Although human pannexins (PanX) are homologous to gap junction molecules, their physiological function in vertebrates remains poorly understood. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of PanX1 results in the formation of Ca(2+)-permeable gap junction channels between adjacent cells, thus, allowing direct intercellular Ca(2+) diffusion and facilitating intercellular Ca(2+) wave propagation. More ... More
Imaging of changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum [Ca(2+)] using Oregon Green BAPTA 5N and confocal laser scanning microscopy.
AuthorsWhite C, McGeown G
JournalCell Calcium
PubMed ID12027380
'We describe experiments in which the low affinity indicator Oregon Green BAPTA 5N was used to record the spatially resolved changes in [Ca(2+)] from intracellular stores in rat gastric myocytes. Cells were loaded with the membrane permeant form of the indicator and imaged using a confocal scanning laser microscope. In ... More
Human group IVC phospholipase A2 (cPLA2gamma). Roles in the membrane remodeling and activation induced by oxidative stress.
AuthorsAsai K, Hirabayashi T, Houjou T, Uozumi N, Taguchi R, Shimizu T
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID12502717
'To create the unique properties of a certain cellular membrane, both the composition and the metabolism of membrane phospholipids are key factors. Phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), with hydrolytic enzyme activities at the sn-2 position in glycerophospholipids, plays critical roles in maintaining the phospholipid composition as well as producing bioactive lipid mediators. ... More
Novel anti-cholesterol monoclonal immunoglobulin G antibodies as probes and potential modulators of membrane raft-dependent immune functions.
AuthorsBíró A, Cervenak L, Balogh A, Lorincz A, Uray K, Horváth A, Romics L, Matkó J, Füst G, László G,
JournalJ Lipid Res
PubMed ID17023738
Natural autoantibodies against cholesterol are present in the sera of all healthy individuals; their function, production, and regulation, however, are still unclear. Here, we managed to produce two monoclonal anti-cholesterol antibodies (ACHAs) by immunizing mice with cholesterol-rich liposomes. The new ACHAs were specific to cholesterol and to some structurally closely ... More
ER-Tracker dye and BODIPY-brefeldin A differentiate the endoplasmic reticulum and golgi bodies from the tubular-vacuole system in living hyphae of Pisolithus tinctorius.
AuthorsCole L, Davies D, Hyde GJ, Ashford AE
JournalJ Microsc
PubMed ID10692127
Two fluorochromes, ER-TrackerTM Blue-White DPX dye and the fluorescent brefeldin A (BFA) derivative, BODIPY-BFA, label the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in hyphal tips of Pisolithus tinctorius and allow its differentiation from the tubular-vacuole system at the light microscope level in living cells. The ER-Tracker dye labels a reticulate network similar in ... More
Fluorescent conjugates of brefeldin A selectively stain the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complex of living cells.
AuthorsDeng Y, Bennink JR, Kang HC, Haugland RP, Yewdell JW
JournalJ Histochem Cytochem
PubMed ID7543914
The fungal metabolite brefeldin A (BFA) interferes with vesicular trafficking in most animal cells. To gain insight into the mechanism of BFA action, we esterified it to the fluorophore, boron dipyromethene difluoride (BODIPY). BODIPY-BEA localized predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi complex of viable cells and was extracted ... More
Cloning and characterization of a novel GRP78-binding protein in the rat brain.
AuthorsOh-hashi K, Naruse Y, Amaya F, Shimosato G, Tanaka M
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID12514190
The full-length cDNA clone of a novel GRP78-binding protein (GBP) was isolated from rat brain using PCR-selected cDNA subtraction. GBP was predominantly expressed in neuronal cells among various brain tissues. GBP mRNA was already detected in the E12 brain and then gradually increased to reach a peak within P0-2 weeks ... More
Transport of bacterial lipopolysaccharide to the golgi apparatus.
AuthorsThieblemont N, Wright SD
JournalJ Exp Med
PubMed ID10449523
Addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to cells in the form of LPS-soluble (s)CD14 complexes induces strong cellular responses. During this process, LPS is delivered from sCD14 to the plasma membrane, and the cell-associated LPS is then rapidly transported to an intracellular site. This transport appears to be important for certain cellular ... More