Localization and regulation of pancreatic selenoprotein P.

Progressive loss of pancreatic β-cell mass is a crucial feature of type 2 diabetes mellitus. As β-cells express very low amounts of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), they appear to be particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of diabetes. Here, we investigated the pancreatic expression pattern and regulation of selenoprotein P (Sepp1), which may serve as an additional antioxidant enzyme inside and outside of cells.

Electron capture dissociation mass spectrometry of metallo-supramolecular complexes.

The electron capture dissociation (ECD) of metallo-supramolecular dinuclear triple-stranded helicate Fe(2)L(3)(4+) ions was determined by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Initial electron capture by the di-iron(II) triple helicate ions produces dinuclear double-stranded complexes analogous to those seen in solution with the monocationic metal centers Cu(I) or Ag(I). The gas-phase fragmentation behavior [ECD, collision-induced dissociation (CID), and infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD)] of the di-iron double-stranded complexes, (i.

The tandem zinc-finger region of human ZHX adopts a novel C2H2 zinc finger structure with a C-terminal extension.

Binding of the nuclear factor-Y complex (NF-Y) to the inverted CCAAT-box interferes with transcription activation through nucleosome reorganization. The three homologous proteins forming the zinc-fingers and homeoboxes (ZHX) family interact with the activation domain of NF-Ya to repress transcription. Each ZHX-protein contains two generic C2H2 zinc-fingers (ZNF1 and ZNF2) followed by five homeodomains.

Supramolecular iron cylinder with unprecedented DNA binding is a potent cytostatic and apoptotic agent without exhibiting genotoxicity.

The supramolecular iron cylinder, [Fe(2)L(3)]Cl(4) (L = C(25)H(20)N(4)), shows unprecedented DNA binding in vitro, inducing intramolecular DNA coiling and also targeting Y-shaped DNA junctions. We investigated its effects on proliferation and survival in both tumor and normal cell lines. Iron cylinder reduced mitochondrial activity of cultures with potency similar to cisplatin, inhibited the cell cycle, and increased cell death by apoptosis.

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes and their modes of interaction with DNA: is there a correlation between these interactions and the antitumor activity of the compounds?

Various interaction modes between a group of six ruthenium polypyridyl complexes and DNA have been studied using a number of spectroscopic techniques. Five mononuclear species were selected with formula [Ru(tpy)L(1)L(2)]((2-n)+), and one closely related dinuclear cation of formula [{Ru(apy)(tpy)}(2){mu-H(2)N(CH(2))(6)NH(2)}](4+). The ligand tpy is 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine and the ligand L(1) is a bidentate ligand, namely, apy (2,2'-azobispyridine), 2-phenylazopyridine, or 2-phenylpyridinylmethylene amine.