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Crystal Violet (crystal + violet)
Terms modified by Crystal Violet Selected AbstractsNovel hydrogel composite for the removal of water-soluble cationic dyeJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Li-Ming Zhang Abstract A novel hydrogel composite was prepared by incorporating Laponite RDS clay into poly(acrylic acid- co - N -vinyl-2-pyrrolodone) hydrogel during in - situ polymerization, and investigated with respect to its adsorption kinetics and isotherm toward Crystal Violet, a widely used cationic dye. It was found that the adsorption kinetics of Crystal Violet onto the hydrogel composite was consistent with the pseudo-second-order model. Compared with pure hydrogel, the hydrogel composite is characterized by greater amounts being adsorbed at equilibrium, and a higher rate constant and initial adsorption rate. By analyzing the experimental data using the Langmuir isotherm equation, an enhanced adsorption capacity was found for the hydrogel composite. Such material is expected to be a good adsorbent for water pollutants such as cationic dyes and treatment of these organic contaminants from wastewater. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Evaluation of the Photodegradation of Crystal Violet upon Light Exposure by Mass Spectrometric and Spectroscopic MethodsJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 2 2009Céline Weyermann Dr. rer. nat. Abstract:, Crystal violet is a very common dye in ballpoint ink. Recent research suggests that the degradation of triarylmethane dyes gives an indication of the age of a ballpoint pen entry on a document. The main problem for the quantitative evaluation of the degradation is that it is highly dependent on the exposure to light. Moreover additional factors, such as additives and substrate play an important role in this process. The aim of this work is to compare the degradation pathways of the pure dye in water and ethanol upon exposure to xenon light by UV/VIS spectrophotometry and laser desorption ionization. Significant differences have been observed in the products and the kinetics of the degradation. N-demethylation, an expected decomposition process, was found to take place only in aqueous solution and kinetics calculations showed that the degradation occurred 2.5 times faster in ethanol compared to water. The degradation of crystal violet in inks from four ballpoint pens on paper was also studied for entries made over 2,3 years. It was observed that degradation reactions were quenched by the presence of another dye due to competitive absorption. It was also observed that the thickness of a stroke (concentration of ink) influenced the degradation process. In the absence of light only one ballpoint pen showed slight degradation. A better understanding of the influence of the paper, ink composition, and storage conditions is necessary to interpret correctly the age of an ink based on the degradation of dyes. [source] Optical probing and imaging of live cells using SERS labelsJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 1 2009Janina Kneipp Abstract During surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), molecules exhibit a significant increase in their Raman signals when attached, or in very close vicinity, to gold or silver nanostructures. This effect is exploited as the basis of a new class of optical labels. Here we demonstrate robust and sensitive SERS labels as probes for imaging live cells. These hybrid labels consist of gold nanoparticles with Rose Bengal or Crystal Violet attached as reporter molecules. These new labels are stable and nontoxic, do not suffer from photobleaching, and can be excited at any excitation wavelength, even in the near infrared. SERS labels can be detected and imaged through the specific Raman signatures of the reporters. In addition, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in the local optical fields of the gold nanoparticles also provides sensitive information on the immediate molecular environment of the label in the cell and allows imaging of the native constituents of the cell. This is demonstrated by images based on a characteristic Raman line of the reporter as well as by displaying lipids based on the SERS signal of the CH deformation/bending modes at ,1470 cm,1. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] ChemInform Abstract: Trivinylogues of Crystal Violet: Synthesis and Absorption Properties of New Near-IR DyesCHEMINFORM, Issue 20 2001Saumitra Sengupta Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source] Discrimination of G-Quadruplexes from Duplex and Single-Stranded DNAs with Fluorescence and Energy-Transfer Fluorescence Spectra of Crystal VioletCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009De-Ming Kong Dr. Abstract G-rich nucleic acid sequences with the potential to form G-quadruplex structures are common in biologically important regions. Most of these sequences are present with their complementary strands, so the development of a sensitive biosensor to distinguish G-quadruplex and duplex structures and to determine the competitive ability of quadruplex to duplex structures has received a great deal of attention. In this work, the interactions between two triphenylmethane dyes (malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV)) and G-quadruplex, duplex, or single-stranded DNAs were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and energy-transfer