Mitochondrial quality is a crucial determinant of cell viability, and mitochondrial autophagy plays a central role in this control mechanism. Based on studies in yeast, numerous investigations of this process have been conducted, and the framework of mammalian mitochondrial autophagy is progressively appearing. However, many enigmas about the molecular mechanisms involved remain unsolved. Furth...

ERAL1, a homologue of Era protein in Escherichia coli, is a member of conserved GTP-binding proteins with RNA-binding activity. Depletion of prokaryotic Era inhibits cell division without affecting chromosome segregation. Previously, we isolated ERAL1 protein as one of proteins which were associated with mitochondrial transcription factor A by using immunoprecipitation. In this study, we analys...

Mitochondrial dysfunction is part of many pathological states in patients, such as sepsis or stroke. Presently, the monitoring of mitochondrial function in patients is extremely rare, even though NADH redox state is routinely measured in experimental animals. In this article, we describe the scientific backgrounds and practical use of mitochondrial NADH fluorescence measurement that was applied...

Although mitochondrial electron transport is a validated target of the antimalarial drug atovaquone, the molecular details underlying parasite demise are unclear. We have shown that a critical function of mitochondrial electron transport in blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum is to support pyrimidine biosynthesis. Here, we explore the effects of atovaquone, alone and in combination with proguanil...

Neuronal function in the brain requires energy in the form of ATP, and mitochondria are canonically associated with ATP production in neurons. The electrochemical gradient, which underlies the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(mem)), is harnessed for ATP generation. Here we show that DeltaPsi(mem) and ATP-production can be engaged in mitochondria isolated from human brains up to 8...

The nuclear transcription factor E-26-like protein 1 (Elk-1) is thought to impact neuronal differentiation [Sharrocks, A. D. (2001) Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2, 827-837], cell proliferation [Sharrocks, A. D. (2002) Biochem. Soc. Trans. 30, 1-9], tumorigenesis [Chai, Y. L., Chipitsyna, G., Cui, J., Liao, B., Liu, S., Aysola, K., Yezdani, M., Reddy, E. S. P. & Rao, V. N. (2001) Oncogene 20, 1357-...

Nitrosative stress is produced by high levels of reactive nitrogen species (RNS). The RNS include peroxynitrite, a highly reactive free radical produced from a diffusion-controlled reaction between nitric oxide and superoxide anion. Peroxynitrite causes nitration and oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA, and is thus considered an important pathogenic mechanism in various diseases. Although hig...

Macrophages are critical effectors of bacterial clearance and must retain viability, despite exposure to toxic bacterial products, until key antimicrobial functions are performed. Subsequently, host-mediated macrophage apoptosis aids resolution of infection. The ability of macrophages to make this transition from resistance to susceptibility to apoptosis is important for effective host innate i...

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of chromic chloride (CrCl3) on chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) viability. The cells were incubated with CrCl3 (0.02, 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 12.5, and 62.5 μM), and the viability was determined using MTT assay, morphological detection and flow cytometry. The results show that lower concentrations of CrCl3 (0.02, 0.1, and 0.5 μM) did not damage CEF via...

A protective action of melatonin (MELAT) on docetaxel (DCT)-induced inflammation, apoptosis, and reactive free oxygen radical (fROS) generation values via blocking TRPM2 calcium-permeable channel was investigated in different cells except for laryngo-tracheal epithelial (LT-Epi) cells. Hence, the MELAT DCT-induced oxidative toxicity inflammation LT-Epi tissue mice were current study. treatment ...