Correction to: The role of connexin proteins and their channels in radiation-induced atherosclerosis

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-021-03811-z     

Mitochondrial swelling induced by diphtheria toxin in vivo: A comparison with the action of some other bacterial toxins

Riassunto In precedenti lavori è stato studiato il rigonfiamento causato dalla tossina difterica nei mitocondri di cellule coltivate in vitro. Si è fatto un confronto fra l'azione della tossina difterica e quella di altre tossine batteriche come la O-streptolisina, la-stafilotossina e la tossina tetanica sui mitocondri di cellule di cuore di embrione di pollo coltivate in vitro. Solo la tossina difterica ha manifestato capacità rigonfianti mentre le altre tossine, alle dosi usate e con questo tipo di cellule, sono apparse sprovviste di questa proprietà.     

Potential toxins of acute liver failure and their effects on blood-brain barrier permeability

The effects of potentials toxins of hepatic coma on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of the rat have been examined using the Oldendorf technique. Classical toxins of hepatic failure such as ammonia, methyl octanoate, mercaptans, and phenol caused significant increases in BBB permeability. A slight increase in permeability occurred following infusion of peroxidized linoleic acid and unconjugated bilirubin but no increase after infusion of bile acids. E. coli endotoxin infused into rats following partial hepatectomy also increased the BBB permeability.     

The STING pathway and regulation of innate immune signaling in response to DNA pathogens

The innate immune system has evolved a variety of sensing mechanisms to detect and counter microbial invasion. These include the Toll-like receptor (TLR), cytoplasmic, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor and RIG-I-like helicase (RLH) pathways. However, how the cell detects pathogen-associated DNA to trigger host defense, including the production of interferon, remains to be fully clarified. Understanding these processes could have profound implications into how we understand and treat a variety of microbial-related disease, including viral-associated cancers, as well as autoimmune disorders. Recently, an endoplasmic reticulum-associated molecule referred to as STING (for stimulator of interferon genes) was isolated and shown to be critical for regulating the production of IFN in response to cytoplasmic DNA. Here, we review recent discoveries relating to the detection of foreign DNA, including the importance of the STING and inflammasome pathways and the triggering of innate signaling processes.     

Superiority of human complement for assaying bacterial lipopolysaccharides by their anticomplementary activity

Summary In assaying bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) for anticomplementary activity, human complement (C) allowed detection of approximately 200 times smaller amounts of LPS than guinea-pig C. Pig C was slightly inferior to human.     

Hyaluronan synthases: fascinating glycosyltransferases from vertebrates, bacterial pathogens, and algal viruses

Hyaluronan (or hyaluronic acid or hyaluronate; HA) is a polysaccharide found in the extracellular matrix of vertebrate tissues and in the surface coating of certain Streptococcus and Pasteurella bacterial pathogens. At least one algal virus directs its host to produce HA on the cell surface early in infection. HA synthases (HASs) are the enzymes that polymerize HA using uridine diphospho-sugar precursors. In all known cases, HA is secreted out of the cell; therefore, HASs are normally found in the outer membranes of the organism. In the last 6 years, the HASs have been molecularly cloned from all the above sources. They were the first class of glycosyltransferases identified in which a single polypeptide species catalyzes the transfer of two different monosaccharides; this finding is in contrast to the usual 'single enzyme, single sugar' dogma of glycobiology. There appear to be two distinct classes of HASs based on differences in amino acid sequence, topology in the membrane, and reaction mechanism. This review discusses the current state of knowledge surrounding the molecular details of HA biosynthesis and summarizes the possible evolutionary history of the HASs.     

Superiority of human complement for assaying bacterial lipopolysaccharides by their anticomplementary activity.

In assaying bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) for anticomplementary activity, human complement (C) allowed detection of approximately 200 times smaller amounts of LPS than guinea-pigs C. Pig C was slightly inferior to human.     

