scholarly journals Impacts of zinc oxide nano and bulk particles on redox-enzymes of the Punica granatum callus

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma A. Farghaly ◽  
Abeer A. Radi ◽  
Fatma A. Al-Kahtany ◽  
Afaf M. Hamada

AbstractThe structure and function of cellular membranes were sustained by redox-enzymes. We studied the interaction between the oxidative stress caused by excessive accumulation of ZnO-nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in plants and the role of redox-enzymes that can alleviate this stress. The crude callus extract from pomegranate, which was treated with 0, 10, and 150 µg mL−1 ZnO-NPs or bulk particles (ZnO-BPs), was applied to study the activity and kinetics of redox-enzymes. The elevated ZnO-NPs, enhanced the lipoxygenase and polyphenol oxidase activity, while the ZnO-BPs did not modify them. The activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase were induced under ZnO-NPs or BPs treatments, whilst the opposite trend of peroxidase was observed. Ascorbate peroxidase activity increased under ZnO-NPs treatments but decreased under ZnO-BPs. The kinetics activity of enzymes showed changes under different levels of NPs and BPs. Additionally, NPs or BPs treatments reduced the uptake of copper, iron, magnesium, but increased zinc accumulation in callus tissues. Meanwhile, these treatments enhanced the accumulation of manganese ions but did not affect the accumulation of potassium and phosphorous in ZnO-NPs or BPs-stressed calli. Collectively, these results gave a quantitative evaluation of the competition of zinc and other minerals on the carriers, and in addition, they provided a basis for how to control ZnO-NPs or BPs toxicity via redox-enzymes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (4) ◽  
pp. F870-F879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Montalbetti ◽  
James G. Rooney ◽  
Allison L. Marciszyn ◽  
Marcelo D. Carattino

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are trimeric proton-activated, cation-selective neuronal channels that are considered to play important roles in mechanosensation and nociception. Here we investigated the role of ASIC3, a subunit primarily expressed in sensory neurons, in bladder sensory signaling and function. We found that extracellular acidification evokes a transient increase in current, consistent with the kinetics of activation and desensitization of ASICs, in ~25% of the bladder sensory neurons harvested from both wild-type (WT) and ASIC3 knockout (KO) mice. The absence of ASIC3 increased the magnitude of the peak evoked by extracellular acidification and reduced the rate of decay of the ASIC-like currents. These findings suggest that ASICs are assembled as heteromers and that the absence of ASIC3 alters the composition of these channels in bladder sensory neurons. Consistent with the notion that ASIC3 serves as a proton sensor, 59% of the bladder sensory neurons harvested from WT, but none from ASIC3 KO mice, fired action potentials in response to extracellular acidification. Studies of bladder function revealed that ASIC3 deletion reduces voiding volume and the pressure required to trigger micturition. In summary, our findings indicate that ASIC3 plays a role in the control of bladder function by modulating the response of afferents to filling.


2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 2470-2481 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhong-Wei Zhang ◽  
Joseph D. Zak ◽  
Hong Liu

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is highly expressed in neurons in the vertebrate brain, and mutations of the gene encoding MeCP2 cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome. This study examines the role of MeCP2 in the development and function of thalamic GABAergic circuits. Whole cell recordings were carried out in excitatory neurons of the ventrobasal complex (VB) of the thalamus and in inhibitory neurons of the reticular thalamic nucleus (RTN) in acute brain slices from mice aged P6 through P23. At P14–P16, the number of quantal GABAergic events was decreased in VB neurons but increased in RTN neurons of Mecp2-null mice, without any change in the amplitude or kinetics of quantal events. There was no difference between mutant and wild-type mice in paired-pulse ratios of evoked GABAergic responses in the VB or the RTN. On the other hand, unitary responses evoked by minimal stimulation were decreased in the VB but increased in the RTN of mutants. Similar changes in the frequency of quantal events were observed at P21–P23 in both the VB and RTN. At P6, however, quantal GABAergic transmission was altered only in the VB not the RTN. Immunostaining of vesicular GABA transporter showed opposite changes in the number of GABAergic synaptic terminals in the VB and RTN of Mecp2-null mice at P18–P20. The loss of MeCP2 had no significant effect on intrinsic properties of RTN neurons recorded at P15–P17. Our findings suggest that MeCP2 differentially regulates the development of GABAergic synapses in excitatory and inhibitory neurons in the thalamus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarfa Altorki ◽  
Werner Muller ◽  
Andrew Brass ◽  
Sheena Cruickshank

Abstract Background Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in shaping T cell responses. To do this, DCs must be able to migrate to the site of the infection and the lymph nodes to prime T cells and initiate the appropriate immune response. Integrins such as β2 integrin play a key role in leukocyte adhesion, migration, and cell activation. However, the role of β2 integrin in DC migration and function in the context of infection-induced inflammation in the gut is not well understood. This study looked at the role of β2 integrin in DC migration and function during infection with the nematode worm Trichuris muris. Itgb2tm1Bay mice lacking functional β2 integrin and WT littermate controls were infected with T. muris and the response to infection and kinetics of the DC response was assessed. Results In infection, the lack of functional β2 integrin significantly reduced DC migration to the site of infection but not the lymph nodes. The lack of functional β2 integrin did not negatively impact T cell activation in response to T. muris infection. Conclusions This data suggests that β2 integrins are important in DC recruitment to the infection site potentially impacting the initiation of innate immunity but is dispensible for DC migration to lymph nodes and T cell priming in the context of T. muris infection.


