Search results for "Complexes"
showing 10 items of 875 documents
Dense Bodies of a gH/gL/UL128/UL130/UL131 Pentamer-Repaired Towne Strain of Human Cytomegalovirus Induce an Enhanced Neutralizing Antibody Response
2019
The development of a vaccine against human cytomegalovirus infection (HCMV) is a high-priority medical goal. The viral pentameric protein complex consisting of glycoprotein H (gH)/gL/UL128-131A (PC) is considered to be an important vaccine component. Its relevance to the induction of a protective antibody response is, however, still a matter of debate. We addressed this issue by using subviral dense bodies (DBs) of HCMV. DBs are exceptionally immunogenic. Laboratory HCMV strain DBs harbor important neutralizing antibody targets, like the glycoproteins B, H, L, M, and N, but they are devoid of the PC. To be able to directly compare the impact of the PC on the levels of neutralizing antibody …
Male infertility and mitochondrial DNA
2004
The mitochondrial machinery plays a key role in the energy production and maintenance of spermatozoa motility. In this paper 200 idiopathic oligo-asthenozoospermic patients were classified on the basis of rapid progressive motility ("a") and sperm concentration. Mitochondrial enzymatic activity was studied and correlated to the viability of sperm cells. Mitochondrial DNA purified from both motile and non-motile sperm of the same individuals was amplificated using PCR. Results suggested that only motile sperm have organelles functional in oxygen consumption, unequivocally demonstrating that motility depends on the mitochondrial activity. Mitochondrial DNA of oligo-asthenozoospermic patients …
Cannabinoid type 1 receptor blockade promotes mitochondrial biogenesis through endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in white adipocytes
2008
OBJECTIVE—Cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor blockade decreases body weight and adiposity in obese subjects; however, the underlying mechanism is not yet fully understood. Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) induces mitochondrial biogenesis and function in adipocytes. This study was undertaken to test whether CB1 receptor blockade increases the espression of eNOS and mitochondrial biogenesis in white adipocytes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We examined the effects on eNOS and mitochondrial biogenesis of selective pharmacological blockade of CB1 receptors by SR141716 (rimonabant) in mouse primary white adipocytes. We also examined eNOS expression and mitochondrial biog…
Muscle protein synthesis, mTORC1/MAPK/Hippo signaling, and capillary density are altered by blocking of myostatin and activins
2012
Loss of muscle mass and function occurs in various diseases. Myostatin blocking can attenuate muscle loss, but downstream signaling is not well known. Therefore, to elucidate associated signaling pathways, we used the soluble activin receptor IIb (sActRIIB-Fc) to block myostatin and activins in mice. Within 2 wk, the treatment rapidly increased muscle size as expected but decreased capillary density per area. sActRIIB-Fc increased muscle protein synthesis 1–2 days after the treatment correlating with enhanced mTORC1 signaling (phosphorylated rpS6 and S6K1, r = 0.8). Concurrently, increased REDD1 and eIF2Bε protein contents and phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and AMPK was observed. In contrast, pr…
m-Carboranylphosphinate as Versatile Building Blocks To Design all Inorganic Coordination Polymers
2017
The first examples of coordination polymers of manganese(II) and a nickel(II) complex with a purely inorganic carboranylphosphinate ligand are reported, together with its exhaustive characterization. X-ray analysis revealed 1D polymeric chains with carboranylphosphinate ligands bridging two manganese(II) centers. The reactivity of polymer 1 with water and Lewis bases has also been studied Thanks to MINECO (CTQ2015-66143-P, CTQ2010-16237 and SEV-2015-0496), Generalitat de Catalunya (2014/SGR/149), and COST CM1302. E.O. who is enrolled in the PhD program of the UAB thanks for FPU grant
A novel dimer of oxo-di(acetato)-bridged manganese(III) dimers complex of potential biological significance
2000
[EN] Assembly of the tetranuclear oxomanganese(III) acetato cluster [Mn4O2(O2CMe)(7)(phen)(2)](BF4) from the dinuclear oxo-di(acetato)bridged manganese(III) species [Mn2O(O2CMe)(2)(H2O)(2)(phen)(2)](BF4)(2) . 3H(2)O in aqueous/acetic acid MeOH solution occurs via the new 'dimer of dimers' Mn-III complex [Mn2O(O2CMe)(3)(H2O)(phen)(2)](BF4) . MeOH possesing an unprecedent [Mn-4(mu-O)(2)(mu-O2Me)(4) (mu-(OH2O2CMe)-O-...)(2)] core.
