Copper is critical for the Central Nervous System (CNS) development and function. In particular, different studies have shown the effect of copper at brain synapses, where it inhibits Long Term Potentation (LTP) and receptor pharmacology. Paradoxically, according to recent studies copper is required for a normal LTP response. Copper is released at the synaptic cleft, where it blocks glutamate r...

BACKGROUND Wilson disease (WD) is characterized by hepatic copper accumulation with progressive liver damage to cirrhosis. This study aimed to characterize the toxic milk mouse from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME, USA) (tx-j) mouse model of WD according to changes over time in hepatic copper concentrations, methionine metabolism, global DNA methylation, and gene expression from gestatio...

In this paper we present a first insight into the cytotoxic action mode of copper(I) iodide or copper(I) thiocyanate complexes with a phosphine derivative of sparfloxacin (a 3rd generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic agent) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline or 2,2'-biquinoline as auxiliary ligands. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the new complexes was tested against two cancer cell lines (...

A novel, sensitive and selective adsorptive stripping procedure for simultaneous determination of copper, bismuth and lead is presented. The method is based on the adsorptive accumulation of thymolphthalexone (TPN) complexes of these elements onto a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by reduction of adsorbed species by voltammetric scan using differential pulse modulation. The influences ...

Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug used to treat a variety of cancers. Both intrinsic and acquired resistance to cisplatin, as well as toxicity, limit its effectiveness. Molecular mechanisms that underlie cisplatin resistance are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that deletion of the yeast CTR1 gene, which encodes a high-affinity copper transporter, results in increased cisplatin resista...

Wilson's disease (WD), also known as hepatolenticular degeneration, is an autosomal recessive inherited disorder resulting from abnormal copper metabolism. Reduced copper excretion causes an excessive deposition of the copper in many organs such as the liver, central nervous system (CNS), cornea, kidney, joints, and cardiac muscle where the physiological functions of the affected organs are imp...

Menkes disease is an X-linked multisystem disorder with epilepsy, kinky hair, and neurodegeneration caused by mutations in the copper transporter ATP7A. Other ATP7A mutations have been linked to juvenile occipital horn syndrome and adult-onset hereditary motor neuropathy.1,2 About 5%-10% of the patients present with "atypical Menkes disease" characterized by longer survival, cerebellar ataxia, ...

The accumulation of redox-active metal ions, in particular copper, in amyloid plaques is considered to the cause of the intensive oxidation damage to the brain of patients with Alzheimers disease (AD). Drug candidates based on a bis(8-aminoquinoline) tetradentate ligand are able to efficiently extract Cu(2+) from copper-loaded amyloids (Cu-Aβ). Contrarily, in the presence of a bidentate hydroxy...

This study evaluated the effect of aging on the adaptation potential of antioxidants and the accumulation of oxidative damage in fast-twitch muscles in response to non-weight-bearing conditions. Adult and old rats were randomized into 4 groups: normal weight bearing, hind-limb unloading for 3, 7, and 14 days. Activities of manganese superoxide dismutase, copper-zinc superoxide dismutase, catala...

Land-based sources of pollution have been identified as significant stressors linked to the widespread declines of coral cover in coastal reef ecosystems over the last 30 years. Metal contaminants, although noted as a concern, have not been closely monitored in these sensitive ecosystems, nor have their potential impacts on coral-algal symbioses been characterized. In this study, three species ...