Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons leading to paralysis and death. Mutations of the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are found in some cases of familial ALS (fALS). Recent evidences suggest the accumulation of intracellular calcium is one of the primary mechanisms of motor neuronal degeneration. In th...

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons leading to paralysis and death. Mutations of the human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) are found in some cases of familial ALS (fALS). Recent evidences suggest the accumulation of intracellular calcium is one of the primary mechanisms of motor neuronal degeneration. In th...

Originally, trehalose was believed to function only as a reserve carbohydrate similar to glycogen. It is now known that the degradation of trehalose yields little energy and whilst it can serve as a source of carbon skeletons for biosynthesis, it mainly functions as a membrane stabiliser and protectant for yeast cells under stress. (O'Connor-Cox et al, 1996). The significance of trehalose as an...

the effect of triton x-100, na cholate and tween 80 on the solubilization of integral membrane proteins in intact cells, spheroplasts and inner-membrane fragments of salmonella typhimurium was studied. the detergents were used in various concentrations (1.6 to 64 mm) and cytochromes b and d were used as marker to monitor the solubilization of membrane-bound proteins. results showed that no inne...

Immunization of rabbits with outer membranes (OM) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae produced antibodies directed against outer-membrane proteins PI and PIII. The antibodies directed against PIII reacted equally well on Western blots with all strains tested, but antibodies directed against PI reacted only with the homologous strain. When purified PIB was used for immunization the immune response was quit...

An isolated rat hepatocyte preparation was used to study the cellular toxicity of cadmium and the protective effects of metallothionein on cadmium-induced toxicity. Exposure of primary suspension cultures of isolated rat hepatocytes to Cd2+ (0-35.7 microM) for 15 min resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the synthesis of cellular proteins during a subsequent 6 h incubation. Such inhibition ...

The aim of this study was to synthesize and examine possible in vitro antioxidant effects of indole-based melatonin analogue compounds. As a part of our ongoing study nineteen indole hydrazide/hydrazone derivatives were synthesized, characterized and their in vitro antioxidant activity was investigated by three different assays: by evaluating their reducing effect against oxidation of a redox s...

A new series of amphiphilic compounds with incorporated antioxidant functional group has been investigated. Piperidinium bromides, differing in the alkyl chain length (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 carbon atoms in the chain) were synthesised to protect biological and/or model membranes against peroxidation and following negative consequences. Their antioxidant activity was studied with erythrocytes subj...

Our previous report has showed that the treatment of 48 h with 22 mM glucose prevents hypoxia-induced cardiac cell death. In the present study, we investigated whether high glucose affects the mitochondrial death pathway during hypoxia, and if it does, what relates to the high glucose induced cardioprotection. Heart-derived H9c2 cells were incubated in low (5.5 mM) or high (22 mM) glucose mediu...