Results obtained from rat studies indicate that, even at low concentrations, mercurial species cause harmful effects on the kidneys, by inducing the nephrotic oxidative stress response. In the present work, Hg-associated proteins were identified as possible mercury-exposure biomarkers in rat kidneys exposed to low mercury chloride concentrations for 30 days (Hg-30) and 60 days (Hg-60), using metalloproteomic strategies. The renal proteomic profile was fractioned by two-dimensional electrophoresis and the mercury determinations in kidney samples, protein pellets and protein spots were performed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecules
December 2023
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the differential expression of plasma proteins in broiler chickens supplemented with different sources (sulfates and hydroxychlorides) and levels of copper (15 and 150 mg kg) and manganese (80 and 120 mg kg). For this, plasma samples from 40 broiler chickens were used, divided into four experimental groups: S15-80 (15 ppm CuSO and 80 ppm MnSO), S150-120 (150 ppm CuSO and 120 ppm MnSO), H15-80 (15 ppm Cu(OH)Cl and 80 ppm Mn(OH)Cl), and H150-120 (150 ppm Cu(OH)Cl and 120 ppm Mn(OH)Cl). From plasma samples obtained from each bird from the same treatment, four pools were made considering 10 birds per group.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExposure to mercury can interfere with the expression of proteins and enzymes, compromise important pathways, such as apoptosis and glucose metabolism, and even induce the expression of metallothioneins. In this study, analytical techniques were used to determine the concentration of total mercury (THg) in muscle and liver tissue, protein pellets, and spots [using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS)], and molecular techniques were used to identify metalloproteins present in mercury-associated protein spots. Thirty individuals from three different fish species, Cichla sp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
April 2022
Diets for feedlot cattle must be a higher energy density, entailing high fermentable carbohydrate content. Feed additives are needed to reduce possible metabolic disorders. This study aimed to analyze the post-rumen effects of different levels of starch (25%, 35%, and 45%) and additives (monensin or a blend of essential oils and exogenous α-amylase) in diets for Nellore feedlot cattle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLactoferrin (LF) belongs to the family of transferrins having multifunctional roles associated with the immune system of animals. To follow the aims for this study was selected 20 sequences of LF from mammalian species to evaluate the chemical, biological, and structural properties. Bioinformatics approaches used programs such as MAFFT for sequence alignment; PartitionFinder and MrBayes for phylogenetic approaches; I-TASSER, PROCHECK, Molecular Operating Environment (MOE), SWISS Model server, Peptide DB and Expasy ProtParam to estimate the physicochemical properties, to model the protein and predicted secondary structures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
May 2021
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The persistent inflammation is being mainly attributed to local oxidative stress and inflammasome activation implicated in the ensuing demyelination and axonal damage. Since new control measures remain necessary, we evaluated the preventive and therapeutic potential of a beta-selenium-lactic acid derivative (LAD-βSe), which is a source of organic selenium under development, to control experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) that is an animal model for MS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnderstanding the effect of pesticides on the survival of honeybee colonies is important because these pollinators are reportedly declining globally. In the present study, we examined the changes in the head proteome of nurse honeybees exposed to individual and combined pesticides (the fungicide pyraclostrobin and the insecticide fipronil) at field-relevant doses (850 and 2.5 ppb, respectively).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBioactive peptides can provide health benefits due to different mechanisms. The aims of the present study are to produce bioactive peptides from bovine and goat milk subjected to the proteolytic activity of Aspergillus oryzae and Aspergillus flavipes enzymes, as well as to assess their putative antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Bioactive peptides were successfully generated from proteases of fungi cultivated in solid-state fermentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShear stress changes are associated with a repertory of signaling cascade modulating vascular phenotype. As shear stress-related tensional forces might be associated with pathophysiological susceptibility, a more comprehensive molecular map needs to be addressed. Thus, we subjected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to a circuit of different tensional forces in vitro considering the following three groups: (a) physiological blood flow shear stress condition (named Normo), (b) a hypertensive blood flow shear stress (named Hyper), and (c) these hyper-stressed cells were returned to Normo condition (named Return).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSignificant health concerns have been raised by the high levels of Cr and Co ions into whole blood as resulted of corrosion process released from biomedical implants, but very little is known about their biological behavior in governing cell metabolism. Thus, we prompted to address this issue by exploring the effects of CoCr enriched medium on both fibroblast and preosteoblast (pre-Ob) cells. First, we showed there is a significant difference in Co and Cr releasing dependent on engineered surface, it being even more released in dual acid-etching treating surface (named w/DAE) than the machined surfaces (named wo/DAE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study presents data on the extraction and characterization of proteins associated with mercury in the muscle and liver tissues of jaraqui (Semaprochilodus spp.) from the Madeira River in the Brazilian Amazon. Protein fractionation was carried out by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-PAGE).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProteins play crucial roles in biological systems, thus studies comparing the protein pattern present in a healthy sample with an affected sample have been widely used for disease biomarker discovery. Although proteins containing metal ions constitute only a small proportion of the proteome, they are essential in a multitude of structural and functional processes. The correct association between metal ions and proteins is essential because this binding can significantly interfere with normal protein function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFood Chem
February 2015
The work describes a metalloproteomics study of bovine muscle tissue with different grades of meat tenderness from animals of the Nellore breed (Bos indicus) based on protein separation by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, the identification of calcium ions in protein spots by X-ray fluorescence (SR-XRF) and the characterisation of proteins by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry. Forty (40) specimens were selected and divided into two experimental groups: animals with tough meat (TO) and animals with tender meat (TE). A third group (P) of Piedmontese breed animals (Bos taurus) was included to serve as a comparative model for the level of meat tenderness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe presence of calcium, iron, and zinc bound to human milk secretory IgA (sIgA) was investigated. The sIgA components were first separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and then identified by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI MS MS). The metal ions were detected by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after acid mineralization of the spots.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the present study, a simple, rapid and sensitive method was developed for the determination of mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue of fish from the Brazilian Amazon using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) following acid mineralization of the samples in an ultrasonic cold water bath. Using copper nitrate as a chemical modifier in solution and sodium tungstate as permanent modifier, we were able to attain thermal stabilization of the mercury up to the atomisation temperature of 1600 °C in the GFAAS assay. The calculated limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper presents preliminary findings for a metallomics study of mercury in the muscle of the fish species from Amazonas, Brazil, after protein separation by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequent evaluation of mercury by synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra revealed mercury in two protein spots. The mercury-containing protein spots showed molecular weights of 20.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod
July 2009
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pH and calcium ion release of 6 materials used for root-end filling and perforation repair.
Study Design: Gray ProRoot MTA, gray MTA-Angelus, white MTA-Angelus, and CPM were compared to 2 experimental ones: MTA-exp, also based in Portland cement with a modified mixing liquid, and MBPc, an epoxy-resin based cement containing calcium hydroxide. After 3, 24, 72, and 168 hours the water in which each sample had been immersed was tested to determine the ph and calcium ion release.
Objectives: This study investigated in situ the effect of iron (Fe) on the reduction of demineralization of bovine enamel, as well as on the composition of dental biofilm.
Design And Methods: Twelve volunteers were included in this blind crossover study, which was conducted in two stages of 14 days each. For each stage, the volunteers received palatal appliances containing four blocks of bovine enamel (4 mm x4 mm x 2.