Cellular internalization of proinsulin C-peptide

Proinsulin C-peptide is known to bind specifically to cell membranes and to exert intracellular effects, but whether it is internalized in target cells is unknown. In this study, using confocal microscopy and immunostained or rhodamine-labeled peptide, we show that C-peptide is internalized and localized to the cytosol of Swiss 3T3 and HEK-293 cells. In addition, transport into nuclei was found using the labeled peptide. The internalization was followed at 37°C for up to 1 h, and was reduced at 4°C and after preincubation with pertussis toxin. Hence, it is concluded to occur via an energy-dependent, pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism and without detectable degradation within the experimental time course. Surface plasmon resonance measurements demonstrated binding of HEK-293 cell extract components to C-peptide, and subsequent elution of bound material revealed the components to be intracellular proteins. The identification of C-peptide cellular internalization, intracellular binding proteins, absence of rapid subsequent C-peptide degradation and apparent nuclear internalization support a maintained activity similar to that of an intracrine peptide hormone. Hence, the data suggest the possibility of one further C-peptide site of action. Received 31 October 2006; received after revision 27 December 2006; accepted 30 December 2006     

New Membranes Based on Polybenzimidazole for Polymer Fuel Cells

1 Results Acid-doped polybenzimidazoles[1] are particularly appealing because of high proton conductivity with no or low humidification and promising fuel cells performances. PBI, in fact, contains basic functional groups which can easily interact with strong oxo-acids, such as H3PO4 and H2SO4. The acid partially protonates the polymer and partially is freely dispersed in the polymer backbone, so allowing proton migration via Grotthuss mechanism along the anionic chains[2]. Anyway, a technological limit...     

Polarized Emission of Molecular Film With Lanthanide (Ⅲ) Complex

1 Results In the coordination system by using complexation with organic ligand, the ff emission of lanthanide(Ⅲ) (Ln(Ⅲ)) is induced the excitation energy transfer form the organic chromophore under the light-irradiation. However, there are not so much number of reports to discuss the energy relaxation mechanism in such complexes with Ln(Ⅲ). Recently, we succeeded firstly to estimate the rate constant of the energy transfer between the ligand and Ln(Ⅲ) in Pr(Ⅲ)-phenanthroline analogs[1]. Here, we will di...     

Cardiovascular development: towards biomedical applicability

Advances in our understanding of cardiac development have fuelled research into cellular approaches to myocardial repair of the damaged heart. In this collection of reviews we present recent advances into the basic mechanisms of heart development and the resident and non-resident progenitor cell populations that are currently being investigated as potential mediators of cardiac repair. Together these reviews illustrate that despite our current knowledge about how the heart is constructed, caution and much more research in this exciting field is essential. The current momentum to evaluate the potential for cardiac repair will in turn accelerate research into fundamental aspects of myocardial biology.     

Über ein Chromoplastin aus reifenden Tomaten

Summary (1) By precipitation with ammonium sulfate, streptomycin, or calcium salts, we obtained from the pulp of tomatoes a substance containing carotinoids. The behaviour of this substance was analogous to that of chloroplst-substance and to that of animal cytoplasmatic nucleoproteins. Like these it contains proteins, lipids, and very probably nucleic acids. We regard this substance as achromoplastine.(2) Experiments with slices of green tomatoes show that the changing over of the chlorophyll content into the carotinoid content is inhibited by the presence of streptomycin.(3) Streptomycin inhibits the formation of chlorophyll in etiolated separated cabbage leafs, just as this drug inhibits the formation of chlorophyll in growing seeds.(4) The development of anthocyanides is not influenced by streptomycin.     

Die Wirkung des Toluidinblaus und der Thrombokinase auf den Vorgang der Thrombininaktivierung

Summary The disappearance of thrombin—formed in the blood, or added to serum-follows a manomolecular reaction-type. Heparin increases the reaction-velocity of this thrombin-inactivating process.Our investigation established that toluidine blue or kinase, which, according to the literature, bind heparin, strongly reduce the speed of thrombin-inactivation too. Therefore the heparin-binding capacity of these substances is also manifested in the decrease of thrombin-inactivation.