Search results for "membrane proteins"
showing 10 items of 713 documents
Long-range DNA looping and gene expression analyses identify DEXI as an autoimmune disease candidate gene
2011
The chromosome 16p13 region has been associated with several autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D) and multiple sclerosis (MS). CLEC16A has been reported as the most likely candidate gene in the region, since it contains the most disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), as well as an imunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif. However, here we report that intron 19 of CLEC16A, containing the most autoimmune disease-associated SNPs, appears to behave as a regulatory sequence, affecting the expression of a neighbouring gene, DEXI. The CLEC16A alleles that are protective from T1D and MS are associated with increased expression of DEXI, and no other genes in …
Cannabinoid receptor 1 modulates the autophagic flux independent of mTOR- and BECLIN1-complex
2013
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) has been initially described as the receptor for Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in the central nervous system (CNS), mediating retrograde synaptic signaling of the endocannabinoid system. Beside its expression in various CNS regions, CB1 is ubiquituous in peripheral tissues, where it mediates, among other activities, the cell's energy homeostasis. We sought to examine the role of CB1 in the context of the evolutionarily conserved autophagic machinery, a main constituent of the regulation of the intracellular energy status. Manipulating CB1 by siRNA knockdown in mammalian cells caused an elevated autophagic flux, while the expression of autophagy-related genes rema…
An Update of the Evolving Epidemic of blaKPC Carrying Klebsiella pneumoniae in Sicily, Italy, 2014: Emergence of Multiple Non-ST258 Clones
2015
Background: In Italy, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) strains are highly endemic and KPC producing CC258 is reported as the widely predominating clone. In Palermo, Italy, previous reports have confirmed this pattern. However, recent preliminary findings suggest that an epidemiological change is likely ongoing towards a polyclonal KPC-Kp spread. Here we present the results of molecular typing of 94 carbapenem non susceptible K. pneumoniae isolates detected during 2014 in the three different hospitals in Palermo, Italy. Methods and Results: Ninety-four consecutive, non replicate carbapenem non susceptible isolates were identified in the three largest acute…
Reconstitution of bacteriorhodopsin and ATP synthase from Micrococcus luteus into liposomes of the purified main tetraether lipid from Thermoplasma a…
1995
The archaebacterium Thermoplasma acidophilum is cultivated at 59 degrees C in a medium containing sulfuric acid of pH 2. The purified bipolar membrane spanning main phospholipid (MPL) of this organism can be used to produce stable liposomes of 100-500 nm in diameter either using a French pressure cell detergent dialysis or sonication. Despite a potassium diffusion potential of 186 mV very low ionic permeability of sonicated MPL liposomes was measured using the potassium binding fluorescent indicator benzofuran isophthalate PBF1, which measures net K+ uptake. The latter also remained very low, in the presence of the K(+) ionophore valinomycin and palmitic acid. Addition of valinomycin and th…
Potential role of oxidative DNA damage in the impact of PNPLA3 variant (rs 738409 CG) in hepatocellular carcinoma risk.
2014
International audience
Induction of apoptosis and inhibition of cell growth in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by COX-2 inhibitors
2005
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of nonselective (indomethacin) and selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors (NS-398, nimesulide, and CAY10404) on cell growth, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis in three human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2, HuH-6, and HA22T/VGH) with different characteristics of differentiation and biological behavior. The four COX inhibitors showed a dose-dependent growth-inhibitory effect in all the cell lines. No substantial arrests in the progression of the cells through the cell cycle were observed after treatment of HuH-6 or HA22T/VGH for 48 h with the various inhibitors. On the other hand, there were significant increases …
PNPLA3 GG genotype and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
2013
Background and Aim To evaluate if the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with NAFLD, could be related to gene variants influencing hepatic fat accumulation and the severity of liver damage. Methods We recorded anthropometric, metabolic and histological data(Kleiner score) of 162 consecutive, biopsy-proven Sicilian NAFLD patients. Intima-media thickness(IMT), IMT thickening(IMT≥1 mm) and carotid plaques(focal thickening of >1.3 mm at the level of common carotid artery) were evaluated using ultrasonography. IL28B rs12979860 C>T, PNPLA3 rs738409 C>G, GCKR rs780094 C>T, LYPLAL1 rs12137855 C>T, and NCAN rs2228603 C>T single nucleotide polymorphisms were also assessed. The results we…
Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to ceftazidime is unrelated to the expression of the outer membrane protein OprC.
1997
Previously, it has been postulated that the porin OprC facilitates the diffusion of ceftazidime through the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To further investigate this claim, the outer membrane protein (OMP) profiles of 22 ceftazidime-susceptible clinical isolates were analyzed. No correlation was found between MIC values and the level of expression of OprC. Further, OprC was either undetectable or expressed in reduced amounts in 12 isolates. In contrast, OprF and OprE were present in all isolates studied. This study suggests that OprC is dispensable for the permeation of ceftazidime through the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa.
Altered morphological and electrophysiological properties of Cajal-Retzius cells in cerebral cortex of embryonic Presenilin-1 knockout mice
2004
Mutations of Presenilin-1 are the major cause of familial Alzheimer's disease. Presenilin-1 knockout (PS1-/-) mice develop severe cortical dysplasia related to human type 2 lissencephaly. This overmigration syndrome has been attributed to the premature loss of Cajal-Retzius cells (CRcs), pioneer neurons required for the termination of radial neuronal migration. To elucidate the potential cellular mechanisms responsible for this premature neuronal loss, we investigated the morphological and electrophysiological properties of visually identified CRcs of wild-type (WT) and PS1-/- mouse brains at embryonic day 16.5. The density of CRcs was substantially reduced in the cerebral cortex of PS1-/-.…