Formation of highly stable multinuclear AgnSn clusters in zinc fingers disrupts their structure and function

Silver (Ag(I)) binding to consensus zinc fingers (ZFs) causes Zn(II) release inducing a gradual disruption of the hydrophobic core, followed by an overall conformational change and formation of highly stable AgnSn clusters. A compact eight-membered Ag4S4 structure formed by a CCCC ZF is the first cluster example reported for a single biological molecule. Ag(I)-induced conformational changes of ZFs can, as a consequence, affect transcriptional regulation and other cellular processes

Comparison of Functional Physical Fitness between Migrants and Non-Migrants in Poland

After the Second World War Polish borders were shifted into west and it forced large number of people to migrate from the east and central Poland to the western areas in the 1940s and 1950s. It dramatically changed the living condition. The aim of the study was to compare of functional physical fitness of migrants and non-migrants in older ages. Body height and weight were measured and 6 tests of the Senior Functional Fitness Test set were carried out in 785 men and women aged 60-80 during 2015-2016 years in two regions of Poland: the south-wester Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie) and south-eastern (Podkarpackie), regarded as a migrants and non-migrants. Sex and region differences were assessed by a nova, with NIR post hoc test. Additionally, Pearson’s χ2 test and t-Student tests for independent groups were also used. The seniors of south-western Poland are characterized by a significantly higher level of functional physical fitness compared to seniors from south-eastern Poland. It can be assumed that a higher level of education, more favourable socioeconomic conditions and more proactive approach to own health of Lower Silesians (migrants), allowed them to remain independent in everyday life and age with dignity

An overlooked hepcidin-cadmium connection

Hepcidin (DTHFPICIFCCGCCHRSKCGMCCKT), an iron-regulatory hormone, is a 25-amino-acid peptide with four intramolecular disulfide bonds circulating in blood. Its hormonal activity is indirect and consists of marking ferroportin-1 (an iron exporter) for degradation. Hepcidin biosynthesis involves the N-terminally extended precursors prepro-hepcidin and pro-hepcidin, processed by peptidases to the final 25-peptide form. A sequence-specific formation of disulfide bonds and export of the oxidized peptide to the bloodstream follows. In this study we considered the fact that prior to export, reduced hepcidin may function as an octathiol ligand bearing some resemblance to the N-terminal part of the �-domain of metallothioneins. Consequently, we studied its ability to bind Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions using the original peptide and a model for prohepcidin extended N-terminally with a stretch of five arginine residues (5R-hepcidin). We found that both form equivalent mononuclear complexes with two Zn(II) or Cd(II) ions saturating all eight Cys residues. The average affinity at pH 7.4, determined from pH-metric spectroscopic titrations, is 10^10.1 M^-1 for Zn(II) ions; Cd(II) ions bind with affinities of 10^15.2 M^-1 and 10^14.1 M^-1. Using mass spectrometry and 5R-hepcidin we demonstrated that hepcidin can compete for Cd(II) ions with metallothionein-2, a cellular cadmium target. This study enabled us to conclude that hepcidin binds Zn(II) and Cd(II) sufficiently strongly to participate in zinc physiology and cadmium toxicity under intracellular conditions

Plasma microRNA-320a as a Potential Biomarker of Physiological Changes during Training in Professional Volleyball Players

A deeper insight into the mechanisms responsible for athlete performance that may serve as specific and detailed training indicators is still desired, because conventionally used biomarkers provide limited information about the adaptive processes that occur during exercise. The objective of our study was to assess insulin-like growth factor 1 receptors (IGF1R) gene expression and evaluate plasma concentration of selected microRNAs (miRNAs) during a 10-week training period (sampling times: week 1, 4, 7, and 10) in a group of 12 professional female volleyball players. Circulating miRNAs (miR-223, miR-320a, and miR-486) with established concentration in plasma and documented association with the IGF1 signaling pathway, which is involved in muscle development and recovery, were tested. The levels of analyzed miRNAs, tested by one-way ANOVA, were significantly different between four training periods during a 10-week training cycle (miR-223 p < 0.0001, miR-320a p = 0.00021, miR-486 p = 0.0037, respectively). The levels of IGF1R also appeared to be different (p = 0.00092), and their expression showed a trend to increase between the first and third periods. In the fourth period, the expression decreased, although it was higher compared with the baseline. Correlations between concentration levels of miR-223 and miR-320a (rs = 0.54, p < 0.001), as well as between miR-320a and miR-486 (rs = 0.73, p < 0.001) were also found. In the fourth period, a negative correlation between miR-223 plasma level and leucocyte IGF1R expression was found (rs = −0.63, p = 0.028). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that miR-320a (p = 0.024) and creatine kinase (p = 0.028) had the greatest impact on the expression levels of the IGF1R gene. Future studies are required to define whether these miRNAs, especially miR-320a, as well as IGF1R expression could be useful biomarkers of physiological changes during exercise and to discover their detailed biological roles in mode-specific exercise training adaptations of professional athletes

Association Analysis of Polymorphic Variants of the BDNF Gene in Athletes

As BDNF is one of the group of neurotrophins highly influencing the processes happening in the brain, such as the processes of learning and personality creation, we decided to look closer at its genetic variations in association with the personality of a group of athletes and their controls. The study group consisted of 305 volunteers: martial arts athletes (n = 153; mean age = 24.06) and healthy non-athletes as controls (n = 152; mean age = 22.23). Thirty-eight percent of the martial arts group achieved the championship level. Both the martial arts and control subjects were examined using the NEO Five-Factor Personality Inventory (NEO-FFI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) scales. The results of the NEO-FFI and STAI inventories were given as sten scores. The conversion of the raw score to the sten scale was performed according to Polish norms for adults. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes and then genotyped using a PCR method for the following polymorphisms: BDNF rs10767664 and BDNF rs2030323. We observed statistical significance for both polymorphisms when comparing martial arts athletes with the control group in relation to the conscientiousness and extraversion scales. However, since few extant articles consider this association, our results still require further analysis, probably by considering a larger group

Zarządzanie rozwojem ekonomicznym: wybrane aspekty

Praca recenzowana / peer-reviewed pape