3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) phosphorylates the T-loop of several AGC (cAMP-dependent, cGMP-dependent, protein kinase C) family protein kinases, resulting in their activation. Previous structural studies have revealed that the alpha C-helix, located in the small lobe of the kinase domain of PDK1, is a key regulatory element, as it links a substrate interacting site terme...

In humans, there are two subclasses of IgA, IgA1 and IgA2, with IgA2 existing as three allotypes, IgA2m(1), IgA2m(2) and IgA2(n). In IgA1, Cys(133) in C(H)1 forms the disulfide bond to the L chain. Our previous studies indicated that in IgA2 lacking Cys(133), a disulfide bond forms between the alpha-chain and the L chain when Cys(220) is followed by Arg(221), but not when Cys(220) is followed b...

Pyrin, encoded by the MEFV gene, is best known for its gain-of-function mutations causing familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), an autoinflammatory disease. Pyrin forms a caspase-1-activating inflammasome in response to inactivating modifications of Rho GTPases by various bacterial toxins or effectors. Pyrin-mediated innate immunity is unique in that it senses bacterial virulence rather than micr...

Alteromonas-like strains KMM 241(T) and KMM 642, isolated from marine invertebrate specimens, were investigated to clarify their taxonomic position. The novel isolates were aerobic, Gram-negative, motile, slightly halophilic and heterotrophic and hydrolysed polysaccharides. They did not hydrolyse urea, gelatin or casein and produced acid weakly from carbohydrates. The DNA G + C content ranged b...

Carbonyl reductase catalyses the reduction of steroids, prostaglandins and a variety of xenobiotics. An unusual property of human and rat carbonyl reductases is that they undergo modification at lysine-239 by an autocatalytic process involving 2-oxocarboxylic acids, such as pyruvate and 2-oxoglutarate. Comparison of human carbonyl reductase with the pig enzyme, which does not undergo autocataly...

8.3 A Common Ecology? ........................................................ 238 8.3.1 Single Cell and Microcolony Dynamics ............................ 238 8.3.2 Colony Dynamics ............................................................... 241 8.3.3 Single Cells Versus Microcolonies ..................................... 244 8.3.4 Growth Rate and Occurrence Along the Trophic Gradient .........

INTRODUCTION. ....... .......................................................... 241 Description of Globes. ............................................................ 242 Inheritance of Globe complex. ..................................................... 248 Inbreeding of Globes.. ............................................................ 251 Occurrence of new Globe mutations.. ...............

The authors of this Article have requested that it is retracted. In the western blotting analysis, the rabbit monoclonal antibody to human mutant p53 rather than wild type p53 (1:1000, ab32049, Abcam) was used. While in the immunohistochemistry detection, the mouse monoclonal antibody to both wild-type and mutant forms of human p53 (1:100, ab28, Abcam) was used. The authors believe that the use...

The microRNA let-7 is a critical regulator of developmental timing events at the larval-to-adult transition in C. elegans. Recently, microRNAs with sequence similarity to let-7 have been identified. We find that doubly mutant animals lacking the let-7 family microRNA genes mir-48 and mir-84 exhibit retarded molting behavior and retarded adult gene expression in the hypodermis. Triply mutant ani...

PURPOSE To investigate potential associations of the ICAM-1 gene polymorphisms and Fuchs uveitis in a cohort of Italian patients. METHODS Seventy-one consecutive Italian patients affected by Fuchs uveitis were observed at the Ocular Immunology Unit, Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova (Reggio Emilia, Italy) from 2002 to 2008. Two hundred twenty-six healthy Italian blood donors from the same geographic...