En-Gendering the Police: Women\u27s Police Stations and Feminism in São Paulo

This article contributes to feminist state theory and studies of women\u27s police stations in Latin America by examining the processes shaping the multiple and changing positions of explicit alliance, opposition, and ambiguous alliance assumed by policewomen regarding feminists since the creation of the world\u27s first women\u27s police station in 1985 in São Paulo. While studies of women\u27s police stations tend to overlook the political conjuncture, much of the literature on the state and gender explains the relationship between the state and women\u27s movements as a function of the political regime. I argue for a more grounded feminist state theory, taking into account interactive macro and micro, local and international forces. As this case study demonstrates, policewoman-feminist relations evolve due to interactions between the political conjuncture, the hegemonic masculinist police culture, developments in the feminist discourse on violence against women, and the impact of the contact policewomen sustain with women clients

Mice Doubly-Deficient in Lysosomal Hexosaminidase A and Neuraminidase 4 Show Epileptic Crises and Rapid Neuronal Loss

Tay-Sachs disease is a severe lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in the HexA gene coding for the α-subunit of lysosomal β-hexosaminidase A, which converts GM2 to GM3 ganglioside. Hexa−/− mice, depleted of β-hexosaminidase A, remain asymptomatic to 1 year of age, because they catabolise GM2 ganglioside via a lysosomal sialidase into glycolipid GA2, which is further processed by β-hexosaminidase B to lactosyl-ceramide, thereby bypassing the β-hexosaminidase A defect. Since this bypass is not effective in humans, infantile Tay-Sachs disease is fatal in the first years of life. Previously, we identified a novel ganglioside metabolizing sialidase, Neu4, abundantly expressed in mouse brain neurons. Now we demonstrate that mice with targeted disruption of both Neu4 and Hexa genes (Neu4−/−;Hexa−/−) show epileptic seizures with 40% penetrance correlating with polyspike discharges on the cortical electrodes of the electroencephalogram. Single knockout Hexa−/− or Neu4−/− siblings do not show such symptoms. Further, double-knockout but not single-knockout mice have multiple degenerating neurons in the cortex and hippocampus and multiple layers of cortical neurons accumulating GM2 ganglioside. Together, our data suggest that the Neu4 block exacerbates the disease in Hexa−/− mice, indicating that Neu4 is a modifier gene in the mouse model of Tay-Sachs disease, reducing the disease severity through the metabolic bypass. However, while disease severity in the double mutant is increased, it is not profound suggesting that Neu4 is not the only sialidase contributing to the metabolic bypass in Hexa−/− mice

Lysosomal Cathepsin A Plays Significant Role In The Processing Of Endogenous Bioactive Peptides

Lysosomal serine carboxypeptidase Cathepsin A (CTSA) is a multifunctional enzyme with distinct protective and catalytic function. CTSA that is present in the lysosomal multienzyme complex facilitates correct lysosomal routing, stability and activation of betagalactosidase and alpha-neuraminidase. In addition, CTSA plays a role in the inactivation of bioactive peptides including bradykinin, substances P, oxytocin, angiotensin I and endothelin-I by cleavage of one or two amino acid(s) from the C-terminal ends. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the regulatory role of CTSA on bioactive peptides in a knock-in mouse model of CTSAS190A. We evaluated the levels of bradykinin, substances P, oxytocin, angiotensin I and endothelin-I in the kidney, liver, lung, brain and serum of the CTSAS190A mouse model at three- and six-months of age. Our results suggest that CTSA selectively contributes to the processing of bioactive peptides in different tissues of CTSAS190A mice compared to those of age-matched wild-type mice

Mice with catalytically inactive Cathepsin A display neurobehavioral alterations

The lysosomal carboxypeptidase A, Cathepsin A (CathA), is a serine protease with two distinct functions. CathA protects β-galactosidase and sialidase Neu1 against proteolytic degradation by forming a multienzyme complex and activates sialidase Neu1. CathA deficiency causes the lysosomal storage disease, galactosialidosis. These patients present with a broad range of clinical phenotypes, including growth retardation, and neurological deterioration along with the accumulation of the vasoactive peptide, endothelin-1, in the brain. Previous in vitro studies have shown that CathA has specific activity against vasoactive peptides and neuropeptides, including endothelin-1 and oxytocin. A mutant mouse with catalytically inactive CathA enzyme (CathAS190A) shows increased levels of endothelin-1. In the present study, we elucidated the involvement of CathA in learning and long-term memory in 3-, 6-, and 12-month-old mice. Hippocampal endothelin-1 and oxytocin accumulated in CathAS190A mice, which showed learning impairments as well as long-term and spatial memory deficits compared with wild-type littermates, suggesting that CathA plays a significant role in learning and in memory consolidation through its regulatory role in vasoactive peptide processing.TUBITAK (111T896

Hyaluronidase 1 and β-hexosaminidase have redundant functions in hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate degradation

Hyaluronan (HA), a member of the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) family, is a critical component of the extracellular matrix. A model for HA degradation that invokes the activity of both hyaluronidases and exoglycosidases has been advanced. However, no in vivo studies have been done to determine the extent to which these enzymes contribute to HA breakdown. Herein, we used mouse models to investigate the contributions of the endoglycosidase HYAL1 and the exoglycosidase β-hexosaminidase to the lysosomal degradation of HA. We employed histochemistry and fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis to determine the degree of HA accumulation in mice deficient in one or both enzyme activities. Global HA accumulation was present in mice deficient in both enzymes, with the highest levels found in the lymph node and liver. Chondroitin, a GAG similar in structure to HA, also broadly accumulated in mice deficient in both enzymes. Accumulation of chondroitin sulfate derivatives was detected in mice deficient in both enzymes, as well as in β-hexosaminidase-deficient mice, indicating that both enzymes play a significant role in chondroitin sulfate breakdown. Extensive accumulation of HA and chondroitin when both enzymes are lacking was not observed in mice deficient in only one of these enzymes, suggesting that HYAL1 and β-hexosaminidase are functionally redundant in HA and chondroitin breakdown. Furthermore, accumulation of sulfated chondroitin in tissues provides in vivo evidence that both HYAL1 and β-hexosaminidase cleave chondroitin sulfate, but it is a preferred substrate for β-hexosaminidase. These studies provide in vivo evidence to support and extend existing knowledge of GAG breakdown.Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-89873); Manitoba Health Research Council; Manitoba Institute of Child Healt

