Bone Formation in Zebrafish: The Significance of DAF-FM DA Staining for Nitric Oxide Detection.

DAF-FM DA is widely used as a live staining compound to show the presence of nitric oxide (NO) in cells. Applying this stain to live zebrafish embryos is known to indicate early centers of bone formation, but the precise (cellular) location of the signal has hitherto not been revealed. Using sections of zebrafish embryos live-stained with DAF-FM DA, we could confirm that the fluorescent signals were predominantly located in areas of ongoing bone formation.

A novel drug specific mRNA biomarker predictor for selection of patients responding to dovitinib treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma and other solid tumors.

Purpose: Dovitinib is a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR1-3, PDGFR, FGFR1/3, c-KIT, FLT3 and topoisomerase 1 and 2. The drug response predictor (DRP) biomarker algorithm or DRP-Dovitinib is being developed as a companion diagnostic to dovitinib and was applied retrospectively.

Patients And Methods: Archival tumor samples were obtained from consenting patients in a phase 3 trial comparing dovitinib to sorafenib in renal cell carcinoma patients and the DRP-Dovitinib was applied.

Superanionic Solvent-Free Liquid Enzymes Exhibit Enhanced Structures and Activities.

The surface of a carboxylate-enriched octuple mutant of Bacillus subtilis lipase A (8M) is chemically anionized to produce core (8M)-shell (cationic polymer surfactants) bionanoconjugates in protein liquid form, which are termed anion-type biofluids. The resultant lipase biofluids exhibit a 2.5-fold increase in hydrolytic activity when compared with analogous lipase biofluids based on anionic polymer surfactants.

Glycation modulates alpha-synuclein fibrillization kinetics: A sweet spot for inhibition.

Glycation is a nonenzymatic posttranslational modification (PTM) known to be increased in the brains of hyperglycemic patients. Alpha-synuclein (αSN), a central player in the etiology of Parkinson's disease, can be glycated at lysine residues, thereby reducing αSN fibril formation in vitro and modulating αSN aggregation in cells. However, the molecular basis for these effects is unclear.

Dynamics of circulating dendritic cells and cytokines after kidney transplantation-No effect of remote ischaemic conditioning.

Inflammation resulting from ischaemia/reperfusion injury can cause kidney graft dysfunction, increase the risk of delayed graft function and possibly reduce long-term graft survival. Remote ischaemic conditioning may protect against ischaemia/reperfusion injury and mitigate the immunological response to the graft. We investigated the immunological effects of remote ischaemic conditioning on kidney transplantation from deceased donors in the randomized CONTEXT study.

Novel and Converging Ways of NOX2 and SOD3 in Trafficking and Redox Signaling in Macrophages.

Macrophages and related tissue macrophage populations use the classical NADPH oxidase (NOX2) for the regulated production of superoxide and derived oxidants for pathogen combat and redox signaling. With an emphasis on macrophages, we discuss how sorting into secretory storage vesicles, agonist-responsive membrane trafficking, and segregation into sphingolipid and cholesterol-enriched microdomains (lipid rafts) determine the subcellular distribution and spatial organization of NOX2 and superoxide dismutase-3 (SOD3). We discuss how inflammatory activation of macrophages, in part through small GTPase Rab27A/B regulation of the secretory compartments, mediates the coalescence of these two proteins on the cell surface to deliver a focalized hydrogen peroxide output.

Transport of a Peptide from Bovine α-Casein across Models of the Intestinal and Blood-Brain Barriers.

The effect of food components on brain growth and development has attracted increasing attention. Milk has been shown to contain peptides that deliver important signals to the brains of neonates and infants. In order to reach the brain, milk peptides have to resist proteolytic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, cross the gastrointestinal barrier and later cross the highly selective blood-brain barrier (BBB).

FAM20C phosphorylation of the RGDSVVYGLR motif in osteopontin inhibits interaction with the αvβ3 integrin.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a ubiquitously expressed, multifunctional, and highly phosphorylated protein. OPN contains two neighboring integrin-binding motifs, RGD and SVVYGLR, which mediate interaction with cells. Phosphorylation and proteolytic processing affect the integrin-binding activities of OPN.

PAK Kinases Target Sortilin and Modulate Its Sorting.

The multifunctional type 1 receptor sortilin is involved in endocytosis and intracellular transport of ligands. The short intracellular domain of sortilin binds several cytoplasmic adaptor proteins (e.g.

Structural Basis for Properdin Oligomerization and Convertase Stimulation in the Human Complement System.

Properdin (FP) is a positive regulator of the immune system stimulating the activity of the proteolytically active C3 convertase C3bBb in the alternative pathway of the complement system. Here we present two crystal structures of FP and two structures of convertase bound FP. A structural core formed by three thrombospondin repeats (TSRs) and a TB domain harbors the convertase binding site in FP that mainly interacts with C3b.

Grafting phenolics onto milk protein via conjugated polymerization for delivery of multiple functionalities: Synthesis and characterization.

A synthetic scenario for functionalization of β-lactoglobulin (βLg) with polymeric units containing caffeic acid (βLg-polyCA) was developed; and all intermediates and final products were structurally confirmed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and physico-chemically characterized using differential scanning calorimetry and circular dichroism. The antioxidant properties and emulsion stability of βLg, βLg-CA conjugate and βLg-polyCA based systems containing high percentage of fish oil (50%) were evaluated; and βLg-polyCA presented the highest antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activity based on DPPH, ABTS and HS scavenging assays (92.4, 87.

