A postulated therapeutic avenue in cystic fibrosis (CF) is activation of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels via stimulation of Ca(2+) entry from extracellular solutions independent of CFTR functional status. We have shown that extracellular zinc and ATP induce a sustained increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) in human airway epithelial cells that translates into stimulation of sustained secretory Cl(-) tra...

It is generally believed that structural changes in the extracellular matrix are necessary for cell migration, wound repair and tissue remodeling. Matrix metalloproteases are the major family of proteolytic enzymes responsible for degrading extracellular matrix components, and have been implicated in all of these biological processes. They form part of a superfamily of zinc peptidases known as ...

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine if NO prevents mitochondrial oxidant damage by mobilizing intracellular free zinc (Zn(2+)). METHODS Zn(2+) levels were determined by imaging enzymatically isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes loaded with Newport Green DCF. Mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) was assessed by imaging cardiomyocytes loaded with tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE). ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Recent work has suggested that Zn(2+) plays a critical role in regulating acidity within the secretory compartments of isolated gastric glands. Here, we investigate the content, distribution and demand for Zn(2+) in gastric mucosa under baseline conditions and its regulation during secretory stimulation. METHODS AND FINDINGS Content and distribution of zinc were evaluated ...

one of the main members of the large aggregating proteoglycans (pgs) family is versican which is able to bind to hyaluronate. versican is a chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan and is a key ingredient of the extracellular matrix.  due to its widespread expression in the body, versican is involved in cell adhesion, proliferation and migration. induced expression of versican is often observed in tiss...

background: to develop a new green approach for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, myconanotechnology has been represented as a novel field of study in nanotechnology. in this study, we have reported the extracellular synthesis of highly stable silver nanoparticles using three species of dermatophytes: trichophyton rubrum, trichophyton mentagrophytes and microsporum canis. methods: clinical ...

In various mammalian cells, two group IIb metals, cadmium and zinc, induce several morphological and biochemical effects that are salient features of programmed cell death. In C6 rat glioma cells, cadmium caused externalization of phosphatidylserine, breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-9, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and nuclea...

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II) catalyzes the extracellular hydrolysis of the neuromodulator N-acetyl-aspartylglutamate to N-acetyl-aspartate and glutamate. GCP II also hydrolyzes gamma-glutamyl bonds in folylpolyglutamate. The predicted amino acid sequence of GCP II displays similarities to aminopeptidases from Streptomyces griseus and Vibrio proteolyticus, whose crystal structures have...