Spo0J (stage 0 sporulation protein J, a member of the ParB superfamily) is an essential component of the ParABS (partition system of ParA, ParB, and parS)-related bacterial chromosome segregation system. ParB (partition protein B) and its regulatory protein, ParA, act cooperatively through parS (partition S) DNA to facilitate chromosome segregation. ParB binds to chromosomal DNA at specific par...

Three new species of Parabathynellidae (Crustacea: Bathynellacea) are described using morphological and molecular data, additional populations identified as Texanobathynella cf. bowmani placed within a phylogeny for the group. The finding Montanabathynella pecosensis sp. nov. entails southern range expansion over 1500 km genus, previously thought to be restricted Montana, USA. displays unique c...

Proper chromosome segregation is essential in all living organisms. In Caulobacter crescentus, the ParA-ParB-parS system is required for proper chromosome segregation and cell viability. The bacterial centromere-like parS DNA locus is the first to be segregated following chromosome replication. parS is bound by ParB protein, which in turn interacts with ParA to partition the ParB-parS nucleopro...

The coupling ratio for the transport of beta-alanine and Na+, H+ and Cl- in luminal membrane vesicles isolated from proximal convoluted tubules (pars convoluta) and proximal straight tubules (pars recta) of rabbit kidney was examined. Indirect evidence indicates that 1 H+ and approx. 2 Na+, 1 Cl- (Na(+)-dependent, high-affinity) or 1 Na+ (Na(+)-dependent, low-affinity) are co-transported with b...

The ability of proteases to regulate cell function via protease-activated receptors (PARs) has led to new insights about the potential physiological functions of these enzymes. Several studies suggest that PARs play roles in both inflammation and tissue repair, depending on the cellular environment in which they act. The recent detection of PARs on peripheral and central neurons suggests that n...

A cytotoxic cycle triggered by DNA single-strand breakage and poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase activation has been shown to contribute to the cellular injury during various forms of oxidant stress in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) in the process of neutrophil recruitment and in development of local and systemic inflammation. In pharma...

Proteinases like thrombin, trypsin and tissue kallikreins are now known to regulate cell signaling by cleaving and activating a novel family of G-protein-coupled proteinase-activated receptors (PARs 1-4) via exposure of a tethered receptor-triggering ligand. On their own, short synthetic PAR-selective PAR-activating peptides (PAR-APs) mimicking the tethered ligand sequences can activate PARs 1,...