Human cytochrome C natural variants: Studying the membrane binding properties of G41S and Y48H by fluorescence energy transfer and molecular dynamics.

Cytochrome C (cyt C), the protein involved in oxidative phosphorylation, plays several other crucial roles necessary for both cell life and death. Studying natural variants of cyt C offers the possibility to better characterize the structure-to-function relationship that modulates the different activities of this protein. Naturally mutations in human cyt C (G41S and Y48H) occur in the protein central Ω-loop and cause thrombocytopenia 4.

Occupational scenarios and exposure assessment to formaldehyde: A systematic review.

The objectives of the systematic review were to: identify the work sectors at risk for exposure to formaldehyde; investigate the procedures applied to assess occupational exposure; evaluate the reported exposure levels among the different settings. An electronic search of Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and ToxNet was carried out for collecting all the articles on the investigated issue published from January 1, 2004 to September 30, 2019. Forty-three papers were included in the review, and evidenced a great number of occupational scenarios at risk for formaldehyde exposure.

The Puzzling Problem of Cardiolipin Membrane-Cytochrome c Interactions: A Combined Infrared and Fluorescence Study.

The interaction of cytochrome c (cyt c) with natural and synthetic membranes is known to be a complex phenomenon, involving both protein and lipid conformational changes. In this paper, we combined infrared and fluorescence spectroscopy to study the structural transformation occurring to the lipid network of cardiolipin-containing large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). The data, collected at increasing protein/lipid ratio, demonstrate the existence of a multi-phase process, which is characterized by: (i) the interaction of cyt c with the lipid polar heads; (ii) the lipid anchorage of the protein on the membrane surface; and (iii) a long-distance order/disorder transition of the cardiolipin acyl chains.

Cytotoxicity and internalization analysis of silicon nanowires in Buffalo Green Monkey cells: a preliminary study to evaluate the possibility of carrying viruses inside the cells.

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) are attractive functional nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The ability to easily tune their size and density, potential biocompatibility, and knowledge of the chemical activation of SiNWs surface make them natural tools to interact with biological materials. We evaluated the possibility of exploiting SiNWs as carriers to introduce organic compounds into cells.

Cytochrome c: An extreme multifunctional protein with a key role in cell fate.

Cytochrome c, a protein that belongs to class 1 of the c-type cytochrome family, exerts different functions depending on its cellular localization and the conditions in which it operates; therefore, it can be defined as 'extreme multifunctional' protein. It mediates electron-transfer in the respiratory chain and acts as a detoxifying agent to dispose of ROS. In addition, cytochrome c plays a role in cell apoptosis.

Respiratory parameters at varied altitudes in intermittent mining work.

Objectives: Workers in the mining industry in altitude are subjected to several risk factors, e.g., airborne silica and low barometric pressure.

Studying the TRAF2 binding to model membranes: The role of subunits dissociation.

The ability of a C-terminal truncated form of TRAF2 to bind synthetic vesicles has been quantitatively studied by steady-state fluorescence energy transfer from the protein to large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) prepared with different lipid mixtures. The dissociation constants, the free energy of binding, and the average number of phospholipids interacting with truncated TRAF2 have been evaluated from the corresponding binding curves. The results indicate that the protein strongly interacts with the lipid bilayer, preferentially in the monomeric state.

Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids Act as Inhibitors of the Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Activity.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been reported to play a protective role in a wide range of diseases characterized by an increased metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity. The recent finding that omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids exert an anti-inflammatory effect in periodontal diseases has stimulated the present study, designed to determine whether such properties derive from a direct inhibitory action of these compounds on the activity of MMPs. To this issue, we investigated the effect exerted by omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids on the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9, two enzymes that actively participate to the destruction of the organic matrix of dentin following demineralization operated by bacteria acids.

Unravelling the Non-Native Low-Spin State of the Cytochrome c-Cardiolipin Complex: Evidence of the Formation of a His-Ligated Species Only.

The interaction between cytochrome c (Cyt c) and cardiolipin (CL) plays a vital role in the early stages of apoptosis. The binding of CL to Cyt c induces a considerable increase in its peroxidase activity that has been attributed to the partial unfolding of the protein, dissociation of the Met80 axial ligand, and formation of non-native conformers. Although the interaction between Cyt c and CL has been extensively studied, there is still no consensus regarding the conformational rearrangements of Cyt c that follow the protein-lipid interaction.

The key role played by charge in the interaction of cytochrome c with cardiolipin.

Cytochrome c undergoes structural variations upon binding of cardiolipin, one of the phospholipids constituting the mitochondrial membrane. Although several mechanisms governing cytochrome c/cardiolipin (cyt c/CL) recognition have been proposed, the interpretation of the process remains, at least in part, unknown. To better define the steps characterizing the cyt c-CL interaction, the role of Lys72 and Lys73, two residues thought to be important in the protein/lipid binding interaction, were recently investigated by mutagenesis.

The nitrite reductase activity of horse heart carboxymethylated-cytochrome c is modulated by cardiolipin.

Horse heart carboxymethylated cytc (CM-cytc) displays myoglobin-like properties. Here, the effect of cardiolipin (CL) liposomes on the nitrite reductase activity of ferrous CM-cytc [CM-cytc-Fe(II)], in the presence of sodium dithionite, is reported between pH 5.5 and 7.

Cardiolipin-cytochrome c complex: Switching cytochrome c from an electron-transfer shuttle to a myoglobin- and a peroxidase-like heme-protein.

