scholarly journals Complex Formation of Glycosyltransferases and Their Biological Significance

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (101) ◽  
pp. 209-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akira Seko
2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (17) ◽  
pp. 7730-7737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Léonard ◽  
Daniel Plante ◽  
Sylvie Wittmann ◽  
Nicole Daigneault ◽  
Marc G. Fortin ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The interaction between the viral protein linked to the genome (VPg) of turnip mosaic potyvirus (TuMV) and the translation eukaryotic initiation factor eIF(iso)4E of Arabidopsis thaliana has previously been reported. eIF(iso)4E binds the cap structure (m7GpppN, where N is any nucleotide) of mRNAs and has an important role in the regulation in the initiation of translation. In the present study, it was shown that not only did VPg bind eIF(iso)4E but it also interacted with the eIF4E isomer of A. thalianaas well as with eIF(iso)4E of Triticum aestivum (wheat). The interaction domain on VPg was mapped to a stretch of 35 amino acids, and substitution of an aspartic acid residue found within this region completely abolished the interaction. The cap analogue m7GTP, but not GTP, inhibited VPg-eIF(iso)4E complex formation, suggesting that VPg and cellular mRNAs compete for eIF(iso)4E binding. The biological significance of this interaction was investigated. Brassica perviridis plants were infected with a TuMV infectious cDNA (p35Tunos) and p35TuD77N, a mutant which contained the aspartic acid substitution in the VPg domain that abolished the interaction with eIF(iso)4E. After 20 days, plants bombarded with p35Tunos showed viral symptoms, while plants bombarded with p35TuD77N remained symptomless. These results suggest that VPg-eIF(iso)4E interaction is a critical element for virus production.


1984 ◽  
Vol 218 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-833 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Baici ◽  
U Seemüller

The rate constants for the inhibition of human leucocyte elastase by eglin from the leech Hirudo medicinalis were determined by using a pre-steady-state kinetic approach. kon and koff for complex-formation and dissociation were 1 × 10(6)M-1 X S-1 and 8 × 10(-4)S-1 respectively. Ki was calculated as the ratio koff/kon = 8 × 10(-10)M, the binding of eglin to elastase was reversible and the inhibition mechanism was of the fully competitive type. The mechanistic properties of the system and the biological significance of the rate constants are discussed.


Author(s):  
Vitthal S. Kulkarni ◽  
Wayne H. Anderson ◽  
Rhoderick E. Brown

The biological significance of the sphingomyelins (SM) and monoglycosylated sphingolipids like galactosylceramides (GalCer) are well documented Our recent investigation showed tubular bilayers in the aqueous dispersions of N-nervonoyl GalCer [N-(24:lΔ15,cls) GalCer] (a major fatty acyl moiety of natural GalCer). To determine the influence of lipid head groups on the resulting mesophasic morphology, we investigated microstructural self-assemblies of N-nervonoyl-SM [N-(24:1 Δ15,cls) SM; the second most abundant sphingomyelin in mammalian cell membranes], 1- palmitoyl-2-nervonoyl phosphatidylcholine [PNPC] (the lipid species with the same acyl chain configuration as in N-(24: 1) GalCer) and also compared it with egg-SM by freeze-fracture EM.Procedures for synthesizing and purifying N-(24:1) GalCer, N-(24:1) SM, and PNPC have been reported . Egg-SM was purchased from Avanti Polar Lipids, Alabaster AL. All lipids were >99% pure as checked by thin layer chromatography. Lipid dispersions were prepared by hydrating dry lipid with phosphate buffer (pH 6.6) at 80-90°C (3-5 min), vigorously vortexing (1 min) and repeating this procedure for three times prior to three freeze-thaw cycles.


Author(s):  
Dong Yuming ◽  
Yang Guanglin ◽  
Wu Jifeng ◽  
Chen Xiaolin

On the basis of light microscopic observation, the ultrastructural localization of CEA in gastric cancer was studied by immunoelectron microscopic technique. The distribution of CEA in gastric cancer and its biological significance and the mechanism of abnormal distribution of CEA were further discussed.Among 104 surgically resected specimens of gastric cancer with PAP method at light microscopic level, the incidence of CEA(+) was 85.58%. All of mucinous carcinoma exhibited CEA(+). In tubular adenocarcinoma the incidence of CEA(+) showed a tendency to rising with the increase of degree of differentiation. In normal epithelia and intestinal metaplasia CEA was faintly present and was found only in the luminal surface. The CEA staining patterns in cancer cells were of three types--- cytoplasmic, membranous and weak reactive type. The ultrastructural localization of CEA in 14 cases of gastric cancer was studied by immunoelectron microscopic technique.There was a little or no CEA in the microvilli of normal epithelia. In intestinal metaplasia CEA was found on the microvilli of absorptive cells and among the mucus particles of goblet cells. In gastric cancer CEA was also distributed on the lateral and basal surface or even over the entire surface of cancer cells and lost their polarity completely. Many studies had proved that the alterations in surface glycoprotein were characteristic changes of tumor cells. The antigenic determinant of CEA was glycoprotein, so the alterations of tumor-associated surface glycoprotein opened up a new way for the diagnosis of tumors.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document