Functional Impact of Human Genetic Variants of /Endostatin on Pulmonary Endothelium.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an incurable disease characterized by disordered and dysfunctional angiogenesis leading to small-vessel loss and an obliterative vasculopathy. The pathogenesis of PAH is not fully understood, but multiple studies have demonstrated links between elevated angiostatic factors, disease severity, and adverse clinical outcomes. ES (endostatin), one such circulating angiostatic peptide, is the cleavage product of the proteoglycan (collagen α1[XVIII] chain).

Organelle-specific, rapid induction of molecular activities and membrane tethering.

Using new chemically inducible dimerization probes, we generated a system to rapidly target proteins to individual intracellular organelles. Using this system, we activated Ras GTPase at distinct intracellular locations and induced tethering of membranes from two organelles, endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Innovative techniques to rapidly perturb molecular activities and organelle-organelle communications at precise locations and timing will provide powerful strategies to dissect spatiotemporally complex biological processes.