Phasic nicotinic potentiation of frog retinotectal transmission enhances intrinsic activity of tectum column

2012 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armantas Baginskas ◽  
Vilija Kuraite ◽  
Antanas Kuras

2003 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 39-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy A. Black ◽  
John R. Doedens ◽  
Rajeev Mahimkar ◽  
Richard Johnson ◽  
Lin Guo ◽  
...  

Tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα)-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM-17, where ADAM stands for a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) releases from the cell surface the extracellular domains of TNF and several other proteins. Previous studies have found that, while purified TACE preferentially cleaves peptides representing the processing sites in TNF and transforming growth factor α, the cellular enzyme nonetheless also sheds proteins with divergent cleavage sites very efficiently. More recent work, identifying the cleavage site in the p75 TNF receptor, quantifying the susceptibility of additional peptides to cleavage by TACE and identifying additional protein substrates, underlines the complexity of TACE-substrate interactions. In addition to substrate specificity, the mechanism underlying the increased rate of shedding caused by agents that activate cells remains poorly understood. Recent work in this area, utilizing a peptide substrate as a probe for cellular TACE activity, indicates that the intrinsic activity of the enzyme is somehow increased.



2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii115-ii115
Author(s):  
Rongze Olivia Lu ◽  
Winson Ho ◽  
Brandon Chiou

Abstract Checkpoint immunotherapy (ICB) thus far has shown limited efficacy against brain tumors, such as medulloblastoma (MB). Its low mutational burden is thought to result in a paucity of neoantigen to trigger an effective T-cell response. Natural killer (NK) cells, can recognize tumor cells independently of neoantigens, making them appealing against MBs. Modulation of NK cells to enhance cytotoxicity against MBs could be a novel treatment strategy. Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A), a ubiquitous serine/threonine phosphatase, has been shown to inhibit IFNg and Granzyme B production by NK cells. We hypothesize that NK92, a transformed human NK cell line, has intrinsic activity against human MB cells and that inhibiting PP2A pharmacologically can enhance cytotoxicity of NK92 cells. We performed NK cytotoxicity assay and granulation assay against human MB cell line D425. We also used a small molecular inhibitor, LB100, to modulate PP2A activity in NK92. NK92 cells were co-cultured with D425, in increasing E:T (Effector:Target) ratio for 4 hours. D425 cells were pre-labeled with CellTrace Violet dye. The percentage of D425 (Violet+) cells in apoptosis (Cas3/7+) or necrosis (AAD+) were compared with different ET ratios to quantify NK mediated cell cytotoxicity. We also measured CD107a expression in NK92 to assess granulation with LB100 treatment. D425 cells were sensitive to NK92 killing. Percentage of D425 cells either apoptotic or necrotic increased with increasing ET ratio, suggesting that there was NK92 mediated cytotoxicity. Percentage of killed D425 cells ranged from 18% at baseline (without NK92) to 80% at ET ratio of 20. Inhibition of PP2A using LB100, enhanced NK92 degranulation. CD107a+ NK92 cells increased from 19% to 28% with 8uM of LB100. NK92 cells are cytotoxic against MB cells in vitro and inhibition of PP2A in NK cells can enhance their activity against MB cells.



2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-367
Author(s):  
Weiyi Yang ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Shuang Gao ◽  
Licheng Sang ◽  
Ruoge Tao ◽  
...  

AbstractPhotocatalysts with the photocatalytic “memory” effect could resolve the intrinsic activity loss of traditional photocatalysts when the light illumination is turned off. Due to the dual requirements of light absorption and energy storage/release functions, most previously reported photocatalysts with the photocatalytic “memory” effect were composite photocatalysts of two phase components, which may lose their performance due to gradually deteriorated interface conditions during their applications. In this work, a simple solvothermal process was developed to synthesize Bi2WO6 microspheres constructed by aggregated nanoflakes. The pure phase Bi2WO6 was found to possess the photocatalytic “memory” effect through the trapping and release of photogenerated electrons by the reversible chemical state change of W component in the (WO4)2− layers. When the illumination was switched off, Bi2WO6 microspheres continuously produced H2O2 in the dark as those trapped photogenerated electrons were gradually released to react with O2 through the two-electron O2 reduction process, resulting in the continuous disinfection of Escherichia coli bacteria in the dark through the photocatalytic “memory” effect. No deterioration of their cycling H2O2 production performance in the dark was observed, which verified their stable photocatalytic “memory” effect.



