Previous freeze-fracture experiments using either glutaraldehyde-fixed and cryoprotected specimen... more Previous freeze-fracture experiments using either glutaraldehyde-fixed and cryoprotected specimens or unfixed rapid-frozen samples led to the proposal that cylindrical strands of the tight junction (TJ) observed in freeze-fracture preparations are inverted cylindrical micelles made up of membrane lipids and, possibly, membrane proteins. However, no one has yet been able to directly label the structural fibrils of the TJ. To test the hypothesis that TJ strands observed on freeze-fracture preparations are composed at least partially of lipids, we have combined the phospholipase A2-gold and the fracture-label techniques for localization of phospholipids. Phospholipase A2, purified from bee venom, was adsorbed on gold particles and used for specific labeling of its substrate. Phospholipase A2-colloidal gold (PLA2-CG) complex was applied to freeze-fractured preparations of rat exocrine pancreatic cells and testicular Sertoli cells, both of which are known to have extensive TJ complexes o...
A histochemical study of the mitotic chromosomes and interphase nuclei of rat regenerating liver ... more A histochemical study of the mitotic chromosomes and interphase nuclei of rat regenerating liver and of root tips from Vieia/aba and Trillium grandi/lorum has been performed using the periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Carbohydrates and plasmalogen-like molecules were demonstrated on these cellular structures. The presence of such components was confirmed by biochemical studies upon nuclei isolated from rat liver.
Along with good and cheering recent news regarding the future of the European Biotechnology Thema... more Along with good and cheering recent news regarding the future of the European Biotechnology Thematic Network Association (EBTNA) and The EuroBiotech Journal, unfortunately, there is also sad news; the EBTNA family has lost the founder, the heart and soul of the association, a remarkable biotechnologist, an inspiring person for scientists and educationalists-Professor Mariapia Viola-Magni who passed away
Background and Objective: The use of liquid biopsies to detect not only genetic and epigenetic al... more Background and Objective: The use of liquid biopsies to detect not only genetic and epigenetic alterations in circulating DNA but also to identify circulating non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is a promising tool for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of therapy outcome of cancer patients. The objective of the narrative review is to describe the genetically and epigenetically altered circulating DNA as well as the identification of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in both peripheral blood and other bodily fluids, but also in exosomes as potential biomarkers for lung cancer identification. Methods: In the following article we summarized important aspects from the studies listed in database PubMed using keywords "circulating, cell-free DNA, RNA, ncRNAs, microRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, exosomes" and "lung cancer" from 1985-2022. A total of 450 articles were considered and 149 relevant articles were included in the review.
Plant tissues may be embedded in half the time taken for paraffin embedding if acetone is used as... more Plant tissues may be embedded in half the time taken for paraffin embedding if acetone is used as the dehydrating and infiltrating agent, and the tissue is embedded in ester wax. This procedure retains appreciably more lipid material inside the cells than does the more usual technique, even when the tissue has been fixed in osmium tetroxide or in La Cour's 2BE.
Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles mediate intercellular communication by transferring their ... more Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles mediate intercellular communication by transferring their cargo including DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids from cell to cell. Notably, in the immune system, they have protective functions. However in cancer, exosomes acquire new, immunosuppressive properties that cause the dysregulation of immune cells and immune escape of tumor cells supporting cancer progression and metastasis. Therefore, current investigations focus on the regulation of exosome levels for immunotherapeutic interventions. In this review, we discuss the role of exosomes in immunomodulation of lymphoid and myeloid cells, and their use as immune stimulatory agents to elicit specific cytotoxic responses against the tumor.
The identification of exosomes, their link to multivesicular bodies and their potential role as a... more The identification of exosomes, their link to multivesicular bodies and their potential role as a messenger vehicle between cancer and healthy cells opens up a new approach to the study of intercellular signaling. Furthermore, the fact that their main cargo is likely to be microRNAs (miRNAs) provides the possibility of the transfer of such molecules to control activities in the recipient cells. This review concerns a brief overview of the biogenesis of both exosomes and miRNAs together with the movement of such structures between cells. The possible roles of miRNAs in the development and progression of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers are discussed.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY 50% required 0-ImM-iodine when the enzyme was 8-15nM. The ... more PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY 50% required 0-ImM-iodine when the enzyme was 8-15nM. The reaction was complete in a few seconds. Mercaptoethanol and mercaptoethylamine reactivate the partially inhibited enzyme. However, neither 0-1 M-cysteine nor 0-1 M-ascorbate reactivate the enzyme.
