A complement to host defence

Article Abstract:

C5, the fifth component of the complement or innate immunity system which mediates and enhances acquired immune response, is responsible for the initiation of acute inflammatory response in case of infection. C5 is cleaved by C5 convertase, which is a multicomponent enzyme formed from other complement factors. This convertase generates a fragment, C5a or anaphylatoxin, which is involved in several biological activities. The host environment requires factors that enable optimal neutrophil function. These factors may be produced by the secondary actions of C5a.

author: Henson, Peter
Analysis, Infection, Natural immunity

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DNA damage enables p73

Article Abstract:

Recent research has provided evidence that p73, a p53-related gene, is a target of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl in response to DNA damage. This finding establishes a further functional parallel between p53 and p73. However, p53, p73 and p63, another p53-related gene, appear to have very different functions. In particular, p53 is unique in acting as a tumour suppressor, as shown by the fact that, in human cancers, loss or mutation of p73 or p63 appears to be infrequent.

author: Prives, Carol, White, Eileen
Tumor suppressor genes

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Cell-cycle related regulation of poly(A) polymerase by phosphorylation

Article Abstract:

The maturation/mitosis-promoting factor, MPF phosphorylates the Poly(A) polymerase (PAP) both in vivo and in vitro. This results in hyperphosphorylated PAP during meiotic maturation of Xenopus oocytes and arresting of HeLa cells in M phase. The MPF-induced hyperphosphorylation reduces the activity of purified PAP and inhibits PAP isolated from mitotic HeLa cells. This repression causes a reduction in poly(A)+ RNA and protein synthesis that occurrs in the HeLa M phase cells.

author: Prives, Carol, Manley, James L., Colgan, Diana Foukal, Murthy, K.G.K.
Cell cycle, Phosphorylation

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subjects list: Physiological aspects, Enzymes, Research
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