Search results for "Electron transport chain"
showing 10 items of 82 documents
Deep insight into electron transport and photovoltaic parameters in DSSCs
2019
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) based on titanium (IV) oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and nanotubes (NTs) with different weight ratios and phase compositions were fabricated. The obtained nanostructures were investigated using X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. Current–voltage measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to investigate the electron transport and photovoltaic performance of DSSCs. An increase of 14% in cell efficiency was achieved by introducing 10 wt% NTs. In this configuration, high dye loading is ensured and substantial improvement in electron transport efficie…
Daily rhythmicity of high affinity copper transport
2016
A differential demand for copper (Cu) of essential cupro-proteins that act within the mitochondrial and chloroplastal electronic transport chains occurs along the daily light/dark cycles. This requires a fine-tuned spatiotemporal regulation of Cu delivery, becoming especially relevant under non-optimal growth conditions. When scarce, Cu is imported through plasma membrane-bound high affinity Cu transporters (COPTs) whose coding genes are transcriptionally induced by the SPL7 transcription factor. Temporal homeostatic mechanisms are evidenced by the presence of multiple light- and clock-responsive regulatory cis elements in the promoters of both SPL7 and its COPT targets. A model is presente…
GreenCut proteinCPLD49 ofChlamydomonas reinhardtiiassociates with thylakoid membranes and is required for cytochromeb6fcomplex accumulation
2018
The GreenCut encompasses a suite of nucleus-encoded proteins with orthologs among green lineage organisms (plants, green algae), but that are absent or poorly conserved in non-photosynthetic/heterotrophic organisms. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, CPLD49 (Conserved in Plant Lineage and Diatoms49) is an uncharacterized GreenCut protein that is critical for maintaining normal photosynthetic function. We demonstrate that a cpld49 mutant has impaired photoautotrophic growth under high-light conditions. The mutant exhibits a nearly 90% reduction in the level of the cytochrome b6 f complex (Cytb6 f), which impacts linear and cyclic electron transport, but does not compromise the ability of the stra…
The Water to Water Cycles in Microalgae.
2016
In oxygenic photosynthesis, light produces ATP plus NADPH via linear electron transfer, i.e. the in-series activity of the two photosystems: PSI and PSII. This process, however, is thought not to be sufficient to provide enough ATP per NADPH for carbon assimilation in the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. Thus, it is assumed that additional ATP can be generated by alternative electron pathways. These circuits produce an electrochemical proton gradient without NADPH synthesis, and, although they often represent a small proportion of the linear electron flow, they could have a huge importance in optimizing CO2 assimilation. In Viridiplantae, there is a consensus that alternative electron flow comp…
Mechanisms of action of metformin in type 2 diabetes: Effects on mitochondria and leukocyte-endothelium interactions.
2020
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a very prevalent, multisystemic, chronic metabolic disorder closely related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. It is characterised by mitochondrial dysfunction and the presence of oxidative stress. Metformin is one of the safest and most effective anti-hyperglycaemic agents currently employed as first-line oral therapy for T2D. It has demonstrated additional beneficial effects, unrelated to its hypoglycaemic action, on weight loss and several diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders and metabolic diseases, including thyroid diseases. Despite the vast clinical experience gained over several decades of use, the mechanism of action of metformin i…
Enniatin B induces expression changes in the electron transport chain pathway related genes in lymphoblastic T-cell line
2018
Abstract Enniatin B is a ionophoric and lipophilic mycotoxin which reaches the bloodstream and has the ability to penetrate into cellular membranes. The purpose of this study was to reveal changes in the gene expression profile caused by enniatin B in human Jurkat lymphoblastic T-cells after 24 h of exposure at 1.5, 3 and 5 μM by next generation sequencing. It was found that up to 27% of human genome expression levels were significantly altered (5750 genes for both down-regulation and up-regulation). In the three enniatin B concentrations studied 245 differentially expressed genes were found to be overlapped, 83 were down and 162 up-regulated. ConsensusPathDB analysis of over-representation…
Stabilization and detection of hydrophylloquinone as di-O-methyl derivative
2016
Phylloquinone is a redox active naphthoquinone involved in electron transport in plants. The function of this reduced form remains unclear due to its instability, which has precluded detection. Herein, a simple method that permits the stabilization of the reduced form of phylloquinone by di-O-methylation and HPLC detection is described. Fil: Sussmann, Rodrigo A. C.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: de Moraes, Marcilio M.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Cebrián Torrejón, Gerardo. Universidad de Valencia; España. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Porta, Exequiel Oscar Jesús. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - …
Biosynthesis of heme O in intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum and potential inhibitors of this pathway
2019
A number of antimalarial drugs interfere with the electron transport chain and heme-related reactions; however, the biosynthesis of heme derivatives in Plasmodium parasites has not been fully elucidated. Here, we characterized the steps that lead to the farnesylation of heme. After the identification of a gene encoding heme O synthase, we identified heme O synthesis in blood stage parasites through the incorporation of radioactive precursors. The presence of heme O synthesis in intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Inabenfide and uniconazole–P appeared to interfere in heme synthesis, accordingly, parasite growth was also affected by the additi…
Metabolic Engineering of Bacterial Respiration: High vs. Low P/O and the Case of Zymomonas mobilis
2019
Respiratory chain plays a pivotal role in the energy and redox balance of aerobic bacteria. By engineering respiration, it is possible to alter the efficiency of energy generation and intracellular redox state, and thus affect the key bioprocess parameters: cell yield, productivity and stress resistance. Here we summarize the current metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches to bacterial respiratory metabolism, with a special focus on the respiratory chain of the ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis. Electron transport in Z. mobilis can serve as a model system of bacterial respiration with low oxidative phosphorylation efficiency. Its application for redox balancing and re…
The purine analogues abacavir and didanosine increase acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by enhancing mitochondrial dysfunction
2016
Background NRTIs are essential components of HIV therapy with well-documented, long-term mitochondrial toxicity in hepatic cells, but whose acute effects on mitochondria are unclear. As acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity also involves mitochondrial interference, we hypothesized that it would be exacerbated in the context of ART. Methods We evaluated the acute effects of clinically relevant concentrations of the most widely used NRTIs, alone or combined with acetaminophen, on mitochondrial function and cellular viability. Results The purine analogues abacavir and didanosine produced an immediate and concentration-dependent inhibition of oxygen consumption and complex I and III activity. Th…