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en 23409232 Recently I was invited to attend the bi-annual Steering committee meeting of the EMGEN network, for-merly known as Eastern Mediterranean Health Genomics and Biotechnology Network (EMHGBN). This was held at the Pasteur Institute of Iran in Tehran on January 29-30, 2012. Attending this meeting as the chief editor of Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology (AJMB) was very informative and I became familiar with the goals of this international organization. The EMGEN network was established in 2004 on the recom-mendation and support of WHO/EMRO and participation of representatives from selected centers of excel-lence in Molecular biology, Biotechnology, and genomics from 22 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Re-gion including Iran. The names of these countries are listed on the website for the network (www.emgen.net). It also has useful information on the goals, membership, training programs, job opportunities, and newsletters of the organization. I recommend it to those interested in the role of biotechnology and genomics in health to visit the website and participate in the activities of the organization. As I understand, one of the major goals of EMGEN network is to increase awareness on the potentials and capacities of member countries in the fields of Biotechnology and genomics. More importantly, they aim to facilitate scientific collaborations among the scientists in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. After listening to the representatives from member countries attending the meeting, I was convinced that many more scientists from the fields of biotechnology and genomics in EMGEN network member countries ought to interact and collaborate on scientific projects before resources in member countries can be ef-fectively shared in joint projects. For my part, I encourage eminent biotech and genomic scientists from the member countries to participate in AJMB's scientific activities through submission of original articles, opinions, reviews in fields such as Medical Biotechnology, Genomics, Nanobiotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Molecular Biology. Furthermore, the chief scientists from the member countries can participate in the AJMB's scientific activities in the capacity of associate editors and reviewers in their fields of expertise. As the chief editor of AJMB, I would like to invite all the scientists in the EMGEN network countries working in the fields of Medical Biotechnology and genomics to actively participate in this network's activities. I would also like to inform those interested in obtaining research grants that funds have been made available by some member countries in the form of 50/50 contribution. 2 2 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=165 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/165.pdf AliM. ArdekaniReproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran2

en 23407878 Cell free DNA (cfDNA) is a genetic biomarker that is present in serum or plasma in high concentration in many types of cancer. Identification of circu-lating cancer related DNA molecules in serum or plasma is a non-invasive tool for early diagnosis and prognosis in many cancer patients. For this review, study selection and data extraction were performed by the authors. Detection of point mutations, microsatellite alterations, DNA hypermethylations and losses of heterozygosity in circulating cell free DNA have been characterized in esophagus cancer. Application of circulating cell free DNA as a biomarker, provide the best opportunity for constructing non-invasive tests for early de-tection, prognosis and management of cancer patients, after therapy in many types of cancer. Biomarkers, Early detection, Esophagus neoplasm, Prognosis 3 13 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=76 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/76.pdf SaeidGhorbianDepartment of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran285AliM. ArdekaniReproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran2

en 23407748 In recent years, recombinant monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives have emerged as important targeted therapy agents. Monoclonal antibodies are ex-tremely difficult to produce. So, the cost of production is very high and many people cannot afford these drugs. In this regard, choosing inexpensive and easy ways to manipulate production systems such as bacterial hosts to reduce the cost of manufacturing these critical components are considered as vital step for developmental issues in recombinant expression systems. We, therefore, at-tempted to generate a polycistronic construct of anti HER-2 F(ab')2 fragment antibody for insertion in an expression bacterial plasmid. Also some modifica-tions were made in the hinge region to express antibody F(ab')2 fragment in its authentic form preventing from multiple varieties of disulfide bond formation. Finally, synthesized construct was cloned in pET-32 Ek/LIC vector without using restriction enzyme digestion or ligation reactions. The results of this study show-ed that modified F(ab')2 fragment was simply and successfully inserted in Escherichia coli (E.coli) using the Ligation Independent Cloning technology. Escherichia coli, Monoclonal antibodies, Plasmids 15 22 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=77 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/77.pdf LeilaFarahmandIranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC), Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran286KeivanMajidzadehAJA University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran127ZarghamSepehrizadehDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran287Mohammad RezaMofidIsfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran275RezvanEsmaeiliIranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC), Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran288MojtabaTabatabaei YazdiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran289

en 23408172 Important thermodynamic parameters including denaturant equilibrium m values (meq) and heat capacity changes (ΔCp) can be predicted based on changes in Solvent Accessible Surface Area (SASA) upon unfolding. Crosslinks such as disulfide bonds influence the stability of the proteins by decreasing the entropy gain as well as reduction of SASA of unfolded state. The aim of the study was to develop mathematical models to predict the effect of crosslinks on ΔSASA and ultimately on meq and ΔCp based on in silico methods. Changes of SASA upon computationally simulated unfolding were calculated for a set of 45 proteins with known meq and ΔCp values and the effect of crosslinks on ΔSASA of unfolding was investigated. The results were used to predict the meq of denaturation for guanidine hydrochloride and urea, as well as ΔCp for the studied proteins with overall error of 20%, 31% and 17%, re-spectively. The results of the current study were in close agreement with those obtained from the previous studies. Crosslinks, Disulfides, Protein stability, Thermodynamics 23 34 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=78 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/78.pdf MaryamHamzeh-MivehroudBiotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Daneshgah Street, Tabriz, Iran290Ali AkbarAlizadeSchool of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran291MonireAhmadifarSchool of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran292SiavoushDastmalchiSchool of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran293

