OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the binding ability of the dihydrotestosterone(DHT) in prostate.

METHODSTwenty-two normal prostate tissues taken from accident-death corpses without serious diseases, and cytosolic and nuclear fractions were prepared with all the endogenous hormone removed from the cytosolic and nuclear fractions by ether stripping. The content of the bound 3H-DHT was assayed by adding 3H-DHT.

RESULTSThe average DHT-binding capacity of the DHT-binding protein in prostate was (0.0263 +/- 0.0047) nmol/g wet tissue. The DHT-binding capacities of cytosolic and nuclear fractions were (0.0103 +/- 0.0015) nmol/g wet tissue and (0.0155 +/- 0.0035) nmol/g wet tissue respectively, and the difference between them was very significant(P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe DHT-binding capacity of the DHT-binding protein in prostate is high and maintaining the high DHT level facilitates the effect of DHT.

Adult ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Dihydrotestosterone ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Protein Binding

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution pattern of the Secretion complex in Streptococcus mutans by means of the subcellular localization of SecA and SecY.

METHODSThe specificity of anti-SecA antibody and the anti-SecY antibody were examined by Western blot. An indirect postembedding immunogold method was used to determine the subcellular localization of the SecA and SecY in the cytoplasmic membrane of the Streptococcus mutans GS-5.

RESULTSImmunoblotting results showed that the anti-SecA antibody and the anti-SecY antibody specifically recognized a single band of about 95 000 and 47 800 respectively. Immunogold electron microscopy revealed a single intense focus of gold particles at a discrete location on the cytoplasmic membrane of the Streptococcus mutans GS-5.

CONCLUSIONSSecA and SecY clustered to an asymmetric microdomain, which suggests that Sec complex present a uni-site on the cytoplasmic membrane of Streptococcus mutans.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Membrane Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; SEC Translocation Channels ; Streptococcus mutans ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of CDK4 protein expression in the cytoplasm with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of lung cancer.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was employed to examine CDK4 protein expression in the cytoplasm of lung cancer samples, using normal lung tissue samples as control. The correlation of cytoplasmic CDK4 protein expression with the clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis of lung cancer patients was analyzed.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in cytoplasmic CDK4 protein expression levels between lung cancer and normal lung tissues (P=1.000). In the lung cancer tissues, however, an increased cytoplasmic expression of CDK4 was positively correlated with the clinical stages and lymph node metastasis. Prognostic analysis showed that the patients with an increased cytoplasmic CDK4 expression had a markedly shorter overall survival than those with a low cytoplasmic CDK4 expression. Multivariate analysis suggested that the level of cytoplasmic CDK4 expression was an independent prognostic indicator for the survival of patients with lung cancer (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of CDK4 protein in the cytoplasm may promote the carcinogenesis of lung cancer and can be an unfavorable prognostic factor for the survival of lung cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

Animals ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; metabolism ; Golgi Apparatus ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Transport ; Ricin ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of p27 protein expression in the cytoplasm with the clinicopathologic features of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was employed to examine P27 protein expression in the cytoplasm of NPC samples and nasopharyngeal (NP) tissue samples. The differential expression of P27 protein between NPCs and NPs and the correlation of cytoplasmic P27 protein expression with the clinicopathologic parameters of NPC patients was analyzed. RESULTS Immunohistochemistry indicated significantly down-regulated t p27 protein expression in NPC tissues compared to that in NP tissues (P=0.047). The reduction of P27 expression was inversely correlated with T classification of NPC (P=0.033). Although cytoplasmic p27 protein expression was not significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P=0.157) or clinical stages of NPC (P=0.090), an obvious trend of inverse correlations between them was noted.

CONCLUSIONDown-regulated cytoplasmic p27 protein expression may promote the carcinogenesis of NPC and can be an unfavorable prognostic factor for survival of NPC patients.

Carcinoma ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis

Estrogen receptors localized to many sites within the cell are giving comprehensive contribution to estrogen functions. In recent years, researches have identified that some estrogen receptors are localized to the plasma membrane, while other estrogen receptors exist in cytoplasm besides nucleus. Cross-talk occurs between extra-nuclear estrogen receptor and nuclear estrogen receptor signalings. The integration of estrogen and its receptor actions from different sites within the cell leads to the rapid and prolonged actions of estrogen, thus they produce important biological functions in the sex organ and other organs.
Animals ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Receptors, Estradiol ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo prepare a specific polyclonal antibody against full-length SUN5 for detecting the expression of SUN5 in human germ cells.

