Alternative splicing of the mouse profilin II gene generates functionally different profilin isoforms

Profilins are a conserved family of proteins participating in actin dynamics and cell motility. In the mouse, two profilin genes are known. Profilin I is expressed universally at high levels, while profilin II is expressed mainly in the brain. Here we describe the occurrence of two mouse profilin II isoforms, A and B, which are derived by alternative splicing. They are identical through residue 107 of the protein, but then have distinct C-terminal sequences. Profilin IIA binds to poly-L-proline and actin with high affinity similar to profilin I. Profilin IIB on the other hand does not bind to actin and the affinity for poly-L-proline is greatly diminished. However, tubulin was found to bind to GST-profilin IIB, and in vivo GFP-profilin IIB was recruited to spindles and asters during mitosis in HeLa cells. Our results indicate unexpected diversity in the functions of the profilin family of proteins, and suggest that in mouse profilin IIA is intimately involved in actin dynamics, while profilin IIB associates with other cytoskeletal components.

Download Full-text

Oxytocin analogues with non-coded amino acid residues in position 8: [8-Neopentylglycine]oxytocin and [8-cycloleucine]oxytocin

Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications ◽

10.1135/cccc19872317 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 52 (9) ◽

pp. 2317-2325 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jan Hlaváček ◽

Jan Pospíšek ◽

Jiřina Slaninová ◽

Walter Y. Chan ◽

Victor J. Hruby

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Solid Phase Synthesis ◽

Solid Phase ◽

The Other ◽

Amino Acid Residues ◽

Phase Synthesis ◽

Other Hand ◽

Fragment Condensation

[8-Neopentylglycine]oxytocin (II) and [8-cycloleucine]oxytocin (III) were prepared by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and fragment condensation. Both analogues exhibited decreased uterotonic potency in vitro, each being about 15-30% that of oxytocin. Analogue II also displayed similarly decreased uterotonic potency in vivo and galactogogic potency. On the other hand, analogue III exhibited almost the same potency as oxytocin in the uterotonic assay in vivo and in the galactogogic assay.

Download Full-text

NaCl-dependent expression of amiloride-blockable Na+ channel in Xenopus oocytes

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.1992.262.2.g244 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 262 (2) ◽

pp. G244-G248 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. Asher ◽

D. Singer ◽

R. Eren ◽

O. Yeger ◽

N. Dascal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Xenopus Oocytes ◽

The Other ◽

Na Channel ◽

Channel Activity ◽

High Affinity ◽

Other Hand ◽

Exogenous Rna ◽

Lower Intestine ◽

Regulation Of Transport

RNA was isolated from chicken lower intestine (both colon and coprodeum) and injected into Xenopus oocytes. 22Na+ fluxes measured after 1-4 days demonstrated the induction of an amiloride-blockable pathway. The Na+ transporter expressed by the exogenous RNA had a high affinity to amiloride (inhibitory constant less than 0.1 microM), but was insensitive to ethylisopropyl amiloride, i.e., it is likely to be the apical Na+ channel. Functional channels were readily expressed in oocytes injected with RNA derived from chickens fed a low-NaCl diet. On the other hand, no channel activity was detected in oocytes injected with RNA isolated from chickens fed a high-NaCl diet. Thus the previously reported regulation of transport by the dietary NaCl intake involves modulations in the level of mRNA that codes either for the Na+ channel or a posttranscriptional regulator of the channel.

Download Full-text

THE PATHOLOGIC EFFECTS OF STREPTOCOCCI FROM CASES OF POLIOMYELITIS AND OTHER SOURCES

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.25.4.557 ◽

1917 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 557-580 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Carroll G. Bull

