Smoothened, a heptahelical membrane protein, functions as the transducer of Hedgehog signaling. The kinases that modulate Smoothened have been thoroughly analyzed in flies. However, little is known… (More)
Deregulation of the Sonic hedgehog pathway has been implicated in an increasing number of human cancers. In this pathway, the seven-transmembrane (7TM) signaling protein Smoothened regulates cellular… (More)
beta-arrestins are multifunctional proteins that act as scaffolds and transducers of intracellular signals from heptahelical transmembrane-spanning receptors (7TMR). Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which… (More)
Polygalacturonate 4-[alpha]-galacturonosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.43) activity has been identified in microsomal membranes isolated from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Samsun) cell-suspension… (More)
The correct asymmetric placement of inner organs is termed situs solitus and is determined early during development. Failure in symmetry breaking results in conditions ranging from randomized organ… (More)
The highly homologous beta-arrestin1 and -2 adaptor proteins play important roles in the function of G protein-coupled receptors. Either beta-arrestin variant can function as a molecular chaperone… (More)
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a placental-derived heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone, which, through the binding and activation of the LH receptor, rescues the corpus luteum and maintains… (More)
Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of super-high affinity endothelin receptors with apparent Kd's on the order of pM in different brain tissues. This study was designed to characterize,… (More)
Reproductive capacity in primates is dependent on the high-affinity binding of the glycoprotein hormones LH and human (h)CG to the large ectodomain (ECD) of their common receptor (LHR). Our… (More)
Binding of the heterodimeric glycoprotein hormone, chorionic gonadotropin (CG), occurs to the heptahelical LH receptor N-terminal ectodomain (ECD), a large portion of which has been modeled as a… (More)