Binding analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1 proteins in the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Neuromuscular effects of venoms and crotoxin-like proteins from Crotalus durissus ruruima and Crotalus durissus cumanensis

A myographic study was performed to compare the neuromuscular effects of venoms and crotoxin-like proteins from Crotalus durissus ruruima and Crotalus durissus cumanensis in mice phrenic-diaphragm preparation. It was concluded that both venoms present neurotoxic activity as a consequence of their crotoxin content. Furthermore, crotoxin from C.d. cumanensis is more potent than that from C.d. ruruima venom. At the concentration range in which both venoms express neurotoxic activity, only C.d. cumanensis venom also manifest a direct myotoxic effect that probably involves the synergic participation of other components than crotoxin. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Metallomics and proteins expression of diabetic rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Temporal changes in calcium-binding proteins in the medial geniculate nucleus of the monkey Sapajus apella

The subdivisions of the medial geniculate complex can be distinguished based on the immunostaining of calcium-binding proteins and by the properties of the neurons within each subdivision. The possibility of changes in neurochemistry in this and other central auditory areas are important aspects to understand the basis that contributing to functional variations determined by environmental cycles or the animal's cycles of activity and rest. This study investigated, for the first time, day/night differences in the amounts of parvalbumin-, calretinin- and calbindin-containing neurons in the thalamic auditory center of a non-human primate, Sapajus apella. The immunoreactivity of the PV-IR, CB-IR and CR-IR neurons demonstrated different distribution patterns among the subdivisions of the medial geniculate. Moreover, a high number of CB- and CR-IR neurons were found during day, whereas PV-IR was predominant at night. We conclude that in addition to the chemical heterogeneity of the medial geniculate nucleus with respect to the expression of calcium-binding proteins, expression also varied relative to periods of light and darkness, which may be important for a possible functional adaptation of central auditory areas to environmental changes and thus ensure the survival and development of several related functions.

Structural and functional evidence for membrane docking and disruption sites on phospholipase A2-like proteins revealed by complexation with the inhibitor suramin

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Bone morphogenetic proteins: promising molecules for bone healing, bioengineering, and regenerative medicine

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)