Publications by authors named "Mrinalini Dixit"
N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are critical for higher-order nervous system function, but in previously published protocols to convert human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to mature neurons, functional NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are often either not reported or take an extended time to develop. Here, we describe a protocol to convert human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to mature neurons in only 37 days. We demonstrate that the mature neurons express functional NMDARs exhibiting ligand-activated calcium flux, and we document the presence of NMDAR-mediated electrically evoked postsynaptic current.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe cardiac Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1.1) serves as the primary means of Ca(2+) extrusion across the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes after the rise in intracellular Ca(2+) during contraction. The exchanger is regulated by binding of Ca(2+) to its intracellular domain, which contains two structurally homologous Ca(2+) binding domains denoted as CBD1 and CBD2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The cytoplasmic domain of the anion exchange protein (cdb3) is essential for organizing protein-protein interactions that help maintain the stability of the red blood cell membrane.
- X-ray crystallography revealed a compact dimer structure for a specific region of cdb3, while earlier studies hinted at an asymmetric structure and pH-sensitive transitions.
- Investigations using spin labeling and EPR techniques confirmed that the core structure remains stable at neutral pH, with disordered regions at the ends, providing critical insights into how cdb3 interacts within the erythrocyte membrane.