Search results for "Cell membrane"
showing 10 items of 635 documents
Prostacyclin receptor desensitization is a reversible phenomenon in human platelets.
1997
Background Long-term exposure of platelets to endogenous or exogenous prostacyclin or its analogues might result in desensitization of the platelet prostacyclin receptor in vitro and in vivo accompanied by a loss in receptor density on the platelet surface and a reduced sensitivity toward the inhibitory effects of prostacyclins. However, the reversibility of this process in platelets has not yet been investigated. Methods and Results Human platelets desensitized by the chemically stable prostacyclin analogue iloprost showed a significant reduction in [ 3 H]-iloprost binding sites that was reversed by saponin permeabilization. This indicates functionally active internalized prostacyclin rec…
Extracellular Domains of the Bradykinin B2 Receptor Involved in Ligand Binding and Agonist Sensing Defined by Anti-peptide Antibodies
1996
Many of the physiological functions of bradykinin are mediated via the B2 receptor. Little is known about binding sites for bradykinin on the receptor. Therefore, antisera against peptides derived from the putative extracellular domains of the B2 receptor were raised. The antibodies strongly reacted with their corresponding antigens and cross-reacted both with the denatured and the native B2 receptor. Affinity-purified antibodies to the various extracellular domains were used to probe the contact sites between the receptor and its agonist, bradykinin or its antagonist HOE140. Antibodies to extracellular domain 3 (second loop) efficiently interfered, in a concentration-dependent manner, with…
Functional evidence of inverse agonism in vascular smooth muscle
1996
1. In the present study, depletion of internal Ca2+ stores sensitive to noradrenaline (1 microM) in rat aorta, is the signal for the entry of extracellular Ca2+, not only to refill the stores but also, in our experimental conditions, to activate the contractile proteins. This induces an increase in the resting tone that constitutes, the first functional evidence of this Ca2+ entry. 2. The fact that methoxamine (100 microM) reproduces the same processes as noradrenaline but clonidine (1 microM) does not, indicates that alpha(1)-adrenoceptor activation is related to the increase in the resting tone observed after depletion of adrenoceptor-sensitive internal Ca2+-stores. 3. Benoxathian and WB …
Dissection of the relative contribution of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ctr4 and Ctr5 proteins to the copper transport and cell surface delivery fun…
2011
The Ctr1 family of proteins mediates high-affinity copper (Cu) acquisition in eukaryotic organisms. In the fission yeastSchizosaccharomyces pombe, Cu uptake is carried out by a heteromeric complex formed by the Ctr4 and Ctr5 proteins. Unlike human andSaccharomyces cerevisiaeCtr1 proteins, Ctr4 and Ctr5 are unable to function independently in Cu acquisition. Instead, both proteins physically interact with each other to form a Ctr4–Ctr5 heteromeric complex, and are interdependent for secretion to the plasma membrane and Cu transport activity. In this study, we usedS. cerevisiaemutants that are defective in high-affinity Cu uptake to dissect the relative contribution of Ctr4 and Ctr5 to the Cu…
Cholesterol facilitates interactions between α‐synuclein oligomers and charge‐neutral membranes
2015
AbstractOligomeric species formed during α-synuclein fibrillation are suggested to be membrane-disrupting agents, and have been associated with cytotoxicity in Parkinson’s disease. The majority of studies, however, have revealed that the effect of α-synuclein oligomers is only noticeable on systems composed of anionic lipids, while the more physiologically relevant zwitterionic lipids remain intact. We present experimental evidence for significant morphological changes in zwitterionic membranes containing cholesterol, induced by α-synuclein oligomers. Depending on the lipid composition, model membranes are either unperturbed, disrupt, or undergo dramatic morphological changes and segregate …
Transport of C(4)-dicarboxylates in Wolinella succinogenes.
2000
ABSTRACT C 4 -dicarboxylate transport is a prerequisite for anaerobic respiration with fumarate in Wolinella succinogenes , since the substrate site of fumarate reductase is oriented towards the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. W. succinogenes was found to transport C 4 -dicarboxylates (fumarate, succinate, malate, and aspartate) across the cytoplasmic membrane by antiport and uniport mechanisms. The electrogenic uniport resulted in dicarboxylate accumulation driven by anaerobic respiration. The molar ratio of internal to external dicarboxylate concentration was up to 10 3 . The dicarboxylate antiport was either electrogenic or electroneutral. The electroneutral antiport required the prese…
Conductance and Ion Selectivity of a Mesoscopic Protein Nanopore Probed with Cysteine Scanning Mutagenesis
2005
Nanometer-scale proteinaceous pores are the basis of ion and macromolecular transport in cells and organelles. Recent studies suggest that ion channels and synthetic nanopores may prove useful in biotechnological applications. To better understand the structure-function relationship of nanopores, we are studying the ion-conducting properties of channels formed by wild-type and genetically engineered versions of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-hemolysin (alphaHL) reconstituted into planar lipid bilayer membranes. Specifically, we measured the ion selectivities and current-voltage relationships of channels formed with 24 different alphaHL point cysteine mutants before and after derivatizing the c…
Facilitated Anion Transport Induces Hyperpolarization of the Cell Membrane That Triggers Differentiation and Cell Death in Cancer Stem Cells
2015
Facilitated anion transport potentially represents a powerful tool to modulate various cellular functions. However, research into the biological effects of small molecule anionophores is still at an early stage. Here we have used two potent anionophore molecules inspired in the structure of marine metabolites tambjamines to gain insight into the effect induced by these compounds at the cellular level. We show how active anionophores, capable of facilitating the transmembrane transport of chloride and bicarbonate in model phospholipid liposomes, induce acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of plasma cell membranes. We demonstrate how this combined effect can be used against canc…
Use of electron spectroscopic imaging to determine element composition of the melanin granules in the stria vascularis of the guinea pig.
1998
Electron spectroscopic imaging (ESI) was used to analyze the element content of melanin granules in the stria vascularis seen in ultrathin sections of Spurr-embedded cochleae of the guinea pig. To determine element composition, ESI images were taken at different ionization edges, and non-specific background signals were subtracted digitally by an image processing system. The presence of calcium and nitrogen in the melanin granules could be demonstrated clearly. The calcium identified in the melanin granules was then compared with the spatial distributions of calcium binding sites after the application of an antimonate precipitation method, which was used to localize loosely bound calcium. D…