scholarly journals Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration: Lessons from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan M. Zolezzi ◽  
Sussy Bastías-Candia ◽  
Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases

scholarly journals Catechins as Tools to Understand the Molecular Basis of Neurodegeneration

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (16) ◽  
pp. 3571
Author(s):  
Karla Martinez Pomier ◽  
Rashik Ahmed ◽  
Giuseppe Melacini
Keyword(s):  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorders ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Protein Misfolding ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Amyloid Aggregation ◽  
Amyloid Aggregates ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Properties ◽  
Self Association

Protein misfolding as well as the subsequent self-association and deposition of amyloid aggregates is implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Modulators of amyloidogenic aggregation serve as essential tools to dissect the underlying molecular mechanisms and may offer insight on potential therapeutic solutions. These modulators include green tea catechins, which are potent inhibitors of amyloid aggregation. Although catechins often exhibit poor pharmacokinetic properties and bioavailability, they are still essential tools for identifying the drivers of amyloid aggregation and for developing other aggregation modulators through structural mimicry. As an illustration of such strategies, here we review how catechins have been used to map the toxic surfaces of oligomeric amyloid-like species and develop catechin-based phenolic compounds with enhanced anti-amyloid activity.

scholarly journals Functional Genomics of Axons and Synapses to Understand Neurodegenerative Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andres Di Paolo ◽  
Joaquin Garat ◽  
Guillermo Eastman ◽  
Joaquina Farias ◽  
Federico Dajas-Bailador ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Functional Genomics ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases ◽  
Functional Understanding ◽  
Resolution Level ◽  
And Function ◽  
Neuronal Disorders ◽  
Neuronal Compartments

Functional genomics studies through transcriptomics, translatomics and proteomics have become increasingly important tools to understand the molecular basis of biological systems in the last decade. In most cases, when these approaches are applied to the nervous system, they are centered in cell bodies or somatodendritic compartments, as these are easier to isolate and, at least in vitro, contain most of the mRNA and proteins present in all neuronal compartments. However, key functional processes and many neuronal disorders are initiated by changes occurring far away from cell bodies, particularly in axons (axopathologies) and synapses (synaptopathies). Both neuronal compartments contain specific RNAs and proteins, which are known to vary depending on their anatomical distribution, developmental stage and function, and thus form the complex network of molecular pathways required for neuron connectivity. Modifications in these components due to metabolic, environmental, and/or genetic issues could trigger or exacerbate a neuronal disease. For this reason, detailed profiling and functional understanding of the precise changes in these compartments may thus yield new insights into the still intractable molecular basis of most neuronal disorders. In the case of synaptic dysfunctions or synaptopathies, they contribute to dozens of diseases in the human brain including neurodevelopmental (i.e., autism, Down syndrome, and epilepsy) as well as neurodegenerative disorders (i.e., Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases). Histological, biochemical, cellular, and general molecular biology techniques have been key in understanding these pathologies. Now, the growing number of omics approaches can add significant extra information at a high and wide resolution level and, used effectively, can lead to novel and insightful interpretations of the biological processes at play. This review describes current approaches that use transcriptomics, translatomics and proteomic related methods to analyze the axon and presynaptic elements, focusing on the relationship that axon and synapses have with neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Beneficial Effects of Epigallocatechin-3-O-Gallate, Chlorogenic Acid, Resveratrol, and Curcumin on Neurodegenerative Diseases

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 415
Author(s):  
Ryuuta Fukutomi ◽  
Tomokazu Ohishi ◽  
Yu Koyama ◽  
Monira Pervin ◽  
Yoriyuki Nakamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Diseases ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Polyphenolic Compounds ◽  
Chlorogenic Acids ◽  
Plant Polyphenols ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases ◽  
Basic Experiments

