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Biomedical subjects

R Julien

Publications and source records attributed to R Julien.

130 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

Are there biological functions for bacterial endo-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidases?

The endo-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidases (ENGase) acting on the N-N'-diacetylchitobiosyl core of N-glycosylproteins are essential reagents for the investigation of the structure and the functions of glycoproteins. These enzymes were largely studied with the aim of offering more tools with new and broader substrate specificities to the community of glycobiologist. Conversely, little attention was given to their potential role in the physiology of bacteria, even though it had been shown that ENGases are important enzymes for the physiology of animal and plant cells. In this brief review, we present the main characteristics of the bacterial ENGases and confine our discussion to biological aspects of their action in bacterial systems.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

A first genotyping assay of French cattle breeds based on a new allele of the extension gene encoding the melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r).

The seven transmembrane domain melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) encoded by the coat color extension gene (E) plays a key role in the signaling pathway of melanin synthesis. Upon the binding of agonist (melanocortin hormone, alpha-MSH) or antagonist (Agouti protein) ligands, the melanosomal synthesis of eumelanin and/or phaeomelanin pigments is stimulated or inhibited, respectively. Different alleles of the extension gene were cloned from unrelated animals belonging to French cattle breeds and sequenced. The wild type E allele was mainly present in Normande cattle, the dominant E(D) allele in animals with black color (i.e. Holstein), whereas the recessive e allele was identified in homozygous animals exhibiting a more or less strong red coat color (Blonde d'Aquitaine, Charolaise, Limousine and Salers). A new allele, named E1, was found in either homozygous (E1/E1) or heterozygous (E1/E) individuals in Aubrac and Gasconne breeds. This allele displayed a 4 amino acid duplication (12 nucleotides) located within the third cytoplasmic loop of the receptor, a region known to interact with G proteins. A first genotyping assay of the main French cattle breeds is described based on these four extension alleles.

Journal Article↗