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K Ou

Publications and source records attributed to K Ou.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Expression of myelin basic protein gene in the developing human brain].

The expression of myelin basic protein (MBP) gene in the developing human brain was studied by using Northern dot blot and in situ hybridization with 32P- and biotin-labeled rat MBP cDNA and Diglabeled human MBP cRNA probes so as to explore the relation of temporal and spatial expression of human MBP gene to myelinogenesis and myelination. The results of dot blot analysis showed that the expression of MBP mRNA was near 2.0 A590/microgram of RNA in the fetal brain at 16 weeks of conceptional age, and it increased progressively with development to have 9-fold increment (18 A590/microgram of RNA) in the adult brain. The insitu hybridization was performed with the sections of fetal spinal cord and medulla oblongata at 8-25 weeks of conceptional age, and of pons, midbrain, thalamus, cerebellum and cerebrum at 20, 22 and 25 weeks. The results indicated that the expression of MBP mRNA was found as early as 8-9 weeks and localized within the perinuclear cytoplasm of the scattered cells in the ventral horn of spinal cord and near the basis of the fourth ventricle of medulla oblongata. Whether the above-mentioned labeled cells are neurons or precursors of glial cell remains to be identified because they are larger in size and have more abundant cytoplasm than oligodendrocytes. The labeling of MBP mRNA abruptly increased and spread with the processes of oligodendrocytes to form a network in spinal cord and medulla at 20 weeks; meanwhile, labeling was obvious in pons and scattering in the other brain regions examined.

Adult↗

(Benzoylphenyl)piperidines: a new class of immunomodulators.

A series of (benzoylphenyl)piperidines has been synthesized and evaluated for activity as immunomodulators. Several of these compounds show good activity in primary screening on the basis of the lymphocytes mitogenic response to Con A, PHA, and PWM. A chloro group in position 4 of the benzoyl moiety as well as an amino group (or a carbamate derivative) para to the piperidine nucleus seems to be essential for activity. The depicted compounds may be considered as the first examples of a new series of immunomodulators.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Proteomic investigation of metabolic shift in mammalian cell culture.

Mammalian cells, under typical cultivation conditions, produce large quantities of lactate and ammonia that affect cell growth adversely and result in low cell concentration. Controlled nutrient feeding to maintain low concentrations of glucose and glutamine reduces metabolite production drastically, altering the metabolism of the cells. This metabolic shift results in higher cell concentration in continuous cultures and does not affect the specific productivity of the cells. We have taken a proteomics approach to investigate the differential protein expression with metabolic shift. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry (MS), we have found at least eight differentially expressed spots; two proteins were down-regulated, and the others were up-regulated with metabolic shift. These included metabolic enzymes, the brain form of phosphoglycerate mutase, which was down-regulated, and the precursor of the 23 kDa subunit of NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase, which was up-regulated. Another enzyme, the L1 isozyme of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase, which is involved in protein turnover and degradation, was also up-regulated in the metabolically altered cells. The remaining down-regulated spot had been identified as two isoforms of cytoplasmic actins, while three of the up-regulated spots were viral GAG polyproteins from various murine viruses. An unidentified protein was also up-regulated in the cells with altered metabolic state. This study shows the potential of using a proteomics approach in deciphering the intracellular changes in cells with physiological changes such as metabolism shift. The new insight into cell metabolism afforded by this analysis will greatly facilitate process optimization of continuous cell cultures.

Alkylation↗