Unexpectedly, we found that AgCARM1 has already been predominantly dimethylated during its expression in Escherichia coli. A single arginine methylation site, R485, was identified which is conserved among CARM1 in insects. No methylation was observed in the intact AgCARM1(R485K) mutant where R485 is mutated to lysine, which confirms that R485 is the only detectable methylation site. Using AgCARM1 methyltransferase defective Romidepsin mutants, we confirmed
that this is an automethylation event and show the automethylation of AgCARM1 occurs intermolecularly. This study represents the first comprehensive characterization of an automethylation event by top-down mass spectrometry. this website The unexpected high percentage of automethylated recombinant AgCARM1 expressed in E. coli may shed light on other bacterially expressed post-translational modifying enzymes, which could be modified but overlooked in biochemical and structural studies. Top-down high resolution tandem mass spectrometry thus provides unique opportunities for revealing unexpected protein modification,
localizing specific modification to one amino acid, and delineating molecular mechanism of an enzyme.”
“Purpose: To evaluate the use of the sugarcane biopolymer membrane in femoral vein patch angioplasty on dogs.
Methods: Eight dogs were submitted to bilateral femoral vein patch angioplasty with a sugarcane biopolymer membrane patch on one side and an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) patch on the contralateral side. This research was performed at Experimental
Surgical Research Laboratory of the Centro de Ciencias da Saude at Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. The dogs underwent new surgery at 180 days after the patch angioplasty in order to harvest the femoral vein. All the animals were evaluated by clinical examination, measure of femoral STK38 vein diameter, venogram, and Doppler fluxometry. The material harvested was sent for histologic study. Each animal served as its own control.
Results: In all veins of both groups, there were no cases of infection, rupture, or pseudoaneurysm formation and thrombosis. In both groups, a chronic inflammatory reaction was observed, with lymphocytes, neutrophils, and fibrosis in the outer surface of the patches. Fibrosis was seen in the inner surfaces of all the patches. In e-PTFE patches, invasion by fibroblasts occurred.
Conclusions: The sugarcane biopolymer membrane can be used as a patch in femoral vein angioplasty on dogs. (J Vase Surg 2012;55:517-21.)”
“Background: Comparisons between animal and human neurotoxicology studies are a foundation of risk assessment, but are hindered by differences in measured behaviors.