Recent Findings in Podocytes Described by Researchers from McGill University (Role of Rho-GTPases and their regulatory proteins in glomerular podocyte function)
By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Drug Week — Investigators publish new report on Podocytes. According to news reporting out of Montreal, Canada, by NewsRx editors, research stated, “Podocytes play a critical role in maintaining glomerular permselectivity. It has been long recognized that their intricate actin-based structures are tightly associated with their normal function; however, the precise mechanisms by which podocytes form and maintain their complex structure had been poorly understood until the intensive investigations on podocyte biology began in 1998, triggered by the breakthrough discovery of nephrin.”
Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from McGill University, “This review summarizes the recent discoveries of the molecular mechanisms by which the actin cytoskeleton is regulated in podocytes. A particular focus will be on the role of the Rho-family of small GTPases, represented by RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42. Rho-GTPases are known for their versatile cellular functions, most importantly for the actin regulatory roles.”
According to the news editors, the research concluded: “We will also discuss the potential roles of the 3 groups of proteins known to regulate Rho-GTPases, namely GTPase-activating proteins, guanine nucleotide exchange factors, and guanine nucleotide dissociation inhibitors.”
For more information on this research see: Role of Rho-GTPases and their regulatory proteins in glomerular podocyte function. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, 2013;91(10):773-82. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology can be contacted at: National Research Council of Canada, NRC Communications & Corporate Relations, 1200 Montreal Road, Bldg. M-58, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6. (NRC Research Press – www.nrcresearchpress.com/; Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology – www.nrcresearchpress.com/journal/cjpp)
Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting F. Mouawad, Dept. of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada. Additional authors for this research include H. Tsui and T. Takano (see also Podocytes).
Publisher contact information for the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology is: National Research Council of Canada, NRC Communications & Corporate Relations, 1200 Montreal Road, Bldg. M-58, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6.
Keywords for this news article include: Quebec, Canada, Montreal, Podocytes, North and Central America.
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