Biomedical subjects

Vladana Vukojević

Publications and source records attributed to Vladana Vukojević.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Complex and chaotic oscillations in a model for the catalytic hydrogen peroxide decomposition under open reactor conditions.

Numerous periodic and aperiodic dynamic states obtained in a model for hydrogen peroxide decomposition in the presence of iodate and hydrogen ions (the Bray-Liebhafsky reaction) realized in an open reactor (CSTR), where the flow rate was the control parameter, have been investigated numerically. Between two Hopf bifurcation points, different simple and complex oscillations and different routes to chaos were observed. In the region of the mixed-mode evolution of the system, the transitions between two successive mixed-mode simple states are realized by period-doubling of the initial state leading to a chaotic window in which the next dynamic state emerges mixed with the initial one. It appears in increasing proportions in concatenated patterns until total domination. Thus, with increasing flow rate the period-doubling route to chaos was obtained, whereas with decreasing flow rate the peak-adding route to chaos was obtained. Moreover, in very narrow regions of flow rates, chaotic mixtures of mixed-mode patterns were observed. This evolution of patterns repeats until the end of the mixed-mode region at high flow rates that corresponds to chaotic mixtures of one large and many small amplitude oscillations. Starting from the reverse Hopf bifurcation point and decreasing the flow rate, simple small amplitude sinusoidal oscillations were encountered and then the period-doubling route to chaos. With a further decreasing flow rate, the mixed-mode oscillations emerge inside the chaotic window.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Isocratic RP-HPLC method for rutin determination in solid oral dosage forms.

A rapid and sensitive assay for quantitative determination of rutin in oral dosage forms based on isocratic reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) was developed and validated. Using a C(18) reverse-phase analytical column, the following conditions were chosen as optimal: mobile phase methanol-water 1:1 (v/v), pH 2.8 (adjusted with phosphoric acid), flow rate=1 mL min(-1) and temperature T=40.0 degrees C. Linearity was observed in the concentration range 8-120 microg mL(-1) with a correlation coefficient of 0.99982 and the limit of detection (LOD)=2.6 microg mL(-1), and limit of quantification (LOQ)=8.0 microg mL(-1). Intra- and inter-day precision were within acceptable limits. Robustness test indicated that the mobile phase composition and pH influence mainly the separation. The proposed method allowed direct determination of rutin in pharmaceutical dosage forms in the presence of excipients, but is not suitable for preparations where compounds structurally/chemically related to rutin may be present.

Capsules↗

PubMed2006

Membrane leakage induced by dynorphins.

Dynorphins, endogeneous opioid peptides, function as ligands to the opioid kappa receptors and induce non-opioid excitotoxic effects. Here we show that big dynorphin and dynorphin A, but not dynorphin B, cause leakage effects in large unilamellar phospholipid vesicles (LUVs). The effects parallel the previously studied potency of dynorphins to translocate through biological membranes. Calcein leakage caused by dynorphin A from LUVs with varying POPG/POPC molar ratios was promoted by higher phospholipid headgroup charges, suggesting that electrostatic interactions are important for the effects. A possibility that dynorphins generate non-opioid excitatory effects by inducing perturbations in the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Microquantitative determination of hesperidin by pulse perturbation of the oscillatory reaction system.

A simple and reliable kinetic method for the determination of hesperidin (Hesp) is developed. It is based on potentiometric monitoring of the concentration perturbations of the matrix reaction system which is in a stable non-equilibrium stationary state close to the bifurcation point. The Bray-Liebhafsky oscillatory reaction is used as the matrix system. The response of the matrix to perturbations by different concentrations of Hesp is followed by using a Pt electrode. A linear relationship between maximal potential shift and the logarithm of Hesp concentrations is obtained between 7.5 and 599.4 microg mL-1. The limit of detection is 0.65 microg mL-1. The described procedure has been successfully applied to the determination of Hesp from different sources (capsules, industrial and hand-squeezed orange juice, and white wine).

Hesperidin↗

PubMed2005

Numerically simulated pH-induced reactivation of catalytic activity of horseradish peroxidase.

A model mechanism that accounts for the experimentally observed pH-dependent enhancement of enzymatic activity of horseradish peroxidase through the catalase-like pathway is proposed. Predictions of the model are tested against a number of experimental results to confirm that kinetic constants used in the numerical simulation are correctly chosen and that the model can be used to emulate the reaction between horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide in a wide range of conditions.

Catalysis↗

PubMed2004

YY1 binding to a subset of p53 DNA-target sites regulates p53-dependent transcription.

The tumor suppressor protein p53 regulates gene transcription through binding to specific DNA-target sites. We here demonstrate that a subset of these sites is targeted by another DNA-binding factor. Binding specificity, reactivity with specific antibodies, and experiments with purified protein identified the factor as the multifunctional transcription regulator YY1. The YY1 core binding sequence ACAT is present in the center of p53-half-binding sites in the p21 and GADD45 genes regulating growth arrest and DNA repair, respectively, but is absent in those of the Bax gene critical for apoptosis. In transfection experiments YY1 inhibits p53-activated transcription from the p53-binding site that contains the ACAT sequence. YY1 and p53 are colocalized around the nucleoli and in discrete nuclear domains in PC12 cells undergoing apoptosis. YY1 might attenuate p53-dependent transcription from a subset of p53-target genes and this may be relevant for directing cells either to growth arrest or apoptosis upon p53 activation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Denaturation of dsDNA by p53: fluorescence correlation spectroscopy study.

p53 activates transcription through interaction with specific DNA sequences in gene promoters. It also regulates DNA replication, recombination, and repair apparently through interactions with DNA intermediates of these reactions. Biochemical activities relevant for these functions of p53 include binding to the ends and internal segments of single-stranded DNA molecules, catalysis of DNA renaturation, and strand exchange. We report a novel activity of p53, its ability to denature double-stranded DNA molecules aggregated by basic peptides. Stable complexes of coiled single-stranded DNA molecules with basic peptides are formed in this reaction. Thus, complementary to the ability to catalyze DNA renaturation, p53 denatures double-stranded DNA when the latter reaction is thermodynamically favorable. This p53 activity, along with its ability to interact physically with DNA helicases, may be relevant for resolving double-stranded DNA intermediates and inhibition of DNA recombination, which is critical for guarding of the genome.

DNA↗