Argentatin Content in Guayule Leaves ( A. Gray).

Approximately one-third of the waste biomass from the cultivation of guayule ( A. Gray) for natural rubber production is leaf tissue; however, whether it can be valorized is not known. Guayulins and argentatins are potential high-value products that can be recovered from guayule resin during rubber/latex processing.

Effect of Crocetin on Basal Lipolysis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Crocetin (CCT) is a natural saffron-derived apocarotenoid that possesses healthy properties such as anti-adipogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. Lipolysis is enhanced in obesity and correlates with a pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidant state. In this context, we aimed to investigate whether CCT affects lipolysis.

Characterization of Permeability Barrier Dysfunction in a Murine Model of Cutaneous Field Cancerization Following Chronic UV-B Irradiation: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Skin Cancer.

Chronic ultraviolet B (UV-B) irradiation is known to be one of the most important hazards acting on the skin and poses a risk of developing photoaging, skin with cutaneous field cancerization (CFC), actinic keratosis (AKs), and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Most of the UV-B light is absorbed in the epidermis, affecting the outermost cell layers, the stratum corneum, and the stratum granulosum, which protects against this radiation and tries to maintain the permeability barrier. In the present work, we show an impairment in the transepidermal water loss, stratum corneum hydration, and surface pH after chronic UV-B light exposure in an immunologically intact mouse model (SKH1 aged mice) of skin with CFC.

Topical Applications of Thiosulfinate-Enriched Allium sativum Extract Accelerates Acute Cutaneous Wound Healing in Murine Model.

Objective: To determine whether topical applications of thiosulfinate-enriched Allium sativum extract (TASE) can accelerate acute cutaneous wound healing (WH) in a murine model.

Methods: Keratinocyte viability and in vitro wound closure were assessed in keratinocyte cultures. Effects of topical TASE (0.

Cost Effective Use of a Thiosulfinate-Enriched Extract in Combination with Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer.

In this work, we sought to investigate the effects of a thiosulfinate-enriched garlic extract, co-administered with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or oxaliplatin chemotherapy, on the viability of colon cancer cells (Caco-2 and HT-29). We also addressed the economic feasibility of a new combined treatment of this thiosulfinate-enriched garlic extract, with oxaliplatin that could reduce the dosage and costs of a monotherapy. The thiosulfinate-enriched garlic extract not only enhanced the impact of 5-FU and oxaliplatin (500 µM) in decreasing Caco-2 and HT-29 viability, but also showed a higher effect than standard 5-FU and oxaliplatin chemotherapy as anti-cancer agents.

Molecular mechanism of Gαi activation by non-GPCR proteins with a Gα-Binding and Activating motif.

Heterotrimeric G proteins are quintessential signalling switches activated by nucleotide exchange on Gα. Although activation is predominantly carried out by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), non-receptor guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) have emerged as critical signalling molecules and therapeutic targets. Here we characterize the molecular mechanism of G-protein activation by a family of non-receptor GEFs containing a Gα-binding and -activating (GBA) motif.

E1a promotes c-Myc-dependent replicative stress: implications in glioblastoma radiosensitization.

The E1a gene from adenovirus is known to be a potent inducer of chemo/radiosensitivity in a wide range of tumors. However, the molecular bases of its radiosensitizer properties are still poorly understood. In an attempt to study this effect, U87MG cells, derived from a radio-resistant tumor as glioblastoma, where infected with lentivirus carrying E1a gene developing an acute sensitivity to ionizing radiation.

ERK5/BMK1 is a novel target of the tumor suppressor VHL: implication in clear cell renal carcinoma.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5), also known as big mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1, is implicated in a wide range of biologic processes, which include proliferation or vascularization. Here, we show that ERK5 is degraded through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, in a process mediated by the tumor suppressor von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene, through a prolyl hydroxylation-dependent mechanism. Our conclusions derive from transient transfection assays in Cos7 cells, as well as the study of endogenous ERK5 in different experimental systems such as MCF7, HMEC, or Caki-2 cell lines.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 regulates Krox-20 to direct Schwann cell differentiation and peripheral myelination.

We previously reported that addition of extracellular matrix (ECM) extracts to rat Schwann cell-dorsal root ganglion neuron (DRGN) co-cultures activated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, whereas inhibition blocked myelination. Here, we used p38 pharmacological inhibitors and gene silencing to assess their effects on downstream kinases and key transcription factors. We show that p38α regulates expression of the master transcription factor, Krox-20, required for the onset of myelination in Schwann cell-DRGNs, as assessed by immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR.

Autop38-phagy and apop38-tosis in genotoxic stress: a strange duo.

There have been strange couples throughout history, which have behaved in an opposite manner while sharing the same space, with, in our opinion, Jack Lemon and Walter Matthau (the "Odd Couple") being one of the best examples. Most biological processes are interconnected with each other, and the imbalance in favor of one or another always involves biological changes. In the case of cell death by genotoxic stress, there are two main actors who seem to have a decisive role: apoptosis and autophagy.