| 1. |
- Klionsky, Daniel J., et al.
(författare)
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Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy
- 2012
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Ingår i: Autophagy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1554-8635 .- 1554-8627. ; 8:4, s. 445-544
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.
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| 2. |
- Skogh, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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An imidazole based H-Phe-Phe-NH2 peptidomimetic with anti-allodynic effect in spared nerve injury mice
- 2018
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Ingår i: Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-894X .- 1464-3405. ; 28:14, s. 2446-2450
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The dipeptide amide H-Phe-Phe-NH2 (1) that previously was identified as a ligand for the substance P 1-7 (SP1-7) binding site exerts intriguing results in animal models of neuropathic pain after central but not after peripheral administration. The dipeptide 1 is derived from stepwise modifications of the anti-nociceptive heptapeptide SP1-7 and the tetrapeptide endomorphin-2 that is also binding to the SP1-7 site. We herein report a strong anti-allodynic effect of a new H-Phe-Phe-NH2 peptidomimetic (4) comprising an imidazole ring as a bioisosteric element, in the spare nerve injury (SNI) mice model after peripheral administration. Peptidomimetic 4 was stable in plasma, displayed a fair membrane permeability and a favorable neurotoxic profile. Moreover, the effective dose (ED50) of 4 was superior as compared to gabapentin and morphine that are used in clinic.
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| 3. |
- Brem, Jürgen, et al.
(författare)
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Imitation of β-lactam binding enables broad-spectrum metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Chemistry. - : Springer Nature. - 1755-4330 .- 1755-4349. ; 14:1, s. 15-24
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Carbapenems are vital antibiotics, but their efficacy is increasingly compromised by metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). Here we report the discovery and optimization of potent broad-spectrum MBL inhibitors. A high-throughput screen for NDM-1 inhibitors identified indole-2-carboxylates (InCs) as potential β-lactamase stable β-lactam mimics. Subsequent structure-activity relationship studies revealed InCs as a new class of potent MBL inhibitor, active against all MBL classes of major clinical relevance. Crystallographic studies revealed a binding mode of the InCs to MBLs that, in some regards, mimics that predicted for intact carbapenems, including with respect to maintenance of the Zn(II)-bound hydroxyl, and in other regards mimics binding observed in MBL-carbapenem product complexes. InCs restore carbapenem activity against multiple drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and have a low frequency of resistance. InCs also have a good in vivo safety profile, and when combined with meropenem show a strong in vivo efficacy in peritonitis and thigh mouse infection models.
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| 4. |
- Korczak, Maciej, et al.
(författare)
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GABA B receptor intracellular signaling : novel pathways for depressive disorder treatment?
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmacology. - : Elsevier. - 0014-2999 .- 1879-0712. ; 885
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Affecting over 320 million people around the world, depression has become a formidable challenge for modern medicine. In addition, an increasing number of studies cast doubt on the monoamine theory of depressive disorder and, worryingly, antidepressant medications only significantly benefit patients with severe depression. Thus, it is not surprising that researchers have shown an increased interest in new theories attempting to explain the pathogenesis of this disease. One example is the excitatory/inhibitory transmission imbalance theory. These abnormalities involve glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling. Studies on GABAB receptors and their antagonists are particularly promising for the treatment of depressive disorders. In this paper, intracellular pathways controlled by GABAB receptors and their links to depression are described, including the impact of ketamine on GABAergic synaptic transmission.
