Indications for a protective function of beta2-glycoprotein I in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

It has been shown that β(2) -glycoprotein I (β(2) GPI) interacts with von Willebrand factor (VWF) in a glycoprotein (GP)Ib binding state. Given the presence of active VWF multimers in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), we speculated that β(2) GPI might play a role in TTP. We found that β(2) GPI plasma levels were significantly lower in acute and remission TTP patients than in normal controls, showing a direct correlation with ADAMTS 13 levels and an inverse correlation with the extent of VWF activation.

Expression and functional analyses of EXO70 genes in Arabidopsis implicate their roles in regulating cell type-specific exocytosis.

During exocytosis, Golgi-derived vesicles are tethered to the target plasma membrane by a conserved octameric complex called the exocyst. In contrast to a single gene in yeast and most animals, plants have greatly increased number of EXO70 genes in their genomes, with functions very much unknown. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions were performed on all 23 EXO70 genes in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) to examine their expression at the organ level.