Neuraminidase-1 contributes significantly to the degradation of neuronal B-series gangliosides but not to the bypass of the catabolic block in Tay-Sachs mouse models

TaySachs disease is a severe lysosomal storage disorder caused bymutations in the HEXA gene coding for? subunit of lysosomal β-Hexosaminidase A enzyme, which converts GM2 to GM3 ganglioside. HexA mice, depleted of the β-Hexosaminidase A iso-enzyme, remain asymptomatic up to 1 year of age because of a metabolic bypass by neuraminidase(s). These enzymes remove a sialic acid residue converting GM2 to GA2,which is further degraded by the still intact β-Hexosaminidase B iso-enzyme into lactosylceramide. A previously identified ganglioside metabolizing neuraminidase, Neu4, is abundantly expressed in the mouse brain and has activity against gangliosides like GM2 in vitro. Neu4 mice showed increased GD1a and decreased GM1 ganglioside in the brain suggesting the importance of the Neu4 in ganglioside catabolism. Mice with targeted disruption of both HexA and Neu4 genes showed accumulating GM2 ganglioside and epileptic seizures with 40% penetrance, indicating that the neuraminidase Neu4 is a modulatory gene, but may not be the only neuraminidase contributing to the metabolic bypass in HexA mice. Therefore, we elucidated the biological role of neuraminidase-1 in ganglioside degradation in mouse. Analysis of HexANeu1 and HexANeu4Neu1 mice models showed significant contribution of neuraminidase-1 on B-series ganglioside degradation in the brain. Therefore, we speculate that other neuraminidase/neuraminidases such as Neu2 and/or Neu3 might be also involved in the ganglioside degradation pathway in HexA mice

Murine Sialidase Neu3 facilitates GM2 degradation and bypass in mouse model of Tay-Sachs disease

Erdemli, Esra/0000-0002-9737-269X; von Gerichten, Johanna/0000-0002-9224-5296; Hopf, Carsten/0000-0003-0802-6451; Dalkara, Turgay/0000-0003-3943-7819WOS: 000419261500003PubMed: 28974375Tay-Sachs disease is a severe lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in Hexa, the gene that encodes for the a subunit of lysosomal p-hexosaminidase A (HEXA), which converts GM2 to GM3 ganglioside. Unexpectedly, Hexa(-/-) mice have a normal lifespan and show no obvious neurological impairment until at least one year of age. These mice catabolize stored GM2 ganglioside using sialidase(s) to remove sialic acid and form the glycolipid GA2, which is further processed by D-hexosaminidase B. Therefore, the presence of the sialidase (s) allows the consequences of the Hexa defect to be bypassed. To determine if the sialidase NEU3 contributes to GM2 ganglioside degradation, we generated a mouse model with combined deficiencies of HEXA and NEU3. The Hexa(-/-) Neu3(-/-) mice were healthy at birth, but died at 1.5 to 4.5 months of age. Thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometric analysis of the brains of Hexa(-/-) Neu3(-/-) mice revealed the abnormal accumulation of GM2 ganglioside. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated cytoplasmic vacuolation in the neurons. Electron microscopic examination of the brain, kidneys and testes revealed pleomorphic inclusions of many small vesicles and complex lamellar structures. The Hexa(-/-)Neu3(-/-) mice exhibited progressive neurodegeneration with neuronal loss, Purkinje cell depletion, and astrogliosis. Slow movement, ataxia, and tremors were the prominent neurological abnormalities observed in these mice. Furthermore, radiographs revealed abnormalities in the skeletal bones of the Hexa(-/-)Neu3(-/-) mice. Thus, the Hexa(-/-) Neu3(-/-) mice mimic the neuropathological and clinical abnormalities of the classical early-onset Tay-Sachs patients, and provide a suitable model for the future pre-clinical testing of potential treatments for this condition

The second case of saposin a deficiency and altered autophagy

Krabbe disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by galactosylceramidase deficiency, resulting in neurodegeneration with a rapid clinical downhill course within the first months of life in the classic infantile form. This process may be triggered by the accumulation of galactosylceramide (GalCer) in nervous tissues. Both the enzyme galactosylceramidase and its in vivo activator molecule, saposin A, are essential during GalCer degradation. A clinical manifestation almost identical to Krabbe disease is observed when, instead of the galactosylceramidase protein, the saposin A molecule is defective. Saposin A results from posttranslational processing of the precursor molecule, prosaposin, encoded by the PSAP gene. Clinical and neuroimaging findings in a 7-month-old child strongly suggested Krabbe disease, but this condition was excluded by enzymatic and genetic testing. However, at whole exome sequencing, the previously undescribed homozygous, obviously pathogenic PSAP gene NM_002778.3: c.209T>G(p.Val70Gly) variant was determined in the saposin A domain of the PSAP gene. Fibroblast studies showed GalCer accumulation and the activation of autophagy for the first time in a case of human saposin A deficiency. Our patient represents the second known case in the literature and provides new information concerning the pathophysiology of saposin A deficiency and its intralysosomal effects