Publications by authors named "L Leone"

The design of protein-metal complexes is rapidly advancing, with applications spanning catalysis, sensing, and bioremediation. We report a comprehensive investigation of METPsc1, a Miniaturized Electron Transfer Protein, in complex with cadmium. This study elucidates the impact of metal coordination on protein folding and structural dynamics across temperatures from 100 K to 300 K.

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Article Synopsis
  • * NPs can act as carriers for immunomodulatory agents or nucleic acid-based therapies, allowing for better gene expression regulation and immune modulation, as shown in preclinical studies.
  • * Understanding the interaction between NPs and the CNS immune system, particularly the role of the biomolecular corona, is crucial for optimizing NP design to improve their effectiveness and safety in therapeutic applications.
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The design, synthesis, and characterization of a new peptidomimetic acting as a formyl peptide receptor (FPR1) antagonist (N-19004) are herein reported. The molecule has been identified with docking studies of the highly potent FPR1 antagonist UPARANT on human receptor. N-19004 recapitulates all pharmacophoric groups necessary for recognition into a minimal structure, with a crucial role of the 2,6-diamino-thiophenyl scaffold mimicking the positions of Cα atoms of Arg residues in the turned Arg-Aib-Arg segment of UPARANT.

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In the last three decades, high-relaxivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents (CAs) have been intensively sought, aiming at a reduction in the clinically injected dose while maintaining the safety of the CA and obtaining the same pathological information. Thus, four new Gd(III) complexes based on modified 10-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (HP-DO3A) macrocyclic structure were designed and synthesized by introducing further polar and protic functional groups (amides, phosphonates, and diols) adjacent to the metal-coordinated hydroxyl group. A detailed H NMR relaxometric analysis allowed us to investigate the effect of these functional groups on the relaxivity, which showed a 20-60% increase (at 0.

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Background: Reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is an early critical event in Alzheimer's disease (AD), contributing to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Reduced levels of the nucleoporin 153 (Nup153), a key epigenetic regulator of NSC stemness, characterize the neural stem cells isolated from a mouse model of AD (3×Tg) (AD-NSCs) and determine their altered plasticity and gene expression.

Methods: Nup153-regulated mechanisms contributing to NSC function were investigated: (1) in cultured NSCs isolated from AD and wild type (WT) mice by proteomics; (2) in vivo by lentiviral-mediated delivery of Nup153 or GFP in the hippocampus of AD and control mice analyzing neurogenesis and cognitive function; (3) in human iPSC-derived brain organoids obtained from AD patients and control subjects as a model of neurodevelopment.

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