The 14-3-3 proteins are a family of acidicr egulatory molecules found in all eukaryotes. 14-3-3 proteins function as molecular scaffolds by modulating the conformation of their binding partners. Through the functional modulation of a wide range of binding partners, 14-3-3 proteins are involved in many processes including cell cycle regulation, metabolism control, apoptosis, and control of gene transcription. This minireview includes a short overview of 14-3-3 proteins and then focuses on their role in the regulation of two important binding partners: FOXO forkhead transcription factors and an enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase., V. Obšilová, J. Šilhan, E. Bouřa, J. Teisinger, T. Obšil., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Brain Awareness Week is a series of events held around the world to increase public awareness of the brain. Top Czech scientists attracted more then 1,300 students with lectures as part of the annual Brain Awareness Week that took place in the administration building of the Czech Academy of Sciences extending from 10-13 March 2008. and Gabriela Adámková.
The aim of this study was to determine the effect and mechanism of low concentration of lidocaine on subthreshold membrane potential oscillations (SMPO) and burst discharges in chronically compressed dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. DRG neurons were isolated by enzymatic dissociation method. SMPO, burst discharges and single spike were elicited by whole cell patch-clamp technique in current clamp mode. Persistent Na+ current (INaP) and transient Na+ current (INaT) were elicited in voltage clamp mode. The results showed that SMPO was suppressed and burst discharges were eliminated by tetrodotoxin (TTX, 0.2 μ mol/l) in current clamp mode, INaP was blocked by 0.2 μ mol/l TTX in voltage clamp mode. SMPO, burst discharges and INaP were also suppressed by low concentration of lidocaine (10 μ mol/l) respectively. However, single spike and INaT could only be blocked by high concentration of lidocaine (5 mmol/l). From these results, it is suggested that INaP mediates the generation of SMPO in injured DRG neurons. Low concentration of lidocaine (10 μ mol/l) suppresses SMPO by selectively inhibiting INaP, but not INaT, in chronically compressed DRG neurons., H. Dong, Y.-H. Fan, Y.-Y. Wang, W.-T. Wang, S.J. Hu., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Purinergic P2X receptors represent a novel structural type of ligand-gated ion channels activated by extracellular ATP. So far, seven P2X receptors subunits have been found in excitable as well as non-excitable tissues. Little is known about their structure, mechanism of channel opening, localization, and role in the central nervous system. The aim of this work is to summarize recent investigations and describe our contribution to elucidating the structure of the ATP binding site and transmembrane domains of the P2X receptor, we also discuss the expression and physiological roles played by the ATP and P2X receptors in the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus., H. Zemková, A. Balík, M. Jindřichová, V. Vávra., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy
Agonist-induced subcellular redistribution of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) and of trimeric guanine-nucleotide binding regulatory proteins (G-proteins) represent mechanisms of desensitization of hormone response, which have been studied in our laboratory since 1989. This review brings a short summary of these results and also presents information about related literature data covering at least small part of research carried out in this area. We have also mentioned sodium plus potassium dependent adenosine triphosp hatase (Na, K-ATPase) and 3H-ouabain binding as useful reference standard of plasma membrane purity in the brain., Z. Drastichová, L. Bouřová, V. Lisý, L. Hejnová, V. Rudajev, J. Stöhr, D. Durchánková, P. Ostašov, J. Teisinger, T. Soukup, J. Novotný, P. Svoboda., and Obsahuje bibliografii a bibliografické odkazy