For more than 20 years, we have known that Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase
(CaMKII) activation is both necessary and sufficient for the induction of long-term …

Since the discovery of SNARE proteins in the late 1980s, SNAREs have been recognized as
key components of protein complexes that drive membrane fusion. Despite considerable …

SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) are now
generally accepted to be the major players in the final stage of the docking and the …

Background Wnt proteins are important for developmental processes and certain diseases.
WNT5A is a non-canonical Wnt protein that previously has been shown to play a role in the …

The release of insulin from pancreatic islets requires negative regulation to ensure low
levels of insulin release under resting conditions, as well as positive regulation to facilitate …

Diabetes is a global public health burden and is characterized clinically by relative or
absolute insulin deficiency. Therapeutic agents that stimulate insulin secretion and improve …

The maintenance of whole-body glucose homeostasis is critical for survival, and is
controlled by the coordination of multiple organs and endocrine systems. Pancreatic islet β …

Cholesterol is a critical component of cell membranes, and cellular cholesterol levels and
distribution are tightly regulated in mammals. Recent evidence has revealed a critical role …

Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2, also known as synaptobrevin-2), encoded
by VAMP2 in humans, is a key component of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor …

Exocytosis of cytotoxic granules (CG) by lymphocytes is required for the elimination of
infected and malignant cells. Impairments in this process underly a group of diseases with …