Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology
Helical Packing Regulates Structural Transitions In Bax, Nuska Tschammer
Helical Packing Regulates Structural Transitions In Bax, Nuska Tschammer
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Apoptosis is essential for development and the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and is frequently dysregulated in disease states. Proteins of the BCL-2 family are key modulators of this process and are thus ideal therapeutic targets. In response to diverse apoptotic stimuli, the pro-apoptotic member of BCL-2 family, BAX, redistributes from the cytosol to the mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum and primes cells for death. The structural changes that enable this lethal protein to transition from a cytosolic form to a membrane-bound form remain poorly understood. Elucidating this process is a necessary step in the development of BAX as a novel therapeutic …
Regulation Of Apoptotic Alkalinization Through Phosphorylation Of Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger Via P38 Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase, Amy Greinier
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Regulation of intracellular pH is responsible for many cellular processes, such as metabolism, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. Many chemotherapeutic agents work by inducing target cells to undergo apoptosis, a cell death process still poorly understood. Previous studies demonstrated that a rise in intracellular pH activated apoptotic proteins leading to cytochrome C release. This "apoptotic alkalinization" occurred upon activation of the plasma membrane protein, sodium hydrogen exchanger-1 (NHE1), whose activity is regulated by the stress kinase p38 MAPK. In previous studies, upon cytokine withdrawal from cytokine-dependent lymphocytes induced the activity of the p38 MAP kinase which then phosphorylated the C-terminus …