Only Function (only + function)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Pax3 and Dach2 positive regulation in the developing somite

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 3 2002
G. Kardon
Abstract In vertebrates, skeletal muscles of the body arise from cells of somitic origin. Recently, somite culture experiments have identified a set of genes, including Pax3, Six1, Eya2, and Dach2, that appear to play an important role in early myogenesis during somite development (Heanue et al. [1999] Genes Dev. 13:3231,3243). In somite culture Pax3, Six1, Eya2, and Dach2 not only function to activate myogenesis, but they form a complex network regulating each other's transcription. We sought to examine whether this putative Pax3/Six1/Eya2/Dach2 network of regulation actually functions in vivo. In particular, we tested whether Pax3 and Dach2 participate in a positive regulatory feedback loop in vivo as they do in culture. To test in vivo Pax3/Dach2 interregulation, we took advantage of the known dependence of both factors on ectodermal signals. Somites isolated from the overlying ectoderm lose expression of Pax3 and Dach2. Therefore, we attempted to rescue Pax3 or Dach2 expression in somites isolated from the ectoderm by retroviral misexpression of the complementary factor. Indeed misexpression of Pax3 or Dach2 resulted in rescue of Dach2 or Pax3, respectively. These rescue experiments demonstrate that Pax3 and Dach2 positively regulate each other's expression in vivo and support the validity of the Pax3/Six1/Eya2/Dach 2 network in regulating myogenesis. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


The praxis of clinical knowledge: Learning to care for paediatric patients with a congenital heart anomaly

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 3 2007
Suzi Robertson-Malt RN PhD BN(Hons)
In Saudi Arabia, the major tertiary care unit for the treatment of cardiovascular disease is the King Faisal Heart Institute (KFHI). Its state of the art technology and patient profile facilitates nurses to become highly knowledgeable in the diversity of treatment modalities and nursing care of a range of paediatric pathology. Like many global nursing organizations, the KFHI is experiencing nursing shortages and nurses coming to work in this highly specialized area are lacking some of the basic understanding and skills development necessary to work efficiently and effectively in the area. This paper describes the work of the cardiovascular education team in developing a praxis-based curriculum that equips nurses to not only function at a high level in the cardiovascular area but also facilitate success in their future careers when they leave Saudi Arabia. [source]


Over-expression of different aldehyde dehydrogenase genes in Arabidopsis thaliana confers tolerance to abiotic stress and protects plants against lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress

PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 6 2006
SIMEON O. KOTCHONI
ABSTRACT Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) play a major role in the detoxification processes of aldehydes generated in plants when exposed to abiotic stress. In previous studies, we have shown that the Arabidopsis thaliana ALDH3I1 gene is transcriptionally activated by abiotic stress, and over-expression of the ALDH3I1 gene confers stress tolerance in transgenic plants. The A. thaliana genome contains 14 ALDH genes expressed in different sub-cellular compartments and are presumably involved in different reactions. The purpose of this study was to compare the potential of a cytoplasmic and a chloroplastic stress-inducible ALDH in conferring stress tolerance under different conditions. We demonstrated that constitutive or stress-inducible expression of both the chloroplastic ALDH3I1 and the cytoplasmic ALDH7B4 confers tolerance to osmotic and oxidative stress. Stress tolerance in transgenic plants is accompanied by a reduction of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) derived from cellular lipid peroxidation. Involvement of ALDHs in stress tolerance was corroborated by the analysis of ALDH3I1 and ALDH7B4 T-DNA knockout (KO) mutants. Both mutant lines exhibited higher sensitivity to dehydration and salt than wild-type (WT) plants. The results indicate that ALDH3I1 and ALDH7B4 not only function as aldehyde-detoxifying enzymes, but also as efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and lipid peroxidation-inhibiting enzymes. The potential of ALDHs to interfere with H2O2 was also shown for recombinant bacterial proteins. [source]


The nonconserved N-terminus of protein phosphatase 2B confers its properties to protein phosphatase 1

IUBMB LIFE, Issue 2 2009
Xiu-Jie Xie
Abstract The protein phosphatase 1 catalytic subunit (PP1c) and the protein phosphatase 2B (PP2B or calcineurin) catalytic subunit (CNA) contain nonconserved N-terminal regions followed by conserved phosphatase cores. To examine the role of the N-termini of these two phosphatases, we substituted the residues 1,8 of PP1c with residues 1,42 of CNA, which is designated CNA(1-42)-PP1(9-330). The activities of CNA(1-42)-PP1(9-330) were similar to those of PP2B and different from those of PP1. The chimera was at least fourfold less sensitive to inhibition by okadaic acid, but was stimulated by nickel ions and chlorogenic acid, characteristics of PP2B not of PP1. These observations suggest that the N-terminus of CNA shifts the properties of PP1 toward those of PP2B. Our findings provide evidence that the nonconserved N-terminus of PP2B not only functions as important regulatory domain but also confers itself particular characteristics. This region may be targeted for regulation of PP2B activities in vivo. © 2008 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(2): 178,183, 2009 [source]