scholarly journals The peroxisome: a production in four acts

2008 ◽  
Vol 181 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Rout
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Networks ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Cell Biol ◽  
A Cell ◽  
First Time

A cell regulates the number, size, and kind of each organelle it possesses in response to its particular role in an environment or tissue. Yet we still know little about how the molecular signaling networks within each cell perform such regulation. In this issue, Saleem et al. (Saleem, R.A., B. Knoblach, F.D. Mast, J.J. Smith, J. Boyle, C.M. Dobson, R. Long-O'Donnell, R.A. Rachubinski, and J.D. Aitchison. 2008. J. Cell Biol. 181:281–292) show for the first time how groups of kinases and phosphatases are organized to control when and how a cell assembles one kind of organelle, the peroxisome.

scholarly journals Identification of anticancer drug target genes using an outside competitive dynamics model on cancer signaling networks

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tien-Dzung Tran ◽  
Duc-Tinh Pham
Keyword(s):  
Anticancer Drug ◽  
Drug Target ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Signaling Network ◽  
Competitive Dynamics ◽  
Signaling Networks ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
Cancer Signaling ◽  
The Impact

AbstractEach cancer type has its own molecular signaling network. Analyzing the dynamics of molecular signaling networks can provide useful information for identifying drug target genes. In the present study, we consider an on-network dynamics model—the outside competitive dynamics model—wherein an inside leader and an opponent competitor outside the system have fixed and different states, and each normal agent adjusts its state according to a distributed consensus protocol. If any normal agent links to the external competitor, the state of each normal agent will converge to a stable value, indicating support to the leader against the impact of the competitor. We determined the total support of normal agents to each leader in various networks and observed that the total support correlates with hierarchical closeness, which identifies biomarker genes in a cancer signaling network. Of note, by experimenting on 17 cancer signaling networks from the KEGG database, we observed that 82% of the genes among the top 3 agents with the highest total support are anticancer drug target genes. This result outperforms those of four previous prediction methods of common cancer drug targets. Our study indicates that driver agents with high support from the other agents against the impact of the external opponent agent are most likely to be anticancer drug target genes.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Novel Fructosyltransferase from Lactobacillus reuteri That Synthesizes High-Molecular-Weight Inulin and Inulin Oligosaccharides

2002 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 4390-4398 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. F. T. van Hijum ◽  
G. H. van Geel-Schutten ◽  
H. Rahaoui ◽  
M. J. E. C. van der Maarel ◽  
L. Dijkhuizen
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
High Molecular Weight ◽  
Lactobacillus Reuteri ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Encoding Gene ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Fructosyltransferase (FTF) enzymes produce fructose polymers (fructans) from sucrose. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of an FTF-encoding gene from Lactobacillus reuteri strain 121. A C-terminally truncated version of the ftf gene was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. When incubated with sucrose, the purified recombinant FTF enzyme produced large amounts of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) with β-(2→1)-linked fructosyl units, plus a high-molecular-weight fructan polymer (>107) with β-(2→1) linkages (an inulin). FOS, but not inulin, was found in supernatants of L. reuteri strain 121 cultures grown on medium containing sucrose. Bacterial inulin production has been reported for only Streptococcus mutans strains. FOS production has been reported for a few bacterial strains. This paper reports the first-time isolation and molecular characterization of (i) a Lactobacillus ftf gene, (ii) an inulosucrase associated with a generally regarded as safe bacterium, (iii) an FTF enzyme synthesizing both a high molecular weight inulin and FOS, and (iv) an FTF protein containing a cell wall-anchoring LPXTG motif. The biological relevance and potential health benefits of an inulosucrase associated with an L. reuteri strain remain to be established.

scholarly journals Macrophage Autophagy and Oxidative Stress: An Ultrastructural and Immunoelectron Microscopical Study

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Perrotta ◽  
Valentina Carito ◽  
Emilio Russo ◽  
Sandro Tripepi ◽  
Saveria Aquila ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
Programmed Cell Death ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Ultrastructural Localization ◽  
Microscopical Study ◽  
Beclin 1 ◽  
Cell Organelles ◽  
A Cell ◽  
First Time

