Variable intron/exon structure in the oligochaete lombricine kinase gene.

Lombricine kinase is an annelid enzyme that belongs to the phosphagen kinase family of which creatine kinase and arginine kinase are the typical representatives. The enzymes play important roles in the cellular energy metabolism of animals. Biochemical, physiological and molecular information with respect to lombricine kinase is limited compared to other phosphagen kinases.

Effects of the HIV-1 protein Tat on myocardial function and response to endotoxin.

HIV-1 infection has been associated with cardiomyopathy in a subset of patients. In order to determine whether HIV-1 alters myocardial function or the myocardial response to stress, transgenic mice that express the HIV-1 protein Tat were used. Heart function was assessed using the isolated working heart preparation.

cDNA identification, comparison and phylogenetic aspects of lombricine kinase from two oligochaete species.

Creatine kinase and arginine kinase are the typical representatives of an eight-member phosphagen kinase family, which play important roles in the cellular energy metabolism of animals. The phylum Annelida underwent a series of evolutionary processes that resulted in rapid divergence and radiation of these enzymes, producing the greatest diversity of the phosphagen kinases within this phylum. Lombricine kinase (EC 2.

Identification of a cytoplasmic manganese superoxide dismutase (cMnSOD) in the red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii: cDNA cloning and tissue expression.

A cytoplasmic manganese superoxide dismutase (cMnSOD) cDNA was cloned from the hepatopancreas of the red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii. An initial cDNA fragment was identified by using degenerate primers, and the complete sequence was obtained by using RACE methodology. The full sequence comprises 1140 bp, with an open reading frame of 858 bp encoding a protein of 286 amino acids.

The promoter for the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of rat glucose-6-phosphatase contains two distinct glucose-responsive regions.

Glucose homeostasis requires the proper expression and regulation of the catalytic subunit of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase), which hydrolyzes glucose 6-phosphate to glucose in glucose-producing tissues. Glucose induces the expression of G-6-Pase at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels by unknown mechanisms. To better understand this metabolic regulation, we mapped the cis-regulatory elements conferring glucose responsiveness to the rat G-6-Pase gene promoter in glucose-responsive cell lines.