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The serine/threonine protein kinase Akt is involved in a variety of cellular processes including cell proliferation, survival, metabolism and gene expression. It is essential in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis; however, it is not known how Akt regulates the migration of endothelial cells, a crucial process for vessel sprouting, branching and the formation of networks during angiogenesis. Here we report that Akt-mediated phosphorylation of Girdin, an actin-binding protein, promotes VEGF-dependent migration of endothelial cells and tube formation by these cells. We found that exogenously delivered adenovirus harbouring Girdin short interfering RNA in Matrigel embedded in mice, markedly inhibited VEGF-mediated angiogenesis. Targeted disruption of the Girdin gene in mice impaired vessel remodelling in the retina and angiogenesis from aortic rings, whereas Girdin was dispensable for embryonic vasculogenesis. These findings demonstrate that the Akt/Girdin signalling pathway is essential in VEGF-mediated postneonatal angiogenesis.

SummaryThe purinergic receptor P2X7 is involved in cell death, inhibition of intracellular infection and secretion of inflammatory cytokines. The role of the P2X7 receptor in bacterial infection has been primarily established in macrophages. Here we show that primary gingival epithelial cells, an important component of the oral innate immune response, also express functional P2X7 and are sensitive to ATP-induced apoptosis. Porphyromonas gingivalis, an intracellular bacterium and successful colonizer of oral tissues, can inhibit gingival epithelial cell apoptosis induced by ATP ligation of P2X7 receptors. A P. gingivalis homologue of nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK), an ATP-consuming enzyme, is secreted extracellularly and is required for maximal suppression of apoptosis. An ndk-deficient mutant was unable to prevent ATPinduced host-cell death nor plasma membrane permeabilization in the epithelial cells. Treatment with purified recombinant NDK inhibited ATP-mediated host-cell plasma membrane permeabilization in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, NDK promotes survival of host cells by hydrolysing extracellular ATP and preventing apoptosis-mediated through P2X 7.

Strukturell ähnlich zu Liebigs Melon (Poly(aminoimino)heptazin) sind Kohlenstoffnitrid‐Photokatalysatoren (siehe Formel), die durch direkte Copolymerisation von Dicyandiamid mit Barbitursäure erhalten werden können. Das Bild zeigt, wie sich die optische Absorption der Produkte bei steigendem Barbitursäure‐Anteil in der Copolymerisationsmischung (Pfeile) weiter in die sichtbare Region ausdehnt, was von Vorteil für Solarenergieanwendungen ist.