Proton inventory studies of alpha-thrombin-catalyzed reactions of substrates with selected P and P' sites.

Deuterium kinetic solvent isotope effects for the human alpha-thrombin-catalyzed hydrolysis of (1) substrates with selected P(1)-P(3) sites, Z-Pro-Arg-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (7-AMC), N-t-Boc-Val-Pro-Arg-7-AMC, Bz-Phe-Val-Arg-4-nitroanilide (pNA), and H-D-Phe-L-Pip-Arg-pNA, are (DOD)k(cat) = (2.8-3.3) +/- 0.

Oxidative stress is involved in the heat stress-induced downregulation of TCR zeta chain expression and TCR/CD3-mediated [Ca(2+)](i) response in human T-lymphocytes.

Exposure of human T-lymphocytes to heat downregulates TCR zeta chain expression and inhibits (TCR)/CD3-mediated production of inositol triphosphate and [Ca(2+)](i) signaling. Here we investigated whether oxidative stress is involved in the heat-induced downregulation of TCR/CD3-mediated signaling. To this end, we have studied the effect of a thiol antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), and a non-thiol antioxidant, allopurinol, on heat-induced downregulation of TCR/CD3-mediated signaling.

Abnormal expression of various molecular forms and distribution of T cell receptor zeta chain in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: T cells from the majority of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) display antigen receptor-mediated signaling aberrations associated with defective T cell receptor (TCR) zeta chain expression. The TCR zeta chain, a critical signaling molecule, exists in multiple molecular forms and membrane fractions with distinct functions in antigen-mediated signaling processes. This study was undertaken to investigate the complete spectrum of expression of the different forms and distribution of the TCR zeta chain in SLE T cells.