We construct a dense point set of n points in the plane with ne( √ logn) halving lines. This improves the bound O(n log n) of Edelsbrunner, Valtr and Welzl from 1997. We also observe that the upper bound on the maximum number of halving lines of dense point set can be improved to O(n). Our construction can be generalized to higher dimensions, for any d we construct a dense point set of n points...

Defending cellular integrity against disturbances in intracellular concentrations of ATP ([ATP](i)) is predicated on coordinating the selection of substrates and their flux through metabolic pathways (metabolic signaling), ATP transfer from sites of production to utilization (energetic signaling), and the regulation of processes consuming energy (cell signaling). Whereas NO and its receptor, so...

The nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP signal transduction pathway plays an important role in the regulation of pulmonary vascular tone and resistance in pulmonary hypertension. A number of studies have demonstrated that endothelial (e) and inducible nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are upregulated in hypoxia-exposed rat lung. These changes in NOS expression have been found to correlate with the process of pul...

BI2536 is a highly selective and potent inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). In this study, we aimed to determine whether BI2536 and cisplatin can synergistically inhibit the malignant behavior of gastric cancer cells. For this purpose, the expression of PLK1 in gastric cancer cells was determined. The effects of BI2536, cisplatin, and the combination of BI2536 and cisplatin on gastric cance...

Free nitric oxide (NO) activates soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), an enzyme, within both pulmonary and vascular smooth muscle. sGC catalyzes the cyclization of guanosine 5'-triphosphate to guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Binding rates of NO to the ferrous heme(s) of sGC have been measured in vitro. However, a missing link in our understanding of the control mechanism of sGC by NO i...

Dictyostelium contains two guanylyl cyclases, GCA, a 12-transmembrane enzyme, and sGC, a homologue of mammalian soluble adenylyl cyclase. sGC provides nearly all chemoattractant-stimulated cGMP formation and is essential for efficient chemotaxis toward cAMP. We show that in resting cells the major fraction of the sGC-GFP fusion protein localizes to the cytosol, and a small fraction is associate...

Salivary gland cancer (SGC) has a comparatively poor prognosis and is prone to frequent recurrence and metastases. Therefore, the development of more effective chemotherapy against SGC is desirable. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antitumour effects of valproic acid (VPA) against SGC in vitro and in vivo. Two human SGC cell lines (HSY and HSG cells) were used in the present ...

The NO and cGMP signaling pathways are of broad physiological and pathological significance. We compared the NO/soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)/cGMP pathway in human glioma tissues and cell lines with that of healthy control samples and demonstrated that sGC expression is significantly lower in glioma preparations. Our analysis of GEO databases (National Cancer Institute) further revealed a stat...

Background Cyclic GMP producing soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) is highly activated by the binding of nitric oxide (NO) messenger to its heme. Besides NO, other NO-independent molecules were shown to activate sGC. These include a class of heme-replacers (e.g., protoporphyrin IX and structurally unrelated activators BAY 58-2667 and HMR1766) or sGC stimulators (e.g., BAY 41-2272 and YC-1 and aryl-...

Guanylyl cyclase A (GCA) and soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) encode GCs in Dictyostelium and have a topology similar to 12-transmembrane and soluble adenylyl cyclase, respectively. We demonstrate that all detectable GC activity is lost in a cell line in which both genes have been inactivated. Cell lines with one gene inactivated were used to characterize the other guanylyl cyclase (i.e. GCA in s...