Search results for "CELLULAR"

Exosomes as delivery vehicles: a commentary on "Amoxicillin haptenates intracellular proteins that can be transported in exosomes to target cells".

2017

Exosomes are lipoproteic nanosize vesicles of endocytic origin that are released in the extracellular space by several cell types when a multivesicular body fuses with the plasma membrane (1). To date, accumulating evidences highlight the potential of exosomes as messenger in intercellular communication. Indeed, several studies reported the presence of lipids, proteins, metabolites and nucleic acid (DNA, mRNA, microRNA, lncRNA) in exosomes and highlight their functional role in physiological and pathological processes (2).

OSIP1 is a self‐assembling DUF3129 protein required to protect fungal cells from toxins and stressors

2021

International audience; Secreted proteins are key players in fungal physiology and cell protection against external stressing agents and antifungals. Oak stress-induced protein 1 (OSIP1) is a fungal-specific protein with unknown function. By using Podospora anserina and Phanerochaete chrysosporium as models, we combined both in vivo functional approaches and biophysical characterization of OSIP1 recombinant protein. The P. anserina OSIP1(Delta) mutant showed an increased sensitivity to the antifungal caspofungin compared to the wild type. This correlated with the production of a weakened extracellular exopolysaccharide/protein matrix (ECM). Since the recombinant OSIP1 from P. chrysosporium …

Mitochondrial CB1 receptors regulate neuronal energy metabolism

2012

The mammalian brain is one of the organs with the highest energy demands, and mitochondria are key determinants of its functions. Here we show that the type-1 cannabinoid receptor (CB(1)) is present at the membranes of mouse neuronal mitochondria (mtCB(1)), where it directly controls cellular respiration and energy production. Through activation of mtCB(1) receptors, exogenous cannabinoids and in situ endocannabinoids decreased cyclic AMP concentration, protein kinase A activity, complex I enzymatic activity and respiration in neuronal mitochondria. In addition, intracellular CB(1) receptors and mitochondrial mechanisms contributed to endocannabinoid-dependent depolarization-induced suppres…

A Specialized Vascular Niche for Adult Neural Stem Cells

2008

SummaryStem cells reside in specialized niches that regulate their self-renewal and differentiation. The vasculature is emerging as an important component of stem cell niches. Here, we show that the adult subventricular zone (SVZ) neural stem cell niche contains an extensive planar vascular plexus that has specialized properties. Dividing stem cells and their transit-amplifying progeny are tightly apposed to SVZ blood vessels both during homeostasis and regeneration. They frequently contact the vasculature at sites that lack astrocyte endfeet and pericyte coverage, a modification of the blood-brain barrier unique to the SVZ. Moreover, regeneration often occurs at these sites. Finally, we fi…

Evaluating the suitability of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor antibodies for standard immunodetection procedures

2007

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors play important roles in numerous cognitive processes as well as in several debilitating central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In order to fully elucidate the diverse roles of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in CNS function and dysfunction, a detailed knowledge of their cellular and subcellular localizations is essential. To date, methods to precisely localize nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the CNS have predominantly relied on the use of anti-receptor subunit antibodies. Although data obtained by immunohistology and immunoblotting are generally in accordance with ligand binding studies, some discrepancies remain, in particular with electrophysiolog…

Atomistic Simulations of Functional Gold Nanoparticles Au144(Sr)60 Interacting with Membranes

2013

Gold nanoparticles (AuNps) are used in nanomedicine in, e.g., drug delivery and bio-imaging. However, it is regrettable that the understanding of nanoparticle properties in cellular surroundings is incompletely understood. Here, we have complemented our previous studies [1] by performing extensive atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of lipid membranes interacting with charged gold nanoparticles. We have elucidated the action of these nanoparticles on membranes characterized by lipid compositional asymmetry in the two leaflets, thereby unraveling the interactions of AuNPs with both the extracellular and the cytosolic sides of plasma membranes of eukaryotic cells. We have found that ther…

2020

Nature is an indispensable source of new drugs, providing unique bioactive lead structures for drug discovery. In the present study, secalonic acid F (SAF), a naturally occurring ergochrome pigment, was studied for its cytotoxicity against various leukemia and multiple myeloma cells by the resazurin assay. SAF exhibited cytotoxic activity on both leukemia and multiple myeloma cells. Generally, multiple myeloma cells were more sensitive to SAF than leukemia cells. NCI-H929 cells were the most affected cells among the tested panel of multiple myeloma cell lines and were taken for further studies to assess the mode of action of SAF on those cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that SAF induced …

Centrosome amplification mediates small extracellular vesicles secretion via lysosome disruption

2020

SummaryBidirectional communication between cells and their surrounding environment is critical in both normal and pathological settings. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which facilitate the horizontal transfer of molecules between cells, are recognized as an important constituent of cell-cell communication. In cancer, alterations in EV secretion contribute to the growth and metastasis of tumor cells. However, the mechanisms underlying these changes remain largely unknown. Here, we show that centrosome amplification is associated with and sufficient to promote small extracellular vesicle (SEV) secretion in pancreatic cancer cells. This is a direct result due of lysosomal dysfunction, caused by…

Effect of Combined Physical Stresses on Cells: The Role of Water

2010

International audience; The role of water in microorganism viability was assessed through the application of combined physical perturbations. The combination of different physical parameters could allow to balance the properties variations (especially water related) resulting from the increase of one parameter alone. Thus, it is possible to optimize the survival of cells in controlling these parameters. This was tested through two different examples. The first example shows that combination of osmotic level and temperature can allow optimizing yeast cell survival in following membrane fluidity variation. Moreover this analysis has allowed a better comprehension of cell inactivation during r…

Application of high-content screening for the study of hepatotoxicity: Focus on food toxicology

2020

Safety evaluation of thousands of chemicals that are directly added to or come in contact with food is needed. Due to the central role of the liver in intermediary and energy metabolism and in the biotransformation of foreign compounds, the hepatotoxicity assessment is essential. New approach methodologies have been proposed for the safety evaluation of compounds with the idea of rapidly gaining insight into effects on biochemical mechanisms and cellular processes and screening large number of compounds. In this sense, high-content screening (HCS) is the application of automated microscopy and image analysis for better understanding of complex biological functions and mechanisms of toxicity…