Phosphatidylserine (PS) has previously been found to bind Cu2+ in a ratio of 1 Cu2+ ion per 2 PS lipids to form a complex with an apparent dissociation constant that can be as low as picomolar. While the affinity of Cu2+ for lipid membranes containing PS lipids has been well characterized, the structural details of the Cu-PS2 complex have not yet been reported. Coordinating to one amine and one...

A large body of evidence for G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) oligomerization has accumulated over the past 2 decades. The smallest of these oligomers in vivo most likely is a dimer that buries 1000-Å(2) intramolecular surfaces and on stimulation forms a complex with heterotrimeric G protein in 2:1 stoichiometry. However, it is unclear whether each of the monomers adopts the same or a differen...

When a solution containing the complex ion, [PM&,]‘, and NH4+ ions is irradiated, a photochemical change occurs in which the chloride ions of the ligand are sequentially replaced by 1, 2, or 3 ammonia molecules. The total charge on the complex ion decreases by 1 negative charge for each replacement. These changes can be followed by changes occurring in absorption spectra or in ionophoretic patt...

Cellular activities such as compound synthesis often require the transcriptional activation of an entire pathway; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying pathway activation have rarely been explained. Here, the cis regulatory architecture of the anthocyanin pathway genes targeted by the transcription factor (TF) complex including MYB, bHLH, and WDR was systematically analysed in one specie...

The DNA binding and inhibition of transcription in vitro by neutral Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(4) and cationic cis-[Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(phen)(2)](2+) complexes were investigated. The binding constants of the two complexes to calf-thymus DNA were estimated from absorption titrations to be 4.6 x 10(2) M(-)(1) and 1.7 x 10(4) M(-)(1) for Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(4) and cis-[Rh(2)(mu-O(2)CCH(3))(2)(phen)...

Background: Differentiating oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) into oligodendrocytes could be improved by inhibiting signaling pathways such as Wnt and Notch. 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25[OH]2D3) can ameliorate oligodendrogenesis. We investigated whether they could increase oligodendrogenesis by inhibiting the Wnt and Notch signaling pathways.Methods: Co...

Growth hormone (GH)-inducible suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS/CIS proteins) inhibit GH receptor (GHR) signaling to STAT5b via phosphotyrosine-dependent binding interactions with the tyrosine kinase JAK2 (SOCS-1) and/or the cytoplasmic tail of GHR (CIS and SOCS-3). Presently, we investigate the mechanism of CIS inhibition and CIS's role in down-regulating GHR-JAK2 signaling to STAT5b in ...

background:the zinc-finger x linked (zfx) gene encodes a transcription factor that acts as a regulator of self-renewal of stem cells. due to the role of zfx in cell growth, understanding zfx protein-protein interactions helps to clarify its proper biological functions in signaling pathways. the aim of this study is to define zfx protein-protein interactions and the role of zfx in cell growth. m...