Part of the book: Aneuploidy in Health and Disease
Nitric oxide (NO) is a gasotransmitter involved in various aspects of reproduction. The observational data from different species, such as sea urchin, ascidians, amphibians, rodents, porcine, bovine, and human, suggest that NO might have a significant role in reproduction through several mechanisms. This proposed role might appear preserved through evolution; however, the effects of NO also depend on the species or stages considered. There has been debate over the physiological relevance of NO, though the benefits of its use in assisted reproduction are now widely recognized. Over the past years, S-nitrosylation has provided a new angle to decipher the mechanisms through which NO exerts its actions. This chapter summarizes, in a nonexhaustive manner, research that explores the role of NO in gametes and embryos.
Part of the book: Nitric Oxide Synthase
Modulation of protein kinases activity is often requested for pathogenicity or virulence. This chapter provides several hints for one who might be interested in using FRET-based kinase activity reporters. The archetypes of these reporters, which are now within the arsenal of biosensors, were devoted to the detection and characterization of the activity of the cAMP-Protein kinase A pathway. Based on the principle of this biosensor, other FRET-based kinase activity reporters emerged. Here, the choice of the kinase to be monitored, the artifacts that might be met, and the flexibility and amenability of the FRET-based kinase activity reporters both for high-throughput analysis and dissection of protein kinase functions are discussed.
Part of the book: Biosensing Technologies for the Detection of Pathogens