Filtyp
The core protein of glypican-1, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked heparan sulfate proteoglycan, can bind Cu(II) or Zn(II) ions and undergo S-nitrosylation in the presence of nitric oxide. Cu(II)-to-Cu(I)-reduction supports extensive and permanent nitrosothiol formation, whereas Zn(II) ions appear to support a more limited, possibly transient one. Ascorbate induces release of nitric oxide, whic
High quality salmon smolts are essential for aquaculture, enhancement programs and wild populations. However, intensification of aquaculture smolt production and changes in natural habitats can cause sub-optimal environmental conditions, which may result in poor smolt quality. The salmon brain, as the integrator of environmental information, plays a focal role in relaying this information through
Heparan sulfate chains have been found to be associated with amyloid deposits in a number of diseases including transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Diverse lines of evidence have linked proteoglycans and their glycosaminoglycan chains, and especially heparan sulfate, to the metabolism of the prion protein isoforms. Glypicans are a family of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored, heparan sul
We have examined the expression and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS) and the activity of neuronal constitutive NOS ( ncNOS) in isolated rat pancreatic islets, stimulated by a "hyperglycaemic" concentration of glucose, and whether the NOS activities could be modulated by activation of the cyclic AMP/ protein kinase A ( cyclic AMP/PKA) system in relation to the insulin secretory p
Tensins are large intracellular proteins believed to link the extracellular matrix to the cytoskeleton via integrins. Tensins are multidomain proteins consisting of homologous C1, PTPase, C2, SH2 and PTB domains. Full-length Tensin proteins can undergo cleavage inside cells, thus yielding domains in isolation that may have discrete subcellular localisations and downstream effects. We expressed dif
The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) structure is of central importance for the regulation of cellular anabolism, stress response, and signal transduction. Generally continuous, the ER can temporarily undergo dramatic structural rearrangements resulting in a fragmented appearance. In this study we assess the dynamic nature of ER fission in pyramidal neurons in organotypic hippocampal slice cultures stim
BACKGROUND: It is widely accepted that DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and their misrepair in stem cells are critical events in the multistage origination-of various leukemias and tumors, including gliomas. OBJECTIVES: We studied whether microwaves from mobile telephones of the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) and the Universal Global Telecommunications System (UMTS) induce DSBs or aff
Messenger RNA (mRNA) plays a central role in gene expression by transferring genetic information from DNA to the translational machinery for protein synthesis. Recent advances in RNA therapeutics and synthetic biology have highlighted the importance of untranslated regions (UTRs) and RNA secondary structures in regulating mRNA stability and translational efficiency. In the present study, engineere
We investigated the water sorption properties of macroporous cryogels of gelatine (Gel) and dextran dialdehyde (DDA) prepared via cryogelation at 260 K and following the freeze drying processes. Water vapour sorption isotherms for aerogels were studied at 293 K by two inde-pendent methods: static-gravimetric and dynamic vapour sorption (DVS) over a water activity range of 0.11–1.0. Experimental da
Soaking small molecules into the solvent channels of protein crystals is the most common method of obtaining crystalline complexes with ligands such as substrates or inhibitors. The solvent channels of some protein crystals are large enough to allow the incorporation of macromolecules, but soaking of protein guests into protein crystals has not been reported. Such protein host crystals (here given
BACKGROUND: MEK1/2 is a serine/threonine protein that phosphorylates extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2). Cerebral ischemia results in enhanced expression of cerebrovascular contractile receptors in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) leading to the ischemic region. Here we explored the role of the MEK/ERK pathway in receptor expression following ischemic brain injury using the specific ME
Amyloid β peptide (Aβ42) assemblies are considered central to the development of Alzheimer's disease, but the mechanism of this toxicity remains unresolved. We screened protein microarrays with on-pathway oligomeric Aβ42 to identify candidate proteins interacting with toxic Aβ42 species. Samples prepared from Alexa546-Aβ42 and Aβ42 monomers at 1:5 molar ratio were incubated with the array during a
The protein gC1qR (globular C1q receptor), also named p33, was originally identified as a binding partner of the globular heads of C1q in the complement system. gC1qR/p33 is abundantly expressed in many cell types, but the functional importance of this protein is not completely understood. Here, we investigate the impact of gC1qR/p33 on the production and function of the pathophysiologically impor
Objective: To investigate the relationship between tear menisci and corneal nerve density in patients after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Methods: Twenty-eight eyes of 14 myopic patients were enrolled. Height and area of the upper and lower tear menisci—upper tear meniscus height, upper tear meniscus area, lower tear meniscus height (LTMH), and lower tear meniscus area (LTMA)—were measured
Reelin is a large extracellular matrix (ECM) glycoprotein secreted by several neuronal populations in a specific manner in both the developing and the adult central nervous system. The extent of Reelin protein distribution and its functional role in the adult neocortex is well documented in different mammal models. However, its role in the adult spinal cord has not been well characterized and its
AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Several studies have suggested that large fat cells are less responsive to insulin than small fat cells. However, in these studies, large fat cells from obese individuals were compared with smaller fat cells from leaner participants, in effect making it impossible to draw conclusions about whether there is a causal relationship between fat cell size and insulin sensitivity. We hyp
AIM: To study the cellular transport of L68Q cystatin C, the cystatin variant causing amyloidosis and brain haemorrhage in patients suffering from hereditary cystatin C amyloid angiopathy (HCCAA). METHODS: Expression vectors for wild-type and L68Q cystatin C were constructed and used to transfect mouse NIH/3T3 cells. Stable cell clones were isolated after cotransfection with pSV2neo. Clones expres
