A long-held tenet of neuromuscular transmission is that calcium-dependent neurotransmitter release is mediated by N-type calcium channels in frog but P/Q-type channels in mammals. The N-type assignment in frog is based principally on pharmacological sensitivity to ?-conotoxin GVIA. Our studies show that zebrafish neuromuscular transmission is also sensitive to ?-conotoxin ... More
Conformations of the signal recognition particle protein Ffh from Escherichia coli as determined by FRET.
AuthorsBuskiewicz I, Peske F, Wieden HJ, Gryczynski I, Rodnina MV, Wintermeyer W,
JournalJ Mol Biol
PubMed ID16005894
The signal recognition particle (SRP) initiates the co-translational targeting of proteins to the plasma membrane in bacteria by binding to the N-terminal signal sequence emerging from the translating ribosome. SRP in Escherichia coli is composed of one protein, Ffh, and 4.5S RNA. In the present work, we probe the structure ... More
Differential regulation of macropinocytosis by Abi1/Hssh3bp1 isoforms.
BACKGROUND: Macropinocytosis, which is a constitutive cellular process of fluid and macromolecule uptake, is regulated by actin cytoskeleton rearrangements near the plasma membrane. Activation of Rac1, which is proposed to act upstream of the actin polymerization regulatory Wave 2 complex, has been found to correlate with enhanced macropinocytosis. One of ... More
Selective release of molecules from Weibel-Palade bodies during a lingering kiss.
AuthorsBabich V, Meli A, Knipe L, Dempster JE, Skehel P, Hannah MJ, Carter T,
JournalBlood
PubMed ID18252862
Exocytosis of specialized endothelial cell secretory organelles, Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), is thought to play an important role in regulating hemostasis and intravascular inflammation. The major WPB core proteins are Von Willebrand factor (VWF) and its propolypeptide (Proregion), constituting more than 95% of the content. Although the composition of the WPBs ... More