@article{culver_michalowski_maia_laster_2005, title={The anti-apoptotic effects of nordihydroguaiaretic acid: Inhibition of cPLA(2) activation during TNF-induced apoptosis arises from inhibition of calcium signaling}, volume={77}, ISSN={["1879-0631"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.lfs.2005.03.023}, abstractNote={Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is a plant lignan produced by Larrea tridentata, the creosote bush of the American southwest. In this report we examine the mechanism underlying the ability of NDGA to inhibit TNF-induced apoptosis. Our results show that NDGA blocks many key indicators of apoptosis. Caspase cleavage, mitochondrial inactivation, externalization of phosphatidyl serine, and (51)Cr-release were all blocked by low micromolar concentrations of NDGA. NDGA also inhibited the cPLA(2)-dependent release of (3)H-arachidonic acid. We investigated this activity and found that NDGA prevented the rise in intracellular calcium necessary for the apoptotic activation of cPLA(2). On the other hand, NDGA did not interfere with the TNF-induced phosphorylation of cPLA(2), indicating that NDGA does not block all TNF-dependent signaling. Finally, we asked whether the anti-apoptotic effect of NDGA could be attributed to its anti-oxidant activity. Comparison with the effects of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) did not completely support this hypothesis. While BHA strongly inhibited caspase activation and partially blocked the release of (51)Cr, it was unable to significantly block the calcium response or the release of (3)H-arachidonic acid associated with TNF-induced apoptosis. The anti-oxidant activity of NDGA may, therefore, explain some but not all of its anti-apoptotic activity.}, number={19}, journal={LIFE SCIENCES}, author={Culver, CA and Michalowski, SA and Maia, RC and Laster, SA}, year={2005}, month={Sep}, pages={2457–2470} }
 @misc{michalowski_spiker_2001, title={Matrix attachment regions}, volume={6,245,974}, number={2001 June 12}, publisher={Washington, DC: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office}, author={Michalowski, S. M. and Spiker, S.}, year={2001} }
 @article{michalowski_allen_hall_thompson_spiker_1999, title={Characterization of randomly-obtained matrix attachment regions (MARs) from higher plants}, volume={38}, ISSN={["0006-2960"]}, DOI={10.1021/bi991142c}, abstractNote={Matrix attachment regions (MARs) can be operationally defined as DNA fragments that bind to the nuclear matrix. We have created a library of randomly obtained MARs from tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) by cloning DNA fragments that co-isolate with nuclear matrixes prepared by a method involving lithium diiodosalicylate. The interactions of several of the cloned MARs with nuclear matrixes were tested by an in vitro binding assay in which genomic DNA was used as competitor. Based on this assay, the MARs were classified as strong, medium, and weak binders. Examples of each of the binding classes were further studied by in vitro binding using self- and cross-competition. Estimates of dissociation constants for several MARs ranged from 6 to 11 nM and correlated inversely with binding strength. The number of binding sites per matrix for several MARs ranged from 4 x 10(5) to 9 x 10(5) and correlated directly with binding strength. We conclude that binding strength, as we have measured it, is a function of both numbers of binding sites and affinity for the sites. The tobacco MARs were sequenced and analyzed for overall AT content, for distribution of AT-rich regions, and for the abundance of several MAR-related motifs. Previously identified MAR motifs correlate to various degrees with binding strength. Notably, the Drosophila topoisomerase II motif does not correlate with binding strength of the tobacco MARs. A newly identified motif, the "90%AT Box," correlates better with binding strength than any of the previously identified motifs we investigated.}, number={39}, journal={BIOCHEMISTRY}, author={Michalowski, SM and Allen, GC and Hall, GE and Thompson, WF and Spiker, S}, year={1999}, month={Sep}, pages={12795–12804} }
 @article{meier_groning_michalowski_spiker_1997, title={The tomato RBCS3A promoter requires integration into the chromatin for correct organ-specific regulation}, volume={415}, ISSN={["0014-5793"]}, DOI={10.1016/S0014-5793(97)01102-2}, abstractNote={In tomato, the RBCS1, RBCS2 and RBCS3A genes, encoding the small subunit of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, are expressed in leaves and light‐grown seedlings, but only RBCS1 and RBCS2 are expressed in developing tomato fruits. The activities of the three promoters have been compared in transgenic plants and after transient transformation. Fruit‐specific repression of the RBCS3A promoter was observed in transgenic plants, but not after ballistic transient transformation, indicating that chromatin integration is necessary for its correct organ‐specific regulation. In addition, matrix attachment regions have been identified in the RBCS1, RBCS2 and RBCS3A promoters. This is the second case in plants of absence of correct regulation of a plasmid‐borne plant promoter and correlating potential nuclear matrix attachment of the gene.}, number={1}, journal={FEBS LETTERS}, author={Meier, I and Groning, B and Michalowski, S and Spiker, S}, year={1997}, month={Sep}, pages={91–95} }