OBJECTIVE The highly conserved 14-3-3 proteins interact with key players involved in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. We recently demonstrated that 14-3-3 phosphorylation is increased in PD models and that increased 14-3-3 phosphorylation reduces the neuroprotective effects of 14-3-3 proteins. Here, we investigated whether 14-3-3 phosphorylation is altered in post...

BACKGROUND The eye lens is composed of fiber cells that are filled with α-, β- and γ-crystallins. The primary function of crystallins is to maintain the clarity of the lens through ordered interactions as well as through the chaperone-like function of α-crystallin. With aging, the chaperone function of α-crystallin decreases, with the concomitant accumulation of water-insoluble, light-scatterin...

The cell-associated dextransucrase produced by sucrose-grown cells of cariogenic Streptococcus mutans K1-R is derived from soluble dextransucrase. Synthesis of insoluble dextran by soluble dextransucrase gives rise to two dextransucrase fractions bound to the insoluble polysaccharide; a reversibly bound enzyme, which can be eluted in solutions of clinical dextran, and an irreversibly bound enzy...

To determine the mechanisms of vitreous liquefaction following vitreous hemorrhage, we investigated the effects of the free radicals produced by a bilirubin-sensitized photochemical reaction on collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA). Bovine vitreous collagen and HA were irradiated by visible light in the presence of bilirubin, which is produced from the degradation of hemoglobin, as a photosensitize...

Soluble tumor-associated antigens and histocompatibility antigens were detected in sera of A/J mice bearing a spontaneous lymphoma (Ll l l7) by the inhibition of the cytotoxicity of rabbit anti-Ll l l7 serum and of alloantisera to normal A/J antigens, respectively; the rabbit antiserum was rendered specific for lymphoma antigens by extensive absorption with normal A/J cells and alloantisera wer...