Publications by authors named "P A Ford"

The endogenous reduction of nitrite to nitrosyl is drawing increasing attention as a protective mechanism against hypoxic injury in mammalian physiology and as an alternative source of NO, which is involved in a wide variety of biological activities. Thus, chemical mechanisms for this transformation, which are mediated by metallo proteins, are of considerable interest. The study described here examines the reactions of the biomimetic models Co(TTP)(NO) (TTP = meso-tetratolylporphyrinato dianion) and Mn(TPP)(ONO) (TPP = meso-tetraphenyl-porphyrinato dianion) in sublimated solid films with hydrogen sulfide (HS) and with ethanethiol (EtSH) at various temperatures from 77 K to room temperature using in situ infrared and optical spectroscopy.

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Hemes play key roles in enzymatic production of the mammalian gasotransmitter NO by nitric oxide synthase as well as in conversion from inorganic nitrite. In the present study, we report a hitherto unknown pathway of nitrosyl formation thiol reduction of a iron porphyrin nitrate complex in the solid state.

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Translation control mechanisms connect the largely static genome to the highly dynamic proteome. At each step in the translation cycle, multiple layers of regulation enable efficient protein biogenesis under optimal conditions and mediate responses to acute environmental challenges. Recent research has demonstrated that individual ribosomal protein ubiquitylation events act as molecular signals to specify quality control pathway outcomes.

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Objectives: Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is common among men. Currently, topical minoxidil and oral finasteride are approved by the FDA for the treatment of AGA. Unfortunately, neither of them is completely effective and systemic adverse events have been reported after finasteride administration.

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During the intense neuronal activity in the retina, Müller cells are exposed to a hypotonic environment and activate a regulatory volume decrease (RVD) response, which depends on Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and the calcium channel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 4 (TRPV4). It was reported that Osteopontin (OPN), a cytokine and component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), may modulate the RVD of Müller cells. In other cell types, OPN participates in cell survival and migration, which Müller cells undergo to maintain retinal homeostasis.

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