Recognition, cellular

Bibliographies for computational gene recognition Cellular Response Database ... 

Dmg receptors are chemical entities which are typically, but not exclusively, small molecules that interact with cellular components, frequently at the plasma membrane level (1,2). There are many types of receptors heat, light, immune, hormone, ion channel, toxin, and vims are but a few that can excite a cell. The receptor concept can be appHed generally to signal recognition processes where a chemical or physical signal is recognized. This recognition is translated into response (Fig. 3) and the process can be seen as a flow of information. 

A sequence stretch 300 base pairs upstream of the transcriptional start site suffices for most of the transcriptional regulation of the IL-6 gene (Fig. 1). Within this sequence stretch several transcription factors find their specific recognition sites. In 5 to 3 direction, AP-1, CREB, C/EBP 3/NF-IL6, SP-1 and NF-kB can bind to the promoter followed by TATA and its TATA binding protein TBP. Most enhancer factors become active in response to one or several different stimuli and the active factors can trigger transcription individually or in concert. For example, AP-1 is active upon cellular stress, or upon stimuli that tell cells to proliferate CREB becomes also active if cells experience growth signals, but also upon elevation of intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which occurs upon stimulation if so called hormone-activated G protein-coupled receptors. 

A surface is that part of an object which is in direct contact with its environment and hence, is most affected by it. The surface properties of solid organic polymers have a strong impact on many, if not most, of their apphcations. The properties and structure of these surfaces are, therefore, of utmost importance. The chemical stmcture and thermodynamic state of polymer surfaces are important factors that determine many of their practical characteristics. Examples of properties affected by polymer surface stmcture include adhesion, wettability, friction, coatability, permeability, dyeabil-ity, gloss, corrosion, surface electrostatic charging, cellular recognition, and biocompatibility. Interfacial characteristics of polymer systems control the domain size and the stability of polymer-polymer dispersions, adhesive strength of laminates and composites, cohesive strength of polymer blends, mechanical properties of adhesive joints, etc. 

Metabolomics studies the entire metabolism of an organism. It is possible to consider characterising the complex pattern of cellular proteins and metabolites that are excreted in urine. Pattern recognition techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been applied to determine the dose-response using certain classical liver and kidney toxicants (Robertson et al, 2000). This could well provide a signature of the functional state of the kidney, and perturbations in the pattern as a result of exposure to a chemical could be observed. But first it would be necessary to understand how compounds with known effects on the kidney affect these processes. 

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