TMEM203 Is a Novel Regulator of Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis and Is Required for Spermatogenesis.

Intracellular calcium signaling is critical for initiating and sustaining diverse cellular functions including transcription, synaptic signaling, muscle contraction, apoptosis and fertilization. Trans-membrane 203 (TMEM203) was identified here in cDNA overexpression screens for proteins capable of modulating intracellular calcium levels using activation of a calcium/calcineurin regulated transcription factor as an indicator. Overexpression of TMEM203 resulted in a reduction of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) calcium stores and elevation in basal cytoplasmic calcium levels.

Development of comprehensive functional genomic screens to identify novel mediators of osteoarthritis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop high-throughput assays for the analysis of major chondrocyte functions that are important in osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis and methods for high-level gene expression and analysis in primary human chondrocytes.

Methods: In the first approach, complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries were constructed from OA cartilage RNA and full-length clones were selected. These cDNAs were transferred into a retroviral vector using Gateway Technology.

Activation of cAMP response element-mediated gene expression by regulated nuclear transport of TORC proteins.

The CREB family of proteins are critical mediators of gene expression in response to extracellular signals and are essential regulators of adaptive behavior and long-term memory formation. The TORC proteins were recently described as potent CREB coactivators, but their role in regulation of CREB activity remained unknown. TORC proteins were found to be exported from the nucleus in a CRM1-dependent fashion.

Synthesis of 27-hydroxycholesterol in rat liver mitochondria: HPLC assay and marked activation by exogenous cholesterol.

Sterol 27-hydroxylase, the mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the first step in oxidation of the sterol side chain in hepatic bile acid synthesis, also catalyzes the synthesis of 27-hydroxycholesterol from cholesterol. We have developed a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay for this enzyme, using either endogenous or exogenous cholesterol as substrate and cholesterol oxidase to convert 27-hydroxycholesterol to 4-cholesten-27-hydroxy-3-one. The alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone product was separated by normal phase HPLC and quantitated via absorption at 240 nm.