Conformational diseases are often caused by mutations, altering protein folding and stability in vivo. We review here our recent work on the effects of mutations on the human phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (hPGK1), with a particular focus on thermodynamics and kinetics of protein folding and misfolding. Expression analyses and in vitro biophysical studies indicate that disease-causing mutations enha...

The role of nutrients and metabolism in cellular differentiation is poorly understood. Using RNAi screening, metabolic profiling and small-molecule probes, we discovered that the knockdown of three metabolic enzymes-phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk1), hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (H6pd) and ATP citrate lyase (Acl)-induces differentiation of mouse C2C12 myoblasts even in the presence of mitogens...

The Thermus thermophilus xylA gene encoding xylose (glucose) isomerase was cloned and expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under the control of the yeast PGK1 promoter. The recombinant xylose isomerase showed the highest activity at 85 degrees C with a specific activity of 1.0 U mg-1. A new functional metabolic pathway in S. cerevisiae with ethanol formation during oxygen-limited xylose fermen...