The action of lysine as an antidiabetic agent was examined in human volunteers. Eight patients with type 2 DM were orally supplemented with L-lysine hydrochloride 1 g/day in two doses along with antidiabetic tablets (glyciphage or chlorformine), for a period of two months. Periodically their plasma fasting sugar and insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity was measured in their monocytes. Eigh...

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) interacts with high-affinity tyrosine-kinase fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) and low-affinity heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) in target cells. Both interactions are required for FGF-2-mediated biological responses. Here we report the FGF-2 antagonist activity of novel synthetic sulfonic acid polymers with distinct chemical structures and m...

protein tyrosine phosphatases (ptpases) regulate tyrosine phosphorylation of target proteins involved in several aspects of cellular functions. enzyme activities of the ptpases in cytosolic and particulate fractions of rat ascites hepatoma cell lines were determined and compared with those of normal rat liver. our present data revealed that although there was no neoplatic-specific alteration of...

L-tyrosine, B6 and folic acid are involved in biosynthesis of DOPA and consequently dopamine. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiparkinsonian effect of these agents in perphenazine-induced catatonia in rats. Murprogo method or scored muscular rigidity, which is induced by a phenothiazine, was used to evaluate the antiparkinsonian effect of these agents. A significant decrease in m...

The small GTPase Ras is critical for regulation of growth and differentiation during development. The mammalian protein RIN1 is a potential Ras effector protein, which can also interact with the Abelson tyrosine kinase. However, its biological function is unknown. We have identified the Drosophila homologue of RIN1, called sprint, for SH2, poly-proline containing Ras interactor. The sprint locu...

Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly IC), a double-stranded RNA, is an effective adjuvant in vivo. IFN-λs (also termed IL-28/29) are potent immunomodulatory and antiviral cytokines. We demonstrate that poly IC injection in vivo induces large amounts of IFN-λ, which depended on hematopoietic cells and the presence of TLR3 (Toll-like receptor 3), IRF3 (IFN regulatory factor 3), IRF7, IFN-I recep...

6B4 proteoglycan/phosphacan is one of the major phosphate-buffered saline-soluble chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of the brain. Recently, this molecule has been demonstrated to be an extracellular variant of the proteoglycan-type protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTPzeta (RPTPbeta). The influence of the 6B4 proteoglycan, adsorbed onto the substratum, on cell adhesion and neurite outgrowth was stu...

The cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinase which is separated from poly(A) polymerase during its purification from nuclei of rat liver and Morris hepatoma 3924A was purified essentially to homogeneity. Liver nuclear poly(A) polymerase was dissociated from protein kinase by phosphocellulose column chromatography. In contrast, protein kinase copurified with the hepatoma poly(A) polymerase o...

To gauge the proximity between cooperating T and B cells required for effective triggering of antibody production, guinea pigs were immunized with bifunctional antigens in which the haptenic and carrier determinants were separated by rigid spacers of varied dimension. These took the form 2,4-dinitrophenol-(proline)n-L-tyrosine-p-azobenzenearsonate, where n varied from 1 to 40 proline residues. ...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a potentially blinding posterior segment disease; inflammatory responses and subretinal drusen formation lead to leaky blood vessels. The current treatment method involves intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF agents, which highly invasive requires frequent administered by trained personnel. Periocular such as trans-/intra-scleral would provide minimally...