{"title":"From the Bremen Drop Tower to the international space station ISS – Ways to weightlessness in the German space life sciences program","authors":"G. Ruyters, U. Friedrich","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200600108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200600108","url":null,"abstract":"Investigations on the effects of gravity on living systems, especially the perception and transduction of this important environmental parameter, are in the focus of the German Space Life Sciences Program since several years. This program is managed – like all other space activities – by the German Aerospace Center DLR in its role as the German Space Agency. Funding of scientists, placing contracts to industry for the development of necessary space research facilities, and providing flight opportunities for performing space experiments including international coordination with other space agencies are the main responsibilities of the agency. In the present contribution the special features of the various flight opportunities, which are made available by DLR for life sciences research, are described in some detail. By this, scientists should become aware of the interesting possibilities to perform space research in the frame of the German Space Life Sciences Program, while other contributions in this special publications will focus on the results obtained, especially in the area of gravity signal transduction.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"113 1","pages":"397-405"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200600108","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50950941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gravity‐sensing and gravity‐related signaling pathways in unicellular model systems of protists and plants","authors":"R. Hemmersbach, M. Braun","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200600106","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200600106","url":null,"abstract":"Gravity sensing, gravity-dependent signalling pathways and resulting graviresponses are found even in single cells as shown in studies on unicellular animal and plant model systems. Although the gravity-dependent responses of single-celled systems are obviously very different, the presented experimental data from experiments on ground and in space reveal that especially the early phases of gravity sensing share common features. The gravisensory processes can be reduced to two principles: perception via intracellular statoliths and via the whole protoplast. Gravisensory ion channels and cascades of ubiquitous second messengers are proposed in most gravity-dependent signalling pathways and have been identified in some cases. Cytoskeletal elements have been shown to play a master role in the complex processes of gravity sensing and graviorientation. Research on ground has been complemented with experiments in microgravity, which greatly contributed to our understanding of gravi-related signalling processes.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"21 8","pages":"432-442"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200600106","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50950867","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effects of different gravity conditions on self organizing biological systems","authors":"M. Wiedemann, Alexandra Piffel, W. Hanke","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200600101","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200600101","url":null,"abstract":"The effects of different gravity conditions on the retinal Spreading Depression (rSD) were investigated. The rSD, an excitation depression wave in retinal tissue is used as an example of self organization and pattern formation in the central nervous system (CNS). The properties of such phenomena depend critically on the parameters of the system, small changes in the system can thus induce significant changes in the propagation properties of the SD. Gravity is a small but permanently stimulus on earth, absence of gravity and amplification respectively may have severe consequences for the function of the brain as an excitable medium. Microgravity experiments were performed on a TEXUS sounding rocket mission (5 min μg) and two DLR parabolic flight missions (20 s μg), hypergravity experiments were performed in the centrifuge in the lab. In this presentation we summarize the effects of altered gravity conditions on different parameters of the rSD. The results are discussed also in their relation to other earlier experiments with propagating action potentials under different gravity conditions. For both self organized biological systems a gravity dependence could be shown.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"44 1","pages":"414-421"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200600101","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50951209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Interacting signal transduction chains in gravity-stimulated maize roots","authors":"A. Hahn, R. Firn, H. Edelmann","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200600109","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200600109","url":null,"abstract":"Gravitropism in roots involves at least three signal transduction chains. The first signal transduction chain is sub-cellular and operates within the gravity-perceiving cells in the root apex. The output of this perception system feeds into a second intercellular signal transduction chain (widely considered to involve auxin movement) that links events in the apical regions with the third signal transduction chain that controls cell expansion in the elongating cells. The present study probes the disputed role of ethylene in gravitropism by seeking to identify which parts of the gravitropism cascade are influenced by ethylene action. The results suggest that another signal transduction chain, initiated by mechanical impedance to the root apex, interacts with the early stages of the gravitropism cascade and the effects of ethylene on gravitropism could be mediated by the mechanical impedance sensing and response systems.