Article Abstract:
A disease similar to the lethal human sphingomyelinase storage or the Niemann-Pick disease is exhibited by mice with induced deficiency of acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase). Plasma membrane and plasma membrane-derived membranes contain sphingomyelin as the main lipid, and aSMase present in lysosomes of all cells hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphocholine. Study of ceramide generation in Niemann-Pick mice which exhibit neuromotor coordination impairment due to accumulation of sphingomyelin may help in somatic gene therapy.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
The formation of stress fibers in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced stress is controlled by Rac and Rho proteins and takes place through the lipoxygenase pathway of the arachidonic acid metabolism. Leukotrienes are needed for some EGF-induced changes in the cytoskeleton which include membrane ruffling followed by the formation of the stress fibers in Swiss 3T3 cells. Rac is necessary for the formation of leukotrienes which in turn activates Rho.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
Article Abstract:
A study showed that the SKOR, a potassium positive ion (K+) channel from Arabidopsis, is the first member of the Shaker family in plants having outwardly rectifying properties and is expressed in root stelar tissues. A reverse genetic approach suggests that SKOR is involved in the K+ release into the xylem sap. It was also found that phytohormone abscisic acid strongly represses SKOR gene expression.
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: