Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) deficiency is one of the fatty acid oxidation defects that presents early in the newborn period. It is known to be associated with a high mortality with a number of the earlier reported cases presenting as sudden infant death syndrome. Like most inborn errors of metabolism, presentation of CACT deficiency is rather non specific. Typical biochemical pro...

OBJECTIVE Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL)is implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Circulating oxidation-specific epitopes on plasma Ox-LDL has been linked with coronary artery disease, but its determinants and its association with early development of atherosclerosis in familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) has not been very well studied. This study aimed to investigate...

To determine the most useful diagnostic characters for the differentiation of pseudomonads pathogenic for man, including Pseudomonas maltophilia (Alcaligenes bookeri), P. stutzeri (Bacillus denitrificans), P. pseudomallei (Malleomyces pseudomallei), and apyocyanogenic strains of P. aeruginosa, a comparative examination was made of 58 strains of these bacilli for their morphological and biochemi...

The major part of worldwide energy production concerns fossil energy. Therefore, concomitant carbon dioxide production is a problem. What are suitable alternatives? Here we present considerations for selection of energy sources needed for future worldwide energy consumption. Plants are collectors and converters of sunlight and are indispensable in the carbon cycle. This cycle converts sunlight ...

Oxidative stress is a common etiological feature of neurological disorders, although the pathways that govern defence against reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neurodegeneration remain unclear. We have identified the role of oxidation resistance 1 (Oxr1) as a vital protein that controls the sensitivity of neuronal cells to oxidative stress; mice lacking Oxr1 display cerebellar neurodegeneration,...

Galactose oxidase is a free radical metalloenzyme containing a novel metalloradical complex, comprised of a protein radical coordinated to a copper ion in the active site. The unusually stable protein radical is formed from the redox-active side chain of a cross-linked tyrosine residue (Tyr-Cys). Biochemical studies on galactose oxidase have revealed a new class of oxidation mechanisms based on...

Although peroxisomes oxidize lipids, the metabolism of lipid bodies and peroxisomes is thought to be largely uncoupled from one another. In this study, using oleic acid-cultured Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model system, we provide evidence that lipid bodies and peroxisomes have a close physiological relationship. Peroxisomes adhere stably to lipid bodies, and they can even extend processes in...

OBJECTIVE Evaluate the effect of glycemic index (GI) on biochemical parameters, food intake, energy metabolism, anthropometric measures and body composition in overweight subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS Simple blind study, in which nineteen subjects were randomly assigned to consume in the laboratory two daily low GI (n = 10) or high GI (n = 9) meals, for forty-five consecutive days. Habitual...

Systemic corticosteroid therapy may affect diaphragm structure and function. We postulated that functional, immunohistochemical and biochemical characteristics of rat diaphragm were less affected by alternate-day methylprednisolone (MP) administration, and more by repeated bursts of MP, in comparison to daily s.c MP. Sixty adult rats were randomized into four groups: saline s.c.; MP continuousl...

Aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) are a family of enzymes which catalyze the oxidation of reactive aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acids. Here we summarize molecular genetic and biochemical analyses of selected ArabidopsisALDH genes. Aldehyde molecules are very reactive and are involved in many metabolic processes but when they accumulate in excess they become toxic. Thus activity of ...