101 isolates of Brucella spp. including the reference (n=7) and the Iranian field strains belonging to last years 1961-2003 (n=94) were biotyped and classified into 9 biotypes. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using a ten mer-AP4 primer was generated 72 reproduciable DNA band. The typeability was 100%. The thirteen isolates were classified into five groups, each containing 2-4 b...

PURPOSE To determine retinal pathway origins of pattern electroretinogram (PERG) in macaque monkeys using pharmacologic dissections, uniform-field flashes, and PERG simulations. METHODS Transient (2 Hz, 4 reversals/s) and steady state (8.3 Hz, 16.6 reversals/s) PERGs and uniform-field ERGs were recorded before and after intravitreal injections of L-AP4 (not APB) (2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric ac...

Novel isoxazolopyridone derivatives that are metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) 7 antagonists were discovered and pharmacologically characterized. 5-Methyl-3,6-diphenylisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one (MDIP) was identified by random screening, and 6-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-3-pyridin-4-ylisoxazolo[4,5-c]pyridin-4(5H)-one (MMPIP) was produced by chemical modification of MDIP. MDIP and MM...

The trafficking of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) is critical for controlling the generation of the toxic A beta peptide that is central to amyloid formation in Alzheimer's disease. A new study reveals a key role for the AP4 adaptor protein complex in the Golgi-to-endosome trafficking of APP.

Group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs; mGluR4, 6, 7, and 8) couple to the Galpha(i/o)-containing G protein heterotrimers and act as autoreceptors to regulate glutamate release, probably by inhibiting voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels. Although most mGluRs have been functionally expressed in a variety of systems, few studies have demonstrated robust coupling of mGluR8 to downstream effe...

Glutamate receptors on giant danio retinal on bipolar cells were studied with whole cell patch clamping using a slice preparation. Cone-driven on bipolars (Cbs) and mixed-input on bipolars (Mbs) were identified morphologically. Most Cbs responded to the excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) substrate d-aspartate but not to the group III metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonist l-(+)-2...

Electrophilic fluorinations of lithiated bis-lactim ethers derived from cyclo-[L-AP4-D-Val] allow a direct access to alpha-monofluorinated phosphonate mimetics of naturally occurring phosphoserine and phosphothreonine, in enantiomerically pure form and suitably protected for solid-phase peptide synthesis.

The amino-terminal domain containing the ligand binding site of the G protein-coupled metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) consists of two lobes that close upon agonist binding. In this study, we explored the ligand binding pocket of the Group III mGluR4 receptor subtype using site-directed mutagenesis and radioligand binding. The selection of 16 mutations was guided by a molecular model o...