A5044762631- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Drug Transport and Resistance Mechanisms
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Prion Diseases and Protein Misfolding
- Chemokine receptors and signaling
- Cystic Fibrosis Research Advances
- Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
- Trace Elements in Health
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Neurological diseases and metabolism
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
- Electron Spin Resonance Studies
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Metal complexes synthesis and properties
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
Université Libre de Bruxelles
2012-2021
VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology
2010-2012
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases
2009
University of California, San Francisco
2002-2007
Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders
2006
Interdisciplinary Scientific Research
2001-2003
Erasmus University Rotterdam
2002
Erasmus MC - Sophia Children’s Hospital
2002
University Medical Center Utrecht
2002
University of Pennsylvania
1999
Studies using low-resolution fiber diffraction, electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy on various amyloid fibrils indicate that the misfolded conformers must be modular, compact, adopt a cross-β structure. In an earlier study, we used crystallography to delineate molecular models of N-terminally truncated, disease-causing isoform (PrP Sc ) prion protein, designated PrP 27–30, which polymerizes into fibrils, but were unable choose between trimeric or hexameric arrangement right-...
Adequate membrane fluidity is required for a variety of key cellular processes and in particular proper function proteins. In most eukaryotic cells, known to be regulated by fatty acid desaturation cholesterol, although some such as insect are almost devoid sterol synthesis. We show here that mammalian cells present similar microviscosity at their respective physiological temperature. To investigate how both sterols phospholipids control homeostasis, we quantified the lipidic composition SF9...
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the best-known mediators drug efflux-based multidrug resistance in many cancers. This validated therapeutic target a prototypic, plasma membrane resident ATP-Binding Cassette transporter that pumps xenobiotic compounds out cells. The large, polyspecific drug-binding pocket P-gp recognizes variety structurally unrelated compounds. transport these drugs across coincident with changes size and shape this during course cycle. Here, we present crystal structures...
Clones encoding a new human P2Y receptor, provisionally called P2Y<sub>11</sub>, have been isolated from placenta complementary DNA and genomic libraries. The 1113-base pair open reading frame is interrupted by one intron. P2Y<sub>11</sub> receptor characterized considerably larger second third extracellular loops than the subtypes described so far. deduced amino acid sequence exhibits 33% identity with P2Y<sub>1</sub> its closest homolog. Northern blot analysis detected messenger RNA in...
Leukocyte chemoattractants act through a rapidly growing subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors. We report the cloning novel human gene encoding an orphan receptor (ChemR23) related to C3a, C5a and formyl Met-Leu-Phe receptors, more distantly subfamilies chemokine ChemR23 transcripts were found be abundant in monocyte-derived dendritic cells macrophages, treated or not with LPS. Low expression could also detected by reverse transcription-PCR CD4+ T lymphocytes. The was assigned radiation...
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), a centrally expressed G protein–coupled (GPCR), is essential for the maintenance of long-term energy balance in humans. Mutations MC4R are most common genetic cause obesity. Since activation this leads to decrease food intake, also major therapeutic target treatment Control activity vivo modulated by opposing effects anorexigenic agonist α–melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and orexigenic antagonist agouti-related protein (AGRP). In addition,...
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), a centrally expressed G protein–coupled (GPCR), is essential for the maintenance of long-term energy balance in humans. Mutations MC4R are most common genetic cause obesity. Since activation this leads to decrease food intake, also major therapeutic target treatment Control activity vivo modulated by opposing effects anorexigenic agonist α–melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and orexigenic antagonist agouti-related protein (AGRP). In addition,...
Chemoattractants like f-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) induce neutrophils to polarize by triggering divergent signals that promote the formation of protrusive filamentous actin (F-actin; frontness) and RhoA-dependent actomyosin contraction (backness). Frontness locally inhibits backness vice versa. In neutrophil-like HL60 cells, blocking phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-tris-phosphate (PIP3) accumulation with selective inhibitors PIP3 synthesis completely prevents fMLP from activating a PIP3-dependent kinase...
CCR5 is a functional receptor for various inflammatory CC-chemokines, including macrophage protein (MIP)-1α and RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed secreted), the main coreceptor of human immunodeficiency viruses. The second extracellular loop amino-terminal domain are critical chemokine binding, whereas transmembrane helix bundle involved in activation. Chemokine domains residues important binding and/or have also been identified. However, precise way by which chemokines...
CCR5 is a CC chemokine receptor expressed on memory lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells also constitutes the main coreceptor for macrophage-tropic (or R5) strains of human immunodeficiency viruses. In present study, we investigated whether was palmitoylated in its carboxyl-terminal domain by generating alanine substitution mutants three cysteine residues this region, individually or combination. We found that wild-type palmitoylated, but mutant lacking all Cys not. Through use...
Therapeutic targeting of an extended-closed conformation the integrin αvβ8 inhibits TGF-β activation and ameliorates symptoms experimental airway disease in mice.
CCR5 is a G-protein-coupled receptor activated by the chemokines RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted), macrophage inflammatory protein 1α 1β, monocyte chemotactic 2 main co-receptor for macrophage-tropic human immunodeficiency virus strains. We have identified sequence motif (T<i>X</i>P) in second transmembrane helix of chemokine receptors investigated its role theoretical experimental approaches. Molecular dynamics simulations model α-helices nonpolar...
CCR5 is the major coreceptor for macrophage-tropic human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1). For most G-protein-coupled receptors that have been tested so far, disulfide bonds linking together extracellular loops (ECL) are required maintaining structural integrity necessary ligand binding and receptor activation. A natural mutation affecting Cys<sup>20</sup>, which thought to form a bond with Cys<sup>269</sup>, has described in various populations, although consequences of this function...