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Remodeling of Adherens Junctions
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The intercellular Adherens Junctions (AJs) are specialized sub-apical structures that function as principle mediators of cell-cell adhesion. Their disassembly correlates with a loss of cell-cell contact and an acquisition of migratory potential. The Adherens Junctions have a crucial role both as sensors of extracellular stimuli and in regulating the dynamics [...]
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Renin-Angiotensin Pathway
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Proliferation and migration of VSMCs (Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells) in arteries plays an important role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and restenosis after angioplasty. A wide variety of growth factors, cytokines, and hormones activate these responses in blood vessels. A prominent growth factor for VSMCs is Angiotensin (Angiotensin-I and [...]
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Repair of 8-oxoG by hOGG1
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The genome of all living organisms are constantly exposed to exogenous and endogenous DNA-damaging agents and the greatest amount of damage is inflicted by the endogenous agents water and oxygen, which modify primarily the aromatic DNA bases. While ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) such as hydroxyl radicals convert guanine (G) to [...]
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Repair of O6-MeG by MGMT
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Alkylating reagents cause damage to DNA (mainly at O6-G (Guanine), O4-T (Thymine) and O2-T positions in DNA) similar to that induced by ultraviolet irradiation. The bases altered by these reagents are primarily purines (phosphate oxygen is also targets), and the spectrum of products formed varies with the reagent used. An [...]
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Repair of Thymine Dimers
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Irradiation of DNA by UV (Ultraviolet light) causes lesions, such as Cyclobutane-Pyrimidine Dimers or 6-4PPs (6-4 Pyrimidine Pyrimidone). The most common covalently linked adjoining pyrimidines are T-T (Thymine dimers), T-C (Thymine-Cytosine dimers) and C-C (Cytosine-Cytosine dimers). T-T dimers cause kinks in the DNA strand that prevent both replication and transcription [...]
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Repair of Thymine Dimers in E. coli
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UV radiation induces two of the most abundant mutagenic and cytotoxic DNA lesions such as CPD (Cyclobutane-Pyrimidine Dimers) or 6-4PPs (6-4 Pyrimidine Pyrimidone). The most common covalently linked adjoining pyrimidines are TT(Thymine dimers), T-C (Thymine-Cytosine dimers) and C-C (Cytosine-Cytosine dimers). T-T dimers cause kinks in the DNA strand that prevent both replication [...]
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Repair of Uracil Residues
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The integrity and accuracy of the DNA is of critical importance to the cell, but the organization of DNA into chromatin in eukaryotic cells afford little protection against formation of DNA base damage generated spontaneously through hydrolysis, since DNA remains hydrated in chromatin. Two frequently occurring hydrolytic reactions are depurination [...]
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Rho Family GTPases
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The Rho family of small GTP-binding proteins comprises a group of signaling molecules that are activated by a variety of Growth factors, Cytokines, Adhesion molecules, Hormones, Integrins, G-proteins and other biologically active substances and regulate a wide range of biological processes, including Reorganization of the Actin Cytoskeleton, Transcriptional Regulation, Vesicle Trafficking, Morphogenesis, [...]
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RhoA Pathway
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Rho is a member of the Ras superfamily of small GTP-binding proteins that play a central role in diverse biological processes such as Actin cytoskeleton organization, Microtubule dynamics, Gene transcription, Oncogenic transformation, Cell cycle progression, Adhesion and Epithelial wound repair. To date, 20 genes encoding different members of the Rho [...]
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RhoGDI Pathway
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The Rho family of small GTPase proteins comprises CDC42 (Cell Division Cycle-42), Rac, and Rho. Proteins of the Rho/Rac subfamily (Rho proteins) of small GTP-binding proteins function as molecular switches that regulate a multitude of biological processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, migration, cytoskeletal reorganization, and membrane trafficking. Like most of the Ras-related proteins, Rho GTPases [...]
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RNAi Pathway 
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RNAi (RNA interference) is a cellular pathway of gene silencing in a sequence-specific manner at the mRNA (messenger RNA) level. The basic mechanism behind RNAi is the breaking of a dsRNA (double-stranded RNA) matching a specific gene sequence into short pieces of RNAs called siRNA (small interfering RNA). siRNAs are [...]
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Rotavirus Induced Diarrhea
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Acute gastroenteritis is among the most common illnesses of humankind, and its associated morbidity and mortality are greatest among those at the extremes of age, children and the elderly. In developing countries, gastroenteritis is a common cause of death in children that can be linked to a wide variety of [...]
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S-1P Stimulated Signaling
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Various lipid molecules serve as second messengers for transducing signals from the cell surface to the cell interior and trigger specific cellular responses. Sphingolipids represent a complex group of lipids that have recently emerged as new transducers in eukaryotic cells. Sphingolipids are found in all mammalian cells and are mostly [...]
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Salmonella Infection
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Phagocytic cells are a critical line of defense against infection. The ability of a pathogen to survive and even replicate within phagocytic cells is a potent method of evading the defense mechanisms of the host. A number of pathogens survive within macrophages after phagocytosis and this contributes to their virulence. [...]
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SARS CoV Replication Mechanism
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SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is a newly emerged infection in humans characterized by fever and pneumonia. This disease may progress rapidly to ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) with considerable morbidity and mortality. It was first identified in the Guandong Province of China in November 2002, and a major outbreak [...]
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Semaphorin Signaling
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The semaphorins are a family of growth cone guidance molecules, conserved from
insects to mammals, which includes proteins strongly implicated in mediating
repulsive guidance during neurodevelopment and neuronal regeneration. The range
of neurons responsive to semaphorins is extensive and includes dorsal root
ganglion, sympathetic, motor, cerebellar, hippocampal, olfactory and
corticospinal [...]
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Sertoli-Sertoli Cell Junction Dynamics
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The Blood-Testes Barrier (abbreviated as BTB) acts as a physical barrier between the blood vessels and the seminiferous tubules of the testes. This barrier is formed by tight and adherens connections between the Sertoli cells, which are sustentacular cells (supporting cells) of the seminiferous tubules, and nourish the spermatogonia (Ref.1). [...]
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Shedding of MICA-B Antigens
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T cell responses against tumors require the recognition of specific peptides
derived from tumor antigens in association with MIC (MHC Class I Molecules) by
CD81 T cells expressing
TCRs (T Cell Receptors). Such response generates intracellular antigen
processing which are highly selective and binds only to some of the numerous [...]
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Shigella Invasion
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Bacterial pathogens possess highly specialized adaptive processes that enable
their penetration of the host intestinal epithelium and cause disease. Once
bound to the epithelial surface, bacteria may colonize and establish a permanent
residence in the gut. Some Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria have acquired
sophisticated 'molecular syringes', such as Type-III or Type-IV [...]
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Signaling by Slit
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Neuronal growth cones in the developing nervous system are guided to their
targets by attractive and repulsive guidance molecules, which include members of
the Netrin, Semaphorin, Ephrin, and Slit protein families. Slit is a ~200 KD
secretory protein originally shown to be expressed by neurons and glial cells.
Slit was [...]
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