Search results for " membrane"
showing 10 items of 2187 documents
Protoparvovirus Knocking at the Nuclear Door
2017
Protoparvoviruses target the nucleus due to their dependence on the cellular reproduction machinery during the replication and expression of their single-stranded DNA genome. In recent years, our understanding of the multistep process of the capsid nuclear import has improved, and led to the discovery of unique viral nuclear entry strategies. Preceded by endosomal transport, endosomal escape and microtubule-mediated movement to the vicinity of the nuclear envelope, the protoparvoviruses interact with the nuclear pore complexes. The capsids are transported actively across the nuclear pore complexes using nuclear import receptors. The nuclear import is sometimes accompanied by structural chan…
2021
The hydrophobic tails of aliphatic primary alcohols do insert into the hydrophobic core of a lipid bilayer. Thereby, they disrupt hydrophobic interactions between the lipid molecules, resulting in a decreased lipid order, i.e., an increased membrane fluidity. While aromatic alcohols, such as 2-phenylethanol, also insert into lipid bilayers and disturb the membrane organization, the impact of aromatic alcohols on the structure of biological membranes, as well as the potential physiological implication of membrane incorporation has only been studied to a limited extent. Although diverse targets are discussed to be causing the bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of 2-phenylethanol, it is …
Genome-wide association study of diabetic kidney disease highlights biology involved in renal basement membrane collagen
2018
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a heritable but poorly understood complication of diabetes. To identify genetic variants predisposing to DKD, we performed genome-wide association analyses in 19,406 individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using a spectrum of DKD definitions basedon albuminuria and renal function. We identified 16 genome-wide significant loci. The variant with the strongest association (rs55703767) is a common missense mutation in the collagen type IV alpha 3 chain(COL4A3)gene, which encodes a major structural component of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) implicated in heritable nephropathies. The rs55703767 minor allele (Asp326Tyr) is protective against several definit…
2020
The transfer of metabolites through the mitochondrial membranes is a vital process that is highly controlled and regulated by the inner membrane. A variety of metabolites, nucleotides, and cofactors are transported across the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) by a superfamily of membrane transporters which are known as the mitochondrial carrier family (MCF) or the solute carrier family 25 (SLC25 protein family). In humans, the MCF has 53 members encoded by nuclear genes. Members of the SLC25 family of transporters, which is the largest group of solute carriers, are also known as mitochondrial carriers (MCs). Because MCs are nuclear-coded proteins, they must be imported into the IMM. When c…
Detecting Protein Aggregation on Cells Surface: Concanavalin A Oligomers Formation
2009
A number of neurodegenerative diseases involve protein aggregation and amyloid formation. Recently evidence has emerged indicating small-transient prefibrillar oligomers as the primary pathogenic agents. Noteworthy, strict analogies exist between the behaviour of cells in culture treated with misfolded non-pathogenic proteins and in pathologic conditions, this instance together with the observation that the oligomers and fibrils are characterised by common structural features suggest that common mechanisms for cytotoxicity could exists and have to be perused in common interactions involved in aggregation.We here report an experimental study on ConcanavalinA (ConA) aggregation and its effect…
Quality and volatile compounds in red wine at different degrees of dealcoholization by membrane process
2019
This study investigated the effect of different degrees of dealcoholization on volatile compounds, phenols and sensory characteristics of red wine (cv. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo). The wine with an initial alcohol content of 13.2% v/v was partially dealcoholized by membrane process with a decrease of alcohol degree as follows: − 4.9; − 6.3; − 7.8, − 9.2 and − 10.5% v/v. Osmotic distillation has proved effective in preserving a satisfactory odorous profile, as samples with an alcohol residue of 8.3% v/v (− 4.9%) and 6.9% v/v (− 6.3%) showed good esters retention: more than 84% and 82%, respectively. Similarly, colour and taste, evaluated by flavonoids and phenolic compounds, remained almost unc…
Stability of Asymmetric Lipid Bilayers Assessed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
2009
The asymmetric insertion of amphiphiles into biological membranes compromises the balance between the inner and outer monolayers. As a result, area expansion of the receiving leaflet and curvature strain may lead to membrane permeation, shape changes, or membrane fusion events. We have conducted both atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers to study the effect of an asymmetric distribution of lipids between the two monolayers on membrane stability. Highly asymmetric lipid bilayers were found to be surprisingly stable within the submicrosecond time span of the simulations. Even the limiting case of a monolayer immersed in …
Partition of Indicaxanthin in Membrane Biomimetic Systems. A Kinetic and Modeling Approach
2009
The solubilization site of indicaxanthin (Ind) in lipid bilayers was investigated by the kinetics of Ind oxidation by peroxyl radicals in water and in aqueous/L-alpha-dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles, pH 7.4, and 37.0 and 48.0 degrees C, that is, in a gel-like and a crystal liquidlike bilayer state, respectively. The time-dependent Ind absorbance decay, matched with a successful simulation of the reaction kinetic mechanism by Gepasi software, supported a multistep pathway. Computer-assisted analysis allowed calculation of the rate constants associated with the reactions involved, the values of which decreased with increasing DPPC concentration. The binding constant calculated…
Fitness in soil and rhizosphere of Pseudomonas fluorescens C7R12 compared with a C7R12 mutant affected in pyoverdine synthesis and uptake.
2000
International audience; Fluorescent pseudomonads have evolved an efficient strategy of iron uptake based on the synthesis of the siderophore pyoverdine and its relevant outer membrane receptor. The possible implication of pyoverdine synthesis and uptake on the ecological competence of a model strain (Pseudomonas fluorescens C7R12) in soil habitats was evaluated using a pyoverdine minus mutant (PL1) obtained by random insertion of the transposon Tn5. The Tn5 flanking DNA was amplified by inverse PCR and sequenced. The nucleotide sequence was found to show a high level of identity with pvsB, a pyoverdine synthetase. As expected, the mutant PL1 was significantly more susceptible to iron starva…