Nutraceuticals can reduce the risk of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, immune deficiencies, neurodegeneration, and others. Their delivery remains a challenge because it depends on many factors, most notably the stability of the bioactive compounds. Yolkin is a peptide complex isolated from hen egg yolk with immunomodulatory and neuroprotective potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have previously shown that high expression of prolactin-induced protein (PIP) correlates with the response of breast cancer (BC) patients to standard adjuvant chemotherapy (doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide), which suggests that the absence of this glycoprotein is associated with resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapy. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed the impact of PIP expression on resistance of BC cells to anti-cancer drugs and its biological role in BC progression. Expression of PIP and apoptotic genes in BC cell lines was analyzed using real-time PCR and Western blotting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMost glycosyltransferases show remarkable gross and fine substrate specificity, which is reflected in the old one enzyme-one linkage paradigm. While human Gb3/CD77 synthase is a glycosyltransferase that synthesizes the Galα1→4Gal moiety mainly on glycosphingolipids, its pigeon homolog prefers glycoproteins as acceptors. In this study, we characterized two Gb3/CD77 synthase paralogs found in pigeons ().
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe human Gb3/CD77 synthase, encoded by the A4GALT gene, is an unusually promiscuous glycosyltransferase. It synthesizes the Galα1→4Gal linkage on two different glycosphingolipids (GSLs), producing globotriaosylceramide (Gb3, CD77, P) and the P1 antigen. Gb3 is the major receptor for Shiga toxins (Stxs) produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFContrary to the mainstream blood group systems, P1PK continues to puzzle and generate controversies over its molecular background. The P1PK system comprises three glycosphingolipid antigens: Pk, P1 and NOR, all synthesised by a glycosyltransferase called Gb3/CD77 synthase. The Pk antigen is present in most individuals, whereas P1 frequency is lesser and varies regionally, thus underlying two common phenotypes: P1, if the P1 antigen is present, and P2, when P1 is absent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz)
June 2017
Contrary to general view that the MHC Class I and II are the kapellmeisters of recognition and response to antigens, there is another big player in that part of immunity, represented by CD1 glycoproteins. In contrast to MHC Class I or II, which present peptides, CD1 molecules present lipids. Humans express five CD1 proteins (CD1a-e), four of which (CD1a-d) are trafficked to the cell surface, where they may display lipid antigens to T-cell receptors.
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