Search results for "messenger"

Expression of membrane C1q in human monocyte-derived macrophages is developmentally regulated and enhanced by interferon-γ

2001

The present study investigated when during "in vitro" maturation macrophages (MPhi) express membrane C1q (mC1q), and whether cell activation affects expression and function of mC1q. Although C1q mRNA was repeatedly detected in freshly isolated monocytes using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, C1q protein was observed only in developing MPhi from day 1 to 4 on using immunodetection and flow cytometry. However, the quantity of mC1q and other MPhi membrane proteins differed strikingly in cells from different donors. We report here for the first time that CD14(+) and CD14(-) mC1q-bearing MPhi can develop, and that interferon-gamma increases mC1q display at the cell surface, and m…

Nitric oxide synthase: expression and expressional control of the three isoforms.

1995

Three isozymes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) have been identified. Their cDNA- and protein structures as well as their genomic DNA structures have been described. NOS I (ncNOS, originally discovered in neurons) and NOS III (ecNOS, originally discovered in endothelial cells) are low output, Ca(2+)-activated enzymes whose physiological function is signal transduction. NOS II (iNOS, originally discovered in cytokine-induced macrophages) is a high output enzyme which produces toxic amounts of NO that represent an important component of the antimicrobial, antiparasitic and antineoplastic activity of these cells. Depending on the species, NOS II activity is largely (human) or completely (mouse a…

NO as a signalling molecule in the nervous system

2002

The discovery that nitric oxide (NO) functions as a signalling molecule in the nervous system has radically changed the concept of neural communication. Indeed, the adoption of the term nitrergic for nerves whose transmitter function depends on the release of NO or for transmission mechanisms brought about by NO (Moncada et al., 1997) emphasizes the specific characteristics of this mediator. The physical properties of NO prevent its storage in lipid-lined vesicles and metabolism by hydrolytic degradatory enzymes. Therefore, unlike established neurotransmitters, NO is synthesized on demand and is neither stored in synaptic vesicles nor released by exocytosis, but simply diffuses from nerve t…

Functional characterization of α1 -adrenoceptor subtypes in vascular tissues using different experimental approaches:a comparative study

2003

The α1-adrenergic responses of rat aorta and tail artery have been analysed measuring the contractility and the inositol phosphate (IP) formation induced by noradrenaline. Three antagonists, prazosin, 5-methylurapidil (α1A selective) and BMY 7378 (α1D selective) have been used in different experimental procedures. Noradrenaline possesses a greater potency inducing contraction and IP accumulation in aorta (pEC50-contraction=7.32±0.04; pEC50-IPs=6.03±0.08) than in the tail artery (pEC50-contraction=5.71±0.07; pEC50-IPs=5.51±0.10). Although the maximum contraction was similar in both tissues (Emax-tail=619.1±55.6 mg; Emax-aorta-698.2±40.8 mg), there were marked differences in the ability of th…

Structure of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in Drosophila melanogaster and evidence of alternative promoter usage.

1996

The complete Drosophila melanogaster phenylalanine hydroxylase gene isolated from a genomic library was sequenced. Gene structure consisted of five exons covering a region of around 3 kb. Position of introns in the C-terminal domain was conserved with mammalian aromatic amino acid hydroxylase genes. Putative promoter sequences in the 5'UTR and intron 1 were identified. A novel transcript was detected differing from that previously reported by the inclusion of a part of the intron 1 sequence. It could be produced using an alternative promoter. The deduced open reading frame would code a protein with a small difference at the N-terminus. Expression of the alternative transcripts was examined …

In vitro incorporation of amino acids into proteins stimulated by RNA from unfertilized sea urchin eggs.

1964

Rho-mediated activation of PI(4)P5K and lipid second messengers is necessary for promotion of angiogenesis by Semaphorin 4D

2011

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase (PI(4)P5K) is a type I lipid kinase that generates the lipid second messenger phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2) and functions downstream of RhoA in actin organization. It is known to play an essential role in neurite remodeling, yielding a phenotype identical to that seen in cells treated with Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D), a protein that regulates proliferation, adhesion and migration in many different cell types. Plexin-B1, the receptor for Sema4D, activates RhoA in order to generate a pro-angiogenic signal in endothelial cells. Therefore, we looked in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to determine if Plexin-B1 e…

Hypoxia induces a complex response of globin expression in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

2006

SUMMARY Unlike most mammals, many fish species live and survive in environments with low or changing levels of oxygen. Respiratory proteins like hemoglobin or myoglobin bind or store oxygen, thus enhancing its availability to the respiratory chain in the mitochondria. Here we investigate by means of quantitative real-time PCR the changes of hemoglobin, myoglobin, neuroglobin,cytoglobin and globin X mRNA in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to mild (PO2=∼8.6 kPa) or severe(PO2=∼4.1 kPa) hypoxia. Neuroglobin and myoglobin protein levels were investigated by western blotting. Whereas mild hypoxia caused only minor changes of mRNA levels, strong hypoxia enhanced mRNA levels of the control genes (…

Extracellular membrane vesicles as a mechanism of cell-to-cell communication: advantages and disadvantages.

2014

Microvesicles represent a newly identified mechanism of intercellular communication. Two different types of microvesicles have been identified: membrane-derived vesicles (EVs) and exosomes. EVs originate by direct budding from the plasma membrane, while exosomes arise from ectocytosis of multivesicular bodies. Recent attention has focused on the capacity of EVs to alter the phenotype of neighboring cells to make them resemble EV-producing cells. Stem cells are an abundant source of EVs, and the interaction between stem cells and the microenvironment (i.e., stem cell niche) plays a critical role in determining stem cell phenotype. The stem cell niche hypothesis predicts that stem cell number…

A critical role of plastidial glycolytic Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in the control of plant metabolism and development

2009

3 páginas.