Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules that arise from a number of cellular sources, including oxidative metabolism in mitochondria. At low levels they can be advantageous to cells, activating signaling pathways that promote proliferation or survival. At higher levels, ROS can damage or kill cells by oxidizing proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. It was hypothesized that an...

One of the biochemical pathways affected by aging in all organisms is protein synthesis. Previous reports from our laboratory have indicated that the elongation step is specially affected by aging as a consequence of alterations in elongation factor-2 (eEF-2). In the present work, we studied in vitro the effectiveness of several individual nutritional antioxidants in protecting the levels of he...

MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding single-stranded RNAs that bind to their complimentary sequences in the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs) of the target mRNAs that prevent their translation into the corresponding proteins. Since miRs are strongly expressed in cells of inner ear and play a role in regulating their differentiation, survival and function, alterations in their expression may be...

Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis DSM20451 cells containing glutathione (GSH) displayed significantly higher resistance against cold stress induced by freeze-drying, freeze-thawing, and 4 degrees C cold treatment than those without GSH. Cells containing GSH were capable of maintaining their membrane structure intact when exposed to freeze-thawing. In addition, cells containing GSH showed a higher ...

Metabolic flexibility is an important component of adaptation to stressful environments, including thermal stress and latitudinal adaptation. A long history of population genetic studies suggest that selection on core metabolic enzymes may shape life histories by altering metabolic flux. However, the direct relationship between selection on thermal stress hardiness and metabolic flux has not pr...

Using cold working fastener holes is a simple life enhancement procedure that strengthens metallic components by retarding crack growth around a hole. In the present paper, the residual stress field that is induced by the hole expansion process is obtained based on different material models namely elastic perfect plastic, isotropic hardening and kinematic hardening using three-dimensional finit...

—All vertebrates must contend with an increase in oxidative stress during intense exercise. Birds, in particular, may be exposed to increased oxidative stress during long-distance migration, and dietary antioxidants are likely important in alleviating the deleterious effects associated with such a stressor. We evaluated whether fruit selection by birds at a migratory stopover site in southern N...