生物化学技术

In many studies, the evaluation of mitochondrial function is critical to understand how disease conditions or xenobiotics alter mitochondrial function. One of the classic end-points that can be assessed is oxygen consumption, which can be performed under controlled, yet artificial ...

The mitochondrial membrane potential is the dominant component of the proton-motive force that is the potential term in the proton circuit linking electron transport to ATP synthesis and other energy-dependent mitochondrial processes. Cationic fluorescent probes have been us ...

Metabolic control analysis provides a quantitative framework for analyzing regulatory properties of enzymes in various metabolic pathways. It has been used for estimation of control parameters of the enzymatic pathways at isolated enzyme, cellular, or whole organism levels. This ...

The mitochondrial electrical membrane potential (Δψ) is the main component of the proton motive force (Δp) generated across the inner mitochondrial membrane during electron flow through the respiratory chain. Among the techniques available to assess Δψ, methods that rely on the spect ...

The study of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ) is essential for an integrated appraisal of mitochondrial function, since it reflects differences in electrical potential and represents the main component of the proton electrochemical gradient accounting for more than 90% ...

Interest in the investigation of mitochondrial dysfunction has seen a resurgence over recent years due to the implication of such dysfunction in both drug-induced toxicity and a variety of disease states. Here, we describe a methodology to assist in such investigations whereby the oxygen ...

Nitric oxide (•NO) is a ubiquitous signaling molecule that participates in neuromolecular phenomena associated with memory formation as well as in excitotoxicity. In the hippocampus, neuronal •NO production is coupled to the activation of the NMDA-type of glutamate receptor. More re ...

Antibodies are traditionally viewed as targeting entities that are used to specifically recognize and target other molecules, antigens, or receptors. However, there are occasions in which cognate ligands are generated against the antibodies themselves. The number of useful appl ...

Nitric oxide, a free gaseous signalling molecule, has attracted the attention of numerous biologists and has been implicated in the regulation of the cardiovascular, nervous and immune system. However, the cellular mechanisms mediating nitric oxide modulation remain unclear. Upr ...

While the potential applications of nitric oxide for both understanding human physiology and treating disease are far reaching, the development of a reliable, cost-effective, and practical sustained delivery system for nitric oxide has yet to emerge. Using a sol–gel/glass hybrid sys ...

Advanced formulations having the capability of long-term protection and preserving the integrity of the nitric oxide molecule were developed for the efficient delivery of nitric oxide. The methods for the production and delivery of nitric oxide produced from diethylenetriamine d ...

Cytoprotective gene transfer to pancreatic islet β cell s may prove useful in preventing their destruction and prolonging islet graft survival after transplantation in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. A host of therapeutically relevant transgenes may potentially be incor ...

Nitric oxide produced from nitric oxide synthases mediates various physiological and pathological events in biological systems. However, quantitative assessment of nitric oxide from biological sources remains a difficult task. Here we describe a procedure for the quantific ...

It has been established that microdialysis ensured by the passage of aqueous solutions of Fe3+ complexes with N-methyl-d-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MGD ) through fine dialysis fibers permeable for compounds with molecular weights below 5kDa. These fibers can be implanted into hea ...

Several spectroscopic methods based on mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers for the ultrasensitive detection of nitric oxide have been developed with detection limit in ppbv and sub-ppbv range. We will describe here a selection of the most effective techniques, i.e., laser absorption s ...

Nitric oxide (NO) is just one member of a new class of gaseous signalling molecules with fundamental actions in biology. In higher vertebrates it has key roles in maintaining haemostasis and in smooth muscle (especially vascular smooth muscle), neurons and the gastrointestinal tract. It is i ...

As many as 50% of adults with type I (T1) diabetes exhibit bone loss and are at increased risk for fractures. Therapeutic development to prevent bone loss and/or restore lost bone in T1 diabetic patients requires knowledge of the molecular mechanisms accounting for the bone pathology. Because ce ...

Evaluation of blood smear is a commonly clinical test these days. Most of the time, the hematologists are interested on white blood cells (WBCs) only. Digital image processing techniques can help them in their analysis and diagnosis. For example, disease like acute leukemia is detected based on t ...

Pancreatic islets of Langerhans secrete hormones that are vital to the regulation of blood glucose and are, therefore, a key focus of diabetes research. Purifying viable and functional islets from the pancreas for study is an intricate process. This review highlights the key elements invol ...

Many species of streptococci secrete and use a competence-stimulating peptide (CSP) to initiate quorum sensing for induction of genetic competence, bacteriocin production, and other activities. These signaling molecules are small, unmodified peptides that induce powerful s ...