Biochemical dissection of STAT3 signaling in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons,clinically marked by muscle atrophy and weakness.Although the clinical course is highly variable,the average time from the onset of symptoms to the need for respiratory support or death is 3-5 years.ALS is the most prevalent motor neuron disease in adults,occurring at a rate of 2 per 100,000 individuals and affecting 5.4 per 100,000 individuals overall.

Exploring the role of N-acetyltransferases in diseases:a focus on N-acetyltransferase 9 in neurodegeneration

Acetyltransferases,required to transfer an acetyl group on protein are highly conserved proteins that play a crucial role in development and disease.Protein acetylation is a common post-translational modification pivotal to basic cellular processes.Close to 80%-90%of proteins are acetylated during translation,which is an irreversible process that affects protein structure,function,life,and localization.In this review,we have discussed the various N-acetyltransferases present in humans,their function,and how they might play a role in diseases.Furthermore,we have focused on N-acetyltransferase 9 and its role in microtubule stability.We have shed light on how N-acetyltransferase 9 and acetylation of proteins can potentially play a role in neurodegenerative diseases.We have specifically discussed the N-acetyltransferase 9-acetylation independent function and regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling and microtubule stability during development and neurodegeneration.

A new species of the endemic Himalayan genus Liurana(Anura, Ceratobatrachidae) from southeastern Tibet, China, with comments on the distribution,reproductive biology, and conservation of the genus

A new species of the genus Liurana Dubois, 1986 is described from Medog County, Tibet, China, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species can be differentiated from all other congeners by the following combination of characters:(1) head wider than long;(2) tympanum distinct and large;(3) hindlimb long, tibiotarsal articulation beyond tip of snout when adpressed;(4) belly with flat tubercles, cloacal region with small tubercles;(5) transverse bands distinctly on dorsal limbs, four bands on thigh and three on tibia;and,(6) dark brown marbled patterns or speckles on white bel y. Here, we also discuss the distribution pattern of Liurana in the East Himalaya region, the role of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the speciation and genetic isolation of congeners, the direct developmental mode of reproduction, and the two different ecotypes of the genus.Lastly, we provide conservation recommendations for the genus in southeastern Tibet.

Emergence of taurine as a therapeutic agent for neurological disorders

Taurine is a sulfur-containing,semi-essential amino acid that occurs naturally in the body.It alternates between inflammation and oxidative stress-mediated injury in various disease models.As part of its limiting functions,taurine also modulates endoplasmic reticulum stress,Ca^(2+)homeostasis,and neuronal activity at the molecular level.Taurine effectively protects against a number of neurological disorders,including stro ke,epilepsy,cerebral ischemia,memory dysfunction,and spinal cord injury.Although various therapies are available,effective management of these disorders remains a global challenge.Approximately 30 million people are affected worldwide.The design of taurine fo rmation co uld lead to potential drugs/supplements for the health maintenance and treatment of central nervous system disorders.The general neuroprotective effects of taurine and the various possible underlying mechanisms are discussed in this review.This article is a good resource for understanding the general effects of taurine on various diseases.Given the strong evidence for the neuropharmacological efficacy of taurine in various experimental paradigms,it is concluded that this molecule should be considered and further investigated as a potential candidate for neurotherapeutics,with emphasis on mechanism and clinical studies to determine efficacy.

Brain dysfunctions and neurotoxicity induced by psychostimulants in experimental models and humans:an overview of recent findings

Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that psychostimulants,in addition to having abuse potential,may elicit brain dysfunctions and/or neurotoxic effects.Central toxicity induced by psychostimulants may pose serious health risks since the recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young people and adults.The present review provides an overview of recent research,conducted between 2018 and 2023,focusing on brain dysfunctions and neurotoxic effects elicited in experimental models and humans by amphetamine,cocaine,methamphetamine,3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine,methylphenidate,caffeine,and nicotine.Detailed elucidation of factors and mechanisms that underlie psychostimulant-induced brain dysfunction and neurotoxicity is crucial for understanding the acute and enduring noxious brain effects that may occur in individuals who use psychostimulants for recreational and/or therapeutic purposes.