fluorescence spectroscopy. Good discrimination between quadruplexes and duplex or single-stranded DNAs can be achieved by using the fluorescence spectrum of CV or the energy-transfer fluorescence spectra of CV and MG. In addition, by using energy-transfer fluorescence titrations of CV with G-quadruplexes, the binding-stoichiometry ratios of CV to G-quadruplexes can be determined. By using the fluorescence titrations of G-quadruplex,CV complexes with C-rich complementary strands, the fraction of G-rich oligonucleotide that engages in G-quadruplex structures in the presence of the complementary sequence can be measured. This study may provide a simple method for discrimination between quadruplexes and duplex or single-stranded DNAs and for measuring G-quadruplex percentages in the presence of the complementary C-rich sequences. [source] Platelet lysate promotes in vitro wound scratch closure of human dermal fibroblasts: different roles of cell calcium, P38, ERK and PI3K/AKTJOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE, Issue 8b 2009Elia Ranzato Abstract There is a growing interest for the clinical use of platelet derivates in wound dressing. Platelet beneficial effect is attributed to the release of growth factors and other bioactive substances, though mechanisms are mostly unknown. We studied wound-healing processes of human primary fibroblasts, by exposing cells to a platelet lysate (PL) obtained from blood samples. Crystal violet and tetrazolium salt (MTS) assays showed dose,response increase of cell proliferation and metabolism. In scratch wound and transwell assays, a dose of 20% PL induced a significant increase of wound closure rate at 6 and 24 hrs, and had a strong chemotactic effect. BAPTA-AM, SB203580 and PD98059 caused 100% inhibition of PL effects, whereas wortmannin reduced to about one third the effect of PL on wound healing and abolished the chemotactic response. Confocal imaging showed the induction by PL of serial Ca2+ oscillations in fibroblasts. Data indicate that cell Ca2+ plays a fundamental role in wound healing even without PL, p38 and ERK1/2 are essential for PL effects but are also activated by wounding per se, PI3K is essential for PL effects and its downstream effector Akt is activated only in the presence of PL. In conclusion, PL stimulates fibroblast wound healing through the activation of cell proliferation and motility with different patterns of involvement of different signalling pathways. [source] Evaluation of the Photodegradation of Crystal Violet upon Light Exposure by Mass Spectrometric and Spectroscopic MethodsJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 2 2009Céline Weyermann Dr. rer. nat. Abstract:, Crystal violet is a very common dye in ballpoint ink. Recent research suggests that the degradation of triarylmethane dyes gives an indication of the age of a ballpoint pen entry on a document. The main problem for the quantitative evaluation of the degradation is that it is highly dependent on the exposure to light. Moreover additional factors, such as additives and substrate play an important role in this process. The aim of this work is to compare the degradation pathways of the pure dye in water and ethanol upon exposure to xenon light by UV/VIS spectrophotometry and laser desorption ionization. Significant differences have been observed in the products and the kinetics of the degradation. N-demethylation, an expected decomposition process, was found to take place only in aqueous solution and kinetics calculations showed that the degradation occurred 2.5 times faster in ethanol compared to water. The degradation of crystal violet in inks from four ballpoint pens on paper was also studied for entries made over 2,3 years. It was observed that degradation reactions were quenched by the presence of another dye due to competitive absorption. It was also observed that the thickness of a stroke (concentration of ink) influenced the degradation process. In the absence of light only one ballpoint pen showed slight degradation. A better understanding of the influence of the paper, ink composition, and storage conditions is necessary to interpret correctly the age of an ink based on the degradation of dyes. [source] Investigation of virulence genes in clinical isolates of Yersinia enterocoliticaFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Haoxuan Zheng Abstract In this study, we aimed to investigate the distribution of virulence genes in clinical isolates of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica. Two thousand six hundred stool samples were collected from 2600 patients with diarrhea, and were tested using the culture method and real-time PCR. Then, all isolates of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica cultured from the culture method were examined for virulence genes (inv, ail, ystA, ystB, ystC, yadA, virF) by PCR and for the presence of plasmid by four phenotypic tests. As a result, 160 pathogenic strains were successfully detected by the culture method, including bio/serotype 1A/unknown (4), 1B/unknown (8), 2/O:9 (39), 2/unknown (7), 3/O:3 (22), 3/unknown (6), 4/O:3 (55), 4/unknown (10) and 5/unknown (9). The positive rate of virulence genes tested in 160 isolates was inv (100%), ail (94%), ystA (93%), ystB (7.5%), ystC (5%), yadA (89%) and virF (82%) while the phenotypic test included autoagglutination (87%), binding of crystal violet (89%), calcium-dependent growth (74%) and Congo red absorption (78%), respectively. Finally, we found that not all pathogenic Y. enterocolitica necessarily carry all traditional virulence genes in both chromosomes and plasmids to cause illness. Perhaps, some of them, lacking some traditional virulence genes, contain other unknown virulence markers that interact with each other and play an important role in the diverse pathogenesis of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica. [source] Nanoporous Alumina Membranes as Diffusion Controlling SystemsADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 12 2004S. Kipke Abstract This work describes the use of nanoporous alumina membranes for the diffusion of crystal violet molecules, encapsulated in the micelles of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), through pores ranging between 20 and 200,nm in diameter. The encapsulation of the crystal violet in SDS micelles is necessary in order to enlarge the size of the molecules to such an extent that the pore size becomes a speed-controlling function. Superior results were obtained when the membrane-containing capsule is placed into a water-filled beaker, and carefully moved by means of a "tipping bridge" in order to prevent diffusion problems in the capsule. Free crystal violet was liberated following diffusion due to the low SDS concentration in the aqueous solution, which was far below the critical micelle concentration (CMC). Micelle formation and encapsulation of crystal violet is shown by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopies. The experiments described herein serve as an exploratory test for developing novel drug delivery systems. [source] An in vitro investigation of the bulk flow of fluid through apical foramina during simulated tooth extraction: a potential confounder in microbiological studies?INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL, Issue 4 2001A. Kapalas Aim,The ,pumping action' induced during tooth extraction may cause bacteria suspended in tissue fluids to be transposed from one anatomical compartment to another. Apart from causing bacteraemia, this may lead to inaccuracies in studies evaluating the presence and distribution of bacteria in and around tooth apices. The aim was to investigate the bulk flow of fluid through apical foramina during simulated extraction of teeth in an in vitro model. The influence of the presence or absence of a coronal restoration was also evaluated. Methodology,Twenty extracted single-rooted, human, mature, permanent teeth were used. Standard access cavities were prepared and the root canals located. Standardized micrographs of the apical foramina were obtained and their area (µm2) was calculated by image analysis software. The teeth were then set and sealed into polyvinylsiloxane (rubber base) impression material. Crystal violet dye was inoculated into the coronal half of the root canal system. Tooth extraction movements were simulated in the impression matrix and the leakage of dyes with and without the presence of a coronal restoration was examined. The procedure was repeated, following application of safranin dye in a coronal trough within the simulated rubber base gingival margin at the CEJ. The results were analysed statistically with the independent-samples t -test and the McNemar test. Results,In the absence of a coronal restoration crystal violet leaked out of the apical foramina in 18/20 teeth; conversely safranin leaked into the teeth through the apical foramina in 11/20 cases when applied to the external root surface. In the presence of an intact coronal restoration crystal violet dye leaked out in 6/20 teeth and conversely safranin leaked into 7/20 teeth. The presence of a coronal restoration significantly reduced (P = 0.002) dye leakage out of the root canal system. No associations were found for leakage of dye into the root canal system when applied externally. In addition, the amount of dye leakage was positively correlated with the area of the apical foramen in the presence of a coronal restoration (P = 0.009). Conclusion,The presence of a coronal restoration significantly reduced leakage of dye out of the apical foramen. Microbiological studies on root canals and periapical lesions using extracted teeth should take potential contamination from this source into account. [source] Study of association thermodynamics between crystal violet and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate and kinetics of basic fading of crystal violet in microemulsionsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL KINETICS, Issue 6 2008Zhi Yun Chen The thermodynamics of the association between 4,4,,4,-tris(dimethyl-amino)triphenylmethyl chloride (crystal violet or CV) and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)-sulfosuccinate (aerosol OT or AOT) in water/AOT/n -decane microemulsion and the kinetics of the basic hydrolysis of CV in a water-in-oil microemulsion were investigated by UV,vis spectroscopic measurements. An association model of CV and AOT was used to analyze the experimental data to obtain the association constants at various temperatures. By taking the association into account, the "actual" rate constants and the activation energies of the basic hydrolysis of CV in the media of water/AOT/oil were obtained. The difference in thermodynamics and kinetics between the two media of water/AOT/n -decane and water/AOT/isooctane is discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 294,300, 2008 [source] Preparation and characterization of interpenetration polymer network films based on poly(vinyl alcohol) and poly(acrylic acid) for drug deliveryJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 6 2008Yu-Mei Yue Abstract A series of full interpenetrating polymer network (full-IPN) films of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared by radical solution polymerization and sequential IPN technology. