Modulation of signal transduction through the cellular prion protein is linked to its incorporation in lipid rafts

Because expressed at a significant level at the membrane of human T cells, we made the hypothesis that the cellular prion protein (PrP^c) could behave as a receptor, and be responsible for signal transduction. PrP^c engagement by specific antibodies was observed to induce an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration and led to enhanced activity of Src protein tyrosine kinases. Antibodies to CD4 and CD59 did not influence calcium fluxes or signaling. The effect was maximal after the formation of a network involving avidin and biotinylated antibody to PrP^c and was inhibited after raft disruption. PrP^c localization was not restricted to rafts in resting cells but engagement was a prerequisite for signaling induction, with concomitant PrP^c recruitment into rafts. These results suggest a role for PrP^c in signaling pathways, and show that lateral redistribution of the protein into rafts is important for subsequent signal transduction.Received 22 July 2004; received after revision 10 September 2004; accepted 7 October 2004     

细胞凋亡过程中热休克蛋白的调节

热休克蛋白(heatshockproteins,HSPs)是一类进化上高度保守,广泛存在于自然界原核、真核细胞中的蛋白质。HSPs在正常细胞中呈基础性表达,维持细胞的基本形态和功能;它在应激环境下的细胞中,可参与细胞的损伤和修复,发挥应激保护作用。新近的研究发现,HSPs在细胞凋亡中发挥重要作用。     

Carbon monoxide-induced adventitious rooting of hypocotyl cuttings from mung bean seedling

Carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO), two diatomic gaseous molecules, belong to mid-valent ox-ide of carbon and nitrogen element, respectively. In fact, CO shares many physical and chemical properties with NO. Recent studies showed that formation of…     

Investigation on Hepatopoietin and Other Novel Genes from Human Fetal Liver

The aim of this study is to discover the molecular mechanism of the 22-week gestated human fetal liver(HFL)which rarely displays both hematopoietic and hepatic functions. Based on large-scale cDNA library sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, the largest     

Role of acetylcholine on plant root-shoot signal transduction

The role of accetylcholine (ACh) on plant root-shoot communication was investigated using the root-split system of Vicia faba L.In the experiments,slight osmotic stress caused the decrease of ACh content in root tips and the xylem sap transported up per time unit from root tip to the shool when the water potential of the shoot was kept unchanged .It also caused the decrease of ACh content in the abaxial epidermis,The decrease was highly correlative to the changes of transpiration rate,suggesting that the decrase of ACh content probably functions as a signal to regulate stomatal behavior,The effect of osmotic stress might be mainly through the inhibition of the ACh synthesis in root tip ;thus further influences the ACh content in root tip ,xylem sap and abaxial epidermis and resulting in the changes of stomata behavior,These results provide new evdence that plants transduce positive and negative signals among roots and shoot to coordinate stomatal behavior and adapt to variable environments.     

Diacylglycerol kinases in nuclear lipid-dependent signal transduction pathways

Several independent groups have shown that lipid-dependent signal transduction systems operate in the nucleus and that they are regulated independently from their membrane and cytosolic counterparts. A sizable body of evidence suggests that nuclear lipid signaling controls critical biological functions such as cell proliferation and differentiation. Diacylglycerol is a fundamental lipid second messenger which is produced in the nucleus. The levels of nuclear diacylglycerol fluctuate during the cell cycle progression, suggesting that such a molecule has important regulatory roles. Most likely, nuclear diacylglycerol serves as a chemoattractant for some isoforms of protein kinase C that migrate to the nucleus in response to a variety of agonists. The nucleus also contains diacylglycerol kinases, i.e. the enzymes that, by converting diacylglycerol into phosphatidic acid, terminate diacylglycerol-dependent events. A number of diacylglycerol kinases encoded by separate genes are present in the mammalian genome. This review aims at highlighting the different isotypes of diacylglycerol kinases identified at the nuclear level as well as at discussing their potential function and regulation. Received 4 December 2001; received after revision 28 January 2002; accepted 31 January 2002     

