Internalization of PAK strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa into human respiratory epithelial cell lines and HeLa cervical cancer cells in vitro was readily demonstrable via a gentamycin protection assay. Depletion of target cell glycosphingolipids (GSLs) using a glucosyl ceramide synthase inhibitor, P4, completely prevented P. aeruginosa internalization. In contrast, P4 treatment had no effect on the...

In the framework of a research target that aims at integration of sign language technologies to human-computer interaction applications, creation and annotation of the Greek Sign Language Corpus (GSLC) involve, on the one hand, data and analysis of the phonological structure of morphemes of Greek Sign Language (GSL) and, on the other hand, collection of sentence level language samples and assig...

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) play major roles in cellular growth and development. Mammalian glycolipid transfer proteins (GLTPs) are potential regulators of cell processes mediated by GSLs and display a unique architecture among lipid binding/transfer proteins. The GLTP fold represents a novel membrane targeting/interaction domain among peripheral proteins. Here we report crystal structures of hum...

Statins, which specifically inhibit HMG Co-A reductase, the rate-limiting step of cholesterol biosynthesis, are widely prescribed to reduce serum cholesterol and cardiac risk, but many other effects are seen. We now show an effect of these drugs to induce profound changes in the step-wise synthesis of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in the Golgi. Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) was increased several-fold i...

Introduction Sphingolipids (SLs) and glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components of eukaryotic cell membranes [l]. These lipids are synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, but reside mainly in the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Significant variation exists in the types and levels of SLs and GSLs between different cells, and even within the same cell at ...

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are present in all eukaryotic membranes and are implicated in neuropathologies and tumor progression in humans. Nevertheless, their in vivo functions remain poorly understood in vertebrates, partly owing to redundancy in the enzymes elongating their sugar chains. In Drosophila, a single GSL biosynthetic pathway is present that relies on the activity of the Egghead and ...

Purpose To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of combined phacoemulsification with goniosynechialysis (GSL) under an ophthalmic endoscope for chronic primary angle-closure glaucoma and coexisting cataract. Methods This is a retrospective study. The intraocular pressure (IOP), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and number of glaucoma medications at baseline and each postoperative f...

We studied the endocytosis of fluorescent glycosphingolipid (GSL) analogs in various cell types using pathway-specific inhibitors and colocalization studies with endocytic markers and DsRed caveolin-1 (cav-1). Based on inhibitor studies, all GSLs tested were internalized predominantly (>80%) by a clathrin-independent, caveolar-related mechanism, regardless of cell type. In addition, fluorescent...

Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are a class of ceramide-based glycolipids essential for embryo development in mammals. The synthesis of specific GSLs depends on the expression of distinctive sets of GSL synthesizing enzymes that is tightly regulated during development. Several reports have described how cell surface receptors can be kept in a resting state or activate alternative signalling events as...

Cholestasis is characterized by the elevation of serum total bile acids (TBA), which leads to the production of both free radicals and oxidative stress. Although they do not share the same mechanisms, membrane glycosphingolipids (GSL) and the antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) both act against the pro-oxidative effect of TBA. The aim of the study was to assess the role of HMOX on GSL r...