METHODSBioinformatic methods were used to compare the full-length SUN5 and its variant SUN5β, and a short peptide was designed based on the differential region to prepare SUN5 antibody. The prepared antibody was used to detect the expression of SUN5 in Ntera-2 cells and in human germ cells by Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe short peptide was correctly synthesized and SUN5 antibody was obtained and purified. Western blotting showed that the prepared antibody was capable of recognizing full-length SUN5 in Ntera-2 cells, and SUN5 expression was localized on the nuclear membrane and in the cytoplasm as shown by immunofluorescence assay. Using this antibody, we detected SUN5 expression in the spermatocytes, round spermatids and sperms in human germ cells.

CONCLUSIONWe successfully prepared SUN5-specific antibody. SUN5 is expressed in the spermatocytes, round spermatids and sperms in human germ cells, suggesting its important role in spermatogenesis.

Antibodies ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Male ; Nuclear Envelope ; metabolism ; Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Spermatids ; metabolism ; Spermatocytes ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; metabolism

The phenomenon of phase separation of intracellular biological macromolecules is an emerging research field that has received great attention in recent years. As an aggregation and compartment mechanism of cell biochemical reactions, it widely exists in nature and participates in important physiological processes such as gene transcription and regulation, as well as influences organism's response to external stimuli. Disequilibrium of phase separation may lead to the occurrence of some major diseases. Researchers in cross-cutting fields are trying to examine dementia and other related diseases from a new perspective of phase separation, exploring its molecular mechanism and the potential possibility of intervention and treatment. This review intends to introduce the latest research progress in this field, summarize the major research directions, biochemical basis, its relationship with disease occurrence, and giving a future perspective of key problems to focus on.
Animals ; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical ; trends ; Cytoplasm ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macromolecular Substances ; isolation & purification ; Research ; trends

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the expression of Survivin and Ki67 with prognosis of pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs).

METHODSImmunohistochemistry for Survivin and Ki67 was performed in 25 cases of normal pancreatic tissues and 81 cases of PETs by tissue microarrays and to observe the expression and evaluate the relationship with prognosis.

RESULTS(1)The expression of Survivin and Ki67 in PETs was significantly higher than that in normal pancreatic tissues (P <0.01); (2)The expression of Survivin and Ki67 in PETs was correlated with tissue grading and the TNM-staging (P < 0.05), but not related with tumor size, location and functional status. In addition, the expression of nuclear Survivin was association with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). (3)The high expression of Ki67 was related with the expression of nuclear Survivin, but not related with the expression of cytoplasmic Survivin.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin and Ki67 were both expressed in PETs, which were closely related to the clinical pathological characteristics. They could be used as new indicators in the evaluation of prognosis of PETs. The expression of Survivin in nucleus had more diagnostic significance than that in cytoplasm, and that could be highly correlated with lymph node metastasis, which would be used as a new marker of poor prognosis.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and relationship of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) and cell apoptosis in the parotid gland after leading duct ligation in rat and elucidate the role of PDCD5 on the atophy of parotid gland.

METHODSThe Wistar rat model of leading duct ligation was established, and the samples of parotid gland were obtained from different time point (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60, 90 and 120 d). The expression of PDCD5 protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. Cell apoptosis was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSThe distribution of PDCD5 protein in normal parotid was in cytoplasm with uniformity. The expression of PDCD5 protein was significantly increased and reached the peak at 3 d (1.261 ± 0.048) following main duct ligation. PDCD5 was located both in cytoplasm and nuclear of parotid gland cells. The PDCD5 density in acinar cells was higher than that in duct cells at day 1 and 3 after duct ligation (P < 0.01). The apoptotic cells were obviously upregulated at 3 d after duct ligation. The apoptosis index observed in acinar cells [(21.750 ± 0.119)%] was more than that in duct cells [(5.720 ± 0.205)%]. The difference of apoptosis index between acinar cells and duct cells was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The increased PDCD5 levels were positively correlated with cell apoptosis induced by duct ligation.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of PDCD5 is associated with the atophy of the parotid gland after rat parotid duct ligation, indicating that PDCD5 might play an important role in apoptotic pathways after parotid duct ligation.

Acinar Cells ; metabolism ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; Atrophy ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Ligation ; Male ; Parotid Gland ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Salivary Ducts