The effect of Common Cuckoo parasitism on the annual productivity of a host population

Avian interspecific brood parasitism is an excellent system for studying coevolutionary processes in nature because brood parasites directly affect host reproductive success.Most research on avian brood parasitism has,therefore,focused primarily on specific host anti-parasite behaviours and parasite counter-adaptations.However,the population-level consequences of brood parasitism for host species are poorly understood.This study investigated the effect of Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)parasitism on the productivity of a local population of the Great Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus arundinaceus)host in south-western Slovakia.A total of 495 females nesting at the studied site successfully fledged 1321 of their own young and 63 young of the Common Cuckoo over the course of 15 years(2008-2022),and the annual rate of successful parasitism ranged from 18% to 44% over this period.As predicted,higher rates of successful cuckoo parasitism significantly reduced the annual productivity of the local Great Reed Warbler population,and its contribution to decreased host reproductive success was at about the same rate as overall nest failure caused by predation and other environmental factors.Such a heavily parasitized population was probably maintained by immigrants from other populations and density-dependent selection,which is also consistent with source-sink dynamics.However,further long-term studies monitoring parasitized populations are required to confirm these findings.

Enhancement of endogenous midbrain neurogenesis by microneurotrophin BNN-20 after neural progenitor grafting in a mouse model of nigral degeneration

We have previously shown the neuroprotective and pro-neurogenic activity of microneurotrophin BNN-20 in the substantia nigra of the“weaver”mouse,a model of progressive nigrostriatal degeneration.Here,we extended our investigation in two clinically-relevant ways.First,we assessed the effects of BNN-20 on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells and neurons derived from healthy and parkinsonian donors.Second,we assessed if BNN-20 can boost the outcome of mouse neural progenitor cell intranigral transplantations in weaver mice,at late stages of degeneration.We found that BNN-20 has limited direct effects on cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitor cells,marginally enhancing their differentiation towards neurons and partially reversing the pathological phenotype of dopaminergic neurons generated from parkinsonian donors.In agreement,we found no effects of BNN-20 on the mouse neural progenitor cells grafted in the substantia nigra of weaver mice.However,the graft strongly induced an endogenous neurogenic response throughout the midbrain,which was significantly enhanced by the administration of microneurotrophin BNN-20.Our results provide straightforward evidence of the existence of an endogenous midbrain neurogenic system that can be specifically strengthened by BNN-20.Interestingly,the lack of major similar activity on cultured human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors and their progeny reveals the in vivo specificity of the aforementioned pro-neurogenic effect.

Bacterial communities and enzyme activities during litter decomposition of Elymus nutans leaf on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The dominant plant litter plays a crucial role in carbon(C)and nutrients cycling as well as ecosystem functions maintenance on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(QTP).The impact of litter decomposition of dominant plants on edaphic parameters and grassland productivity has been extensively studied,while its decomposition processes and relevant mechanisms in this area remain poorly understood.We conducted a three-year litter decomposition experiment in the Gansu Gannan Grassland Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station,an alpine meadow ecosystem on the QTP,to investigate changes in litter enzyme activities and bacterial and fungal communities,and clarify how these critical factors regulated the decomposition of dominant plant Elymus nutans(E.nutans)litter.The results showed that cellulose and hemicellulose,which accounted for 95%of the initial lignocellulose content,were the main components in E.nutans litter decomposition.The litter enzyme activities ofβ-1,4-glucosidase(BG),β-1,4-xylosidase(BX),andβ-D-cellobiosidase(CBH)decreased with decomposition while acid phosphatase,leucine aminopeptidase,and phenol oxidase increased with decomposition.We found that both litter bacterial and fungal communities changed significantly with decomposition.Furthermore,bacterial communities shifted from copiotrophic-dominated to oligotrophic-dominated in the late stage of litter decomposition.Partial least squares path model revealed that the decomposition of E.nutans litter was mainly driven by bacterial communities and their secreted enzymes.Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria were important producers of enzymes BG,BX,and CBH,and their relative abundances were tightly positively related to the content of cellulose and hemicellulose,indicating that Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria are the main bacterial taxa of the decomposition of E.nutans litter.In conclusion,this study demonstrates that bacterial communities are the main driving forces behind the decomposition of E.nutans litter,highlighting the vital roles of bacterial communities in affecting the ecosystem functions of the QTP by regulating dominant plant litter decomposition.

