Dictyostelium discoideum homogenates contain phosphatase activity which rapidly dephosphorylates Ins(1,4,5)P3 (D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate) to Ins (myo-inositol). When assayed in Mg2+, Ins(1,4,5)P3 is dephosphorylated by the soluble Dictyostelium cell fraction to 20% Ins(1,4)P2 (D-myo-inositol 1,4-bisphosphate) and 80% Ins(4,5)P2 (D-myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate). In the particulate frac...

Cytosolic Ca(2+) controls a wide range of cellular events. The versatility of this second messenger depends on its ability to form diverse spatial and temporal patterns, including waves and oscillations. Ca(2+)-signaling patterns are thought to be determined in part by the subcellular distribution of inositol (1,4,5)-trisphosphate receptors [Ins(1,4,5)P(3)Rs] but little is currently known about...

GPS/INS integration can provide high accuracy (centimeter level) navigation under good satellite geometry and atmospheric conditions. However, due to GPS signal blockage and accumulative error attributes of INS, a GPS/INS system cannot continuously maintain such high accuracy navigation during GPS outages, which may frequently happen in terrestrial applications, such as when navigating in fores...

IP3-3K [Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase] is a key enzyme that catalyses the synthesis of Ins(1,3,4,5)P4, using Ins(1,4,5)P3 and ATP as substrates. Both inositides, substrate and product, present crucial roles in the cell. Ins(1,4,5)P3 is a key point in Ca2+ metabolism that promotes Ca2+ release from intracellular stores and together with Ins(1,3,4,5)P4 regulates Ca2+ homoeostasis. In addition, Ins(1,3,4,...

Novel biohybrid homo-polyelectrolyte-based nanocarriers were formed by the complexation of insulin (INS) with a biocompatible and cationic polyelectrolyte, namely, poly(vinyl benzyl trimethylammonium chloride) (PVBTMAC). According to light-scattering techniques, hydrophilic PVBTMAC homo-polyelectrolyte forms single chains in aqueous media. The resulting PVBTMAC/INS via electrostatic co-assembly...

lnositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins( 1,4,5)P3] is produced by the phosphodiesteratic cleavage of the membrane lipid phosphatidylinositol4,S-bisphosphate in many cell types upon stimulation. It is thought to elevate intracellular free calcium ion concentration by stimulating release from a non-mitochondrial storage site [ 11. The mechanism by which Ins( 1,4,5)P3 exerts its action is largely unknow...

Injection of Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 into Xenopus oocytes evoked Ca2(+)-dependent membrane currents with a potency 5-10 times less than Ins(1,4,5)P3, whereas Ins(1,3,4)P3 and Ins(1,3,4,5,6)P5 were almost ineffective. Responses to Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 arose through liberation of intracellular Ca2+ and through entry of extracellular Ca2+. These results, together with the observation that Ins(1,3,4,6)P4 facilita...

BACKGROUND BRM (Brahma homologue) is well known for its critical role in tumor suppression and cancer development. Genetic variations in the promoter region of BRM have been suggested to be associated with loss of BRM expression and lung cancer risk. To the authors' knowledge, no study on the role of BRM genetic polymorphisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk has been performed. METHODOL...

Ischaemic stroke is caused by occlusive thrombi in the cerebral vasculature. Although tissue-plasminogen activator (tPA) can be administered as thrombolytic therapy, it has major limitations, which include disruption of the blood-brain barrier and an increased risk of bleeding. Treatments that prevent or limit such deleterious effects could be of major clinical importance. Activated protein C (...

A central problem in development is how fates of closely related cells are segregated. Lineally related motoneurons (MNs) and interneurons (INs) express many genes in common yet acquire distinct fates. For example, in mouse and chick Lhx3 plays a pivotal role in the development of both cell classes. Here, we utilize the ability to recognize individual zebrafish neurons to examine the roles of L...