Mechanistic studies are needed to investigate the mitochondrial pathways involved in autoimmunity, including T1D. These studies should seek to identify the role of mitochondria in regulating innate and adaptive immune cell activity and beta cell failure.

BackgroundAberrant mitochondrial function, including excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human diseases. The use of mitochondrial inhibitors to ascertain the sites in the electron transport chain (ETC) resulting in altered ROS production can be an important tool. However, the response of mouse mitochondria to ETC inhibitors has not been thoroughly assessed. Here we set out to characterize the differences in phenotypic response to ETC inhibitors between the more energetically demanding brain mitochondria and less energetically demanding liver mitochondria in commonly utilized C57BL/6J mice.ResultsWe show that in contrast to brain mitochondria, inhibiting distally within complex I or within complex III does not increase liver mitochondrial ROS production supported by complex I substrates, and liver mitochondrial ROS production supported by complex II substrates occurred primarily independent of membrane potential. Complex I, II, and III enzymatic activities and membrane potential were equivalent between liver and brain and responded to ETC. inhibitors similarly. Brain mitochondria exhibited an approximately two-fold increase in complex I and II supported respiration compared with liver mitochondria while exhibiting similar responses to inhibitors. Elevated NADH transport and heightened complex II–III coupled activity accounted for increased complex I and II supported respiration, respectively in brain mitochondria.ConclusionsWe conclude that important mechanistic differences exist between mouse liver and brain mitochondria and that mouse mitochondria exhibit phenotypic differences compared with mitochondria from other species.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12858-015-0051-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The specific rates of solvolysis of 2-butyn-1-yl-chloroformate (1) and 2-methoxyphenyl chloroformate (2) are studied at 25.0 °C in a series of binary aqueousorganic mixtures. The rates of reaction obtained are then analyzed using the extended Grunwald-Winstein (G-W) equation and the results are compared to previously published G-W analyses for phenyl chloroformate (3), propargyl chloroformate (4), p-methoxyphenyl choroformate (5), and p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (6). For 1, the results indicate that dual side-by-side addition-elimination and ionization pathways are occurring in some highly ionizing solvents due to the presence of the electron-donating γ-methyl group. For 2, the analyses indicate that the dominant mechanism is a bimolecular one where the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate is rate-determining.

To provide insight and to identify the occurrence of mechanistic changes in relation to variance in solvent-type, the solvent effects on the rates of solvolysis of three substrates, 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformate, 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate, and 1-chloroethyl chloroformate, are analyzed using linear free energy relationships (LFERs) such as the extended GrunwaldWinstein equation, and a similarity-based LFER model approach that is based on the solvolysis of phenyl chloroformate. At 25.0 °C, in four common solvents, the α-chloroethyl chloroformate was found to react considerably faster than the two β,β,β-trichloro-substituted analogs. This immense rate enhancement can be directly related to the proximity of the electron-withdrawing α-chlorine atom to the carbonyl carbon reaction center. In the thirteen solvents studied, 1-chloroethyl chloroformate was found to strictly follow a carbonyl addition process, with the addition-step being rate-determining. For the two β,β,β-trichloro-substrates, in aqueous mixtures that are very rich in a fluoroalcohol component, there is compelling evidence for the occurrence of side-by-side addition-elimination and ionization mechanisms, with the ionization pathway being predominant. The presence of the two methyl groups on the α-carbon of 2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-dimethylethyl chloroformate has additive steric and stereoelectronic implications, causing its rate of reaction to be significantly slower than that of 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate.

Translational science is the cornerstone of biomedicine that transfers laboratory and clinical research to the hospital bedside in various forms of therapeutic interventions. This scientific branch influences public health decisions, the economy, and ongoing research endeavors. The purpose of this study was to develop a youth-friendly Translational Science course that introduced students to translational science concepts, then examine course outcomes and effects on career choices. The seminar course involved 18-contact hours with 20 high-school juniors (n=10 / Summer 2016 & Summer 2017). The curriculum encompassed the fundamentals of the five translational science phases as well as how to understand scientific readings and conduct efficient research database searches. A concluding student-presentation on a topic of the student's choosing ensured each student had a sufficient understanding of translational science, use of PubMed for original research articles, and demonstrated the student's ability to apply the concepts individually. Analysis of end-of-course and follow-up surveys showed that the majority of students understood the material, felt the course met their expectations and influenced long-term professional goals. These data suggest that exposing students earlier in their career (pre-collegiate) to the importance and structure of translational science could have long-term benefits towards influencing career choices in STEM.

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