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| 5. |
- Lesniak, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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High-throughput screening and radioligand binding studies reveal monoamine oxidase-B as the primary binding target for D-deprenyl
- 2016
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Ingår i: Life Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0024-3205 .- 1879-0631. ; 152, s. 231-237
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims: D-deprenyl is a useful positron emission tomography tracer for visualization of inflammatory processes. Studies with [C-11]-D-deprenyl showed robust uptake in peripheral painful sites of patients with rheumatoid arthritis or chronic whiplash injury. The mechanism of preferential D-deprenyl uptake is not yet known, but the existence of a specific binding site was proposed. Thus, in the present study, we sought to identify the binding site for D-deprenyl and verify the hypothesis about the possibility of monoamine oxidase enzymes as major targets for this molecule. Main methods: A high-throughput analysis of D-deprenyl activity towards 165 G-protein coupled receptors and 84 enzyme targets was performed. Additionally, binding studies were used to verify the competition of [H-3]D-deprenyl with ligands specific for targets identified in the high-throughput screen. Key findings: Our high-throughput investigation identified monoamine oxidase-B, monoamine oxidase-A and angiotensin converting enzyme as potential targets for D-deprenyl. Further competitive [3H] D-deprenyl binding studies with specific inhibitors identified monoamine oxidase-B as the major binding site. No evident high-affinity hits were identified among G-protein coupled receptors. Significance: Our study was the first to utilize a high-throughput screening approach to identify putative D-deprenyl targets. It verified 249 candidate proteins and confirmed the role of monoamine oxidase - B in D-deprenyl binding. Our results add knowledge about the possible mechanism of D-deprenyl binding, which might aid in explaining the increased uptake of this compound in peripheral inflammation. Monoamine oxidase-B will be further investigated in future studies utilizing human inflamed synovium.
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| 6. |
- Skogh, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of N-methylation of the substance P 1-7 amide on anti-allodynic effect in mice after peripheral administration
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier BV. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 109, s. 533-540
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Substance P 1-7 (SP1-7, Arg1-Pro2-Lys3-Pro4-Gln5-Gln6-Phe7) is the major bioactive metabolite formed after proteolytic degradation of the tachykinin substance P (SP). This heptapeptide often opposes the effects of the mother peptide. Hence, SP1-7 is having anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects in experimental models. Despite all encouraging properties of SP1-7 its exact mode of action has not yet been elucidated which has hampered further development of this heptapeptide in drug discovery. Contrary to SP that mediates its biological activity via the NK-1 receptor, the N-terminal fragment SP1-7 acts through an unknown target that is distinct from all known opioid and tachykinin receptors. The SP1-7 amide 1 (Arg1-Pro2-Lys3-Pro4-Gln5-Gln6-Phe7-NH2) was previously shown to be superior to the endogenous SP1-7 in all experimental pain models where the two compounds were compared. Herein, we report that N-methylation scan of the backbone of the SP1-7 amide (1) results in peptides that are significantly less prone to undergo proteolysis in plasma from both mouse and human. However, with the two exceptions of the [MeLys3]SP1-7 amide (3) and the [MeGln5]SP1-7 amide (4), the peptides with a methyl group attached to the backbone are devoid of significant anti-allodynic effects after peripheral administration in the spared nerve injury (SNI) mouse model of neuropathic pain. It is suggested that the N-methylation does not allow these peptides to form the accurate bioactive conformations or interactions required for efficient binding to the macromolecular target. The importance of intact N-terminal Arg1 and C-terminal Phe7, anticipated to serve as address and message residues, respectively, for achieving the anti-allodynic effect is emphasized. Notably, the three heptapeptides: the SP1-7 amide (1), the [MeLys3]SP1-7 amide (3) amide and the [MeGln5]SP1-7 amide (4) are all considerably more effective in the SNI mouse model than gabapentin that is widely used in the clinic for treatment of neuropathic pain.
