Research on epigenetic regulation of the CNS

Research on epigenetic regulation of the CNS is a field that is currently being studied for its implications in neuronal regulation. The following papers, although are not about FA, are interesting because they show how these advances can be very important to find a cure for the disease.


Focus on epigenetics
Nature Neuroscience 13, 1299 (2010), Published online: 26 October 2010 | doi:10.1038/nn1110-1299

Epigenetic regulation of the neural transcriptome: the meaning of the marks

Nature Neuroscience 13, 1313 - 1318 (2010), Published online: 26 October 2010 | doi:10.1038/nn1110-1313

Dynamic epigenetic regulation in neurons: enzymes, stimuli and signaling pathways

Nature Neuroscience 13, 1330 - 1337 (2010), Published online: 26 October 2010 | doi:10.1038/nn.2671

Epigenetic choreographers of neurogenesis in the adult mammalian brain
Nature Neuroscience 13, 1338 - 1344 (2010)
Published online: 26 October 2010 | doi:10.1038/nn.2672

The Nrf2 System as a Potential Target for the Development of Indirect Antioxidants

Molecules. 2010 Oct 20;15(10):7266-91.

Kyeong-Ah Jung and Mi-Kyoung Kwak * email
College of Pharmacy, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongsangbuk-do 712-749, Korea

OPEN ACCESS

Abstract:
Oxidative stress causes damage to multiple cellular components such as DNA, proteins, and lipids, and is implicated in various human diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammatory diseases, and aging. In response to oxidative attack, cells have developed an antioxidant defense system to maintain cellular redox homeostasis and to protect cells from damage. The thiol-containing small molecules (e.g. glutathione), reactive oxygen species-inactivating enzymes (e.g. glutathione peroxidase), and phase 2 detoxifying enzymes (e.g. NAD(P)H: quinine oxidoreductase 1 and glutathione-S-transferases) are members of this antioxidant system. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a CNC-bZIP transcription factor which regulates the basal and inducible expression of a wide array of antioxidant genes. Following dissociation from the cytosolic protein Keap1, a scaffolding protein which binds Nrf2 and Cul3 ubiquitin ligase for proteasome degradation, Nrf2 rapidly accumulates in the nucleus and transactivates the antioxidant response element in the promoter region of many antioxidant genes. The critical role of Nrf2 has been demonstrated by various animal studies showing that mice with a targeted disruption of the nrf2 gene are prone to develop lesions in response to environmental toxicants/carcinogens, drugs, and inflammatory insults. In this review, we discuss the role of the Nrf2 system, with particular focus on Nrf2-controlled target genes and the potential pleiotropic effects of Nrf2 activation of indirect antioxidants.

Keywords: indirect antioxidants; oxidative stress; Nrf2; Keap1

FULL TEXT PDF

Slowing of axonal regeneration is correlated with increased axonal viscosity during aging

BMC Neuroscience 2010, 11:140doi:10.1186/1471-2202-11-140, Published: 25 October 2010

Phillip L Lamoureux, Matthew R O'Toole, Steven R Heidemann and Kyle E Miller

OPEN ACCESS

Conclusions
Taken together, our results suggest decreasing axonal stiffness may be part of an effective strategy to accelerate the regeneration of axons in the adult peripheral nervous system.

FULL TEXT PDF

Expression, Purification, and Characterization of an Iron Chaperon Protein CyaY from Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Current Microbiology,DOI: 10.1007/s00284-010-9775-2

Chenbing Ai, Hongyu Mo, Qian Chen, Yuandong Liu, Lin Tang, Juan Du and Jia Zeng

Keywords: CyaY, bacterial homolog of frataxin, iron–sulfur clusters, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Escherichia coli, affinity chromatography, ferric iron, iron donor, scaffold protein IscU, IscS, l-cysteine.

Full text PDF

Genetic Engineering of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Its Application in Human Disease Therapy

Conrad P. Hodgkinson, José A. Gomez, Maria Mirotsou, Victor J. Dzau. Human Gene Therapy. -Not available-, ahead of print. doi:10.1089/hum.2010.165.

Keywords: stem cells, tissue regeneration, bone marrow, therapeutic potential, cardiovascular injury, kidney failure, cancer, neurological and bone disorders. low survival, engraftment, inefficiencies in differentiating into fully functional tissues, genetic engineering, mesenchymal stem cells, genetic modifications.

Dynamics of Protein Damage in Yeast Frataxin Mutant Exposed to Oxidative Stress.

OMICS. 2010 Oct 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Kim JH, Sedlak M, Gao Q, Riley CP, Regnier FE, Adamec J.
Bindley Bioscience Center at Discovery Park, Purdue University , West Lafayette, Indiana.

Keywords: Oxidative stress, protein carbonylation, aging, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, cancer, biomarkers, energy metabolism, peroxiredoxin (TSA1), thioredoxin II (TRX2).

Frataxin is an important regulator of iron metabolism

MRC, National Institute for Medical Research, 20 October 2010

Brief summary of the article by Dr. Annalisa Pastore, explaining their research in words more simple and comprehensible to all

Frataxin depletion in yeast triggers upregulation of iron transport systems before affecting iron-sulfur enzyme activities.

J Biol Chem. 2010 Oct 18. [Epub ahead of print]
Moreno-Cermeno A, Obis E, Belli G, Cabiscol E, Ros J, Tamarit J.

University of Lleida, Spain.

Keywords: frataxin, a mitochondrial protein, iron homeostasis, yeast model, frataxin homolog YFH1, aconitase, secondary events, iron overloading, superoxide dismutase, protein carbonyl formation, manganese, metal ion transporter Smf2.

FULL TEXT PDF

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of idebenone.

Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol. 2010 Nov;6(11):1437-44.

Becker C, Bray-French K, Drewe J.
Basel Pharmacoepidemiology Unit, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland.

Conclusions: Idebenone shows dose-proportional pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects in daily doses up to 2250 mg, and was safe and well tolerated at doses up to 2250 mg/day, in clinical studies.

Pathogenesis of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in Friedreich's ataxia: contribution of insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction.

The free library,
Miriam Cnop, MD, PhD, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

Research summary

Keywords: pancreatic b cells, Friedreich's ataxia, insulin demand.