Role of Carbonyl Modifications on Aging-Associated Protein Aggregation.

Protein aggregation is a common biological phenomenon, observed in different physiological and pathological conditions. Decreased protein solubility and a tendency to aggregate is also observed during physiological aging but the causes are currently unknown. Herein we performed a biophysical separation of aging-related high molecular weight aggregates, isolated from the bone marrow and splenic cells of aging mice and followed by biochemical and mass spectrometric analysis.

The Dendritic Cell Major Histocompatibility Complex II (MHC II) Peptidome Derives from a Variety of Processing Pathways and Includes Peptides with a Broad Spectrum of HLA-DM Sensitivity.

The repertoire of peptides displayed in vivo by MHC II molecules derives from a wide spectrum of proteins produced by different cell types. Although intracellular endosomal processing in dendritic cells and B cells has been characterized for a few antigens, the overall range of processing pathways responsible for generating the MHC II peptidome are currently unclear. To determine the contribution of non-endosomal processing pathways, we eluted and sequenced over 3000 HLA-DR1-bound peptides presented in vivo by dendritic cells.

Aging-related anatomical and biochemical changes in lymphatic collectors impair lymph transport, fluid homeostasis, and pathogen clearance.

The role of lymphatic vessels is to transport fluid, soluble molecules, and immune cells to the draining lymph nodes. Here, we analyze how the aging process affects the functionality of the lymphatic collectors and the dynamics of lymph flow. Ultrastructural, biochemical, and proteomic analysis indicates a loss of matrix proteins, and smooth muscle cells in aged collectors resulting in a decrease in contraction frequency, systolic lymph flow velocity, and pumping activity, as measured in vivo in lymphatic collectors.

Annexin A2 promotes phagophore assembly by enhancing Atg16L⁺ vesicle biogenesis and homotypic fusion.

Plasma membrane budding of Atg-16L-positive vesicles represents a very early event in the generation of the phagophore and in the process of macroautophagy. Here we show that the membrane curvature-inducing protein annexin A2 contributes to the formation of these vesicles and their fusion to form phagophores. Ultrastructural, proteomic and FACS analyses of Atg16L-positive vesicles reveal that 30% of Atg16L-positive vesicles are also annexin A2-positive.

Hydrodynamic size-based separation and characterization of protein aggregates from total cell lysates.

Herein we describe a protocol that uses hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (FFF) coupled with multiangle light scattering (MALS) for hydrodynamic size-based separation and characterization of complex protein aggregates. The fractionation method, which requires 1.5 h to run, was successfully modified from the analysis of protein aggregates, as found in simple protein mixtures, to complex aggregates, as found in total cell lysates.

Molecular analysis of chromium and cobalt-related toxicity.

Occupational and environmental exposure to Co and Cr has been previously linked to a wide array of inflammatory and degenerative conditions and cancer. Recently, significant health concerns have been raised by the high levels of Cr and Co ions and corrosion products released by biomedical implants. Herein, we set to analyze the biological responses associated with Co and Cr toxicity.

Love me tender: an Omics window on the bovine meat tenderness network.

Meat tenderness prediction is a challenging task, especially in Maremmana, an Italian autochtonous and highly appreciated beef breed. In the present study we reported an integrated proteomics, phosphoproteomics and metabolomics overview of meat tenderness in longissimus dorsi from 15 male Maremmana individuals, through the discrimination of tender and tough groups via standard meat tenderness indicators (WBS, MFI(4 h), MFI(10 days), sarcomere length) and their correlation with results from Omics analyses. Results revealed that the tender meat group was characterized by higher levels of glycolytic enzymes, which were less phosphorylated and overall more active (lactate accumulation was higher in the tender group), than in tough counterparts.

Meat quality of the longissimus lumborum muscle of Casertana and Large White pigs: metabolomics and proteomics intertwined.

Longissimus lumborum muscles from high fat-deposing Casertana and lean meat Large White pigs were assayed for meat quality parameters, including early and ultimate post mortem pH, water holding capacity and Minolta L*a*b*values. These parameters were correlated to results from differential proteomic and targeted metabolomic analyses. Higher levels of glycolytic enzymes and lactate accumulation were related to slow pH drop in Casertana pigs, albeit not to rapid pH lowering in LW counterparts.

Hydrogeochemical and biological processes affecting the long-term performance of an iron-based permeable reactive barrier.

Despite the wide diffusion of zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), there is still a great uncertainty about their longevity and long-term performance. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological and the hydrogeochemical processes that take place at a Fe(0) installation located in Avigliana, Italy, and to derive some general considerations about long-term performance of PRBs.The examined PRB was installed in November 2004 to remediate a chlorinated solvents plume (mainly trichloroethene and 1,2-dichloroethene).