Monolayer cultures of normal adult rat adrenocortical cells: Steroidogenic responses to nucleotides,bacterial toxins and antimicrotubular agents

Summary Monolayer cultures of normal rat adrenocortical cells were treated with agents which stimulate steroidogenesis by Y-1 adrenal tumour cells. Choleragen was active, whereas cyclic nucleotides other than cyclic AMP, bacterial endotoxins and antimicrotubular agents were inactive.This work was supported by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain (grant No. 970/656/B). I am grateful to MissR. Magee for technical assistance and Prof.A. M. Neville for continued support.     

Monolayer cultures of normal adult rat adrenocortical cells: steroidogenic responses to nucleotides, bacterial toxins and antimicrotubular agents.

Monolayer cultures of normal rat adrenocortical cells were treated with agents which stimulate steroidogenesis by Y-1 adrenal tumour cells. Choleragen was active, whereas cyclic nucleotides other than cyclic AMP, bacterial endotoxins and antimicrotubular agents were inactive.     

Modulation of E-cadherin function and dysfunction by N-glycosylation

Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the E-cadherin dysfunction in cancer, including genetic and epigenetic alterations. Nevertheless, a significant number of human carcinomas have been seen that show E-cadherin dysfunction that cannot be explained at the genetic/epigenetic level. A substantial body of evidence has appeared recently that supports the view that other mechanisms operating at the post-translational level may also affect E-cadherin function. The present review addresses molecular aspects related to E-cadherin N-glycosylation and evidence is presented showing that the modification of N-linked glycans on E-cadherin can affect the adhesive function of this adhesion molecule. The role of glycosyltransferases involved in the remodeling of N-glycans on E-cadherin, including N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III), N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V (GnT-V), and the α1,6 fucosyltransferase (FUT8) enzyme, is also discussed. Finally, this review discusses an alternative functional regulatory mechanism for E-cadherin operating at the post-translational level, N-glycosylation, that may underlie the E-cadherin dysfunction in some carcinomas.     

Neurotrophins and their receptors: signaling trios in complex biological systems

The neurotrophins, a class of four related growth factors, utilize a dual receptor system consisting of Trk receptor tyrosine kinases and the structurally unrelated p75(NTR) to modulate diverse and sometimes opposing biological actions. The identification of novel ligands for p75(NTR), unconventional mechanisms for Trk activation and unique signaling intermediates further underscores the complex nature of neurotrophin: receptor interactions, as well as their functions within and outside of the nervous systems. This review summarizes recent surprises of how ligand-receptor pairing may affect diverse developmental events, regulate response to injury and extend their influence on memory and learning.     

The Janus kinase family of protein tyrosine kinases and their role in signaling

In the early 1990s, the search for protein kinases led to the discovery of a novel family of non-receptor tyrosine kinases, the Janus kinases or JAKs. These proteins were unusual because they contained two kinase homology domains and no other known signaling modules. It soon became clear that these were not ‘just another’ type of kinase. Their ability to complement mutant cells insensitive to interferons and to be activated by a variety of cytokines demonstrated their central signaling function. Now, as we approach the end of the decade, it is evident from biochemical studies to knockout mice that JAKs play non-redundant functions in development, differentiation, and host defense mechanisms. Here, recent progress is reviewed, with particular emphasis on structure-function studies aimed at revealing how this family of tyrosine kinases is regulated.     

Hydrolysis of tabtoxins by plant and bacterial enzymes

Summary Tabtoxins, dipeptides that induce chlorosis in plants, are produced by several closely related phytopathogenicPseudomonas spp. Culture filtrates from these bacteria and extracts prepared from leaves of their hosts contain multiple enzymes that hydrolyze the peptide bond of the toxins.     

The occurrence of bacteriophages in the rumen and their influence on rumen bacterial populations

Resumen Se han demostrado que dos cultivos de bacterias de rumen (un bastón gram negativo, designado W461, y una cepa de óvalos deEadie) están infectados con bacteriófagos. El bacteriófago de W461 es templado; aquel de los óvalos es virulento y depleta rápidamente la población bacteriana en vivo.