bARK1

Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a major proinflammatory mediator important in host defense, whereas resolvins (Rvs) are produced during the resolution phase of inflammation. The authors determined the actions of both RvE1 and RvD1 on LTB4-induced responses of goblet cells cultured from rat conjunctiva. The responses measured were an increase in the intracellular [Ca2+ ] ([Ca2+ ]i ) and high-molecular-weight glycoprotein secretion. Treatment with RvE1 or RvD1 for 30 minutes significantly blocked the LTB4-induced [Ca2+ ]i increase...

G-protein coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2; ADRBK1, BARK1) is most known as a regulator of G-protein coupled receptors. However, GRK2 also has other functions. Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant brain cancers in children. GRK2 has not been implicated in medulloblastoma biology. Here we report that GRK2 knockdown slowed cell growth, diminished proliferation, and enhanced cisplatin- and etoposide-induced apoptosis in medulloblastoma cell lines UW228-2 and Daoy. Reciprocally, GRK2 overexpression attenuated apoptosis induced by these chemotherapy drugs...

Brassinosteroids (BRs) activate the BRI1 and BAK1/SERK3 membrane receptor complex, which leads to a wide range of changes in gene expression, plant growth and development. As an initial step to elucidate additional roles of BAK1, we cloned a BAK1-binding protein, BAK1-Associating Receptor-Like Kinase 1 (BARK1), and characterized its gene expression and root phenotypes. BARK1 is a putative membrane LRR-RLK (leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase) protein that specifically binds to BAK1 and its homologs. Careful examination of BARK1 expression using transgenic plants expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter under the control of the native BARK1 promoter (BARK1p::GFP) revealed that this gene is ubiquitously expressed in most plant tissues, and shows especially strong expression in the xylem vasculature of primary and lateral roots as well as in mature pollen...

To identify candidate genes relevant for prostate tumour prognosis and progression, we performed an exhaustive gene search in seven previously described genomic-profiling studies of 161 prostate tumours, and four expression profiling studies of 61 tumours. From the resulting list of candidate genes, six were selected for protein-expression analysis based on the availability of antibodies applicable to paraffinised tissue: fatty acid synthase (FASN), MYC, beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (BARK1, GRK2) the catalytic subunits of protein phosphatases PP1alpha (PPP1CA) and PP2A (PPP2CB) and metastasis suppressor NM23-H1...

BACKGROUND: Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) protects hearts against ischemia by reducing infarct size. However, IPC does not preserve cardiac function, such as left ventricular peak developed pressure (LVPDP). Moreover, IPC fails to protect the post-myocardial infarct (MI) heart. DESIGN: Rat hearts were transfected with beta2-adrenergic receptor (B2AR) cDNA by the hemagglutinating virus of Japan-liposome method. After the gene transfer, the hearts were perfused in a Langendorff mode and preconditioned with two cycles of 5 min of ischemia and reperfusion...

The thrombin receptor, a member of the seven membrane-spanning superfamily of G-protein coupled receptors, is activated by an irreversible proteolytic mechanism, but signaling by activated thrombin receptors shuts off soon after receptor activation. This shut-off mechanism is thought to be required for concentration-dependent responses to thrombin and an important determinant of the cell's sensitivity to thrombin. We report that the thrombin receptor is rapidly phosphorylated upon activation, consistent with the action of a G-protein-coupled receptor kinase...