The word autophagy broadly refers to the cellular catabolic processes that lead to the removal of damaged cytosolic proteins or cell organelles through lysosomes. Although autophagy is often observed during programmed cell death, it may also serve as a cell survival mechanism. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species within tissues and cells induces various defense mechanisms or programmed cell death. It has been shown that, besides inducing apoptosis, oxidative stress can also induce autophagy. To date, however, the regulation of autophagy in response to oxidative stress remains largely elusive and poorly understood. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the ratio between oxidative stress and autophagy in macrophages after oxidant exposure (AAPH) and to investigate the ultrastructural localization of beclin-1, a protein essential for autophagy, under basal and stressful conditions. Our data provide evidence that oxidative stress induces autophagy in macrophages. We demonstrate, for the first time by immunoelectron microscopy, the subcellular localization of beclin-1 in autophagic cells.

scholarly journals Subcellular optogenetic activation of Cdc42 controls local and distal signaling to drive immune cell migration

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1442-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick R. O’Neill ◽  
Vani Kalyanaraman ◽  
N. Gautam
Keyword(s):  
Cell Migration ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Signaling Networks ◽  
Membrane Protrusions ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Immune Cell Migration ◽  
Directional Cell Migration ◽  
Rhoa Signaling

Migratory immune cells use intracellular signaling networks to generate and orient spatially polarized responses to extracellular cues. The monomeric G protein Cdc42 is believed to play an important role in controlling the polarized responses, but it has been difficult to determine directly the consequences of localized Cdc42 activation within an immune cell. Here we used subcellular optogenetics to determine how Cdc42 activation at one side of a cell affects both cell behavior and dynamic molecular responses throughout the cell. We found that localized Cdc42 activation is sufficient to generate polarized signaling and directional cell migration. The optically activated region becomes the leading edge of the cell, with Cdc42 activating Rac and generating membrane protrusions driven by the actin cytoskeleton. Cdc42 also exerts long-range effects that cause myosin accumulation at the opposite side of the cell and actomyosin-mediated retraction of the cell rear. This process requires the RhoA-activated kinase ROCK, suggesting that Cdc42 activation at one side of a cell triggers increased RhoA signaling at the opposite side. Our results demonstrate how dynamic, subcellular perturbation of an individual signaling protein can help to determine its role in controlling polarized cellular responses.

scholarly journals Selection and Characterization of Rupintrivir-Resistant Norwalk Virus Replicon Cells In Vitro

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsutaka Kitano ◽  
Myra Hosmillo ◽  
Edward Emmott ◽  
Jia Lu ◽  
Ian Goodfellow
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Murine Norovirus ◽  
Norwalk Virus ◽  
Irreversible Inhibitor ◽  
Antiviral Compounds ◽  
A Cell ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, yet despite its impact on society, vaccines and antivirals are currently lacking. A HuNoV replicon system has been widely applied to the evaluation of antiviral compounds and has thus accelerated the process of drug discovery against HuNoV infection. Rupintrivir, an irreversible inhibitor of the human rhinovirus 3C protease, has been reported to inhibit the replication of the Norwalk virus replicon via the inhibition of the norovirus protease. Here we report, for the first time, the generation of rupintrivir-resistant human Norwalk virus replicon cells in vitro . Sequence analysis revealed that these replicon cells contained amino acid substitutions of alanine 105 to valine (A105V) and isoleucine 109 to valine (I109V) in the viral protease NS6. The application of a cell-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay for protease activity demonstrated that these substitutions were involved in the enhanced resistance to rupintrivir. Furthermore, we validated the effect of these mutations using reverse genetics in murine norovirus (MNV), demonstrating that a recombinant MNV strain with a single I109V substitution in the protease also showed reduced susceptibility to rupintrivir. In summary, using a combination of different approaches, we have demonstrated that, under the correct conditions, mutations in the norovirus protease that lead to the generation of resistant mutants can rapidly occur.

