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Full-Text Articles in Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology
Nonhematopoietic Erythropoietin: A Study Of Signaling, Structure, And Behavior, Nicholas John Pekas
Nonhematopoietic Erythropoietin: A Study Of Signaling, Structure, And Behavior, Nicholas John Pekas
Dissertations and Theses
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a cytokine hormone known for initiating red blood cell proliferation by binding to its homodimer receptor (EPOR)2 in the bone marrow. Recent progress in neurobiology has shown that EPO also exerts robust neurotrophic and neuroprotective activity in the CNS. It is widely thought that EPO’s neurotrophic activity is centrally involved in its antidepressant and cognitive enhancing effects. However, EPO’s potent erythropoietic effects prevent it from being used in the clinic to treat psychiatric disorders. A chemically engineered non-erythropoietic derivative of EPO, carbamoylated EPO (CEPO), produces psychoactive effects without activating hematopoiesis. However, CEPO is expensive to produce and …
Mechanisms Of Connexin-46 And -50 Intercellular Channel Function And Stability By Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Bassam George Haddad
Mechanisms Of Connexin-46 And -50 Intercellular Channel Function And Stability By Molecular Dynamics Simulations, Bassam George Haddad
Dissertations and Theses
Gap junctions make up a class of intercellular channels that characteristically connect the cytoplasm of directly apposed cells through large assemblies, or plaques, constituted by a multitude of intercellular channels. Gap junction mediated intercellular communication is critical for a variety of physiological functions, from coordinating electrical impulses in the heart and brain to maintaining homeostasis in most tissues. There are 21 isoforms of connexins, the constituent subunit of the gap junction, expressed in a tissue dependent manner. Gap junctions formed from different isoforms exhibit distinct biophysical properties, such as gating kinetics and sensitivity, as well as unique permeability and selectivity …