Detection and characterization of biogenic selenium nanoparticles in selenium-rich yeast by single particle ICPMS

A method based on single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICPMS) was developed for the analysis of commercial Se-rich yeasts, to confirm the occurrence of selenium nanoparticles in these food supplements. A considerable reduction of background levels was achieved by combining data acquisition at microsecond dwell times and the use of a H2 reaction cell, improving by a factor of 10 the current state-of-the-art methodology, and bringing size detection limits down to 18 nm for selenium nanoparticles. The presence of nanoparticulate selenium was revealed by size-exclusion chromatography ICPMS, with detection of a selenium peak at the exclusion volume of the column showing absorption at a wavelength corresponding to selenium nanoparticles. SP-ICPMS allowed us to confirm the presence of Se-nanoparticles, as well as to calculate the nanoparticle size distribution, from information about the shape and elemental composition of the nanoparticles obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively. These results reveal the significance of nanoparticles in the speciation of metals and metalloids in biological samples and the capability of SP-ICPMS in combination with TEM-EDS to carry out these analyses

The role of iron and copper on the oligomerization dynamics of DR_2577, the main S-layer protein of deinococcus radiodurans

Surface (S)-layers are cryptic structures that coat the external surface of the bacterial cell in many species. The paracrystalline regularity of the S-layer is due to the self-assembling of one or more protein units. The property of self-assembling seems to be mediated by specific topologies of the S-layer proteins as well as the presence of specific ions that provide support in building and stabilizing the bi-dimensional S-layer organization. In the present study, we have investigated the self-assembling mechanism of the main S-layer protein of Deinococcus radiodurans (DR_2577) finding an unusual role played by Fe3+ and Cu2+ in the oligomerization of this protein. These findings may trace a structural and functional metallo-mediated convergence between the role of these metals in the assembling of the S-layer and their well-known roles in protecting against oxidative stress in D. radiodurans

Gold(i) complex of N,N′-disubstituted cyclic thiourea with in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties-potent tight-binding inhibition of thioredoxin reductase

Coinage metal complexes of an N,N′-disubstituted cyclic thiourea exert significant cytotoxicities to cancer cells and, in particular, the gold(i) thiourea complex exhibits a potent tight-binding inhibition of the anticancer drug target thioredoxin reductase with an inhibitory constant at nanomolar level. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Morphometric measurements of the seminiferous tubules of the testes in 2-year-old and 3-year-old European bison males with or without spermiogenesis

The area, perimeter and diameter of the seminiferous tubules in the European bison Bison bonasus (L.) were statistically higher in the animals with than in those without spermiogenesis, both among 2-year-old and 3-year-old males (p<0.001; p<0.001; p<0.001)

Study of the Se-containing metabolomes in Se-rich yeast by size-exclusion-cation-exchange HPLC with the parallel ICP MS and electrospray orbital ion trap detection

Strong cation exchange HPLC with the parallel ICP MS and electrospray hybrid linear ion trap quadrupole orbital trap mass spectrometry (ESI Orbitrap MS) detection was developed for the study of the metabolomic pattern of selenium in selenium-rich yeast. The mobile phase composition (gradient of ammonium formate in 20% methanol) was optimized to obtain separation in conditions guaranteeing the identical ICP MS sensitivity during the entire chromatographic run and the compatibility with electrospray ionization. Twenty seven Se-containing metabolites observed in the HPLC-ICP MS chromatogram were identified by ESI Orbitrap MS based on the Se isotopic pattern, the accurate molecular mass, and the multistage fragmentation patterns. The method allowed for the first time the correlation of the differences observed in HPLC-ICP MS chromatography of water extracts of Se-rich yeast samples from different manufacturers with the identity of the eluted compounds determined by ESI MS

Sperm morphology of the Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber: An example of a species of rodent with highly derived and pleiomorphic sperm populations

