Predictions of protein structure are best tested without prior knowledge of the protein three-dimensional structure. Three-dimensional atomic models will soon be determined by X-ray crystallography for the alpha-subunit of human blood clotting factor XIII and members of the family of protein tyrosine specific phosphatases. Accordingly, we here present secondary structure predictions for each of...

A new ELF (enzyme labelled fluorescence) assay was applied to detect phosphatase activity in glandular structures of 47 carnivorous plant species, especially Lentibulariaceae, in order to understand their digestive activities. We address the following questions: (1) Are phosphatases produced by the plants and/or by inhabitants of the traps? (2) Which type of hairs/glands is involved in the prod...

Cancer research has seen tremendous changes over the past decade. Fast progress in sequencing technology has afforded us with landmark genetic alterations, which had immediate impact on clinical science and practice by pointing to new kinase targets, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), the EGF receptor, or BRAF. The PI3K pathway for growth control has emerged as a prime example for both o...

In the dephosphorylation of ATP’ by adult rat liver homogenates, a major role is played by a magnesium-stimulated ATPase localized in the isolated mitochondrial fraction (1). However, in liver tumors, as in other tumors tested, ATP dephosphorylation is catalyzed mostly by an apyrase, stimulated equally by calcium and magnesium ions and localized in the isolated microsome fraction (2, 3). It see...

A detailed biochemical study has been made in the heart of Pteropus giganteus for glycogen and acid and alkaline phosphatase contents. Highest concentration of glycogen and both the phosphatases was observed in the right atrium and basal region of the ventricles, suggesting more activity in these regions. Apical region of the ventricle represented minimum content of glycogen and phosphatases.

According to a modest estimation, one third of the known eukaryotic proteins can be phosphorylated. Protein kinases are members of a large superfamily and incorporate the phosphate moiety into the serine (Ser), threonine (Thr) or tyrosine (Tyr) residues of their target proteins. In comparison, protein phosphatases are less numerous but more diverse. They can be classified into four independent ...