1981 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C Stump ◽  
Donald E Macfarlane

Epinephrine induces platelet aggregation, potentiates aggregation by other agents, and blocks the stimulation of the adenylate cyclase by prostaglandins. Synthetic α-adrenergic agents have not been shown to induce aggregation. The effects of clonidine, an α2-agonist, and ρ-aminoclonidine on platelets were examined. Clonidine potentiated aggregation induced by 0.5μM ADP by 1.4-fold (1/2 max 0.5μM). It did not induce significant aggregation itself, and it inhibited aggregation induced by 5μM epinephrine (1/2 max lμM). It inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation induced by PGE1 by a maximum of 25% (1/2 max O.lμM) and it blocked inhibition by epinephrine. No significant specific binding of [3H] clonidine was observed to intact platelets. ρ-Aminoclonidine induced aggregation with delayed second phase (1/2 max 0.2μM), and potentiated ADP aggregation by 2-fold (1/2 max 0.2μM). Aggregation induced by epinephrine was more rapid, and was partially inhibited by ρ-aminoclonidine. It inhibited cyclic AMP accumulation by 50% max (1/2 max O.lμM) and attenuated epinephrine’s effect to the same level. The direct effects of ρ-aminoclonidine were blocked by lμM yohimbine, a selective α2-antagonist. Both clonidine and ρ—aminoclonidine blocked the specific binding of [3H]yohimbine (1/2 max 0.5μM). These results suggest that the platelet bears an α2-receptor with affinity for epinephrine, ρ-aminoclonidine and clonidine as agonists but that these agents display differing intrinsic activity and/or receptor reserve.



2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José A. Zamora Zeledón ◽  
Michaela Burke Stevens ◽  
G. T. Kasun Kalhara Gunasooriya ◽  
Alessandro Gallo ◽  
Alan T. Landers ◽  
...  

AbstractAlloying is a powerful tool that can improve the electrocatalytic performance and viability of diverse electrochemical renewable energy technologies. Herein, we enhance the activity of Pd-based electrocatalysts via Ag-Pd alloying while simultaneously lowering precious metal content in a broad-range compositional study focusing on highly comparable Ag-Pd thin films synthesized systematically via electron-beam physical vapor co-deposition. Cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M KOH shows enhancements across a wide range of alloys; even slight alloying with Ag (e.g. Ag0.1Pd0.9) leads to intrinsic activity enhancements up to 5-fold at 0.9 V vs. RHE compared to pure Pd. Based on density functional theory and x-ray absorption, we hypothesize that these enhancements arise mainly from ligand effects that optimize adsorbate–metal binding energies with enhanced Ag-Pd hybridization. This work shows the versatility of coupled experimental-theoretical methods in designing materials with specific and tunable properties and aids the development of highly active electrocatalysts with decreased precious-metal content.



Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 412
Author(s):  
Mohammad M. Al-Sanea ◽  
Ahmad J. Obaidullah ◽  
Mohamed E. Shaker ◽  
Garri Chilingaryan ◽  
Mohammed M. Alanazi ◽  
...  

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) regulate mammalian cell cycle progression and RNA transcription. Based on the structural analysis of previously reported CDK2 inhibitors, a new compound with 3-hydrazonoindolin-2-one scaffold (HI 5) was well designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated as a promising anti-breast cancer hit compound. Methods: The potential anti-cancerous effect of HI 5 was evaluated using cytotoxicity assay, flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis and cell cycle distribution, ELISA immunoassay, in vitro CDK2/cyclin A2 activity, and molecular operating environment (MOE) virtual docking studies. Results: The results revealed that HI 5 exhibits pronounced CDK2 inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity in human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line. The cytotoxicity of HI 5 was found to be intrinsically mediated apoptosis, which in turn, is associated with low Bcl-2 expression and high activation of caspase 3 and p53. Besides, HI 5 blocked the proliferation of the MCF-7 cell line and arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. The docking studies did not confirm which one of geometric isomers (syn and anti) is responsible for binding affinity and intrinsic activity of HI 5. However, the molecular dynamic studies have confirmed that the syn-isomer has more favorable binding interaction and thus is responsible for CDK2 inhibitory activity. Discussion: These findings displayed a substantial basis of synthesizing further derivatives based on the 3-hydrazonoindolin-2-one scaffold for favorable targeting of breast cancer.



2021 ◽  
Vol 142 ◽  
pp. 111952
Author(s):  
Kamil Mika ◽  
Małgorzata Szafarz ◽  
Marek Bednarski ◽  
Kamil Kuder ◽  
Katarzyna Szczepańska ◽  
...  




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