Adenosine turnover (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

A multifunctional, ubiquitous molecule, adenosine acts at cell-surface G protein-coupled receptors, as well as numerous enzymes, including protein kinases and adenylyl cyclase. Extracellular adenosine is thought to be produced either by export or by metabolism, predominantly through ecto-5’-nucleotidase activity (also producing inorganic phosphate). It is inactivated either by extracellular metabolism via adenosine deaminase (also producing ammonia) or, following uptake by nucleoside transporters, via adenosine deaminase or adenosine kinase (requiring ATP as co-substrate). Intracellular adenosine may be produced by cytosolic 5’-nucleotidases or through S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (also producing L-homocysteine)

The Biochemistry and Epigenetics of Epilepsy: Focus on Adenosine and Glycine

Epilepsy, one of the most prevalent neurological conditions, presents as a complex disorder of network homeostasis characterized by spontaneous non-provoked seizures and associated comorbidities. Currently used antiepileptic drugs have been designed to suppress neuronal hyperexcitability and thereby to suppress epileptic seizures. However, the current armamentarium of antiepileptic drugs is not effective in over 30% of patients, does not affect the comorbidities of epilepsy, and does not prevent the development and progression of epilepsy (epileptogenesis). Prevention of epilepsy and its progression remains the Holy Grail for epilepsy research and therapy development, requiring novel conceptual advances to find a solution to this urgent medical need. The methylation hypothesis of epileptogenesis suggests that changes in DNA methylation are implicated in the progression of the disease. In particular, global DNA hypermethylation appears to be associated with chronic epilepsy. Clinical as well as experimental evidence demonstrates that epilepsy and its progression can be prevented by biochemical manipulations and those that target previously unrecognized epigenetic functions contributing to epilepsy development and maintenance of the epileptic state. This mini-review will discuss epigenetic mechanisms implicated in epileptogenesis and biochemical interactions between adenosine and glycine as a conceptual advance to understand the contribution of maladaptive changes in biochemistry as a major contributing factor to the development of epilepsy. New findings based on biochemical manipulation of the DNA methylome suggest that (i) epigenetic mechanisms play a functional role in epileptogenesis, and (ii) therapeutic reconstruction of the epigenome is an effective antiepileptogenic therapy

Adenosine turnover in GtoPdb v.2021.3

A multifunctional, ubiquitous molecule, adenosine acts at cell-surface G protein-coupled receptors, as well as numerous enzymes, including protein kinases and adenylyl cyclase. Extracellular adenosine is thought to be produced either by export or by metabolism, predominantly through ecto-5’-nucleotidase activity (also producing inorganic phosphate). It is inactivated either by extracellular metabolism via adenosine deaminase (also producing ammonia) or, following uptake by nucleoside transporters, via adenosine deaminase or adenosine kinase (requiring ATP as co-substrate). Intracellular adenosine may be produced by cytosolic 5’-nucleotidases or through S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (also producing L-homocysteine)

Adenosine turnover in GtoPdb v.2023.1

A multifunctional, ubiquitous molecule, adenosine acts at cell-surface G protein-coupled receptors, as well as numerous enzymes, including protein kinases and adenylyl cyclase. Extracellular adenosine is thought to be produced either by export or by metabolism, predominantly through ecto-5’-nucleotidase activity (also producing inorganic phosphate). It is inactivated either by extracellular metabolism via adenosine deaminase (also producing ammonia) or, following uptake by nucleoside transporters, via adenosine deaminase or adenosine kinase (requiring ATP as co-substrate). Intracellular adenosine may be produced by cytosolic 5’-nucleotidases or through S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (also producing L-homocysteine)

Relationship Between Family Income and Obesity Among African American Adults

Obesity is a chronic disease that is caused by a number of factors such as diet, genetics, physical inactivity, and poor dietary habits. This research focused on how income affects obesity among a target population in the African American community in Durham, North Carolina (NC). It has been noted that chronic diseases that are diet-related, for example, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, affect African Americans disproportionately, especially those who earn low income. Some studies have also reported that those who make higher income have higher rates of obesity. This inconsistency and gap in the literature prompted research on this topic. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to study the relationship between family income and obesity among African Americans. The study sought to address the key factors that contribute to low family income among African Americans in Durham, NC and the ways in those key factors contribute to obesity among African Americans in Durham, NC. This study implored a qualitative approach by using an individual interview method to glean the lived experiences of participants in Durham, NC. Thirty participants were interviewed and themes from the interviews were analyzed. The health belief model was chosen as the theoretical framework for this study to understand the data and explain beliefs, attitudes, and health behaviors. Key results indicated that low family income contributes to obesity. The study contributes to social change by recommending that policy makers advocate for an increase in national minimum wage, encourage educational approaches to prevent obesity, promote good eating habits, and promote adequate physical activity among African Americans

Understanding preferences for nature based and sustainable tourism. The role of personal values and general and specific environmental attitudes

This paper reports the results of a study which investigated the social psychological correlates of people’s preferences for sustainable and unsustainable tourism activities. Two-hundred-eighty-two participants from two Italian cities responded to a questionnaire which recorded their tourism preferences, their general pro-environmental attitudes and values, and their specific attitudes towards sustainable tourism. Results showed positive correlations among the constructs considered. Groups of participants differing in their tourism preferences were also identified and the paper discusses the way in which the social psychological variables considered here may be used to plan adequate strategies and management instruments able to address crucial issues of sustainability in tourism, including, for example, tourists’ ecological behaviors “on site” and their educational needs