The β-dystroglycan (β-DG) protein has the ability to target to multiple sites in eukaryotic cells, being a member of diverse protein assemblies including the transmembranal dystrophin-associated complex, and a nuclear envelope-localised complex that contains emerin and lamins A/C and B1. We noted that the importin α2/β1-recognised nuclear localization signal (NLS) of β-DG is also a binding site...

A mutant of diphtheria toxin in which Ile-364 was replaced by Lys was at least 500-fold less toxic to Vero cells than the parental toxin. Its ability to undergo low-pH-triggered translocation across the plasma membrane was greatly diminished, as was its ability to form ion-conductive channels. In addition, the mutant toxin was inactive in the pH-dependent killing of Escherichia coli.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) plays a critical role in mediating ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced signal transduction and gene expression in human keratinocytes. EGFR activation results from increased phosphorylation on specific tyrosine residues in the C-terminal intracellular domain. It has recently been reported that following growth factor stimulation EGFR translocates from th...

OBJECTIVE Bacterial translocation (BT) or bacterial DNA (bactDNA) translocation is a critical pathogenesis mechanism of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Studies of BT or bactDNA translocation are limited in humans. Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) can efficiently distinguish bacterial and nonbacterial ascites in ascitic patients. Hepcidin is a useful marker of bacterial infec...

One of the major causes of spontaneous abortion before the fourth month of pregnancy is chromosomal abnormalities. We report an unusual case of a familial balanced chromosomal translocation in a consanguineous couple who experienced 4 spontaneous abortions. Chromosomal studies were performed on the basis of G-banding technique at high resolution and revealed 46, XX, t (16 6) (p12 q26) and 46, X...

Secretory proteins are synthesized on ribosomes bound to the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). After the selection of polysomes synthesizing secretory proteins and their direction to the membrane of the ER via signal recognition particle (SRP) and docking protein respectively, the polysomes become bound to the ER membrane via an unknown, protein-mediated mechanism. To identify protein...

recent studies have provided evidence that common genetic variations could account for a proportion of leukemia in adult or children. to evaluate the contribution of candidate gene association studies to the understanding of genetic susceptibility to acute lymphoblastic leukemia we conducted a systematic review from published studies. the polymorphisms of genes encoding carcinogen-metabolizing ...

Hippocalcin is a Ca(2+)-binding protein that belongs to a family of neuronal Ca(2+)sensors and is a key mediator of many cellular functions including synaptic plasticity and learning. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in hippocalcin signalling remain illusive. Here we studied whether glutamate receptor activation induced by locally applied or synaptically released glutamate can be deco...

rye (secale cereale) chromosome 1rs harbors multiple genes including lr26, sr31, yr9 and pm8 conferring disease resistance and tolerance to abiotic stresses. the introgression of the rye 1r chromosome short arm has enormously contributed to increase of genetic diversity in wheat. utilization of such translocations in breeding programs demands identification of wheat germplasm possessing the whe...

cytogenetic studies were performed on 150 cases of down's syndrome (ds) in iran. the standard trisomy 21 was found in 132 (88 % ) and translocation-trisomy 21 (+21) in 18 (12%) patients, i.e., t(21,21) in 1(0.63%) and mosaicism in 17(11.33%) cases. the comparison of the frequencies for mosaicism between different populations such as denmark, hungary, egypt, iraq, india, australia and iran ...