Taxonomy and distribution of Poa carpatica in the Western Carpathians

We examined the taxonomic status and distribution of Poa populations from supramontane and subalpine belt of the central Western Carpathians, so far classified as P. nemoralis subsp. carpatica and P. nemoralis subsp. montana. Significant morphological differences from P. nemoralis s. str. as well as combination of shared vs distinct characters allow us to attribute the populations under study to the species P. carpatica (V. Jirásek) Chopyk with two subspecies: P. carpatica subsp. carpatica a P. carpatica subsp. supramontana subsp. nova.     

Delayed post-conditioning reduces post-ischemic glutamate level and improves protein synthesis in brain

In the clinic delayed post-conditioning would represent an attractive strategy for the survival of vulnerable neurons after an ischemic event. In this paper we studied the impact of ischemia and delayed post-conditioning on blood and brain tissue concentrations of glutamate and protein synthesis. We designed two groups of animals for analysis of brain tissues and blood after global ischemia and post-conditioning, and one for analysis of blood glutamate after transient focal ischemia.     

Development of a pattern in biochemical parameters in the core and penumbra during infarct evolution after transient MCAO in rats

The period from stroke initiation to the cessation of penumbra damage spread represents a therapeutic window when expansion can be alleviated. In the present work, we studied some biochemical parameters helpful for the estimation of infarct progression and thus for the application of interventions.     

Metabolic impact assessment for heterologous protein production in Streptomyces lividans based on genome-scale metabolic network modeling

The metabolic impact exerted on a microorganism due to heterologous protein production is still poorly understood in Streptomyces lividans. In this present paper, based on exometabolomic data, a proposed genome-scale metabolic network model is used to assess this metabolic impact in S. lividans. Constraint-based modeling results obtained in this work revealed that the metabolic impact due to heterologous protein production is widely distributed in the genome of S. lividans, causing both slow substrate assimilation and a shift in active pathways. Exchange fluxes that are critical for model performance have been identified for metabolites of mouse tumor necrosis factor, histidine, valine and lysine, as well as biomass. Our results unravel the interaction of heterologous protein production with intracellular metabolism of S. lividans, thus, a possible basis for further studies in relieving the metabolic burden via metabolic or bioprocess engineering.     

Monte Carlo Simulation of Hydration of the Guanine-Uracil Pairs with Guanine in Two Tautomeric Forms: Contribution of Water Bridging to Relative Stability of Mispairs

Abstract

Results are presented from Monte Carlo simulation of hydration of guanine-uracil mispairs by 25 and 50 water molecules. The hydration shells of three mispairs formed between “normal” dioxo form of uracil (U) and three forms of guanine (“normal” amino-oxo tautomer G and two rotamers of the “rare” amino-hydroxy tautomer G*) depend on the tautomeric forms of the guanine molecule. The simulation shows the important role of hydration effects on the relative stability of the mispairs.     

Development of a triclosan scaffold which allows for adaptations on both the A- and B-ring for transport peptides

The enoyl acyl-carrier protein reductase (ENR) enzyme is harbored within the apicoplast of apicomplexan parasites providing a significant challenge for drug delivery, which may be overcome through the addition of transductive peptides, which facilitates crossing the apicoplast membranes. The binding site of triclosan, a potent ENR inhibitor, is occluded from the solvent making the attachment of these linkers challenging. Herein, we have produced 3 new triclosan analogs with bulky A- and B-ring motifs, which protrude into the solvent allowing for the future attachment of molecular transporters for delivery.     

Therapeutic angiogenesis for revascularization in peripheral artery disease

Therapeutic angiogenesis for peripheral artery disease (PAD), achieved by gene and cell therapy, has recently raised a great deal of hope for patients who cannot undergo standard revascularizing treatment. Although pre-clinical studies gave very promising data, still clinical trials of gene therapy have not provided satisfactory results. On the other hand, cell therapy approach, despite several limitations, demonstrated more beneficial effects but initial clinical studies must be constantly validated by larger randomized, multi-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials. This review focuses on previous and recent gene and cell therapy studies for limb ischemia, including both experimental and clinical research, and summarizes some important papers published in this field. Moreover, it provides a short comment on combined gene and cell therapy approach on the example of heme oxygenase-1 overexpressing cells with therapeutic properties.