Syndecans – key regulators of cell signaling and biological functions

Exosomes are natural nanoscale bilayer phospholipid vesicles that can be secreted by almost all types of cells and are detected in almost all types of body fluids. Exosomes are effective mediators of cell–cell signaling communication because of their ability to carry and transfer a variety of bioactive molecules, including non-coding RNAs. Non-coding RNAs have also been found to exert strong effects on a variety of biological processes, including tumorigenesis. Many researchers have established that exosomes encapsulate bioactive non-coding RNAs that alter the biological phenotype of specific target cells in an autocrine or a paracrine manner. However, the mechanism by which the producer cells package non-coding RNAs into exosomes is not well understood. This review focuses on the current research on exosomal non-coding RNAs, including the biogenesis of exosomes, the possible mechanism of sorting non-coding RNAs, their biological functions, and their potential for clinical application in the future.

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Function, Regulation and Biological Roles of PI3Kγ Variants

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom9090427 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 427 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bernd Nürnberg ◽

Sandra Beer-Hammer

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Cell Signaling ◽

G Protein ◽

Catalytic Subunit ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Catalytic Subunits ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Class Ib

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) γ is the only class IB PI3K member playing significant roles in the G-protein-dependent regulation of cell signaling in health and disease. Originally found in the immune system, increasing evidence suggest a wide array of functions in the whole organism. PI3Kγ occur as two different heterodimeric variants: PI3Kγ (p87) and PI3Kγ (p101), which share the same p110γ catalytic subunit but differ in their associated non-catalytic subunit. Here we concentrate on specific PI3Kγ features including its regulation and biological functions. In particular, the roles of its non-catalytic subunits serving as the main regulators determining specificity of class IB PI3Kγ enzymes are highlighted.

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Engineering Bacterial Surface Interactions Using DNA as a Programmable Material

Chemical Communications ◽

10.1039/d1cc06138k ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Yuhan Kong ◽

Qi Du ◽

Juan Li ◽

Hang Xing

Keyword(s):

Cell Signaling ◽

Colony Formation ◽

Surface Interactions ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Bacterial Surface ◽

Host Infection

The diverse surface interactions and functions of a bacterium play an important role in cell signaling, host infection, and colony formation. To understand and synthetically control biological functions of individual...

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Membrane–cytoskeleton interactions in cholesterol-dependent domain formation

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse0570177 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 57 ◽

pp. 177-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jennifer N. Byrum ◽

William Rodgers

Keyword(s):

Biological Properties ◽

Membrane Rafts ◽

Membrane Domains ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Membrane Cytoskeleton ◽

Heterogeneous Structures ◽

Integral Role ◽

Model Cell ◽

Actomyosin Cytoskeleton ◽

Dependent Domain

Since the inception of the fluid mosaic model, cell membranes have come to be recognized as heterogeneous structures composed of discrete protein and lipid domains of various dimensions and biological functions. The structural and biological properties of membrane domains are represented by CDM (cholesterol-dependent membrane) domains, frequently referred to as membrane ‘rafts’. Biological functions attributed to CDMs include signal transduction. In T-cells, CDMs function in the regulation of the Src family kinase Lck (p56lck) by sequestering Lck from its activator CD45. Despite evidence of discrete CDM domains with specific functions, the mechanism by which they form and are maintained within a fluid and dynamic lipid bilayer is not completely understood. In the present chapter, we discuss recent advances showing that the actomyosin cytoskeleton has an integral role in the formation of CDM domains. Using Lck as a model, we also discuss recent findings regarding cytoskeleton-dependent CDM domain functions in protein regulation.

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