scholarly journals Emerging Role of Purine Metabolizing Enzymes in Brain Function and Tumors

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 3598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mercedes Garcia-Gil ◽  
Marcella Camici ◽  
Simone Allegrini ◽  
Rossana Pesi ◽  
Edoardo Petrotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adenosine Deaminase ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Purinergic Signaling ◽  
Adenosine Kinase ◽  
Synthesis Rate ◽  
Metabolizing Enzymes ◽  
And Function ◽  
Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyl Transferase

The growing evidence of the involvement of purine compounds in signaling, of nucleotide imbalance in tumorigenesis, the discovery of purinosome and its regulation, cast new light on purine metabolism, indicating that well known biochemical pathways may still surprise. Adenosine deaminase is important not only to preserve functionality of immune system but also to ensure a correct development and function of central nervous system, probably because its activity regulates the extracellular concentration of adenosine and therefore its function in brain. A lot of work has been done on extracellular 5′-nucleotidase and its involvement in the purinergic signaling, but also intracellular nucleotidases, which regulate the purine nucleotide homeostasis, play unexpected roles, not only in tumorigenesis but also in brain function. Hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) appears to have a role in the purinosome formation and, therefore, in the regulation of purine synthesis rate during cell cycle with implications in brain development and tumors. The final product of purine catabolism, uric acid, also plays a recently highlighted novel role. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathological manifestations of purine dysmetabolisms, focusing on the newly described/hypothesized roles of cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase II, adenosine kinase, adenosine deaminase, HPRT, and xanthine oxidase.

scholarly journals Mechanosensitive Ion Channel Piezo1 Regulates Myocyte Fusion during Skeletal Myogenesis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huascar Pedro Ortuste Quiroga ◽  
Shingo Yokoyama ◽  
Massimo Ganassi ◽  
Kodai Nakamura ◽  
Tomohiro Yamashita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ion Channel ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Myoblast Fusion ◽  
Mechanical Stimuli ◽  
Muscle Satellite Cell ◽  
Myotube Formation ◽  
Mechanosensitive Ion Channel ◽  
And Function ◽  
Sirna Knockdown

AbstractMechanical stimuli such as stretch and resistance training are essential to regulate growth and function of skeletal muscle. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in sensing mechanical stress remain unclear. Here, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 during myogenic progression. Muscle satellite cell-derived myoblasts and myotubes were modified with stretch, siRNA knockdown and agonist-induced activation of Piezo1. Direct manipulation of Piezo1 modulates terminal myogenic progression. Piezo1 knockdown suppressed myoblast fusion during myotube formation and maturation. This was accompanied by downregulation of the fusogenic protein Myomaker. Piezo1 knockdown also lowered Ca2+ influx in response to stretch. Conversely Piezo1 activation stimulated fusion and increased Ca2+ influx in response to stretch. These evidences indicate that Piezo1 is essential for myotube formation and maturation, which may have implications for msucular dystrophy prevention through its role as a mechanosensitive Ca2+ channel.

scholarly journals Activities and some properties of 5′-nucleotidase, adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase in tissues from vertebrates and invertebrates in relation to the control of the concentration and the physiological role of adenosine

1978 ◽  
Vol 174 (3) ◽  
pp. 965-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R S Arch ◽  
E A Newsholme
Keyword(s):  
Adenosine Deaminase ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Adenosine Kinase ◽  
British Library ◽  
Adenosine Concentration ◽  
Effects Of Ph ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Low Activity

1. The maximal activities of 5′-nucleotidase, adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase together with the Km values for their respective substrates were measured in muscle, nervous tissue and liver from a large range of animals to provide information on the mechanism of control of adenosine concentration in the tissues. 2. Detailed evidence that the methods used were optimal for the extraction and assay of these enzymes has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50088 (16pages) at the British Library Lending Division, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire LS23 7BQ, U.K.,from whom copies can be obtained on the terms indicated in Biochem. J. (1978), 169, 5. This evidence includes the effects of pH and temperature on the activities of the enzymes. 3. In many tissues, the activities of 5′-nucleotidase were considerably higher than the sum of the activities of adenosine kinase and deaminase, which suggests that the activity of the nucleotidase must be markedly inhibited in vivo so that adenosine does not accumulate. In the tissues in which comparison is possible, the Km of the nucleotidase is higher than the AMP content of the tissue, and since some of the latter may be bound within the cell, the low concentration of substrate may, in part, be responsible for a low activity in vivo. 4. In most tissues and animals investigated, the values of the Km of adenosine kinase for adenosine are between one and two orders of magnitude lower than those for the deaminase. It is suggested that 5′-nucleotidase and adenosine kinase are simultaneously active so that a substrate cycle between AMP and adenosine is produced: the difference in Km values between kinase and deaminase indicates that, via the cycle, small changes in activity of kinase or nucleotidase produce large changes in adenosine concentration. 5. The activities of adenosine kinase or deaminase from vertebrate muscles are inversely correlated with the activities of phosphorylase in these muscles. Since the magnitude of the latter activities are indicative of the anaerobic nature of muscles, this negative correlation supports the hypothesis that an important role of adenosine is the regulation of blood flow in the aerobic muscles.

