Search results for " substrate"
showing 9 items of 129 documents
IRS-2 deficiency impairs NMDA receptor-dependent long-term potentiation
2011
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License.-- et al.
Role of insulin-like growth factors in autocrine growth of human retinoblastoma Y79 cells.
1996
In this study, we have demonstrated that human retinoblastoma Y79 cells produce insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) type I and type II and release them into the medium. We have also ascertained, by means of competitive studies and cross-linking procedure, that Y79 cells contain the type-I IGF receptor (IGF-IR). Furthermore, surface-bound IGF-I is internalised by the receptor, then degraded to amino acids. Insulin, IGF-I and IGF-II caused down-regulation of IGF-IR; the effect is concentration and time dependant. Scatchard analysis demonstrated that incubation with insulin markedly decreased the binding capacity measured for IGF-I while the apparent Kd value calculated for IGF-I binding was no…
Metalloprotease meprin beta generates nontoxic N-terminal amyloid precursor protein fragments in vivo.
2011
Identification of physiologically relevant substrates is still the most challenging part in protease research for understanding the biological activity of these enzymes. The zinc-dependent metalloprotease meprin β is known to be expressed in many tissues with functions in health and disease. Here, we demonstrate unique interactions between meprin β and the amyloid precursor protein (APP). Although APP is intensively studied as a ubiquitously expressed cell surface protein, which is involved in Alzheimer disease, its precise physiological role and relevance remain elusive. Based on a novel proteomics technique termed terminal amine isotopic labeling of substrates (TAILS), APP was identified …
Substrate specificity screening of oat (Avena sativa) seeds aminopeptidase demonstrate unusually broad tolerance in S1 pocket.
2012
Aminopeptidases are proteolytic enzymes that remove one amino acid at a time from N-terminus of peptidic substrates. In plants, inhibitors of aminopeptidases can find potential applications in agriculture as herbicides. In this report we have used a library of fluorogenic derivatives of natural and unnatural amino acids for substrate specificity profiling of oat (Avena sativa) aminopeptidase. Interestingly, we have found that this enzyme recognizes effectively among the natural amino acids basic residues like Arg and Lys, hydrophobic Phe, Leu and Met, but also to some extent acidic residues Asp and Glu. In the case of unnatural amino acids hydrophobic residues (hPhe and hCha) and basic hArg…
Increasing Sustainability of Growing Media Constituents and Stand-Alone Substrates in Soilless Culture Systems
2020
Peat-free growing media constituents and stand-alone substrates are the basis for the economic and ecological efficiency of the soilless culture system. Nevertheless, divergence between the model and practice still exists, coming from large gaps in the knowledge of alternative organic materials and of their effects on crop performance. A more detailed understanding of these topics is necessary to increase the soilless culture management capacity. In this respect, this critical review collects research outcomes concerning the sustainability of soilless culture and growing media constituents and their impact on the environment. In particular, the review covers designated articles stressing th…
Increased dosage of Ink4/Arf protects against glucose intolerance and insulin resistance associated with aging
2013
Recent genome-wide association studies have linked type-2 diabetes mellitus to a genomic region in chromosome 9p21 near the Ink4/Arf locus, which encodes tumor suppressors that are up-regulated in a variety of mammalian organs during aging. However, it is unclear whether the susceptibility to type-2 diabetes is associated with altered expression of the Ink4/Arf locus. In the present study, we investigated the role of Ink4/Arf in age-dependent alterations of insulin and glucose homeostasis using Super-Ink4/Arf mice which bear an extra copy of the entire Ink4/Arf locus. We find that, in contrast to age-matched wild-type controls, Super-Ink4/Arf mice do not develop glucose intolerance with agi…
Rayleigh-instability-driven dewetting of thin Au and Ag films on indium-tin-oxide surface under nanosecond laser irradiations
2013
Investigations have been carried out on laser-beam-induced nanoparticle (NP) formation in thin (5 nm) Au and Ag films on indium-tin-oxide substrate. After the irradiation the films were observed to break-up into NPs through a dewetting mechanism. This mechanism was investigated as a Rayleigh-instability- driven process. In fact, for each used laser fluence, the resulting Au and Ag NPs' mean size and surface-to-surface mean distance were quantified and correlated between them in the framework of the Rayleigh-instability theory showing an excellent agreement. © The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2013.
From soil to soil-less in horticulture: quality and typicity
2013
In this review, the technique of soil-less cultivation of horticultural crops is analysed, the main differences between this and traditional cultivation techniques are described, and the advantages and disadvantages of each method in relation to the others are identified. Soilless cultivation has revolutionised various sectors of vegetable and floriculture production, and recent years have also seen interest being shown by Italian fruit crop producers, particularly those involved in table grape viticulture. The various issues related to the use of this technique are described in relation to the needs of the substrate, water management, and mineral nutrition of the different species, and to …
Plant essential oils in controlling fungal colonization on wooden substrate
2021
In order to control fungal colonization and the related deterioration process of cultural objects, several chemical compounds are actually utilised. These products generally are toxic, not biodegradable and persisting for long time in the environment, also acting on not-targeted biological systems. In this study, specifically to wooden cultural object, Origanum vulgare L. and Thymus vulgaris L. essential oils are proposed as green biocides to contrast the development of Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger fungal species. The aim is replacing toxic products with natural molecules, proposing alternative methodologies supporting the using of non-toxic novel compou…