A dominant negative form of ATF6 blocked ER stress induction of both ATF6 site and GRP78 reporter genes. These and other results demonstrate that ATF6 is a direct target of the ER stress response. But despite nearly two decades of study, little is known about how catalysis actually occurs. Remarkably, this RNA structure possesses catalytic activity, performing a reaction that appears related to the first step of splicing. This minimal reconstituted system offers great potential for elucidating mechanisms of splicing catalysis.
Dendritic spines are the site of most excitatory synaptic input in the brain.
Thus inhibition of mRNA processing may be an important part of the DNA damage response, and defects in this inhibition may contribute to malignant transformation. On pre-biotic Earth, a prerequisite for macromolecular evolution was the production of the first nucleotides. Reactions resulting in the purine and pyrimidine rings have been demonstrated, but the synthesis of D-ribose has been a problem. We have established conditions leading to the formation of all 4 aldopentoses, and now have shown that ribose can be selectively precipitated from this mixture in the presence of lead nitrate. PAK4 regulates the cytoskeleton and causes oncogenic transformation .