scholarly journals The role of Asprosin in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Shien Wen ◽  
Chao-Yung Wang ◽  
Jih-Kai Yeh ◽  
Chun-Chi Chen ◽  
Ming-Lung Tsai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Mitochondrial Respiration ◽  
Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events ◽  
Study Cohort ◽  
Protective Mechanisms ◽  
Mitochondrial Functions ◽  
And Function

Abstract Background Asprosin is a novel fasting glucogenic adipokine discovered in 2016. Asprosin induces rapid glucose releases from the liver. However, its molecular mechanisms and function are still unclear. Adaptation of energy substrates from fatty acid to glucose is recently considered a novel therapeutic target in heart failure treatment. We hypothesized that the asprosin is able to modulate cardiac mitochondrial functions and has important prognostic implications in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients. Methods We prospectively enrolled 50 patients (86% male, mean age 55 ± 13 years) with DCM and followed their 5-year major adverse cardiovascular events from 2012 to 2017. Comparing with healthy individuals, DCM patients had higher asprosin levels (191.2 versus 79.7 ng/mL, P < 0.01). Results During the 5-year follow-up in the study cohort, 16 (32.0%) patients experienced adverse cardiovascular events. Patients with lower asprosin levels (< 210 ng/mL) were associated with increased risks of adverse clinical outcomes with a hazard ratio of 7.94 (95% CI 1.88–33.50, P = 0.005) when compared patients with higher asprosin levels (≥ 210 ng/mL). Using cardiomyoblasts as a cellular model, we showed that asprosin prevented hypoxia-induced cell death and enhanced mitochondrial respiration and proton leak under hypoxia. Conclusions In patients with DCM, elevated plasma asprosin levels are associated with less adverse cardiovascular events in five years. The underlying protective mechanisms of asprosin may be linked to its functions relating to enhanced mitochondrial respiration under hypoxia.

New functions for old factors: the role of polyamines during the establishment of pregnancy

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 1228
Author(s):  
Jane C. Fenelon ◽  
Bruce D. Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
Polyamine Synthesis ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
And Function ◽  
Implantation Period ◽  
Synthesis Regulation

Implantation is essential for the establishment of a successful pregnancy, and the preimplantation period plays a significant role in ensuring implantation occurs in a timely and coordinated manner. This requires effective maternal–embryonic signalling, established during the preimplantation period, to synchronise development. Although multiple factors have been identified as present during this time, the exact molecular mechanisms involved are unknown. Polyamines are small cationic molecules that are ubiquitously expressed from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Despite being first identified over 300 years ago, their essential roles in cell proliferation and growth, including cancer, have only been recently recognised, with new technologies and interest resulting in rapid expansion of the polyamine field. This review provides a summary of our current understanding of polyamine synthesis, regulation and function with a focus on recent developments demonstrating the requirements for polyamines during the establishment of pregnancy up to the implantation stage, in particular the role of polyamines in the control of embryonic diapause and the identification of an alternative pathway for their synthesis in sheep pregnancy. This, along with other novel discoveries, provides new insights into the control of the peri-implantation period in mammals and highlights the complexities that exist in regulating this critical period of pregnancy.

The role of mitochondria in axonal degeneration and tissue repair in MS

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 1058-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
J van Horssen ◽  
ME Witte ◽  
O Ciccarelli
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Tissue Repair ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Axonal Damage ◽  
Mitochondrial Metabolism ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
And Function

Axonal injury is a key feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology and is currently seen as the main correlate for permanent clinical disability. Although little is known about the pathogenetic mechanisms that drive axonal damage and loss, there is accumulating evidence highlighting the central role of mitochondrial dysfunction in axonal degeneration and associated neurodegeneration. The aim of this topical review is to provide a concise overview on the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in axonal damage and destruction in MS. Hereto, we will discuss putative pathological mechanisms leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and recent imaging studies performed in vivo in patients with MS. Moreover, we will focus on molecular mechanisms and novel imaging studies that address the role of mitochondrial metabolism in tissue repair. Finally, we will briefly review therapeutic strategies aimed at improving mitochondrial metabolism and function under neuroinflammatory conditions.

scholarly journals Recent progress in research on molecular mechanisms of autophagy in the heart

2015 ◽  
Vol 308 (4) ◽  
pp. H259-H268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuhiro Maejima ◽  
Yun Chen ◽  
Mitsuaki Isobe ◽  
Åsa B. Gustafsson ◽  
Richard N. Kitsis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
And Function ◽  
Cellular Dysfunction

Dysregulation of autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved process for degradation of long-lived proteins and organelles, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human disease. Recent research has uncovered pathways that control autophagy in the heart and molecular mechanisms by which alterations in this process affect cardiac structure and function. Although initially thought to be a nonselective degradation process, autophagy, as it has become increasingly clear, can exhibit specificity in the degradation of molecules and organelles, such as mitochondria. Furthermore, it has been shown that autophagy is involved in a wide variety of previously unrecognized cellular functions, such as cell death and metabolism. A growing body of evidence suggests that deviation from appropriate levels of autophagy causes cellular dysfunction and death, which in turn leads to heart disease. Here, we review recent advances in understanding the role of autophagy in heart disease, highlight unsolved issues, and discuss the therapeutic potential of modulating autophagy in heart disease.

