The formation of native intramolecular disulfide bonds is critical for the folding and stability of many secreted proteins. This process involves oxidation of protein thiols to form disulfide bonds as well as rearrangement of any non-native disulfide bonds that might form. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an abundant catalyst for native disulfide bond formation in the lumen of endoplasmic r...

We have developed a versatile Bacillus brevis expression and secretion system based on the use of fungal protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) as a gene fusion partner. Fusion with PDI increased the extracellular production of heterologous proteins (light chain of immunoglobulin G, 8-fold; geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase, 12-fold). Linkage to PDI prevented the aggregation of the secreted prot...

The ultrafast vibrational dynamics of the photoinduced charge-transfer reaction between perylene (Per) and perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) were investigated using femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS). Specifically probing the structural dynamics of PDI following its selective photoexcitation in a covalently linked dyad reveals vibrational modes uniquely characteristic to ...

BACKGROUND To date there are no data on the effects of lung transplantation on diaphragmatic function in patients with end stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not known whether the relation between the transdiaphragmatic pressure (PDI) and lung volume is altered in recipients after transplantation as a result of changes in diaphragmatic structure caused by chronic hyperinf...

The twitch occlusion technique is a promising tool for use in accessing central drive to the diaphragm and determining maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) from submaximal efforts. It clinical use is limited by difficulties inherent to bilateral electrical stimulation (BES) of the phrenic nerves. This study was designed to revisit the technique using cervical magnetic stimulation (CMS). In...

A novel phenotype was recently identified in which specific strains of Escherichia coli inhibit competing E. coli strains via a mechanism that was designated "proximity-dependent inhibition" (PDI). PDI-expressing (PDI(+)) E. coli is known to inhibit susceptible (PDI(-)) E. coli strains, including several enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and enterotoxigenic (ETEC) E. coli strains. In this study, every s...

BACKGROUND Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) in the endoplasmic reticulum of all cells catalyzes the rearrangement of disulfide bridges during folding of membrane and secreted proteins. As PDI is also known to bind various molecules including hormones such as estradiol and thyroxin, we considered the hypothesis that adverse effects of endocrine-disrupter compounds (EDC) could be mediated throug...

Protein disulphide isomerase (PDI) is a multifunctional redox chaperone of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Since it was first discovered 40 years ago the functions ascribed to PDI have evolved significantly and recent studies have recognized its distinct functions, with adverse as well as protective effects in disease. Furthermore, post translational modifications of PDI abrogate its normal fun...

By serial transplantation of human glioblastoma biopsies into the brain of immunodeficient nude rats, two different tumor phenotypes were obtained. Initially, the transplanted xenografts displayed a highly invasive phenotype that showed no signs of angiogenesis. By serial transplantation in animals, the tumors changed to a less invasive, predominantly angiogenic phenotype. To identify novel pro...

Two compounds containing a porphyrin dimer and a perylene tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) linked by phenyl (1) or ethylene groups (2) are prepared. The photophysical properties of these two compounds are investigated by steady state electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra and lifetime measurements. The ground state absorption spectra reveal intense interactions between the porphyrin units ...