| 1. |
- Cartelli, Daniele, et al.
(author)
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α-Synuclein is a Novel Microtubule Dynamase
- 2016
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- α-Synuclein is a presynaptic protein associated to Parkinson's disease, which is unstructured when free in the cytoplasm and adopts α helical conformation when bound to vesicles. After decades of intense studies, α-Synuclein physiology is still difficult to clear up due to its interaction with multiple partners and its involvement in a pletora of neuronal functions. Here, we looked at the remarkably neglected interplay between α-Synuclein and microtubules, which potentially impacts on synaptic functionality. In order to identify the mechanisms underlying these actions, we investigated the interaction between purified α-Synuclein and tubulin. We demonstrated that α-Synuclein binds to microtubules and tubulin α2β2 tetramer; the latter interaction inducing the formation of helical segment(s) in the α-Synuclein polypeptide. This structural change seems to enable α-Synuclein to promote microtubule nucleation and to enhance microtubule growth rate and catastrophe frequency, both in vitro and in cell. We also showed that Parkinson's disease-linked α-Synuclein variants do not undergo tubulin-induced folding and cause tubulin aggregation rather than polymerization. Our data enable us to propose α-Synuclein as a novel, foldable, microtubule-dynamase, which influences microtubule organisation through its binding to tubulin and its regulating effects on microtubule nucleation and dynamics.
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| 2. |
- Spartacus, Gabriel, et al.
(author)
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Chemical and structural evolution of nano-oxides from mechanical alloying to consolidated ferritic oxide dispersion strengthened steel
- 2022
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In: Acta Materialia. - : Elsevier BV. - 1359-6454 .- 1873-2453. ; 233, s. 117992-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ferritic Oxides Dispersion Strengthened (ODS) steels are of great interest for nuclear fission and fusion power plants. The nano-oxides embedded into the matrix provide the main contribution to the ODS steel strength. Understanding of the precipitation mechanism of ODS steels is thus critical for optimizing the fabrication process, involving Mechanical Alloying (MA) of Fe-14Cr, Y2O3 and TiH2 powders. In this study, results from small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, atom probe tomography and electron microscopy have been combined to investigate the nano-oxides evolution throughout the whole consolidation thermal treatment until 1100 degrees C. After MA clusters are observed, composed of Y, O and Ti. During heating these clusters grow and new ones nucleate, together with a sequential enrichment in Ti (from as-MA to 700 degrees C) and Y (between 900 and 1100 degrees C). A small quantity of Al is also found in the nano-oxides between 70 0 and 110 0 degrees C. At 1100 degrees C the nano-oxides are found to be mainly Y2Ti2O7 and subsequently progressively transform to Y2TiO5 during isothermal holding. Nano-oxides display however an unchanged extremely low coarsening rate, demonstrating the outstanding stability of both Y2Ti2O7 and Y2TiO5 at 1100 degrees C.
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