RESUMEN

Sarcopenia in critically ill patients is a highly prevalent comorbidity. It is associated with a higher mortality rate, length of mechanical ventilation, and probability of being sent to a nursing home after the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Despite the number of calories and proteins delivered, there is a complex network of signals of hormones and cytokines that affect muscle metabolism and its protein synthesis and breakdown in critically ill and chronic patients. To date, it is known that a higher number of proteins decreases mortality, but the exact amount needs to be clarified. This complex network of signals affects protein synthesis and breakdown. Some hormones regulate metabolism, such as insulin, insulin growth factor glucocorticoids, and growth hormone, whose secretion is affected by feeding states and inflammation. In addition, cytokines are involved, such as TNF-alpha and HIF-1. These hormones and cytokines have common pathways that activate muscle breakdown effectors, such as the ubiquitin-proteasome system, calpain, and caspase-3. These effectors are responsible for protein breakdown in muscles. Many trials have been conducted with hormones with different results but not with nutritional outcomes. This review examines the effect of hormones and cytokines on muscles. Knowing all the signals and pathways that affect protein synthesis and breakdown can be considered for future therapeutics.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a main factor that alters cellular physiology and functionality. Many strategies are used in order to control excessive oxidative stress. One strategy includes the use of antioxidants like N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). The aim of this study was to compare the effect of this antioxidant on ROS production and cellular growth of a wild-type and a respiratory-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. METHODS: Using a simple system such as yeast allows oxidative stress investigations on which numerous factors are more manageable or circumscribed than in a higher organism. We grew cells in a complex medium and incubated them during 72 h. Later, cellular viability and ROS production was evaluated. ROS level was estimated by use of fluorescence signal with 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). RESULTS: As it is found in the present work, a reducing environment exerted by NAC presence during incubation of the cells allows a respiratory-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to improve its cellular growth. CONCLUSIONS: It seems likely that the energy production or the phenotype which characterizes a deficient strain is incapable of palliating ROS growth inhibition while NAC helps to overcome this limitation.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In sepsis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is increased. This process takes place mainly within the electron transport chain. ROS production is part of the pathophysiology of multiple organ failure in sepsis. Succinate yields Dihydroflavine-Adenine Dinucleotide (FADH2), which enters the chain through complex II, avoiding complex I, through which electrons are lost. The aim of this work is to determine if parenteral succinate reduces systemic ROS production and improves kidney function. Rats with cecal ligation and puncture were used as model of sepsis, and 4 groups were made: Control group; Succinate group, which only received parenteral succinate; Sepsis group; and Sepsis which received parenteral succinate. Systemic ROS are measured 24 hours after the procedure. Rats subjected to cecal puncture treated with succinate had less systemic ROS than Septic untreated rats (p = 0.007), while there were no differences in creatinine levels (p = 0.07). There was no correlation between creatinine and systemic ROS levels (p = 0.3). We concluded that parenteral succinate reduces ROS levels, but it does not reduce creatinine levels. Since there is no correlation between both levels, the processes would not be related.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

We focused on the participation of GAP1, BAP2, and AGP1 in L-phenylalanine transport in yeast. In order to study the physiological functions of GAP1, BAP2, and AGP1 in L-phenylalanine transport, we examined the kinetics, substrate specificity, and regulation of these systems, employing isogenic haploid strains with the respective genes disrupted individually and in combination. During the characterization of phenylalanine transport, we noted important regulatory phenomena associated with these systems. Our results show that Agp1p is the major transporter of the phenylalanine in a gap1 strain growing in synthetic media with leucine present as an inducer. In a wild type strain grown in the presence of leucine, when ammonium ion was the nitrogen source, Bap2p is the principal phenylalanine carrier.