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, swelling properties, mechanical properties, morphology, and glass transition temperature of the films were investigated. FTIR spectra analysis showed that new interaction hydrogen bonds between PVA and PAA were formed. Swelling property of the films in distilled water and different pH buffer solution was studied. Swelling ratio increased with increasing PAA content of IPN films in all media, and swelling ratio decreased with increasing PVA crosslink degree. Tensile strength and elongation at break related not only to the constitution of IPNs but also to the swelling ratio of IPNs. Mechanical property of glutaraldehyde (0.5%) for poly(vinyl alcohol) crosslinking was better than that of glutaraldehyde (1.0%). DSC of the IPN films showed only a single glass transition temperature (Tg) for each sample, and Tg data showed a linear relationship with network composition. Morphology was observed a homogeneous structure, indicating the good compatibility and miscibility between PAA and PVA. Potential application of the IPN films in controlled drug delivery was also examined using crystal violet as a model drug. The release rate of the drug was higher at 37°C than 25°C for all IPNs and also increased slightly with decreasing of poly(acrylic acid) content. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008 [source] Adduct-forming tendencies of cationic triarylmethane dyes with proteins: Metabolic and toxicological implicationsJOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Özden Tacal Abstract The formation of colorless adducts by four cationic triarylmethane dyes (TAM+s), methyl green (MeG+), malachite green (MG+), pararosaniline (PR+), and crystal violet (CV+) was studied spectrophotometrically at 25°C, in 50 mM 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid (MOPS) buffer (pH 8), by monitoring the loss in TAM+ color in the absence and presence of human serum proteins as potential addends. Unfractionated serum caused a rapid bleaching of MeG+ and MG+, while PR+ and CV+ were unaffected. Sephacryl S200 HR chromatographic screening of the serum revealed two composite peaks of MeG+ -bleaching activity. The major peak (Mr range, 40,000,130,000) overlapped with and extended on either side of the albumin peak. The minor peak corresponding to ca. 10% of the total MeG+ -bleaching capacity had Mr > 230,000. MG+ -bleaching activity dominated the entire chromatographic profile and implicated a multitude of minority proteins with a high capacity to form colorless MG adducts. It is concluded that highly electrophilic TAM+s such as MeG+ and MG+ must be quantitatively trapped in the form of dye,protein adducts in biological fluids and that the primary in vivo effects (e.g. toxicity) of such dyes most likely arise from ligand-type effects on multiple protein targets. Mechanisms that call for unmodified TAM+ structure (radical-mediated redox changes, DNA intercalation) may be more relevant to the in vivo impact of dyes such as PR+ and CV+ that have a lower tendency to form adducts. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18:253,256, 2004 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20034 [source] Evaluation of the Photodegradation of Crystal Violet upon Light Exposure by Mass Spectrometric and Spectroscopic MethodsJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 2 2009Céline Weyermann Dr. rer. nat. Abstract:, Crystal violet is a very common dye in ballpoint ink. Recent research suggests that the degradation of triarylmethane dyes gives an indication of the age of a ballpoint pen entry on a document. The main problem for the quantitative evaluation of the degradation is that it is highly dependent on the exposure to light. Moreover additional factors, such as additives and substrate play an important role in this process. The aim of this work is to compare the degradation pathways of the pure dye in water and ethanol upon exposure to xenon light by UV/VIS spectrophotometry and laser desorption ionization. Significant differences have been observed in the products and the kinetics of the degradation. N-demethylation, an expected decomposition process, was found to take place only in aqueous solution and kinetics calculations showed that the degradation occurred 2.5 times faster in ethanol compared to water. The degradation of crystal violet in inks from four ballpoint pens on paper was also studied for entries made over 2,3 years. It was observed that degradation reactions were quenched by the presence of another dye due to competitive absorption. It was also observed that the thickness of a stroke (concentration of ink) influenced the degradation process. In the absence of light only one ballpoint pen showed slight degradation. A better understanding of the influence of the paper, ink composition, and storage conditions is necessary to interpret correctly the age of an ink based on the degradation of dyes. [source] Engineered 5S ribosomal RNAs displaying aptamers recognizing vascular endothelial growth factor and