Enhancement of HIV-1 VLP production using gene inhibition strategies

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Gag polyprotein from HIV-1 is able to generate virus-like particles (VLPs) when recombinantly expressed in animal cell platforms. HIV-1 VLP production in...     

Mapa de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias en España. Proyecto MapEA

Introduction

In the current context of increased life expectancy and progressive aging of the population a very significant increase in the number of people with cognitive impairment and dementia is expected.Consequently, Spain will face an enormous social and health problem in the next decades. The Mapa de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias en España project aims to analyse plans, prevention and early diagnosis activities, process of care and resources available across the 17 Spanish regions for the management of cognitive impairment and dementia in order to identify improvement areas, as well as to provide a list of recommendations.

Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the first structurally characterized 1,2-dithiocroconato-containing Cu(II) complex, [Cu(bpca)(H2O)]2[Cu(1,2-dtcr)2]·2H2O

The first crystal and molecular structure of a transition metal complex containing 1,2-dithiocroconate (1,2-dtcr, dianion of 1,2-dimercaptocylopent-1-ene-3,4,5-trione), [Cu(bpca)(H₂O)]₂[Cu(1,2-dtcr)₂]·2H₂O (where bpca is the bis(2-pyrdidylcarbonyl)amide anion), has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The compound crystallizesin the monoclinic syste, space group P2₁/c, with a = 11.661(3), b = 20.255(6), c = 8.265(3) Å, ß = 107.26(2)° and Z = 2. The structure is formally built of [Cu(1,2-dtcr)₂]²⁻ and [Cu(bpca)(H₂O)]⁺ ions and water of hydration. The copper atom of the anion is situated at a crystallographic inversion centre, bonded to four sulfur atoms in a planar, approximately square arrangement. In the cation the copper equatorial plane is formed by the three nitrogen atoms of the bpca ligand and a water oxygen atom. In addition there is a very weak axial bond to one of the sulfur atoms of a 1,2-dtcr ligand in the anion. Through these latter weak bonds each anion is connected to, and sandwiched between, two cations, resulting in neutral, trinuclear, centrosymmetric formula units. The triple-decker molecules are arranged in stacks along the crystallographic a-axis creating close contacts between the terminal copper atoms and bpca groups of the neighbouring molecules. This intermolecular interaction is, however, too weak to define the structure as a chain compound. The distance between adjacent copper atoms within the trinuclear unit is 4.189(1) Å, while the shortest intra-stack metal-metal separation between terminal copper atoms is 5.281(1) Å. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements in the temperature r.2–140 K reveal that a Curie law is followed; with three non-interacting copper(II) ions in the formula unit.     

Polynuclear copper(II) complexes with μ2-1,1-azide bridges. Structural and magnetic properties

Two novel, weakly antiferromagnetically coupled, tetranuclear copper(II) complexes [Cu₄(PAP)₂(μ₂-1,1-N₃)₂(μ₂-1,3-N₃)₂(μ₂-CH₃OH)₂(N₃)₄ (1) (PAP = 1,4-bis-(2′-pyridylamino)phthalazine) and [Cu₄(PAP3Me)₂ (μ₂-1,1-N₃)₂(μ₂-1,3-N₃)₂(H₂O)₂(NO₂)₂]- (NO₃)₂ (2) (PAP3Me = 1,4-bis-(3′-methyl-2′-pyridyl)aminophthalazine) contain a unique structural with two μ₂-1,1-azide intramolecular bridges, and two μ₂-1,3-azide intermolecular bridges linking pairs of copper(II) centers. Four terminal azide groups complete the five-coordinate structures in 1, while two terminal waters and two nitrates complete the coordination spheres in 2. The dinuclear complexes [Cu₂(PPD)(μ₂-1,1-N₃)(N₃)₂(CF₃SO₃)]CH₃OH) (3) and [Cu₂(PPD)(μ₂-1,1-N₃)(N₃)₂(H₂O)(ClO₄)] (4) (PPD = 3,6-bis-(1′-pyrazolyl)pyridazine) contain pairs of copper centers with intramolecular μ₂-1,1-azid and pyridazine bridges, and exhibit strong antiferromagnetic coupling. A one-dimensional chain structure in 3 occurs through intermolecular μ₂-1,1-azide bridging interactions. Intramolecular Cu-N₃-Cu bridge angles in 1 and 2 are small (107.9 and 109.4°, respectively), but very large in 3 and 4 (122.5 and 123.2°, respectively), in keeping with the magnetic properties. 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group C2/c with a = 26.71(1), b = 13.51(3), c = 16.84(1) Å, β = 117.35(3)° and R = 0.070, R_w = 0.050. 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with a = 8.42(1), b = 20.808(9), c = 12.615(4) Å, β = 102.95(5)° and R = 0.045, R_w = 0.039. 4crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P1, with a = 10.253(3), b = 12.338(5), c = 8.072(4) Å, = 100.65(4), β = 101.93(3), γ = 87.82(3)° and R = 0.038, R_w = 0.036 . The magnetic properties of 1 and 2 indicate the presence of weak net antiferromagnetic exchange, as indicated by the presence of a low temperature maximum in χ_m (80 K (1), 65 K (2)), but the data do not fit the Bleaney-Bowers equation unless the exchange integral is treated as a temperature dependent term. A similar situation has been observed for other related compounds, and various approaches to the problem will be discussed. Magnetically 3 and 4 are well described by the Bleaney-Bowers equation, exhibiting very strong antiferromagnetic exchange (− 2J = 768(24) cm⁻¹ (3); − 2J = 829(11) cm⁻¹ (4)).     