Light as a Life Tool

2020 ◽  
pp. 58-81
Author(s):  
John Parrington
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Protein ◽  
Green It ◽  
Live Animal ◽  
New Science ◽  
Gene Coding ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Electron Microscopes ◽  
First Time ◽  
Protein Channels ◽  
The Brain

Visual light, and radiation of other frequencies, are highly important for scientific research. The first light microscopes made it possible for the first time to see that organisms from plants to humans are composed of cells. Electron microscopes have allowed scientists to study the structural components of cells in great detail, and even determine the shapes of individual proteins. Many lifeforms also use light to attract a mate or prey, or deter an attacker. Following the identification of the gene coding for the fluorescent protein that makes certain jellyfish glow green it has become possible to use this to genetically label proteins in a living cell, or even a live animal. This means that now the location of proteins in a cell can be determined exactly. A major recent step forward in neuroscience came with the discovery of protein channels in algae that conduct ions in response to light. By creating transgenic mice that have these proteins in their brain neurons, it is now possible to modulate the activity of these neurons by shining light into the brain though microscopic fibre optic cables. This new science of optogenetics allows neurons to be switched on or off experimentally. The optogenetic approach has been used to uncover the neural circuits involved in memory, pain and pleasure. In the future this technique might be used to treat physical pain or depression in people. Controversially, it might be also be misused, to supress memories, or even create completely false ones in people’s heads.

scholarly journals Structural Features of Heparan Sulfate from Multiple Osteochondromas and Chondrosarcomas

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 3277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noemi Veraldi ◽  
Alessandro Parra ◽  
Elena Urso ◽  
Cesare Cosentino ◽  
Manuela Locatelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heparan Sulfate ◽  
Bone Growth ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Signaling Networks ◽  
Phenotypic Differences ◽  
Multiple Osteochondromas ◽  
Structural Differences ◽  
Set Up ◽  
First Time ◽  
Cartilaginous Tumors

Multiple osteochondromas (MO) is a hereditary disorder associated with benign cartilaginous tumors, known to be characterized by absence or highly reduced amount of heparan sulfate (HS) in the extracellular matrix of growth plate cartilage, which alters proper signaling networks leading to improper bone growth. Although recent studies demonstrated accumulation of HS in the cytoplasm of MO chondrocytes, nothing is known on the structural alterations which prevent HS from undergoing its physiologic pathway. In this work, osteochondroma (OC), peripheral chondrosarcoma, and healthy cartilaginous human samples were processed following a procedure previously set up to structurally characterize and compare HS from pathologic and physiologic conditions, and to examine the phenotypic differences that arise in the presence of either exostosin 1 or 2 (EXT1 or EXT2) mutations. Our data suggest that HS chains from OCs are prevalently below 10 kDa and slightly more sulfated than healthy ones, whereas HS chains from peripheral chondrosarcomas (PCSs) are mostly higher than 10 kDa and remarkably more sulfated than all the other samples. Although deeper investigation is still necessary, the approach here applied pointed out, for the first time, structural differences among OC, PCS, and healthy HS chains extracted from human cartilaginous excisions, and could help in understanding how the structural features of HS are modulated in the presence of pathological situations also involving different tissues.

Electrophysiological and Anatomical Characterization of PDF-Positive Clock Neurons in the Intact Adult Drosophila Brain

2006 ◽  
Vol 95 (6) ◽  
pp. 3955-3960 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demian Park ◽  
Leslie C. Griffith
Keyword(s):  
Biological Rhythms ◽  
Cell Group ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Electrophysiological Properties ◽  
Drosophila Brain ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Locomotor Rhythms ◽  
Firing Properties ◽  
First Time

Daily biological rhythms in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes are controlled by circadian clocks. In Drosophila, there is a good basic understanding of both the molecular and anatomical components of the clock. In this study we directly measure, for the first time, electrophysiological properties and anatomy of individual filled large lateral PDF-positive clock neurons, a cell group believed to be involved in synchronization of the clock in constant conditions. We find that the large PDF-positive neurons are morphologically homogeneous and that their resting membrane potential is modulated both by the clock and by light inputs. Expression of a leak channel, dORK-ΔC, which has been shown to disrupt circadian locomotor rhythms, hyperpolarizes these neurons, and blocks firing. These data imply that the firing properties of large PDF neurons are both regulated by and critical for clock function.

scholarly journals GTP-tubulin loves microtubule plus ends but marries the minus ends

2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (9) ◽  
pp. 2822-2823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Wordeman
Keyword(s):  
Cell Biol ◽  
First Time

Microtubule minus ends are inherently more stable than plus ends despite the fact that free tubulin associates more avidly to the plus end. In this issue, Strothman et al. (2019. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201905019) measure, for the first time, the off-rate for GTP-tubulin and find that it is different for the two ends, suggesting that this parameter may control the transition to disassembly at microtubule ends.

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