OBJECTIVE Hyperphosphatemia and inorganic phosphate (Pi) transport by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification. The aim of this work has been to characterize Pi transport in VSMCs. METHODS AND RESULTS Primary cultures of VSMCs express both high affinity Na-dependent and Na-independent components of Pi transport. Under physiologica...

Matrix vesicle-mediated mineralization is orchestrated by ultrastructural and biochemical events that lead to crystal nucleation and growth. Osteoblasts secrete extracellular matrix vesicles equipped with a variety of membrane transporters and enzymes, which are necessary for the initial nucleation and subsequent growth of calcium phosphate crystals. The influx of phosphate ions into the matrix...

Vascular calcification is frequently found already in early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and is associated with high cardiovascular risk. The process of vascular calcification is not considered a passive phenomenon but involves, at least in part, phenotypical transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Following exposure to excessive extracellular phosphate concen...

1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Function and Development of the Pituitary Gland 3.1. Murine pituitary development 3.2. Pituitary development in humans 4. Induction and morphogenesis of Rathke’s Pouch 4.1. Origin of the pituitary primordium 4.2. BMP4 is essential for induction of RP 4.3. Opposing BMP and FGF gradients specify pituitary progenitors and pattern RP. 4.4. Sonic hedgehog signalling pr...

Molecular biology techniques genetic improvement by facilitating identification, mapping and analysis of polymorphism of genes by encoding proteins that act on metabolic pathways involved in economically interesting traits. This use of genetic markers can aid identification of those animals with the highest breeding values in sheep. On the basis of sheep genome mapping, information was examined...

The major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter Pho84 and the type III transporter Pho89 are responsible for metabolic effects of inorganic phosphate in yeast. While the Pho89 ortholog Pit1 was also shown to be involved in phosphate-activated MAPK in mammalian cells, it is currently unknown, whether orthologs of Pho84 have a role in phosphate-sensing in metazoan species. We show here that t...