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"6 1","pages":"449-455"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200600109","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50950950","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Graviresponses in fungi and slime molds","authors":"B. Hock, D. Häder","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200600111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200600111","url":null,"abstract":"The analysis of gravisensing in fungi has not yet proceeded as far as in other systems, such as sensory cells for maintenance of equilibrium in crustaceans and vertebrates, Chara rhizoids or plant roots with regard to positive gravitropism. However, considerable progress has recently been made with several fungal systems in the field of graviresponses. This particularly holds true for the molecular basis of primary events. In this review three systems of increasing complexity are considered: the slime molds Physarum and Dictyostelium, which exhibit gravitaxis, the negative gravitropic sporangium of the zygomycete Phycomyces as a single cell structure with the fastest graviresponses known so far, and the fruit bodies of the basidiomycetes Coprinus and Flammulina as highly complex structures with the ability to generate positional information and cell signalling in the context of negative gravitropism.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"9 1","pages":"443-448"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200600111","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50951012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial: Calcium, cytokines, and maturation factors during T cell activation","authors":"R. Hass","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200690027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200690027","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"34 8","pages":"229-231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200690027","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50951367","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
D. Griesemer, Birgit Löffler, Carsten Kummerow, Ariel Quintana, E. Schwarz, M. Hoth
{"title":"Calcium release-activated calcium channels as signal transducers in T-cells","authors":"D. Griesemer, Birgit Löffler, Carsten Kummerow, Ariel Quintana, E. Schwarz, M. Hoth","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200600092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200600092","url":null,"abstract":"Stimulation of T-cell receptors by professional antigen presenting cells initiates several signaling cascades which finally lead to T-cell activation and proliferation. One of the cascades induces a rise of the cytoplasmic IP3 concentration, which releases Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum. This Ca2+ release alone, however, is not sufficient to activate Ca2+ dependent signal transduction and gene transcription in T-cells. For T-cell activation and proliferation, a sustained Ca2+ entry over the plasma membrane is needed. This Ca2+ entry is called storeoperated Ca2+ (SOC) entry, because it is activated by depletion of the Ca2+ stores. The first and best-characterized member of the SOC channels is the Ca2+ release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channel which is the predominant Ca2+ influx pathway in T-cells. CRAC channels are highly selective for Ca2+ over all other cations and are responsible for the Ca2+ entry and subsequent sustained elevation of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration which is required for T-cell activation. We discuss the role of CRAC channels for T-cell activation and their potential to determine the quality and quantity of the T-cell response.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"15 1","pages":"233-239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200600092","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50951048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Santner‐Nanan, F. Berberich-Siebelt, Zheng Xiao, Niklas Poser, H. Sennefelder, S. Rauthe, D. Vallabhapurapu, I. Berberich, A. Schimpl, H. Kreth, R. Nanan
{"title":"Blimp‐1 is expressed in human and mouse T cell subsets and leads to loss of IL‐2 production and to defective proliferation","authors":"B. Santner‐Nanan, F. Berberich-Siebelt, Zheng Xiao, Niklas Poser, H. Sennefelder, S. Rauthe, D. Vallabhapurapu, I. Berberich, A. Schimpl, H. Kreth, R. Nanan","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200500062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200500062","url":null,"abstract":"The transcriptional repressor Blimp-1 regulates terminal differentiation of B-lymphocytes and myeloid cells. We now show that Blimp-1 is also expressed in human and murine primary T lymphocytes. Blimp-1 expression is highest in freshly isolated primary T cells with an antigen experienced phenotype. Th2 and CD4+CD25+ cells exhibited higher levels of Blimp-1 mRNA than Th1 cells. However, ectopic expression of Blimp-1 by retroviral transduction neither altered the frequency of IFN-γ or IL-4 producing cells nor did it induce suppressor activity. In non-polarized cells, retroviral transduction of Blimp-1 led to a marked reduction in IL-2 secretion, to an inability to proliferate and to reduced viability. Our data suggest that Blimp-1 is physiologically expressed in T lymphocytes during late stages of differentiation, induces down regulation of IL-2 production and a shortened life span and might thus contribute to a limitation of T cell immune responses.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"33 5","pages":"268-279"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200500062","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50950456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Competition and cooperation: Signal transduction by CD28 and CTLA-4","authors":"H. Hoff, G. Burmester, M. Brunner‐Weinzierl","doi":"10.1002/SITA.200500081","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/SITA.200500081","url":null,"abstract":"The closely related members of the Ig-family of co-stimulators CD28 and CTLA-4 (CD152) show distinct functions regarding T cell activation but have also many features in common during T cell differentiation. Although CD28 and CTLA-4 share some of their intracellular binding partners, CD28 is the main activating co-stimulator of T cells while the role of CTLA-4 is to mainly down regulate T cell responses. Despite the well known function of CTLA-4 as a negative regulator of T cell function, new data suggest that CTLA-4 is also able to transmit positive signals for increased survival and might be involved in the generation of the memory compartment. The knowledge of how both molecules transmit their respective signals and how these signals are integrated during a T cell response is of importance for the understanding of T cell mediated immune responses and future therapeutic interventions in immune pathologies.","PeriodicalId":88702,"journal":{"name":"Signal transduction","volume":"6 4","pages":"260-267"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2006-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1002/SITA.200500081","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"50950612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}