Both chloronemal and caulonemal cells expand by tip growth in the moss Physcomitrella patens.
AuthorsMenand B, Calder G, Dolan L,
JournalJ Exp Bot
PubMed ID17404383
'Tip growth is a mode of cell expansion in which all growth is restricted to a small area that forms a tip in an elongating cell. In green plants, tip growth has been shown to occur in root hairs, pollen tubes, rhizoids, and caulonema. Each of these cell types has ... More
Improved throughput traction microscopy reveals pivotal role for matrix stiffness in fibroblast contractility and TGF-ß responsiveness.
AuthorsMarinkovic A, Mih JD, Park JA, Liu F, Tschumperlin DJ,
JournalAm J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
PubMed ID22659883
'Lung fibroblast functions such as matrix remodeling and activation of latent transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) are associated with expression of the myofibroblast phenotype and are directly linked to fibroblast capacity to generate force and deform the extracellular matrix. However, the study of fibroblast force-generating capacities through methods such as traction ... More
In vitro evaluation of viability, integrity, and inflammation in genital epithelia upon exposure to pharmaceutical excipients and candidate microbicides.
AuthorsGali Y, Delezay O, Brouwers J, Addad N, Augustijns P, Bourlet T, Hamzeh-Cognasse H, Ariën KK, Pozzetto B, Vanham G,
JournalAntimicrob Agents Chemother
PubMed ID20921308
'The use of microbicides is a promising approach for the prevention of HIV-1 transmission. Unfortunately, various candidates failed in clinical trials. In some cases, the candidate microbicide even resulted in enhanced virus transmission. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop more predictive preclinical strategies to anticipate the in vivo ... More
Analysis of the roles of RGD-binding integrins, alpha(4)/alpha(9) integrins, alpha(6) integrins, and CD9 in the interaction of the fertilin beta (ADAM2) disintegrin domain with the mouse egg membrane.
AuthorsZhu X, Evans JP,
JournalBiol Reprod
PubMed ID11906941
Fertilin beta (also known as ADAM2), a mammalian sperm protein that mediates gamete cell adhesion during fertilization, is a member of the ADAM protein family whose members have disintegrin domains with homology to integrin ligands found in snake venoms. Fertilin beta utilizes an ECD sequence within its disintegrin domain to ... More
Fluorescent microangiography (FMA): an improved tool to visualize the pulmonary microvasculature.
AuthorsDutly AE, Kugathasan L, Trogadis JE, Keshavjee SH, Stewart DJ, Courtman DW
JournalLab Invest
PubMed ID16518405
Visualization of the complex lung microvasculature and resolution of its three-dimensional architecture remains a difficult experimental challenge. We present a novel fluorescent microscopy technique to visualize both the normal and diseased pulmonary microvasculature. Physiologically relevant pulmonary perfusion conditions were applied using a low-viscosity perfusate infused under continuous airway ventilation. Intensely ... More
Analysis of fertilin alpha (ADAM1)-mediated sperm-egg cell adhesion during fertilization and identification of an adhesion-mediating sequence in the disintegrin-like domain.
AuthorsWong GE, Zhu X, Prater CE, Oh E, Evans JP
JournalJ Biol Chem
PubMed ID11342541
Fertilin alpha (also known as ADAM1) is a member of the ADAM (A disintegrin and A metalloprotease domain) family of proteins. In this study, we examine the mechanism of mouse fertilin alpha's in adhesion of sperm to the egg plasma membrane during fertilization. We find that recombinant forms of fertilin ... More