The Crested Ibises expanding to plain areas exhibit a higher tolerance of human proximity

Animals must strike a balance between anti-predation behavior and other essential behaviors,such as foraging.Within the same species,strategies may vary on individuals’risk-taking preferences,and in this process the environment is a determinant,in addition to predator regime.The Crested Ibis(Nipponia nippon)exhibits such tendency.This is an endangered species,once inhabiting exclusively in China’s Qinling Mountain.This used to be the sole remaining wild population.However,over recent decades,this population has expanded.A portion has relocated to breed in the lower plain area,which is characterized by elevated level of human activities and landscape complexity.We used flight initiation distance(FID)as an indicator of the ibises’risk-taking preference,particularly their response to human proximity.Additionally,we examined the environmental factors influencing their foraging site selection,including altitude,terrain openness,human activity intensity and human construction.Our findings revealed a significantly shorter FID among individuals relocating to plain habitats,indicating a higher tolerance of human proximity.The results showed that FID decreased with distance to the nearest human settlement.Another finding is that FID was independent of instant human activity intensity and environmental factors(altitude and terrain openness).These different may arise from various combinations of human activity,predation risk,and food abundance within the two habitats.These results provide insights into the in situ conservation of the threatened species within the context of global urbanization.

Hmo1:A versatile member of the high mobility group box family of chromosomal architecture proteins

Eukaryotic chromatin consisting of nucleosomes connected by linker DNA is organized into higher order structures,which is facilitated by linker histone H1.Formation of chromatin compacts and protects the genome,but also hinders DNA transactions.Cells have evolved mechanisms to modify/remodel chromatin resulting in chromatin states suitable for genome functions.The high mobility group box(HMGB)proteins are non-histone chromatin architectural factors characterized by one or more HMGB motifs that bind DNA in a sequence nonspecific fashion.They play a major role in chromatin dynamics.The Saccharomyces cerevisiae(yeast hereafter)HMGB protein Hmo1 contains two HMGB motifs.However,unlike a canonical HMGB protein that has an acidic C-terminus,Hmo1 ends with a lysine rich,basic,C-terminus,resembling linker histone H1.Hmo1 exhibits characteristics of both HMGB proteins and linker histones in its multiple functions.For instance,Hmo1 promotes transcription by RNA polymerases I and II like canonical HMGB proteins but makes chromatin more compact/stable like linker histones.Recent studies have demonstrated that Hmo1 destabilizes/disrupts nucleosome similarly as other HMGB proteins in vitro and acts to maintain a common topological architecture of genes in yeast genome.This minireview reviews the functions of Hmo1 and the underlying mechanisms,highlighting recent discoveries.

Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Puerto Rico: A Study from 2016 to 2021

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a temporary form of insulin resistance during pregnancy and is linked to adverse outcomes for both mothers and offspring. Maternal risks include an increased prevalence of pre-eclampsia, cesarean delivery, and the development of type 2 diabetes within five to ten years post-delivery. For offspring, exposure to elevated maternal glucose levels is associated with macrosomia. A significant challenge in evaluating the prevalence of GDM in Puerto Rico is the lack of recent research quantifying this condition in pregnant women living in Puerto Rico. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus from 2016 to 2021 by analyzing data collected by Puerto Rico’s Department of Health. Methods: We obtained publicly accessible data from the Division of Children, Mothers, and Adolescents from Puerto Rico’s Department of Health to estimate the prevalence of GDM across the island. Additionally, we correlated the prevalence with socioeconomic, educational, and demographic variables using beta regression models to assess their significance. Results: The prevalence of GDM ranged from 3.2% to 4.5% for the six years studied, with an average prevalence of 3.68%. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between maternal age and educational level. Higher educational attainment was associated with a reduced risk of GDM, while increasing maternal age was linked to a higher prevalence of the condition. Conclusion: This statistical analysis provides evidence of a steady increase in the prevalence of GDM in Puerto Rico from 2016 to 2021, highlighting the importance of ongoing surveillance and specific interventions to mitigate risk factors.

