SMC condensin complexes are central modulators of chromosome superstructure in all branches of life. Their SMC subunits form a long intramolecular coiled coil, which connects a constitutive "hinge" dimerization domain with an ATP-regulated "head" dimerization module. Here, we address the structural arrangement of the long coiled coils in SMC complexes. We unequivocally show that prokaryotic Smc...

OBJECTIVE The goals of this study were to identify the signaling pathway by which sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) activates RhoA in smooth muscle cells (SMC) and to evaluate the contribution of this pathway to the regulation of SMC phenotype. METHODS AND RESULTS Using a combination of receptor-specific agonists and antagonists we identified S1P receptor 2 (S1PR2) as the major S1P receptor subty...

Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins play a central role in higher-order chromosome structure in all kingdoms of life. SMC proteins consist of a long coiled-coil domain that joins an ATP binding cassette (ABC) ATPase domain on one side and a dimerization domain on the other side. SMC proteins require ATP binding or hydrolysis to promote cohesion and condensation, which is suggest...

Despite decades of research, the relative contribution of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has remained unclear and controversial. Most of the controversy came from the lack of rigorous lineage tracing studies to unequivocally identify the cellular origins of lesion cells. Indeed, as extensively described in recent reviews, the plasticity of multiple les...

BACKGROUND Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) is currently recommended for children under five in areas where malaria transmission is highly seasonal. We explored children's caregivers' and community health workers' (CHWs) responses to an extended 5-month SMC programme. METHODS Thirteen in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions explored optimal and suboptimal 'uptake' of SMC t...

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) from prosthetic vascular grafts constitutively secrete higher levels of platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA) than aortic SMC. Lipid oxidation products accumulate in grafts and may stimulate PDGF production. The effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on PDGF-AA secretion by aortic and graft SMC was compared. SMC isolated from canine thoracic aorta or ...

OBJECTIVE Previous studies have confirmed Slug as a key player in regulating phenotypic changes in several cell models, however, its role in smooth muscle cells (SMC) has never been assessed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Slug during the phenotypic switch of SMC in vitro and throughout the development of vascular remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS Slug expression wa...

Two isoforms of cyclooxygenase (COX) have been identified: a constitutive isoform (COX-1), found in abundance in platelets and the vascular endothelium, and an "inflammatory" cytokine-inducible isoform (COX-2). Because COX metabolites regulate vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) function and the interaction between the vessel and circulating components, we have investigated the possibility that C...

To clarify whether an increased proliferative potential of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) under diabetic conditions augments the susceptibility of the cells to 7-ketocholesterol-induced apoptosis, we investigated the difference in sensitivity to 7-ketocholesterol between SMC obtained from diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats and the control Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LE...