Development of manganese dioxide-based nanoprobe for fluorescent detection and imaging of glutathione

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Qaitoon ◽  
Jiaxi Yong ◽  
Zexi Zhang ◽  
Jie Liu ◽  
Zhi Ping Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Manganese Dioxide ◽  
Fluorescent Detection ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Living Organisms

Tripeptide glutathione (GSH) is an abundant and ubiquitous metabolite in living organisms and plays critical roles in various cellular processes. In this work, we report the development of a new...

scholarly journals Effect of Flotation Time and Collector Dosage on Estonian Phosphorite Beneficiation

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 114
Author(s):  
Kadriann Tamm ◽  
Zeinab Arab Zadeh ◽  
Rein Kuusik ◽  
Juha Kallas ◽  
Jason Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phosphate Rock ◽  
Froth Flotation ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
The European Union ◽  
High Recovery ◽  
Know How ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Reliable Source ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
The Relationship

Phosphorus is an essential and non-substitutable element for the cellular processes of all living organisms. The main source of phosphorus in the biosphere is phosphate rock. With more than 700 Mt phosphate rock, Estonia holds the largest sedimentary phosphate rock deposits in the European Union. Estonian phosphate rock is particularly outstanding due to its remarkably low content of hazardous heavy metals such as Cadmium (<5 ppm) and trace elements of Uranium (<50 ppm). It is also a reliable source of valuable elements such as rear earth elements (REEs). The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of the main minerals (apatite and quartz) between slimes, tailings, and concentrates that formed at the froth flotation of Estonian phosphate rock with the up-to-date level of know-how and techniques. Subsequently, the relationship between the obtained grades and recovery levels in concentrates was determined based on the collector dosage and flotation duration. It was observed that the fine fraction of the tailings contains 17.9–33.49 wt% P2O5 that can be added to the final product. Moreover, it was found that, with the lower dosage of the collector, the extended flotation time does not influence the phosphate grade and a high amount of quartz remains in the concentrates. It was also shown that, by raising the collector dosage and setting the flotation time, an adequate grade (>32 wt% P2O5) and recovery (up to 98%) can be gained. The results showed that Estonian phosphate rock can be beneficiated to produce a high-quality concentrate at high recovery levels by modifying the main flotation parameters depending on the properties of the ore.

Article Commentary: Regulation of Protein Function by Residue Oxidation

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. PRI.S3327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing-Hai Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Protein Function ◽  
Regulatory Mechanism ◽  
Cellular Metabolism ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
Biological Macromolecules ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Methionine Residues ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Face Generation

A majority of extant life forms require O2 to survive and thrive. Oxidation is inevitably one of the most active cellular processes and one constant challenge that living organisms must face. Generation of oxidants including reactive oxygen species is a natural consequence of cellular metabolism of all biological systems during normal life cycle under different environments. These oxidants oxidize many biological macromolecules such as proteins and affect their functions. Oxidation of specific amino acids in proteins may cause damage to protein structure and impair function, or may also activate protein activities and promote cellular metabolism. As an example, the reversible oxidation of cysteine and methionine residues has a profound impact on protein function and cellular process. A recent study that examines the effect of Met oxidation on Ser phosphorylation in a mitochondrial enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase, provides another demonstration that protein oxidation is an important regulatory mechanism for organisms to deal with developmental and environmental challenges throughout life processes.

scholarly journals Dual-Functional Peroxidase-Copper Phosphate Hybrid Nanoflowers for Sensitive Detection of Biological Thiols

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 366
Author(s):  
Xuan Ai Le ◽  
Thao Nguyen Le ◽  
Moon Il Kim
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Reaction System ◽  
Clinical Diagnostics ◽  
Fluorescent Detection ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Catalytic Activities ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Dual Functional ◽  
Copper Phosphate ◽  
Reliable Quantification

An effective strategy to detect biological thiols (biothiols), including glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), and homocysteine (Hcy), holds significant incentive since they play vital roles in many cellular processes and are closely related to many diseases. Here, we demonstrated that hybrid nanoflowers composed of crystalline copper phosphate and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) served as a functional unit exhibiting dual catalytic activities of biothiol oxidase and HRP, yielding a cascade reaction system for a sensitive one-pot fluorescent detection of biothiols. The nanoflowers were synthesized through the anisotropic growth of copper phosphate petals coordinated with the amine/amide moieties of HRP, by simply incubating HRP and copper(II) sulfate for three days at room temperature. Copper phosphates within the nanoflowers oxidized target biothiols to generate H2O2, which activated the entrapped HRP to oxidize the employed Amplex UltraRed substrate to produce intense fluorescence. Using this strategy, biothiols were selectively and sensitively detected by monitoring the respective fluorescence intensity. This nanoflower-based strategy was also successfully employed for reliable quantification of biothiols present in human serum, demonstrating its great potential for clinical diagnostics.

