The role of genetics in the establishment and maintenance of the epigenome

Epigenetic mechanisms play an important role in gene regulation during development. DNA methylation, which is probably the most important and best-studied epigenetic mechanism, can be abnormally regulated in common pathologies, but the origin of altered DNA methylation remains unknown. Recent research suggests that these epigenetic alterations could depend, at least in part, on genetic mutations or polymorphisms in DNA methyltransferases and certain genes encoding enzymes of the one-carbon metabolism pathway. Indeed, the de novo methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) has been recently found to be mutated in several types of cancer and in the immunodeficiency, centromeric region instability and facial anomalies syndrome (ICF), in which these mutations could be related to the loss of global DNA methylation. In addition, mutations in glycine-N-methyltransferase (GNMT) could be associated with a higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and liver disease due to an unbalanced S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio, which leads to aberrant methylation reactions. Also, genetic variants of chromatin remodeling proteins and histone tail modifiers are involved in genetic disorders like α thalassemia X-linked mental retardation syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, Rett syndrome, systemic lupus erythematous, Rubinstein–Taybi syndrome, Coffin–Lowry syndrome, Sotos syndrome, and facioescapulohumeral syndrome, among others. Here, we review the potential genetic alterations with a possible role on epigenetic factors and discuss their contribution to human disease.     

Bovine muscle proteins IV. Preparation of myosin and actomyosin

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur Extraktion und Reinigung von Myosin und Actomyosin aus Rindermuskelgewebe mittels Ammoniumsulfat beschrieben. Aus 1 kg Muskelfleisch wurden 15–20 g Myosin und 10–20 g Actomyosin gewonnen.     

Exosomes: mobile platforms for targeted and synergistic signaling across cell boundaries

Intercellular communications play a vital role during tissue patterning, tissue repair, and immune reactions, in homeostasis as well as in disease. Exosomes are cell-derived secreted vesicles, extensively studied for their role in intercellular communication. Exosomes have the intrinsic ability to package multiple classes of proteins and nucleic acids within their lumens and on their membranes. Here, we explore the hypothesis that exosomal targeting may represent a cellular strategy that has evolved to deliver specific combinations of signals to specific target cells and influence normal or pathological processes. This review aims to evaluate the available evidence for this hypothesis and to identify open questions whose answers will illuminate our understanding and applications of exosome biology.     

Interactions between contractile and regulatory proteins of the myofibril

Zusammenfassung Die Regulationseiweisse (Tropomyo sin und Troponinkomplex), welche die Wechselwirkung der kontraktilen Eiweisse in der Myofibrille steuern, zeigen eine spezifische und unspezifische Bindung an den Actomyosinkomplex. Die spezifisch gebundene Menge der Regulationseiweisse beträgt nur etwa 1/100 derjenigen von Actomyosin, genügt aber trotzdem, um die Steuerung der Mg-ATPase und damit der Muskelkontraktion durch Ca²⁺ zu gewährleisten.     

Tritiated water (HTO) and inulin spaces in isolated skeletal and cardiac muscles: influence of contractile activity

Summary In isolated cardiac and skeletal muscle inulin space increased significantly after isometric contractions: no significant change (in myocardium) or a less pronounced increase (in skeletal preparations) was found following isotonic responses. The HTO space was uninfluenced by the contractile activity.This work war partially supported by C.N.R., Italy, through grant No. 74.00266.     

Myelin sheaths: glycoproteins involved in their formation,maintenance and degeneration

Myelin sheaths are formed around axons by extending, biochemically modifying and spiraling plasma membranes of Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS). Because glycoproteins are prominent components of plasma membranes, it is not surprising that they have important roles in the formation, maintenance and degeneration of myelin sheaths. The emphasis in this review is on four integral membrane glycoproteins. Two of them, protein zero (P0) and peripheral myelin protein-22 (PMP-22), are components of compact PNS myelin. The other two are preferentially localized in membranes of sheaths that are distinct from compact myelin. One is the myelin-associated glycoprotein, which is localized at the inside of sheaths where it functions in glia-axon interactions in both the PNS and CNS. The other is the myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, which is preferentially localized on the outside of CNS myelin sheaths and appears to be an important target antigen in autoimmune demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Received 8 April 2002; received after revision 13 May 2002; accepted 22 May 2002     

Effect of growth hormone and thyroxine on the contractile properties of dystrophic muscle

Résumé Chez des souris ayant une dystrophie musculaire, l'injection d'hormone d'accroissement et de thyroxine n'a pas d'effet. On l'a observé en mesurant la tension maximum de la secousse, le degré de reláchement et les courbes de fatigue dans des lambeaux étroits du muscle abdominal excisé.     

Prostaglandin-mediated contractile effect of impromidine and dimaprit in the isolated rat stomach fundus

Summary Impromidine and dimaprit, two newly-synthesized histamine H₂-receptor agonists, have been shown to produce a prostaglandin-mediated contraction in the isolated rat stomach fundus.Acknowledgments. Impromidine and dimaprit were generous gifts from Smith Kline and French Laboratories, Herts, England. This work was supported by a grant from Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TAG-350).     

Calcium and the contractile response to prostaglandin in the smooth muscle of guinea-pig stomach

Summary In the longitudinal smooth muscle of guinea-pig stomach, verapamil (10^–5 M) which showed marked suppression of high K-induced contractures, did not suppress the contractile response to PGE₁ (1.5×10^–9 to 10^–6 M) markedly. These results suggest that the contractile mechanism of PGE₁ in guinea-pig stomach may mainly depend on a release of bound Ca in the cell and partly depend on a Ca influx from the extracellular origin.     

Homeostatic maintenance of T cells and natural killer cells

Homeostasis in the immune system encompasses the mechanisms governing maintenance of a functional and diverse pool of lymphocytes, thus guaranteeing immunity to pathogens while remaining self-tolerant. Antigen-naïve T cells rely on survival signals through contact with self-peptide-loaded major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules plus interleukin (IL)-7. Conversely, antigen-experienced (memory) T cells are typically MHC-independent and they survive and undergo periodic homeostatic proliferation through contact with both IL-7 and IL-15. Also, non-conventional γδ T cells rely on a mix of IL-7 and IL-15 for their homeostasis, whereas natural killer cells are mainly dependent on contact with IL-15. Homeostasis of CD4⁺ T regulatory cells is different in being chiefly regulated by contact with IL-2. Notably, increased levels of these cytokines cause expansion of responsive lymphocytes, such as found in lymphopenic hosts or following cytokine injection, whereas reduced cytokine levels cause a decline in cell numbers.