THE ROLE OF NADH OXIDASE IN GROWTH AND PHYSICAL MEMBRANE DISPLACEMENT

摘要

An NADH oxidase activity of the plasma membrane that was growth factor- and hormone-stimulated has been reported and characterized extensively. The activity is constitutively activated in cancer. Thiol groups are important to its activity and its activity as a thiol oxidoreductase or thiol interchange activity may be important to its functioning in growth and membrane trafficking. The activity is inhibited in the presence of GDP and brefeldin A and appears to be found not only at the plasma membrane but also with the Golgi apparatus. The phenotype of an inhibited NADH oxidase is a failure of cells to enlarge. The hypothesis under investigation is that the hormone- and growth factor-stimulated NADH(quinone)/thiol oxidase functions as an essential component of physical membrane displacements associated with cell elongation, vesicle budding and pleomorphic membrane changes in both animal and plant cells. [References: 45]