A metabolite-based resistance mechanism against malaria.

Jaundice is a common presentation of malaria, which arises from the accumulation of circulating bilirubin. It is not understood whether it represents an adaptive or maladaptive response to spp. infection.

A Metabolite-Based Resistance Mechanism Against Malaria.

Whether jaundice, a common presentation of ( .) malaria (1-3) arising from the accumulation of circulating bilirubin, represents an adaptive or maladaptive response to spp. infection is not understood (1-3).

GLUT-1 changes in paediatric Huntington disease brain cortex and fibroblasts: an observational case-control study.

Background: Paediatric Huntington disease with highly expanded mutations (HE-PHD; >80 CAG repeats) presents atypically, compared to adult-onset Huntington disease (AOHD), with neurodevelopmental delay, epilepsy, abnormal brain glucose metabolism, early striatal damage, and reduced lifespan. Since genetic GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome shows a symptom spectrum similar to HE-PHD, we investigated the potential role of the two main glucose transporters, GLUT-1 and GLUT-3, in HE-PHD.

Methods: We compared GLUT-1 and GLUT-3 protein expression in HE-PHD, juvenile-onset (JOHD), and AOHD brains (n = 2; n = 3; n = 6) and periphery (n = 3; n = 2; n = 2) versus healthy adult controls (n = 6; n = 6).

CAPE and its synthetic derivative VP961 restore BACH1/NRF2 axis in Down Syndrome.

The cells possess several mechanisms to counteract the over-production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), including enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, an important sensor involved in the anti-oxidant response is KEAP1-NRF2-ARE signaling complex. Under oxidative stress (OS), the transcription factor NRF2 can dissociate from the KEAP1-complex in the cytosol and translocate into the nucleus to promote the transcriptional activation of anti-oxidant genes, such as heme oxygenase 1 and NADPH quinone oxidoreductase.

Biliverdin reductase-A protein levels are reduced in type 2 diabetes and are associated with poor glycometabolic control.

Aim: Biliverdin reductase-A (BVR-A) other than its canonical role in the degradation pathway of heme as partner of heme oxygenase-1 (HO1), has recently drawn attention as a protein with pleiotropic functions involved in insulin-glucose homeostasis. However, whether BVR-A expression is altered in type 2 diabetes (T2D) has never been evaluated.

Main Methods: BVR-A protein levels were evaluated in T2D (n = 44) and non-T2D (n = 29) subjects, who underwent complete clinical workup and routine biochemistry.

Proteomics Study of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Down Syndrome Children.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder and the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability in humans, which results from the triplication of chromosome 21. To search for biomarkers for the early detection and exploration of the disease mechanisms, here, we investigated the protein expression signature of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in DS children compared with healthy donors (HD) by using an in-depth label-free shotgun proteomics approach. Identified proteins are found associated with metabolic pathways, cellular trafficking, DNA structure, stress response, cytoskeleton network, and signaling pathways.

The BACH1/Nrf2 Axis in Brain in Down Syndrome and Transition to Alzheimer Disease-Like Neuropathology and Dementia.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability that is associated with an increased risk to develop early-onset Alzheimer-like dementia (AD). The brain neuropathological features include alteration of redox homeostasis, mitochondrial deficits, inflammation, accumulation of both amyloid beta-peptide oligomers and senile plaques, as well as aggregated hyperphosphorylated tau protein-containing neurofibrillary tangles, among others. It is worth mentioning that some of the triplicated genes encoded are likely to cause increased oxidative stress (OS) conditions that are also associated with reduced cellular responses.

Dynamical behavior of highly concentrated trehalose water solutions: a dielectric spectroscopy study.

Trehalose solutions were investigated by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy at different water contents, ranging from an anhydrous sample to w(C) = 40%. While the structural α-relaxation was detectable only in the low hydration and dry samples, and in a quite limited range of temperatures, two secondary processes were presented and characterized in all the solutions investigated. In particular, the fastest secondary process displayed a characteristic behavior widely observed in other small organic glass formers.

More than one dynamic crossover in protein hydration water.

Studies of liquid water in its supercooled region have helped us better understand the structure and behavior of water. Bulk water freezes at its homogeneous nucleation temperature (approximately 235 K), but protein hydration water avoids this crystallization because each water molecule binds to a protein. Here, we study the dynamics of the hydrogen bond (HB) network of a percolating layer of water molecules and compare the measurements of a hydrated globular protein with the results of a coarse-grained model that successfully reproduces the properties of hydration water.

The dynamical behavior of hydrated glutathione: a model for protein-water interactions.

The reliability of tripeptide glutathione as an excellent model for protein-water interactions is tested by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Measurements performed on aqueous solutions with different water contents show a surprisingly rich relaxation map that strongly resembles those observed for more complex protein macromolecules. At variance with what is normally observed for solutions of hydrophilic compounds with similar molecular weights, the presence of at least two water-related processes is detected.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization of cytochrome c encapsulated in a bio sol-gel matrix.

Sol-gel technique represents a remarkably versatile method for protein encapsulation. To enhance sol-gel biocompatibility, systems envisaging the presence of calcium and phosphates in the sol-gel composition were recently prepared and investigated. Unfortunately, the low pH at which solutions were prepared (pH < 2.

Whole-cell recording of intracellular pH with silanized and oiled patch-type single or double-barreled microelectrodes.

Conventional ion-sensitive microelectrodes cannot be used in small cells, since they create too large an electrical leak at the site of penetration. Membrane potentials can be measured in such cells with the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique, after obtaining a high-resistance seal (giga-seal) to the cell membrane. Achieving such seals with patch-type microelectrodes silanized and filled with ion-sensitive cocktails has proved very difficult.

Inhibition of spinal or hypoglossal motoneurons of the newborn rat by glycine or GABA.

The function of GABA or glycine during early postnatal development remains controversial as their action is reported as either excitatory or inhibitory. The present study addressed the question of the functional role of GABA or glycine on rat motoneurons shortly after birth. For this purpose, using in vitro preparations from immature rats (postnatal age, P0-P4 days), we recorded from lumbar spinal motoneurons and hypoglossal motoneurons.