In anaerobic organisms, the decarboxylation of pyruvate, a crucial component of intermediary metabolism, is catalyzed by the metalloenzyme pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR) resulting in the generation of low potential electrons and the subsequent acetylation of coenzyme A (CoA). PFOR is the only enzyme for which a stable acetyl thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-based free radical reaction intermediate has been identified. The 1.87 A-resolution structure of the radical form of PFOR from Desulfovibrio africanus shows that, despite currently accepted ideas, the thiazole ring of the ThDP cofactor is markedly bent, indicating a drastic reduction of its aromaticity. In addition, the bond connecting the acetyl group to ThDP is unusually long, probably of the one-electron type already described for several cation radicals but not yet found in a biological system. Taken together, our data, along with evidence from the literature, suggest that acetyl-CoA synthesis by PFOR proceeds via a condensation mechanism involving acetyl (PFOR-based) and thiyl (CoA-based) radicals.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1066198 | DOI Listing |
Int J Prev Med
December 2024
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.
Background: Aging is caused by the progressive accumulation of various changes in the body, which is associated with an increase in free radicals and oxidative stress (OS). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of caloric restriction (CR) and quercetin (QUER) in alleviating OS in aging and the involvement of the NAD (P) H quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1)/SIRT1 signaling pathway in these effects.
Methods: Two age groups of male Wistar rats (eight and 20 weeks of age) were included in the study and subdivided into normal diet (ND), ND with QUER (15 mg Kg, IP), ND with CR, and ND with QUER and CR groups.
ACS Cent Sci
January 2025
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States.
In quantum information science and sensing, electron spins are often purified into a specific polarization through an optical-spin interface, a process known as optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR). Diamond-NV centers and transition metals are both excellent platforms for these so-called color centers, while metal-free molecular analogues are also gaining popularity for their extended polarization lifetimes, milder environmental impacts, and reduced costs. In our earlier attempt at designing such organic high-spin π-diradicals, we proposed to spin-polarize by shelving triplet = ±1 populations as singlets.
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January 2025
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou 221004, China.
Herein, we report a visible-light-induced charge-transfer-complex-enabled dicarboxylation and deuterocarboxylation of C=C bonds with oxalate as a masked CO source under catalyst-free conditions. In this reaction, we disclosed the first example that the tetrabutylammonium oxalate could be able to aggregate with aryl substrates via π-cation interactions to form the charge transfer complexes, which subsequently triggers the single electron transfer from the oxalic dianion to the ammonium countercation under irradiation of 450 nm bule LEDs, releasing CO and CO radical anions. Diverse alkenes, dienes, trienes, and indoles, including challenging trisubstituted olefins, underwent dicarboxylation and anti-Markovnikov deuterocarboxylation with high selectivity to access valuable 1,2- and 1,4-dicarboxylic acids as well as indoline-derived diacids and β-deuterocarboxylic acids under mild conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeerJ
January 2025
Cancer Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background: The objective of the present study is to examine the total phenolic and flavonoid content of an ethanol extract of and to evaluate its phytochemical properties, antioxidant activity, and capacity to protect DNA from damage. This pharmaceutical/food resource mushroom may serve as a novel substitute functional food for health-conscious consumers, given its promising source of phenolics and flavonoids.
Methods: ethanol extract (SEE) was evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid contents, while UPLC-MS analysis was used for terpenoids, phenylpropanoid, flavonoids, steroidal, phenols identification, and function prediction.
Heliyon
January 2025
Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Jijel, 18000, Jijel, Algeria.
has been traditionally used in northeastern Algeria for treating gastrointestinal disorders, particularly ulcers. This study aimed to assess the gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties of a crude hydroalcoholic extract derived from the leaves of , as well as its subsequent fractions. The gastroprotective effect was studied in an ethanol-induced ulcer model in mice.
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