Browsing by Subject "Carbohydrate"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Restricted
    Biosynthesis of a novel polymeric chitosan-betaxanthin and characterization of the first sugar-derived betalains and their effects in the in vivo model Caenorhabditis elegans
    (Elsevier, 2020-09-28) Guerrero Rubio, María Alejandra; Hernández García, Samanta; Gandía Herrero, Fernando; García Carmona, Francisco; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular "A"
    Betaxanthins are nitrogenous plant pigments belonging to the family of betalains and they are known for their health-promoting effects and fluorescent properties. A novel biotechnological approach in the synthesis of these compounds has allowed the synthesis of high amounts of known betalains and of novel, tailor-made betalains through the condensation of the structural unit - betalamic acid - with amine groups of different compounds. Here we describe the synthesis and characterization of chitosan-betaxanthin, the first fluorescent polymeric betaxanthin which forms nanoparticles and that might combine the fluorescent properties of betalains and the properties of chitosan, a sugar polymer widely used with medical purposes. In addition, glucosamine, the structural unit of chitosan, and its stereoisomer galactosamine were shown to condense in solution with betalamic acid. This produced novel molecules with spectral and in vivo antioxidant and anti-aging properties similar to those of biological betaxanthins, which are the first sugar-derived betaxanthins described.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Characterization of the lectin binding pattern in human spermatozoa after swim-up selection
    (F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2012) Gómez-Torres, María José; Girela, Jose Luis; Murcia, Verónica; Fernández-Colom, Pedro José; Romeu, Alberto; Juan, Joaquín de; Avilés Sánchez, Manuel
    Capacitation is characterized by a hyperactivated pattern of sperm motility. The acquisition of highly motility is present in the early stages of capacitation. Sperm progressive motility is one of the most important parameters for determining the suitability of semen for processing. However, previous studies have shown that some sperm showing good motility have membrane damage. The aim of our study was to characterize the lectin staining pattern on the sperm plasma membrane of unselected and selected human sperm of normozoospermic donors. Sperm selection was performed by the swim-up technique. Fourteen samples from healthy consenting donors classified as normozoospermic according to the World Health Organization were used. We observed changes in the distribution of the carbohydrate residues after the swim-up selection. With Triticum vulgaris, the most abundant pattern was dotted labeling all over the head plasma membrane in the unselected sperm. However, this lectin was distributed homogenously over the acrosomal region after selection. With Arachis hypogaea, the most abundant pattern in fresh sperm was a highly stained acrosomal region. In the highly motility sperm population, the most frequent pattern was dotted fluorescence on the acrosomal region and a highly stained equatorial segment. Meanwhile, with the Aleuria aurantia and Canavalia ensiformis lectins, the most representative patterns were the same before and after the swim-up selection. Our data indicate that modifications which occur in carbohydrate residues during swim-up selection could be important for the regulation of progressive motility and prepare the sperm for capacitation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Open Access
    Metabolomic changes in the rat retina after optic nerve crush
    (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2013-06-21) Agudo Barriuso, Marta; Lahoz, Agustín; Nadal-Nicolás, Francisco Manuel; Sobrado Calvo, Paloma; Piquer Gil, Marina; Díaz Llopis, Manuel; Vidal Sanz, Manuel; Mullor, José L.; Oftalmología, Optometría, Otorrinolaringología y Anatomía Patológica; Facultades de la UMU::Facultad de Medicina
    Purpose: To identify metabolic pathways and metabolites affected by optic nerve crush that can act as predictors of the disease or therapeutic targets. Methods: The left optic nerve of adult rats was intraorbitally crushed and retinas were dissected 24 hours or 14 days after the lesion (n = 10 per group). Metabolic profiling analysis was carried out by Metabolon, Inc. A total of 195 metabolites were unambiguously detected. Data were normalized and the regulated metabolites were identified after comparing the different conditions. Metabolite concentration changes were analyzed using single and multivariate statistical analysis to detect discriminatory metabolites. Functional clustering and meta-analysis of the regulated metabolites was run through the Metacore platform. Results: Comparison of 24 hours versus control, 14 days versus control samples, and 24 hours versus 14 days identified 9, 19, and 32 regulated metabolites, respectively. Single and multivariate analysis identified a total of 27 and 36 metabolites to discriminate between control and 14 days and between 24 hours and 14 days, respectively. Enrichment analysis showed alterations in the amino acid, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism, which were further linked to translation, oxidative stress, energy (glucose and tricarboxylic acid cycle), and apoptosis through ceramide pathways. Conclusions: Our analysis differentiates a set of metabolites that clearly discriminate control and early-injury samples from late-injury samples. These metabolites could have potential use as diagnostic molecules.