Small molecules differentiate definitive endoderm from human induced pluripotent stem cells on PCL scaffold.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are attractive sources of cells for disease modeling in vitro, and they may eventually provide access to cells/tissues for the treatment of many degenerative diseases. Stepwise differentiation from hiPSCs to definitive endoderm (DE) will identify a key step in hepatocytes and beta cell development and may prove useful for transplantation therapy for liver diseases and diabetes. Inducer of definitive endoderm 1 (IDE1) is known to play an important role in the regional specification of DE.

The role of anionic peptide fragments in 1N4R human tau protein aggregation.

Cellular protein degradation systems are necessary to avoid the accumulation of misfolded or damaged proteins. Deficiency in these systems might cause to partial degradation of misfolded proteins and generation of amyloidogenic fragments. Protein misfolding is believed to be the primary cause of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The effect of the crocus sativus L. Carotenoid, crocin, on the polymerization of microtubules, in vitro.

Objective(s): Crocin, as the main carotenoid of saffron, has shown anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. Crocin might interact with cellular proteins and modulate their functions, but the exact target of this carotenoid and the other compounds of the saffron have not been discovered yet. Microtubular proteins, as one of the most important proteins inside the cells, have several functions in nearly all kinds of cellular processes.

An in vitro study of the role of β-boswellic acid in the microtubule assembly dynamics.

Structural integrity of microtubule protein (MTP) is pivotal for its physiological roles. Disruption of the MTP network is known to be involved in neurodegenerative disorders. The gum resin of plants of the boswellia species, with β-boswellic acid (BBA) as the major component, has long been used in Ayurveda and Oriental Medicine to prevent amnesia.

Altered tubulin assembly dynamics with N-homocysteinylated human 4R/1N tau in vitro.

Tau isoforms promote neuronal integrity through binding and stabilization of microtubule proteins (MTP). It has been shown that hyperphosphorylation of tau contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and related tauopathies. However, other pathogenic modifications of tau have not been well characterized.

Effect of N-homocysteinylation on physicochemical and cytotoxic properties of amyloid β-peptide.

Abstract Hyperhomocysteinemia has recently been identified as an important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). One of the potential mechanisms underlying harmful effects of homocysteine (Hcy) is site-specific acylation of proteins at lysine residues by homocysteine thiolactone (HCTL). The accumulation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) in the brain is a neuropathological hallmark of AD.

The enhancement effect of beta-boswellic acid on hippocampal neurites outgrowth and branching (an in vitro study).

Increasing evidences implicate impairment of axonal integrity in mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders. Beta-boswellic acid (BBA) is the major component of Boswellia serrata gum. This resin has long been used in Ayurveda (India's traditional medicine) to prevent amnesia.