UTRs and Ago-2/miR-335 Complex Restricts Amylin Translation in Insulinoma and Human Pancreatic β-Cells.

Amylin promoter and transcriptional factors are well-established, inducible factors in the production of the main amyloidogenic pancreatic hormone, human islet amyloid peptide (hIAPP) or amylin. However, posttranscriptional mechanisms driving hIAPP expression in pancreas remain enigmatic, and hence were explored here. The translational assay revealed that both 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of hIAPP restricted expression of the luciferase constructs only in constructs driven by the hIAPP promoter.

Differential Efficacy of Small Molecules Dynasore and Mdivi-1 for the Treatment of Dry Eye Epitheliopathy or as a Countermeasure for Nitrogen Mustard Exposure of the Ocular Surface.

The ocular surface comprises the wet mucosal epithelia of the cornea and conjunctiva, the associated glands, and the overlying tear film. Epitheliopathy is the common pathologic outcome when the ocular surface is subjected to oxidative stress. Whether different stresses act via the same or different mechanisms is not known.

Munc13 Is a Molecular Target of Bryostatin 1.

Bryostatin 1 is a natural macrolide shown to improve neuronal connections and enhance memory in mice. Its mechanism of action is largely attributed to the modulation of novel and conventional protein kinase Cs (PKCs) by binding to their regulatory C1 domains. Munc13-1 is a C1 domain-containing protein that shares common endogenous and exogenous activators with novel and conventional PKC subtypes.

Ethanol Regulates Presynaptic Activity and Sedation through Presynaptic Unc13 Proteins in .

Ethanol has robust effects on presynaptic activity in many neurons, however, it is not yet clear how this drug acts within this compartment to change neural activity, nor the significance of this change on behavior and physiology . One possible presynaptic effector for ethanol is the Munc13-1 protein. Herein, we show that ethanol binding to the rat Munc13-1 C1 domain, at concentrations consistent with binge exposure, reduces diacylglycerol (DAG) binding.

Apoptosis signal regulating kinase-1 and NADPH oxidase mediate human amylin evoked redox stress and apoptosis in pancreatic beta-cells.

Misfolded toxic human islet amyloid polypeptide or amylin (hA) and plasma membrane-associated redox complex, NADPH oxidase (NOX), have been implicated in the islet β-cell demise associated with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Studies show that hA accumulation is stressful to β-cells and that misfolding of human amylin evokes redox stress and activates mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases, p38 MAPK and c-Jun N-terminal (JNK) kinase. However, the molecular link and causality between hA-evoked redox stress, NOX activity and MAP kinases signaling in pancreatic β-cells is incompletely understood.

Structural determinants of phorbol ester binding activity of the C1a and C1b domains of protein kinase C theta.

The PKC isozymes represent the most prominent family of signaling proteins mediating response to the ubiquitous second messenger diacylglycerol. Among them, PKCθ is critically involved in T-cell activation. Whereas all the other conventional and novel PKC isoforms have twin C1 domains with potent binding activity for phorbol esters, in PKCθ only the C1b domain possesses potent binding activity, with little or no activity reported for the C1a domain.

Critical Role of Trp-588 of Presynaptic Munc13-1 for Ligand Binding and Membrane Translocation.

Munc13-1 is a presynaptic active-zone protein essential for neurotransmitter release and presynaptic plasticity in the brain. This multidomain scaffold protein contains a C1 domain that binds to the activator diacylglycerol/phorbol ester. Although the C1 domain bears close structural homology with the C1 domains of protein kinase C (PKC), the tryptophan residue at position 22 (588 in the full-length Munc13-1) occludes the activator binding pocket, which is not the case for PKC.

Resveratrol inhibits phorbol ester-induced membrane translocation of presynaptic Munc13-1.

Background: Resveratrol (1) is a naturally occurring polyphenol that has been implicated in neuroprotection. One of resveratrol's several biological targets is Ca-sensitive protein kinase C alpha (PKCα). Resveratrol inhibits PKCα by binding to its activator-binding C1 domain.

Curcumin Inhibits Protein Kinase Cα Activity by Binding to Its C1 Domain.

Curcumin is a polyphenolic nutraceutical that acts on multiple biological targets, including protein kinase C (PKC). PKC is a family of serine/threonine kinases central to intracellular signal transduction. We have recently shown that curcumin selectively inhibits PKCα, but not PKCε, in CHO-K1 cells [Pany, S.

Selective Modulation of Protein Kinase C α over Protein Kinase C ε by Curcumin and Its Derivatives in CHO-K1 Cells.

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases regulate various cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis. Modulation of isoform-selective activity of PKC by curcumin (1), the active constituent of Curcuma L., is poorly understood, and the literature data are inconsistent and obscure.

