In association with their mechanisms of self/non-self recognition (known as mating type systems), ciliates synthesize and constitutively secrete cell type-specific proteins into their extracellular medium. These proteins, designated as pheromones, have been isolated from species of Euplotes and shown to be members of families of structurally homologous molecules, all rich in intra-chain disulfide bonds and organized exclusively in helical conformation. Due to their similar architectures, they can interact with their membrane receptors in competition with one another and bind effectively to their cells of origin in autocrine fashion, or to other co-specific cells in paracrine fashion. In the former case, they promote the vegetative cell growth; in the latter, they induce cells to temporarily arrest their growth stage and shift to a mating (sexual) stage. These varied, context-dependent activities of ciliate pheromones imply an early evolution of basic properties of animal growth factors and cytokines in the unicellular eukaryotes.
The cell type-specific signal proteins (pheromones) of protozoan ciliates / LUPORINI P; VALLESI A; ALIMENTI C; ORTENZI C. - In: CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN. - ISSN 1381-6128. - 12:24(2006), pp. 3015-3024.
Scheda prodotto non validato
Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo
Titolo: | The cell type-specific signal proteins (pheromones) of protozoan ciliates |
Autori: | |
Data di pubblicazione: | 2006 |
Rivista: | |
Citazione: | The cell type-specific signal proteins (pheromones) of protozoan ciliates / LUPORINI P; VALLESI A; ALIMENTI C; ORTENZI C. - In: CURRENT PHARMACEUTICAL DESIGN. - ISSN 1381-6128. - 12:24(2006), pp. 3015-3024. |
Abstract: | In association with their mechanisms of self/non-self recognition (known as mating type systems), ciliates synthesize and constitutively secrete cell type-specific proteins into their extracellular medium. These proteins, designated as pheromones, have been isolated from species of Euplotes and shown to be members of families of structurally homologous molecules, all rich in intra-chain disulfide bonds and organized exclusively in helical conformation. Due to their similar architectures, they can interact with their membrane receptors in competition with one another and bind effectively to their cells of origin in autocrine fashion, or to other co-specific cells in paracrine fashion. In the former case, they promote the vegetative cell growth; in the latter, they induce cells to temporarily arrest their growth stage and shift to a mating (sexual) stage. These varied, context-dependent activities of ciliate pheromones imply an early evolution of basic properties of animal growth factors and cytokines in the unicellular eukaryotes. |
Handle: | http://hdl.handle.net/11581/115915 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | Articolo |