RESUMEN

In this report, we present a practical approach to teaching several topics in nutrition to science students at the high school and college freshmen levels. This approach uses baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as a biological system model. The diameters of yeast colonies, which vary according to the nutrients present in the medium, can be observed, compared, and used to teach metabolic requirements. The experiments described in this report show simple macroscopic evidence of submicroscopic nutritional events. This can serve as a useful base for an analogy of heterotrophic human cell nutrition.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the drug idebenone on the growth of a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and its respiratory-deficient mutant (rho(0)). We took this yeast as a model system of the interaction of the drug with mammalian cells. The effect of idebenone was evaluated in rich and minimal media. In the S288c strain, idebenone exerted a growth inhibitory effect in concentrations higher than 50 microM in media containing a carbon source consumed at mitochondrial level. In conditions of low oxygen supply, idebenone allows yeast to keep a cellular yielding comparable with conditions of normal oxygen supply. Also, the presence of idebenone in the growth media increased by 50% the fluorescence signal of rhodamine 123, indicating a higher mitochondrial membrane potential. The results could explain the effect of idebenone in the treatment of diseases in which oxygen deficiency alters the energetic metabolism of the cell.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Brefeldin A is a commonly used antifungal agent that reversibly blocks protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi complex. In this study, we aimed to characterize L-leucine uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of brefeldin A. For this purpose, we used a synthetic medium, containing L-proline and the detergent SDS, which allows the agent to permeate into the yeast cell. The results obtained with a wild type strain and a gap1 mutant indicate that BFA causes either direct or indirect modification of the transport and/or processing of L-leucine permeases. The presence of BFA affects the kinetic parameter values for L-leucine uptake and decreases not only the uptake mediated by the general system (GAP1), but also that through the specific BAP2 (S1) and/or S2 systems.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The present work aims to develop a growth medium to render a wild-type strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae permeable to the antifungal drug Brefeldin A. In the current study, a synthetic medium containing 0.1% L-proline and supplemented with $3.0\times 10;{-3}$ % SDS is employed. When Brefeldin A is added to this medium, a wild-type strain shows increased growth sensitivity and a diminished transport of the amino acid L-leucine. Since Brefeldin A exerts its effect on the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus, the medium permits the study of the drug effect on the intracellular traffic of L-leucine permeases.

RESUMEN

En Saccharomyces cerevisiae la entrada de L-leucina es mediada por la permeasa general de aminoácidos, GAP, y dos sistemas cinéticamente caracterizados, uno de alta afinidad y baja velocidad, S1, para concentraciones externas de L-leucina 0,05-01mM y otro de baja afinidad, alta velocidad, S2, para concentraciones externas 1.0mM. En células crecidas en medios suplementados con amonio, como única fuente de nitrógeno, los valores de entrada e incorporación son menores que en células crecidas en medios suplementados con L-prolina. En condiciones de represión de la GAP por iones amonio, la entrada de L-leucina es mediada por los sistemas S1 y S2. Los dos sistemas son parcialmente inhibidos por efecto de iones amonio. En condiciones de depresion de la GAP, por crecimiento en L-prolina, la entrada de L-leucina es mediada por los sistemas S1 y GAP, bajas concentraciones externas de L-leucina mediada por centraciones externas. El amonio inhibe en mayor extensión la entrada de L-leucina mediada por La GAP

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

En Saccharomyces cerevisiae la entrada de L-leucina es mediada por la permeasa general de aminoácidos, GAP, y dos sistemas cinéticamente caracterizados, uno de alta afinidad y baja velocidad, S1, para concentraciones externas de L-leucina 0,05-01mM y otro de baja afinidad, alta velocidad, S2, para concentraciones externas 1.0mM. En células crecidas en medios suplementados con amonio, como única fuente de nitrógeno, los valores de entrada e incorporación son menores que en células crecidas en medios suplementados con L-prolina. En condiciones de represión de la GAP por iones amonio, la entrada de L-leucina es mediada por los sistemas S1 y S2. Los dos sistemas son parcialmente inhibidos por efecto de iones amonio. En condiciones de depresion de la GAP, por crecimiento en L-prolina, la entrada de L-leucina es mediada por los sistemas S1 y GAP, bajas concentraciones externas de L-leucina mediada por centraciones externas. El amonio inhibe en mayor extensión la entrada de L-leucina mediada por La GAP (AU)

Asunto(s)