How to Use Respiratory Chain Inhibitors in Toxicology Studies-Whole-Cell Measurements.

Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) inhibition is a phenomenon interesting in itself and serves as a tool for studying various cellular processes. Despite the fact that searching the term "rotenone" in PubMed returns more than 6900 results, there are many discrepancies regarding the directions of changes reported to be caused by this RTC inhibitor in the delicate redox balance of the cell. Here, we performed a multifaceted study of the popular ETC inhibitors rotenone and antimycin A, involving assessment of mitochondrial membrane potential and the production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions at cellular and mitochondrial levels over a wide range of inhibitor concentrations (1 nmol/dm-100 µmol/dm).

A Vanadium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Fully Substituted Pyrroles.

We present a straightforward, fast, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly synthesis of 1,2,3,4,5-pentasubstituted derivatives of pyrrole, which were produced in one-pot reactions of 3-oxoanilides with hydrazides of carboxylic acids, catalyzed by 10 mol % VOSO·HO. The reactions were carried out in ethanol in contact with air as the oxidant. The 19 pyrroles obtained were usually crystalline and did not require purification.

Products of Lipid Peroxidation as a Factor in the Toxic Effect of Silver Nanoparticles.

In our previous study we have shown that nanoparticles have different effects depending on the energy metabolism of the cell, which is an important factor in the context of oncology and diabetes. Here we assess the influence of AgNPs on cellular lipid components in varying glucose concentrations. To assess the effect of silver nanoparticles on cell lipids, we measured cell viability, the fluidity of the cell membranes, the content of amino groups in proteins, the level of lipid peroxidation products, the concentration of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and the concentration of lipid peroxides.

Silver nanoparticles can attenuate nitrative stress.

We have reported previously that glucose availability can modify toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via elevation of antioxidant defence triggered by increased mitochondrial generation of reactive oxygen species. In this study, we examined the effect of glucose availability on the production of reactive nitrogen species in HepG2 cells and modification of nitrative stress by AgNPs. We found that lowering the glucose concentration increased expression of genes coding for inducible nitric oxide syntheas, NOS2 and NOS2A resulting in enhanced production of nitric oxide.

PIN2-like proteins may contribute to the regulation of morphogenetic processes during spermatogenesis in Chara vulgaris.

PIN2-like auxin transporters are expressed, preferentially in a polarized manner, in antheridial cells of freshwater green alga Chara vulgaris , considered to be the closest relative of the present-day land plants. Chara vulgaris represents a group of advanced multicellular green algae that are considered as the closest relatives of the present-day land plants. A highly specialized structure of its male sex organs (antheridia) includes filaments consisting of generative cells, which after a series of synchronous divisions transform into mature sperm, and non-generative cells comprising outer shield cells, cylindrical manubria, and central complex of capitular cells from which antheridial filaments arise.

A simple and safe method for the preparation of bis[2-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl)pyridinium] tetrachloridozincate(II).

In the title complex salt, (C6H6N5)2[ZnCl4], the Zn(II) cation is coordinated by four chloride ligands in a distorted tetrahedral geometry. The organic cations and complex anions are connected by N-H···Cl hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional network. The title complex salt was synthesized by the reaction of sodium azide, pyridine-2-carbonitrile and ZnCl2 in aqueous solution.