Search results for " ACIDS"

2018

Defining functional domains and amino acid residues in G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent an important way to improve rational drug design for this major class of drug targets. The cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor is one of the most abundant GPCRs in the central nervous system and is involved in many physiological and pathophysiological processes. Interestingly, cannabinoid type 1 receptor with a phenylalanine 238 to leucine mutation (CB1F238L) has been already linked to a number of both in vitro and in vivo alterations. While CB1F238L causes significantly reduced presynaptic neurotransmitter release at the cellular level, behaviorally this mutation induces increased risk taking…

Palmitoylethanolamide Promotes a Proresolving Macrophage Phenotype and Attenuates Atherosclerotic Plaque Formation

2018

Objective— Palmitoylethanolamide is an endogenous fatty acid mediator that is synthetized from membrane phospholipids by N -acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D. Its biological actions are primarily mediated by PPAR-α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α) and the orphan receptor GPR55. Palmitoylethanolamide exerts potent anti-inflammatory actions but its physiological role and promise as a therapeutic agent in chronic arterial inflammation, such as atherosclerosis remain unexplored. Approach and Results— First, the polarization of mouse primary macrophages towards a proinflammatory phenotype was found to reduce N -acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D expression …

Localization of the cannabinoid type-1 receptor in subcellular astrocyte compartments of mutant mouse hippocampus

2018

Astroglial type‐1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors are involved in synaptic transmission, plasticity and behavior by interfering with the so‐called tripartite synapse formed by pre‐ and post‐synaptic neuronal elements and surrounding astrocyte processes. However, little is known concerning the subcellular distribution of astroglial CB1 receptors. In particular, brain CB1 receptors are mostly localized at cells' plasmalemma, but recent evidence indicates their functional presence in mitochondrial membranes. Whether CB1 receptors are present in astroglial mitochondria has remained unknown. To investigate this issue, we included conditional knock‐out mice lacking astroglial CB1 receptor expression …

Anatomical characterization of the cannabinoid CB1receptor in cell-type-specific mutant mouse rescue models

2016

Type 1 cannabinoid (CB1 ) receptors are widely distributed in the brain. Their physiological roles depend on their distribution pattern, which differs remarkably among cell types. Hence, subcellular compartments with little but functionally relevant CB1 receptors can be overlooked, fostering an incomplete mapping. To overcome this, knockin mice with cell-type-specific rescue of CB1 receptors have emerged as excellent tools for investigating CB1 receptors' cell-type-specific localization and sufficient functional role with no bias. However, to know whether these rescue mice maintain endogenous CB1 receptor expression level, detailed anatomical studies are necessary. The subcellular distribut…

C 4 -Dicarboxylate Utilization in Aerobic and Anaerobic Growth

2016

C 4 -dicarboxylates and the C 4 -dicarboxylic amino acid l -aspartate support aerobic and anaerobic growth of Escherichia coli and related bacteria. In aerobic growth, succinate, fumarate, D - and L -malate, L -aspartate, and L -tartrate are metabolized by the citric acid cycle and associated reactions. Because of the interruption of the citric acid cycle under anaerobic conditions, anaerobic metabolism of C 4 -dicarboxylates depends on fumarate reduction to succinate (fumarate respiration). In some related bacteria (e.g., Klebsiella ), utilization of C 4 -dicarboxylates, such as tartrate, is independent of fumarate respiration and uses a Na + -dependent membrane-bound oxaloacetate decarbo…

Imatinib-Loaded Micelles of Hyaluronic Acid Derivatives for Potential Treatment of Neovascular Ocular Diseases

2018

In this work, new micellar systems able to cross corneal barrier and to improve the permeation of imatinib free base were prepared and characterized. HA-EDA-C-16, HA-EDA-C-16-PEG, and HA-EDA-C-16-CRN micelles were synthesized starting from hyaluronic acid (HA), ethylenediamine (EDA), hexadecyl chains (C-16), polyethylene glycol (PEG), or L-carnitine (CRN). These nanocarriers showed optimal particle size and mucoadhesive properties. Imatinib-loaded micelles were able to interact with corneal barrier and to promote imatinib transcorneal permeation and penetration. In addition, a study was conducted to understand the in vitro imatinib inhibitory effect on a choroidal neovascularization process…

Circadian Rhythm in Adipose Tissue: Novel Antioxidant Target for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases

2020

Obesity is a major risk factor for most metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that modulates metabolic and cardiovascular health by secreting signaling molecules. Oxidative stress is a common mechanism associated with metabolic and cardiovascular complications including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Oxidative stress can cause adipose tissue dysfunction. Accumulating data from both humans and experimental animal models suggest that adipose tissue function and oxidative stress have an innate connection with the intrinsic biological clock. Circadian clock orchestrates biological processes in adjusting to daily environmental changes…

Lipid Mediators in the Regulation of Emotions, Memory, and Cognitive Functions

2017

This chapter aims at highlighting the diverse roles of endocannabinoids in the coordination of balanced neuronal activities, which finally set the basis for the organism’s characteristics to store and remember important and useful things, to forget non-useful things, and to cope with new challenges. Altogether, the fine-tuned regulation of these processes is crucial for optimal life and survival. The endocannabinoid system appears to be a central intrinsic homeostatic factor in the organism, modulating these processes. Receptors for (endo)cannabinoids are also targets for exogenous cannabinoids, putting also relevance of external substances in the interference with these processes. The gene…

The Influence of Hydrogen Bonding on Sphingomyelin/Colipid Interactions in Bilayer Membranes

2016

The phospholipid acyl chain composition and order, the hydrogen bonding, and properties of the phospholipid headgroup all influence cholesterol/phospholipid interactions in hydrated bilayers. In this study, we examined the influence of hydrogen bonding on sphingomyelin (SM) colipid interactions in fluid uni- and multilamellar vesicles. We have compared the properties of oleoyl or palmitoyl SM with comparable dihydro-SMs, because the hydrogen bonding properties of SM and dihydro-SM differ. The association of cholestatrienol, a fluorescent cholesterol analog, with oleoyl sphingomyelin (OSM) was significantly stronger than its association with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, …

Structural Basis of TRPV4 N Terminus Interaction with Syndapin/PACSIN1-3 and PIP2

2018

Summary Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are polymodally regulated ion channels. TRPV4 (vanilloid 4) is sensitized by PIP2 and desensitized by Syndapin3/PACSIN3, which bind to the structurally uncharacterized TRPV4 N terminus. We determined the nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the Syndapin3/PACSIN3 SH3 domain in complex with the TRPV4 N-terminal proline-rich region (PRR), which binds as a class I polyproline II (PPII) helix. This PPII conformation is broken by a conserved proline in a cis conformation. Beyond the PPII, we find that the proximal TRPV4 N terminus is unstructured, a feature conserved across species thus explaining the difficulties in resolving it in previous …