Background: PI(4,5)P2 and tyrosine phosphorylation dependent unconventional secretion of FGF2 is mediated by direct translocation across the plasma membrane. Results: PI(4,5)P2 mediated membrane recruitment causes oligomerization of tyrosine phosphorylated FGF2 which, in turn, triggers the formation of a lipidic membrane pore. Conclusion: Membrane inserted FGF2 oligomers represent intermediates...

Membrane proteins have been reconstituted on lipid bilayers with zero mean-curvature (cubic phases or vesicles). Here we show that reconstitution of pore-forming membrane proteins can also occur on highly curved lipidic bilayers of reverse hexagonal mesophases, for which the mean-curvature is significantly different from zero. We further show that the membrane protein provides unique topologica...

It is still uncertain how the first minimal cellular systems evolved to the complexity required for life to begin, but it is obvious that the role of amphiphilic compounds in the origin of life is one of huge relevance. Over the last four decades a number of studies have demonstrated how amphiphilic molecules can be synthesized under plausibly prebiotic conditions. The majority of these experim...

The lipidic cubic phase method for crystallizing membrane proteins has posted some high-profile successes recently. This is especially true in the area of G-protein-coupled receptors, with six new crystallographic structures emerging in the last 3½ years. Slowly, it is becoming an accepted method with a proven record and convincing generality. However, it is not a method that is used in every m...

OBJECTIVE To assess the lipidic profile of overweight and obese individuals submitted to cardiologic assessment and who did not show evidences of cardiopathy. METHODS Sample with 684 individuals, 389 (56.9%) women and 295 (43.1%) men, with age ranging from 14 to 74 (average of 40.6) years old, without evidences of cardiopathy after clinical assessment and analysis of electrocardiogram, thorax...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to assess the clinical care pattern and to compare the lipid and glycemic profile in a group of diabetic patients undergoing both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) and to correlate these data using biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. SUBJECTS AND METHODS The first phase consisted in performing a survey on demographic data, questions about the med...

background: available drugs are not able to eradicate intracellular viral dna in patients with hepatitis b virus (hbv) infections. hbsag vaccine could induce immunity and subsequently eradicate hepatitis b virus in proportions of these patients. our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of hbsag as a mode of therapy in inactive carriers. materials and methods: forty two consecutive patients of inact...

background and objectives: neisseria meningitidis is transmitted from person-to-person. thus, close contact with a healthy carrier can facilitate the spread of the bacteria and lead to life-threatening meningococcal disease. the aim of this study was to identify oropharyngeal carriers of n. meningitidis in volunteers preparing for military service before vaccination. materials and methods: in a...

background: it is estimated that about 370 million people are chronic carriers of hbv worldwide. apparently 3% of iranian populations are chronic carriers of this virus. we aimed to evaluate the viral dna in biological fluids of chronic hepatitis patients compared to a control group. methods: the current case-control study was designed to evaluate the viral dna in biological fluids of 70 chroni...