The presence of DNA and RNA circulating in human plasma and serum is described. The known sources... more The presence of DNA and RNA circulating in human plasma and serum is described. The known sources of the DNA/RNA in blood, the ability of these nucleic acids to enter other cells and to express in the recipient cells are considered along with their relationship to metastases. The possible role(s) of the DNA/RNA in personalized clinical diagnosis, monitoring of treatment and prognosis in oncology are discussed.
The National Health System in the UK has evolved to become one of the largest healthcare systems ... more The National Health System in the UK has evolved to become one of the largest healthcare systems in the world. At the time of writing of this review (August 2010) the UK government in its 2010 White Paper "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS" has announced a strategy on how it will "create a more responsive, patient-centred NHS which achieves outcomes that are among the best in the world". This review article presents an overview of the UK healthcare system as it currently stands, with emphasis on Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine elements. It aims to serve as the basis for future EPMA articles to expand on and present the changes that will be implemented within the NHS in the forthcoming months.
It has been found that the heterochromatic region of interphase nuclei of plant roots and calf th... more It has been found that the heterochromatic region of interphase nuclei of plant roots and calf thymus, fixed in formaldehyde solution, do not stain for phospholipid as they do after Lewitsky's fixative. It has been shown that this is probably due to the extraction of a protein-phospholipid complex. Some lipid-like material has been purified from the used formalin and shown to contain glycerophosphate. The nature of the association between the lipid and protein is discussed.
The earliest biochemical marker of¯oral evocation in the shoot apex of S. oleracea is the doublin... more The earliest biochemical marker of¯oral evocation in the shoot apex of S. oleracea is the doubling of the rate of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity 12±15 h after transfer of 4-week-old plants from short days to continuous light i.e. 1±2 h after the leaves are raised to the¯oral state. Quantitative cytochemical analysis of G6PD activity in the vegetative apices showed that addition of 10 À 7 M Ca 2 to the cytochemical enzyme reaction medium for G6PD activity raises the rate of enzyme activity to that seen in the induced apices. Higher concentrations of Ca 2 result in G6PD inhibition in the vegetative apices and any added Ca 2 at concentrations of 10 À 7 M or higher inhibit the G6PD activity seen in both the induced apices and leaf primordia of both types of apex. The addition of EGTA abolishes the cytochemical reaction. The ability of the Ca 2 to activate the G6PD activity in addition to the incubation medium occurs during the periods of 8±11 h of continuous light, but is already lost by 12 h when no change is achieved by Ca 2 treatment. This can be interpreted as indicating a point in time close to the moment of oral evocation. A model is proposed in which Ca 2 is able to activate the inactivated-G6PD molecules in the vegetative apex through increased Ca 2¯u x possibly through the action of plasmalemmal Ca 2-ATPase activity as part of the¯oral evocation process.
We discuss the early history of the structure of DNA and its involvement in gene structure as wel... more We discuss the early history of the structure of DNA and its involvement in gene structure as well as its mobility in and between cells and between tissues in the form of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This is followed by a view of the present status of the studies on cfDNA and clinical applications of circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA). The future developments and roles of ctDNA are also considered.
The presence of circulating nucleic acids in man, animals and plants is well documented. It is cl... more The presence of circulating nucleic acids in man, animals and plants is well documented. It is clear that such nucleic acids can not only circulate freely within an organism, but can also enter cells when their biology may be changed either epigenetically or genetically. Evidence is presented concerning a possible influence of these nucleic acid fragments on the genetics of the F1 generation of man, animals and plants. The data presented also offer a mechanism by which the incorporation of horizontally transferred genes between organisms may be achieved. The role that circulating nucleic acids might play in modifying the F1 generation and possibly the evolutionary process is considered.
