Suppression of Arabidopsis GGLT1 affects growth by reducing the L-galactose content and borate cross-linking of rhamnogalacturonan-II.

Boron is a micronutrient that is required for the normal growth and development of vascular plants, but its precise functions remain a subject of debate. One established role for boron is in the cell wall where it forms a diester cross-link between two monomers of the low-abundance pectic polysaccharide rhamnogalacturonan-II (RG-II). The inability of RG-II to properly assemble into a dimer results in the formation of cell walls with abnormal biochemical and biomechanical properties and has a severe impact on plant productivity.

Inter-α inhibitor proteins maintain neutrophils in a resting state by regulating shape and reducing ROS production.

The plasma levels of inter-α inhibitor proteins (IAIPs) are decreased in patients with sepsis and the reduced levels correlate with increased mortality. In the present study, we examined the effects of IAIPs on human neutrophils to better understand the beneficial effects of IAIPs in the treatment of sepsis. We demonstrated that IAIPs induced a spherical shape that was smaller in size with a smooth cellular surface in a concentration-dependent manner.

Regulation of mouse Heparanase gene expression in T lymphocytes and tumor cells.

Heparanase (HPSE) is an endoglycosidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS) and plays an important role in tumor metastasis, angiogenesis and inflammation. The regulation of HPSE expression and function is tightly controlled and the increasing use of the mouse as an animal model to define the role of HPSE in many physiological and pathological settings, makes understanding the regulatory mechanisms of HPSE in this species of fundamental importance. However, the expression distribution of the mouse Hpse gene and the mechanisms that regulate its transcription are poorly defined.

Early growth response gene 1 (EGR1) regulates heparanase gene transcription in tumor cells.

Heparanase is an endoglycosidase that degrades heparan sulfate chains of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, a key component of extracellular matrix and basement membranes. Studies using heparanase inhibitors and gene silencing have provided evidence to support an important role for heparanase in tumor metastasis and angiogenesis. The expression of heparanase is normally very tightly controlled, however, it is commonly deregulated in tumor cells, which express elevated heparanase activity that correlates with high levels of heparanase mRNA.