Inhibition of taurine transport by cyclosporin A is due to altered surface abundance of the taurine transporter and is reversible.

We have investigated the underlying mechanism of the CsA-induced inhibition of taurine transport using a cell line permanently expressing the mouse taurine transporter (mTauT) tagged with the green-fluorescence protein (GFP). CsA inhibited the uptake activity of the expressed mTauT.GFP fusion protein in both dose and time dependent manner.

Taurine and guanidinoethanesulfonic acid (GES) differentially affects the expression and phosphorylation of cellular proteins in C6 glial cells.

Effects of taurine and guanidinoethanesulfonic acid (GES), a taurine transport inhibitor, on the expression and phosphorylation of cellular proteins in C6 glial cells were examined using two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis and 2-D immunoblots. 2-D gels stained with Coomassie Blue or SYPRO Ruby showed differential distribution patterns of cellular proteins in the control, taurine-supplemented and GES-supplemented cells. 2-D immunoblot analysis using the anti-phosphotyrosine antibody recognized only few immuno-reactive proteins in all three samples, and their distribution patterns were different.

Orientation of d-tubocurarine in the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-binding site.

Ligand modification and receptor site-directed mutagenesis were used to examine binding of the competitive antagonist, d-tubocurarine (dTC), to the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR). By using various dTC analogs, we measured the interactions of specific dTC functional groups with amino acid positions in the AChR gamma-subunit. Because data for mutations at residue gammaTyr(117) were the most consistent with direct interaction with dTC, we focused on that residue.

Cloning, expression, and biological activity of recombinant alpha-cinnamomin: toxicity to cranberry and other plant species.

Elicitins produced by the pathogenic fungi Phytophthora are known to exhibit The elicitin cinnamomin is of nonspecific toxicity to different solanaceous plant species. particular interest for its potential role in the hypersensitive-like cell death and in the biological response of cranberry plants to the fungal pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. In order to understand the biochemical steps of the Phytophthora root rot disease in cranberry, we investigated the alpha-cinnamomin-induced plant responses.