scholarly journals Mitochondria as a biomarker for IVF outcome

Reproduction ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 157 (6) ◽  
pp. R235-R242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Kim ◽  
Emre Seli
Keyword(s):  
Acid Metabolism ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Advanced Maternal Age ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Embryo Viability ◽  
Mitochondrial Content ◽  
And Function ◽  
Embryo Metabolism ◽  
Implantation Success

Mitochondria play an essential role in generating energy for embryo development and maintaining embryo metabolism through key cellular functions including ion homeostasis, amino acid metabolism, glycolysis, fatty acid metabolism, signal transduction and apoptotic regulation. Recent literature suggests that mitochondrial content and function may be related to implantation success and embryo viability. Some studies have linked increased levels of mitochondrial DNA to aneuploidy, advanced maternal age and euploid blastocyst with implantation failure, while others have failed to demonstrate similar findings. This review aims to provide an overview of the current literature surrounding the possibilities of using mitochondria as an additional biomarker for infertility treatment outcome and summarize the reasons as to why there are inconsistencies in these studies.

scholarly journals Functional Aspects of Seminal Plasma in Bird Reproduction

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5664
Author(s):  
Julian Santiago-Moreno ◽  
Elisabeth Blesbois
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Reproductive Techniques ◽  
Sperm Survival ◽  
Protein Components ◽  
And Function

This review provides an updated overview of the seminal plasma composition, and the role of metabolic and protein components on the sperm function of avian species. In addition, the implication of seminal plasma on assisted reproductive techniques of birds was discussed. The semen of birds usually has exceptionally high sperm concentration with relatively little seminal plasma, but this contributes to very fast changes in sperm metabolism and function. The biochemical characteristics and physiological roles of the various seminal plasma components in birds (carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, hormones, and proteins) are poorly understood. Seminal plasma content of proteins has an action on most cellular functions: metabolism, immunity, oxido-reduction regulation, proteolysis, apoptosis, ion homeostasis, and antimicrobial defenses. The variable amount of many proteins is related to a different fertility capacity of poultry sperm. The role of seminal plasma on semen conservation (chilling and freezing) remains largely a matter of speculation, as both inhibitory and stimulating effects have been found. Whereas the presence of seminal plasma did not seem to affect the sperm survival after freezing–thawing, DNA fragmentation is lower in the absence of seminal plasma. The molecular basis of the influence of seminal plasma on sperm cryo-resistance was also discussed in the present review.

scholarly journals Pathophysiological Role of K2P Channels in Human Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (S3) ◽  
pp. 65-86
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Ion Homeostasis ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
K2p Channels ◽  
And Function

The family of two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channels is critically involved in central cellular functions such as ion homeostasis, cell development, and excitability. K2P channels are widely expressed in different human cell types and organs. It is therefore not surprising that aberrant expression and function of K2P channels are related to a spectrum of human diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, CNS, cardiovascular, and urinary tract disorders. Despite homologies in structure, expression, and stimulus, the functional diversity of K2P channels leads to heterogeneous influences on human diseases. The role of individual K2P channels in different disorders depends on expression patterns and modulation in cellular functions. However, an imbalance of potassium homeostasis and action potentials contributes to most disease pathologies. In this review, we provide an overview of current knowledge on the role of K2P channels in human diseases. We look at altered channel expression and function, the potential underlying molecular mechanisms, and prospective research directions in the field of K2P channels.

Establishing a model to demonstrate physical and mathematical properties of chromatin fibres in fission yeast cells - Research in the Molecular Biophysics Lab at Hiroshima University

Impact ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (3) ◽  
pp. 89-91
Author(s):  
Shin-ichi Tate
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Molecular Architecture ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Sports Science ◽  
Cellular Events ◽  
And Function ◽  
Education Culture ◽  
Open The Doors

The field of molecular biology has provided great insights into the structure and function of key molecules. Thanks to this area of research, we can now grasp the biological details of DNA and have characterised an enormous number of molecules in massive data bases. These 'biological periodic tables' have allowed scientists to connect molecules to particular cellular events, furthering scientific understanding of biological processes. However, molecular biology has yet to answer questions regarding 'higher-order' molecular architecture, such as that of chromatin. Chromatin is the molecular material that serves as the building block for chromosomes, the structures that carry an organism's genetic information inside of the cell's nucleus. Understanding the physical properties of chromatin is crucial in developing a more thorough picture of how chromatin's structure relate to its key cellular functions. Moreover, by establishing a physical model of chromatin, scientists will be able to open the doors into the true inner workings of the cell nucleus. Professor Shin-ichi Tate and his team of researchers at Hiroshima University's Research Center for the Mathematics on Chromatin Live Dynamics (RcMcD), are attempting to do just that. Through a five-year grant funded by the Platform for Dynamic Approaches to Living Systems from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Tate is aiming to gain a clearer understanding of the structure and dynamics of chromatin.

