Therefore, we used X-ray diffraction (XRD) to investigate more subtle changes in myelin sheath structure from

unfixed nerves.

Experimental design: We used in vivo chronic animal models of CIPN in female Wistar rats, administering cisplatin (CDDP 2 mg/kg, i.p. twice/week), paclitaxel (PT 10 mg/kg, i.v. once/week) or bortezomib (0.20 mg/kg, iv. three times/week) over a total period of 4 weeks. Animal weights were monitored, and tail nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was determined Napabucasin supplier at the end of the treatments to assess the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy. Sciatic nerves were collected and the myelin structure was analyzed using electron microscopy (EM) and XRD.

Results: All the rats treated with the chemotherapy agents developed peripheral neuropathy, as indicated by a decrease in NCV values; however, light and electron microscopy indicated selleck chemicals llc no severe pathological alterations of the myelin morphology. XRD also did not demonstrate significant differences between sciatic nerves in treated vs. control rats with respect to myelin period, relative amount of myelin, membrane structure, and regularity of membrane packing.

Conclusions: These results indicate that experimental peripheral neuropathy

caused by CDDP, PT, and bortezomib-which are among the most widely used chemotherapy agents-does not significantly affect the structure of internodal myelin in peripheral nerve. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“The plant extracellular matrix contains typical polysaccharides such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectins that interact to form dense interwoven networks. VE-821 Plant cell walls play crucial

roles during development and constitute the first barrier of defense against invading pathogens. Cell wall proteomics has greatly contributed to the description of the protein content of a compartment specific to plants. Around 400 cell wall proteins (CWPs) of Arabidopsis, representing about one fourth of its estimated cell wall proteome, have been described. The main points to note are that: (i) the diversity of enzymes acting on polysaccharides suggests a great plasticity of cell walls; (ii) CWPs such as proteases, polysaccharide hydrolytic enzymes, and lipases may contribute to the generation of signals; (iii) proteins of unknown functions were identified, suggesting new roles for cell walls. Recently, the characterization of PTMs such as N- and O-glycosylations improved our knowledge of CWP structure. The presence of many glycoside hydrolases and proteases suggests a complex regulation of CWPs involving various types of post-translational events. The first 3-D structures to be resolved gave dues about the interactions between CWPs, or between CWPs and polysaccharides.