Phylogenomics,reticulation,and biogeographical history of Elaeagnaceae

The angiosperm family Elaeagnaceae comprises three genera and ca.100 species distributed mainly in Eurasia and North America.Little family-wide phylogenetic and biogeographic research on Elaeagnaceae has been conducted,limiting the application and preservation of natural genetic resources.Here,we reconstructed a strongly supported phylogenetic framework of Elaeagnaceae to better understand interand intrageneric relationships,as well as the origin and biogeographical history of the family.For this purpose,we used both nuclear and plastid sequences from Hyb-Seq and genome skimming approaches to reconstruct a well-supported phylogeny and,along with current distributional data,infer historical biogeographical processes.Our phylogenetic analyses of both nuclear and plastid data strongly support the monophyly of Elaeagnaceae and each of the three genera.Elaeagnus was resolved as sister to the well-supported clade of Hippophae and Shepherdia.The intrageneric relationships of Elaeagnus and Hippophae were also well resolved.High levels of nuclear gene tree conflict and cytonuclear discordance were detected within Elaeagnus,and our analyses suggest putative ancient and recent hybridization.We inferred that Elaeagnaceae originated at ca.90.48 Ma(95%CI?89.91e91.05 Ma),and long-distance dispersal likely played a major role in shaping its intercontinentally disjunct distribution.This work presents the most comprehensive phylogenetic framework for Elaeagnaceae to date,offers new insights into previously unresolved relationships in Elaeagnus,and provides a foundation for further studies on classification,evolution,biogeography,and conservation of Elaeagnaceae.

Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli Cohabitation among Factors Increasing Antibiotic Resistance in Bukavu City, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Food- and water-borne diseases exacerbate cases of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Since 2011, cases of enteric infections have been reported in Bukavu city, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the rate of AMR and multidrug resistance (MDR) of Salmonella enterica and Escherichia coli, and to determine the effect of S. enterica and E. coli cohabitation on antibiotic resistance of S. enterica. Bacteria were isolated from 553 foods, milk, and water samples collected from restaurants, taps, tanks and wells in Bukavu. Microbial analyses involved bacterial culture, and morphological and biochemical characterization. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed before and after bacteria cohabitation of S. enterica and E. coli isolates in the same media. 152 (27.5%) and 27 (4.9%) of the samples tested positive for S. enterica and E. coli, respectively. Salmonella isolates were more susceptible to ciprofloxacin (75.7%) and co-trimoxazole (75.0%) and more resistant to ampicillin (82.2%). E. coli was more resistant to ciprofloxacin (59.3%). Overall, 90.5% of isolates (n = 179) were MDR. The origin (food, water) of S. enterica and E. coli isolates had no significant (p > 0.05) influence on their susceptibility to antibiotics. However, S. enterica isolates from milk were significantly (p = 0.00) antibiotic-resistant than those from food and water. The cohabitation between antibiotic-susceptible S. enterica and antibiotic-resistant E. coli significantly (p S. enterica from 30% to 89.5%, implying that interactions of antibiotic-resistant and antibiotic-susceptible bacteria in food and water could be among neglected factors promoting the spread of AMR, leading to increase AMR cases in Bukavu. Strong sanitation strategies and the operationalization of One Health approach could mitigate the spread of AMR in Bukavu city, DR Congo.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of Phlomoides(Lamiaceae subfamily Lamioideae)in China:Insights from molecular and morphological data

Phlomoides,with 150-170 species,is the second largest and perhaps most taxonomically challenging genus within the subfamily Lamioideae(Lamiaceae).With about 60 species,China is one of three major biodiversity centers of Phlomoides.Although some Phlomoides species from China have been included in previous molecular phylogenetic studies,a robust and broad phylogeny of this lineage has yet to be completed.Moreover,given the myriad new additions to the genus,the existing infrageneric classification needs to be evaluated and revised.Here,we combine molecular and morphological data to investigate relationships within Phlomoides,with a focus on Chinese species.We observed that plastid DNA sequences can resolve relationships within Phlomoides better than nuclear ribosomal internal and external transcribed spacer regions(nrITS and nrETS).Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirm the monophyly of Phlomoides,but most previously defined infrageneric groups are not monophyletic.In addition,morphological analysis demonstrates the significant taxonomic value of eight characters to the genus.Based on our molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological data,we establish a novel section Notochaete within Phlomoides,and propose three new combinations as well as three new synonyms.This study presents the first molecular phylogenetic analyses of Phlomoides in which taxa representative of the entire genus are included,and highlights the phylogenetic and taxonomic value of several morphological characters from species of Phlomoides from China.Our study suggests that a taxonomic revision and reclassification for the entire genus is necessary in the future.