en 23407847 Recently there has been fabulous excitement in the nano-biotechnological area for the study of nanoparticles synthesis using some natural biological system, which has led the growth advanced nanomaterials. This intention made us to assess the biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles from the leaf of Suaeda monoica (S.monoica) using 1 mM silver nitrate. The leaf extract of S.monoica incubated with 1 mM silver nitrate solution and characterized by UV- spectrometer and AFM. The effect of synthesized silver nanoparticles on Human Epidermoid Larynx Carcinoma cell line was evaluated by the MTT colorimetric technique. As a result we observed gradual change in the colour of extract from greenish to brown. The synthesized silver nanoparticles con-firmed by UV at 430 nm and spherical shape identified in the range of 31 nm under AFM. The effect of silver nanoparticles on Human Epidermoid Larynx Carcinoma cell line exhibits a dose-dependent toxicity for the cell tested and the viability of Hep-2 cells decreased to 50% (IC50) at the concentration of 500 nM. Further findings will be determined the exact mechanisms of this cost effective Nano-treatments. Cytotoxicity test, Nanomaterials, Plant leaves, Silver nanoparticle 35 39 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=79 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/79.pdf KaliyamurthiSatyavaniMarine Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India294SelvarajGurudeebanMarine Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India295ThiruganasambandamRamanathanMarine Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India296ThangavelBalasubramanianMarine Medicinal Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India297

en 23408137 Expression of receptor tyrosine kinase Ror1 in a wide variety of cancers has emerged as a new era focusing on targeting this receptor in cancer therapy. Our preliminary re-sults indicate the presence of a truncated transcript of Ror1 in tumor cells. The trun-cated Ror1 encompasses extracellular and transmembrane domains, lacking catalytic kinase domain (Ror1-ECD). As enzyme activity is highly dependent on the catalytic domain, we were wondering how this transcript and its encoded protein could play a possible role in tumorigenesis. To understand the function of this truncated transcript and whether or not the encoded protein translocates to the cell surface, we construct-ed a mammalian expression vector containing exon 1 to exon 8 of human Ror1 gene as a model system. The encoded protein by this construct covers the entire extracellular and transmembrane domains of Ror1. The Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell line (CHO) was used for transfection. Our results showed that this construct could express Ror1-ECD at protein level and also the protein could effectively translocate to the surface of transfected cells. Such model may suggest that a proportion of Ror1 molecules ex-pressed by tumor cells are not full-length Ror1. This notion may be considered when applying flow cytometry using antibodies against Ror1 for screening of tumor cells in order to avoid any miscalculation in the number of Ror1 molecules expressed by tumor cells. Furthermore, such expression may bring about assumptions on functional roles of Ror1-ECD in tumorigenesis, which requires extensive functional studies. Cell line, Receptor tyrosine kinase, Gene expression 41 45 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=80 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/80.pdf FloraForouzeshDepartment of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran10SamiraShakeri TabarianDepartment of Antigen and Antibody Engineering, Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran298ShaghayeghEmamiDepartment of Antigen and Antibody Engineering, Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran234MahmoodJeddi-TehraniDepartment of Antigen and Antibody Engineering, Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran15RezaHadaviDepartment of Antigen and Antibody Engineering, Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran111HodjattallahRabbaniDepartment of Antigen and Antibody Engineering, Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran24

en 23407789 Over the years, the use of plastics has complicated the problem of disposal of solid wastes. One strategy to reduce plastic waste is the use of biodegradable plastics. A group of these plastics are polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). To date more than 250 different microorganisms are known to synthesize and accumulate PHA. Most Pseu-domonas strains are able to accumulate mcl-PHA. In previous studies, the phaC1 and phaC2 genes were identified in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P.aeruginosa) PTCC 1310 and were cloned. The aim of this study was to express these genes and optimize the conditions for their expression. The inserts obtained from vectors pTZPHAC1 and pTZPHAC2 were subcloned into pET15b expression vector. After transformation of competent Escherichia coli (E.coli) BL21 (DE3) cells with recombinant plasmids, expres-sion was induced using IPTG. By changing expression conditions such as IPTG concen-tration, time and temperature of incubation with IPTG, the expression conditions for these enzymes were optimized, and the obtained results were compared using proper statistical analysis. The PHA synthase genes were induced with IPTG and the expres-sed 62 kDa protein was observed and purified. By changing expression conditions, 1 mM IPTG, 37 °C and a 2 hr incubation provided the highest level of protein pro-duction in E.coli cells. These results suggest that induction condition of PhaC genes can influence expression of PHA synthase enzymes. PhaC1, PhaC2, Polyhydroxyalkanoate, Protein expression 47 51 https://www.ajmb.org/En/Article.aspx?id=81 https://www.ajmb.org/PDF/En/FullText/81.pdf DaryoushAbediDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran299MaryamBeheshtiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran300AliJahanian NajafabadiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran301HamidMir Mohammad SadeghiDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran302VajiheAkbariDepartment of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran273