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Related Concept Videos

Electron Transport Chains01:28

Electron Transport Chains

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The final stage of cellular respiration is oxidative phosphorylation that consists of two steps: the electron transport chain and chemiosmosis. The electron transport chain is a set of proteins found in the inner mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells. Its primary function is to establish a proton gradient that can be used during chemiosmosis to produce ATP and generate electron carriers, such as NAD+ and FAD, that are used in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle.
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Facilitated Transport01:19

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The chemical and physical properties of plasma membranes cause them to be selectively permeable. Since plasma membranes have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, substances need to be able to transverse both regions. The hydrophobic area of membranes repels substances such as charged ions. Therefore, such substances need special membrane proteins to cross a membrane successfully. In  facilitated transport, also known as facilitated diffusion, molecules and ions travel across a...
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Primary Active Transport01:47

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In contrast to passive transport, active transport involves a substance being moved through membranes in a direction against its concentration or electrochemical gradient. There are two types of active transport: primary active transport and secondary active transport. Primary active transport utilizes chemical energy from ATP to drive protein pumps that are embedded in the cell membrane. With energy from ATP, the pumps transport ions against their electrochemical gradients—a direction...
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Secondary Active Transport01:55

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One example of how cells use the energy contained in electrochemical gradients is demonstrated by glucose transport into cells. The ion vital to this process is sodium (Na+), which is typically present in higher concentrations extracellularly than in the cytosol. Such a concentration difference is due, in part, to the action of an enzyme “pump” embedded in the cellular membrane that actively expels Na+ from a cell. Importantly, as this pump contributes to the high concentration of...
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In eukaryotes, transcription and translation are compartmentalized; an mRNA is first synthesized in the nucleus and then selectively transported to the cytoplasm for protein synthesis. Before transport, a pre-mRNA undergoes several steps of post-transcriptional modifications including splicing, 5' capping, and the addition of a poly-adenine tail. Various proteins bind to the pre-mRNA during these modifications. The mRNA transport takes place with the help of multiple proteins playing...
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Like many living organisms, plants have tissues that specialize in specific plant functions. For example, shoots are well adapted to rapid growth, while roots are structured to acquire resources efficiently. However, sugar production is primarily restricted to the photosynthetic cells that reside in the leaves of angiosperm plants. Sugar and other resources are transported from photosynthetic tissues to other specialized tissues by a process called translocation.
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Labeling and Imaging of Amyloid Plaques in Brain Tissue Using the Natural Polyphenol Curcumin
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Curcumin Effect on Copper Transport in HepG2 Cells.

Anita Berzina1, Inese Martinsone2, Simons Svirskis3

  • 1August Kirchenstein Institute of Microbiology and Virology, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, Riga LV-1007, Latvia. Anita.Berzina@rsu.lv.

Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|October 23, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Curcumin enhances copper transport within liver cells but does not increase copper excretion. This study investigated curcumin

Keywords:
ATP7BHepG2Wilson’s diseasecoppercurcumin

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Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Wilson's disease involves impaired copper metabolism due to ATP7B defects, leading to toxic copper accumulation.
  • Curcumin, derived from Curcuma longa, is a potential therapeutic agent for Wilson's disease.
  • This study investigates curcumin's effect on copper transport and excretion in liver cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if curcumin influences copper transport and excretion in HepG2 hepatocytes with functional ATP7B.
  • To analyze the subcellular localization of ATP7B in response to curcumin treatment.
  • To quantify copper levels in cells and the surrounding medium after curcumin exposure.

Main Methods:

  • HepG2 cells were treated with varying concentrations of curcumin (5 µM, 25 µM) and copper chloride (20 µM, 100 µM).
  • Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy were used to assess co-localization of ATP7B with the Golgi complex and plasma membrane.
  • Atomic absorption spectrometry measured copper concentration in cell culture medium to determine excretion rates.

Main Results:

  • Curcumin (5 µM and 25 µM) improved copper transport to the plasma membrane at 20 µM CuCl₂ but not at 100 µM CuCl₂.
  • Atomic absorption spectrometry indicated that curcumin increased copper uptake into HepG2 cells.
  • Curcumin did not enhance the excretion of copper from HepG2 cells into the medium.

Conclusions:

  • Curcumin facilitates intracellular copper transport within liver cells.
  • Curcumin does not promote the excretion of copper from HepG2 cells.
  • Further research is needed to clarify curcumin's role in managing copper overload in conditions like Wilson's disease.