malachite greenJOURNAL OF MOLECULAR RECOGNITION, Issue 2 2009Xing Zhang Abstract In previous work, Vibrio proteolyticus 5S rRNA was shown to stabilize 13,50 nucleotide "guest" RNA sequences for expression in Escherichia coli. The expressed chimeric RNAs accumulated to high levels in E. coli without being incorporated into ribosomes and without obvious effects on the host cells. In this work, we inserted sequences encoding known aptamers recognizing a protein and an organic dye into the 5S rRNA carrier and showed that aptamer function is preserved in the chimeras. A surface plasmon resonance competitive binding assay demonstrated that a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) aptamer/5S rRNA chimera produced in vitro by transcriptional runoff could compete with a DNA aptamer for VEGF, implying binding of the growth factor by the VEGF "ribosomal RNA aptamer." Separately, a 5S rRNA chimera displaying an aptamer known to increase the fluorescence of malachite green (MG) also enhanced MG fluorescence. Closely related control rRNA molecules showed neither activity. The MG aptamer/5S rRNA chimera, like the original MG aptamer, also increased the fluorescence of other triphenyl methane (TPM) dyes such as crystal violet, methyl violet, and brilliant green, although less effectively than with MG. These results indicate that the molecular recognition properties of aptamers are not lost when they are expressed in the context of a stable 5S rRNA carrier. Inclusion of the aptamer in a carrier may facilitate production of large quantities of RNA aptamers, and may open an approach to screening aptamer libraries in vivo. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy via gold nanostarsJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 1 2009E. Nalbant Esenturk Abstract Anisotropic metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have unique optical properties, which lend them to applications such as surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy. Star-shaped gold (Au) NPs were prepared in aqueous solutions by the seed-mediated growth method and tested for Raman enhancement using 2-mercaptopyridine (2-MPy) and crystal violet (CV) probing molecules. For both molecules, the SERS activity of the nanostars was notably stronger than that of the spherical Au NPs of similar size. The Raman enhancement factors (EFs) for 2-MPy on Au nanostars and nanorods are comparable and estimated as greater than 5 orders of magnitude. However, the enhancement for CV on nanostars was significantly higher than for nanorods, in particular at CV concentrations of 100 nM or lower. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Nanostructured gold surfaces as reproducible substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopyJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 3 2007M. Sackmann Abstract Raman spectroscopy is a common tool for the qualitative and quantitative chemical analysis of molecules. Although the unique identification of molecules is possible via their vibrational lines, high concentrations (mmol/l) are needed for their nonresonant excitation owing to their low scattering cross section. The intensity of the Raman spectra is amplified by the use of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique. While the use of silver sols results only in a limited reproducibility of the Raman line intensities, lithographically designed, nanostructured gold surfaces used as SERS-active substrates should, in principle, combine the high sensitivity with better reproducibility. For this purpose, we have produced gratings of gold dots on Si(001) surfaces by means of electron beam lithography. Qualitative and quantitative investigations of crystal violet (CV) performed using nanostructured surfaces give high reproducibility and enhancement of the Raman lines. The substrates are reusable after cleaning; all results presented could be obtained from a single SERS substrate. For the experiments very low laser powers were used. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A combination of assays reveals biomass differences in biofilms formed by Escherichia coli mutantsLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009P. Sule Abstract Aims:, The aim of this study was to develop an assay system that can quantify the amount of biomass in biofilms formed by different isogenic mutants of an Escherichia coli K-12 strain. Methods and Results:, The reported assay, which is based on the BacTiter-GloÔ assay from Promega, uses bioluminescence to detect the intracellular concentration of ATP, which correlates with viable bacterial cell numbers. The quantitative data obtained with this ATP assay were compared to those obtained with the conventional crystal violet assay. As a qualitative control, scanning electron microscopy was performed. Conclusions:, The ATP assay, the crystal violet assay and scanning electron microscopy yielded similar results for six of the eight strains tested. For the remaining two strains, the images from the scanning electron microscopy confirmed the results from the ATP assay. