9 research outputs found
Protein phosphatase 1 regulates assembly and function of the β-catenin degradation complex
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical in both cellular proliferation and organismal development. However, how the β-catenin degradation complex is inhibited upon Wnt activation remains unclear. Using a directed RNAi screen we find that protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), a ubiquitous serine/threonine phosphatase, is a novel potent positive physiologic regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. PP1 expression synergistically activates, and inhibition of PP1 inhibits, Wnt/β-catenin signaling in Drosophila and mammalian cells as well as in Xenopus embryos. The data suggest that PP1 controls Wnt signaling through interaction with, and regulated dephosphorylation of, axin. Inhibition of PP1 leads to enhanced phosphorylation of specific sites on axin by casein kinase I. Axin phosphorylation markedly enhances the binding of glycogen synthase kinase 3, leading to a more active β-catenin destruction complex. Wnt-regulated changes in axin phosphorylation, mediated by PP1, may therefore determine β-catenin transcriptional activity. Specific inhibition of PP1 in this pathway may offer therapeutic approaches to disorders with increased β-catenin signaling
Clinical validation of cutoff target ranges in newborn screening of metabolic disorders by tandem mass spectrometry: A worldwide collaborative project.
Purpose: To achieve clinical validation of cutoff values for newborn screening by tandem mass
215 spectrometry through a worldwide collaboration. Methods: Cumulative percentiles of amino
216 acids and acylcarnitines in dried blood spots of approximately 30 million normal newborns and
217 10,615 true positive cases are compared to assign clinical significance, which is achieved when
218 the median of a disease range is either >99%ile or <1%ile of the normal population. The cutoff
219 target ranges of analytes and ratios are then defined as the interval between the limits of the two
220 populations. When overlaps occur, adjustments are made to maximize sensitivity and specificity
221 taking in consideration all available factors. Results: As of December 1, 2010, 129 sites in 45
222 countries have uploaded to the project website a total of 23,970 percentile data points, 558,168
223 analyte results of 10,615 true positive cases with 64 conditions, and 5,088 cutoff values. The
224 average rate of submission of true positive cases between December 1, 2008 and December 1,
225 2010 was 4.7 cases per day (3,418 cases). This cumulative evidence generated 91 and 23 high
226 and low target cutoff ranges, respectively. The overall proportion of cutoff values within the
227 respective target range was 43% (2,176/5,088). Conclusions: An unprecedented level of
228 cooperation and collaboration has allowed the objective definition of cutoff target ranges for 114
229 markers applied to newborn screening of rare metabolic disorders. This set of data could be used
230 as baseline for monitoring of future performance