Protein bypass

The bacterial toxins responsible for toxic shock syndrome are proteins that are classified as superantigens. These proteins bypass some of the steps normally involved in antigen-mediated immune response, thereby activating 5 to 30% of the T cell population, compared to 0.01 to 0.1% activated by conventional antigens. The consequence of the huge numbers of activated T cells is release of cytokines that cause capillaries to leak, resulting in many of the symptoms of the syndrome. 

Broadwell RD, Sofroniew MV (1993) Serum proteins bypass the blood-brain banier for extracellular entry to the central nervous system. Exp Neurol 120 245—263. 

Poos, M.I. T.L. Hanson T.J. Klopfenstein. Monensin effect on diet digestibility, ruminal protein bypass and microbial protein synthesis./. Anim. Sci. 1979, 45, 1516-1524. 

Conventional and novel PKC isozymes are potently activated by phorbol esters, heterocyclic compounds found in the milky sap exuded by plants of the Euphorbiaccae family. This sap was used medicinally as a counterirritant and cathartic agent over the millennia we now know that the active ingredients, phorbol esters, specifically bind to the Cl domain, the diacylglycerol sensor described above. In fact, their ability to recruit PKC to membranes is so effective that phorbol esters cause maximal activation of conventional PKCs, bypassing the requirement for Ca2+. This module is found in a number of other proteins in addition to PKC, so the profound effects of phorbol esters on cells are mediated by other proteins in addition to PKC. 

Plasma proteins are contraindicated in those with a history of allergic reactions to albumin, severe anemia, or cardiac failure in the presence of normal or increased intravascular volume and in patients on cardiopulmonary bypass. Plasma protein fractions are used cautiously in patients who are in shock or dehydrated and in those with congestive cardiac failure or hepatic or renal failure. These solutions are Pregnancy Category C drugp and are used cautiously during pregnancy and lactation. 

A typical procedure is shown in Figure 2. Other dyes besides ethidium can be used, although ethidium has an advantage in that its excitation emission bands are well removed from any protein absorbances. A standard curve can be constructed for the nucleic acid of concern and the limits of detection established. In Step 3, proteolytic enzymes may be substituted for heparin, or the step may be bypassed in the case of proteins which do not interfere. After measurement of the unknown sample the nucleic acid concentration may be simply calculated or read from the standard curve. 

Fig. 4. Substrate first binds to the complete system containing all three protein components. Addition of NADH next effects two-electron reduction of the hydroxylase from the oxidized Fe(III)Fe(III) to the fully reduced Fe(II)Fe(II) form, bypassing the inactive Fe(II)Fe(III) state. The fully reduced hydroxylase then reacts with dioxygen in a two-electron step to form the first known intermediate, a diiron(III) peroxo complex. The possibility that this species itself is sufficiently activated to carry out the hydroxylation reaction for some substrates cannot be ruled out. The peroxo intermediate is then converted to Q as shown in Fig. 3. Substrate reacts with Q, and product is released with concomitant formation of the diiron(III) form of the hydroxylase, which enters another cycle in the catalysis.

Phorbol esters are promoters that interact with cellular receptors and activate protein kinase C. Usually protein kinase C is activated by Ca++ and diacylglycerol, both of which result from the hydrolysis of phosphoinositides catalyzed by phospholipase C. Phospholipase C is normally activated by several different growth factors. Thus phorbol esters bypass a tightly regulated step in the control of cell growth. Since protein kinase C phosphorylates various proteins, it is not known how this activity participates in establishing a cancerous line of cells. 

However, an alternative pathway that bypasses clathrin-mediated endocytosis and EEs appears to be available as well. This model of endocytosis known as kiss and run or its variant kiss and stay have attracted increasing interest in recent years [74] (Fig. 9-9B). Kiss and run has been directly demonstrated with dense-core granules in neuroendocrine cells [84, 85], and this model would explain some observations that are not readily accommodated by the classical pathway. The kiss and run model proposes that neurotransmitters are released by a transient fusion pore, rather than by a complete fusion with integration of the synaptic vesicle components into the plasma membrane. Synaptic membrane proteins never lose their association and the vesicle reforms when the pore closes. As a result, the empty vesicle can be refilled and reused without going through clathrin-mediated endocytosis and sorting in the EEs. 

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