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The ATP assay, in combination with other quantitative and qualitative assays, will allow us to perform genetic studies on the regulatory network that underlies the early steps in E. coli biofilm formation. [source] Apigenin drives the production of reactive oxygen species and initiates a mitochondrial mediated cell death pathway in prostate epithelial cellsTHE PROSTATE, Issue 2 2005Colm Morrissey Abstract BACKGROUND Phytoestrogens may reduce tumorigenesis in prostate cancer. We screened five phytoestrogens for their effect on cell growth and apoptosis in PWR-1E, LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145 prostate epithelial cells in vitro. METHODS We assessed cell number, proliferation, and apoptosis using crystal violet assays, flow cytometric analysis, and TUNEL. Focusing specifically on apigenin we assessed the ability of calpain, serine protease, caspase, estrogen receptor, and ceramide synthase inhibitors to block apigenin induced apoptosis. We also analyzed caspase 3, 7, 8, 9, Bcl-2, Bax, Bid, and cytochrome C by Western analysis, and mitochondrial permeability and reactive oxygen species production by flow cytometry using mitosensorTM and DCFH-DA, respectively. RESULTS Apigenin and silybinin significantly reduced cell number, with apigenin inducing apoptosis in PWR-1E, LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145 cells. The PC-3 and DU145 cells were less susceptible to apigenin induced apoptosis then LNCaP and PWR-1E cells. The induction of apoptosis by apigenin was caspase dependent. Apigenin generated reactive oxygen species, a loss of mitochondrial Bcl-2 expression, mitochondrial permeability, cytochrome C release, and the cleavage of caspase 3, 7, 8, and 9 and the concomitant cleavage of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein, cIAP-2. The overexpression of Bcl-2 in LNCaP B10 cells reduced the apoptotic effects of apigenin. CONCLUSIONS Apigenin induces cell death in prostate epithelial cells using a mitochondrial mediated cell death pathway. Bcl-2 has a role in inhibiting apigenin induced cell death in prostate epithelial cells. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The effect of serotonin and serotonin antagonists on bladder cancer cell proliferationBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2006EMAD J. SIDDIQUI OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) and its antagonists in the proliferation of high-grade bladder cancer cells (HT1376), as high-grade bladder cancer has a rapid rate of progression, invasion and recurrence, and 5HT antagonists inhibit the growth of the prostate cancer cell line (PC3). MATERIALS AND METHODS HT1376 (human grade III transitional cell carcinoma) cells were incubated with either 5HT or 5HT antagonists (5HT1A, 5HT1B, 5HT1D, 5HT2, 5HT3 and 5HT4). After 72 h, cell viability was assessed using the crystal violet assay. The presence of 5HT receptor subtypes on HT1376 cells and sections of human bladder cancer tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. RESULTS 5HT caused a dose-dependent increase in the proliferation of HT1376 cells. The maximum increase in cell proliferation (12%; 12 samples, P < 0.001) was at 10,8m as compared to the control at 72 h. At 10,4m, 5HT1A antagonist (NAN-190 hydrobromide) and 5HT1B antagonist (SB224289 hydrochloride) had a 10% (12 samples, P < 0.001) and 93% (12, P < 0.001) inhibitory effect on HT1376 cell growth, respectively, compared to the control at 72 h. There was immunostaining for 5HT1A and 5HT1B receptors in HT1376 cells and malignant bladder tissue, confirming the presence of these two receptor subtypes. Western blot analysis showed the presence of 5HT1A and 5HT1B receptor proteins with bands of 46 kDa and 43 kDa, respectively. CONCLUSION 5HT1A and to a greater extent 5HT1B antagonists significantly inhibit bladder cancer cell growth. This effect is probably mediated via the 5HT1A and 5HT1B receptors. These results highlight the potential use of 5HT1A and 5HT1B antagonists in the treatment of bladder cancer. [source] Discrimination of G-Quadruplexes from Duplex and Single-Stranded DNAs with Fluorescence and Energy-Transfer Fluorescence Spectra of Crystal VioletCHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009De-Ming Kong Dr. Abstract G-rich nucleic acid sequences with the potential to form G-quadruplex structures are common in biologically important regions. Most of these sequences are present with their complementary strands, so the development of a sensitive biosensor to distinguish G-quadruplex and duplex structures and to determine the competitive ability of quadruplex to duplex structures has received a great deal of attention. In this work, the interactions between two triphenylmethane dyes (malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV)) and G-quadruplex, duplex, or single-stranded DNAs were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and energy-transfer fluorescence spectroscopy. Good discrimination between quadruplexes and duplex or single-stranded DNAs can be achieved by using the fluorescence spectrum of CV or the energy-transfer fluorescence spectra of CV and MG. In addition, by using energy-transfer fluorescence titrations of CV with G-quadruplexes, the binding-stoichiometry ratios of CV to G-quadruplexes can be determined. By using the fluorescence titrations of G-quadruplex,CV complexes with C-rich complementary strands, the fraction of G-rich oligonucleotide that engages in G-quadruplex structures in the presence of the complementary sequence can be measured. This study may provide a simple method for discrimination between quadruplexes and duplex or single-stranded DNAs and for measuring G-quadruplex percentages in the presence of the complementary C-rich sequences. [source] | ||||||||||||||||