TXNL1 (also named TRP32, for thioredoxin related protein of 32 kDa) is a cytosolic thioredoxin-fold protein expressed in all cell types and conserved from yeast to mammals, but with yet poorly known function. Here, we expressed and purified human TXNL1 together with several Cys-to-Ser variants, characterizing their enzymatic properties. TXNL1 could reduce disulfides in insulin, cystine and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) in reactions coupled to thioredoxin reductase (TXNRD1, TrxR1) using NADPH, similarly to thioredoxin (TXN, Trx1), but with lower catalytic efficacy due to at least one order of magnitude higher K of TrxR1 for TXNL1 compared to Trx1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe endocannabinoids have been shown to target the afferents of hypothalamic neurons via cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1) and thereby to influence their excitability at various physiological and/or pathological processes. Kisspeptin (KP) neurons form afferents of multiple neuroendocrine cells and influence their activity via signaling through a variation of co-expressed classical neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. The differential potency of endocannabinoids to influence the release of classical transmitters or neuropeptides, and the ovarian cycle-dependent functioning of the endocannabinoid signaling in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons initiated us to study whether (a) the different subpopulations of KP neurons express CB1 mRNAs, (b) the expression is influenced by estrogen, and (c) CB1-immunoreactivity is present in the KP afferents to GnRH neurons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Temozolomide (TMZ) is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for malignant gliomas. Nonetheless, TMZ-induced side effects and drug resistance remain challenges. Our previous study showed the suppressive effects of honokiol on growth of gliomas.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroglial activation has long been recognized as a hallmark of neuroinflammation. Recently, the bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine has been reported to exert neuroprotective effects against several neurodegenerative disorders. Trehalose-6,6'-dibehenate (TDB) is a synthetic analogue of trehalose-6,6'-dimycolate (TDM, also known as the mycobacterial cord factor) and is a new adjuvant of tuberculosis subunit vaccine currently in clinical trials.
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