Effect of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) on Growth, Mineral Composition, and Nutritional Value of Wheat & Lentil Sprouts

Sprouts are ready-to-eat and are recognized worldwide as functional components of the human diet.Recent advances in innovative agricultural techniques could enable an increase in the production of healthy food.The use of light-emitting diode(LED)in indoor agricultural production could alter the biological feedback loop,increasing the functional benefits of plant foods such as wheat and lentil sprouts and promoting the bioavailability of nutrients.The effects of white(W),red(R),and blue(B)light were investigated on the growth parameters and nutritional value of wheat and lentil sprouts.In the laboratory,seeds were sown under three different LED treat-ments:white,red,and blue light,while normal incandescent light served as a control.Percentage seed germina-tion improved by 18.34%and 12.67%for wheat and 18.34%and 12.67%for lentil sprouts under LED treatments R and B,respectively.An increase in total soluble protein and sugar by 33.4%and 9.23%in wheat and by 31.5%and 5.87%in lentils was observed under the R LED treatment.Vitamin C concentrations in wheat and lentils were significantly increased by R LED compared to all other treatments.Other parameters,including potassium and sodium concentrations,were significantly increased under red and blue light compared to the control;white light,on the other hand,significantly decreased all these parameters.According to the experimental data,red and blue LED light could be beneficial in the production of functional wheat and lentil sprouts with high nutrient concentrations.

Role of viruses in periodontitis:An extensive review of herpesviruses,human immunodeficiency virus,coronavirus-19,papillomavirus and hepatitis viruses

Periodontitis is the inflammation of the supporting structures around the dentition.Several microbial agents,mostly bacteria,have been identified as causative factors for periodontal disease.On the other hand,oral cavity is a rich reservoir for viruses since it contains a wide variety of cell types that can be targeted by viruses.Traditionally,the focus of research about the oral flora has been on bacteria because the most widespread oral diseases,like periodontitis and dental caries,are outcomes of bacterial infection.However,recently and especially after the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019,there is a growing tendency toward including viruses also into the scope of oral microbiome investigations.The global high prevalence of periodontitis and viral infections may point out to a concomitant or synergistic effect between the two.Although the exact nature of the mechanism still is not clearly understood,this could be speculated through the manipulation of the immune system by viruses;hence facilitating the furthermore colonization of the oral tissues by bacteria.This review provides an extensive and detailed update on the role of the most common viruses including herpes family(herpes simplex,varicella-zoster,Epstein-Barr,cytomegalovirus),Human papillomaviruses,Human immunodeficiency virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the initiation,progression and prognosis of periodontitis.

Post Cryopreservation Growth Kinetic and Photosynthetic Assessment of an Acid Tolerant Strain of Stichococcus bacillaris

Preserving microbial diversity has become a strategic undertaking. Thus, ex situ microalgal culture conservation results in strategic and functional resource in both biodiversity protection and application domains. Cryopreservation of microalgae has been practiced since the 1960s and is now considered the optimal preservation strategy. Furthermore, the overall monitoring during growth of cultures after freezing/thawing protocols was hardly investigated and there is poor evaluation related to preserve especially the photosystem apparatus. The present study focuses on Stichococcus bacillaris as case study for short-term cryopreservation at −80 °C storage. Various freezing pretreatments using cryoprotective agents, and two thawing methods were compared introducing a novel variable to evaluate viability recovery and assessing growth kinetics of cultures immediately after thawing and after a series batch cultivation. Photosynthetic rate and pigments assessment were proposed to evaluate hidden metabolic cell damage. Results underline cryoprotective agents can increase the kinetic recovery of preserved cells in terms of reduction of lag phase during batch cultivation tests: the use of dimethyl sulfoxide and glycerol granted a growth comparable to unpreserved cells when sudden thawing occurs after 24 hours of storage, but recovery after preservation is less sensitive to cryoprotective agents when gradual thawing and 1 month of storage is considered. However, cells are always able to restore their physiological pathways even without agents, so their kinetic effect has been proved and quantified. Interestingly, both the photosynthetic efficiency and the ratio between total chlorophyll and carotenoids are comparable (0.75 Fv/Fm, 2.2 ± 0.25 g/g) to unpreserved cells and they are unsensitive to chosen agents, but the ratio between chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b was clearly altered (up to 10 times), suggesting that photoactive pigments relative proportions can result in similar growth kinetic performances. Long-term studies will be carried out to assess whether the differences found could cause chronic damage to photosystem efficiency of S. bacillaris cultures.