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| 7. |
- Skogh, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Importance of N-and C-terminal residues of substance P 1-7 for alleviating allodynia in mice after peripheral administration
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. - : Elsevier. - 0928-0987 .- 1879-0720. ; 106, s. 345-351
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The heptapeptide SP1-7 (1, Arg(1)-Pro(2)-Lys(3)-Pro(4)-Gln(5)-Gln(6)-Phe(7)) is the major bioactive metabolite formed after proteolytic processing of the neuropeptide substance P (SP, Arg(1)-Pro(2)-Lys(3)-Pro(4)-GIn(5)-Gln(6)-Phe(7)-Phe(8)-Gly(9)-Leu(10)-Meti(11)-NH2). The heptapeptide 1 frequently exhibits opposite effects to those induced by SP, such as exerting antinociception, or attenuating thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. The heptapeptide SP1-7 amide (2, Arg(1)-Pro(2)-Lys(3)-Pro(4)-Gln(5)-Gln(6)-Phe(7)-NH2 ) is often more efficacious than 1 in experimental pain models. We have now assessed the anti-allodynic outcome after systemic administration of 2 and a series of Ala substituted and truncated analogues of 2, in the spared nerve injury (SNI) mice model and the results obtained were correlated with in vitro plasma stability and permeability measurements. It is herein demonstrated that an intact Arg(1) in SP1-7 amide analogues is fundamental for retaining a potent in vivo effect, while Lys(3) of 2 is less important. A displacement with Ala(1) or truncation rendered the peptide analogues either inactive or with a significantly attenuated in vivo activity. Thus, the pentapeptide SP3-7 amide (7, t(1/2) = 11.1 min) proven to be the major metabolite of 2, demonstrated an in vivo effect itself although considerably less significant than 2 in the SNI model. Intraperitoneal administration of 2 in a low dose furnished the most powerful anti-allodynic effect in the SNI model of all the analogous evaluated, despite a fast proteolysis of 2 in plasma (t(1/2) = 6.4 min). It is concluded that not only the C-terminal residue, that we previously demonstrated, but also the N-terminal with its basic side chain, are important for achieving effective pain relief. This information is of value for the further design process aimed at identifying more drug-like SP1-7 amide related peptidomimetics with pronounced antiallodynic effects.
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| 8. |
- Szal, Bożena, et al.
(författare)
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Influence of mitochondrial genome rearrangement on cucumber leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolism
- 2010
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Ingår i: Planta. - : Springer. - 0032-0935 .- 1432-2048. ; 232:6, s. 1371-1382
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The MSC16 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) mitochondrial mutant was used to study the effect of mitochondrial dysfunction and disturbed subcellular redox state on leaf day/night carbon and nitrogen metabolism. We have shown that the mitochondrial dysfunction in MSC16 plants had no effect on photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation, but the concentration of soluble carbohydrates and starch was higher in leaves of MSC16 plants. Impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was associated with the perturbation of mitochondrial TCA cycle manifested, e.g., by lowered decarboxylation rate. Mitochondrial dysfunction in MSC16 plants had different influence on leaf cell metabolism under dark or light conditions. In the dark, when the main mitochondrial function is the energy production, the altered activity of TCA cycle in mutated plants was connected with the accumulation of pyruvate and TCA cycle intermediates (citrate and 2-OG). In the light, when TCA activity is needed for synthesis of carbon skeletons required as the acceptors for NH(4) (+) assimilation, the concentration of pyruvate and TCA intermediates was tightly coupled with nitrate metabolism. Enhanced incorporation of ammonium group into amino acids structures in mutated plants has resulted in decreased concentration of organic acids and accumulation of Glu.
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| 9. |
- Lesniak, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Biphalin protects against cognitive deficits in a mouse model of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
- 2016
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Ingår i: Neuropharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0028-3908 .- 1873-7064. ; 101, s. 506-518
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often a result of traffic accidents, contact sports or battlefield explosions. A mild form of traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is frequently underestimated, as the immediate physical symptoms decrease rapidly and conventional neuroimaging studies often do not show visible evidence of brain lesions. However, cognitive impairments persist for weeks, months or even years after the incident. Endogenous opioids were documented to play a role in thmodulation of mTBI pathology, whereas exogenous opioids were shown to possess neuroprotective properties. In the present study, biphalin, a dimeric enkephalin analog, improved cognitive performance in the Morris Water Maze and Novel Object Recognition tests in a mouse weight-drop model of mTBI. The effect of a single systemic injection of 10 mg/kg biphalin immediately after trauma was reversed by naltrexone, suggesting an opioid receptor-mediated mechanism. Biphalin also reduced cortical and hippocampal neurodegeneration, as shown by silver staining. Our data indicates that opioid receptor activation by biphalin may provide neuroprotection of post-traumatic neurodegeneration processes and may protect against memory impairments.
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| 10. |
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