Alcohol binding in the C1 (C1A+C1B) domain of protein kinase C epsilon.

Background: Alcohol regulates the expression and function of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε). In a previous study we identified an alcohol binding site in the C1B, one of the twin C1 subdomains of PKCε (Das et al., Biochem.

The pre-synaptic Munc13-1 binds alcohol and modulates alcohol self-administration in Drosophila.

Munc13-1 is a pre-synaptic active-zone protein essential for neurotransmitter release and involved in pre-synaptic plasticity in brain. Ethanol, butanol, and octanol quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of the C1 domain of Munc13-1 with EC₅₀ s of 52 mM, 26 mM, and 0.7 mM, respectively.

PKC activation by resveratrol derivatives with unsaturated aliphatic chain.

Resveratrol (1) is a naturally occurring phytoalexin that affects a variety of human disease models, including cardio- and neuroprotection, immune regulation, and cancer chemoprevention. One of the possible mechanisms by which resveratrol affects these disease states is by affecting the cellular signaling network involving protein kinase C (PKC). PKC is the family of serine/threonine kinases, whose activity is inhibited by resveratrol.

Binding of isoxazole and pyrazole derivatives of curcumin with the activator binding domain of novel protein kinase C.

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of serine/threonine kinases is an attractive drug target because of its involvement in the regulation of various cellular functions, including cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, and apoptosis. The endogenous PKC activator diacylglycerol contains two long carbon chains, which are attached to the glycerol moiety via ester linkage. Natural product curcumin (1), the active constituent of Curcuma L.

Chemical modifications of resveratrol for improved protein kinase C alpha activity.

Resveratrol (1) is a naturally occurring phytoalexin that affects a variety of human disease models, including cardio- and neuroprotection, immune regulation, and cancer chemoprevention. One of the possible mechanisms by which resveratrol affects these disease states is by affecting the cellular signaling network involving protein kinase C alpha (PKCα). PKCα is a member of the family of serine/threonine kinases, whose activity is inhibited by resveratrol.

Modulation of PP2A activity by Jacalin: is it through caveolae and ER chaperones?

Plant lectins have been reported to affect the proliferation of different human cancer cell line probably by binding to the specific carbohydrate moieties. In the present study, Badan labeled single cysteine mutant (present in the caveolin-1 binding motif) of jacalin (rJacalin) was found to penetrate the target membrane, indicating a protein-protein or protein-membrane interaction apart from its primary mode of binding i.e.

Membrane bound monomer of Staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin induces caspase activation and apoptotic cell death despite initiation of membrane repair pathway.

Background: Wild type Staphylococcal alpha-hemolysin (alpha-HL) assembly on target mammalian cells usually results in necrotic form of cell death; however, caspase activation also occurs. The pathways of caspase activation due to binding/partial assembly by alpha-HL are unknown till date.

Results: Cells treated with H35N (a mutant of alpha-HL that remains as membrane bound monomer), have been shown to accumulate hypodiploid nuclei, activate caspases and induce intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

PKC epsilon has an alcohol-binding site in its second cysteine-rich regulatory domain.

Alcohols regulate the expression and function of PKC (protein kinase C), and it has been proposed that an alcohol-binding site is present in PKC alpha in its C1 domain, which consists of two cysteine-rich subdomains, C1A and C1B. A PKC epsilon-knockout mouse showed a significant decrease in alcohol consumption compared with the wild-type. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether an alcohol-binding site could be present in PKC epsilon.

Aromatic residues of Caveolin-1 binding motif of alpha-hemolysin are essential for membrane penetration.

We have created single cysteine Caveolin-1 binding motif mutants (SCCBMMs) of staphylococcal alpha-HL for understanding assembly and penetration. All SCCBMMs have normal folding like alpha-HL as examined by limited proteolysis, intrinsic fluorescence emission, no hemolytic activity and do not form hetero oligomers with alpha-HL indicating that the conformational changes occurred at the cell membrane are different to that of alpha-HL. While modification of SCCBMMs with a membrane impermeant reagent has resulted in reduced binding, badan modification has resulted in the enhancement of badan fluorescence with time of assembly (incubation time) indicating the change in environment of the badan and the need for the penetration of the aromatic amino acids.

Caveolin-1 binding motif of alpha-hemolysin: its role in stability and pore formation.

We have identified a nine amino sequence in alpha-hemolysin (alpha-HL) of Staphylococcus aureus, which binds Caveolin-1. Surface plasmon resonance studies clearly show a concentration dependent interaction of alpha-HL with the scaffolding domain of Caveolin-1. Mutants of alpha-HL, devoid of Caveolin-1 recognition motif, exhibit an alpha-HL like proteinase K digestion profile but the resultant 'half-like' domains are highly susceptible to further proteolysis.