Segmented transition pathway of the signaling protein nitrogen regulatory protein C.

Recent advances in experimental methods provide increasing evidence that proteins sample the conformational substates that are important for function in the absence of their ligands. An example is the receiver domain of nitrogen regulatory protein C, a member of the phosphorylation-mediated signaling family of "two-component systems." The receiver domain of nitrogen regulatory protein C samples both inactive conformation and the active conformation before phosphorylation.

Role of cyclophilin D in the resistance of brain mitochondria to the permeability transition.

The mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is involved in both necrosis and apoptosis. Cyclophilin D (CypD) is an important component of the MPT. Brain mitochondria are more resistant to the MPT when compared to heart or liver mitochondria.