Published in Journal of Morphology, 2007; 268 (8):683-689 at www.interscience.wiley.comThe structural organization of the spermatozoon from the Eurasian beaver, Castor fiber (Family: Castoridae), was determined and compared to that of other sciuromorph rodents. The beaver spermatozoon has a head, which is variable in form but usually paddle-shaped, with a small nucleus and very large acrosome, and a tail that is relatively short compared to that of most other rodents. Transmission electron microscopy indicates that in most testicular spermatozoa the acrosome projects apically, although in a few it becomes partly flexed. During the final stages of maturation, however, the acrosome becomes highly folded so that the apical segment comes to lie alongside part of the acrosome that occurs lateral to the nucleus, with, in some cases, fusion taking place between the outer acrosomal membranes. The sperm nucleus is wedge-shaped, being broader basally and narrowing apically with an occasional large nuclear vacuole occurring. This spermatozoon structure is markedly different from that found in the other species of Geomyoidea, which is the sister group of the Castoridae. The findings thus emphasize the highly divergent nature of the beaver spermatozoon and demonstrate that, within the proposed Infraorder Castorimorpha, very large differences in sperm structure have evolved.Joanna B. Bierla, Zygmunt Gizejewski, Christopher M. Leigh, Hans Ekwall, Lennart Söderquist, Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez, Kazimierz Zalewski, and William G. Bree

The Correlation of PPARα Activity and Cardiomyocyte Metabolism and Structure in Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy during Heart Failure Progression

This study aimed to define relationship between PPARα expression and metabolic-structural characteristics during HF progression in hearts with DCM phenotype. Tissue endomyocardial biopsy samples divided into three groups according to LVEF ((I) 45–50%, n=10; (II) 30–40%, n=15; (III) 60%, n=6)) were investigated. The PPARα mRNA expression in the failing hearts was low in Group (I), high in Group (II), and comparable to that of the control in Group (III). There were analogous changes in the expression of FAT/CD36 and CPT-1 mRNA in contrast to continuous overexpression of GLUT-4 mRNA and significant increase of PDK-4 mRNA in Group (II). In addition, significant structural changes of cardiomyocytes with glycogen accumulation were accompanied by increased expression of PPARα. For the entire study population with HF levels of FAT/CD36 mRNA showed a strong tendency of negative correlation with LVEF. In conclusion, PPARα elevated levels may be a direct cause of adverse remodeling, both metabolic and structural. Thus, there is limited time window for therapy modulating cardiac metabolism and protecting cardiomyocyte structure in failing heart

Selenoglycoproteins attenuate adhesion of tumor cells to the brain microvascular endothelium via a process involving NF-κB activation

Selenium-containing compounds and selenized yeast have anti-cancer properties. In order to address possible mechanisms involved in these effects, selenoglycoproteins (SGP) were extracted from selenium-enriched yeast at pH 4.0 and 6.5 (the fractions are called SGP40 and SGP65, respectively), followed by evaluation of their impact on the interactions of lung and breast tumor cells with human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC). Extracted SGPs, especially SGP40, significantly inhibited adhesion of tumor cells to HBMEC and their transendothelial migration. Because the active component(s) of SGPs are unknown, small selenium-containing compounds (leucyl-valyl-selenomethionyl-arginine [LVSe-MR] and methylseleno adenosine [M-Se-A]), which are normally present in selenized yeast, were introduced as additional treatment groups. Treatment of HBMEC with SGP40, LVSe-MR, and M-Se-A induced changes in gene signatures, which suggested a central involvement of NF-κB-dependent pathway. These observations were confirmed in the subsequent analysis of NF-κB DNA binding activity, quantitative measurements of the expression of selected genes and proteins, and tumor cell adhesion assay with a specific NF-κB inhibitor as the additional treatment factor. These findings indicate that specific organic selenium-containing compounds have the ability to inhibit tumor cell adhesion to brain endothelial cells via downregulation of NF-κB. SGPs appear to be more effective than small selenium-containing compounds, suggesting the role of not only selenium but also the glycoprotein component in the observed protective impact