The Non-Canonical Wnt/PKC Pathway Regulates Mitochondrial Dynamics through Degradation of the Arm-Like Domain-Containing Protein Alex3

The regulation of mitochondrial dynamics is vital in complex cell types, such as neurons, that transport and localize mitochondria in high energy-demanding cell domains. The Armcx3 gene encodes a mitochondrial-targeted protein (Alex3) that contains several arm-like domains. In a previous study we showed that Alex3 protein regulates mitochondrial aggregation and trafficking. Here we studied the contribution of Wnt proteins to the mitochondrial aggregation and dynamics regulated by Alex3. Overexpression of Alex3 in HEK293 cells caused a marked aggregation of mitochondria, which was attenuated by treatment with several Wnts. We also found that this decrease was caused by Alex3 degradation induced by Wnts. While the Wnt canonical pathway did not alter the pattern of mitochondrial aggregation induced by Alex3, we observed that the Wnt/PKC non-canonical pathway regulated both mitochondrial aggregation and Alex3 protein levels, thereby rendering a mitochondrial phenotype and distribution similar to control patterns. Our data suggest that the Wnt pathway regulates mitochondrial distribution and dynamics through Alex3 protein degradation

Carbon dot-based fluorescent antibody nanoprobes as brain tumour glioblastoma diagnostics

The development of efficient and sensitive tools for the detection of brain cancer in patients is of the utmost importance particularly because many of these tumours go undiagnosed until the disease has advanced and when treatment is less effective. Current strategies employ antibodies (Abs) to detect Glial Fibrillary Acid Protein (GFAP) in tissue samples, since GFAP is unique to the brain and not present in normal peripheral blood, and it relies on fluorescent reporters. Herein we describe a low cost, practical and general method for the labelling of proteins and antibodies with fluorescent carbon dots (CD) to generate diagnostic probes that are robust, photostable and applicable to the clinical setting. The two-step protocol relies on the conjugation of a dibenzocyclooctyne (DBCO)-functionalised CD with azide functionalised proteins by combining amide conjugation and strain promoted alkyne–azide cycloaddition (SPAAC) ligation chemistry. The new class of Ab-CD conjugates developed using this strategy was successfully used for the immunohistochemical staining of human brain tissues of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) validating the approach. Overall, these novel fluorescent probes offer a promising and versatile strategy in terms of costs, photostability and applicability which can be extended to other Abs and protein systems

Influência de variáveis climáticas sobre o comportamento ingestivo de vacas de corte no Pantanal.

Estudos sobre o comportamento animal em condições naturais são fundamentais para definição de critérios de bem-estar animal. Este teve como objetivo avaliar a influência de variáveis climáticas sobre o comportamento ingestivo de vacas de cria criadas em pastagens nativa na sub-região da Nhecolândia, Pantanal, no período de 2002 a 2004

1,3-Bis(3-methyl­phen­yl)thio­urea: triclinic polymorph

The title compound, C15H16N2S, crystallizes with two molecules in the asymmetric unit. The crystallographic behaviour of the two isomers is different. The mol­ecules are dimerized, forming an R 2 2(8) ring motif due to inter­molecular N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds. C—H⋯S hydrogen bonds form R 2 2(12) ring motifs. In one molecule, the dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 62.54 (6)°, whereas in the other it is 79.54 (6)°. The H atoms of one of the methyl groups in each molecule are disordered over two sites, with occupancy ratios of 0.52 (3):0.48 (3) and 0.60 (3):0.40 (3)

Measuring the Refractive Index and Sub-Nanometre Surface Functionalisation of Nanoparticles in Suspension

Direct measurements to determine the degree of surface coverage of nanoparticles by functional moieties are rare, with current strategies requiring a high level of expertise and expensive equipment. Here, a practical method to determine the ratio of the volume of the functionalisation layer to the particle volume based on measuring the refractive index of nanoparticles in suspension is proposed. As a proof of concept, this technique is applied to poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles and semicrystalline carbon dots functionalised with different surface moieties, yielding refractive indices that are commensurate to those from previous literature and Mie theory. In doing so, it is demonstrated that this technique is able to optically detect differences in surface functionalisation or composition of nanometre-sized particles. This non-destructive and rapid method is well-suited for in situ industrial particle characterisation and biological applications

Total oxidation of VOCs on mesoporous iron oxide catalysts: soft chemistry route versus hard template method

[EN] A comparative study on the total oxidation of volatile organic compounds, VOCs, on mesoporous iron oxide catalysts prepared by soft chemistry route versus those achieved by hard template methodThe authors would like to acknowledge the DGICYT in Spain (CTQ2012-37925-C03-1, CTQ2012-37925-C03-2, CTQ2012-37925-C03-3 and CTQ2012-37984-C02-01) and FEDER for financial support. We also thank the University of Valencia and SCSIE-UV for assistance.Solsona Espriu, BE.; Garcia, T.; Sanchis Martinez, R.; Soriano Rodríguez, MD.; Moreno, M.; Rodríguez-Castellon, E.; Agouram, S.... (2016). Total oxidation of VOCs on mesoporous iron oxide catalysts: soft chemistry route versus hard template method. The Chemical Engineering Journal and the Biochemical Engineering Journal. 290:273-281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.12.109S27328129