A set of 18 plasmid subclones of the Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus genome, each containing an identified late expression factor gene (lef), supports expression from a late viral promoter in transient expression assays in the SF-21 cell line derived from Spodoptera frugiperda. We have constructed a further set of plasmids in which each lef open reading frame (ORF) is controll...

Valosin-containing protein, VCP/p97 or Cdc48, is a eukaryotic ATPase involved in membrane fusion, protein transport, and protein degradation. We describe two proteins, Ubx2 and Ubx3, which interact with Cdc48 in fission yeast. Ubx3 is the ortholog of p47/Shp1, a previously described Cdc48 cofactor involved in membrane fusion, whereas Ubx2 is a novel protein. Cdc48 binds the UBX domains present ...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are required in a number of critical cellular signaling events, including those underlying hippocampal synaptic plasticity and hippocampus-dependent memory; however, the source of ROS is unknown. We previously have shown that NADPH oxidase is required for N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-dependent signal transduction in the hippocampus, suggesting that NADPH ox...

There are at least 11 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases (MKPs) and only 3 major groups of MAPKs, raising the question of whether these phosphatases have non-redundant functions in vivo. Using a modified mouse model of local Shwartzman reaction, we found that deletion of the MKP5 gene, but not the MKP1 gene, led to robust and accelerated vascular inflammatory responses to a si...

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) is highly up-regulated in proliferating and transforming cells. Here we show that upon induction, an initial cytosolic increase of ODC is followed by translocation of a fraction of the enzyme to the surface membrane. ODC membrane translocation is mediated by a p47(phox) membrane-targeting motif-related sequence, as indicated by reduced ODC activity in the membrane ...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Ca(2+) signals are closely associated with the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy. However, the cause and effect of the two signals in cardiac hypertrophy remain to be clarified. We extend our recent report by investigating a potential interaction between ROS and Ca(2+) signals utilizing in vitro and in vivo angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced cardiac hypertrophy ...

In view of the steadily increasing use of zinc oxide nanoparticles in various industrial and consumer applications, toxicological investigations to evaluate their safety are highly justified. We have investigated mechanisms of ZnO nanoparticle-induced apoptosis and necrosis in macrophages in relation to their important role in the clearance of inhaled particulates and the regulation of immune r...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal vital physiological processes including cell growth, angiogenesis, contraction, and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. Because cytochrome P-450 family 4 (CYP4)/20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) has been reported to enhance angiogenesis, pulmonary vascular tone, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase function, we explored the potential of this syste...

p97/Valosin-containing protein (VCP) is a member of the AAA-ATPase family involved in many cellular processes including cell division, intracellular trafficking and extraction of misfolded proteins in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD). It is a homohexamer with each subunit containing two tandem D1 and D2 ATPase domains and N- and C-terminal regions that function as adaptor pro...

Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential secondary messengers in many signaling cascades governing innate immunity and cellular functions. TLR3 signaling is crucially involved in antiviral innate and inflammatory responses; however, the roles of ROS in TLR3 signaling remain largely unknown. In this study, we show that TLR3-induced ROS generation is required for the activation o...