Laccase enzyme detoxifies hydrolysates and improves biogas production from hemp straw and miscanthus.

The impact of various phenolic compounds, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid on anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic biomass (hemp straw and miscanthus) was studied. Such phenolic compounds have been known to inhibit biogas production during anaerobic digestion. The different phenolic compounds were added in various concentrations: 0, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000mg/L.

Interaction of fluorescein derivatives with glibenclamide binding sites in rat brain.

In rat brain, [3H]glibenclamide binds with high affinity to sulfonylurea receptors associated with ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. KATP channels may play a modulatory role in neurotransmitter release and are involved in acute pathological events occurring in the brain. Fluorescein derivatives, which are suitable tools for the labelling of nucleotide binding sites, influence KATP channels and sulfonylurea receptors properties in insulinoma and cardiac cells.

Quantitative assessment of quinolinic acid-induced striatal toxicity in rats using radioligand binding assays.

To validate specific, sensitive and quantitative markers of the rat model of Huntington's disease produced by the intrastriatal injection of quinolinic acid, we used striatal homogenate binding assays for [3H]MK-801-labelled N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors, [3H]SCH 23390-labelled D1 and [3H]sulpiride-labelled D2 dopamine receptors, [3H]CGS 21680-labelled adenosine A2 receptors, [3H]GBR 12935-labelled dopamine uptake sites, [3H]hemicholinium-3-labelled high affinity choline uptake sites and [3H]PK 11195-labelled glial cells, in 3 groups of rats: 1) lesioned only, 2) pretreated with MK-801, an antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, to assess the non-N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated toxicity of quinolinic acid, and 3) pretreated with MK-801 plus scopolamine, an anticholinergic drug that prevents MK-801 neuronal toxicity. [3H]MK-801 and [3H]PK 11195 are sensitive markers of quinolinic acid toxicity. In addition, [3H]SCH 23390, [3H]CGS 21680 and [3H]hemicholinium-3, are found to be specific markers of quinolinic acid-induced toxicity on striatonigral and striatopallidal projecting neurons, and on large interneurons, respectively.

Sulfonylurea binding sites in normal human brain and in Parkinson's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy and Huntington's disease.

In human brain, [3H]glibenclamide binds with high affinity (KD about 3.5 nM) to sulfonylurea binding sites which are associated with ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. Regarding to the important neuromodulatory action of KATP channels in some neuronal populations, sulfonylurea binding sites were measured in several cortical areas (frontal and temporal cortex, hippocampus) and striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) in controls and patients with Parkinson's disease or progressive supranuclear palsy.

[3H]MK-801 binding to NMDA glutamatergic receptors in Parkinson's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.

The interactions existing between glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems, notably in the basal ganglia, suggest that glutamatergic antagonists may have therapeutic interest in extrapyramidal disorders characterized by impaired dopaminergic transmission. The binding of [3H]dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) to glutamate receptors of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-subtype was characterized in temporal and frontal cortex, in hippocampus and in subcortical areas (caudate nucleus and putamen) from controls and patients with Parkinson's disease or progressive supranuclear palsy. The binding affinity (KD) and the maximal specific binding capacity (Bmax) of [3H]MK-801 were unchanged in all the cerebral regions studied in both diseases.