Search results for " Amin"

Origin of neuronal-like receptors in Metazoa: cloning of a metabotropic glutamate/GABA-like receptor from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium.

1999

To date, no conclusive evidence has been presented for the existence of neuronal-like elements in Porifera (sponges). In the present study, isolated cells from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium are shown to react to the excitatory amino acid glutamate with an increase in the concentration of intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i. This effect can also be observed when the compounds L-quisqualic acid (L-QA) or L-(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (L-AP-4) are used. The effect of L-QA and L-AP-4, both agonists for metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), can be abolished by the antagonist of group I mGluRs, (RS)-alpha-methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine. These data suggest that sponge cells contain an mG…

Vimentin and desmin of a cartilaginous fish, the shark Scyliorhinus stellaris: Sequence, expression patterns and in vitro assembly

2002

In the shark Scyliorhinus stellaris we have biochemically identified and cDNA-cloned orthologs of human vimentin and desmin, SstV and SstD, as deduced from immunoblotting and sequence alignment with teleost, frog and human vimentin and desmin, respectively. This allowed us to further clarify the relationship of previously identified lower vertebrate intermediate filament proteins to mammalian vimentin and desmin. Immunofluorescence microscopy with antibodies H5 and VIM13.2 showed vimentin expression in shark eye and brain and absence in epithelia, which resembles the situation in higher vertebrates. In addition, SstV is expressed in many mesenchymal cell types which corresponds to the case …

Differentiation capacity of epithelial cells in the sponge Suberites domuncula.

2004

Sponges (phylum Porifera) represent the oldest metazoans. Their characteristic metazoan adhesion molecules and transcription factors enable them to establish a complex "Bauplan" ; three major differentiated cell types (epithelial cells, skeletal cells/sclerocytes, and contractile cells) can be distinguished. Since no molecular markers are as yet available to distinguish these somatic cells or the corresponding embryonic cells from which they originate, we have selected the following three genes for their characterization: noggin (a signaling molecule in development), a caspase that encodes an apoptotic molecule, and silicatein. Silicatein is an enzyme that is involved in the synthesis of si…

Zebrafish vimentin: molecular characterization, assembly properties and developmental expression

1998

To provide a basis for the investigation of the intermediate filament (IF) protein vimentin in one of the most promising experimental vertebrate systems, the zebrafish (Danio rerio), we have isolated a cDNA clone of high sequence identity to and with the characteristic features of human vimentin. Using this clone we produced recombinant zebrafish vimentin and studied its assembly behaviour. Unlike other vimentins, zebrafish vimentin formed unusually thick filaments when assembled at temperatures below 21 degrees C. At 37 degrees C few filaments were observed, which often also terminated in aggregated masses, indicating that its assembly was severely disturbed at this temperature. Between 21…

New chronology for Ksâr ‘Akil (Lebanon) supports Levantine route of modern human dispersal into Europe

2015

Modern human dispersal into Europe is thought to have occurred with the start of the Upper Paleolithic around 50,000-40,000 y ago. The Levantine corridor hypothesis suggests that modern humans from Africa spread into Europe via the Levant. Ksâr 'Akil (Lebanon), with its deeply stratified Initial (IUP) and Early (EUP) Upper Paleolithic sequence containing modern human remains, has played an important part in the debate. The latest chronology for the site, based on AMS radiocarbon dates of shell ornaments, suggests that the appearance of the Levantine IUP is later than the start of the first Upper Paleolithic in Europe, thus questioning the Levantine corridor hypothesis. Here we report a seri…

Titanium complexes for the formation of nitrogen compounds : synthesis of homoallylamines and amidines

2011

Homoallylic amines are key reagents for the formation of a large number of biologically interesting products. Due to the double bond of their allylic moiety, easily functionalisable, they are commonly used in organic synthesis. This research work deals with the synthesis of homoallylic amines thanks to titanium complexes. In fact, the reductive coupling between of imines and dienes promoted by titanium allows the formation of diastereoisomeric homoallylamines syn and anti. The diastereoselectivity of the reaction is directly affected by the nitrogen substituent. Whether it is benzyl or phenyl, the selectivity will be in favour of syn or anti respectively. Moreover, the addition of a the Lew…

Sponge Bcl-2 homologous protein (BHP2-GC) confers distinct stress resistance to human HEK-293 cells

2001

It is established that sponges, the phylogenetically oldest still extant phylum of Metazoa, possess key molecules of the apoptotic pathways, that is members from the Bcl-2 family and a pro-apoptotic molecule with death domains. Here we report on transfection studies of human cells with a sponge gene, GCBHP2. Sponge tissue was exposed to heat shock and tributyltin, which caused an upregulation of gene expression of GCBHP2. The cDNA GCBHP2 was introduced into human HEK-293 cells and mouse NIH-3T3 cells; the stable transfection was confirmed by the identification of the transcripts, by Western blotting as well as by immunofluorescence using antibodies raised against the recombinant polypeptide…

A Stereocontrolled Protocol to Highly Functionalized Fluorinated Scaffolds through a Fluoride Opening of Oxiranes

2016

A novel selective and substrate-dependent synthetic protocol has been developed towards the synthesis of various fluorine-containing, highly functionalized cycloalkane derivatives. The method involves the stereoselective epoxidation of some unsaturated cyclic beta-amino acid derivatives as model compounds, followed by a regioselective fluoride opening of oxiranes under various conditions with Deoxofluor and XtalFluor-E reagents, thereby offering an insight into this new epoxide opening methodology with fluoride.

Enantioselective Strecker Reaction Catalyzed by an Organocatalyst Lacking a Hydrogen-Bond-Donor Function

2007

Novel Multifunctional Polymeric Photoinitiators and Photo-Coinitiators Derived from Hyperbranched Polyglycerol

2007

A new class of hyperbranched PPIs and PPCs have been prepared. The introduction of compatibilizing groups such as MEEA or trimethylacetate enhanced their solubility in radiation-curable formulations and led to an improved photoactivity compared with the corresponding MPI and MPC. Although the molecular weights of the subject PPIs and PPCs exceeded 800 g mol -1 , the viscosities of the radiation-curable formulations were still suitable for inkjet application. The combination of high photoactivity, low viscosity, and low extract-ability after curing rendered the resulting hyperbranched PPIs and PPCs attractive as components in the inkjet ink for inkjet printing, e.g., in food packaging.