Possible role of Prussian blue nanoparticles in chemical evolution: interaction with ribose nucleotides

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Rachana Sharma ◽  
Md. Asif Iqubal ◽  
Kamaluddin

AbstractRibonucleotides (RMPs) are the building blocks of genetic material consisting of a sugar group, a phosphate group and a nucleobase. Prussian blue (PB) is an ancient compound which is supposed to have formed under the conditions of primitive Earth. The interaction between nucleotides and mineral surfaces is of primary importance in the context of prebiotic chemistry. In the present work, the adsorption of RMPs on PB has been studied in the concentration range 0.4 × 10−4–3.0 × 10−4 M of RMPs at pH 7.5, T = 27°C and found to be 53.1, 41.7, 25.8 and 24.0% for adenosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-AMP), guanosine 5′-monophosphate, cytidine 5′-monophosphate and uridine 5′-monophosphate, respectively. Optimum conditions for the adsorption were studied as a function of concentration, time, amount of adsorbent and pH and data obtained were found to fit the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Langmuir constants (KL and Xm) values were calculated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry techniques were used to investigate the interaction of RMPs on PB surface. Adsorption kinetics of 5′-AMP on PB has been found to be pseudo-second order. Results obtained from this study should prove valuable for a better understanding of the mechanism of RMP–PB interaction.

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail E. Abigail E. Cruz-Hernández, ◽  
Maria Colin-Garcia ◽  
Alejandro Heredia-Barbero ◽  
Alicia Negron-Mendoza ◽  
Sergio Ramos-Bernal

AbstractUrea is an organic molecule present in most living organisms. Historically, it was the first organic molecule synthesized in the laboratory. In prebiotic chemistry, urea readily forms in different laboratory simulations using different energy sources. Furthermore, the role of solid surfaces, particularly minerals, might have been crucial to increase the complexity of the organic matter which may have led to the subsequent emergence of life on Earth. In this work, the radiolysis of urea in presence of a clay is studied to determine to what extent the mineral surfaces influence the decomposition of organics. The results indicate that urea is relatively stable to ionizing radiation in aqueous solutions and up to 20 kGy no decomposition is observed. Moreover, the presence of sodium montmorillonite, by a mechanism until now unknown, affects the radiolytic behavior and urea remains in the heterogeneous solution without a change in concentration even at very high doses (140 kGy). These results indicate that solids could have protected some organics, like urea, from degradation enabling them to remain in the environment on the primitive Earth.


2020 ◽  
pp. 64-70
Author(s):  
Anastasiya Laknitskaya

Currently, one of the priority medical and social problems is the optimization of treatment methods for pyoderma associated with Streptococcus pyogenes — group A streptococcus (GAS). To date, the proportion of pyoderma, the etiological factor of which is Streptococcus pyogenes, is about 6 % of all skin diseases and is in the range from 17.9 to 43.9 % of all dermatoses. Role of the bacterial factor in the development of streptococcal pyoderma is obvious. Traditional treatment complex includes antibacterial drugs selected individually, taking into account the antibiotic sensitivity of pathognomonic bacteria, and it is not always effective. Currently implemented immunocorrection methods often do not take into account specific immunological features of the disease, the individual, and the fact that the skin performs the function of not only a mechanical barrier, but it is also an immunocompetent organ. Such an approach makes it necessary to conduct additional studies clarifying the role of factors of innate and adaptive immunity, intercellular mediators and antioxidant defense system, that allow to optimize the treatment of this pathology.


Author(s):  
S. T. Loseby

The Merovingians inherited an urban network from the Roman Empire that remained substantially intact. Although Gallic cities had long been declining in extent and sophistication, during late antiquity their landscapes were adapted to contemporary priorities through the provision of walls and churches, and their politics was transformed by the emergence of bishops as leaders of urban communities. When the upper tiers of imperial administration disappeared, this equipped the vast majority of cities to survive as the basic building blocks of Merovingian kingdoms that were initially conceived as aggregations of city–territories. In ruling through their cities, the Merovingians expanded upon existing mechanisms for the extraction of taxes and services, while relying on centrally appointed bishops and counts rather than city councils for the projection of their authority. This generated fierce competition between kings for control of cities and among local elites for positions of power within them. In the later Merovingian period, however, the significance of cities diminished as stable territorial kingdoms emerged, political practice was centralized around the royal courts, and the Roman administrative legacy finally disintegrated. But the cities remained preeminent religious centers, and, with the beginnings of economic revival, continued to perform a range of functions unmatched by other categories of settlement.


RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (61) ◽  
pp. 49671-49679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prem. C. Pandey ◽  
Richa Singh ◽  
Yashashwa Pandey

A facile method for the synthesis of functional AgNPs and bimetallic Ag–Au/Au–Ag are reported, enabling the formation of nanocomposite with prussian blue in a crystalline framework for bioanalytical applications, showing the active role of organic reducing agents and 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane.