Extraterrestrial Life in the Thermosphere: Plasmas, UAP, Pre-Life, Fourth State of Matter

“Plasmas” up to a kilometer in size and behaving similarly to multicellular organisms have been filmed on 10 separate NASA space shuttle missions, over 200 miles above Earth within the thermosphere. These self-illuminated “plasmas” are attracted to and may “feed on” electromagnetic radiation. They have different morphologies: 1) cone, 2) cloud, 3) donut, 4) spherical-cylindrical;and have been filmed flying towards and descending from the thermosphere into thunderstorms;congregating by the hundreds and interacting with satellites generating electromagnetic activity;approaching the Space Shuttles. Computerized analysis of flight path trajectories documents these plasmas travel at different velocities from different directions and change their angle of trajectory making 45°, 90°, and 180° shifts and follow each other. They’ve been filmed accelerating, slowing down, stopping, congregating, engaging in “hunter-predatory” behavior and intersecting plasmas leaving a plasma dust trail in their wake. Similar life-like behaviors have been demonstrated by plasmas created experimentally. “Plasmas” may have been photographed in the 1940s by WWII pilots (identified as “Foo fighters”);repeatedly observed and filmed by astronauts and military pilots and classified as Unidentified Aerial—Anomalous Phenomenon. Plasmas are not biological but may represent a form of pre-life that via the incorporation of elements common in space, could result in the synthesis of RNA. Plasmas constitute a fourth state of matter, are attracted to electromagnetic activity, and when observed in the lower atmosphere likely account for many of the UFO-UAP sightings over the centuries.

A new species of green rat snake(Squamata:Colubridae:Ptyas)from Vietnam

Rat snakes(genus Ptyas)include 13 large Asian species with sizes reaching 3.8 m.For more than 100 years,no new species have been discovered in this genus.Here,we describe a new Ptyas from central Vietnam based on morphological data and nucleotide sequences from the MT-CYB gene.Ptyas bachmaensis sp.nov.is diagnosed by the following morphological characters:large-sized snake(largest total length 2401 mm in adult male);body scale rows in even numbers,16-16-14 rows;two medial vertebral scale rows distinct;two and two or four medial scale rows keeled on middle and posterior parts of body,respectively;ventrals 194-199;subcaudals 132-138;supralabials 8,fourth and fifth entering orbit;maxillary teeth 28 or 29;hemipenis spinose and unforked,reaching 12th subcaudal;cloacal plate divided;lateral side of tail black,without a bright stripe.The new species forms an independent clade on the phylogenetic tree and differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in MTCYB sequences of at least 5.7%.

Pyrroloquinoline quinone:a potential neuroprotective compound for neurodegenerative diseases targeting metabolism

Pyrroloquinoline quinone is a quinone described as a cofactor for many bacterial dehydrogenases and is reported to exert an effect on metabolism in mammalian cells/tissues.Pyrroloquinoline quinone is present in the diet being available in foodstuffs,conferring the potential of this compound to be supplemented by dietary administration.Pyrroloquinoline quinone’s nutritional role in mammalian health is supported by the extensive deficits in reproduction,growth,and immunity resulting from the dietary absence of pyrroloquinoline quinone,and as such,pyrroloquinoline quinone has been considered as a“new vitamin.”Although the classification of pyrroloquinoline quinone as a vitamin needs to be properly established,the wide range of benefits for health provided has been reported in many studies.In this respect,pyrroloquinoline quinone seems to be particularly involved in regulating cell signaling pathways that promote metabolic and mitochondrial processes in many experimental contexts,thus dictating the rationale to consider pyrroloquinoline quinone as a vital compound for mammalian life.Through the regulation of different metabolic mechanisms,pyrroloquinoline quinone may improve clinical deficits where dysfunctional metabolism and mitochondrial activity contribute to induce cell damage and death.Pyrroloquinoline quinone has been demonstrated to have neuroprotective properties in different experimental models of neurodegeneration,although the link between pyrroloquinoline quinone-promoted metabolism and improved neuronal viability in some of such contexts is still to be fully elucidated.Here,we review the general properties of pyrroloquinoline quinone and its capacity to modulate metabolic and mitochondrial mechanisms in physiological contexts.In addition,we analyze the neuroprotective properties of pyrroloquinoline quinone in different neurodegenerative conditions and consider future perspectives for pyrroloquinoline quinone’s potential in health and disease.