Search results for "Endocrine System"

Transport, stability, and biological activity of resveratrol

2011

Numerous studies have reported interesting properties of trans-resveratrol, a phytoalexin, as a preventive agent of several important pathologies: vascular diseases, cancers, viral infections, and neurodegenerative processes. These beneficial effects of resveratrol have been supported by observations at the cellular and molecular levels in both cellular and in vivo models, but the cellular fate of resveratrol remains unclear. We suggest here that resveratrol uptake, metabolism, and stability of the parent molecule could influence the biological effects of resveratrol. It appears that resveratrol stability involves redox reactions and biotransformation that influence its antioxidant properti…

Enzymatic and Chemo-Enzymatic Approaches Towards Natural and Non-Natural Alkaloids: Indoles, Isoquinolines, and Others

2010

Abstract The multi-step enzyme catalysed biosyntheses of monoterpenoid indole and isoquinoline alkaloids are described. Special emphasis is placed on those pathways leading to alkaloids of pharmacological and medicinal significance which have been fully elucidated at the enzyme level. The successful identification and cloning of cDNAs of single enzymes and their application provides great opportunities to develop novel strategies for both in vitro and in vivo alkaloid production in whole plants or tissue cultures, as well as in microbial systems such as Escherichia coli and yeast. Enzyme crystallisation, 3D analyses and site-directed mutation allowed rational engineering of enzyme substrate…

A novel and ancient group of type I keratins with members in bichir, sturgeon and gar

2006

Abstract 1. Background Vertebrate epithelial cells typically express a specific set of keratins. In teleosts, keratins are also present in a variety of mesenchymal cells, which usually express vimentin. Significantly, our previous studies revealed that virtually all known teleost keratins evolved independently from those present in terrestrial vertebrates. To further elucidate the evolutionary scenario that led to the large variety of keratins and their complex expression patterns in present day teleosts, we have investigated their presence in bichir, sturgeon and gar. 2. Results We have discovered a novel group of type I keratins with members in all three of these ancient ray-finned fish, …

Tenascin in denervated human muscle

1996

Tenascin is a large oligomeric glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix. Its location is limited in innervated muscle tissues. We investigated immunohistologically, using two monoclonal antibodies (mab) against Tenascin, biopsied denervated human muscle of children and adults. Tenascin was present in the interstitial space among denervated muscle fibres. Accumulation of Tenascin in denervated adult muscle tissue was frequent, accumulation in denervated muscle tissue of children was sparse and weak. The two antibodies reacted correspondingly. Tenascin was not only found in the vicinity of atrophic muscle fibres, but also close to normally sized fibres, suggesting an early stage of denervatio…

2021

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) rank the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Obesity and its related metabolic syndrome are well-established risk factors for CVDs. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiological role of adipose tissues is of great importance in maintaining cardiovascular health. Oxidative stress, characterized by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species, is a common cellular stress shared by obesity and CVDs. While plenty of literatures have illustrated the vascular oxidative stress, very few have discussed the impact of oxidative stress in adipose tissues. Adipose tissues can communicate with vascular systems, in an endocrine and paracrine manner, throu…

Salt effects on the protonation of l-histidine and l-aspartic acid: a complex formation model

1991

Abstract Protonation constants of l -histidine (histidinate: his − ) and l -aspartic acid (aspartate: asp 2− ) were determined potentiometrically, using the (H + ) glass electrode, in aqueous tetraethylammonium iodide (Et 4 NI), calcium chloride and sodium chloride solutions, at 0 −3 and 10 ⩽, T ⩽, 45 ° C. Differences in protonation constants determined in different salt media were explained by a complex formation model and, according to this model, the presence of the following species was hypothesized: Ca(his) + , CaH(his) 2+ , CaH 2 (his) 3+ Na(his) 0 , H 3 (his)X + , H 2 (his)X 0 , Et 4 N(his) 0 , Et 4 NH(his) + , Ca(asp) 0 , CaH(asp) + , CaH 2 (asp) 2+ , Na(asp) − , NaH(asp) 0 , H 3 (a…

Proteomic and Lipidomic Analysis of Nanoparticle Corona upon Contact with Lung Surfactant Reveals Differences in Protein, but Not Lipid Composition.

2015

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) constitutes the first line of host defense in the deep lung. Because of its high content of phospholipids and surfactant specific proteins, the interaction of inhaled nanoparticles (NPs) with the pulmonary surfactant layer is likely to form a corona that is different to the one formed in plasma. Here we present a detailed lipidomic and proteomic analysis of NP corona formation using native porcine surfactant as a model. We analyzed the adsorbed biomolecules in the corona of three NP with different surface properties (PEG-, PLGA-, and Lipid-NP) after incubation with native porcine surfactant. Using label-free shotgun analysis for protein and LC-MS for lipid analysis…

2020

Biomolecules, and particularly proteins, bind on nanoparticle (NP) surfaces to form the so-called protein corona. It is accepted that the corona drives the biological distribution and toxicity of NPs. Here, the corona composition and structure were studied using silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) of different sizes interacting with soluble yeast protein extracts. Adsorption isotherms showed that the amount of adsorbed proteins varied greatly upon NP size with large NPs having more adsorbed proteins per surface unit. The protein corona composition was studied using a large-scale label-free proteomic approach, combined with statistical and regression analyses. Most of the proteins adsorbed on the N…

Complexes of star-shaped cationic polyelectrolytes with anionic liposomes: Towards multi-liposomal assemblies with controllable stability

2016

Abstract Complexes were formed via the electrostatic interaction between 30–50 nm anionic liposomes and a star-shaped polyelectrolyte, poly{[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethyl ammonium iodide}, having cationic arms that radiate from a silicon-based central core. The complexation was investigated with attention given to assessing the capacity of the cationic stars for the anionic liposomes (both liquid and solid); the integrity of the complexed liposomes; and the stability of the resulting star/liposome complexes in aqueous salt solutions. We have found that by changing the content of anionic groups in the liposomal membrane as well as the phase-state of membrane, the stability of star/lipos…

Synthesis and thermoresponsive properties of four arm, amphiphilic poly(tert-butyl-glycidylether)-block-polyglycidol stars

2011

Abstract A series of four arm stars with copolymer arms composed of poly(tert-butyl-glycidylether)-b-polyglycidol were prepared using a multi-step process based on anionic ring-opening polymerization. Control of the length of the arms and the number of functional (hydroxyl) reactive groups was achieved by anionic polymerization. Stars with molar masses up to 12200 g/mol were prepared. The amphiphilic character of the star structure was varied using different polyglycidol block lengths. The star structure and molar mass of the obtained stars were characterized by SEC–MALLS and NMR spectroscopy. The temperature behavior of an aqueous solution of the obtained polymers was also investigated. Th…