Search results for "peptides"
showing 10 items of 2897 documents
Polysarcosine-Based Lipids: From Lipopolypeptoid Micelles to Stealth-Like Lipids in Langmuir Blodgett Monolayers.
2016
Amphiphiles and, in particular, PEGylated lipids or alkyl ethers represent an important class of non-ionic surfactants and have become key ingredients for long-circulating (“stealth”) liposomes. While poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG) can be considered the gold standard for stealth-like materials, it is known to be neither a bio-based nor biodegradable material. In contrast to PEG, polysarcosine (PSar) is based on the endogenous amino acid sarcosine (N-methylated glycine), but has also demonstrated stealth-like properties in vitro, as well as in vivo. In this respect, we report on the synthesis and characterization of polysarcosine based lipids with C14 and C18 hydrocarbon chains and their end g…
Sponge‐Like Behaviour in Isoreticular Cu(Gly‐His‐X) Peptide‐Based Porous Materials
2015
We report two isoreticular 3D peptide-based porous frameworks formed by coordination of the tripeptides Gly-L-His-Gly and Gly-L-His-L-Lys to Cu(II) which display sponge-like behaviour. These porous materials undergo structural collapse upon evacuation that can be reversed by exposure to water vapour, which permits recovery of the original open channel structure. This is further confirmed by sorption studies that reveal that both solids exhibit selective sorption of H2 O while CO2 adsorption does not result in recovery of the original structures. We also show how the pendant aliphatic amine chains, present in the framework from the introduction of the lysine amino acid in the peptidic backbo…
Prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha as endometrial receptivity biomarkers in successful embryo implantation
2014
Failure in the adhesion of the human blastocyst to the endometrium has been described as an important cause of infertility. Establishing the period of the so-called window of implantation and understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with embryo implantation has clinical and scientific implications. While over the last decades histological evaluation has been used to determine the phase of the menstrual cycle of the endometrium, the poor information obtained has made the case of using new technologies to identify specific markers, understand and characterize the receptive stage. This doctoral thesis investigates the existence, function and clinical impact of two specific lipids, the…
Transport of Arabidopsis GPI-anchored proteins along the early secretory pathway: Role of GPI-anchor remodelling and p24 proteins
2019
Las proteínas con anclaje GPI son una familia de proteínas que están ancladas a la cara exterior de la membrana plasmática mediante un ancla GPI y se ha visto que juegan un papel clave en plantas. Sin embargo, la maquinaria molecular implicada en el transporte de estas proteínas a la membrana plasmática en plantas es aún desconocida. Las proteínas p24 tienen un papel importante en el control de calidad de proteínas (posiblemente incluyendo las proteínas con anclaje GPI) transportadas entre el Retículo Endoplasmático y el aparato de Golgi. Esta tesis doctoral tiene como objetivo el estudio de la posible implicación de las proteínas p24 en la salida del Retículo Endoplasmático y en la localiz…
Exploring fast proton transfer events associated with lateral proton diffusion on the surface of membranes
2019
Proton diffusion (PD) across biological membranes is a fundamental process in many biological systems, and much experimental and theoretical effort has been employed for deciphering it. Here, we report on a spectroscopic probe, which can be tightly tethered to the membrane, for following fast (nanosecond) proton transfer events on the surface of membranes. Our probe is composed of a photoacid that serves as our light-induced proton source for the initiation of the PD process. We use our probe to follow PD, and its pH dependence, on the surface of lipid vesicles composed of a zwitterionic headgroup, a negative headgroup, a headgroup that is composed only from the negative phosphate group, or…
RAB18 Loss Interferes With Lipid Droplet Catabolism and Provokes Autophagy Network Adaptations
2020
Autophagy is dependent on appropriate lipid supply for autophagosome formation. The regulation of lipid acquisition and the autophagy network response to lipid-limiting conditions are mostly elusive. Here, we show that the knockout of the RAB GTPase RAB18 interferes with lipid droplet catabolism, causing an impaired fatty acid release. The resulting reduced lipid-droplet-derived lipid availability influences autophagy and provokes adaptive modifications of the autophagy network. These adjustments include increased expression and phosphorylation of ATG2B as well as augmented formation of the ATG12-ATG5 conjugate. Moreover, ATG9A shows an enhanced phosphorylation at amino acid residues tyrosi…
Inhibition of Rac1 signaling by lovastatin protects against anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity
2011
Normal tissue damage limits the efficacy of anticancer therapy. For anthracyclines, the clinically most relevant adverse effect is cardiotoxicity. The mechanisms involved are poorly understood and putative cardioprotectants are controversially discussed. Here, we show that the lipid-lowering drug lovastatin protects rat H9c2 cardiomyoblasts from doxorubicin in vitro. Protection by lovastatin is related to inhibition of the Ras-homologous GTPase Rac1. It rests on a reduced formation of DNA double-strand breaks, resulting from the inhibition of topoisomerase II by doxorubicin. Doxorubicin transport and reactive oxygen species are not involved. Protection by lovastatin was confirmed in vivo. I…
Aplidin® induces JNK-dependent apoptosis in human breast cancer cells via alteration of glutathione homeostasis, Rac1 GTPase activation, and MKP-1 ph…
2006
Aplidin® is an antitumor agent in phase II clinical trials that induces apoptosis through the sustained activation of Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). We report that Aplidin® alters glutathione homeostasis increasing the ratio of oxidized to reduced forms (GSSG/GSH). Aplidin® generates reactive oxygen species and disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potential. Exogenous GSH inhibits these effects and also JNK activation and cell death. We found two mechanisms by which Aplidin® activates JNK: rapid activation of Rac1 small GTPase and downregulation of MKP-1 phosphatase. Rac1 activation was diminished by GSH and enhanced by L-buthionine (SR)-sulfoximine, which inhibits GSH synthesis. Downregulatio…
Physical inactivity increases oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis.
2005
Objective— Sedentary lifestyle is associated with increased cardiovascular events. The underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. An important source of vascular ROS is the NADPH oxidase. Methods and Results— C57BL6 mice were subjected to regular housing (physical inactivity) or voluntary training on running wheels (6 weeks). Inactivity increased vascular lipid peroxidation to 148±9% and upregulated superoxide release to 176±17% (L-012 chemiluminescence) and 188±29% (cytochrome C reduction assay), respectively. ROS production was predominantly increased in the endothelium and the medi…
Dietary fatty acids in the retina: beyond DHA, is EPA the underestimate intermediate?
2016
Dietary fatty acids in the retina: beyond DHA, is EPA the underestimate intermediate?. 12. congress of the international society for the study of fatty acids and lipids