scholarly journals Bend, Push, Stretch: Remarkable Structure and Mechanics of Single Intermediate Filaments and Meshworks

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1960
Author(s):  
K. Tanuj Sapra ◽  
Ohad Medalia
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Filaments ◽  
Eukaryotic Cell ◽  
Coiled Coils ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Mechanical Pressure ◽  
Mechanical Feature ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Nuclear Lamins ◽  
Filament Networks ◽  
And Function

The cytoskeleton of the eukaryotic cell provides a structural and functional scaffold enabling biochemical and cellular functions. While actin and microtubules form the main framework of the cell, intermediate filament networks provide unique mechanical properties that increase the resilience of both the cytoplasm and the nucleus, thereby maintaining cellular function while under mechanical pressure. Intermediate filaments (IFs) are imperative to a plethora of regulatory and signaling functions in mechanotransduction. Mutations in all types of IF proteins are known to affect the architectural integrity and function of cellular processes, leading to debilitating diseases. The basic building block of all IFs are elongated α-helical coiled-coils that assemble hierarchically into complex meshworks. A remarkable mechanical feature of IFs is the capability of coiled-coils to metamorphize into β-sheets under stress, making them one of the strongest and most resilient mechanical entities in nature. Here, we discuss structural and mechanical aspects of IFs with a focus on nuclear lamins and vimentin.

scholarly journals Actin Cytoskeleton and Regulation of TGFβ Signaling: Exploring Their Links

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 336
Author(s):  
Roberta Melchionna ◽  
Paola Trono ◽  
Annalisa Tocci ◽  
Paola Nisticò
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor Β ◽  
Tissue Homeostasis ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Human Tissues ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Tgfβ Signaling ◽  
Physical Mechanisms ◽  
And Function

Human tissues, to maintain their architecture and function, respond to injuries by activating intricate biochemical and physical mechanisms that regulates intercellular communication crucial in maintaining tissue homeostasis. Coordination of the communication occurs through the activity of different actin cytoskeletal regulators, physically connected to extracellular matrix through integrins, generating a platform of biochemical and biomechanical signaling that is deregulated in cancer. Among the major pathways, a controller of cellular functions is the cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), which remains a complex and central signaling network still to be interpreted and explained in cancer progression. Here, we discuss the link between actin dynamics and TGFβ signaling with the aim of exploring their aberrant interaction in cancer.

scholarly journals Ovarian Tumor Mitochondria Exhibit Abnormal Phenotypes and Blunted Associations with Biobehavioral Factors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Snehal Bindra ◽  
Marlon McGill ◽  
Marina Triplett ◽  
Anisha Tyagi ◽  
Premal Thaker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Markers ◽  
Respiratory Chain ◽  
Ovarian Tissue ◽  
Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain ◽  
Ovarian Tumors ◽  
Mitochondrial Content ◽  
Benign Tissue ◽  
Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Activity ◽  
Respiratory Chain Activity ◽  
And Function

Abstract Tumor cells exhibit mitochondrial alterations and are also influenced by biobehavioral processes, but the intersection of biobehavioral factors and tumor mitochondria remains unexplored. Here we examined multiple biochemical and molecular markers of mitochondrial content and function in benign and cancerous ovarian tissue in parallel with exploratory analyses of biobehavioral factors. First, analysis of a publicly-available database (n=1,435) showed that gene expression of specific mitochondrial proteins in ovarian tumors is associated with survival. Quantifying multiple biochemical and molecular markers of mitochondrial content and function in 51 benign and 128 high-grade epithelial ovarian tumors revealed that compared to benign tissue, tumors exhibit 3.3-8.4-fold higher mitochondrial content and respiratory chain enzymatic activities (P<0.001) but similar mitochondrial DNA levels (-3.1%), documenting abnormal mitochondrial phenotypes in tumors. Mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was also associated with interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in ascites. In benign tissue, negative biobehavioral factors were inversely correlated with mitochondrial content and respiratory chain activities, whereas positive biobehavioral factors tended to be positively correlated with mitochondrial measures, although effect sizes were small to medium (r=-0.43 to 0.47). In contrast, serous tumors showed less pronounced biobehavioral-mitochondrial correlations. These results document abnormal mitochondrial functional phenotypes in ovarian tumors and warrant further research on the link between biobehavioral factors and mitochondria in cancer.