Isomorphous replacement of MII ions in MII–GdIII dimers (MII = CuII, MnII, NiII, CoII, ZnII): magnetic studies of the products
2011
Complexes [M(II)Gd(III){pyCO(OEt)pyC(OH)(OEt)py}₃](ClO₄)₂·EtOH [M(II) = Cu(II) (1), Mn(II) (2), Ni(II) (3), Co(II) (4) and Zn(II) (5)] crystallize in the monoclinic Cc space group and contain one hexacoordinate M(II) ion and one enneacoordinate Gd(III) ion, bridged by three {pyCO(OEt)pyC(OH)(OEt)py}⁻ ligands. Magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a ferromagnetic interaction for 1 and antiferromagnetic interactions for 2-4. Using the Ĥ = -JŜ(Gd(III))Ŝ(M(II)) spin Hamiltonian formalism, fits to the magnetic susceptibility data yielded J values of +0.32 cm⁻¹ for 1, -1.7 cm⁻¹ for 2, and -0.22 cm⁻¹ for 3. In complex 4, the orbital contributions of Co(II) precluded the determination of th…
Exploring the Specificity of Rationally Designed Peptides Reconstituted from the Cell-Free Extract of Deinococcus radiodurans toward Mn(II) and Cu(II)
2020
A series of five rationally designed decapeptides [DEHGTAVMLK (DP1), THMVLAKGED (DP2), GTAVMLKDEH (Term-DEH), TMVLDEHAKG (Mid-DEH), and DEHGGGGDEH (Bis-DEH)] have been studied for their interactions with Cu(II) and Mn(II) ions. The peptides, constructed including the most prevalent amino acid content found in the cell-free extract of Deinococcus radiodurans (DR), play a fundamental role in the antioxidant mechanism related to its exceptional radioresistance. Mn(II) ions, in complex with these peptides, are found to be an essential ingredient for the DR protection kit. In this work, a detailed characterization of Cu(II) systems was included, because Cu(II)–peptide complexes have also shown r…
Thermo- and photo-modulation of exciplex fluorescence in a 3D spin crossover Hofmann-type coordination polymer
2018
[EN] The search for bifunctional materials showing synergies between spin crossover (SCO) and luminescence has attracted substantial interest since they could be promising platforms for new switching electronic and optical technologies. In this context, we present the first three-dimensional Fe-II Hofmann-type coordination polymer exhibiting SCO properties and luminescence. The complex {Fe-II(bpben)[Au(CN)(2)]}@pyr (bpben = 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)benzene) functionalized with pyrene (pyr) guests undergoes a cooperative multi-step SCO, which has been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction, single crystal UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, and magnetic and calorimetric measurements. The resu…
Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Halogen-Bonded Block Copolymer Complexes into Upright Cylindrical Domains
2017
Summary Self-assembly of block copolymers into well-defined, ordered arrangements of chemically distinct domains is a reliable strategy for preparing tailored nanostructures. Microphase separation results from the system, minimizing repulsive interactions between dissimilar blocks and maximizing attractive interactions between similar blocks. Supramolecular methods have also achieved this separation by introducing small-molecule additives binding specifically to one block by noncovalent interactions. Here, we use halogen bonding as a supramolecular tool that directs the hierarchical self-assembly of low-molecular-weight perfluorinated molecules and diblock copolymers. Microphase separation …