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Prolate model colloids with defined properties can be obtained by the stretching of spherical polymeric particles, which is well-known for polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) latices. The present study aims to extend this approach to functional core-shell particles in order to achieve a new class of anisotropic colloidal materials where both the aspect ratio and the effective volume fraction
Amyloid β peptide (Aβ) is the crucial protein component of extracellular plaques in Alzheimer’s disease. The plaques also contain gangliosides lipids, which are abundant in membranes of neuronal cells and in cell-derived vesicles and exosomes. When present at concentrations above its critical micelle concentration (cmc), gangliosides can occur as mixed micelles. Here, we study the coassembly of th
Antibodies to double-stranded (dsDNA) are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and directly involved in human lupus nephritis. Information about their glomerular target antigens is inconsistent, and whether availability of target antigens, antibody specificity or avidity are nephritogenic parameters, is not determined. In this study, we analyzed renal tissue from anti-dsDNA antibody-
Poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) is the most frequently used biodegradable polymer in the controlled release of an encapsulated drug. The purpose of this work was to explain the surprisingly slow diffusion through this polymer, and locate the major source of mass transport resistance. Diffusion of human growth hormone (hGH) and glucose through PLG films was undetectable (using a diffusion cell
Dye affinity chromatography is one of the chromatography techniques which uses dye as a ligand for protein purification. In this study, single-layer poly(acrylamide-allyl glycidyl ether) cryogel was prepared, which contains free epoxy groups at sub-zero temperature. The double-layer was prepared inside a primary single-layer cryogel to form a secondary network inside the gel. Cibacron Blue F3GA wa
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by an impaired epidermal barrier, dysregulation of innate and adaptive immunity, and a high susceptibility to bacterial colonization and infection. In the present study, bacterial biofilm was visualized by electron microscopy at the surface of AD skin. Correspondingly, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates from lesion
Cooperative binding is a key feature of metabolic pathways, signaling, and transport processes. It provides tight regulation over a narrow concentration interval of a ligand, thus enabling switching to be triggered by small concentration variations. The data presented in this work reveal strong positive cooperativity of α-synuclein binding to phospholipid membranes. Fluorescence cross-correlation
Popular Abstract in English The secreted cysteine protease inhibitor cystatin C has been thought to exert its functions extracellularly, as a defense against enzymes from leaking lysosomes or invading pathogens. In this thesis we demonstrate that regulation of intracellular proteases by cystatin C is possible, as a result of cellular uptake, and that the uptake can be modulated by molecular engineCystatin C is a cysteine protease inhibitor, aimed for secretion, as it is produced with a signal peptide. Its target enzymes are thought to be the lysosomal cysteine cathepsins and legumain. Cystatin C has been considered to excert its enzyme inhibiting functions extracellularly, as a defense against enzymes from leaking lysosomes or invading pathogens. It was demonstrated by various techniques,
Deficiencies of complement proteins of the classical pathway are strongly associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. Deficiency of Clr has been observed to occur concomitantly with deficiency in Cls and 9 out of 15 reported cases presented systemic lupus erythernatosus (SLE). Here, we describe a family in which all four children are deficient in Cls but only two of them developed SLE.
Abstract Receptor activity-modifying protein 3 (RAMP3) is a single-pass transmembrane protein known to interact with and affect the trafficking of several G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We sought to determine whether RAMP3 interacts with GPR30, also known as G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1. GPR30 is a GPCR that binds estradiol and has important roles in cardiovascular and endocrine phy
Industrial dairy membrane processes require frequent cleaning due to hygienic and regulatory demands and lowered efficiency, caused by fouling. This decreases the membrane life cycle and consumes large volumes of rinsing water and cleaning solution. Therefore, the aim of this project is to increase the understanding of membrane fouling and cleaning and to apply this knowledge to develop more ene
Smoking is widely regarded as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes because nicotine contributes to insulin resistance by desensitizing the insulin receptors in muscle, liver, or fat. Little is known, however, about the immediate regulation of islet hormonal output by nicotine, an agonist of ionotropic cholinergic receptors. We investigated this by imaging cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics in mouse and human is
The habenula is a phylogenetically conserved brain structure in the epithalamus. It is a major node in the information flow between fronto-limbic brain regions and monoaminergic brainstem nuclei, thus anatomically and functionally ideally positioned to regulate emotional, motivational and cognitive behaviors. Consequently, the habenula may be critically important in the pathophysiology of psychiat
Cystatin F is a recently discovered type II cystatin expressed almost exclusively in immune cells. It is present intracellularly in lysosome-like vesicles, which suggests a potential role in regulating papain-like cathepsins involved in antigen presentation. Therefore, interactions of cystatin F with several of its potential targets, cathepsins F, K, V, S, H, X and C, were studied in vitro. Cystat
Cytopore is a bead-shaped, macroporous and easily compressible cellulose-based anion-exchange material intended for cultivation of anchor-dependent animal cells. Reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) is a strong, non-compressible, high voidage (97%) matrix material that can be cut to desired geometrical shapes. Cytopore and RVC were combined to cylindrical composites (25mm 10mm) fitted inside chromato
HAMLET (human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells) interacts with multiple tumor cell compartments, affecting cell morphology, metabolism, proteasome function, chromatin structure and viability. This study investigated if these diverse effects of HAMLET might be caused, in part, by a direct effect on the ATP synthase and a resulting reduction in cellular ATP levels. A dose-dependent reduc
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, which leads to increased production of insulin. Together with insulin the hormone peptide islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) is secreted, which is thought to be the cause of beta-cell death in later stages of type 2 diabetes. C4b-binding protein (C4BP) has been shown to upregulate IAPP fibrillation, which would lead to more ma
HYPOTHESIS: Digestion pathways of plant proteins are of high relevance to optimize bioavailability and allergenicity profiles of sustainable and vegan food products. Understanding the structural breakdown of solid food presents a particular challenge, due to the complexity to realize a good model system suitable for comprehensive multi-technique characterization under realistic conditions.EXPERIME
