A basis for the insulin mimetic effect of sphingomyelinase on glucose transporter isoform GLUT4 translocation remains unclear. Because sphingomyelin serves as a major determinant of plasma membrane cholesterol and a relationship between plasma membrane cholesterol and GLUT4 levels has recently become apparent, we assessed whether GLUT4 translocation induced by sphingomyelinase resulted from cha...

the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding different levels of zinc sulfate in semen extender on bovine sperm quality during cryopreservation. semen was collected from 4 holstein bull twice a week and the proper samples were pooled. semen were allocated to four extender treatments consisted of 0, 50, 100, 150 µm of zinc sulfate in 5 replicates and then, were frozen. post-thaw...

Cytokinesis in many organisms requires a plasma membrane anchored actomyosin ring, whose contraction facilitates cell division. In yeast and fungi, actomyosin ring constriction is also coordinated with division septum assembly. How the actomyosin ring interacts with the plasma membrane and the plasma membrane-localized septum synthesizing machinery remains poorly understood. In Schizosaccharomy...

Sphingolipids are essential components of eukaryotic membranes, where they serve to maintain membrane integrity. They are important components of membrane trafficking and function in signaling as messenger molecules. Sphingolipids are synthesized de novo from very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA) and sphingoid long-chain bases, which are amide linked to form ceramide and further processed by addi...

Autofluorescence (AF) originating from the cytoplasmic region of mammalian cells has been thoroughly investigated; however, AF from plasma membranes of viable intact cells is less well known, and has been mentioned only in a few older publications. Herein, we report results describing single- and two-photon spectral properties of a strong yellowish-green AF confined to the plasma-membrane regio...

The desmosomal cadherins, desmogleins (Dsgs) and desmocollins (Dscs), comprise the adhesive core of intercellular junctions known as desmosomes. Although these adhesion molecules are known to be critical for tissue integrity, mechanisms that coordinate their trafficking into intercellular junctions to regulate their proper ratio and distribution are unknown. We demonstrate that Dsg2 and Dsc2 bo...

Ejaculated ram spermatozoa, freed from seminal plasma by a dextran/swim-up procedure and exposed to cold shock, were incubated with ram seminal plasma proteins and analyzed by fluorescence markers and scanning electron microscopy. Seminal plasma proteins bound to the sperm plasma membrane modified the functional characteristics of damaged spermatozoa, reproducing those of live cells. Scanning e...

Studies were performed to determine the mechanism by which stearic acid (18:0) selectively inhibits T-dependent immune responses in vitro. Incubation of mitogen-activated B and T cells with 18:0 resulted in dissimilar patterns of incorporation of the saturated fatty acid into their membranes. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses of T cells showed an accumulation of disaturated...

Vitamin E is an effective lipid membrane antioxidant. It is also essential in maintaining integrity and functional ability of plasma membrane in a role distinct from the anti-oxidant properties(l). No original work is available in the literature about Indian neonates. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to study the vitamin E status in cord blood and early neonatal period of preterm an...

During late stages of mammalian erythropoiesis the nucleus undergoes chromatin condensation, migration to the plasma membrane, and extrusion from the cytoplasm surrounded by a segment of plasma membrane. Since nuclear condensation occurs in all vertebrates, mammalian erythroid membrane and cytoskeleton proteins were implicated as playing important roles in mediating the movement and extrusion o...