Search results for " ACIDS"

Induction of body weight loss through RNAi-knockdown of APOBEC1 gene expression in transgenic rabbits

2014

In the search of new strategies to fight against obesity, we targeted a gene pathway involved in energy uptake. We have thus investigated the APOB mRNA editing protein (APOBEC1) gene pathway that is involved in fat absorption in the intestine. The APOB gene encodes two proteins, APOB100 and APOB48, via the editing of a single nucleotide in the APOB mRNA by the APOBEC1 enzyme. The APOB48 protein is mandatory for the synthesis of chylomicrons by intestinal cells to transport dietary lipids and cholesterol. We produced transgenic rabbits expressing permanently and ubiquitously a small hairpin RNA targeting the rabbit APOBEC1 mRNA. These rabbits exhibited a moderately but significantly reduced …

Low Tree Vigor, Free Palmette Training Form, and High Planting Density Increase Olive and Oil Yield Efficiency in Dry, Sloping Areas of Mediterranean…

2022

Exploiting biodiversity must be considered today an effective strategy to improve the sustainability of olive production systems. The evaluation of local cultivars, based on their vegetative and fruiting traits, along with an analysis of product quality, may contribute significantly to the development and diffusion of new olive-growing systems. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth, productivity, and olive oil quality of three Sicilian cultivars with different vigor/growth habit grown in four different combinations of training form and planting density. ‘Abunara’, ‘Calatina’, and ‘Nocellara del Belice’ olive trees were planted in four different int…

Plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase in patients with coronary artery disease: results of a cross-sectional analysis.

2003

Inflammation underlies both onset and perpetuation of atherosclerosis. Plasma lipoproteins transport the platelet-activating factor-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) with potentially anti-inflammatory activities. Our aim was to determine whether PAF-AH activity was associated with inflammatory markers and with coronary artery disease (CAD). PAF-AH activity and a panel of inflammatory mediators were measured in plasma of 496 patients with CAD and in 477 controls; 276 patients presented with stable angina pectoris and 220 with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Individuals within the highest quartile of PAF-AH activity had an 1.8-fold increase in CAD risk [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 3.2; P = 0.…

Apparent and quantitative loss of fatty acids and triacylglycerols at frying temperatures

2012

[EN]: Olive and sunflower oils were heated at 180 °C for 5, 10 and 15 hours with the aim of defining the changes in the contents of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and triacylglycerols (TAG) under frying conditions. Differences between apparent and real loss of FAME or TAG are defined for an adequate interpretation of the changes taking place at high temperature. Such differences depend on the expression of the results and frequently result in erroneous conclusions. Results showed that from the normalized composition it could be deduced that only the most unsaturated FAME (C18:2) or TAG containing it was significantly altered. However, quantitative data indicated that all the unsaturated FA…

Sequestration of biogenic amines by alginic and fulvic acids.

2006

The interaction of natural (alginic and fulvic acids) and synthetic (polyacrylic acid 2.0 kDa) polyelectrolytes with some protonated polyamines [diamines: ethylendiamine, 1,4-diaminobutane (or putrescine), 1,5-diaminopentane (or cadaverine); triamines: N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,4diaminobutane (or spermidine), diethylenetriamine; tetramine: N.N'-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,4-diaminobutane (or spermine); pentamine: tetraethylene-pentamine; hexamine: pentaethylenehexamine] was studied at T=25 degrees C by potentiometry and calorimetry. Measurements were performed without supporting electrolyte, in order to avoid interference, and results were reported at I=0 mol L(-1). For all the systems, the formation of…

Polysarcosine-Based Lipids: From Lipopolypeptoid Micelles to Stealth-Like Lipids in Langmuir Blodgett Monolayers.

2016

Amphiphiles and, in particular, PEGylated lipids or alkyl ethers represent an important class of non-ionic surfactants and have become key ingredients for long-circulating (“stealth”) liposomes. While poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can be considered the gold standard for stealth-like materials, it is known to be neither a bio-based nor biodegradable material. In contrast to PEG, polysarcosine (PSar) is based on the endogenous amino acid sarcosine (N-methylated glycine), but has also demonstrated stealth-like properties in vitro, as well as in vivo. In this respect, we report on the synthesis and characterization of polysarcosine based lipids with C14 and C18 hydrocarbon chains and their end g…

Prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha as endometrial receptivity biomarkers in successful embryo implantation

2014

Failure in the adhesion of the human blastocyst to the endometrium has been described as an important cause of infertility. Establishing the period of the so-called window of implantation and understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with embryo implantation has clinical and scientific implications. While over the last decades histological evaluation has been used to determine the phase of the menstrual cycle of the endometrium, the poor information obtained has made the case of using new technologies to identify specific markers, understand and characterize the receptive stage. This doctoral thesis investigates the existence, function and clinical impact of two specific lipids, the…

Transport of Arabidopsis GPI-anchored proteins along the early secretory pathway: Role of GPI-anchor remodelling and p24 proteins

2019

Las proteínas con anclaje GPI son una familia de proteínas que están ancladas a la cara exterior de la membrana plasmática mediante un ancla GPI y se ha visto que juegan un papel clave en plantas. Sin embargo, la maquinaria molecular implicada en el transporte de estas proteínas a la membrana plasmática en plantas es aún desconocida. Las proteínas p24 tienen un papel importante en el control de calidad de proteínas (posiblemente incluyendo las proteínas con anclaje GPI) transportadas entre el Retículo Endoplasmático y el aparato de Golgi. Esta tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo el estudio de la posible implicación de las proteínas p24 en la salida del Retículo Endoplasmático y en la localiz…

Synthesis and characterization of a new set of protic ionic liquids

2012

Exploring fast proton transfer events associated with lateral proton diffusion on the surface of membranes

2019

Proton diffusion (PD) across biological membranes is a fundamental process in many biological systems, and much experimental and theoretical effort has been employed for deciphering it. Here, we report on a spectroscopic probe, which can be tightly tethered to the membrane, for following fast (nanosecond) proton transfer events on the surface of membranes. Our probe is composed of a photoacid that serves as our light-induced proton source for the initiation of the PD process. We use our probe to follow PD, and its pH dependence, on the surface of lipid vesicles composed of a zwitterionic headgroup, a negative headgroup, a headgroup that is composed only from the negative phosphate group, or…