Contacts between endothelial cells are of great importance for blood vessel formation. The formation and maintenance of endothelial cell contacts require the complex interplay of plasma membrane proteins, cytoskeleton components, and signaling molecules. Some of these molecules are specifically ...

Gap junction channels are intercellular channels that allow passage of ions, such as K(+) and Na(+), and other small molecules between neighboring cells. These channels are formed from two multimeric subunits called hemichannels, or connexons, that reside in plasma membranes of two closely ...

In addition to the conventional hormone-dependent regulation of activity of Estrogen receptor alpha and beta (ESR1(nuclear) and ESR2 respectively), there is a cross-talk between signal transduction pathways and estrogen receptors [1]. Epidermal growth factor (EGF), ...

Pigmentation in mammals is stimulated mainly by Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) and ...

Sp1 transcription factor (SP1) is a transcription factor involved in gene expression in the early development of an organism. It belongs to the Sp/KLF family of transcription factors. The SP1 transcription factor contains a zinc finger protein motif, by which it binds directly to DNA ...

Hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNFs) are a group of phylogenetically unrelated transcription factors that regulate the transcription of a diverse group of genes. Hepatocyte nuclear factors are expressed predominately in the liver. However, HNFs are also expressed and play important roles in a number ...