4F2hc-silencing impairs tumorigenicity of HeLa cells via modulation of galectin-3 and β-catenin signaling, and MMP-2 expression.

4F2hc is a type-II glycoprotein whose covalent-bound association with one of several described light chains yields a heterodimer mainly involved in large neutral amino acid transport. Likewise, it is well known that the heavy chain interacts with β-integrins mediating integrin-dependent events such as survival, proliferation, migration and even transformation. 4F2hc is a ubiquitous protein whose overexpression has been related to tumor development and progression.

Role of diabetes- and obesity-related protein in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation.

Although thyroid hormone (TH) is known to exert important effects on the skeleton, the nuclear factors constituting the TH receptor coactivator complex and the molecular pathways by which TH mediates its effects on target gene expression in osteoblasts remain poorly understood. A recent study demonstrated that the actions of TH on myoblast differentiation are dependent on diabetes- and obesity-related protein (DOR). However, the role of DOR in osteoblast differentiation is unknown.

Human endometrial CD98 is essential for blastocyst adhesion.

Background: Understanding the molecular basis of embryonic implantation is of great clinical and biological relevance. Little is currently known about the adhesion receptors that determine endometrial receptivity for embryonic implantation in humans.

Methods And Principal Findings: Using two human endometrial cell lines characterized by low and high receptivity, we identified the membrane receptor CD98 as a novel molecule selectively and significantly associated with the receptive phenotype.

The nuclear receptor coactivator AIB3 is a modulator of HOMA beta-cell function in nondiabetic children.

Objective: The amplified in breast cancer-3 protein (AIB3) is a nuclear coactivator involved in proliferation, apoptosis and development. AIB3 loss of function causes deficient insulin secretion in mice, indicating that AIB3 participates in beta-cell regulation. Our objective was to evaluate genetic variants located on AIB3 associated with beta-cell function in children and to analyse the effect of AIB3 overexpression on gene expression in insulin 1 (INS-1) beta-pancreatic cells.

Identification of a novel modulator of thyroid hormone receptor-mediated action.

Background: Diabetes is characterized by reduced thyroid function and altered myogenesis after muscle injury. Here we identify a novel component of thyroid hormone action that is repressed in diabetic rat muscle.

Methodology/principal Findings: We have identified a gene, named DOR, abundantly expressed in insulin-sensitive tissues such as skeletal muscle and heart, whose expression is highly repressed in muscle from obese diabetic rats.

The structure of human 4F2hc ectodomain provides a model for homodimerization and electrostatic interaction with plasma membrane.

4F2hc (CD98hc) is a multifunctional type II membrane glycoprotein involved in amino acid transport and cell fusion, adhesion, and transformation. The structure of the ectodomain of human 4F2hc has been solved using monoclinic (Protein Data Bank code 2DH2) and orthorhombic (Protein Data Bank code 2DH3) crystal forms at 2.1 and 2.