The Kinesin-5 AtKRP125b Is a Processive, Microtubule-Sliding Motor Protein with Putative Plant-Specific Functions.

The formation and maintenance of the mitotic spindle during cell division requires several microtubule-interacting motor proteins. Members of the kinesin-5 family play an essential role in the bipolar organization of the spindle. These highly conserved, homotetrameric proteins cross-link anti-parallel microtubules and slide them apart to elongate the spindle during the equal separation of chromosomes.

A Tug-of-War Model Explains the Saltatory Sperm Cell Movement in Pollen Tubes by Kinesins With Calponin Homology Domain.

Upon pollination, two sperm cells are transported inside the growing pollen tube toward the apex. One sperm cell fertilizes the egg cell to form the zygote, while the other fuses with the two polar nuclei to form the triploid endosperm. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the transport of the two sperm cells is characterized by sequential forward and backward movements with intermediate pauses.

Introduction of a new interlocked intramedullary nailing device for stabilization of critically sized femoral defects in the rat: A combined biomechanical and animal experimental study.

The goals of this study were to develop a new intramedullary, rotation-stable locking device and evaluate it biomechanically and in vivo for maintenance of a critical size osteotomy gap in a model of conscious pseudarthrosis. In standardized osteotomized rat femora (5 mm osteotomy gap) two different rotation- and axial-stable locking devices (group pS + cS) were tested in vitro with respect to biomechanics and compared to a control group without an additional locking device (K; n = 6 for each group). For in vivo studies, 27 male Sprague Dawley rats (250-300 g) underwent a femoral defect osteotomy of critical size and were stabilized by one of the three methods (n = 9 for each group).

Continuous intra-arterial application of substance P induces signs and symptoms of experimental complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) such as edema, inflammation and mechanical pain but no thermal pain.

Substance P is involved in nociception in both the peripheral nervous system and the CNS and has been documented to play a crucial role in the complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). So far, however, most experimental animal models are restricted to the effect of neurokinin-1 receptor blockers to inhibit substance P and do not directly evaluate its action. Thus, this study was conducted to test the hypothesis that local application of substance P causes signs and symptoms of CRPS.