Expression of leptin receptor (LR) and suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 genes was investigated in normal-fed and fasted cows. Fasting did not affect LR mRNA, but increased SOCS-3 mRNA in the adenohypophysis, suggesting that heightened responsiveness of fasted cows to leptin is not dependent upon alterations in LR or SOCS-3 mRNA in the adenohypophysis.

Varp (VPS9-ankyrin repeat protein) was originally identified as an activator of small GTPase Rab21 through its VPS9 domain, but it has subsequently been shown to function as a Rab32/38 effector through its first ANKR1 domain. Although these functions of Varp are important for melanogenesis, Varp contains a second ANKR2 domain, whose function remained completely unknown. Here we identified Rab40...

After negative shocks, investors with short trading horizons are inclined or forced to sell their holdings to a larger extent than investors with longer trading horizons. This may amplify the effects of market-wide shocks on stock prices. We test the relevance of this mechanism by exploiting the negative shock caused by Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy in September 2008. Consistent with our conjectu...

The multidomain HIV-1 Vif protein recruits several cellular partners to achieve neutralization of the antiviral activity of APOBEC3 proteins. Vif neutralizes APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F predominantly by forming an E3 ubiquitin ligase with Cullin5, ElonginB and ElonginC that targets these proteins for degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Vif associates with the Cullin5-ElonginB-ElonginC co...

Tyrosine kinase signaling is tightly controlled by negative feedback inhibitors including suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS). SOCS assemble as SH2 domain substrate recognition modules in ElonginB/C-cullin ubiquitin ligases. In accordance, SOCS4 reduces STAT3 signaling from EGFR through increased receptor degradation. Variable C-termini in SOCS4-SOCS7 exclude these family members from a SO...

JAKs (Janus kinases) are essential mediators of almost all biological signalling events initiated by haemopoietic and immune cytokines. However, aberrant and/or prolonged JAK-induced signalling is detrimental and can give rise to a number of inflammatory and proliferative pathologies. For this reason, the tyrosine kinase activity of the JAKs is carefully regulated at a number of different level...

This study is to explore the effects of two Suppressors of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) members, namely SOCS-1 and -3, on the regulation of cardiomyocyte hypertrophic response induced by Angiotensin-2 (AngII). Rat neonatal cardiomyocytes culture were cultured and treated with Angiotensin II. After SOCS1 and SOCS3 inhibition by si-RNA transfection, the cellular hypertrophic response indicated by c...

Germline development in vivo is dependent on the environment formed by somatic cells and the differentiation cues they provide; hence, the impact of local factors is highly relevant to the production of sperm. Knowledge of how somatic and germline cells interact is central to achieving biomedical goals relating to restoring, preserving or restricting fertility in humans. This review discusses t...