Search results for "ARTICLES"

Thiosulfate Reduction in Salmonella enterica Is Driven by the Proton Motive Force

2012

ABSTRACT Thiosulfate respiration in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is catalyzed by the membrane-bound enzyme thiosulfate reductase. Experiments with quinone biosynthesis mutants show that menaquinol is the sole electron donor to thiosulfate reductase. However, the reduction of thiosulfate by menaquinol is highly endergonic under standard conditions (Δ E °′ = −328 mV). Thiosulfate reductase activity was found to depend on the proton motive force (PMF) across the cytoplasmic membrane. A structural model for thiosulfate reductase suggests that the PMF drives endergonic electron flow within the enzyme by a reverse loop mechanism. Thiosulfate reductase was able to catalyze the combined …

JNK phosphorylation relieves HDAC3-dependent suppression of the transcriptional activity of c-Jun

2003

The AP-1 transcription factor c-Jun is a prototypical nuclear effector of the JNK signal transduction pathway. The integrity of JNK phosphorylation sites at serines 63/73 and at threonines 91/93 in c-Jun is essential for signal-dependent target gene activation. We show that c-Jun phosphorylation mediates dissociation of an inhibitory complex, which is associated with histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3). The subsequent events that ultimately cause increased mRNA synthesis are independent of c-Jun phosphorylation and its interaction with JNK. These findings provide an 'activation by de-repression' model as an explanation for the stimulatory function of JNK on c-Jun.

NG2 regulates directional migration of oligodendrocyte precursor cells via Rho GTPases and polarity complex proteins.

2013

The transmembrane proteoglycan NG2 is expressed by oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC), which migrate to axons during developmental myelination and remyelinate in the adult after migration to injured sites. Highly invasive glial tumors also express NG2. Despite the fact that NG2 has been implicated in control of OPC migration, its mode of action remains unknown. Here, we show in vitro and in vivo that NG2 controls migration of OPC through the regulation of cell polarity. In stab wounds in adult mice we show that NG2 controls orientation of OPC toward the wound. NG2 stimulates RhoA activity at the cell periphery via the MUPP1/Syx1 signaling pathway, which favors the bipolar shape of migrat…

Toward development of optical biosensors based on photoluminescence of TiO2 nanoparticles for the detection of Salmonella

2017

Quality control of food and agriculture production is an inseparable part of human safety and wellbeing. Salmonella infections belong to one of the most monitored pathogens in the world, therefore advanced determination of this pathogen can decrease the risks of human diseases caused by this microorganism. In this research we introduce a novel optical immunosensor for determination of Salmonella typhimurium. The immunosensor is based on Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles deposited on glass substrates (glass/TiO2)center dot TiO2 nanoparticles exhibit an intense photoluminescence (PL) in the visible range of spectrum at room temperature. The direct immobilization of antibodies (anti-S-Ab) …

TiO2 nanocrystalline powders by W/O microemulsion synthesis

2012

Gold Nanoparticles Supported on Nanoparticulate Ceria as a Powerful Agent against Intracellular Oxidative Stress

2012

Ceria-supported gold nanoparticles are prepared exhibiting peroxidase activity and acting as radical traps. Au/CeO2 shows a remarkable biocompatibility as demonstrated by measuring cellular viability, proliferation, and lack of apoptosis for two human cell lines (Hep3B and HeLa). The antioxidant activity of Au/CeO2 against reactive oxygen species (ROS) is demonstrated by studying the cellular behavior of Hep3B and HeLa in a model of cellular oxidative stress. It is determined that Au/CeO2 exhibits higher antioxidant activity than glutathione, the main cytosolic antioxidant compound, and its CeO2 carrier. Overall the result presented here shows the potential of implementing well-established …

PHEA-graft-polybutylmethacrylate copolymer microparticles for delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

2012

Abstract Polymeric microparticles encapsulating two model hydrophobic drugs, beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and flutamide (FLU) were prepared by using the high pressure homogenization-solvent evaporation method starting from a oil-in-water emulsion. For the preparation of polymeric microparticles a α,β-poly(N-2-hydroxyethyl)- d , l -aspartamide (PHEA) graft copolymer with comb like structure was properly synthesized via grafting from atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique, by using two subsequent synthetic steps. In the first step a polymeric multifunctional macroinitiator was obtained by the conjugation of a proper number of 2-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIB) residues to the…

Detoxifying antitumoral drugs via nanoconjugation: the case of gold nanoparticles and cisplatin

2021

Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a potential tool to improve cancer treatment. Among the proposed uses in imaging and therapy, their use as a drug delivery scaffold has been extensively highlighted. However, there are still some controversial points which need a deeper understanding before clinical application can occur. Here the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to detoxify the antitumoral agent cisplatin, linked to a nanoparticle via a pH-sensitive coordination bond for endosomal release, is presented. The NP conjugate design has important effects on pharmacokinetics, conjugate evolution and biodistribution and results in an absence of observed toxicity. Besides, AuNPs present unique o…

Non-cross-linked collagen type I/III materials enhance cell proliferation: in vitro and in vivo evidence

2014

Objective: To analyze Mucograft®(MG), a recently introduced collagen matrix, in vitro and in vivo, and compare it with BioGide®(BG), a well-established collagen membrane, as control. Material and Methods: A detailed analysis of the materials surface and ultra-structure was performed. Cellular growth patterns and proliferation rates of human fibroblasts on MG and BG were analyzed in vitro. In addition, the early tissue reaction of CD-1 mouse to these materials was analyzed by means of histological and histomorphometrical analysis. Results: MG showed a three-fold higher thickness both in dry and wet conditions, when compared to BG. The spongy surface of BG significantly differed from that of …

Functional Brain Segmentation Using Inter-Subject Correlation in fMRI

2016

The human brain continuously processes massive amounts of rich sensory information. To better understand such highly complex brain processes, modern neuroimaging studies are increasingly utilizing experimental setups that better mimic daily‐life situations. A new exploratory data‐analysis approach, functional segmentation inter‐subject correlation analysis (FuSeISC), was proposed to facilitate the analysis of functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) data sets collected in these experiments. The method provides a new type of functional segmentation of brain areas, not only characterizing areas that display similar processing across subjects but also areas in which processing across subjects is h…