Neuronostatin encoded by the somatostatin gene regulates neuronal, cardiovascular, and metabolic functions.

Somatostatin is important in the regulation of diverse neuroendocrine functions. Based on bioinformatic analyses of evolutionarily conserved sequences, we predicted another peptide hormone in pro-somatostatin and named it neuronostatin. Immuno-affinity purification allowed the sequencing of an amidated neuronostatin peptide of 13 residues from porcine tissues.

The involvement of calcium in the regulation of GPX1 expression.

Detrimental effects of salinity on plants are known to be partially alleviated by external Ca(2+). Previously we demonstrated that in citrus cells, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) is induced by salt and its activation can be monitored by pGPX1::GUS fusion in transformed tobacco cells. In this paper we further characterized the induction of GPX1 by additional treatments, which are known to affect Ca(2+) transport.

Matching receptome genes with their ligands for surveying paracrine/autocrine signaling systems.

Sequencing of genomes from diverse organisms facilitates studies on the repertoire of genes involved in intercellular signaling. Extending previous efforts to annotate most human plasma membrane receptors in the Human Plasma Membrane Receptome database, we matched cognate ligands with individual receptors by surveying the published literature. In the updated online database we called "liganded receptome," users can search for individual ligands or receptors to reveal their pairing partners and browse through receptor or ligand families to identify relationships between ligands and receptors in their respective families.

Obestatin, a peptide encoded by the ghrelin gene, opposes ghrelin's effects on food intake.

Ghrelin, a circulating appetite-inducing hormone, is derived from a prohormone by posttranslational processing. On the basis of the bioinformatic prediction that another peptide also derived from proghrelin exists, we isolated a hormone from rat stomach and named it obestatin-a contraction of obese, from the Latin "obedere," meaning to devour, and "statin," denoting suppression. Contrary to the appetite-stimulating effects of ghrelin, treatment of rats with obestatin suppressed food intake, inhibited jejunal contraction, and decreased body-weight gain.

The salt-stress signal transduction pathway that activates the gpx1 promoter is mediated by intracellular H2O2, different from the pathway induced by extracellular H2O2.

Several genes encoding putative glutathione peroxidase have been isolated from a variety of plants, all of which show the highest homology to the phospholipid hydroperoxide isoform. Several observations suggest that the proteins are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Previous studies on the regulation of gpx1, the Citrus sinensis gene encoding phospholipid hydroperoxide isoform, led to the conclusion that salt-induced expression of gpx1 transcript and its encoded protein is mediated by oxidative stress.

Protein related to DAN and cerberus is a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist that participates in ovarian paracrine regulation.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are important for body patterning and morphogenesis, whereas several BMP antagonists regulate the functions of BMPs during embryonic development and tissue differentiation. Protein related to DAN and cerberus (PRDC) is a secreted protein with a cystine knot structure identified by gene trapping in embryonic stem cells. Although PRDC shows sequence homology with proteins of the BMP antagonist family, its biological activity and physiological functions are unclear.

Comparative genomic analysis of the eight-membered ring cystine knot-containing bone morphogenetic protein antagonists.

TGF-beta family proteins with a cystine knot motif serve as ligands for diverse families of plasma membrane receptors. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonists represent a subgroup of these proteins, some of which bind BMPs and antagonize their actions during development and morphogenesis. Availability of completed genome sequences from diverse organisms allows bioinformatic analysis of the evolution of BMP antagonists and facilitates their classification.

Indole acetic acid distribution coincides with vascular differentiation pattern during Arabidopsis leaf ontogeny.

We used an anti-indole acetic acid (IAA or auxin) monoclonal antibody-based immunocytochemical procedure to monitor IAA level in Arabidopsis tissues. Using immunocytochemistry and the IAA-driven beta-glucuronidase (GUS) activity of Aux/IAA promoter::GUS constructs to detect IAA distribution, we investigated the role of polar auxin transport in vascular differentiation during leaf development in Arabidopsis. We found that shoot apical cells contain high levels of IAA and that IAA decreases as leaf primordia expand.