Caspase-3 is an executive caspase, in the central position within apoptotic machinery. Apoptosis as a way of programmed cell death is a physiological process that plays an essential role in the development and homeostasis maintenance; moreover, its deregulations are linked to tumor progression or various autoimmune disorders. Therefore, an investigation of apoptosis pathways on the level of individual cells is not only of biological but also medical importance. In this work we report on the development of a high-sensitivity instrumentation and protocol for detection of active caspase-3 in individual mammalian apoptotic cells. The technology is based on the specific cleavage of modified luciferin by caspase-3, an immediate bioluminescence reaction of free luciferin with luciferase followed by emissions of photons and their detection by photomultiplier tube working in the photon counting regime. Three different instrumental arrangements are compared for the determination of caspase-3 in free cells or tissue samples. Thus, in our best miniaturized system the mean amount as low as about 6.5 fg corresponding to 122 000 molecules of caspase-3 can be detected in individual apoptotic mouse leg cells.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/elps.201200675 | DOI Listing |
Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol
January 2025
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Lonere, Raigad, 402103, India.
Acute lung injury i.e. ALI and its serious form acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are incurable medical conditions associated with significant global mortality and morbidity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurochem
January 2025
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Misfolding and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) lead to neuronal loss through various mechanisms, including the downregulation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (EEF2) protein synthesis signaling. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of indole and coumarin derivatives on Aβ folding and EEF2 signaling using SH-SY5Y cells expressing Aβ-green fluorescent protein (GFP) folding reporter. Among the tested compounds, two indole (NC009-1, -6) and two coumarin (LM-021, -036) derivatives effectively reduced Aβ misfolding and associated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Chem Biol
December 2024
Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address:
Chemical inducers of proximity (CIPs) are molecules that recruit one protein to another and introduce new functionalities toward modulating protein states and activities. While CIP-mediated recruitment of E3 ligases is widely exploited for the development of degraders, other therapeutic modalities remain underexplored. We describe a non-degrader CIP-DNA-encoded library (CIP-DEL) that recruits FKBP12 to target proteins using non-traditional acyclic structures, with an emphasis on introducing stereochemically diverse and rigid connectors to attach the combinatorial library.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEcotoxicol Environ Saf
January 2025
Joint International Research Laboratory of Green Buildings and Built Environments (Ministry of Education), Chongqing University, Chongqing 400045, China; School of the Built Environment, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DB, UK. Electronic address:
Environmental pollutants including ultrafine particulate matter (UFPs) and adverse meteorological conditions pose significant public health impacts, particularly affecting respiratory health. This study aims to elucidate the synergistic effects of cold-humid conditions and UFPs exposure on respiratory health, utilizing Carbon Black Nanoparticles (CB-NPs) as surrogates for UFPs. Through comprehensive lung function tests, histopathological examinations, and biomarker analyses, this research focuses on the modulation of oxidative stress signaling pathways and NF-κB activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimers Dement
December 2024
Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Background: Glaucoma is characterized by progressive optic nerve degeneration that results in irreversible blindness, and it can be considered a neurodegenerative disorder of both the eye and the brain. Increasing evidence suggest that glaucoma shares some common neurodegenerative pathways with Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) among others. Interestingly, a recent study revealed the presence of abnormal TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) inclusions and aggregates in retinal ganglion cells and other retinal cell types in FTLD-TDP patients; however, the significance of this pathology and its impact on retinal function and optical nerve integrity is unknown.
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