Previous freeze-fracture experiments using either glutaraldehyde-fixed and cryoprotected specimen... more Previous freeze-fracture experiments using either glutaraldehyde-fixed and cryoprotected specimens or unfixed rapid-frozen samples led to the proposal that cylindrical strands of the tight junction (TJ) observed in freeze-fracture preparations are inverted cylindrical micelles made up of membrane lipids and, possibly, membrane proteins. However, no one has yet been able to directly label the structural fibrils of the TJ. To test the hypothesis that TJ strands observed on freeze-fracture preparations are composed at least partially of lipids, we have combined the phospholipase A2-gold and the fracture-label techniques for localization of phospholipids. Phospholipase A2, purified from bee venom, was adsorbed on gold particles and used for specific labeling of its substrate. Phospholipase A2-colloidal gold (PLA2-CG) complex was applied to freeze-fractured preparations of rat exocrine pancreatic cells and testicular Sertoli cells, both of which are known to have extensive TJ complexes o...
A histochemical study of the mitotic chromosomes and interphase nuclei of rat regenerating liver ... more A histochemical study of the mitotic chromosomes and interphase nuclei of rat regenerating liver and of root tips from Vieia/aba and Trillium grandi/lorum has been performed using the periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Carbohydrates and plasmalogen-like molecules were demonstrated on these cellular structures. The presence of such components was confirmed by biochemical studies upon nuclei isolated from rat liver.
Along with good and cheering recent news regarding the future of the European Biotechnology Thema... more Along with good and cheering recent news regarding the future of the European Biotechnology Thematic Network Association (EBTNA) and The EuroBiotech Journal, unfortunately, there is also sad news; the EBTNA family has lost the founder, the heart and soul of the association, a remarkable biotechnologist, an inspiring person for scientists and educationalists-Professor Mariapia Viola-Magni who passed away
Background and Objective: The use of liquid biopsies to detect not only genetic and epigenetic al... more Background and Objective: The use of liquid biopsies to detect not only genetic and epigenetic alterations in circulating DNA but also to identify circulating non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is a promising tool for diagnosis, prognosis and prediction of therapy outcome of cancer patients. The objective of the narrative review is to describe the genetically and epigenetically altered circulating DNA as well as the identification of microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in both peripheral blood and other bodily fluids, but also in exosomes as potential biomarkers for lung cancer identification. Methods: In the following article we summarized important aspects from the studies listed in database PubMed using keywords "circulating, cell-free DNA, RNA, ncRNAs, microRNAs, lncRNAs, circRNAs, exosomes" and "lung cancer" from 1985-2022. A total of 450 articles were considered and 149 relevant articles were included in the review.
Plant tissues may be embedded in half the time taken for paraffin embedding if acetone is used as... more Plant tissues may be embedded in half the time taken for paraffin embedding if acetone is used as the dehydrating and infiltrating agent, and the tissue is embedded in ester wax. This procedure retains appreciably more lipid material inside the cells than does the more usual technique, even when the tissue has been fixed in osmium tetroxide or in La Cour's 2BE.
Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles mediate intercellular communication by transferring their ... more Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles mediate intercellular communication by transferring their cargo including DNA, RNA, proteins and lipids from cell to cell. Notably, in the immune system, they have protective functions. However in cancer, exosomes acquire new, immunosuppressive properties that cause the dysregulation of immune cells and immune escape of tumor cells supporting cancer progression and metastasis. Therefore, current investigations focus on the regulation of exosome levels for immunotherapeutic interventions. In this review, we discuss the role of exosomes in immunomodulation of lymphoid and myeloid cells, and their use as immune stimulatory agents to elicit specific cytotoxic responses against the tumor.
The identification of exosomes, their link to multivesicular bodies and their potential role as a... more The identification of exosomes, their link to multivesicular bodies and their potential role as a messenger vehicle between cancer and healthy cells opens up a new approach to the study of intercellular signaling. Furthermore, the fact that their main cargo is likely to be microRNAs (miRNAs) provides the possibility of the transfer of such molecules to control activities in the recipient cells. This review concerns a brief overview of the biogenesis of both exosomes and miRNAs together with the movement of such structures between cells. The possible roles of miRNAs in the development and progression of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers are discussed.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY 50% required 0-ImM-iodine when the enzyme was 8-15nM. The ... more PROCEEDINGS OF THE BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY 50% required 0-ImM-iodine when the enzyme was 8-15nM. The reaction was complete in a few seconds. Mercaptoethanol and mercaptoethylamine reactivate the partially inhibited enzyme. However, neither 0-1 M-cysteine nor 0-1 M-ascorbate reactivate the enzyme.