scholarly journals The effect of hairpin loop on the structure and gene expression activity of the long-loop G-quadruplex

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Subramaniyam Ravichandran ◽  
Maria Razzaq ◽  
Nazia Parveen ◽  
Ambarnil Ghosh ◽  
Kyeong Kyu Kim
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Rna Structure ◽  
Biological Significance ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Hairpin Loops ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
Reporter Assays ◽  
Expression Activity ◽  
The Stability ◽  
And Function

Abstract G-quadruplex (G4), a four-stranded DNA or RNA structure containing stacks of guanine tetrads, plays regulatory roles in many cellular functions. So far, conventional G4s containing loops of 1–7 nucleotides have been widely studied. Increasing experimental evidence suggests that unconventional G4s, such as G4s containing long loops (long-loop G4s), play a regulatory role in the genome by forming a stable structure. Other secondary structures such as hairpins in the loop might thus contribute to the stability of long-loop G4s. Therefore, investigation of the effect of the hairpin-loops on the structure and function of G4s is required. In this study, we performed a systematic biochemical investigation of model G4s containing long loops with various sizes and structures. We found that the long-loop G4s are less stable than conventional G4s, but their stability increased when the loop forms a hairpin (hairpin-G4). We also verified the biological significance of hairpin-G4s by showing that hairpin-G4s present in the genome also form stable G4s and regulate gene expression as confirmed by in cellulo reporter assays. This study contributes to expanding the scope and diversity of G4s, thus facilitating future studies on the role of G4s in the human genome.

scholarly journals Nonneuronal Cholinergic System in Breast Tumors and Dendritic Cells: Does It Improve or Worsen the Response to Tumor?

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Marisa Vulcano ◽  
María Gabriela Lombardi ◽  
María Elena Sales
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Cholinergic System ◽  
Parasympathetic Nervous System ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Breast Tumors ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
And Migration ◽  
And Function

Besides being the main neurotransmitter in the parasympathetic nervous system, acetylcholine (ACh) can act as a signaling molecule in nonneuronal tissues. For this reason, ACh and the enzymes that synthesize and degrade it (choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase) as well as muscarinic (mAChRs) and nicotinic receptors conform the non-neuronal cholinergic system (nNCS). It has been reported that nNCS regulates basal cellular functions including survival, proliferation, adhesion, and migration. Moreover, nNCS is broadly expressed in tumors and in different components of the immune system. In this review, we summarize the role of nNCS in tumors and in different immune cell types focusing on the expression and function of mAChRs in breast tumors and dendritic cells (DCs) and discussing the role of DCs in breast cancer.

scholarly journals Chemical Components and Biological Activities of the Genus Phyllanthus: A Review of the Recent Literature

Molecules ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 2567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Nisar ◽  
Junwei He ◽  
Arsalan Ahmed ◽  
Youxin Yang ◽  
Mingxi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Industry ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Chemical Components ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Underdeveloped Countries ◽  
The Family ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Loss Of Appetite ◽  
The Tropics

Medicinal plants have served humans since prehistoric times to treat various ailments. Both developed and underdeveloped countries rely on traditional systems of medication using natural sources from plants. Phyllanthus is one of the largest genus in the family Phyllanthaceae, comprising over 700 well known species cosmopolitan in distribution mainly in the tropics and subtropics. Phyllanthus species are being in constant used in traditional medications to cure an array of human diseases (constipation, inhalation related, arthritis, loss of appetite, injuries, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, running nose, common cold, malaria, blennorrhagia, colic, diabetes mellitus, dysentery, indigestion, fever, gout, gonorrheal diseases of males and females, skin itching, jaundice, hepatic disorders, leucorrhea, vaginitis, menstrual irregularities, obesity, stomach pains, and tumors), confectionaries, food industry, and in some pesticides. Phyllanthus species are rich in diversity of phytochemicals e.g., tannins, terpenes, alkaloids, glycosidic compounds, saponins, and flavones etc. More in depth studies are a direly needed to identify more compounds with specific cellular functions to treat various ailments.

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