Publications by authors named "Uta Demus"
Reversible protein phosphorylation is a posttranslational modification of regulatory proteins involved in cardiac signaling pathways. Here, we focus on the role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) for cardiac gene expression and stress response using a transgenic mouse model with cardiac myocyte-specific overexpression of the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2A-TG). Gene and protein expression were assessed under basal conditions by gene chip analysis and Western blotting.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNitric oxide synthase is up-regulated in muscle fibers in muscular dystrophy.
Biochem Biophys Res Commun
September 2006
Article Synopsis
- Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in regulating functions in skeletal muscle, with a specific focus on its relationship to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
- Contrary to earlier beliefs that only the neuronal isoform (NOS1) was lost in DMD, recent studies show that all three NOS isoforms (NOS1, NOS2, NOS3) are present in the muscle tissue of both healthy and DMD-affected individuals.
- This research indicates that the muscle degeneration in DMD may stem from a deficiency of NO due to superoxides interfering with its action, rather than a decrease in NOS production itself.
Article Synopsis
- Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD) are linked to reduced levels of nitric oxide (NO), but the specific mechanisms for this deficiency and the resulting muscle cell degeneration are unclear.
- Research showed that, contrary to previous beliefs, neuronal NO synthase (NOS) is not just found at the muscle cell surface; muscle tissues from DMD and BMD patients displayed all three NOS isoforms with an increase in inducible NOS, CREB, and nitrotyrosine.
- The study suggests that heightened nitrotyrosine levels in muscle fibers and blood vessels indicate significant oxidative stress, which disrupts normal NO function due to it being scavenged by superoxides.
Subcellular characterization of the primordial germ cell antigen PG2 in adult oocytes.
Histochem Cell Biol
September 2005
Primordial germ cells represent the founder population for establishing the germ line providing the continuity of life between generations. PG2, a germ cell-specific antigen, is one of the few continuously detectable epitopes in mammalian primordial germ cells and it is dynamically expressed during early post-fertilization development and during postnatal germ cell maturation. Immunoelectron microscopy shows a localization of PG2 in the peri-mitochondrial cytoplasm but its further subcellular or biochemical nature remains elusive.
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