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- Sombers, L A, et al.
(author)
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High Osmolarity and L-DOPA Augment Release via the Fusion Pore in PC12 Cells
- 2007
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In: Chemphyschem. - : Wiley. - 1439-4235 .- 1439-7641. ; 8:17, s. 2471-2477
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have amperometrically measured dopamine release from rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12 cells) in high osmolarity conditions with and without L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) treatment. We observe an increase in the number of release events displaying a prespike feature or foot when the cells are stimulated in high osmolarity saline. We also see an increase in foot area and duration when cells are stimulated in high osmolarity saline, or high osmolarity saline subsequent to incubation with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA in isotonic saline, which serves to increase the vesicle size. The data suggest that membrane biophysics are an important component in defining the rate, duration and amount of neurotransmitter release via the fusion pore.
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2. |
- Sombers, L A, et al.
(author)
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Multicore Vesicles: Hyperosmolarity and l-DOPA Induce Homotypic Fusion of Dense Core Vesicles
- 2007
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In: Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology. - 0272-4340 .- 1573-6830. ; 27:5, s. 681-685
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim A fraction of vesicles in cells treated with hypertonic solution exhibit multiple dense cores and this is enhanced by treatment with l-3,4–dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA). These cells were examined to determine if the multicore vesicles are the product of endocytosis or homotypic fusion. Methods Electron microscopy was used to determine the number of multicore vesicles and amperometry was used to examine if the multicore vesicles are a competent fraction of the readily releasable pool. Results In this study, we observed that a substantial portion (15.3%) of large dense core vesicles in PC12 cells contained multiple cores in hypertonic saline loaded with l-DOPA, and amperometric measurements show a bimodal distribution of quantal sizes in treated cells. Conclusions The results suggest that the multicored vesicles are formed from homotypic fusion of LCDVs prior to exocytosis.
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3. |
- Uchiyama, Yoshiko, et al.
(author)
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Phospholipid mediated plasticity in exocytosis observed in PC12 cells
- 2007
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In: Brain Research. - 0006-8993. ; 1151, s. 46-54
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Membrane composition serves to identify intracellular compartments, signal cell death, as well as to alter a cell's electrical and physical properties. Here we use amperometry to show that supplementation with the phospholipids phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), sphingomyelin (SM), and phosphatidylserine (PS) can alter several aspects of exocytosis. Changes in the amperometric peak shape derived from individual exocytosing vesicles reveal that PC slows expulsion of neurotransmitter while PE accelerates expulsion of neurotransmitter. Amperometry data reveal a reduced amount of catecholamine released per event from PC-treated cells while electron micrographs indicate the vesicles in these cells are 50% larger than controls, thus providing evidence of pharmacological changes in vesicle concentration. Addition of SM appears to affect the rate of fusion pore expansion, indicated by slower peak rise times, but does not affect decay times or quantal size. Addition of PS results in a 1.7-fold increase in the number of events elicited by high-K+ depolarization. Electron micrographs of PS-treated cells suggest that increased vesicle recruitment underlies enhanced secretion. We did not observe any effect of phosphatidylinositol (PI) treatment. Together these data suggest that differences in membrane composition affect exocytosis and might be involved in mechanisms of cell function controlling the dynamics of communication via exocytosis
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5. |
- Dong, Yan, et al.
(author)
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Amperometric measurements of catecholamine release from single vesicles in MN9D cells.
- 2008
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In: Journal of neurochemistry. - : Wiley. - 1471-4159 .- 0022-3042. ; 107:6, s. 1589-95
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- MN9D cells have been used as a successful model to investigate dopamine pharmacology and to test the specific effects of drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, quantitative measurements of quantal release from these cells have not been carried out. In this work, we used amperometry to investigate catecholamine release from MN9D cells. Amperometric events were observed in both undifferentiated and differentiated (butyric acid-treated) cells. An increase in quantal size and half-width was observed for differentiated cells versus undifferentiated cells; however, the number of events per cell and the amplitude remained constant. In transmission electron microscopy images, no obvious cluster of small synaptic vesicles was observed, and large dense-core vesicles were present in the cell body of undifferentiated cells; however, after differentiation, vesicles were concentrated in the cell processes. In differentiated cells, l-DOPA caused an increase in quantal size and half-width, which could be blocked by the vesicular monoamine transporter inhibitor, reserpine.
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6. |
- Mortensen, Jens Jorgen, et al.
(author)
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GPAW: An open Python package for electronic structure calculations
- 2024
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In: Journal of Chemical Physics. - 1089-7690 .- 0021-9606. ; 160:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We review the GPAW open-source Python package for electronic structure calculations. GPAW is based on the projector-augmented wave method and can solve the self-consistent density functional theory (DFT) equations using three different wave-function representations, namely real-space grids, plane waves, and numerical atomic orbitals. The three representations are complementary and mutually independent and can be connected by transformations via the real-space grid. This multi-basis feature renders GPAW highly versatile and unique among similar codes. By virtue of its modular structure, the GPAW code constitutes an ideal platform for the implementation of new features and methodologies. Moreover, it is well integrated with the Atomic Simulation Environment (ASE), providing a flexible and dynamic user interface. In addition to ground-state DFT calculations, GPAW supports many-body GW band structures, optical excitations from the Bethe-Salpeter Equation, variational calculations of excited states in molecules and solids via direct optimization, and real-time propagation of the Kohn-Sham equations within time-dependent DFT. A range of more advanced methods to describe magnetic excitations and non-collinear magnetism in solids are also now available. In addition, GPAW can calculate non-linear optical tensors of solids, charged crystal point defects, and much more. Recently, support for graphics processing unit (GPU) acceleration has been achieved with minor modifications to the GPAW code thanks to the CuPy library. We end the review with an outlook, describing some future plans for GPAW.
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7. |
- Veiga, Marcello M., et al.
(author)
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Origin of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining.
- 2006
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In: J. of Cleaner Production.. ; 14, s. 436-447
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mercury (Hg) is used by small-scale gold miners in more than 50 developing countries, where the accompanied releases affect human health and the environment. The objectives of this paper are to summarize present use of Hg in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) worldwide, reveal the origin of part of the Hg used by the gold miners, and propose appropriate actions to reduce the resulting Hg emissions. Significant releases of mercury are associated with inefficient amalgamation techniques. Releases are estimated to range from 800 to 1000 tonne/annum. Of this total, approximately 200e250 tonne of Hg are released in China, 100e150 tonne in Indonesia, and 10e30 tonne each in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Philippines, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. Mercury usually enters these countries legally e typically imported from countries in the European Union e although in some cases and in some years (e.g., Indonesia, Venezuela, etc.), the reported imports of Hg are far below estimated consumption. Meanwhile, the EU, while gradually replacing Hg products and processes with more environmentally benign alternatives, paradoxically continues to produce virgin Hg at government-owned mines, further exacerbating a general global oversupply of Hg e evident from its historically low market price. Political leadership is needed to avoid the transfer of excess Hg, and related health and environmental risks from the EU to third countries. Otherwise, the present situation will continue or even worsen, with no oversight or control of the global Hg trade in which the transfer of excess EU Hg to artisanal miners is favoured by low Hg prices relative to gold prices.
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