Chemical and biochemical properties of human angiogenin

Molecular cloning of four novel murine ribonuclease genes: unusual expansion within the ribonuclease A gene family

We have characterized four novel murine ribonuclease genes that, together with the murine eosinophil-associated ribonucleases 1 and 2, form a distinct and unusual cluster within the RNase A gene superfamily. Three of these genes (mR-3, mR-4, mR-5) include complete open reading frames, encoding ribonucleases with eight cysteines and appropriately spaced histidines (His11 and His124) and lysine (Lys35) that are characteristic of this enlarging protein family; the fourth sequence encodes a non-functional pseudogene (mR-6P). Although the amino acid sequence similarities among these murine ribonucleases varies from 60 to 94%, they form a unique cluster, as each sequence is found to be more closely related to another of this group than to either murine angiogenin or to murine pancreatic ribonuclease. Interestingly, the relationship between the six genes in this 'mR cluster' and the defined lineages of the RNase A gene family could not be determined by amino acid sequence homology, suggesting the possibility that there are one or more additional ribonuclease lineages that have yet to be defined. Although the nature of the evolutionary constraints promoting this unusual expansion and diversification remain unclear, the implications with respect to function are intriguing.

Angiogenesis and the skin: a primer

Angiogenesis is the development of a blood supply to a given area of tissue. This area of tissue may be part of normal embryonic development, revascularization of a wound bed, or the stimulation of vessel growth by inflammatory or malignant cells. Angiogenesis is of crucial importance to the dermatologist, as it is of key importance in pathologic processes such as psoriasis, warts, and cutaneous malignancy, and it is required for optimal wound healing. Other dermatologic processes wherein angiogenesis is defective or uncontrolled are decubitus ulcers, stasis ulcers, pyogenic granulomas, hemangiomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, and possibly Spitz nevus, hypertrophic scars, and keloids. Recent advances in the understanding of growth factors will likely lead to advances in the treatment of skin cancer and psoriasis, and more rapid healing of wounds. In this review, I hope to summarize the most important growth factors, inhibitors of angiogenesis, and future directions in research and therapeutics involving angiogenesis.

Molecules, cancer, and the surgeon. A review of molecular biology and its implications for surgical oncology

Interactions between molecules control intra- and intercellular physiology. Cancer is emerging as a disease in which individual molecules are either overproduced, mutated, expressed at inappropriate stages of development, or lost due to inheritance or aberrant mitotic division. The major players in this contest of cellular control are growth factors, growth factor receptors (GFRs), signal transducers, and dominant or suppressor/recessive oncogenes. The tumors most frequently removed by surgeons have been reported to have changes in one or another of these types of molecules. The concept of multistage carcinogenesis, whereby malignancy arises after a sequence of changes that are cumulative, and passed from progenitor to daughter cells, is also being defined as a sequence of molecular, genetic, and chromosomal alterations. Molecular antineoplastic therapy is in early stages of development at the laboratory bench. The future may see patients screened for cancer susceptibility, evaluated for adjuvant therapy, and chosen for particular treatment based on molecular analysis. The types of cancer operations and the scope of surgical resection may change as molecular techniques enhance oncologic treatment.