To elucidate the structural basis for membrane attachment of the alpha subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gs alpha), mutant Gs alpha cDNAs with deletions of amino acid residues in the amino and/or carboxy termini were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells. The particulate and soluble fractions prepared from these cells were analyzed by immunoblot using peptide specific antibodies to monitor d...

Guggulsterone (GS) [4,17(20)-pregnadiene-3,16-dione] is a phytosterol found in the gum resin of the Commiphora mukul. GS exists naturally in two stereoisomers: E-GS (cis-GS) and Z-GS (trans-GS). In this study, the effects of both isomers on expression of the cytoprotective enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were evaluated in human mammary epithelial (MCF10A) cells. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is ...

An upregulation of the astrocytic proteins GFAP and bFGF within area 2 of the cingulate cortex (Cg2) occurs within 3 hours of parturition in rats. These changes are the result of an interaction between hormonal state and maternal experience and are associated with increased dendritic spine density in this area. Here, we examined whether this upregulation of astrocytic proteins generalized to ot...

Gprotein–coupled receptors mediate transmembrane signal transduction for a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, chemokines, and synthetic ligands. It had been thought that a given receptor couples only to a single class of heterotrimeric G proteins to achieve signaling selectivity and specificity. As a model system of G protein– coupled receptors, b-adrenergic receptor (bAR) was believed to ...

To investigate roles of short peptides in gastroschisis (GS), we comprehensively analyzed peptides in amniotic fluid (AF), creating a fetal lamb model of GS. We created GS in 4 fetal lambs at 60 days of gestation. Three GS and 4 normal fetuses were delivered at term (145 days) by cesarean section, when AF samples were collected. Short peptides in the AF samples were detected and identified by m...

We studied the effect of cyclosporin A (CyA) on liver plasma membrane (LPM) composition, fluidity, and functions and on hepatic glutathione (GS) and oxidative status. We also evaluated the ability of S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) to antagonize the CyA-induced disturbances in rats. The animals were randomly divided into four groups and treated daily with saline, CyA vehicle, CyA, and SAMe plus CyA...

When a conifer shoot is displaced from its vertical position, compression wood (CW) is formed on the under side and can eventually return the shoot to its original position. Changes in cell wall structure and chemistry associated with CW are likely to result from differential gene/protein expression. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of differentiating xylem proteins was combin...

The ability of peroxynitrite to modify amino acid residues in glutamine synthetase (GS) and BSA is greatly influenced by pH and CO2. At physiological concentrations of CO2 (1.3 mM), the generation of carbonyl groups (0.2-0.4 equivalents/subunit) is little affected by pH over the range of 7.2-9.0, but, in the absence of CO2, carbonyl formation increases (from 0.1- 1.2 equivalents/subunit) as the...

G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) transmit extracellular signals into the cell by binding and activating different intracellular signaling proteins, such as G proteins (Gαβγ, families Gi, Gs, Gq, G12/13) or arrestins. To address the issue of Gs vs Gi coupling specificity, we carried out molecular dynamics simulations of lipid-embedded active β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR*) in complex with C-terminal ...

Genetic transformation via the biolistic method has been used to introduce genes encoding natural and novel high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) into wheat. The appearance of new seed proteins of sizes not predicted by the transgene coding sequences was noted in some experiments. In this report, the identities of thirteen of these novel proteins were determined by tandem mass spectr...