Preferential Potentiation of the Effects of Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors by 5-HT1A Receptor Antagonists in the Dorsal Raphe Pathway: Role of Somatodendritic Autoreceptors

Abstract: 5-HT_1A autoreceptor antagonists enhance the effects of antidepressants by preventing a negative feedback of serotonin (5-HT) at somatodendritic level. The maximal elevations of extracellular concentration of 5-HT (5-HT_ext) induced by the 5-HT uptake inhibitor paroxetine in forebrain were potentiated by the 5-HT_1A antagonist WAY-100635 (1 mg/kg s.c.) in a regionally dependent manner (striatum > frontal cortex > dorsal hippocampus). Paroxetine (3 mg/kg s.c.) decreased forebrain 5-HT_ext during local blockade of uptake. This reduction was greater in striatum and frontal cortex than in dorsal hippocampus and was counteracted by the local and systemic administration of WAY-100635. The perfusion of 50 µmol/L citalopram in the dorsal or median raphe nucleus reduced 5-HT_ext in frontal cortex or dorsal hippocampus to 40 and 65% of baseline, respectively. The reduction of cortical 5-HT_ext induced by perfusion of citalopram in midbrain raphe was fully reversed by WAY-100635 (1 mg/kg s.c.). Together, these data suggest that dorsal raphe neurons projecting to striatum and frontal cortex are more sensitive to self-inhibition mediated by 5-HT_1A autoreceptors than median raphe neurons projecting to the hippocampus. Therefore, potentiation by 5-HT_1A antagonists occurs preferentially in forebrain areas innervated by serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus.     

Effect of cations on the tyrosine kinase activity of the insulin receptor: Inhibition by fluoride is magnesium dependent

We have recently reported that fluoride interacts directly with the insulin receptor, which causes inhibition of its phosphotransferase activity. The inhibitory effect of fluoride on phosphotransferase activity is not due to the formation of complexes with aluminium and occurs in the absence of alterations to the binding of ATP or insulin. In this report we substantiate that the tyrosine kinase activity of insulin receptors partially purified from rat skeletal muscle shows a strict requirement of Mg²⁺ ions (Ka near 11 mM). This effect of Mg²⁺ was inhibited in a competitive manner by Mn²⁺, which is compatible with competition of both divalent ions for binding sites. The inhibition of tyrosine kinase activity caused by fluoride was dependent on the concentration of Mg²⁺ in the medium and no inhibitory effect was detected at low concentrations of Mg²⁺. Moreover, the addition of increasing concentrations of Mn²⁺ in the presence of a constant high concentr rease in the inhibitory effect of fluoride. These results indicate that the Mg-insulin receptor complex is the major fluoride-susceptible form. Based on the characteristics of the inhibition of tyrosine kinase shown by fluoride it might be proposed that its action is exerted by the formation of multi-ionic MgF complexes analogous to Pi, which bind to the insulin receptor kinase.