The primary research aims of this thesis were the identification of novel cell fusion mutants of Neurospora crassa and the subsequent functional characterization of selected candidate proteins during conidial anastomosis tube (CAT)-mediated cell fusion by means of genetic, molecular, biochemical and live-cell imaging analysis. Chapter 1 provides a general introduction of the model organism and ...

BACKGROUND Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are ubiquitous components of many signal transduction pathways. Constitutively active variants have been isolated for every component of the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) and ERK2 MAP kinase pathway except for the ERK itself. RESULTS To create an activated ERK2 variant, we fused ERK2 to the low activity form of its upstream r...

A polyclonal antiserum raised against a HeLa cell microtubule-associated protein of Mr 210,000 (210 kD MAP or MAP4), an abundant non-neuronal MAP, was used to isolate cDNA clones encoding MAP4 from a human fetal brain lambda gt11 cDNA expression library. The largest of these clones, pMAP4.245, contains an insert of 4.1 kb and encodes a 245 kD beta-galactosidase fusion protein. Evidence that pMA...

Meaningful facial parts can convey key cues for both facial action unit detection and expression prediction. Textured 3D face scan can provide both detailed 3D geometric shape and 2D texture appearance cues of the face which are beneficial for Facial Expression Recognition (FER). However, accurate facial parts extraction as well as their fusion are challenging tasks. In this paper, a novel syst...

This paper deals with a Speed Limit determination Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) performing the combination of information given by a navigation system and a Speed Limit Sign Recognition system. The present strategy is based on a multi-level data fusion using the Evidence theory (also called Dempster-Shafer theory or Belief Theory) and the sensors respective confidence values. This pa...

This paper presents a loosely coupled fusion approach that merges GPS data, dead-reckoned sensors, and GIS (geographical information system) data. The GPS latency is compensated for by the DR sensors and the use of an xPPS signal. The fusion of the estimate with the map data is spatial-triggered, while the fusion with the GPS is time-triggered. We present a strategy that relies on pose tracking...

Some of the most promising small molecule toxins used to generate antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) include anti-mitotic agents (e.g., auristatin and its derivatives) which are designed to attack cancerous cells at their most vulnerable state during mitosis. We were interested in identifying a human cystostatic protein eventually showing comparable activities and allowing the generation of corres...

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiologic agent of Johne's disease in ruminants and there has been a shift in the public health approach to MAP and human diseases like Crohn's disease. The prevention of infection by MAP in ruminants is thought to deter the high impact of economic losses in the level of dairy industry and possible spreading of this pathogen in dairy prod...