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Biomedical subjects

A M Ragnelli

Publications and source records attributed to A M Ragnelli.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1994

Cyto-genotoxic species leakage within human melanoma melanosomes. Molecular-morphological correlations.

This work studies the phenotype changes, relating to pigment expression, of a human melanoma cell line. The phenotypic instabilities and proliferation rates are correlated with the production and release in the cell culture medium of active oxygen species and melanin synthesis intermediates. The proliferation rates versus L-tyrosine concentration in the culture media are investigated: a decrease is found when high L-tyrosine is added to the medium. This would be consistent with the release of cytotoxic and/or genotoxic species by melanoma cells. The morphology of melanoma melanosomes is coherent with the leakage of cytotoxic and genotoxic species produced during melanin synthesis.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1992

Truffle melanogenesis: correlation with reproductive differentiation and ascocarp ripening.

The present work uses histochemical techniques to investigate the correlation between reproductive differentiation and age of truffles (Tuber aestivum and Tuber melanosporum) with melanin synthesis. The dopa oxidase and tyrosine hydroxylase activities of tyrosinase have been localized within the ascocarp and melanin localization was performed by the Schmorl's reaction. A true tyrosinase is present in truffles, able to oxidize both l-tyrosine and l-dopa. The tyrosinase activity is on in the young ascocarps (in the peridium, hypothecium, and fertile veins) and off in the ripe ones, thus it appears correlated with the age and differentiation of the sporogenic hyphae that arise from the hypothecium; a similar correlation has been previously described in Neurospora crassa, which is an ascomycete as well as the truffles.

Fungi↗
PubMed1992

Copper deficiency and pigmentation in the rat: morphofunctional aspects.

The effects of a low copper diet on pigmentation, pigment cell and melanosome morphology have been investigated in ACI/T male rats. After a three months treatment the fur and skin pigmentation is reduced as compared to the controls. The melanocytes of the treated rats show the phenotype of active pigment cells while some melanosomes are abnormally differentiated: both lamellar and granular organelles are present in the same pigment cell and mosaic age melanosomes appear. The abnormal melanosome structure expressed by the treated-rat melanocytes is also evident in vitro. After incubation with deoxycholate the melanosomes from the low-copper diet treated rats are much more altered than those from the control rats. The phenotype of the rats starved for copper seems to mimic as regards pigmentation the phenotype of the mouse Mo (mottled) mutation that is an experimental model of the Menkes' kinky hair syndrome. In conclusion copper deficiency seems to affect both the morphology and function of the pigment cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Liposome-entrapped tyrosinase: a tool to investigate the regulation of the Raper-Mason pathway.

The effect of the entrapment of mushroom tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) within liposomes on the enzyme activity and Km vs. L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine is reported in the present work; the effect of cholesterol insertion within liposome membranes on the enzyme activity has also been studied. The oxidation rates of various monophenols and diphenols by free and liposome-integrated mushroom tyrosinase were measured and the oxidation latencies vs. different substrates investigated. The different substrates are apparently oxidized according to the properties of the substituents as electron donors or acceptors; the Km values vs. L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine calculated on measuring O2 consumption are higher than those calculated on measuring the dopachrome production rates. It is interesting that natural substrates of tyrosinase are oxidized according to a negative catalysis by the liposome-entrapped enzyme; this point is discussed in relation to the well known cytotoxicity of some intermediates of the Raper-Mason pathway.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMed1982

Developmental aspects of hexose metabolism in Bufo bufo.

Due to the close correlation between glucose mobilization and utilization within animal tissues, in this paper, the stages of appearance of phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase and hexokinase as well as the levels of some intermediates of glucose metabolism have been investigated during Bufo bufo development. Phosphorylase first appears at stage 13 and is dominant in the neural part of the embryo, but, after this stage, increases relatively more in the nonneural one. Hexokinase appears at stage 17 and glucose-6-phosphatase soon after. Phosphorylase appearance at stage 13 is correlated with an increase of lactate content in the embryo; this may indicate a metabolization of hexoses. On this basis, the subsequent appearance of hexokinase and glucose-6-phosphatase activities also seems coherent with hexose mobilization and utilization within embryo. No direct causative factor for the changes observed was evident.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

A study on melanogenesis and catecholamine biosynthesis during Bufo bufo development.

Tyrosinase and L-DOPA decarboxylase activities have been investigated during Bufo bufo development since catecholamines and melanin are formed from common substrates in homologous cells. Catecholamines first appear at stage 13 (neural plate), but tyrosinase, at a very low level, and L-DOPA decarboxylase are present throughout all of prior development. Hence, L-DOPA decarboxylase activity is not likely to be correlated with the control of catecholamine synthesis, although at stage 17 it is mainly localized in the nonneural part of the embryo. The distribution of young melanosomes and L-DOPA decarboxylase suggest a separation between melanogenesis and catecholamine synthesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Some properties of Bufo bufo tyrosinase during development.

Tyrosinase expression during Bufo bufo development has been investigated. Until stage 19, only 1 electrophoretic band is detectable, but at a later stage (25) 3 bands appear. The Km for L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) was also determined.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, and hexokinase activity ratios in some human tumor cytosols.

The ratios of some key enzymatic activities of carbohydrate metabolism have been measured in human tumor cytosols. The activities of whole hexokinase (low Km, EC 2.7.1.1 and high Km, EC 2.7.1.2), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.43), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49) and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) change according to a biochemical pattern coherent with cell growth requirements. 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase activity was in each sample tested higher than glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity; this indicates that 6-phosphogluconate, a powerful inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase, is unlikely to accumulate and inhibit this enzyme and glucose-6-phosphate channelling into glycolysis.

Cytosol↗