The Solution Structures of the Human beta -Defensins Lead to a Better Understanding of the Potent Bactericidal Activity of HBD3 against Staphylococcus aureus.
Authors Schibli David J.; Hunter Howard N.; Aseyev Vladimir; Starner Timothy D.; Wiencek John M.; McCray Paul B. Jr; Tack Brian F.; Vogel Hans J.;
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID11741980
'The three human beta-defensins, HBD1--3, are 33--47-residue, cationic antimicrobial proteins expressed by epithelial cells. All three proteins have broad spectrum antimicrobial activity, with HBD3 consistently being the most potent. Additionally, HBD3 has significant bactericidal activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus at physiological salt concentrations. We have compared the multimeric state of ... More
Phosphatidylinositol mannoside from Mycobacterium tuberculosis binds alpha5beta1 integrin (VLA-5) on CD4+ T cells and induces adhesion to fibronectin.
AuthorsRojas RE, Thomas JJ, Gehring AJ, Hill PJ, Belisle JT, Harding CV, Boom WH,
JournalJ Immunol
PubMed ID16920931
'The pathological hallmark of the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the granuloma where T cells and macrophages interact with the extracellular matrix (ECM) to control the infection. Recruitment and retention of T cells within inflamed tissues depend on adhesion to the ECM. T cells use integrins to adhere to ... More
Molecular characterization of major cat allergen Fel d 1: expression of heterodimer by use of a baculovirus expression system.
Fel d 1 is a major cat allergen inducing allergic rhinitis and asthma in sensitized individuals. It has a more complex structure when compared with other allergens and therefore expression of recombinant Fel d 1 has been considered a challenge. The present study shows for the first time that a ... More
Active gamma-secretase complexes contain only one of each component.
AuthorsSato T, Diehl TS, Narayanan S, Funamoto S, Ihara Y, De Strooper B, Steiner H, Haass C, Wolfe MS,
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID17911105
Gamma-secretase is an intramembrane aspartyl protease complex that cleaves type I integral membrane proteins, including the amyloid beta-protein precursor and the Notch receptor, and is composed of presenilin, Pen-2, nicastrin, and Aph-1. Although all four of these membrane proteins are essential for assembly and activity, the stoichiometry of the complex ... More