• Title/Summary/Keyword: Regulatory mechanisms

Search Result 496, Processing Time 0.024 seconds

Control of asymmetric cell division in early C. elegans embryogenesis: teaming-up translational repression and protein degradation

  • Hwang, Sue-Yun;Rose, Lesilee S.
    • BMB Reports
    • /
    • v.43 no.2
    • /
    • pp.69-78
    • /
    • 2010
  • Asymmetric cell division is a fundamental mechanism for the generation of body axes and cell diversity during early embryogenesis in many organisms. During intrinsically asymmetric divisions, an axis of polarity is established within the cell and the division plane is oriented to ensure the differential segregation of developmental determinants to the daughter cells. Studies in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have contributed greatly to our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying cell polarity and asymmetric division. However, much remains to be elucidated about the molecular machinery controlling the spatiotemporal distribution of key components. In this review we discuss recent findings that reveal intricate interactions between translational control and targeted proteolysis. These two mechanisms of regulation serve to carefully modulate protein levels and reinforce asymmetries, or to eliminate proteins from certain cells.

G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Molecular Organization and Regulatory Mechanisms

  • Caron, Marc G.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
    • /
    • 1994.04a
    • /
    • pp.82-87
    • /
    • 1994
  • Signal transduction through G protein-coupled receptors comprises three functional components, a receptor, a G protcin and a effector protein. Work over the last sevcral ycars has led to the characterization or virtually all of the components or these systems. what has come out or those studies is that these mechanisms of signal transduction are pervasive in nature being found in mammalian and avian species, as well as lower organisms such as yeast and slime mold. It is known that G protein-coupled receptors mediate the action of such diverse molecules such as small hormones and neurotransmitters, small peptide molecules as well as glycoprotein hormones and various sensory perceptions such as light, olfaction and most likely taste.

  • PDF

Molecular Mechanism of Plant Adaption to High Salinity (식물의 고염 스트레스에 대한 반응 및 적응기작)

  • Yun Dae-Jin
    • Journal of Plant Biotechnology
    • /
    • v.32 no.1
    • /
    • pp.1-14
    • /
    • 2005
  • Plant responses to salinity stress is critical in determining the growth and development. Therefore, adaptability of plant to salinity stress is directly related with agriculture productivity. Salt adaptation is a result of the integrated functioning of numerous determinants that are regulated coordinately through an appropriate responsive signal transduction cascade. The cascade perceives the saline environment and exerts control over the essential mechanisms that are responsible for ion homeostasis and osmotic adjustment. Although little is known about the component elements of salt stress perception and the signaling cascade(s) in plant, the use of Arabidopsis plant as a molecular genetic tool has been provided important molecular nature of salt tolerance effectors and regulatory pathways. In this review, I summarize recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of salt adaptation.

Mitochondrial Fission: Regulation and ER Connection

  • Lee, Hakjoo;Yoon, Yisang
    • Molecules and Cells
    • /
    • v.37 no.2
    • /
    • pp.89-94
    • /
    • 2014
  • Fission and fusion of mitochondrial tubules are the main processes determining mitochondrial shape and size in cells. As more evidence is found for the involvement of mitochondrial morphology in human pathology, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms of mitochondrial fission and fusion. Mitochondrial morphology is highly sensitive to changing environmental conditions, indicating the involvement of cellular signaling pathways. In addition, the well-established structural connection between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria has recently been found to play a role in mitochondrial fission. This minireview describes the latest advancements in understanding the regulatory mechanisms controlling mitochondrial morphology, as well as the ER-mediated structural maintenance of mitochondria, with a specific emphasis on mitochondrial fission.

Non-canonical targets play an important role in microRNA stability control mechanisms

  • Park, June Hyun;Shin, Chanseok
    • BMB Reports
    • /
    • v.50 no.4
    • /
    • pp.158-159
    • /
    • 2017
  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression by guiding the Argonaute (Ago)-containing RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to specific target mRNA molecules. It is well established that miRNAs are stabilized by Ago proteins, but the molecular features that trigger miRNA destabilization from Ago proteins remain largely unknown. To explore the molecular mechanisms of how targets affect the stability of miRNAs in human Ago (hAgo) proteins, we employed an in vitro system that consisted of a minimal hAgo2-RISC in HEK293T cell lysates. Surprisingly, we found that miRNAs are drastically destabilized by binding to seedless, non-canonical targets. We showed that miRNAs are destabilized at their 3' ends during this process, which is largely attributed to the conformational flexibility of the L1-PAZ domain. Based on these results, we propose that non-canonical targets may play an important regulatory role in controlling the stability of miRNAs, instead of being regulated by miRNAs.

