1,720,989 research outputs found
Interactions between the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, plasma membrane and other subcellular organelles.
Methods to monitor ROS production by fluorescence microscopy and fluorometry.
Mitochondria are considered one of the main sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The overgeneration of ROS can evoke an intracellular state of oxidative stress, leading to permanent cell damage. Thus, the intracellular accumulation of ROS may not only disrupt the functions of specific tissues and organs but also lead to the premature death of the entire organism. Less severe increases in ROS levels may lead to the nonlethal oxidation of fundamental cellular components, such as proteins, phospholipids, and DNA, hence exerting a mutagenic effect that promotes oncogenesis and tumor progression. Here, we describe the use of chemical probes for the rapid detection of ROS in intact and permeabilized adherent cells by fluorescence microscopy and fluorometry. Moreover, after discussing the limitations described in the literature for the fluorescent probes presented herein, we recommend methods to assess the production of specific ROS in various fields of investigation, including the study of oncometabolism
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Mitochondrial tolerance to drugs and toxic agents in ageing and disease
Better understanding of the effect of ageing on mitochondrial metabolism and of the mechanisms of action of various drugs is required to allow optimization of the treatment of many diseases with minimized risk of dangerous impairment of mitochondrial function. Numerous reports show that efficacy of medical treatment depends on the age of treated subjects. This applies particularly to the effect of drugs on various senescence-prone cellular pathways. In this review, we demonstrate how ageing affects various mitochondria-associated pathways and their response to a variety of factors. These factors include registered drugs and other chemicals, and account for diverse consequences which vary depending on the physiological condition. Pharmacological treatments aimed at improving mitochondrial function should thus have in mind the subject age. © 2011 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd
Relation Between Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and ROS Formation.
Mitochondria are considered as the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. For this reason, they have been recognized as a source of various pathological conditions as well as aging. Chronic increase in the rate of ROS production is responsible for the accumulation of ROS-associated damages in DNA, proteins, and lipids, and may result in progressive cell dysfunctions and, in a consequence, apoptosis, increasing the overall probability of an organism's pathological conditions. The superoxide anion is the main undesired by-product of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Its production is triggered by a leak of electrons from the mitochondrial respiratory chain and the reaction of these electrons with O(2). Superoxide dismutase (MnSOD, SOD2) from the mitochondrial matrix as well as superoxide dismutase (Cu/ZnSOD, SOD1) present in small amounts in the mitochondrial intramembrane space, convert superoxide anion to hydrogen peroxide, which can be then converted by catalase to harmless H(2)O. In this chapter, we describe a relation between mitochondrial membrane potential and the rate of ROS formation. We present different methods applicable for isolated mitochondria or intact cells. We also present experiments demonstrating that a magnitude and a direction (increase or decrease) of a change in mitochondrial ROS production depends on the metabolic state of this organelle
Age-related changes in levels of p66Shc and serine 36-phosphorylated p66Shc in organs and mouse tissues
Abstract: Mammalian life span can be controlled by p66Shc protein through regulation of cellular response to oxidative stress. We investigated age-related changes in the amount of p66Shc and its Ser36-phosphorylated form in Various mouse organs and tissues and correlated it with the level of antioxidant enzymes. Comparing to the newborn, in adult 6-month-old mice, the level of p66Shc was increased particularly in liver, lungs, skin and diaphragm. In older animals the level of p66Shc decreased while signaling pathway responsible for Ser36 phosphorylation of p66Shc protein seemed to be continually enhanced. The amount of p66Shc phosphorylated at Ser36, significantly increased with age, resulted in higher free radical production and, in consequence accumulation of damages caused by free radicals. The increased amount of Sei-36-phosphorylated p66Shc in livers of 12- and 23-month-old mice was correlated with the decreased level of antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, we found that p66Shc is a resident of mitochondria- and plasma membrane-associated membranes and that its level there depends on the age of animal. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved
Isolation of plasma membrane-associated membranes from rat liver.
Dynamic interplay between intracellular organelles requires a particular functional apposition of membrane structures. The organelles involved come into close contact, but do not fuse, thereby giving rise to notable microdomains; these microdomains allow rapid communication between the organelles. Plasma membrane-associated membranes (PAMs), which are microdomains of the plasma membrane (PM) interacting with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, are dynamic structures that mediate transport of proteins, lipids, ions and metabolites. These structures have gained much interest lately owing to their roles in many crucial cellular processes. Here we provide an optimized protocol for the isolation of PAM, PM and ER fractions from rat liver that is based on a series of differential centrifugations, followed by the fractionation of crude PM on a discontinuous sucrose gradient. The procedure requires ∼8-10 h, and it can be easily modified and adapted to other tissues and cell types
Variations on the Author
“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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