MRTFs- master regulators of EMT

Master regulators of female fertility.

Master regulators of wood formation in Eucalyptus

With the current global focus on bioenergy, forest plantations are increasingly becoming important sources for second generation biofuel, where the whole plant lignocellulosic biomass is to be mobilized. The lignocellulosic biomass is mainly composed of secondary walls (SW) possessing unique characteristics (biochemical composition and tridimensional association of polymers), which govern the i...

GEFs: master regulators of G-protein activation.

What is a GEF? GEF stands for guanine-nucleotide exchange factor, any of a large and diverse group of proteins that catalyze the release of GDPand the subsequent uptake of GTPby members of the Ras and heterotrimeric G-protein superfamilies (referred to here collectively as G proteins). When bound to GTP, G proteins are in the active conformation. Upon hydrolysis of this bound GTP, by virtue of ...

Tip cells: Master regulators of tubulogenesis?

The normal development of an organ depends on the coordinated regulation of multiple cell activities. Focusing on tubulogenesis, we review the role of specialised cells or groups of cells that are selected from within tissue primordia and differentiate at the outgrowing tips or leading edge of developing tubules. Tip or leading cells develop distinctive patterns of gene expression that enable t...

MicroRNAs: regulators of cancer metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

Tumor metastasis is the main cause of death in patients with solid tumors. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, in which epithelial cells are converted into mesenchymal cells, is frequently activated during cancer invasion and metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that provide widespread expressional control by repressing mRNA translation and inducing mRNA de...