The dynamic uptake and release of SOD3 from intracellular stores in macrophages modulates the inflammatory response.

Superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) is an extracellular enzyme with the capacity to modulate extracellular redox conditions by catalyzing the dismutation of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. In addition to synthesis and release of this extracellular protein via the secretory pathway, several studies have shown that the protein also localizes to intracellular compartments in neutrophils and macrophages. Here we show that human macrophages release SOD3 from an intracellular compartment within 30 min following LPS stimulation.

Characterization of extracellular redox enzyme concentrations in response to exercise in humans.

Redox enzymes modulate intracellular redox balance and are secreted in response to cellular oxidative stress, potentially modulating systemic inflammation. Both aerobic and resistance exercise are known to cause acute systemic oxidative stress and inflammation; however, how redox enzyme concentrations alter in extracellular fluids following bouts of either type of exercise is unknown. Recreationally active men ( = 26, mean ± SD: age 28 ± 8 yr) took part in either: 1) two separate energy-matched cycling bouts: one of moderate intensity (MOD) and a bout of high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) or 2) an eccentric-based resistance exercise protocol (RES).

The three-dimensional structure of an H-superfamily conotoxin reveals a granulin fold arising from a common ICK cysteine framework.

Venomous marine cone snails produce peptide toxins (conotoxins) that bind ion channels and receptors with high specificity and therefore are important pharmacological tools. Conotoxins contain conserved cysteine residues that form disulfide bonds that stabilize their structures. To gain structural insight into the large, yet poorly characterized conotoxin H-superfamily, we used NMR and CD spectroscopy along with MS-based analyses to investigate H-Vc7.

Potent α-Synuclein Aggregation Inhibitors, Identified by High-Throughput Screening, Mainly Target the Monomeric State.

α-Synuclein (αSN) aggregation is central to the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Large-scale screening of compounds to identify aggregation inhibitors is challenged by stochastic αSN aggregation and difficulties in detecting early-stage oligomers (αSOs). We developed a high-throughput screening assay combining SDS-stimulated αSN aggregation with FRET to reproducibly detect initial stages in αSN aggregation.

Insight into the molecular mechanism behind PEG-mediated stabilization of biofluid lipases.

Bioconjugates established between anionic polyethylene glycol (PEG) based polymers and cationic proteins have proven to be a promising strategy to engineer thermostable biocatalysts. However, the enzyme activity of these bioconjugates is very low and the mechanism of non-covalent PEG-stabilization is yet to be understood. This work presents experimental and molecular dynamics simulation studies, using lipase-polymer surfactant nanoconjugates from mesophile Rhizomucor miehei (RML), performed to evaluate the effect of PEG on enzyme stability and activity.

CD4 T cells react to local increase of α-synuclein in a pathology-associated variant-dependent manner and modify brain microglia in absence of brain pathology.

We have previously shown that immunological processes in the brain during α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration vary depending on the presence or absence of cell death. This suggests that the immune system is able to react differently to the different stages of α-synuclein pathology. However, it was unclear whether these immune changes were governed by brain processes or by a direct immune response to α-synuclein modifications.

Folding and assembly defects of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency-related variants in the E1α subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) bridges glycolysis and the citric acid cycle. In human, PDC deficiency leads to severe neurodevelopmental delay and progressive neurodegeneration. The majority of cases are caused by variants in the gene encoding the PDC subunit E1α.

Redox Regulation of the Superoxide Dismutases SOD3 and SOD2 in the Pulmonary Circulation.

When evaluating the role of redox-regulating signaling in pulmonary vascular diseases, it is intriguing to consider the modulation of key antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) because SOD isoforms are regulated by redox reactions, and, in turn, modulate downstream redox sensitive processes. The emerging field of redox biology is built upon understanding the regulation and consequences of tightly controlled and specific reduction-oxidation reactions that are critical for diverse cellular processes including cell signaling. Of relevance, both the site of production of specific reactive oxygen and nitrogen species and the site of the antioxidant defenses are highly compartmentalized within the cell.

Adding functionality to milk-based protein: Preparation, and physico-chemical characterization of β-lactoglobulin-phenolic conjugates.

Multi-functional phenolic emulsifiers were prepared by covalently coupling β-Lactoglobulin (βLg) to caffeic acid (CA) using crosslinker chemistry at different pH conditions (pH 2.5, 6.0, and 8.

Hemoglobin polymerization via disulfide bond formation in the hypoxia-tolerant turtle Trachemys scripta: implications for antioxidant defense and O transport.

The ability of many reptilian hemoglobins (Hbs) to form high-molecular weight polymers, albeit known for decades, has not been investigated in detail. Given that turtle Hbs often contain a high number of cysteine (Cys), potentially contributing to the red blood cell defense against reactive oxygen species, we have examined whether polymerization of Hb could occur via intermolecular disulfide bonds in red blood cells of freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta, a species that is highly tolerant of hypoxia and oxidative stress. We find that one of the two Hb isoforms of the hemolysate HbA is prone to polymerization in vitro into linear flexible chains of different size that are visible by electron microscopy but not the HbD isoform.

Latency transition of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 is evolutionarily conserved.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is a central regulator of fibrinolysis and tissue remodelling. PAI-1 belongs to the serpin superfamily and unlike other inhibitory serpins undergoes a spontaneous inactivation process under physiological conditions, termed latency transition. During latency transition the solvent exposed reactive centre loop is inserted into the central β-sheet A of the molecule, and is no longer accessible to reaction with the protease.