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Full-Text Articles in Molecular Biology

Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Formin Homology 2 Domain, Henry N. Higgs, Kevin J. Peterson Oct 2004

Phylogenetic Analysis Of The Formin Homology 2 Domain, Henry N. Higgs, Kevin J. Peterson

Dartmouth Scholarship

Formin proteins are key regulators of eukaryotic actin filament assembly and elongation, and many species possess multiple formin isoforms. A nomenclature system based on fundamental features would be desirable, to aid the rapid identification and characterization of novel formins. In this article, we attempt to systematize the formin family by performing phylogenetic analyses of the formin homology 2 (FH2) domain, an independently folding region common to all formins, which alone can influence actin dynamics. Through database searches, we identify 101 FH2 domains from 26 eukaryotic species, including 15 in mice. Sequence alignments reveal a highly conserved yeast-specific insert in the …


Nrage Regulates Life And Death Of Neural Progenitors, Stephen E. Kendall Aug 2004

Nrage Regulates Life And Death Of Neural Progenitors, Stephen E. Kendall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The development of the central nervous system requires the orchestration of numerous instructive and permissive cues. These factors are secreted from signaling centers and function in a concentration dependent manner that effects the proliferation, survival and differentiation of neural progenitors (NP) and their differentiated progeny. The family including bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are key regulators of NP expansion and survival. However, once NP become committed to a neuronal fate and begin to differentiate they compete for limited amounts of neurotrophin that facilitate further growth and survival. Here we show that the p75 neurotrophin receptor interacting protein NRAGE is expressed in …