Brief periods of sleep loss have long-lasting consequences such as impaired memory consolidation. Structural changes in synaptic connectivity have been proposed as a substrate of memory storage. Here, we examine the impact of brief periods of sleep deprivation on dendritic structure. In mice, we find that five hours of sleep deprivation decreases dendritic spine numbers selectively in hippocamp...

Acid-base balance is regulated by cortical collecting duct cells in kidney, where the transporter functions of beta-intercalated cells are controlled by such factors as isoproterenol, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and the protein kinase A (PKA) pathway. The apical anion exchanger (AE) in beta-intercalated cells is thought to be involved in the secretion of bicarbonate into urine. In is...

Hsf1p, the heat-shock transcription factor from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has a low level of constitutive transcriptional activity and is kept in this state through negative regulation. In an effort to understand this negative regulation, we developed a novel genetic selection that detects altered expression from the HSP26 promoter. Using this reporter strain, we identified mutations and dosage...

Background: Classical mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways consist of a cascade of three successive phosphorylation events resulting in the phosphorylation of a variety of substrates, including another class of protein kinases referred to as MAPK-activating protein kinases (MAPKAPKs). The MAPKAPKs MK2, MK3 and MK5 are closely related, but MK2 and MK3 are the major downstre...

Mechanisms of gender-specific synaptic plasticity in the striatum, a brain region that controls motor, cognitive and psychiatric functions, remain unclear. Here we report that Rhes, a GTPase enriched in medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of striatum, alters the striatal cAMP/PKA signaling cascade in a gender-specific manner. While Rhes knockout (KO) male mice, compared to wild-type (WT) mice, had a si...

Adenosine is a cellular metabolite with diverse derivatives that possesses wide range of physiological roles. We investigated the molecular mechanisms adenosine and cordycepin for their promoting effects in wound-healing process. The mitochondrial energy metabolism cell proliferation markers, cAMP responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB1) Ki67, were enhanced by cultured dermal fibroblasts. s...

BACKGROUND Classical mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways consist of a cascade of three successive phosphorylation events resulting in the phosphorylation of a variety of substrates, including another class of protein kinases referred to as MAPK-activating protein kinases (MAPKAPKs). The MAPKAPKs MK2, MK3 and MK5 are closely related, but MK2 and MK3 are the major downstrea...

Cyclic AMP regulates Ca(2+)-dependent exocytosis through a classical protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent and an alternative cAMP-guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF)/Epac-dependent pathway in many secretory cells. Although increased cAMP is believed to double secretory output in isolated pituitary cells, the direct target(s) for cAMP action and a detailed and high-time resolved analysis of the...

Thrombospondins (TSPs) have been implicated as antitumor and antimetastasis factors in breast cancer. Although this effect has been attributed to the antiangiogenic activity of TSPs, recent observations suggest other mechanisms may be at work. The TSP receptor CD47 (integrin-associated protein) has recently been reported to mediate a novel form of apoptosis. Here, we have studied the response o...

Butyrate is a major SCFA produced by microbial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gastrointestinal tract. Butyrate is widely thought to mediate the benefits of fiber and resistant starch consumption to colon health in humans. Besides serving as a substrate for energy production, butyrate has many regulatory effects in animals. Little is known about the signaling mechanisms underlying the regu...