Exogenous Natural Glycoprotein Multiple Mechanisms of Anti-tumor Activity

  • Yuan, Hong-Liang;Liu, Xiao-Lei;Dai, Qi-Chang;Song, Hui
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.16 no.4
    • /
    • pp.1331-1336
    • /
    • 2015
  • Natural glycoproteins can induce apoptosis of tumor cells and exert anti-tumor activity by immunomodulatory functions, cytotoxic and anti-inflammation effects, and inhibition of endothelial growth factor. Given their prospects as novel agents, sources of natural antitumor glycoproteins have attracted attention and new research directions in glycoprotein biology are gradually shifting to the direction of cancer treatment and prevention of neoplastic disease. In this review, we summarize the latest findings with regard to the tumor suppressor signature of glycoproteins and underlying regulatory mechanisms.

Apoptosis in Cancer - An Update

  • Sankari, S. Leena;Masthan, K.M.K.;Babu, N. Aravindha;Bhattacharjee, Tathagata;Elumalai, M.
    • Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.13 no.10
    • /
    • pp.4873-4878
    • /
    • 2012
  • Apoptosis is programmed cell death which is essential for development and survival of living organisms. It is a sequentially regulated suicidal programme where cells activate certain enzymes which dissolute their own nuclear component and various protein component of nucleus and cytoplasm. Disturbance of this regulatory pathway may lead to various diseases like autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The potential mechanisms of apoptosis and its role in cancer are discussed. The ability of apoptosis to modulate the life or death of a cell is also recognized for its immense therapeutic potential. Understanding the mechanisms from this review will give us better insight to the pathogenesis of various diseases including cancer and will open new horizons to therapeutic approaches.

Modulation of MnSOD in Cancer: Epidemiological and Experimental Evidences

  • Kim, Ae-Kyong
    • Toxicological Research
    • /
    • v.26 no.2
    • /
    • pp.83-93
    • /
    • 2010
  • Since it was first observed in late 1970s that human cancers often had decreased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) protein expression and activity, extensive studies have been conducted to verify the association between MnSOD and cancer. Significance of MnSOD as a primary mitochondrial antioxidant enzyme is unquestionable; results from in vitro, in vivo and epidemiological studies are in harmony. On the contrary, studies regarding roles of MnSOD in cancer often report conflicting results. Although putative mechanisms have been proposed to explain how MnSOD regulates cellular proliferation, these mechanisms are not capitulated in epidemiological studies. This review discusses most recent epidemiological and experimental studies that examined the association between MnSOD and cancer, and describes emerging hypotheses of MnSOD as a mitochondrial redox regulatory enzyme and of how altered mitochondrial redox may affect physiology of normal as well as cancer cells.

The Role of Tripartite Motif Family Proteins in TGF-β Signaling Pathway and Cancer

  • Lee, Ho-Jae
    • Journal of Cancer Prevention
    • /
    • v.23 no.4
    • /
    • pp.162-169
    • /
    • 2018
  • $TGF-{\beta}$ signaling plays a tumor suppressive role in normal and premalignant cells but promotes tumor progression during the late stages of tumor development. The $TGF-{\beta}$ signaling pathway is tightly regulated at various levels, including transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. Ubiquitination of signaling components, such as receptors and Smad proteins is one of the key regulatory mechanisms of $TGF-{\beta}$ signaling. Tripartite motif (TRIM) family of proteins is a highly conserved group of E3 ubiquitin ligase proteins that have been implicated in a variety of cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, immune response, and carcinogenesis. Recent emerging studies have shown that some TRIM family proteins function as important regulators in tumor initiation and progression. This review summarizes current knowledge of TRIM family proteins regulating the $TGF-{\beta}$ signaling pathway with relevance to cancer.

Comparative Studies of Molecular Mechanisms of Dopamine D2 and D3 Receptors for the Activation of Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase 1/2 in HEK-293 cells

  • Cheong, Da-Woon;Cho, Choon-Sil;Kim, Hyun-Ju;Kim, Kyeong-Man
    • Proceedings of the PSK Conference
    • /
    • 2002.10a
    • /
    • pp.270.2-270.2
    • /
    • 2002
  • Dopamine D2 and D3 receptors (D2R and D3R) belong to pharmacological D2R family and share similar structural and functional characteristics. Elucidation of their differential functional characteristics is important for understanding their roles in brain. ERK1/2 was chosen as an example of signaling component of D2R and D3R and systemic studies were conducted to understand the regulatory mechanisms on ERK1/2 activation. (omitted)

  • PDF