A molecular basis for spine color morphs in the sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus.

Animals of the phylum Echinodermata are characterized by a pentaradially symmetric endoskeleton in adults. Echinoids also have endoskeletal spines ranging in length from several millimeters (sand dollars e.g.

Regeneration in bipinnaria larvae of the bat star Patiria miniata induces rapid and broad new gene expression.

Background: Some metazoa have the capacity to regenerate lost body parts. This phenomenon in adults has been classically described in echinoderms, especially in sea stars (Asteroidea). Sea star bipinnaria larvae can also rapidly and effectively regenerate a complete larva after surgical bisection.

Complexity of Yolk Proteins and Their Dynamics in the Sea Star Patiria miniata.

Oviparous animals store yolk proteins within the developing oocyte. These proteins are used in gametogenesis and as a nutritional source for embryogenesis. Vitellogenin and the major yolk protein are two of the most important yolk proteins among diverse species of invertebrates and vertebrates.

Dysferlin is essential for endocytosis in the sea star oocyte.

Dysferlin is a calcium-binding transmembrane protein involved in membrane fusion and membrane repair. In humans, mutations in the dysferlin gene are associated with muscular dystrophy. In this study, we isolated plasma membrane-enriched fractions from full-grown immature oocytes of the sea star, and identified dysferlin by mass spectrometry analysis.

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate increases spermatocyte mitochondrial peroxiredoxin 3 and cyclooxygenase 2.

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the biologically active metabolite of the plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is a member of a class of chemical compounds with known adverse effects on the male reproductive system. Recent studies showed that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in germ cells may contribute to phthalate-induced disruption of spermatogenesis. To determine whether the redox-protein mitochondrial thioredoxin-dependent peroxidase, peroxiredoxin 3 (Prx3), may be a component of germ cell homeostasis mechanisms, this study first examined the physiologic relevance of Prx3 in the rodent testis by determining its cell-specific expression.

Phosphorylation of rat liver mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase by casein kinase 2.

We have previously shown rat liver mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (mtGAT), which catalyzes the first step in de novo glycerolipid biosynthesis, is stimulated by casein kinase 2 (CK2) and that a phosphorylated protein of approximately 85 kDa is present in CK2-treated mitochondria. In this paper, we have identified the (32)P-labeled 85-kDa protein as mtGAT. We have also investigated whether the phosphorylation of mtGAT is because of CK2.

Aging reduces glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase activity in activated rat splenic T-lymphocytes.

T-lymphocyte proliferation declines with age. Phosphatidic acid (PA) is the precursor to all glycerophospholipids, which serve as important membrane structural components and signaling molecules. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that aged T-lymphocyte proliferation may be reduced, in part, suppressing phosphatidic acid (PA) biosynthesis.

Casein kinase II stimulates rat liver mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase activity.

Rat liver mitochondrial glycerophosphate acyltransferase (mtGAT) possesses 14 consensus sites for casein kinase II (CKII) phosphorylation. To study the functional relevance of phosphorylation to the activity of mtGAT, we treated isolated rat liver mitochondria with CKII and found that CKII stimulated mtGAT activity approximately 2-fold. Protein phosphatase-lambda treatment reversed the stimulation of mtGAT by CKII.