Search results for "peptidases"

Early life stress stimulates hippocampal reelin gene expression in a sex-specific manner: Evidence for corticosterone-mediated action

2010

Early life stress predisposes to the development of psychiatric disorders. In this context the hippocampal formation is of particular interest, because it is affected by stress on the structural and cognitive level. Since little is known how early life stress is translated on the molecular level, we mimicked early life stress in mouse models and analyzed the expression of the glycoprotein Reelin, a master molecule for development and differentiation of the hippocampus. From postnatal day 1 (P1) to P14, mouse pups were subjected to one of the following treatments: nonhandling (NH), handling (H), maternal separation (MS), and early deprivation (ED) followed by immediate (P15) or delayed (P70)…

Morphological studies on CLN2

2001

Electron microscopic, fluorescence microscopic, and immunohistochemical studies earlier performed on archivalcerebral tissue from Max Bielchowsky's original three patients revealed curvilinear bodies rich in subunit C of mitochondrial ATP synthase (SCMAS). Recent progress in the elucidation of CLN2, i.e. identification of the defective lysosomal enzyme tripeptidyl-peptidase I (TPP-I) and mutations in the CLN2 gene have further corroborated earlier data. Immunohistochemically the absence of the TPP-I protein could be confirmed in the archival tissues using pathological controls. Unlike biochemistry, immunohistochemistry enables examination of these archival tissues elucidating the causative …

Molecular characterization of Lma-p54, a new epicuticular surface protein in the cockroach Leucophaea maderae (Dictyoptera, oxyhaloinae)

2002

0965-1748 (Print) Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; The epicuticular surface protein Lma-p54 is imbedded in the "cuticular waxes" which cover the abdominal surface of the adult Leucophaea maderae. Natural Lma-p54 was purified and the complete cDNA sequence was determined by RT-PCR using primers based on Edman degradation fragments. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses showed that Lma-p54 was expressed in the adult abdominal epidermis and in the chemical sense organs of both sexes. Sequence alignment indicates that Lma-p54 is closely related to aspartic proteases (EC 3.4.23). However, there are critical amino acid substitutions at the level of the active site and,…

Computer-guided drug repurposing: Identification of trypanocidal activity of clofazimine, benidipine and saquinavir

2015

In spite of remarkable advances in the knowledge on Trypanosoma cruzi biology, no medications to treat Chagas disease have been approved in the last 40 years and almost 8 million people remain infected. Since the public sector and non-profit organizations play a significant role in the research efforts on Chagas disease, it is important to implement research strategies that promote translation of basic research into the clinical practice. Recent international public-private initiatives address the potential of drug repositioning (i.e. finding second or further medical uses for known-medications) which can substantially improve the success at clinical trials and the innovation in the pharmac…

Next-generation-sequencing-based identification of familial hypercholesterolemia-related mutations in subjects with increased LDL–C levels in a latvi…

2015

Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the commonest monogenic disorders, predominantly inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. When untreated, it results in early coronary heart disease. The vast majority of FH remains undiagnosed in Latvia. The identification and early treatment of affected individuals remain a challenge worldwide. Most cases of FH are caused by mutations in one of four genes, APOB, LDLR, PCSK9, or LDLRAP1. The spectrum of disease-causing variants is very diverse and the variation detection panels usually used in its diagnosis cover only a minority of the disease-causing gene variants. However, DNA-based tests may provide an FH diagnosis for FH patients…

Vasculitic wallenberg syndrome with detection of anti-proteinase 3 antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid of a patient with severe Wegener's granuloma…

2000

Reelin expression in human prostate cancer: a marker of tumor aggressiveness based on correlation with grade

2007

Reelin is a glycoprotein that plays a critical role in the regulation of neuronal migration during brain development and, since reelin has a role in the control of cell migration, it might represents an important factor in cancer pathology. In this study, 66 surgical specimens of prostate cancer were analyzed for reelin expression by immunohistochemical method. The reelin expression was correlated with Gleason score and individual Gleason patterns. Reelin expression was found in 39% prostate cancers. Stromal tissues, normal epithelial cells and prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) of any grade around and distant from cancer were always negative for reelin. Reelin was found in malignant …

Lactoferricin B-derived peptides with inhibitory effects on ECE-dependent vasoconstriction

2010

Endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE), a key peptidase in the endothelin (ET) system, cleaves inactive big ET-1 to produce active ET-1, which binds to ET(A) receptors to exert its vasoconstrictor and pressor effects. ECE inhibition could be beneficial in the treatment of hypertension. In this study, a set of eight lactoferricin B (LfcinB)-derived peptides, previously characterized in our laboratory as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides, was examined for their inhibitory effects on ECE. In vitro inhibitory effects on ECE activity were assessed using both the synthetic fluorogenic peptide substrate V (FPS V) and the natural substrate big ET-1. To study vasoactive effects, an…

Endurance training decreases the alkaline proteolytic activity in mouse skeletal muscles.

1984

Alkaline and myofibrillar protease activities of rectus femoris, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles and the pooled sample of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were analyzed in male NMRI-mice during a running-training program of 3, 10, or 20 daily 1-h sessions. The activity of citrate synthase increased during the endurance training, reflecting the increased oxidative capacity of skeletal muscles. The activities of alkaline and myofibrillar proteases continually decreased in the course of the training program in all muscles studied. Instead, the activity of beta-glucuronidase (a marker of lysosomal hydrolases) increased in all muscles. The highest activities were observed at the beginni…

Shotgun Proteomics of Isolated Urinary Extracellular Vesicles for Investigating Respiratory Impedance in Healthy Preschoolers

2021

Urine proteomic applications in children suggested their potential in discriminating between healthy subjects from those with respiratory diseases. The aim of the current study was to combine protein fractionation, by urinary extracellular vesicle isolation, and proteomics analysis in order to establish whether different patterns of respiratory impedance in healthy preschoolers can be characterized from a protein fingerprint. Twenty-one 3–5-yr-old healthy children, representative of 66 recruited subjects, were selected: 12 late preterm (LP) and 9 full-term (T) born. Children underwent measurement of respiratory impedance through Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) and no significant differen…