Cytochrome c (cytc) is a small heme-protein located in the space between the inner and the outer membrane of the mitochondrion that transfers electrons from cytc-reductase to cytc-oxidase. The hexa-coordinated heme-Fe atom of cytc displays a very low reactivity toward ligands and does not exhibit significant catalytic properties. However, upon cardiolipin (CL) binding, cytc achieves ligand binding and catalytic properties reminiscent of those of myoglobin and peroxidase.

[Prolonged exposure to urban pollutants and arterial blood pressure: a whole evaluation of our researches].

Aim: A significant relationship between exposure to cadmium and PAHs from urban air pollution and blood pressure has already been found. The aim of the study is to evaluate if other urban pollutants maintain a similar relationship in outdoor workers.

Materials And Methods: 349 subjects of both sexes were enrolled in the study; we evaluated values of environmental and biological monitoring of respirable dust, arsenic, lead, benzene, toluene, xylene and we measured blood pressure (BP) in upright and in supine position; to analyze data we used multiple linear regression.

Ballet and stress. A pilot study.

Background: Work-related stress is a complex problem requiring a work environment-based assessment. Artists like dancers represent a category of atypical workers potentially at high risk for work-related stress. Aim of our pilot study is to evaluate organizational stress in a population of professional dancers, using the HSE Indicator Tool for Work Related Stress.

Work related etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a meta-analysis.

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between ALS and occupational exposure to physical (ELF-EMF) and chemicals (solvents, heavy metals and pesticides) agents.

Methods: We considered articles published from 1980 up to April 2013; in total, 750 publications were evaluated. The studies had to satisfy the following criteria: 1) cohort or case-control studies; 2) the presence of individual exposures; 3) clinical diagnosis of sporadic ALS or sporadic ALS on the death certificate.

Blood pressure changes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in outdoor workers.

Objectives: Everyday outdoor workers are exposed to chemicals including the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between hydroxypyrene and blood pressure in outdoor workers.

Materials And Methods: 374 subjects of both sexes entered the study.

[Urban individual exposure to cadmium and baroreceptor response to posture].

Objective: Outdoor workers are daily exposed to urban pollutants. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between the values of environmental monitoring collected by personal dosimetries and changes in blood pressure due to posture in outdoor workers.

Materials And Methods: 32 subjects of both sexes were enrolled in the study, we evaluated the values of environmental monitoring of breathable dust, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, lead, benzene, toluene, xylene and 16 PAHs.

Role of cardiolipin in mitochondrial diseases and apoptosis.

Apoptosis is a highly programmed cell death strictly connected to the pathogenesis of many human diseases, including neoplastic, neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases. Mitochondria play a key role in the apoptotic process; their damage activates a series of events which provoke the release of cytochrome c and other pro-apoptotic factors from the mitochondrial intermembrane space, and culminate in cell death. This review provides an overview of the key role played by mitochondria in the activation of the apoptotic process.

Role of lysines in cytochrome c-cardiolipin interaction.

Cytochrome c undergoes structural variations during the apoptotic process; such changes have been related to modifications occurring in the protein when it forms a complex with cardiolipin, one of the phospholipids constituting the mitochondrial membrane. Although several studies have been performed to identify the site(s) of the protein involved in the cytochrome c-cardiolipin interaction, to date the location of this hosting region(s) remains unidentified and is a matter of debate. To gain deeper insight into the reaction mechanism, we investigate the role that the Lys72, Lys73, and Lys79 residues play in the cytochrome c-cardiolipin interaction, as these side chains appear to be critical for cytochrome c-cardiolipin recognition.

Coal plant: risk, disease and prevention with on environmental impact.

Urban pollution is a current problem, constituting a serious health risk. Many pollutants are present in the urban atmosphere, they are mainly anthropogenic, resulting from the combustion of coal. Several studies have shown the harmful effects of these pollutants, particularly on the respiratory system.

Sensitive profiling of biogenic amines in human urine by capillary electrophoresis with field amplified sample injection.

In order to monitor biogenic amines in human urine, a method based on field-amplified sample injection combined with capillary electrophoresis and direct UV absorption detection was developed. Dopamine, tyramine, tryptamine, serotonin and epinephrine were effectively separated and identified in human urine samples, and detection limits were 0.072, 0.

[Alienation to burn-out. Psyche and the Universe of Technology].

The new D. Lgs. N 81, 2008 Article 28 paragraph 1 sanctions that the risk assessment must involve all the possible risks to safety and health of workers, including the work-related stress factors.

[Meta analysis blood and urinary values in urban pollution exposed workers].

Introduction: Aim of this study is evaluating alteration of neuro-immune-endocrine parameters in exposed workers and estimating whether urban pollution can modify them.

Methods: Literature research. Different categories of exposed workers were included in the study (7287) and compared with controls (8054).

Risk of upper extremity biomechanical overload in automotive facility.

Objective: To assess the risk factors for upper extremity-work-related musculoskeletal disorders (UE-WMSD) on 13 production lines in an airbag factory using the threshold limit values-American conference of industrial hygienists- hand activity level (TLV-ACGIH-HAL) method and introduce the ergonomic improvement to reduce the repetitiveness and the peak force (Pf).

Methods: Professional exposure level on 13 production lines in a automobile factory was measured using the TLV-ACGIH-HAL method and a further risk was assessed according to the ergonomic improvement.

Results: The first assessment of 9 production lines showed that the professional exposure level was above the TLV or HAL limit.