^*Author for Correspondence.
Centre for General Studies
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia,
43600 UKM, Bangi, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Tel: 603-89216907
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract.
Modern biotechnology has been classified as a complex emerging issue that exhibits high salience combined with limited knowledge on part of the public. It has been suggested by social scientists that any complex object may be located in a variety of general classes where its evaluation may be strongly affected by extraneous concerns. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between several general classes of attitudes and attitude towards genetically modified soybean as an example of modern biotechnology product available in Malaysia. A survey was carried out on 991 respondents from various interest groups in the Klang Valley region. Results of the survey have confirmed that attitude towards complex issues such as biotechnology should be seen as a multi-faceted/multidimensional process. The most important factors predicting encouragement of GM soybean are the specific application-linked perceptions about the benefits, acceptance of risk and moral concern while risk and familiarity are significant predictors of benefit and risk acceptance. Attitude towards GM soybean is also predicted by several general classes of attitude such as general promise and concern of biotechnology, technology optimism, nature/materialistic value, predisposition towards Science and Technology, attachment to religion and custom. Researchers, policy makers and industries interested in developing and marketing GM products in Malaysia should consider the various factors mentioned in this study in order to gain public approval.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Laboratory of Immunotherapeutic and Vaccines,
Institute of Bioscience, 43400
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Serdang, Selangor MALAYSIA
Tel:+603-89464194/+6017-3484844
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract.
Expression of recombinant eukaryotic proteins in Escherichia coli often results in the formation of inclusion bodies. In the case of disulfide-bonded proteins such as hEGF, inclusion body formation can be anticipated if the protein is produced in the bacterial cytosol. The consequence is improper folding which results in aggregation. Proper folding and solubility of such protein are pre-requisite for its biological activity. This is not achieved in cytoplasmic expression in E. coli because of the absence of disulfide bonds formation. The human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) gene has been cloned into the pFLAG fusion protein expression vector. The expression system used OmpA signal sequence to translocate processed and soluble proteins into the periplasm of E. coli cells. Molecular weight of secreted hEGF into periplasmic space was found approximately 6.8 kDa, similar size to the original protein which confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting analysis. The findings obtained, showed in favor of periplasmic expression system, which may be suitable to produce the small eukaryotic disulfide-bonded proteins like hEGF.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Advanced Biotechnology & Breeding Centre
Malaysia Palm Oil Board (MPOB) Headquarters,
6 Persiaran Institusi Bandar Baru Bangi
43000 Kajang,Selangor.
Tel: 03-87694501
Fax: 03-89261995
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract.
Tissue culture-derived plants of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) can develop abnormal flowers in which stamen primordia are converted into carpel-like tissues. This often gives rise to abnormal fruits which are said to be ‘mantled’. Individual palms showing variation in mantling and reversion to the normal phenotype over time have been observed. Four ortets and their individual ramets were compared using methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP). Polymorphisms were observed with all methylation-sensitive restriction endonucleases with HpaII giving the highest number of polymorphic bands (0.62%) followed by MspI (0.48%) and PstI (0.19%). Polymorphisms detected were associated with both the mantled characteristic and tissue culture changes. Comparison between HpaII and MspI generated banding patterns showed the occurrence of hypomethylation, hypermethylation, hemi-methylation and change of methylation site, suggesting that the mantling phenotype was not caused by loss of methylation only. In fact, the occurrence of hypermethylation (46.7%) in this study is higher than hypomethylation (32.7%). From the results, it was also clear that the mantled abnormality was not caused by major changes in the genome during tissue culture. The mantled phenomenon was most likely associated with changes in methylation of specific loci. However, no consistent polymorphism was observed between the different sets of normal and abnormal ramets. This suggests that, whilst this method is an effective way of detecting variation in tissue culture-derived plants, it cannot identify the causal basis of the mantled fruit abnormality.

^*Author for Correspondence.
Center for Gene Analysis and Technology,
School of Biosciences and Biotechnology,
Faculty of Science and Technology 43600
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor.
Tel: 603-89213245
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Key words: stem cells, βc subunit, α subunit, cytoplasmic domain, cellular signals

Abstract.
Stem cells that have totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent abilities can be divided into two main categories: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. Embryonic stem cells originate from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage during embryonic development whereas adult stem cells are derived from bone marrow. Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into mature cells or transdifferentiate into other tissues partly due to cellular signals triggered by the growth factors such as cytokines. Cytokines produce cellular signals through the cytoplasmic domain of their cognate receptor. Cytokine receptors have been categorised into several superfamilies followed by subfamilies partly due to structural similarities (extracellular and cytoplasmic domains) and combination of subunits. The ability of IL-3 to trigger differentiation not only to haemopoietic stem cells but also to liver stem cells might be a potential factor for transdifferentiation. IL-3, GM-CSF and IL-5 receptors are members of a common β subfamily because they share the same β subunit known as β common (βc). This review focuses on the b subfamily and in particular on their potential signalling pathways, i.e. proliferation, differentiation and survival that triggers at the cytoplasmic domain of both subunits (α subunits and βc) on the stem cells