Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaC) are inhibited by extracellular Na+, a process referred to as Na+ self-inhibition. We previously demonstrated that mutation of key residues within two furin cleavage consensus sites in alpha, or one site in gamma, blocked subunit proteolysis and inhibited channel activity when mutant channels were expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes (Hughey RP, Bruns JB, Kinlough C...

During maturation, the α- and γ-subunits of the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) undergo proteolytic processing by furin. Cleavage of the γ-subunit by furin at the consensus site γRKRR143 and subsequent cleavage by a second protease at a distal site strongly activate the channel. For example, coexpression of prostasin with ENaC increases both channel function and cleavage at the γRKRK186 site. We ...

Aim To, in children, investigate the associations between serum furin, obesity, overweight, body fat and circulating markers reflecting adipose tissue or systemic inflammation. Methods We analysed leptin, adipocyte fatty acid–binding protein, triglycerides, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 C-reactive protein from 166 children Pediatric Osteoporosis Prevention (POP) study collected at mean age (SD) 9.9 ...

In the generation of flavivirus particles, an internal cleavage of the envelope glycoprotein prM by furin is required for the acquisition of infectivity. Unlike cleavage of the prM of other flaviviruses, cleavage of dengue virus prM is incomplete in many cell lines; the partial cleavage reflects the influence of residues at furin nonconsensus positions of the pr-M junction, as flaviviruses shar...

Cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) has been identified as a key factor in the development of heart failure. Although dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) is involved in various pathophysiological processes in the heart, the role of miRNA in fibrosis regulation after MI is not clear. Previously we observed the correlation between fibrosis and the miR-24 expression in hypertrophic hea...

BACKGROUND Because genotype CG/GG of Furin rs2071410 can increase susceptibility to hypertension, this study investigated whether Furin rs2071410 is correlated with transient ischemic attack (TIA) susceptibility and prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were evaluated to assess the association of rs2071410 with TIA risk, and logistic ...

A novel mechanism of molecular disease was uncovered in a patient with prolonged thrombin time and a mild bleeding tendency. DNA sequencing of the fibrinogen A a chain indicated heterozygosity for a mutation of 20 Val -+ Asp. The molar ratio of fibrinopeptide A to B released by thrombin was substantially reduced at 0.64 suggesting either impaired cleavage or that the majority of the variant a-c...

Hereditary gelsolin amyloidosis is an autosomal dominantly inherited amyloid disorder. A point mutation in the GSN gene (G654A being the most common one) results in disturbed calcium binding by the second gelsolin domain (G2). As a result, the folding of G2 is hampered, rendering the mutant plasma gelsolin susceptible to a proteolytic cascade. Consecutive cleavage by furin and MT1-MMP-like prot...