Bafilomycin A1 activates respiration of neuronal cells via uncoupling associated with flickering depolarization of mitochondria

Bafilomycin A1 (Baf) induces an elevation of cytosolic Ca2+ and acidification in neuronal cells via inhibition of the V-ATPase. Also, Baf uncouples mitochondria in differentiated PC12 (dPC12), dSH-SY5Y cells and cerebellar granule neurons, and markedly elevates their respiration. This respiratory response in dPC12 is accompanied by morphological changes in the mitochondria and decreases the mitochondrial pH, Ca2+ and ΔΨm. The response to Baf is regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ fluxes from the endoplasmic reticulum. Inhibition of permeability transition pore opening increases the depolarizing effect of Baf on the ΔΨm. Baf induces stochastic flickering of the ΔΨm with a period of 20 ± 10 s. Under conditions of suppressed ATP production by glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation impaired by Baf does not provide cells with sufficient ATP levels. Cells treated with Baf become more susceptible to excitation with KCl. Such mitochondrial uncoupling may play a role in a number of (patho)physiological conditions induced by Baf

Never Resting Brain: Simultaneous Representation of Two Alpha Related Processes in Humans

Brain activity is continuously modulated, even at “rest”. The alpha rhythm (8–12 Hz) has been known as the hallmark of the brain's idle-state. However, it is still debated if the alpha rhythm reflects synchronization in a distributed network or focal generator and whether it occurs spontaneously or is driven by a stimulus. This EEG/fMRI study aimed to explore the source of alpha modulations and their distribution in the resting brain. By serendipity, while computing the individually defined power modulations of the alpha-band, two simultaneously occurring components of these modulations were found. An ‘induced alpha’ that was correlated with the paradigm (eyes open/ eyes closed), and a ‘spontaneous alpha’ that was on-going and unrelated to the paradigm. These alpha components when used as regressors for BOLD activation revealed two segregated activation maps: the ‘induced map’ included left lateral temporal cortical regions and the hippocampus; the ‘spontaneous map’ included prefrontal cortical regions and the thalamus. Our combined fMRI/EEG approach allowed to computationally untangle two parallel patterns of alpha modulations and underpin their anatomical basis in the human brain. These findings suggest that the human alpha rhythm represents at least two simultaneously occurring processes which characterize the ‘resting brain’; one is related to expected change in sensory information, while the other is endogenous and independent of stimulus change

Lipid spin labeling and NMR study of interaction between polyadenylic acid: polyuridilic acid duplex and egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Evidence for involvement of surface groups of bilayer, phosphoryl groups and metal cations

Hydrophobic spin labeling of fatty acyl residues at 5-, 12- or 16-positions of phosphatidylcholine liposomes reveals the involvement of surface moieties of bilayer (up to fifth carbon atom of fatty acyl) into interaction with polyadenylic acid: polyuridilic acid duplex and magnesium ions.31P NMR spectra of this system demonstrate participation of nucleotide phosphoryl groups and metal cations in ternary complexation. © 1994 Springer

Lipid spin labeling and NMR study of interaction between polyadenylic acid: polyuridilic acid duplex and egg phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Evidence for involvement of surface groups of bilayer, phosphoryl groups and metal cations

Hydrophobic spin labeling of fatty acyl residues at 5-, 12- or 16-positions of phosphatidylcholine liposomes reveals the involvement of surface moieties of bilayer (up to fifth carbon atom of fatty acyl) into interaction with polyadenylic acid: polyuridilic acid duplex and magnesium ions.31P NMR spectra of this system demonstrate participation of nucleotide phosphoryl groups and metal cations in ternary complexation. © 1994 Springer