Search results for "Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy"
showing 10 items of 125 documents
Liver microsomal membrane fluidity and microsomal desaturase activities in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats.
1997
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to investigate liver microsomal membrane fluidity simultaneously with membrane fatty acid composition and desaturase activities in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). DESIGN AND METHODS The membrane fluidity was determined, after electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement, in SHR compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, by calculating the order parameter S from ESR spectra of 5-nitroxide stearate and 10-nitroxide stearate, used as spin-labelled fatty acids. Desaturase activities were measured by incubating SHR and WKY rat liver microsomes with [14C]-radiolabeled fatty acids as substrates for desaturation reactions. The fatty acid c…
Peptides as Versatile Platforms for Quantum Computing
2018
The pursuit of novel functional building blocks for the emerging field of quantum computing is one of the most appealing topics in the context of quantum technologies. Herein we showcase the urgency of introducing peptides as versatile platforms for quantum computing. In particular, we focus on lanthanide-binding tags, originally developed for the study of protein structure. We use pulsed electronic paramagnetic resonance to demonstrate quantum coherent oscillations in both neodymium and gadolinium peptidic qubits. Calculations based on density functional theory followed by a ligand field analysis indicate the possibility of influencing the nature of the spin qubit states by means of contro…
Analysis of the spatial distribution of free radicals in ammonium tartrate by pulse EPR techniques
2009
Using pulse electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) on a series of l(+)-ammonium tartrate (AT) dosimeters exposed to radiations with different linear energy transfer (LET), we assessed the ability of pulse EPR spectroscopy to discriminate the quality of various radiation beams such as (60)Co gamma-ray photons, protons and thermal neutrons at various doses by analyzing the local radical distributions produced by the different beams. We performed two types of pulse EPR investigations: two-pulse electron spin echo decay obtained by varying the microwave power, and a double electron-electron resonance (DEER) study. Both methods provide information about the dipolar interactions among the free rad…
Squaramide-based reagent for selective chromogenic sensing of Cu(II) through a zwitterion radical.
2010
A minimalist squaramide-based chemodosimeter for Cu(2+) is described. Upon selective chelation to 2, Cu(2+) induces the formation of a highly colored zwitterionic radical, which is kinetically stable for hours. The presence of a radical is confirmed by EPR and ESI-MS. It is then possible to use reagent 2 for visual and selective sensing of Cu(2+) at neutral pH.
THE EFFECT OF GADOLINIUM ON THE ESR RESPONSE OF ALANINE AND AMMONIUM TARTRATE EXPOSED TO THERMAL NEUTRONS
2008
Many efforts have been made to develop neutron capture therapy (NCT) for cancer treatment. Among the challenges in using NCT is the characterization of the features of the mixed radiation field and of its components. In this study, we examined the enhancement of the ESR response of pellets of alanine and ammonium tartrate with gadolinium oxide exposed to a thermal neutron beam. In particular, the ESR response of these dosimeters as a function of the gadolinium content inside the dosimeter was analyzed. We found that the addition of gadolinium improves the sensitivity of both alanine and ammonium tartrate. However, the use of gadolinium involves a reduces in or abolishes tissue equivalence b…
Dinitrosyl-iron triggers apoptosis in Jurkat cells despite overexpression of Bcl-2
2004
Cells expressing the cytokine-inducible NO synthase are known to trigger apoptosis in neighboring cells. Paramagnetic dinitrosyl nonheme iron complexes (DNIC) were found in tumor tissue about 40 years ago; however, the role of these NO(+)-bearing species is not completely understood. In the human Jurkat leukemia cell line, the application of the model complex DNIC-thiosulfate (50-200 microM) induced apoptosis (defined by phosphatidylserine externalization) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In Jurkat cells, the pan-caspase inhibitor, zVADfmk (50 microM), and/or stable transfection of antiapoptotic protein, Bcl-2, was unable to afford protection against DNIC-induced apoptosis. Th…
Functional Evaluation of THIQ, a Melanocortin 4 Receptor Agonist, in Models of Food Intake and Inflammation
2007
The central melanocortinergic system plays an important role in regulating different aspects of energy homeostasis and the immunomodulatory response. In the present study, we evaluated the in vivo activities of food intake suppression and anti-inflammatory activity of THIQ, which has been proposed to possess high and selective melanocortin-4 receptor agonistic activity in vitro. The results showed that THIQ (0.1, 0.3 and 1 nmol/rat, intracerebroventricularly) is less effective in reducing food intake and body weights of rats than the non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan II. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements in mice brain tissue showed that THIQ at doses of 0.001 …
Beta- and gamma-melanocortins inhibit lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in mice brain.
2003
The pro-opiomelanocortin-derived peptide alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) mediates many diverse physiological actions, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. However, little is known about the physiological roles of the other melanocortins, beta- and gamma-MSH. Here, we investigated the effects of melanocortin peptides in an in vivo neuroinflammation model. Six hours following intracisternal (i.c.) administration of 10 microg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mice a five-fold increase in the nitric oxide (NO) level was seen in the animals' brains, when detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). All tested melanocortins, alpha-, beta-, gamma1- and gamma2-…
Beta-MSH inhibits brain inflammation via MC(3)/(4) receptors and impaired NF-kappaB signaling.
2005
The anti-inflammatory effects of melanocortin peptides have been demonstrated in different inflammation models. This is the first report describing the molecular mechanisms for the beta-MSH-induced suppression of bacterial lipopolisaccharide (LPS)-caused brain inflammation. We found that beta-MSH suppresses LPS-induced nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB, and inhibits the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and the following nitric oxide overproduction in the brain, in vivo. Moreover, administering the preferentially MC(4) receptor selective antagonist HS014 blocked completely these effects, suggesting a tentative MC(4) receptor mediated mechanism of actio…
Two-step impact of Amphotericin B (AmB) on lipid membranes: ESR experiment and computer simulations.
2013
In this study, the electron spin resonance (ESR) method was used to examine the effect of Amphotericin B (AmB) molecules on the fluidity of model membranes made of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC). The changes occurring under increased AmB concentrations in the spectroscopic parameters of spin probes placed in liposomes were determined. Three probes were used, penetrating the membrane at different depths which allowed the changes in its fluidity to be found in the transverse section. A computer model of the surface layer of membrane, with AmB admixture, was developed and subjected to computer simulation. The effect of changing concentration of the admixture on the binding energy in the…