2021 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 152225
Author(s):  
Francesco Di Carlo ◽  
Mauro Pettorruso ◽  
Maria Chiara Alessi ◽  
Elena Picutti ◽  
Rebecca Collevecchio ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Ono ◽  
Osamu Yoshino ◽  
Takehiro Hiraoka ◽  
Erina Sato ◽  
Akiko Furue ◽  
...  

AbstractIn endometriosis, M2 MΦs are dominant in endometriotic lesions, but the actual role of M2 MΦ is unclear. CD206 positive (+) MΦ is classified in one of M2 type MΦs and are known to produce cytokines and chemokines. In the present study, we used CD206 diphtheria toxin receptor mice, which enable to deplete CD206+ cells with diphtheria toxin (DT) in an endometriosis mouse model. The depletion of CD206+ MΦ decreased the total weight of endometriotic-like lesions significantly (p < 0.05). In the endometriotic-like lesions in the DT group, a lower proliferation of endometriotic cells and the decrease of angiogenesis were observed. In the lesions, the mRNA levels of VEGFA and TGFβ1, angiogenic factors, in the DT group significantly decreased to approximately 50% and 30% of control, respectively. Immunohistochemical study revealed the expressions of VEGFA and an endothelial cell marker CD31 in lesions of the DT group, were dim compared to those in control. Also, the number of TGFβ1 expressing MΦ was significantly reduced compared to control. These data suggest that CD206+ MΦ promotes the formation of endometriotic-like lesions by inducing angiogenesis around the lesions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 112972982110154
Author(s):  
Raffaella Mauro ◽  
Cristina Rocchi ◽  
Francesco Vasuri ◽  
Alessia Pini ◽  
Anna Laura Croci Chiocchini ◽  
...  

Background: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis integrates outward remodeling with vessel wall thickening in response to drastic hemodynamic changes. Aim of this study is to determine the role of Ki67, a well-established proliferative marker, related to AVF, and its relationship with time-dependent histological morphologic changes. Materials and methods: All patients were enrolled in 1 year and stratified in two groups: (A) pre-dialysis patients submitted to first AVF and (B) patients submitted to revision of AVF. Morphological changes: neo-angiogenesis (NAG), myointimal thickening (MIT), inflammatory infiltrate (IT), and aneurysmatic fistula degeneration (AD). The time of AVF creation was recorded. A biopsy of native vein in Group A and of arterialized vein in Group B was submitted to histological and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis. IHC for Ki67 was automatically performed in all specimens. Ki67 immunoreactivity was assessed as the mean number of positive cells on several high-power fields, counted in the hot spots. Results: A total of 138 patients were enrolled, 69 (50.0%) Group A and 69 (50.0%) Group B. No NAG or MIT were found in Group A. Seven (10.1%) Group A veins showed a mild MIT. Analyzing the Group B, a moderate-to-severe MIT was present in 35 (50.7%), IT in 19 (27.5%), NAG in 37 (53.6%); AD was present in 10 (14.5%). All AVF of Group B with the exception of one (1.4%) showed a positivity for Ki67, with a mean of 12.31 ± 13.79 positive cells/hot spot (range 0–65). Ki67-immunoreactive cells had a subendothelial localization in 23 (33.3%) cases, a myointimal localization in SMC in 35 (50.7%) cases. The number of positive cells was significantly correlated with subendothelial localization of Ki67 ( p = 0.001) and with NA ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: Native veins do not contain cycling cells. In contrast, vascular cell proliferation starts immediately after AVF creation and persists independently of the time the fistula is set up. The amount of proliferating cells is significantly associated with MIT and subendothelial localization of Ki67-immunoreactive cells, thus suggesting a role of Ki-67 index in predicting AVF failure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4484
Author(s):  
Ewa Filip ◽  
Lidia Skuza

Horizontal gene transfer (HGT)- is defined as the acquisition of genetic material from another organism. However, recent findings indicate a possible role of HGT in the acquisition of traits with adaptive significance, suggesting that HGT is an important driving force in the evolution of eukaryotes as well as prokaryotes. It has been noted that, in eukaryotes, HGT is more prevalent than originally thought. Mitochondria and chloroplasts lost a large number of genes after their respective endosymbiotic events occurred. Even after this major content loss, organelle genomes still continue to lose their own genes. Many of these are subsequently acquired by intracellular gene transfer from the original plastid. The aim of our review was to elucidate the role of chloroplasts in the transfer of genes. This review also explores gene transfer involving mitochondrial and nuclear genomes, though recent studies indicate that chloroplast genomes are far more active in HGT as compared to these other two DNA-containing cellular compartments.


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