Telmisartan modulates mitochondrial function in vascular smooth muscle cells.

The development of atherosclerosis is associated with disturbances in mitochondrial function that impair effective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, increase generation of superoxide and induce subsequent apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). As peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) has a potentially important role in the regulation of mitochondrial metabolism, we studied effects of the partial PPARγ agonist and angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan, on mitochondria-related cellular responses in VSMC. In human VSMC, telmisartan increased ATP levels and activation of mitochondrial complex II, succinate dehydrogenase, reduced the release of H2O2 and attenuated H2O2-induced increases in caspase 3/7 activity, a marker of cellular apoptosis.

Structure of an archaeal alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase.

The crystal structure of a novel alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus litoralis was determined at 2.3 A resolution. The asymmetric unit contains four homologous subunits and the functional tetramer is generated by noncrystallographic 222 symmetry.