Many observational and clinical studies have shown that consumption of diets rich in plant polyphenols have beneficial effects on various diseases such as cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Animal and cellular studies have indicated that these polyphenolic compounds contribute to such effects. The representative polyphenols are epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate in tea, chlorogenic acids in coffee, resveratrol in wine, and curcumin in curry. The results of human studies have suggested the beneficial effects of consumption of these foods on NDDs including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, and cellular animal experiments have provided molecular basis to indicate contribution of these representative polyphenols to these effects. This article provides updated information on the effects of these foods and their polyphenols on NDDs with discussions on mechanistic aspects of their actions mainly based on the findings derived from basic experiments.

scholarly journals Protein Aggregation in the Brain: The Molecular Basis for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 451-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Brent Irvine ◽  
Omar M. El-Agnaf ◽  
Ganesh M. Shankar ◽  
Dominic M. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Protein Aggregation ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Parkinson’S Diseases ◽  
The Brain

Renilla Bioluminescence: A Morphologic Approach to the Location of Photocytes

1974 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 208-209
Author(s):  
Ben O. Spurlock ◽  
Milton J. Cormier
Keyword(s):  
Excited State ◽  
Ground State ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Light Emission ◽  
Chemical Basis ◽  
Electronic Excited State ◽  
Colonial Form ◽  
The Common ◽  
Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries ◽  
Catalyzed Oxidation

The phenomenon of bioluminescence has fascinated layman and scientist alike for many centuries. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries a number of observations were reported on the physiology of bioluminescence in Renilla, the common sea pansy. More recently biochemists have directed their attention to the molecular basis of luminosity in this colonial form. These studies have centered primarily on defining the chemical basis for bioluminescence and its control. It is now established that bioluminescence in Renilla arises due to the luciferase-catalyzed oxidation of luciferin. This results in the creation of a product (oxyluciferin) in an electronic excited state. The transition of oxyluciferin from its excited state to the ground state leads to light emission.

Androgen-induced plasticity at a “vocal” neuromuscular synapse

1994 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 32-33
Author(s):  
Darcy B. Kelley ◽  
Martha L. Tobias ◽  
Mark Ellisman
Keyword(s):  
Xenopus Laevis ◽  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Neuromuscular Synapse ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Intracellular Protein ◽  
Developmental Program ◽  
Androgen Action ◽  
Clawed Frog

Brain and muscle are sexually differentiated tissues in which masculinization is controlled by the secretion of androgens from the testes. Sensitivity to androgen is conferred by the expression of an intracellular protein, the androgen receptor. A central problem of sexual differentiation is thus to understand the cellular and molecular basis of androgen action. We do not understand how hormone occupancy of a receptor translates into an alteration in the developmental program of the target cell. Our studies on sexual differentiation of brain and muscle in Xenopus laevis are designed to explore the molecular basis of androgen induced sexual differentiation by examining how this hormone controls the masculinization of brain and muscle targets.Our approach to this problem has focused on a highly androgen sensitive, sexually dimorphic neuromuscular system: laryngeal muscles and motor neurons of the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. We have been studying sex differences at a synapse, the laryngeal neuromuscular junction, which mediates sexually dimorphic vocal behavior in Xenopus laevis frogs.

A molecular basis for opiate action

1998 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 65-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Massotte ◽  
Brigitte L. Kieffer
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Basis

Emerging Nutrition Gaps in a World of Affluence - Micronutrient Intake and Status Globally

2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 238-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred Eggersdorfer ◽  
Paul Walter
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Old Age ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
New Science ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Micronutrient Intake

Nutrition is important for human health in all stages of life - from conception to old age. Today we know much more about the molecular basis of nutrition. Most importantly, we have learnt that micronutrients, among other factors, interact with genes, and new science is increasingly providing more tools to clarify this interrelation between health and nutrition. Sufficient intake of vitamins is essential to achieve maximum health benefit. It is well established that in developing countries, millions of people still suffer from micronutrient deficiencies. However, it is far less recognized that we face micronutrient insufficiencies also in developed countries.

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