1,721,032 research outputs found
Transcriptional analysis of tyrosinase gene expression during Bufo bufo development: cloning and sequencing.
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Silica Nanoparticles and Ozone: an evaluation of in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in a model of indoor air exposition
No full textSeveral studies point out on effects of indoor pollutants (silica particles, Pb, Ni, Zn, Si, ozone,
carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides). The work aim is a multidisciplinary study of silica ultrafine
particles (<2.5μ) in the presence or not of ozone O3 and their potential cyto-genotoxicity evaluated by
MTS, Micronucleus and Comet test in two cell lines. We analyzed A549 (adenocarcinoma human alveolar
basal epithelial cells) and HS 27(normal human fibroblasts) exposed under dynamic conditions by a
simulator IRC under stream of ozone (120 ppb) and silica particles (40μg/h). A549 cells viability at 48
hours and 72 hours exposition to silica alone or silica plus ozone doesn’t differ in respect to the control.
The viability trend in the Hs27 cells did not show any significant changes in treated samples compared to
the control in all conditions. The micronucleus and the comet tests, showed in both the cell types exposed
to silica alone or plus ozone, a significant increase in the number of micronuclei and in the tail DNA % in
respect to the control even if at different times/cell type. We found that silica alone or plus O3 provokes
genotoxic effects more evident in A549 cancer cells than in normal fibroblasts Hs27 ones.
Final output will be to obtain a picture of the role of silica particles/ozone in the indoor air quality
taking account of the potential simultaneous co-toxicant action
Electrophoretic study of isozyme patterns in some wild populations of Aubrieta columnae Guss. (Cruciferae)
No full textAubrieta columnae Guss. is currently divided into three subspecies: A. columnae subsp. columnae, A. columnae subsp. italica, both found as isolated and fragmented populations in rocky habitats of Central and Southern Apennines (Italy), and A. columnae subsp. croatica found in the Balkan region. In order to gain information about the degree of genetic variability and to clarify taxonomic relationships among these taxa, we studied the isozyme patterns at 8 marker loci of 376 individuals from 8 populations by means of starch gel electrophoresis. Data analysis by using Wright's F-statistics and UPGMA clustering method was performed. The results show: 1) a general deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium within each subspecies; 2) a lesser genetic variation in populations occurring in habitats characterized by milder climatic conditions and relatively small seasonal variations; 3) a relatively high degree of differentiation between the three subspecies; 4) the possible common transadriatic origin of A. columnae subsp. italica and A. columnae subsp. croatica; 5) the possible origin of A. columnae subsp. columnae from A. columnae subsp. italica; and 6) that the current taxonomic status of A. columnae may be substantially confirmed, even if the findings are from a limited number of loci explored
Changes of lipo-melanosome membrane leakage versus pH, charge and composition
No full textLiposome models of melanosomes (lipo-melanosomes) were used to investigate how phospholipid composition, charge and medium pH may affect the lipo-melanosome membrane permeability to active oxygen species or melanin synthesis intermediaries. Active oxygen accumulated only at pH 6.4 and was polarographically monitored using superoxide dismutase and/or catalase. Cholesterol appears to increase the O2- accumulation at pH 6.4 while incorporation of positive phospholipids within lipo-melanosomes results in the loss of latency with respect to tyrosinase substrate and intermediates of melanin synthesis
Melanogenesis, tyrosinase expression and reproductive differentiation in black and white truffles (Ascomycotina
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The endocannabinoid system in the mediterranean mussel mytilus galloprovincialis: Possible mediators of the immune activity?
Full text linkAnandamide (AEA) is one of the best characterized members of the endocannabinoid family and its involvement in many pathophysiological processes has been well documented in vertebrates and invertebrates. Here, we report the biochemical and functional characterization of key elements of the endocannabinoid system in hemocytes isolated from the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. We also show the effects of exogenous AEA, as well as of capsaicin, on the cell ability to migrate and to activate the respiratory burst, upon in vitro stimulation of phagocytosis. Interestingly, our findings show that both AEA and capsaicin suppress the hemocyte response and that the use of selective antagonists of CB2 and TRPV1 receptors revert their inhibitory effects. Overall, present data support previous evidence on the presence of endocannabinoid signaling in mollusks and advance our knowledge about the evolutionary origins of this endogenous system and its role in the innate response of mollusks
Restriction pattern of model DNA treated with 5,6-dihydroxyindole, a potent cytotoxic intermediate of melanin synthesis:effect of UV irradiation
No full textThe interaction of 5,6-dihydroxyindole, a putative cytotoxic intermediate of melanin synthesis, with model lambda phage DNA has been investigated by using type II restriction endonucleases and CsCl buoyant density centrifugation. As evidenced by agarose gel electrophoresis and density gradient profiles, the 5,6-dihydroxyindole or u.v. treated DNAs, restricted or not, are modified. U.v. irradiation enhances 5,6-dihydroxyindole binding to DNA, but no sequence specific binding was observed. The action of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine on the restriction patterns of lambda phage DNA was also investigated and the effect appeared smaller, by qualitative evaluation, than that produced by 5,6-dihydroxyindole
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