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Intracellular signaling by the unfolded protein response

ABSTRACT: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an intracellular signaling pathway that is activated by the accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). UPR activation triggers an extensive transcriptional response, which adjusts the ER protein folding capacity according to need. As such, the UPR constitutes a paradigm of an intracellular control mechanism that adjusts organelle abundance in response to […]

Production and immune response of recombinant Hsp60 and Hsp70 from the salmon pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis

ABSTRACT: We have isolated and sequenced the genes encoding the heat shock proteins 60 (Hsp60) and 70 (Hsp70) of the salmon pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis. The sequence analysis revealed the expected two open reading frames that encode proteins with calculated molecular weights of 60,060 and 70,400. The proteins exhibit a 70-80% homology with other known prokaryotic […]

Myricetin, quercetin and catechin-gallate inhibit glucose uptake in isolated rat adipocytes

ABSTRACT: The facilitative glucose transporter, GLUT4, mediates insulinstimulated glucose uptake in adipocytes and muscles, and the participation of GLUT4 in the pathogenesis of various clinical conditions associated with obesity, visceral fat accumulation and insulin resistance has been proposed. Glucose uptake by some members of the GLUT family, mainly GLUT1, is inhibited by flavonoids, the natural […]

Hantavirus Gc glycoprotein: evidence for a class II fusion protein

ABSTRACT: Hantavirus cell entry is promoted by its envelope glycoproteins, Gn and Gc, through cell attachment and by fusion between viral and endosomal membranes at low pH. However, the role of Gn and Gc in receptor binding and cell fusion has not yet been defined. In this work, a sequence presenting characteristics similar to those […]

Techniques used to study transcription on chromatin templates

Histone chaperones, a supporting role in the limelight

ABSTRACT: In eukaryotic cells, highly basic histone proteins are associated with the DNA to form the nucleosome, the fundamental unit of chromatin. Histones are closely escorted by histone chaperones from their point of synthesis up to their delivery site. We will present an overview of the histone chaperones identified to date with their various roles, in an […]

Bromodomains in living cells participate in deciphering the histone code

ABSTRACT: The bromodomain, a module of  ~110 amino acids, is found in several chromatin-associated proteins, including histone acetyltransferases and chromatin-remodeling factors, and can bind to acetylated lysines. Such post-translational modifications occur mainly in the N-terminal tail of the histone proteins and, in combination with other modifications, are thought to participate in defining a histone code. Recent findings provide a model for how bromodomain-containing […]

Isolation and expression of the genes coding for the membrane bound transglycosylase B (MltB) and the transferrin binding protein B (TbpB) of the salmon pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis

ABSTRACT: We have isolated and sequenced the genes encoding the membrane bound transglycosylase B (MltB) and the transferring binding protein B (TbpB) of the salmon pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis. The results of the sequence revealed two open reading frames that encode proteins with calculated molecular weights of 38,830 and 85,140. The deduced aminoacid sequences of both […]

The Constantly Changing Face of Chromatin

ABSTRACT: Many recent findings have altered our vision of chromatin and its role in the regulation of cellular functions. Our perspective concerning chromatin has changed to a much more complex, but also more dynamic, view of chromatin as an entity that is intimately involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular functions. In this review, we describe the various types of […]

Functional Analysis of the Subunits of the Chromatin Assembly Factor RSF

ABSTRACT: The human ISWI-containing factor RSF (for remodeling and spacing factor) is composed of two subunits: the ATPase hSNF2H and p325 (Rsf-1), a protein encoded by a novel human gene. We previously showed that RSF mediates nucleosome deposition and generates regularly spaced nucleosome arrays. Here we report the characterization of the largest subunit of RSF, Rsf-1. We found […]

Histone deposition and chromatin assembly by RSF

ABSTRACT: It is becoming clear that the structure of cellular chromatin is dynamic and capable of undergoing rapid changes to respond to the metabolic requirements of the cell. These changes have a direct impact on gene expression and, therefore, the chromatin context must be considered when biochemical reactions that involve DNA are studied. Over the past several […]

Facile synthesis of site-specifically acetylated and methylated histone proteins: Reagents for evaluation of the histone code hypothesis

ABSTRACT: The functional capacity of genetically encoded histone proteins can be powerfully expanded by posttranslational modification. A growing body of biochemical and genetic evidence clearly links the unique combinatorial patterning of side chain acetylation, methylation, and phosphorylation mainly within the highly conserved N termini of histones H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 with the regulation of gene expression and chromatin assembly […]

Genomic organization of the rDNA cistron of the teleost fish Cyprinus carpio

The complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome of the Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

The complete sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, has been determined. The circular genome consisting of 16,644 base pairs encodes thirteen proteins, the 12S and 16S ribosomal RNAs, and 22 transfer RNAs. These genes are ordered in the same way as most other vertebrates. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of […]

Cloning and expression of the coding regions of the heat shock proteins HSP10 and HSP16 from Piscirickettsia salmonis

ABSTRACT: The genes encoding the heat shock proteins HSP10 and HSP16 of the salmon pathogen Piscirickettsia salmonis have been isolated and sequenced. The HSP10 coding sequence is located in an open reading frame of 291 base pairs encoding 96 aminoacids. The HSP16 coding region was isolated as a 471 base pair fragment encoding a protein […]