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

The Other ◽

Laboratory Animals ◽

Histological Changes ◽

Other Hand ◽

Brain And Spinal Cord ◽

The Brain

Streptococci cultivated from the tonsils of thirty-two cases of poliomyelitis were used to inoculate various laboratory animals. In no case was a condition induced resembling poliomyelitis clinically or pathologically in guinea pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, or monkeys. On the other hand, a considerable percentage of the rabbits and a smaller percentage of some of the other animals developed lesions due to streptococci. These lesions consisted of meningitis, meningo-encephalitis, abscess of the brain, arthritis, tenosynovitis, myositis, abscess of the kidney, endocarditis, pericarditis, and neuritis. No distinction in the character or frequency of the lesions could be determined between the streptococci derived from poliomyelitic patients and from other sources. Streptococci isolated from the poliomyelitic brain and spinal cord of monkeys which succumbed to inoculation with the filtered virus failed to induce in monkeys any paralysis or the characteristic histological changes of poliomyelitis. These streptococci are regarded as secondary bacterial invaders of the nervous organs. Monkeys which have recovered from infection with streptococci derived from cases of poliomyelitis are not protected from infection with the filtered virus, and their blood does not neutralize the filtered virus in vitro. We have failed to detect any etiologic or pathologic relationship between streptococci and epidemic poliomyelitis in man or true experimental poliomyelitis in the monkey.

Download Full-text

In vitro insulin-mimetic activity and in vivo metallokinetic feature of oxovanadium(IV)porphyrin complexes in healthy rats

Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines ◽

10.1142/s1088424612004458 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 16 (01) ◽

pp. 114-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tapan K. Saha ◽

Yutaka Yoshikawa ◽

Hirouki Yasui ◽

Hiromu Sakurai

Keyword(s):

The Other ◽

Insulin Mimetic ◽

Other Hand ◽

Better Than

We prepared [meso-tetrakis(4-carboxylatophenyl)porphyrinato]oxovanadium(IV) tetrasodium, ([VO(tcpp)]Na4), and investigated its in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and in vivo metallokinetic feature in healthy rats. The results were compared with those of previously proposed insulin-mimetic oxovanadium(IV)porphyrin complexes and oxovanadium(IV) sulphate. The in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and bioavailability of [VO(tcpp)]Na4 were considerably better than those of [meso-tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrinato]oxovanadium(IV)(4+) tetraperchlorate ([VO(tmpyp)](ClO4)4) and oxovanadium(IV) sulphate. On the other hand, [VO(tcpp)]Na4 and [meso-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrinato]oxidovanadate(IV)(4-)([VO(tpps)]) showed very similar in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and in vivo metallokinetic feature in healthy rats. In particular, the order of in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of the complexes was determined to be: [VO(tcpp)]Na4 ≈ [VO(tpps)] > ([VO(tmpyp)](ClO4)4 > oxovanadium(IV) sulphate.

Download Full-text

Seminal vesicle proteins SVS3 and SVS4 facilitate SVS2 effect on sperm capacitation

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep-15-0551 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 152 (4) ◽

pp. 313-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Naoya Araki ◽

Natsuko Kawano ◽

Woojin Kang ◽

Kenji Miyado ◽

Kaoru Yoshida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seminal Vesicle ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Female Reproductive Tract ◽

The Other ◽

Sperm Capacitation ◽

Other Hand ◽

Sperm Membrane ◽

Vesicle Secretion ◽

Mammalian Spermatozoa

Mammalian spermatozoa acquire their fertilizing ability in the female reproductive tract (sperm capacitation). On the other hand, seminal vesicle secretion, which is a major component of seminal plasma, inhibits the initiation of sperm capacitation (capacitation inhibition) and reduces the fertility of the capacitated spermatozoa (decapacitation). There are seven major proteins involved in murine seminal vesicle secretion (SVS1-7), and we have previously shown that SVS2 acts as both a capacitation inhibitor and a decapacitation factor, and is indispensable forin vivofertilization. However, the effects of SVSs other than SVS2 on the sperm have not been elucidated. Since mouseSvs2–Svs6genes evolved by gene duplication belong to the same gene family, it is possible that SVSs other than SVS2 also have some effects on sperm capacitation. In this study, we examined the effects of SVS3 and SVS4 on sperm capacitation. Our results showed that both SVS3 and SVS4 are able to bind to spermatozoa, but SVS3 alone showed no effects on sperm capacitation. On the other hand, SVS4 acted as a capacitation inhibitor, although it did not show decapacitation abilities. Interestingly, SVS3 showed an affinity for SVS2 and it facilitated the effects of SVS2. Interaction of SVS2 and spermatozoa is mediated by the ganglioside GM1 in the sperm membrane; however, both SVS3 and SVS4 had weaker affinities for GM1 than SVS2. Therefore, we suggest that separate processes may cause capacitation inhibition and decapacitation, and SVS3 and SVS4 act on sperm capacitation cooperatively with SVS2.

