Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations of NPC1 and NPC2 genes. Progressive neurodegeneration that accompanies NPC is fatal, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. In the present study, we characterized the association of autophagiclysosomal dysfunction with cholesterol accumulation in Npc1 ؊/؊ mice during postnatal development. Brain levels of lysosomal cathepsin D were significantly higher in mutant than in wild-type mice. Increases in cathepsin D occurred first in neurons and later in astrocytes and microglia and were both spatially and temporally associated with intracellular cholesterol accumulation and neurodegeneration. Furthermore, levels of ubiquitinated proteins were higher in endosomal/lysosomal fractions of brains from Npc1

Intracellular recordings were made from pyramidal neurons in layers V and VI of the rat medial prefrontal cortex in slice preparations to investigate the effect of the serotonin 5-HT2A,2C receptor agonist (-)-1-2,5-dimethoxy-4-bromophenol-2-aminopropane (DOB) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-induced responses. Bath application of either DOB or 5-HT [in the presence of antagonists to 5-HT1A, 5-HT3 and gamma-aminobutytric acid (GABA) receptors] produced a concentration-dependent biphasic modulation of the NMDA responses. They facilitated and inhibited NMDA responses at low (

A nitrocellulose film is used as a substrate in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI MS) studies of DNA. PCR products and DNA fragment digests obtained from biochemical procedures can be analyzed with the use of a nitrocellulose substrate in MALDI MS whereas no signal is observed with the use of a stainless steel substrate. In this method, on-probe purification allows for effective elimination of the interfering effects of salts, buffers, and other contaminants that are usually present in DNA samples, which serve as important limiting factors in the DNA molecular ion yield in the MALDI process. The use of the nitrocellulose film substrate also appears to improve the shot-to-shot and sample-to-sample reproducibility of the ion yield due to the more homogeneous coverage of matrix/analyte over the sample surface. With the use of the nitrocellulose substrate, DNA fragments of up to 622 base pairs in complex mixtures provide mass spectra with minimal sample purification. Although only species corresponding to single-stranded DNA were detected, a mass calibration scheme was established allowing an accuracy of within one base pair for fragments of < 250 bp under the experimental conditions. Despite the low mass resolution of the spectra obtained, the method has been successfully used for rapid DNA screening for sample disease genes and PCR products.

A simple and effective method has been proposed in this work for combination of immunoaffinity extraction with MALDI MS. In this method, an antibody is attached to the surface of a MALDI probe tip via a thin nitrocellulose film. This allows the corresponding antigen to be selectively captured and concentrated on the probe tip from complex plasma solution for MALDI MS analysis. The whole procedure can be completed within 1 h. This combination offers several excellent performance features in the analysis of SNX-111, a therapeutic peptide. It combines the high specificity of affinity chromatography with the high sensitivity of mass spectrometry in a rapid analysis. Direct mass detection provides unambiguous determination by the observation of signals at characteristic m/z values. This method has been used successfully to determine the therapeutic peptide at relevant doses.

A new approach is developed for the rapid and cost-effective detection of human genetic polymorphisms based on matrix-assisted laser description/ionization mass spectrometric (MALDI MS) detection using a nitrocellulose film substrate. This method employs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using DNA extracted from buccal cells as templates, followed by direct digestion with restriction enzymes and subsequent analysis by MALDI MS. The extraction of DNA from buccal cells provides a rapid and convenient means for sampling PCR-based diagnostic analysis. The amount of DNA was sufficient as the template for both normal PCR amplifications, and amplifications involving the use of mismatched primers and multiple primers. The MALDI MS methodology has been successfully used for the analysis of such PCR products where restriction fragments generated directly in PCR reactions have been used for detection of carbonic anhydrase and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator as model genes. The detection of genetic polymorphisms following routine biological and clinical procedures with the MALDI MS method is demonstrated. The results from MALDI MS analysis are shown to be comparable to those obtained from gel electrophoresis but the MALDI MS method is several orders of magnitude faster than gel electrophoretic techniques. The method described herein should also be readily extended to other areas involving DNA screening and testing.

A new strategy to characterize SDS--PAGE-separated proteins with MALDI MS is described. The proteins, electroblotted onto nitrocellulose after SDS--PAGE separation and stained with reversible Ponceau S dye, are readily recovered by dissolving the membrane in matrix solutions prepared with acetone. The resulting mixtures are amenable to direct MALDI MS analysis, which provides a rapid and accurate means of measuring the molecular weights of SDS--PAGE-separated proteins and of peptides that result from CNBr digestion of proteins on the nitrocellulose membrane. Compared with the traditional elution method, this procedure provides more efficient detection of proteins and peptides, especially the higher molecular weight proteins from the membrane. As little as 3.5 pmol of lysozyme and 15 pmol of bovine albumin loaded onto a gel can be detected using this method. The detection sensitivity is higher than or comparable to that of the traditional Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining procedure.

A rapid method for profiling bacterial and cellular proteins has been developed using a combination of capillary high-performance liquid chromatography separation followed by (MALDI-MS) matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric analysis. In this method, bacteria are sonicated, the cell walls broken, and the water-soluble proteins precipitated for analysis. The proteins are separated by capillary liquid chromatography and detected on-line by a UV absorption detector. The eluents are then collected for off-line analysis by MALDI-MS. Using this method, it is demonstrated that bacteria can be discriminated based upon their protein profiles to the species level with only pmol level detection of proteins. It has also proved to be a fast and accurate means for monitoring the expression of Hsp27 in an insect cell system.

Photoluminescence properties of silicate and borosilicate glasses codoped with Tb3+ and Sm3+ ions have been characterized by excitation and emission spectroscopies. When excited by ultraviolet light the glasses emit a combination of green and orange-red wavelengths giving white light. The ratio of the intensities of orange-red to green emissions can be tuned by varying both the concentration of the Sm3+ ion and an the composition of the glass matrix. The excitation and emission spectra show a self-quenching effect for the Sm3+ ions and an energy transfer from Tb3+ (D45) to Sm3+ (G5∕24).