Current Drug Targets - Volume 1, Issue 2, 2000

Ornithine delta aminotransferase (OAT) (EC 2.6.1.13) is a pyridoxal-5 phosphate dependent mitochondrial matrix enzyme. It controls the L-ornithine (Orn) level in tissues by catalysing the transfer of the delta amino group of Orn to 2-oxoglutarate. The products of this reaction are L-glutamate gama semialdehyde and L-glutamate. Among the compounds known to inhibit (or inactivate) OAT, only L-canaline and (SS)-5-(fluoromet Read More

The protozoan parasites, Trypanosoma brucei and T. cruzi, that cause sleeping sickness in sub-Saharan Africa and Chagas Disease in Latin America, respectively, exert significant morbidity and mortality in man. Combinations of toxicity and differential efficacy of current drugs provide an urgent need to develop novel, cheap and effective chemotherapies. Research over the last decade with cultured trypanosomes and mice exper Read More

Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are serine/threonine kinases involved in signal transduction pathways that govern a wide range of physiological processes including differentiation, proliferation, gene expression, brain function, membrane transport and the organization of cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix proteins. PKC isoforms are often overexpressed in disease states such as cancer. In this review, PKC in a variety of c Read More

The sphingomyelin (SM) pathway is an ubiquitous and evolutionarily conserved signaling system in which ceramide (CA), generated from SM by the action of various isoforms of sphingomyelinases (SMases) functions as an important second messenger. Recent evidence suggests that branching pathways of sphingolipid metabolism mediate either apoptotic or mitogenic responses depending on cell type and the nature of the stim Read More

Despite over 150 years of clinical use, the mechanism and molecular elements by which volatile anesthetics produce unconsciousness are not established. Although enhanced activity of inhibitory neurotransmitter systems (GABAA) and depression of excitatory neurotransmitter systems (NMDA) probably contribute to the anesthetic state, the role of other ion channels families have also been studied. Potassium channels r Read More