Creatine kinase B deficient neurons exhibit an increased fraction of motile mitochondria

Background  

Neurons require an elaborate system of intracellular transport to distribute cargo throughout axonal and dendritic projections. Active anterograde and retrograde transport of mitochondria serves in local energy distribution, but at the same time also requires input of ATP. Here we studied whether brain-type creatine kinase (CK-B), a key enzyme for high-energy phosphoryl transfer between ATP and CrP in brain, has an intermediary role in the reciprocal coordination between mitochondrial motility and energy distribution. Therefore, we analysed the impact of brain-type creatine kinase (CK-B) deficiency on transport activity and velocity of mitochondria in primary murine neurons and made a comparison to the fate of amyloid precursor protein (APP) cargo in these cells, using live cell imaging.     

Removal of trivalent chromium from tannery waste waters using bone charcoal

The ability of bone charcoal to remove Cr(III) from aqueous solutions by adsorption has been investigated. The adsorbent used was first characterised and then the adsorption was studied as a function of time and amount of charcoal. Tests were carried out with synthetic solutions whose Cr concentrations (500 mg L(-1)) were similar to those found in some effluents of Moroccan tannery industries. Cr removal efficiencies higher than 90% were obtained at pH 3.5 using 3 g of bone charcoal and a stirring time of about 30 min. Results of Cr removal by all sieved fractions of bone charcoal had shown the same interesting capabilities for Cr(III) retention. The cross interference with other elements was also investigated. Pre-treatment of bone charcoal by nitric acid led to an increase in its specific surface area but induced a drastic reduction in its Cr elimination abilities. Adsorption tests were also carried out using calcinated bone charcoal. The results obtained showed a similar percentage of Cr retention to those found with untreated bone charcoal. On the other hand, a double treatment of bone charcoal with HCl and NaOH provided an enhancement of Cr(III) retention. The role played by the mineral fraction of the solid phase of bone was thus evidenced.     

Preparation and photoelectrochemical characterization of the Ca2Co2O5, as novel photocatalyst for the H2 photo-production

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Ca2Co2O5 was successfully synthesized from nitrate precursors. It crystallizes in the brownmillerite structure and exhibits semiconducting properties. The...