As a branch of the unfolded protein response, protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) represses global translation in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. This pathophysiological condition is associated with the tumor microenvironment in cancer. Previous findings in our lab have suggested that PERK selectively represses translation of some mRNAs, but this possibility awaits additional investigation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe developmental program of the heart requires accurate regulation to ensure continuous circulation and simultaneous cardiac morphogenesis, because any functional abnormalities may progress to congenital heart malformation. Notably, energy metabolism in fetal ventricular cells is regulated in a manner that differs from adult ventricular cells: fetal cardiomyocytes generally have immature mitochondria and fetal ventricular cells show greater dependence on glycolytic ATP production. However, although various characteristics of energy metabolism in fetal ventricular cells have been reported, to our knowledge, a quantitative description of the contributions of these factors to fetal ventricular cell functions has not yet been established.
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