Download Full-text

Modeling a Particular Decision Process by Using a Modulatory Activation Function

International Journal of Neural Systems ◽

10.1142/s0129065703001509 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 13 (02) ◽

pp. 111-118

Author(s):

Jairo Diniz Filho ◽

Teresa B. Ludermir

Keyword(s):

Decision Process ◽

Activation Function ◽

The Other ◽

Modular Systems ◽

Brain Functions ◽

Mood Changes ◽

Other Hand ◽

Neuronal Groups ◽

The Brain ◽

Modular Nature

Neuronal groups projecting widely in the brain are being experimentally associated to attention and mood changes. Those groups are known to exert a modulatory effect over other larger groups. On the other hand, some people think of the brain functions as being performed by specialized modular systems. In this work, we propose an architecture of modular nature to explore a particular decision process. We show the importance of the modulatory effect of a special evaluation segment in that process.

Download Full-text

2. Note on the Perception of Musical Sounds

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh ◽

10.1017/s0370164600029710 ◽

1875 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 342-347

Author(s):

John G. M'Kendrick

Keyword(s):

The Other ◽

Other Hand ◽

Musical Sounds ◽

The Brain

Certain individuals appear to be incapable of appreciating musical sounds. They cannot distinguish one melody from another; and if by many repetitions of the melody in their hearing, they at last appear to know it, the addition of one or more of the parts of the harmony again renders the music unrecognisable to them. The question naturally arises, Is this defect owing to any peculiarity in the structure of the internal ear of persons so constituted which prevents them hearing certain sounds, or is it to be referred to the condition of the brain? On the other hand, many have what is termed a “fine ear,” by which we understand the faculty of appreciating, remembering, and, in some cases, of successfully imitating musical sounds. Have those individuals the organ of hearing more delicately developed?

Download Full-text

Herbert Mac Cabe’s Philosophical Anthropology

Politeia ◽

10.5840/politeia20191441 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 238-260

Author(s):

Franco Manni ◽

Keyword(s):

Philosophical Anthropology ◽

External World ◽

The Other ◽

Human Being ◽

Language System ◽

Other Hand ◽

The One ◽

The Individual ◽

The Brain ◽

Individual Human

From the ideas of Aristotle, De Saussure and Wittgenstein, philosopher Herbert McCabe elaborated an original anthropology. 'Meaning' means: the role played by a part towards the whole. Senses are bodily organs and sensations allow an animal to get fragments of the external world which become 'meaningful' for the behaviour of the whole animal Besides sensations, humans are ‘linguistic animals’ because through words they are able to 'communicate', that is, to share a peculiar kind of meanings: concepts. Whereas, sense-images are stored physically in our brain and cannot be shared, even though we can relate to sense-images by words (speech coincides with thought). However, concepts do not belong to the individual human being qua individual, but to an interpersonal entity: the language system. Therefore, on the one hand, to store images is a sense-power and an operation of the brain, whereas the brain (quite paradoxically!) is not in itself the organ of thought. On the other hand, concepts do not exist on their own.

Download Full-text

The Influence of 17-Oxo- and 17-Hydroxy-16,17-secoestratriene Derivatives on Estrogen Receptor

Collection of Czechoslovak Chemical Communications ◽

10.1135/cccc20060532 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 532-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Suzana Jovanović-Šanta ◽

Julijana Petrović ◽

Marija Sakač ◽

Zorica Žakula ◽

Esma Isenović ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Estrogen Receptor ◽

Estrogen Receptors ◽

Estrogenic Activity ◽

Total Loss ◽

The Other ◽

Binding Parameters ◽

Antiestrogenic Activity ◽

Other Hand

Since many of newly synthesised D-secoestratriene derivatives showed antiestrogenic effect, with almost a total loss of estrogenic activity, we studied the effects of some of these compounds on estrogen receptors (ER), the translocation of the estrogen-ER complexes formed in presence of competing substances into the nucleus, as well as the binding of these complexes to DNA. The results of uterotrophic effects of analysed derivatives are in agreement with the influence of these compounds on activity and binding parameters of estrogen receptors. Namely, compounds that show relatively high antiestrogenic activity predominantly increase Kd and inhibit translocation to nuclei of radioactive complexes formed in their presence. On the other hand, compounds that do not significantly change binding parameters of estrogen receptors do not show antiestrogenic effect in in vivo experiments.

Download Full-text