'We recently found that the metabolic sensor AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) inhibits the epithelial Na(+) channel (ENaC) through decreased plasma membrane ENaC expression, an effect requiring the presence of a binding motif in the cytoplasmic tail of the beta-ENaC subunit for the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2. To further examine the role of ... More
A dynamic switch between inhibitory and excitatory currents in a neuronal glutamate transporter.
Authors:Melzer N, Torres-Salazar D, Fahlke C,
Journal:Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID:16365297
'Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) terminate glutamatergic synaptic transmission and maintain extracellular glutamate concentrations in the central nervous system below excitotoxic levels. In addition to sustaining a secondary-active glutamate transport, EAAT glutamate transporters also function as anion-selective channels. Here, we report a gating process that makes anion channels associated with ... More
Unlike Diablo/smac, Grim promotes global ubiquitination and specific degradation of X chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and neither cause apoptosis.
Authors:Silke J, Kratina T, Ekert PG, Pakusch M, Vaux DL,
Journal:J Biol Chem
PubMed ID:14570909
'Grim is a Drosophila inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) antagonist that directly interferes with inhibition of caspases by IAPs. Expression of Grim, or removal of DIAP1, is sufficient to activate apoptosis in fly cells. Transient expression of Grim in mammalian cells induces apoptosis, arguing for the conservation of apoptotic pathways, but ... More
Trpm7 regulates cell adhesion by controlling the calcium dependent protease calpain.
Authors:Su LT, Agapito MA, Li M, T N Simonson W, Huttenlocher A, Habas R, Yue L, Runnels LW,
Journal:J Biol Chem
PubMed ID:16436382
'M-calpain is a protease implicated in the control of cell adhesion through focal adhesion disassembly. The mechanism by which the enzyme is spatially and temporally controlled is not well understood, particularly because calpain''s dependence on calcium exceeds the sub-micromolar concentrations normally observed in cells. Here we show that the channel-kinase ... More