Publications by authors named "A Cassetta"

The diterpene cafestol represents the most potent cholesterol-elevating compound known in the human diet, being responsible for more than 80% of the effect of coffee on serum lipids, with a mechanism still not fully clarified. In the present study, the interaction of cafestol and 16--methylcafestol with the stabilized ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the Farnesoid X Receptor was evaluated by fluorescence and circular dichroism. Fluorescence quenching was observed with both cafestol and 16--methylcafestol due to an interaction occurring in the close environment of the tryptophan W454 residue of the protein, as confirmed by docking and molecular dynamics.

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Blocking iron uptake and metabolism has been emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy for the development of novel antimicrobial compounds. Like all mycobacteria, M. abscessus (Mab) has evolved several countermeasures to scavenge iron from host carrier proteins, including the production of siderophores, which play a crucial role in these processes.

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  • Insufficient sleep is linked to chronic musculoskeletal pain, and this study aimed to examine how sleep quality and polysomnographic findings relate to pain in affected patients.
  • Researchers analyzed polysomnography results and used questionnaires to assess variables like sleep quality and pain intensity among participants, finding that many experienced disturbances in their sleep.
  • The results showed poor sleep quality and frequent awakenings in patients with signs of central sensitization, indicating a significant association between these factors and changes in blood oxygen saturation during sleep.
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Targeting pathogenic mechanisms, rather than essential processes, represents a very attractive approach for the development of new antimycobacterial drugs. In this context, iron acquisition routes have recently emerged as potentially druggable pathways. However, the importance of siderophore biosynthesis in the virulence and pathogenicity of () is still poorly understood.

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  • NGF (nerve growth factor) supports neuron growth, while its precursor proNGF can lead to neuron death.
  • ATP binds to the pro-peptide of proNGF, influencing its interaction with other molecules, with magnesium playing a significant role in this binding process.
  • Structural studies reveal that ATP binding causes a shape change in proNGF, suggesting it could affect proNGF's behavior and function in the body.
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