Publications by authors named "Isabella Moceri"

Transcriptomes and proteomes can be normalized with a handful of RNAs or proteins (or their peptides), such as GAPDH, β-actin, RPBMS, and/or GAP43. Even with hundreds of standards, normalization cannot be achieved across different molecular mass ranges for small molecules, such as lipids and metabolites, due to the non-linearity of mass by charge ratio for even the smallest part of the spectrum. We define the amount (or range of amounts) of metabolites and/or lipids per a defined amount of a protein, consistently identified in all samples of a multiple-model organism comparison, as the normative level of that metabolite or lipid.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Lipids, particularly cholesterol, play key roles in biological functions like cell structure, metabolism, and signaling, influencing processes such as melanocyte growth and melanosome maturation.
  • - Deficiencies in melanogenesis and melanosome maturation, linked to cholesterol metabolism, contribute to conditions like ocular albinism and pigment dispersion syndrome, which affect the body systematically.
  • - The research focuses on analyzing cholesterol levels and signaling via LDL in melanocytes using advanced methods like liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, providing insights into melanin production and maturation.
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With impaired retinal ganglion cell (RGC) function and eventual RGC death, there is a heightened risk of experiencing glaucoma-induced blindness or other optic neuropathies. Poor RGC efficiency leads to limited transmission of visual signals between the retina and the brain by RGC axons. Increased focus on studying lipid messengers found in neurons such as endocannabinoids (eCBs) has importance due to their potential axonal pathway regenerative properties.

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CNS injuries of the anuran amphibian, , are uniquely suited for studying the molecular compositions of neuronal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) due to a functional recovery of optic axons disparate to adult mammalian analogues. RGCs and their optic nerve axons undergo irreversible neurodegeneration in glaucoma and associated optic neuropathies, resulting in blindness in mammals. Conversely, demonstrates RGC lifetime-spanning regenerative capabilities after optic nerve crush [1], inciting opportunities to compare de novo regeneration and develop efficient pharmaceutical approaches for vision restoration.

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