The presence of DNA and RNA circulating in human plasma and serum is described. The known sources... more The presence of DNA and RNA circulating in human plasma and serum is described. The known sources of the DNA/RNA in blood, the ability of these nucleic acids to enter other cells and to express in the recipient cells are considered along with their relationship to metastases. The possible role(s) of the DNA/RNA in personalized clinical diagnosis, monitoring of treatment and prognosis in oncology are discussed.
The National Health System in the UK has evolved to become one of the largest healthcare systems ... more The National Health System in the UK has evolved to become one of the largest healthcare systems in the world. At the time of writing of this review (August 2010) the UK government in its 2010 White Paper "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS" has announced a strategy on how it will "create a more responsive, patient-centred NHS which achieves outcomes that are among the best in the world". This review article presents an overview of the UK healthcare system as it currently stands, with emphasis on Predictive, Preventive and Personalised Medicine elements. It aims to serve as the basis for future EPMA articles to expand on and present the changes that will be implemented within the NHS in the forthcoming months.
It has been found that the heterochromatic region of interphase nuclei of plant roots and calf th... more It has been found that the heterochromatic region of interphase nuclei of plant roots and calf thymus, fixed in formaldehyde solution, do not stain for phospholipid as they do after Lewitsky's fixative. It has been shown that this is probably due to the extraction of a protein-phospholipid complex. Some lipid-like material has been purified from the used formalin and shown to contain glycerophosphate. The nature of the association between the lipid and protein is discussed.
The earliest biochemical marker of¯oral evocation in the shoot apex of S. oleracea is the doublin... more The earliest biochemical marker of¯oral evocation in the shoot apex of S. oleracea is the doubling of the rate of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity 12±15 h after transfer of 4-week-old plants from short days to continuous light i.e. 1±2 h after the leaves are raised to the¯oral state. Quantitative cytochemical analysis of G6PD activity in the vegetative apices showed that addition of 10 À 7 M Ca 2 to the cytochemical enzyme reaction medium for G6PD activity raises the rate of enzyme activity to that seen in the induced apices. Higher concentrations of Ca 2 result in G6PD inhibition in the vegetative apices and any added Ca 2 at concentrations of 10 À 7 M or higher inhibit the G6PD activity seen in both the induced apices and leaf primordia of both types of apex. The addition of EGTA abolishes the cytochemical reaction. The ability of the Ca 2 to activate the G6PD activity in addition to the incubation medium occurs during the periods of 8±11 h of continuous light, but is already lost by 12 h when no change is achieved by Ca 2 treatment. This can be interpreted as indicating a point in time close to the moment of oral evocation. A model is proposed in which Ca 2 is able to activate the inactivated-G6PD molecules in the vegetative apex through increased Ca 2¯u x possibly through the action of plasmalemmal Ca 2-ATPase activity as part of the¯oral evocation process.
We discuss the early history of the structure of DNA and its involvement in gene structure as wel... more We discuss the early history of the structure of DNA and its involvement in gene structure as well as its mobility in and between cells and between tissues in the form of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA). This is followed by a view of the present status of the studies on cfDNA and clinical applications of circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA). The future developments and roles of ctDNA are also considered.
The presence of circulating nucleic acids in man, animals and plants is well documented. It is cl... more The presence of circulating nucleic acids in man, animals and plants is well documented. It is clear that such nucleic acids can not only circulate freely within an organism, but can also enter cells when their biology may be changed either epigenetically or genetically. Evidence is presented concerning a possible influence of these nucleic acid fragments on the genetics of the F1 generation of man, animals and plants. The data presented also offer a mechanism by which the incorporation of horizontally transferred genes between organisms may be achieved. The role that circulating nucleic acids might play in modifying the F1 generation and possibly the evolutionary process is considered.
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Papers by PETER GAHAN