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NPTXR
Neuronal pentraxin receptor is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NPTXR'' gene. This gene encodes a protein similar to the rat neuronal pentraxin receptor. The rat protein pentraxin is thought to mediate neuronal uptake of synaptic material and the presynaptic snake venom toxin, taipoxin. Studies in rat indicate that translation of this mRNA initiates at a non-AUG (CUG) codon. This may also be true for human and mouse, based on strong sequence conservation amongst these species. See also *NPTX2 Neuronal pentraxin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ''NPTX2'' gene. Function This gene encodes a member of the family of neuronal pentraxins, synaptic proteins that are related to C-reactive protein. This protein is involved in e ..., Neuronal pentraxin II References Further reading * * * * * * * {{refend ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, responding to stimuli, providing structure to cells and organisms, and transporting molecules from one location to another. Proteins differ from one another primarily in their sequence of amino acids, which is dictated by the nucleotide sequence of their genes, and which usually results in protein folding into a specific 3D structure that determines its activity. A linear chain of amino acid residues is called a polypeptide. A protein contains at least one long polypeptide. Short polypeptides, containing less than 20–30 residues, are rarely considered to be proteins and are commonly called peptides. The individual amino acid residues are bonded together by peptide bonds and adjacent amino acid residues. The sequence of amino acid residue ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "...Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a basic unit of heredity and the molecular gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is transcribed to produce a functional RNA. There are two types of molecular genes: protein-coding genes and noncoding genes. During gene expression, the DNA is first copied into RNA. The RNA can be directly functional or be the intermediate template for a protein that performs a function. The transmission of genes to an organism's offspring is the basis of the inheritance of phenotypic traits. These genes make up different DNA sequences called genotypes. Genotypes along with environmental and developmental factors determine what the phenotypes will be. Most biological traits are under the influence of polygenes (many different genes) as well as gen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Taipoxin
Taipoxin is a potent myo- and neurotoxin that was isolated from the venom of the coastal taipan ''Oxyuranus scutellatus'' or also known as the common taipan. Taipoxin like many other pre-synaptic neurotoxins are phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins, which inhibit/complete block the release of the motor transmitter acetylcholine and lead to death by paralysis of the respiratory muscles (asphyxia). It is the most lethal neurotoxin isolated from any snake venom to date. The molecular mass of the heterotrimer is about 46,000 Dalton; comprising 1:1:1 α, β and γ monomers. Median lethal dose (LD50) for mice is around 1–2 μg/kg ( subcutaneous injection). History Taipoxin and other PLA2 toxins have evolved from the digestive PLA2 enzymes. The venom still functions with the almost identical multi-disulphide-bridged protein PLA2 scaffold, which causes the hydrolytic mechanism of the enzyme. However it is thought that under strict evolution selection pressures of prey immobilis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
