The sensing of mechanical forces modulates several cellular responses as adhesion, migration and differentiation. Transient elevations of calcium concentration play a key role in the activation of cells following mechanical stress, but it is still unclear how eukaryotic cells convert a mechanical signal into an ion flux. In this study, we used the model organism Dictyostelium discoideum to asse...

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited nephropathy responsible for 4%-10% of end-stage renal disease cases. Mutations in the genes encoding polycystin-1 (PC1, PKD1) or polycystin-2 (PC2, PKD2) cause ADPKD, and PKD1 mutations are associated with more severe renal disease. PC1 has been shown to form a complex with PC2, and the severity of PKD1-mediated disease ...

The focus of the present study was to characterize the phosphoproteome of cytotoxic T cells and to explore the role of the serine threonine kinase PKD2 (Protein Kinase D2) in the phosphorylation networks of this key lymphocyte population. We used Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino acids in Culture (SILAC) combined with phosphopeptide enrichment and quantitative mass-spectrometry to determine the ...

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by renal cyst formation due to mutations in genes coding for polycystin-1 [PKD1 (85-90% of cases), on ch 16p13.3] and polycystin-2 [PKD2 (10-15% of cases), on ch 4q13-23] and PKD3 gene (gene unmapped). It is also associated with TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome. ADPKD is usually inherited, but new mutations witho...

In mammals, left-right (L-R) asymmetry is established by posteriorly oriented cilia driving a leftwards laminar flow in the embryonic node, thereby activating asymmetric gene expression. The two-cilia hypothesis argues that immotile cilia detect and respond to this flow through a Pkd2-mediated mechanism; a putative sensory partner protein has, however, remained unidentified. We have identified ...

● Mutations in the polycystic kidney disease (PKD)1 gene account for approximately 85% of affected families.3 ● The PKD1 gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 16 (16p.3.3). PKD1 codes for a 4,304-amino-acid protein (polycystin 1)2 with as yet undefined function but interacts with polycystin 2 and is involved in cell cycle regulation and intracellular calcium transport. Polycystin 1 loc...

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) proteins are trans-membrane proteins that have crucial roles in many aspects of vertebrate development and physiology, including the development of many organs as well as left-right patterning and taste. They can be divided into structurally-distinct PKD1-like and PKD2-like proteins and usually one PKD1-like protein forms a heteromeric polycystin complex with a P...

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is genetically heterogeneous and caused by mutations in at least three different loci. Based on linkage analysis, mutations in the PKD2 gene are responsible for approximately 15% of the cases. PKD2-linked ADPKD is supposed to be a milder form of the disease, its mean age of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) approximately 20 years late...

Pancreatic cancer cell invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis are major challenges for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Protein kinase D (PKD) isoforms are involved in controlling tumor cell motility, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In particular PKD2 expression is up-regulated in pancreatic cancer, whereas PKD1 expression is lowered. We report that both kinases control pancreatic...

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common genetic nephropathy, which is characterized by replacement of renal parenchyma with multiple cysts. In Iran, the disease prevalence within the chronic hemodialysis patient population is approximately 8-10%. So far, three genetic loci have been identified to be responsible for ADPKD. Little information is available concernin...