An ethanol extract of rhubarb rhizome exhibited marked glucose transport activity in differentiated L6 rat myotubes. Activity-guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of two anthraquinones, chrysophanol-8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and chrysophanol (2). The anti-diabetic effect was examined by glucose transport activity, glucose transporter 4 (Glut4) expression in myotubes, and the leve...

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an integral regulator of many cellular functions. EGFR also acts as a central conduit for extracellular signals involving direct activation of the receptor by EGFR ligands or indirect activation by G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-stimulated transactivation of the EGFR. We have previously shown that EGFR negatively regulates epithelial chloride se...

The p210 bcr-abl protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) appears to be directly responsible for the initial manifestations of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). In contrast to the extensive characterization of the PTK and its effects on cell function, relatively little is known about the nature of the protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) that may modulate p210 bcr-abl-induced signalling. In this study, ...

Emerging evidence suggests that increased dietary consumption of fructose in Western society may be a potentially important factor in the growing rates of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. This review will discuss fructose-induced perturbations in cell signaling and inflammatory cascades in insulin-sensitive tissues. In particular, the roles of cellular signaling molecules including nuclear f...