RNA and its associated RNA binding proteins (RBPs) mitigate a diverse array of cellular functions and phenotypes. The interactions between RNA and RBPs are implicated in many roles of biochemical processing by the cell such as localization, protein translation, and RNA stability. Recent discoveries of novel mechanisms that are of significant evolutionary advantage between RBPs and RNA include t...

The rbp gene family of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis strain M3 consists of eight members that encode small RNA-binding proteins containing a single RNA recognition motif (RRM). Similar genes are found in the genomes of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, Helicobacter pylori and Treponema pallidum, but are absent from the other completely sequenced prokaryotic genomes. The expression of the rbp ...

The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) gene product virally encoded G protein-coupled receptor (vGPCR) is a homolog of cellular GPCRs and has been proposed to play important roles in KSHV-induced angiogenesis. The most abundant vGPCR-containing transcripts are K14/vGPCR bicistronic RNAs that are strongly induced during lytic reactivation. Here we show that the promoter governing thi...

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is responsible for transport of retinol from the choroidal circulation to the photoreceptors. In the intact eye, this process is mediated by membrane receptors for plasma retinol binding protein (RBP) distributed basolaterally on the RPE cells. We have shown that cultured human RPE expresses this receptor. A binding curve exhibiting saturation was generated ...

Notch signaling is involved in the cell fate determination of various cell lineages. Notch interaction with its ligand induces the cleavage of its intracellular domain (IC), and the Notch IC translocates to the nucleus and binds to RBP-J to transactivate transcription of target genes. All four Notches in mammals bind to RBP-J to exert their transactivation activities. Notch is expressed in deve...

Circulating retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives) are found predominantly as retinol bound to retinol-binding protein (RBP), which transports retinol from liver stores to target tissues, or as retinyl ester incorporated in lipoproteins of dietary origin. The transport of retinoids from maternal to fetal circulation is poorly understood, especially under conditions of inadequate dietary vita...

In recent years, a number of studies have investigated complementary medical approaches to the treatment of hypertension using dietary supplements. Rice bran protein hydrolysates extracted from rice is a rich source of bioactive peptides. The present study aimed to investigate the vasorelaxation and antihypertensive effects of peptides-derived from rice bran protein hydrolysates (RBP) in a rat ...

Lactococcus lactis is a gram-positive bacterium widely used by the dairy industry. Several industrial L. lactis strains are sensitive to various distinct bacteriophages. Most of them belong to the Siphoviridae family and comprise several species, among which the 936 and P335 are prominent. Members of these two phage species recognize their hosts through the interaction of their receptor-binding...

The Notch intracellular region (RAMIC) interacts with a DNA binding protein RBP-J to activate transcription of genes that inhibit cell differentiation. The RAM domain and ankyrin (ANK) repeats of mouse Notch1 RAMIC were shown to be responsible for RBP-J binding and necessary for transactivation. The C-terminal portion of Notch1 RAMIC has also been suggested to be important for transactivation. ...

Vitamin A is normally transported in plasma as retinol bound to a specific protein, retinol-binding protein (RBP). Detailed studies were conducted to examine the effects of excess vitamin A on the plasma concentration and metabolism of RBP, and to obtain information about vitamin A transport in the hypervitaminotic state. Two separate experiments were conducted. In the first (Study I, 99 days),...