DNA Topoisomerases of Leishmania Parasites; Druggable Targets for Drug Discovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (32) ◽  
pp. 5900-5923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa M. Reguera ◽  
Ehab K. Elmahallawy ◽  
Carlos García-Estrada ◽  
Rubén Carbajo-Andrés ◽  
Rafael Balaña-Fouce
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Double Helix ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Dna Topoisomerases ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Dna Double Helix ◽  
Leishmania Parasites

DNA topoisomerases (Top) are a group of isomerase enzymes responsible for controlling the topological problems caused by DNA double helix in the cell during the processes of replication, transcription and recombination. Interestingly, these enzymes have been known since long to be key molecular machines in several cellular processes through overwinding or underwinding of DNA in all living organisms. Leishmania, a trypanosomatid parasite responsible for causing fatal diseases mostly in impoverished populations of low-income countries, has a set of six classes of Top enzymes. These are placed in the nucleus and the single mitochondrion and can be deadly targets of suitable drugs. Given the fact that there are clear differences in structure and expression between parasite and host enzymes, numerous studies have reported the therapeutic potential of Top inhibitors as antileishmanial drugs. In this regard, numerous compounds have been described as Top type IB and Top type II inhibitors in Leishmania parasites, such as camptothecin derivatives, indenoisoquinolines, indeno-1,5- naphthyridines, fluoroquinolones, anthracyclines and podophyllotoxins. The aim of this review is to highlight several facts about Top and Top inhibitors as potential antileishmanial drugs, which may represent a promising strategy for the control of this disease of public health importance.

Bottom-Up Synthesis of Artificial Cells: Recent Highlights and Future Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 287-308
Author(s):  
Ivan Ivanov ◽  
Sebastián López Castellanos ◽  
Severo Balasbas ◽  
Lado Otrin ◽  
Nika Marušič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Basic Unit ◽  
Bottom Up ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
The Past ◽  
Tremendous Progress ◽  
Timely Review ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Fundamental Research ◽  
Living Organisms

The bottom-up approach in synthetic biology aims to create molecular ensembles that reproduce the organization and functions of living organisms and strives to integrate them in a modular and hierarchical fashion toward the basic unit of life—the cell—and beyond. This young field stands on the shoulders of fundamental research in molecular biology and biochemistry, next to synthetic chemistry, and, augmented by an engineering framework, has seen tremendous progress in recent years thanks to multiple technological and scientific advancements. In this timely review of the research over the past decade, we focus on three essential features of living cells: the ability to self-reproduce via recursive cycles of growth and division, the harnessing of energy to drive cellular processes, and the assembly of metabolic pathways. In addition, we cover the increasing efforts to establish multicellular systems via different communication strategies and critically evaluate the potential applications.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Analysis of Genes Encoding Methionine-Rich Proteins inArabidopsisand Soybean Suggesting Their Roles in the Adaptation of Plants to Abiotic Stress

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha Duc Chu ◽  
Quynh Ngoc Le ◽  
Huy Quang Nguyen ◽  
Dung Tien Le
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress ◽  
Calcium Signaling ◽  
Protein Modification ◽  
Transcriptional Control ◽  
Gene Annotation ◽  
Stress Conditions ◽  
Transcription Control ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Living Organisms

Oxidation and reduction of methionine (Met) play important roles in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and signaling in living organisms. To understand the impacts of Met oxidation and reduction in plants during stress, we surveyed the genomes ofArabidopsisand soybean (Glycine maxL.) for genes encoding Met-rich proteins (MRPs). We found 121 and 213 genes encoding MRPs inArabidopsisand soybean, respectively. Gene annotation indicated that those with known function are involved in vital cellular processes such as transcriptional control, calcium signaling, protein modification, and metal transport. Next, we analyzed the transcript levels of MRP-coding genes under normal and stress conditions. We found that 57 AtMRPs were responsive either to drought or to high salinity stress inArabidopsis; 35 GmMRPs were responsive to drought in the leaf of late vegetative or early reproductive stages of soybean. Among the MRP genes with a known function, the majority of the abiotic stress-responsive genes are involved in transcription control and calcium signaling. Finally,Arabidopsisplant which overexpressed an MRP-coding gene, whose transcripts were downregulated by abiotic stress, was more sensitive to paraquat than the control. Taken together, our report indicates that MRPs participate in various vital processes of plants under normal and stress conditions.

