Search results for "Membrane transport protein"
showing 10 items of 159 documents
Regulation of organic anion transporters in a new rat model of acute and chronic cholangitis resembling human primary sclerosing cholangitis
2002
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology. Although the primary defect affects cholangiocytes, cholestatic injury of hepatocytes may promote further liver damage. Since down-regulation of hepatocellular organic anion transporters is implicated in the molecular pathogenesis of cholestasis, expression of these transporters was determined in a novel rat model, which closely resembles human PSC.Hepatic protein and mRNA expression of basolateral (Ntcp, Oatp1, 2 and 4) and canalicular (Mrp2, Bsep) organic anion transporters were analyzed 1, 4 and 12 weeks after induction of experimental PSC by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS).Specific down-re…
Induction of the fatty acid transport protein 1 and acyl-CoA synthase genes by dimer-selective rexinoids suggests that the peroxisome proliferator-ac…
2000
The intracellular fatty acid content of insulin-sensitive target tissues determines in part their insulin sensitivity. Uptake of fatty acids into cells is a controlled process determined in part by a regulated import/export system that is controlled at least by two key groups of proteins, i.e. the fatty acid transport protein (FATP) and acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), which facilitate, respectively, the transport of fatty acids across the cell membrane and catalyze their esterification to prevent their efflux. Previously it was shown that the expression of the FATP-1 and ACS genes was controlled by insulin and by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists in liver or in adipose t…
Mutations in the PDS Gene in German Families with Pendred’s Syndrome: V138F Is a Founder Mutation
2003
Pendred's syndrome, an autosomal-recessive condition characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss and goiter, is caused by mutations in the PDS gene. Located on chromosome 7q22-q31, it encodes a chloride-iodide transporter expressed in the thyroid, inner ear, and kidney. We investigated the PDS gene of six affected individuals from four unrelated families with Pendred's syndrome by direct sequencing. PDS mutations were identified in homozygous or compound heterozygous state in all six cases. A homozygous missense mutation leading to the amino acid substitution S133T was detected in a family of Turkish origin. The mutations found in the other affected individuals, who originate fro…
Dopamine-related genes and spontaneous smoking cessation in ever-heavy smokers
2011
Several studies have provided evidence for associations of polymorphisms located in and near dopamine-related genes and nicotine dependence and other smoking-related phenotypes, including pharmacogenetic interactions. Aim: The purpose of the present work was to examine the association of SNPs in the DOPA decarboxylase (DDC), dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and dopamine transporter (SLC6A3) genes with smoking cessation in a large retrospective study featuring approximately 900 cessation events. Materials & methods: Data originated from the enrollment questionnaire of the epidemiological ESTHER study of community-dwelling adults aged 50–74 years, conducted in the German state of Saarland bet…
Involvement of estrogen receptors in the resveratrol-mediated increase in dopamine transporter in human dopaminergic neurons and in striatum of femal…
2011
Treatment with resveratrol (RSV) has been shown to protect vulnerable neurons after various brain injuries and in neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanisms for the effects of RSV in brain are not fully understood, but RSV may affect the expression of various gene products. RSV is structurally related to the synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol so the effects of RSV may be gender-specific. Here we studied the role of RSV in the regulation of dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum using male and female mice. The basic levels of DAT in the striatum showed no sex difference, but the levels increased significantly by RSV (20 mg/kg i.p.) in female but not in male mice. Pretreatment of mice…
Therapeutic-like properties of a dopamine uptake inhibitor in animal models of amphetamine addiction.
2010
N-substituted benztropine (BZT) analogs are molecules that display high affinity for the dopamine transporter (DAT), therapeutic-like effects in animal models of cocaine abuse, and psychopharmacological characteristics consistent with those of a substitute medication for cocaine addiction. Since amphetamine (Amph) and cocaine share mechanisms of action at the DAT, we evaluated the effectiveness of a BZT analog in animal models of Amph addiction. We tested in mice and rats the effects of the BZT derivative, 3α-[bis(4-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropane (AHN-1055), on Amph-induced conditioned place preference (CPP), locomotor activity, sensitization, self-administration and ΔFosB accumulation in th…
Fluidizing the Membrane by a Local Anesthetic: Phenylethanol Affects Membrane Protein Oligomerization
2010
The exact mechanism of action of anesthetics is still an open question. While some observations suggest specific anesthetic-protein interactions, nonspecific perturbation of the lipid bilayer has also been suggested. Perturbations of bilayer properties could subsequently affect the structure and function of membrane proteins. Addition of the local anesthetic phenylethanol (PEtOH) to model membranes and intact Escherichia coli cells not only affected membrane fluidity but also severely altered the defined helix-helix interaction within the membrane. This experimental observation suggests that certain anesthetics modulate membrane physical properties and thereby indirectly affect transmembran…
Transcriptional expression of selected genes associated with excretion of carboxylic acids from aci mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
2013
Introduction: Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an excellent model organism for studies of transcriptional regulation of metabolic processes in other eukaryotic cells including human cells. Cellular acid-base balance can be disturbed in pathologic situations such as renal acidosis or cancer. The extracellular pH of malignant solid tumors is acidic in the range of 6.5-6.9. EG07 and EG37 aci mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae excessively excrete carboxylic acids to glucose-containing media or distilled water. The excreted acids are Krebs and/or glyoxylate cycle intermediates. The genes restoring the wild-type phenotype have function that does not easily explain theAci phenotype.Material/Methods: I…
Redox signaling (cross-talk) from and to mitochondria involves mitochondrial pores and reactive oxygen species
2010
This review highlights the important role of redox signaling between mitochondria and NADPH oxidases. Besides the definition and general importance of redox signaling, the cross-talk between mitochondrial and Nox-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) is discussed on the basis of 4 different examples. In the first model, angiotensin-II is discussed as a trigger for NADPH oxidase activation with subsequent ROS-dependent opening of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels leading to depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential followed by mitochondrial ROS formation and respiratory dysfunction. This concept was supported by observations that ethidium bromide-induced mitochondrial d…
Nitroglycerine causes mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production: In vitro mechanistic insights
2007
Background Nitroglycerine (GTN) is an organic nitrate that has been used for more than 100 years. Despite its widespread clinical use, several aspects of the pharmacology of GTN remain elusive. In a recent study, the authors of the present study showed that GTN causes opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Objective In the present study, it was tested whether GTN-induced ROS production depends on mitochondrial potassium ATP-dependent channel or mPTP opening, and/or GTN biotransformation. Methods and results Isolated rat heart mitochondria were incubated with succinate (a substrate for complex II) and GT…