This may reflect the excessive expression levels of the fusion protein, as a moderate expression level is required for retention of the protein in the cytosol [27].
As a reference frame, we considered less than 1,000 mRNA molecules per 1 ng of total RNA as a low expression level, between 1,000 and 10,000 as a moderate expression level, and >10,000 as a high expression level.
The same cell line showed a weak expression of MMP-2 on mRNA level, a moderate expression on protein level as well as corresponding gelatinolytic activity of its secreted protein.
A moderate expression was defined as weak positive staining of >50% of the cell nuclei or strong positive staining in 10 50% of the nuclei.
Both 132PUI and 90PUI plants had a moderate expression level in 1-week-old leaves.
A score of 0 was defined as negative expression, scores 1 4 as "weak expression," scores 5 8 as "moderate expression," and scores 9 12 as "strong expression" [ 21].
In the case of 1 1.5 kb bands, their relative abundance was related to the number of colonies found from the 48 total colonies checked in each tissue and measure as follows: lower than 20% of the total colonies was considered as low expression, 20 40% as moderate expression, 40 50% as moderate high expression, and 50% of the total colonies or higher was considered as high expression levels.
PCNA was expressed in the nuclei, with light yellow staining as weak expression, brown staining as moderate expression, and dark brown staining as strong expression.
After adding the scores of intensity and positive percent, we rescaled to score 0 to 1 as negative, 2 to 3 as weak expression (1+), 3 to 4 as moderate expression (2+) and above 5 as strong expression (3+).
In CP, intensity and pattern of expression of collagen III were overlapping with those of collagen I. Collagen V immunostaining revealed a moderate extracellular expression as well as a moderate to strong expression in stromal fibroblasts in the AIPC group, with a preferential interlobular and periductal localization.
Expression of Wnt1 or CD44 in less than 10% of tumor cells examined was defined as negative, expression in 10 29% was defined as low expression, 30 60% was defined as moderate expression, and >60% was defined as intense expression.
