Thesis (M.Sc. in Microbiology) -- Mahidol University, 1976.

No description available.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2014. / Insects are confronted by a large variety of potentially harmful microorganisms to which they are resistant as they are able to build up an efficient innate defense system that relies on three tightly interconnected reactions. One of the reactions is the transient and rapid synthesis of a battery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Development of antimicrobial therapeutic drugs and vaccines is very crucial due to factors such as the emergence of multiple-drug resistance. AMPs have been termed natural antibiotics because of their large spectrum of activity. The current study focused on the isolation and identification of cationic antimicrobial peptides and the analysis of immune response in the South African Euoniticellus intermedius embryonic (SAEIE08) cell line upon exposure to pathogens. E. intermedius is of the Coleopteran order in the Scarabaeoidea superfamily. Liquid growth inhibition assay showed higher antimicrobial activity in SAEIE08 that was treated with heat-killed E. coli compared to untreated. Further evidence for antimicrobial activity was seen as a clear zone of inhibition in solid growth inhibition assay when a gel run with protein extracts was plated and overlayed with live E. coli. Changes in protein expression patterns that were analysed in SDS-PAGE and 2-D PAGE indicated the most intense bands and spots at low molecular weight sizes around 10 kDa and/or 16 kDa which implicated increased induction of AMP expression upon exposure to pathogen. Homologues of Saccharomyces cerevisiae proteins were found in some of the 5′/3′ RACE sequences. Possible explanation for matches to these homologues could be that short sequences were used for database searches. The proteins were identified as flavin-containing monooxygenase, long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase, severe depolymerization of actin protein and serine/threonine protein kinase. Interestingly, these proteins play roles in metabolism, cell proliferation and/or molecular pathways which do occur when cells are exposed to stress. There was also an insect peptide allatotropin from Spodoptera frugiperda. The results show that there is inducible antimicrobial activity in embryonic E. intermedius cell line.