The expansion of GPCR transactivation-dependent signalling to include serine/threonine kinase receptors represents a new cell signalling frontier

G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signalling is mediated through transactivation-independent signalling pathways or the transactivation of protein tyrosine kinase receptors and the recently reported activation of the serine/threonine kinase receptors, most notably the transforming growth factor-β receptor family. Since the original observation of GPCR transactivation of protein tyrosine kinase receptors, there has been considerable work on the mechanism of transactivation and several pathways are prominent. These pathways include the “triple membrane bypass” pathway and the generation of reactive oxygen species. The recent recognition of GPCR transactivation of serine/threonine kinase receptors enormously broadens the GPCR signalling paradigm. It may be predicted that the transactivation of serine/threonine kinase receptors would have mechanistic similarities with transactivation of tyrosine kinase pathways; however, initial studies suggest that these two transactivation pathways are mechanistically distinct. Important questions are the relative importance of tyrosine and serine/threonine transactivation pathways, the contribution of transactivation to overall GPCR signalling, mechanisms of transactivation and the range of cell types in which this phenomenon occurs. The ultimate significance of transactivation-dependent signalling remains to be defined but it appears to be prominent and if so will represent a new cell signalling frontier.     

Feedback effect of estrogen on FSH secretion

Résumé L'implantation de petites quantités d'stradiol dans l'éminence médiane de l'hypothalamus de rats mâles est suivie par l'atrophie des testicules, des prostates et des vescicules séminales. Au niveau de l'hypophyse des animaux implantés, on rencontre une diminution très significative des concentrations de FSH. Les résultats démontrent d'une façon directe que l'éminence médiane contient des récepteurs sensibles aux strogènes, et qui interviennent dans le contrôle de la sécrétion de la FSH.

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This work has been supported by the Grant No. 67-530 of the Ford Foundation, New York, FSH standard samples have been generously provided by the Endocrinology Study Section of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda. All such support is gratefully acknowledged.     

Efficient cell proliferation and predominant accumulation of epsilon-globin mRNA in human leukemic K562 cells which produce mostly Hb Gower 1

Long-term cultures of K562(S) cells in 50-75 microM hemin allow the selection of 'hemin-resistant' K562 cells together with cells which proliferate efficiently while fully induced to express the human embryonic globin genes, as the hemoglobin Gower 1 (zeta 2 epsilon 2) is the predominant hemoglobin produced. Our experiments demonstrate that these K562 cells accumulate mostly epsilon-globin mRNA (epsilon-globin mRNA/gamma-globin mRNA = 2.9) suggesting that the control of hemoglobin expression is at a pretranslational level.     

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in attention circuitry: the role of layer VI neurons of prefrontal cortex

Cholinergic modulation of prefrontal cortex is essential for attention. In essence, it focuses the mind on relevant, transient stimuli in support of goal-directed behavior. The excitation of prefrontal layer VI neurons through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors optimizes local and top-down control of attention. Layer VI of prefrontal cortex is the origin of a dense feedback projection to the thalamus and is one of only a handful of brain regions that express the α5 nicotinic receptor subunit, encoded by the gene chrna5. This accessory nicotinic receptor subunit alters the properties of high-affinity nicotinic receptors in layer VI pyramidal neurons in both development and adulthood. Studies investigating the consequences of genetic deletion of α5, as well as other disruptions to nicotinic receptors, find attention deficits together with altered cholinergic excitation of layer VI neurons and aberrant neuronal morphology. Nicotinic receptors in prefrontal layer VI neurons play an essential role in focusing attention under challenging circumstances. In this regard, they do not act in isolation, but rather in concert with cholinergic receptors in other parts of prefrontal circuitry. This review urges an intensification of focus on the cellular mechanisms and plasticity of prefrontal attention circuitry. Disruptions in attention are one of the greatest contributing factors to disease burden in psychiatric and neurological disorders, and enhancing attention may require different approaches in the normal and disordered prefrontal cortex.     

Efficient cell proliferation and predominant accumulation of ɛ-globin mRNA in human leukemic K562 cells which produce mostly Hb Gower 1

Summary Long-term cultures of K562(S) cells in 50–75 M hemin allow the selection of hemin-resistant K562 cells together with cells which proliferate efficiently while fully induced to express the human embryonic globin genes, as the hemoglobin Gower 1 (₂₂) is the predominant hemoglobin produced. Our experiments demonstrate that these K562 cells accumulate mostly -globin mRNA (-globin mRNA/-globin mRNA=2.9) suggesting that the control of hemoglobin expression is at a pretranslational level.We thank Dr Irene Bozzoni (Centro degli Acidi Nucleici, Università di Roma) for the pXCR7 probe. Address for reprint request: R.G. Centro Studi Biochimici sul Morbo di Cooley, Via Borsari 46, I-44100 Ferrara.     

热轧带钢层流冷却设定模型的开发与实现

分析了热轧带钢层流冷却的传热过程,基于传热过程给出了冷却控制的空冷和水冷温降计算模型,该模型为线性回归模型,不同于理论的指数温降模型,回归数据取自于现场,更具有实用性,具有模型结构简单、精度高的特点·对层流冷却的设定计算(预设定和修正设定计算)的程序实现方法进行了详细描述,讨论了层流冷却系统中的组别划分,并给出了冷却控制系统的数据流程·本系统的冷却能力强,具有较宽的冷却速率调整范围,运行情况以及使用控制效果良好,能满足现场生产以及新品种开发的要求·