scholarly journals PGC1s and Beyond: Disentangling the Complex Regulation of Mitochondrial and Cellular Metabolism

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6913
Author(s):  
Lara Coppi ◽  
Simona Ligorio ◽  
Nico Mitro ◽  
Donatella Caruso ◽  
Emma De Fabiani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Cellular Metabolism ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽  
Main Site ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Living Organisms

Metabolism is the central engine of living organisms as it provides energy and building blocks for many essential components of each cell, which are required for specific functions in different tissues. Mitochondria are the main site for energy production in living organisms and they also provide intermediate metabolites required for the synthesis of other biologically relevant molecules. Such cellular processes are finely tuned at different levels, including allosteric regulation, posttranslational modifications, and transcription of genes encoding key proteins in metabolic pathways. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ coactivator 1 (PGC1) proteins are transcriptional coactivators involved in the regulation of many cellular processes, mostly ascribable to metabolic pathways. Here, we will discuss some aspects of the cellular processes regulated by PGC1s, bringing up some examples of their role in mitochondrial and cellular metabolism, and how metabolic regulation in mitochondria by members of the PGC1 family affects the immune system. We will analyze how PGC1 proteins are regulated at the transcriptional and posttranslational level and will also examine other regulators of mitochondrial metabolism and the related cellular functions, considering approaches to identify novel mitochondrial regulators and their role in physiology and disease. Finally, we will analyze possible therapeutical perspectives currently under assessment that are applicable to different disease states.

scholarly journals Plant Polyamines

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 511
Author(s):  
Taku Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Potential Role ◽  
Positive Charge ◽  
Cinnamic Acids ◽  
Exciting Field ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Charged Macromolecules ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Polyamine Oxidation

Polyamines are small organic compounds found in all living organisms. According to the high degree of positive charge at physiological pH, they interact with negatively charged macromolecules, such as DNA, RNA, and proteins, and modulate their activities. In plants, polyamines, some of which are presented as a conjugated form with cinnamic acids and proteins, are involved in a variety of physiological processes. In recent years, the study of plant polyamines, such as their biosynthetic and catabolic pathways and the roles they play in cellular processes, has flourished, becoming an exciting field of research. There is accumulating evidence that polyamine oxidation, the main catabolic pathway of polyamines, may have a potential role as a source of hydrogen peroxide. The papers in this Special Issue highlight new discoveries and research in the field of plant polyamine biology. The information will help to stimulate further research and make readers aware of the link between their own work and topics related to polyamines.

Photobiology/Photochemistry

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 559-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Coohill
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Radiation ◽  
Complete Response ◽  
Depth Of Penetration ◽  
Toxic Reaction ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Final Effect

Exposure of living organisms to non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (here confined to the visible and part of the ultraviolet, 200-800 nm) can cause a toxic reaction. The details of the exposure, both in intensity and wavelength composition, will determine the degree of effect. If absorbing chromophores, both endogenous and exogenous, are present, additional response can be elicited. Whether the radiation reaches a sensitive target will depend upon the depth of penetration and the opacity of the cell or tissue. The final effect will be determined by the initial photoproducts produced, the subsequent reactions they cause, and the amount of repair of damage by cellular processes. In some cases it is possible to predict the complete response; in others it is variable.

Ca2+-Operated Transcriptional Networks: Molecular Mechanisms and In Vivo Models

2008 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britt Mellström ◽  
Magali Savignac ◽  
Rosa Gomez-Villafuertes ◽  
Jose R. Naranjo
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Transcriptional Networks ◽  
Calcium Signal ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Calcium Sensors ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Living Organisms

Calcium is the most universal signal used by living organisms to convey information to many different cellular processes. In this review we present well-known and recently identified proteins that sense and decode the calcium signal and are key elements in the nucleus to regulate the activity of various transcriptional networks. When possible, the review also presents in vivo models in which the genes encoding these calcium sensors-transducers have been modified, to emphasize the critical role of these Ca2+-operated mechanisms in many physiological functions.

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