Homeostatic control of biological membranes by dedicated lipid and membrane packing sensors

2015 ◽  
Vol 396 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1043-1058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Puth ◽  
Harald F. Hofbauer ◽  
James P. Sáenz ◽  
Robert Ernst
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Biological Membranes ◽  
Homeostatic Control ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Lipid Species ◽  
Sensor Proteins ◽  
And Function ◽  
Lipid Sensors ◽  
Role And Function

Abstract Biological membranes are dynamic and complex assemblies of lipids and proteins. Eukaryotic lipidomes encompass hundreds of distinct lipid species and we have only begun to understand their role and function. This review focuses on recent advances in the field of lipid sensors and discusses methodical approaches to identify and characterize putative sensor domains. We elaborate on the role of integral and conditionally membrane-associated sensor proteins, their molecular mechanisms, and identify open questions in the emerging field of membrane homeostasis.

scholarly journals To form and function: on the role of basement membrane mechanics in tissue development, homeostasis and disease

Open Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 200360
Author(s):  
Nargess Khalilgharibi ◽  
Yanlan Mao
Keyword(s):  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Membrane Mechanics ◽  
Form And Function ◽  
And Function ◽  
Tissue Form

The basement membrane (BM) is a special type of extracellular matrix that lines the basal side of epithelial and endothelial tissues. Functionally, the BM is important for providing physical and biochemical cues to the overlying cells, sculpting the tissue into its correct size and shape. In this review, we focus on recent studies that have unveiled the complex mechanical properties of the BM. We discuss how these properties can change during development, homeostasis and disease via different molecular mechanisms, and the subsequent impact on tissue form and function in a variety of organisms. We also explore how better characterization of BM mechanics can contribute to disease diagnosis and treatment, as well as development of better in silico and in vitro models that not only impact the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, but can also reduce the use of animals in research.

scholarly journals SFPQ Rescues F508del-CFTR Expression and Function in Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelial Cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parameet Kumar ◽  
Dharmendra Kumar Soni ◽  
Chaitali Sen ◽  
Mads B Larsen ◽  
Krystyna Mazan-Mamczarz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Rna Binding ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
Regulation Of Expression ◽  
Trafficking Defects ◽  
And Function

Abstract Cystic Fibrosis (CF) occurs as a result of mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which lead to misfolding, trafficking defects, and impaired function of the CFTR protein. Splicing factor proline/glutamine-rich (SFPQ) is a multifunctional nuclear RNA-binding protein (RBP) implicated in the regulation of gene expression pathways and intracellular trafficking. Here, we investigated the role of SFPQ in the regulation of the expression and function of F508del-CFTR in CF lung epithelial cells. We find that the expression of SFPQ is reduced in F508del-CFTR CF epithelial cells compared to WT-CFTR control cells. Interestingly, the overexpression of SFPQ in CF cells increases the expression as well as rescues the function of F508del-CFTR. Further, comprehensive transcriptome analyses indicate that SFPQ plays a key role in activating the mutant F508del-CFTR by modulating several cellular signaling pathways. This is the first report on the role of SFPQ in the regulation of expression and function of F508del-CFTR in CF lung disease. Our findings provide new insights into SFPQ-mediated molecular mechanisms and point to possible novel epigenetic therapeutic targets for CF and related pulmonary diseases.

scholarly journals Effect of nerve growth factor on the proliferation in newborn bovine testicular Sertoli cells

Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (3) ◽  
pp. 405-415
Author(s):  
Qiaoge Niu ◽  
Maosheng Cao ◽  
Chenfeng Yuan ◽  
Yuwen Huang ◽  
Zijiao Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Nerve Growth Factor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Male Reproduction ◽  
Nerve Growth ◽  
And Function

Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been proved to play important roles in male reproductive physiology, but the molecular mechanisms of NGF action remain unclear. In this study, the effects of NGF on the growth of newborn bovine testicular Sertoli (NBS) cells and the related signaling pathways were investigated. The NBS cells were treated in vitro with NGF (100 ng/mL) for 18 h. The expression levels of cell proliferation related genes, INHBB, and cytoplasmic specialization related gene were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot. The roles of PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in NGF-induced cell proliferation were investigated. It was found that NGF regulates proliferation and function of NBS cells via its receptor NTRK1 by activating the PI3K/ATK and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. The study will help to further understand the role of NGF in male reproduction and provide new therapeutic targets for reproductive dysfunctions in male animals.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document