Heterogeneity of protein kinase C expression and regulation in T lymphocytes

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to examine protein kinase C (PKC) isotype expression in T lymphoblasts derived from peripheral blood and the T leukaemic cell Jurkat. Using antisera reactive with PKC α,β1, and β2 and γ, it was observed that T cells expressed two PKC isotypes, PKC α and β. No PKC γ was detected in T lymphocytes. In lymphoblasts, high levels of PKC β compared to PKC α were found whereas Jurkat cells expressed high levels of α compared to PKC β. Differences in the calcium sensitivity of phorbol ester-induced phosphorylation were observed in Jurkat and T lymphoblasts which correlated with the relative levels of PKC α and β isotypes expressed by the cells

The Operating Performance of Newly Privatised Firms in Central European Transition Economies

"This study examines the operating performance of privatised firms in three Central European Transition Economies between 1990 and 1998. Overall, we find no evidence of a significant improvement in operating performance for the first six years after privatisation. Contrary to the increasing empirical evidence for non-transition economies, our privatised firms experience no improvement in profitability, capital investments, efficiency, and output, a significant drop in employment, as well as a significant increase in leverage. The most important determinants of the performance changes following privatisation were country effects, timing of the privatisation sales, industry classification, and state ownership after privatisation. Our findings are consistent with the empirical evidence that the transition process proved to be more difficult than expected and that, although necessary, privatisations do not necessarily produce equal efficiency gains in transition economies (Megginson, 2005; Havrylyshyn and McGettigan, 1999)." Copyright 2007 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2007 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.