Common and differential mechanisms of gonadotropin receptors

The gonadotropin receptors are G-protein-coupled receptors with unique structural and functional features, consisting of two halves. The N-terminal extracellular half (exodomain) binds the hormones, whereas the C-terminal membrane-associated half (endodomain) is responsible for receptor activation. In this review, the novel ternary interactions, contact points and mutual modulations among the exodomain, endodomain and hormone for hormone binding and signal generation are described based on the latest observations. This discussion is contrary to the view that the exodomain and endodomain are independent, at least functionally, and provides new insights into the receptor mechanisms for the gonadotropins and other G-protein-coupled receptors. Received 7 November 2001; received after revision 2 January 2002; accepted 3 January 2002     

Protein tyrosine phosphatases involved in signaling of the ABA-induced H2O2 generation in guard cells of Vicia faba L.

Although protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) play an important role in signal transduction in animal cells, little is known about the function of PTPases in higher plants. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are the critical components of ABA signaling pathway in guard cells. PTPase is an important regulator of MAPK, which is believed to mediate ABA-induced H2O2 generation in guard cells of Vicia faba L. Here, we investigate the possible role of PTPases in stomatal movement process. Phenylarsine oxide (PAO), a specific inhibitor of PTPases, could prevent ABA or H2O2-induced stomatal closure of Vicia faba L; furthermore, it could promote opening of the stomata closed by ABA or H2O2. The activity of PTPases can be effectively inhibited by PAO and H2O2. DTT had no effect on the PAO-induced inhibition of PTPases activity, but it could relieve the inhibition of H2O2 on PTPases activity. PAO could also inhibit the ABA-induced H2O2 generation in guard cells of V‘wia faba L. These results suggested that PTPases is a critical signaling component in ABA-induced stomatal closure, and serve as targets for H2O2 lying on the signaling pathways downstream of ABA induced H2O2 generation.     

Light perception in higher plants

Photosynthetic plants depend on sunlight as their energy source. Thus, they need to detect the intensity, quality and direction of this critical environmental factor and to respond properly by optimizing their growth and development. Perception of light is accomplished by several photoreceptors including phytochromes, blue/ultraviolet (UV)-A and UV-B light photoreceptors. In recent years, genetic, molecular genetic and cell biological approaches have significantly increased our knowledge about the structure and function of the photoreceptors, and allowed the identification of several light signal transduction components. Furthermore, this research led to fruitful interaction between different disciplines, such as molecular biology and ecology. It is safe to assume that we can expect more milestones in this research field in the upcoming years.     

The polycystins: a novel class of membrane-associated proteins involved in renal cystic disease

Polycystin-1, polycystin-2 and polycystin-L are the predicted protein products of the PKD1, PKD2 and PKDL genes, respectively. Mutations in PKD1 and PKD2 are responsible for almost all cases of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). This condition is one of the commonest mendelian disorders of man with a prevalence of 1:800 and is responsible for nearly 10% of cases of end-stage renal failure in adults. The cloning of PKD1 and PKD2 in recent years has provided the initial steps in defining the mechanisms underlying renal cyst formation in this condition, with the aim of defining pharmacological and genetic interventions that may ameliorate the diverse and often serious clinical manifestations of this disease. The PKD genes share regions of sequence similarity, and all predict integral membrane proteins. Whilst the predicted protein domain structure of polycystin-1 suggests it is involved in cell-cell or cell-matrix interactions, the similarity of polycystin-2 and polycystin-L to the pore-forming domains of some cation channels suggests that they all form subunits of a large plasma membrane ion channel. In the few years since the cloning of the PKD genes, a consensus that defines the range of mutations, expression pattern, interactions and functional domains of these genes and their protein products is emerging. This review will therefore attempt to summarise these data and provide an insight in to the key areas in which polycystin research is unravelling the mechanisms involved in renal cyst formation. Received 22 February 1999; received after revision 5 July 1999; accepted 6 July 1999