Author(s):  
Grace C.H. Yang

The size and organization of collagen fibrils in the extracellular matrix is an important determinant of tissue structure and function. The synthesis and deposition of collagen involves multiple steps which begin within the cell and continue in the extracellular space. High-voltage electron microscopic studies of the chick embryo cornea and tendon suggested that the extracellular space is compartmentalized by the fibroblasts for the regulation of collagen fibril, bundle, and tissue specific macroaggregate formation. The purpose of this study is to gather direct evidence regarding the association of the fibroblast cell surface with newly formed collagen fibrils, and to define the role of the fibroblast in the control and the precise positioning of collagen fibrils, bundles, and macroaggregates during chick tendon development.


Author(s):  
Edna S. Kaneshiro

It is currently believed that ciliary beating results from microtubule sliding which is restricted in regions to cause bending. Cilia beat can be modified to bring about changes in beat frequency, cessation of beat and reversal in beat direction. In ciliated protozoans these modifications which determine swimming behavior have been shown to be related to intracellular (intraciliary) Ca2+ concentrations. The Ca2+ levels are in turn governed by the surface ciliary membrane which exhibits increased Ca2+ conductance (permeability) in response to depolarization. Mutants with altered behaviors have been isolated. Pawn mutants fail to exhibit reversal of the effective stroke of ciliary beat and therefore cannot swim backward. They lack the increased inward Ca2+ current in response to depolarizing stimuli. Both normal and pawn Paramecium made leaky to Ca2+ by Triton extrac¬tion of the surface membrane exhibit backward swimming only in reactivating solutions containing greater than IO-6 M Ca2+ Thus in pawns the ciliary reversal mechanism itself is left operational and only the control mechanism at the membrane is affected. The topographic location of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels has been identified as a component of the ciliary mem¬brane since the inward Ca2+ conductance response is eliminated by deciliation and the return of the response occurs during cilia regeneration. Since the ciliary membrane has been impli¬cated in the control of Ca2+ levels in the cilium and therefore is the site of at least one kind of control of microtubule sliding, we have focused our attention on understanding the structure and function of the membrane.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1393-1404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Brand

Abstract The Popeye domain-containing gene family encodes a novel class of cAMP effector proteins in striated muscle tissue. In this short review, we first introduce the protein family and discuss their structure and function with an emphasis on their role in cyclic AMP signalling. Another focus of this review is the recently discovered role of POPDC genes as striated muscle disease genes, which have been associated with cardiac arrhythmia and muscular dystrophy. The pathological phenotypes observed in patients will be compared with phenotypes present in null and knockin mutations in zebrafish and mouse. A number of protein–protein interaction partners have been discovered and the potential role of POPDC proteins to control the subcellular localization and function of these interacting proteins will be discussed. Finally, we outline several areas, where research is urgently needed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (06) ◽  
pp. 951-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Corral ◽  
R. González-Conejero ◽  
J. Rivera ◽  
F. Ortuño ◽  
P. Aparicio ◽  
...  

SummaryThe variability of the platelet GP Ia/IIa density has been associated with the 807 C/T polymorphism (Phe 224) of the GP Ia gene in American Caucasian population. We have investigated the genotype and allelic frequencies of this polymorphism in Spanish Caucasians. The T allele was found in 35% of the 284 blood donors analyzed. We confirmed in 159 healthy subjects a significant association between the 807 C/T polymorphism and the platelet GP Ia density. The T allele correlated with high number of GP Ia molecules on platelet surface. In addition, we observed a similar association of this polymorphism with the expression of this protein in other blood cell types. The platelet responsiveness to collagen was determined by “in vitro” analysis of the platelet activation and aggregation response. We found no significant differences in these functional platelet parameters according to the 807 C/T genotype. Finally, results from 3 case/control studies involving 302 consecutive patients (101 with coronary heart disease, 104 with cerebrovascular disease and 97 with deep venous thrombosis) determined that the 807 C/T polymorphism of the GP Ia gene does not represent a risk factor for arterial or venous thrombosis.


2010 ◽  
Vol 30 (03) ◽  
pp. 150-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Wang ◽  
J. Eikenboom

SummaryVon Willebrand factor (VWF) is a pivotal haemostatic protein mediating platelet adhesion to injured endothelium and carrying coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) in the circulation to protect it from premature clearance. Apart from the roles in haemostasis, VWF drives the formation of the endothelial cell specific Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs), which serve as a regulated storage of VWF and other thrombotic and inflammatory factors. Defects in VWF could lead to the bleeding disorder von Willebrand disease (VWD).Extensive studies have shown that several mutations identified in VWD patients cause an intracellular retention of VWF. However, the effects of such mutations on the formation and function of its storage organelle are largely unknown. This review gives an overview on the role of VWF in WPB biogenesis and summarizes the limited data on the WPBs formed by VWD-causing mutant VWF.


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